On Feb. 8, 1972, it was reported in the Citizen-Times that Loe Fogle had been hired as the ’73 head football coach to turn around Asheville High School’s losing team.
From a slow 1-4 start to a blistering 5-0 finish, even while dealing with the riots of ’72, the Cougars produced the first winning season in Asheville High School history, where the tradition continues today.
On Aug. 24, 2023 the ’72 team came together again to celebrate that accomplishment, starting with a meet and greet where teammates met in the Renaissance ballroom, decorated with player achievements, memorials, team photos, the actual events of the ’72 football season, as well as banners throughout the ballroom.
The weekend culminated with a halftime introduction of the ’72 team at the football game where the Athletic Booster Club was presented a check from the team in the amount of $20,000.
Some of those in attendance, as well as the cheerleaders that are pictured, were Angela Jones, Lee Williams Ulrey, Gay Baily Streeter, Buster Ray, Arthur Pappas, Robert Johnson, Doug Piercy, Luke Sauer, Ken White, Stan Gordon, Robert Harbison, Mike Adams, Terry Harrell, Mike Maybin, Joe Lingerfelt, Chip Albano, Jeff Fawcett, Mark Friedrich, Norman Sanders, Horace Adams, Harlen Gudger.
Officials were quoted as saying this was the best event ever put on by an alumni group.
