Aug. 14, 1996
1996 preseason capsule
The first Scott Smith season opens with returning players and newcomers listed for the Bobcats.
HELP COMPLETE THE 1996 STORY
Your memory belongs in this season
Played, coached, cheered, covered or watched this team? Add the details that a scorebook could never hold.
← Mr. Football to the Williams Era
RELATED HISTORY
1996 · Scott Smith's First Season
Season overview
Scott Smith's First Season
3-8
The first season after the Sorrells era opened with three losses, including one-point heartbreak at Macon County.
Then the Bobcats found traction: 49–7 over Montgomery Central, 9–6 over Spring Hill and 9–6 over DeKalb County — three consecutive wins that changed the shape of the season.
Greenbrier finished 3–8 and drew Spring Hill again in the first round, falling 20–12.
Complete recorded schedule
1996 football schedule
| Game | Date | Opponent | Score | Result | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug. 30, 1996 | David Lipscomb▶ Film | 13–37 | L | |
| 2 | Sept. 6, 1996 | Macon Co.▶ Film | 12–13 | L | |
| 3 | — | Marshall Co.▶ Film | 13–28 | L | |
| 4 | — | Montgomery Central | 49–7 | W | |
| 5 | — | Spring Hill | 9–6 | W | |
| 6 | Oct. 4, 1996 | DeKalb Co.▶ Film | 9–6 | W | |
| 7 | Oct. 11, 1996 | Waverly▶ Film | 3–9 | L | |
| 8 | Oct. 18, 1996 | White House▶ Film | 17–28 | L | |
| 9 | Oct. 25, 1996 | Lewis Co.▶ Film | 16–21 | L | |
| 10 | — | Portland | 22–49 | L | |
| 11 | Nov. 8, 1996 | Spring Hill | 12–20 | L | *1st Round TSSAA State Playoffs |
People in the season
Postseason Honors
Greenbrier’s football honors records list these names under the school’s original award categories.
Postseason honors
- All-Mid-State — Jeremiah Adams
- Mid-State Honorable Mention — Ray Riley
- All-Region 5-3A — Ray Riley, Rob Dorris, Jeremiah Adams, Chad Kennedy, Thad Marcum
- Region Honorable Mention — Bobby Huffines
- All-Robertson County — Ray Riley, Jeremiah Adams
- All-County Honorable Mention — Michael Moss
Leadership register
Captains & Leadership
Greenbrier’s captain register records a program-wide practice for this period: “1973–2001 Seniors were game captains.” The collection therefore does not assign a fixed season-captain list for this year unless a game program, roster or contemporary clipping identifies one.
CONTEMPORARY COVERAGE
1996 in print
7 source scans from the season's newspaper file. Open any clipping at full size, or continue into its game page when one is linked.
Sept. 7, 1996
Macon County 13, Greenbrier 12
Jeremiah Adams scores on runs of 29 and 16 yards before Macon County wins with a late touchdown and extra point.
Sept. 28, 1996
Greenbrier 9, Spring Hill 6
A safety and Michael Moss's 13-yard touchdown run build a 9–0 lead before Greenbrier holds on.
Oct. 19, 1996
White House 28, Greenbrier 17
The Cat Classic report includes Jeremiah Adams's 67-yard fumble return in the fourth quarter.
Oct. 26, 1996
Lewis County 21, Greenbrier 16
Greenbrier's final drive reaches the Lewis County 40 before the Panthers stop it on downs with 44 seconds left.
Nov. 7, 1996
Spring Hill playoff preview
The first-round preview sends 3–7 Greenbrier to 5–5 Spring Hill for a rematch.
Nov. 9, 1996
Spring Hill 20, Greenbrier 12
Chad Kennedy throws touchdown passes to Jason King and Michael Moss in the first-round loss.
NEWSPAPER COVERAGE
More from 1996 in print
1 additional source scan placed with the season and linked to an individual game when the matchup is identifiable.
May 24, 1996 · The Tennessean
Greenbrier coach resigns
Steve Sorrells steps down after eight seasons as head coach.
Reading the complete season
A new coach, a three-win answer and another November
3–8record
175–224scoring
2–3 regiondistrict / region
Scott Smith’s first team answered an 0–3 start with three consecutive wins and met Spring Hill again in the first round.
The first Scott Smith team returned Shawn Zeligman, Thad Marcum, Chad Kennedy, Miles Collett, Steve Jones and Jeremiah Adams, with Matt Mayo and Michael Moss among the newcomers.
After an 0–3 start, Greenbrier beat Montgomery Central 49–7, Spring Hill 9–6 and DeKalb County 9–6 in succession.
The playoff rematch at Spring Hill ended 20–12. Chad Kennedy threw touchdown passes to Jason King and Michael Moss; both conversion kicks were blocked.
Source comparison: The school list retains 9–6 over DeKalb County while DeKalb’s independent page says 6–0. With no contemporary scoring summary, 9–6 remains public and labeled.
Open any result for its place in the season, recovered reporting and a game-level source comparison.
BOBCATS FOR LIFE · 1996
Postseason names from this season
The People Index connects the players named in Greenbrier’s 1996 postseason honors record.
Before the season
1996 preseason preview
A late change at press time
“A major shake-up could be in the works for those teams that call Region 5-3A their home.”— Contemporary football preview
The team preview still lists Steve Sorrells as head coach, but the regional overview reports his resignation just before printing and says officials were seeking a replacement. Read the pages together as a snapshot of that transition. The continuation supplies 1995 totals, including Shawn Zeligman’s 21 catches for 313 yards and Ray Riley’s 58 tackles.
Names in these pages
Chad Kennedy · Ray Riley · Jerimiah Adams · Thad Marcum · Miles Collett · J. R. Somma · Matt Burge · Shawn Zeligman · Steve Jones · Cory Thompson · Jason Taylor · Scott Dillard · Bobby Huffines · Eugene Raymer · Rob Dorris · Matt Mayo · Michael Moss
