State Titles, Snap-Shuts, and Eagle Royalty: Northside High on October 30 (2006–2016)
If you walked into Northside High on October 30, 2006, you were breathing rarified air. The Eagles were steamrolling toward an unblemished 15-0 season that would culminate in Northside's legendary first GHSA State Championship. The swagger in the cafeteria was thick enough to cut with a plastic butter knife.
Students spent homeroom perfecting their Motorola Razr snap-shut flips, checking their MySpace Top 8 on the library computers, and debating whether wearing two polo shirts with both collars popped was enough to impress the varsity cheer squad. If you didn't have blue and white painted on your face by fourth period, someone was liable to question your citizenship.
Meanwhile in Georgia History
On October 30, 1974, the historic Omni Coliseum in downtown Atlanta became the epicenter of southern entertainment when Elvis Presley took the stage for a sold-out concert that brought traffic on I-75/85 to an absolute standstill. The King belted out his hits in a white sequined jumpsuit while thousands of Georgians swooned in the bleachers.
Today's History Sidebar
The Birthday Registry: First up, we tip our hats to John Adams, born on October 30, 1735. The second U.S. President and primary bulldog behind the Declaration of Independence wasn't known for his charm, but without his fiery stubbornness, this country might still be paying taxes on Earl Grey tea.
Second, let's hear it for rock-and-roll trailblazer Grace Slick, born on October 30, 1939. As the powerhouse frontwoman for Jefferson Airplane, she broke down the boys' club of 1960s psychedelic rock with vocals powerful enough to rattle the fillings in your teeth.
The Retrospective
Razr phones are long gone and nobody updates a MySpace status anymore. But that pride you feel when you stand in the bleachers on a brisk Friday night and watch Northside take the field? That's forever. Go Eagles!