Montague, Whitehall renew special pregame coin toss ceremony on the bridge
LocalSportsJournal.com
There may not be a better high school rivalry in Michigan than the annual Whitehall-Montague football matchup.
It’s a neighborhood battle that dates back at least 70 years, according to Chuck Hulce.
And he knows a little bit about it, since he coached the Montague football team from 1969-77 and the Whitehall squad from 1979-81.
Hulce was on hand on Thursday as the two schools renewed an old tradition in the rivalry that had fallen by the wayside years ago – having the pregame coin-toss ceremony the night before on the causeway bridge over the White River that connects the cities of Whitehall and Montague.
“I am thinking the last time was in the early 80’s,” said Hulce, who was inducted in the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in March. “And to pinpoint when, I know we did this in ’81.”
The coin flip occurred at the middle of the bridge with both schools’ football teams, cheerleaders and bands joining in the ceremony.
“I was on both sides of the river and it was kind of nice to stand in the middle and have no vested interest,” said Hulce, a 1964 graduate of Ann Arbor Pioneer High School. “It’s kind of exciting to know what these kids are going through. I told them that this is something they will always remember.”
Montague Coach Pat Collins said the coin toss ceremony is unique and special, because players, coaches, students and fans have friends and family on both sides.
As Whitehall Coach Tony Sigmon put it, the White Lake area really is one big community, separated only by city and school district boundaries.
“The coaches on their staff know our guys,” Collins said. “We hang out with guys from over there and it’s pretty cool with all the connections. It’s a big game on our radar every year. Tony Sigmon and the Whitehall crew are doing a great job and have amped (the rivalry) up as of late.”
Fans can only guess who will win on Friday night. Both teams enter the “Battle for the Bell” with perfect 4-0 records.
Montague won the coin toss and will decide before the game if it will kick or receive.
-
- Montague marching band walks up a closed off Dowling St. for a meeting with Whitehall. Photo/Leo Valdez.
-
- The Montague Pride on their side of the bridge. Photo/Leo Valdez
-
- Whitehall football team. Photo/Leo Valdez
-
- Whitehall cheerleaders. Photo/Leo Valdez
-
- Whitehall Coach Tony Sigmon (left) and Montague Coach Pat Collins (right) meet in the middle. Photo/Leo Valdez
-
- Montague football Coach Pat Collins is the opening guest of the LSJ’s first podcast. Photo/Leo Valdez
-
- Whitehall Coach Tony Sigmon address the Montague side. Photo/Leo Valdez
-
- Chuck Hulce shows captains the coin. Photo/Leo Valdez
-
- Referee Chuck Hulce flips the coin. Photo/Leo Valdez
-
- The 5th and 6th grade Montague silver team. From left to right. Rodney brassfield, Hunter Edwards, No. 20 Carlos Meza, Chase Gowell, No. 81 Joey Winkelman, Brody Dietz, No. 50 James Cloud jr., No. 13 Adam Baird, No. 11 Christopher Aebig, Joey gray, Owen Raeth, CJ Bryant, No. 10 Paul Olson, and Vincent Maginity. Photo/Leo Valdez
-
- Montague youth football players eagerly wait for the ceremony to begin. Photo/Leo Valdez
-
- The Montague football program from youngsters to the varsity. Photo/Leo Valdez
1 Comment
Leave a Reply
- Submit your email address to sign up for the LSJ's free monthly magazine e-edition.
Doug Rice
September 23, 2016 at 10:06 am
The last time the flip happen at the bridge was 1983. Chuck Hulce would coach Montague the following season in 1984 to an undefeated season in his first year back at Montague.