Back in the High Life again on Mt. High

MT. HIGH - Back in 1974, there was no light beer and real football was played at all levels including Metro, high school, college, the NFL and in the new World Football League (WFL). Miller's signature "High Life" beer was one of America's best selling beers in 1974 and adults could spill a few at Legion Field on a weeknight at a Birmingham Americans game that fall. Known as the "The Champagne of Beers" for its high level of carbonation, Miller High Life was originally available in miniature champagne bottles and was one of the premier high-end beers in the country for many years. Miller introduced High Life in pony bottles in 1972, but regular High Life bottles have always been distinctive. The bottles are made of clear glass with a tapered neck like a champagne bottle and feature a classy, bright gold label. Miller High Life's label has featured the "Girl in the Moon" logo for years and the original girl in the logo is thought to be founder Frederick Miller's granddaughter. Traditionally in Week 6 of the BDFL, we dial back the clock to another era with the league's annual Throwback Week. This year we featured 1974 match-ups between NFL and WFL teams with all BDFL teams representing a team from that season. Week 6 was highlighted by an old fashioned shoot-out. The Miami Dolphins (Blue Deacons) still with Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick and Paul Warfield beat the Memphis Grizzlies (Cheetahs) 50-35. After the game, Memphis owner John Basset signed the three Dolphins to contracts to play in the WFL for the 1975 season. The famous Fins trio played 11 games with the Southmen in 1975 before the league folded on October 22, 1975. The Birmingham Vulcans with Uncle Ron Slovensky as their placekicker had the league's best winning percentage and best record (9-3) at the time of the shutdown and the two Birmingham WFL teams are considered the champions of both WFL seasons (1974 and 1975). It was a big week for a couple of former Blue Devils. You could say they are back in the "High Life" again back on Mt. High. All the doors I closed one time will open up again. All the eyes that watched us once will smile and take us in. And we'll drink and dance with one hand free and have the world so easily and oh we'll be a sight to see...Back In The High Life Again by Steve Winwood (1986)

Final Scores

CHE

BD

35

50

FRE

DOR

44

11

ARM

JUG

34

31

PS

GRE

24

31

BEL

BUL

20

38

DOG

BLZ

41

15

WIL

GAM

12

14

SM

MAY

22

29

Local Player Spotlight: Devlin Hodges

KIMBERLY MORRIS - The BDFL had Devlin Hodges on the 2019 BDFL Pony Draft Watch List during last fall's college football season as a prospect for this year's Pony Draft. I can't speak for NFL scouting, but Hodges wasn't even invited to the 2019 NFL Combine which means he was not in their top 337 players. All Hodges did at Samford was pass for 14,584 yards and 111 touchdowns in his four-year career with the Bulldogs. The former Mortimer Jordan Blue Devils signal caller was named the Southern Conference (SoCon) Offensive Player of the Year three times and he was the recipient of the 2018 Walter Payton Award as the best player in NCAA Division I-AA football. He set the FCS career record for passing yards previously held by former Alcorn State quarterback Steve McNair in 1994. Hodges went undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft and had to try out with the Pittsburgh Steelers to get a free agent contract. He was waived by the Steelers at the end of the pre-season and re-signed to the practice squad when Ben Roethlisberger was injured in Week 2. The practice squad in the NFL pays $8,000 per week. The NFL minimum salary pays $29,000 per game. Hodges made his first start in the NFL on Sunday Night Football getting the win over the Los Angeles Chargers and going 15-20 for 132 yards with one touchdown and one pick. Hodges is expected to join a BDFL team in the upcoming 2019 Supplemental Draft after Week 7. Devlin is a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Gardendale.