CHHS coach’s wives do their part for title push

The coach’s wife is seldom seen, but every man walking a sideline will tell you they are the most important person on a team.

During Charles Henderson’s run to the Alabama High School Athletic Association 4A State Championship Game, several Trojan wives rolled up their sleeves, literally, and decided to pitch in to help the team.

A handful of wives, mothers and other women have met every Sunday afternoon at Southside Baptist Church to put together the famous peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The group makes 240 sandwiches every week that are given to the players, two at a time, after their morning practices.

Head coach Mike Dean was the original sandwich artist, before turning it over to his wife Chris and the others.

“It started out as just me,” Dean said. “I would sit down and make the sandwiches, but I just didn’t have the time to do it during spring training and in to the season. These kids have to eat. With all the weight lifting and practicing we do, if they don’t eat they won’t get bigger faster and stronger. I owe a lot to my wife and the rest of those fantastic ladies that took it over and get it done every week.”

Along with Chris and Allen-Jones, wife of assistant coach Marcus Jones, Dana Bush, wife of CHHS’ head trainer Dave Bush, Ternisha Miles-Jones, wife of running back’s coach Phillip Jones, Keneisha Seymore, mother of CHHS’ player Dylan Seymore and make up the sandwich team, but their relationship goes past the kitchen at Southside.

The group travels with each other to road games, and forms a cheering section that even sports a name (which they kindly asked to not be included). The group comes armed to every game with a garbage bag full of orange and shakers and at least a dozen signs.

After 15 weeks and over 3,600 sandwiches, the group said they are sick of looking at peanut butter.

“By the time you are done it is everywhere,” said Allen-Jones. “It is your toes, your clothes, your hair and everywhere in between. I don’t care to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for a while. We will leave it to the boys.”

Mike Dean said the sandwiches would not be possible with out the donations received from business around town.

“Golden Boy Foods donates the peanut butter, and that is a huge help,” Dean said. “The jelly comes in from different places, and bread is purchased by me. My biggest worry is the kids net having things to eat at home, and our football finances are not good enough to go out and buy things for the kids. These sandwiches fill that void.”

With the season coming to a close Friday, the group won’t be making sandwiches for a while. However, each member of the group said they were proud to be part of the title push.

“Those boys work hard every day to get to where they are,” Allen-Jones said. “We are more than happy to pitch in and help any way we can. They are powered by our sandwiches, and they are going all the way.”

The Trojans will make their first appearance in the state title game since winning the blue map way back in 1980.

Charles Henderson plays Oneonta for the AHSAA 4A State Championship Friday at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.