40th Anniversary of First Playoffs Team

Calloway County’s 1981 football team, under the direction of coach Sam Harp. The guys on this team have made lifelong friendships out of high school football and are, indeed, Lakers for life.

1981 was a significant year for Calloway Football. With the program only being started three years prior, the 28 guys on the team and coach Sam Harp secured the district and regional titles, then continued to make it to the playoffs. The playoffs game was against Franklin Simpson, which was described as “a powerhouse in Kentucky football at the time.” The final score was 20-14 with the Lakers coming short, but this moment made Calloway County History. A 40-year reunion is to be held in the fieldhouse on November 13.  

The guys on this team have made lifelong friendships out of high school football. “We endured junk as a team, being only the 3rd season, we were a part of building this program,” says former player, Tim Brown. “We would load up in buses to North Elementary to practice on the playground until they built the stadium. We ended 9-2 that season.” A handful of the players and coaches stay connected to this day after 40 years.  

This team was led by head coach, Sam Harp. This was the first coaching job that Coach Harp had ever had, being so young. He was successful at Calloway County but went on to coach for 42 years and win 7 State Championships in Kentucky. He has since been inducted into the KHSAA Hall of Fame. Former player, Tom Toy, was said to be an outstanding member of the team. He was the team running back and considered a top scorer in the state of Kentucky. Toy went on to play football at Murray State University. Jeff Garrison went on to play at the University of Evansville. Tim Brown played his first season of college football at Ole Miss, but later transferred to Morehead State University. 

Former member of the team, Tim Pittman, has recently passed away. He was described as a “unique gift” by friends. Tim Brown, who happened to be his teammate on the 1981 team, gave a sermon at the funeral services. “He looked at life though a different lens-the right lens” says Brown. Friends say they were constantly learning from Mr. Pittman, although he never knew it. Something Pittman would constantly say was “too blessed to be stressed”, despite his health issues, he believed he was the most blessed man on this Earth. A special service in memory of Tim Pittman will be held at the reunion.  

Despite the years these men have spent apart, they are more than excited to reunite. “It’s important to realize that relationships built in the past doesn’t mean that they have to go away,” says Tim Brown. “Relationships are important.”