Columnists, EDITORIAL -- FEATURE SPOT, Editorials, J.R. Tidwell, Opinion
 By  J.R. Tidwell Published 
6:00 am Saturday, December 8, 2012

Basketball season once again upon us

Well ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time again.

For those fans who had to wait an entire year to whet their appetite, the 2012 basketball season is here and in full swing.

It is just a few weeks into the season and already the different county teams have faced tough foes from both Franklin and the surrounding area.

This particular time of year has a special meaning for me. When I first was hired at The Franklin County Times I started off by covering basketball.

That’s right folks, I have been here and working in my current job for a whole year now.

Time flies when you’re having fun, and I cannot think of a better way to pass the time than cover the games I do in multiple sports.

I grew up playing baseball and football and watching just about everything else on ESPN, so naturally my love for sport and competition helped steer me into the career path I’m in.

It did not take me very long to pick up on the key rivalries around the county.

Belgreen, Phil Campbell, Red Bay, Tharptown and Vina are competing against each other in some way or other for most of the year, and Russellville, being such a large school, must leave the county for most of its opponents.

The Golden Tigers do not have to look far though, as the likes of Muscle Shoals and Lawrence County  are not so far away.

I’ve lived in this world as Sports Editor of the FCT for a year now, and I can’t think of a better way to make a living.

I have met so many players and coaches, principals, fans and others that I no longer feel out of place.

I am a part of the sporting world around here now, or at least I feel that way.

I may be reporting from the sidelines, but there are worse things in life I could be doing, and certainly none that I would choose.

When the 2012 season tipped off, I was immediately looking forward to covering the county’s rivalry games yet again.

There were so many good games between Belgreen and Phil Campbell, Red Bay and Phil Campbell and Russellville and its opponents last season, and I was forced to wait a year before I could watch those match-ups again.

But the wait is over, and the game is on.

Also on Franklin County Times
Copy that: Using ham radios to traverse the world
Franklin Living
Story by Brady Petree | Photos by Dan Busey 
May 6, 2026
Whether it be a tiny island in the Indian Ocean, a global superpower or a country with only a few thousand inhabitants, Russellville resident Christop...
Baseball gave Austin Bohannon confidence. Music gave him a voice.
Franklin Living
From the mound to the mic
Story by Brady Petree | Photos by Dan Busey 
May 6, 2026
Austin “Bo” Bohannon did not set out to be a musician. In fact, for much of his early life, music was something that existed on the sidelines. It was ...
Jeff Strickland chases fractions of sections, not fame
Franklin Living
From Red Bay to the winner’s circle
By Maria Camp camp@franklincountytimes.com 
May 6, 2026
Jeff Strickland has spent most of his life chasing fractions of a second, but he has never chased fame. “I’m not a glory seeker,” Strickland said. “I ...
The sky turned black, and he lived to tell it
Main, News, Phil Campbell, ...
By Brady Petree, Addie Broadfoot For the FCT 
April 29, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — By the time April 27, 2011, arrived, Rodney Smith had already grown accustomed to the warnings. For days, sirens had gone off across F...
EMA warns: Don’t rely on storm sirens
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
April 29, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Franklin County EMA Director Mary Glass said outdoor warning sirens should not be residents’ primary alert system during severe weather...
Ex-principal recalls lost students, teacher
Main, News, Phil Campbell, ...
SEARED IN THEIR MEMORIES
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
April 29, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — On the morning of April 27, 2011, Phil Campbell Elementary School (PCES) Principal Jackie Ergle was aware of the threat of severe weat...
West Elementary hosts Careers on Wheels
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
April 29, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — West Elementary students climbed into concrete trucks, explored emergency vehicles, and learned about skilled trades during the school’...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *