The First Football Games at the Met (Regions Park)
by Wayne Wood

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1988. Twenty years ago, the city of Hoover experienced a major change with the creation of its own school system in breaking away from the Jefferson County system. There were many difficult upheavals for the city and its schools. Few people really expected the enormous growth which would follow.

Berry High was the system’s only high school at the time and the football team was coached by the legendary Bob Finley. The Buccaneers had struggled in the years following a 1982 co-championship run. The seasons of 1983-1987 had produced a 25-26 record including 5 straight losses to their bitter rival-the Vestavia Rebels. Coach Finley wondered if he had lost his winning touch as in years past.

Going into the 1988 season, the Bucs returned a good number of defensive starters but on offense only one starter returned-senior quarterback Stan White who would later star at Auburn and in the NFL. Stan is currently the color commentator for Auburn football. Expectations for the squad were positive but not real bright.

The season began with 2 road losses to always tough Enterprise and Minor. Finley implemented his ability to rebound with a thrilling 17-14 win over talented Parker at Legion Field. Next the Bucs produced a 27-6 upset win over undefeated 5th ranked Huffman at home but then went on the road to Pelham and played poorly in losing 16-14. It appeared old troubles had resurfaced.

At the time, the Birmingham Barons baseball team had relocated their home stadium from Rickwood Field to a new facility called the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. For more than 25 years all of Berry's home games were played on campus at Finley Stadium. A decision was made to have the next two home games played at the Met. A September 30th date with Vestavia was scheduled followed by an October 7th date with Thompson.

There were certain complications a ready-made baseball field would present for a football field such as the closeness of the outfield wall, a chain-link fence in front of the third base dugout, and the normal infield dirt still in place from the summer. Only years later would sod-packed grass cover the dirt. Another problem occurred when the stadium scoreboard was hit by lightning late in the week and couldn't be repaired by game time. Otherwise, things went pretty smooth.

More than 5,000 Hoover and Vestavia fans showed up for the inaugural event. Buccaneer quarterback White ran for 3 touchdowns and passed for another in leading Berry to a 34-7 whipping of the Rebels breaking a long losing streak. White commented afterwards, "This is a great place to play. I think there will be a lot of high school teams playing here in the future." Brian Hammonds, a Buc defensive player added, "I like the field okay. I do not like the dirt. The atmosphere is great although in a game like this it didn't matter."

The following week, the Bucs faced undefeated and 8th ranked Thompson on the same field. Stan White ran for one TD and passed for another and the defense played tremendous in beating the Warriors 14-8. Coach Finley was proud of his defense in stating, "With three goal line stands, the whole defensive line played like the Berry of yesteryear. Our players really worked as a unit. Perhaps the bright lights and the attendance at the Met is imposing. It might psyche out some teams."

The Bucs wrapped up the regular season beating Shades Valley, Gardendale and Selma. In the playoffs, they beat Tuscaloosa-Central, Benjamin Russell and Anniston and in the semi-final at Berry the Bucs faced Minor whom they'd lost to early in the year. In an exciting finish, they defeated the Tigers 21-17.

However, in the state championship game at Legion Field, Berry faced defending state champ Vigor of Mobile, one of the most talented teams in state history. The Wolves beat the Bucs badly but the loss did not take away from the effort the scrappy Buccaneers had given to even get to the final game.

In time, the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium became home to the Berry Bucs as more home games were played there. In 1993 only one home game was played at Finley Stadium. Berry became Hoover High School in 1994 and would play all their home games at the nearby Met facility until the 1998 season where the home opener was held on campus.

The high school's Buccaneer Stadium has been the location for the varsity team's home for an early season game or two. However, Buc fans still consider the Met (now Regions Park) to be their "Big House Home" as homecoming games, big season and playoff games are played there. A few college games have been played there.

In the season of 2004, Hurricane Ivan backed up the high school season one week and the Super 6 championship games at Legion Field had a scheduling problem. They held four of the title games at the Met with the exception of the Thursday games where Hoover beat Prattville and Oneonta beat Winfield. Oneonta was coached by current Hoover coach Josh Niblett.

What about the 1988 Buccaneer team? Well, they can't claim a state title but they can make claim the fact that they played the first two high school football games held at the Hoover facility. Besides baseball, the Met-Regions Park also has football history of its own as well. GO BUCS!

The 1988 team, the first team to play at “The Met” will be honored this year on October 10, 2008 at the Mountain Brook vs Hoover Game as we remember “20 years at The Met.”