Soul of the Scores
How Chris Marchbanks has mastered the art of connecting with others through sports.
Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Ryan McGill
Every year, on the fourth weekend in January, you can find Chris Marchbanks at Central Steakhouse in Montgomery, Alabama, ordering "the biggest steak on the menu." It's part of his tradition as he attends the annual Alabama Football Coaches Association Convention, where he has the honor of helping present coaches across the state with various awards and certificates. He's participated in this tradition every year since 2008, but his love for all things high school athletics goes back to 1991 when he was a student at Jasper's Maddox Middle School.
"I went to the Walker High School homecoming game against central Tuscaloosa, I was standing there watching it, and something clicked, and I haven't missed a game since I was in eighth grade," he says.
Note that he remembers what school Walker was playing against in that game thirty-two years ago. Most forty-five-year-old men would struggle to remember what shirt they wore last Tuesday, but Chris remembers, down to the minor details, the opponents, players, and accolades of Jasper football from that time on.
"It just comes easy to me; I store it all in my brain. I think my favorite moment of all time was in 1995 when Walker beat Dora 47-0. That was my junior year, and I was the football team manager for Coach Chris Yeager," he recalls. "But I've enjoyed something about every season."
It's not just Jasper football, though. Chris also has a deep interest in Viking Basketball, as well as football and basketball in Decatur City Schools, the system in which he has worked for the last fifteen years as maintenance personnel. Every year, he takes his vacation to attend the Alabama High School Athletic Association's Northwest Regional Basketball Tournament at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville. There, he loves to intently watch the games, make mental notes of the stats, but most importantly – make connections.
Approachable and charismatic, Chris possesses a remarkable ability to connect with people from all walks of life. He embraces every opportunity to engage in spirited conversations, sharing his knowledge, and listening intently to others' experiences. Whether chatting with die-hard fans or curious newcomers, Chris's passion becomes infectious, leaving a lasting impression on everyone he meets.
Some notable connections include veteran football coaches in Alabama, Terry Curtis, and Jack Wood, who helped him land the Coaches Association award presentation gig. But Chris deems none of those connections as instrumental as his one with Coach David Norwood.
"I met (Norwood) in the summer of 1994 when he joined the coaching staff at Walker. My mom passed away in 1993, and he just became like a father figure to me. After he and his wife Tracy married in 1996, I moved in with them in 1997, and I've been in their life ever since," Chris says. "They created a better situation for me and taught me so much, like how to lead by example and with faith. And they've supported me and helped me show other people what I want them to know about me,"
What is that?
"That I'm smart."
Through his remarkable ability to recall specific details and forge meaningful connections, Chris Marchbanks brings to light the depth and significance of decades worth of moments in Jasper's sporting legacy. It is not merely his vast knowledge that sets him apart, but also his unique perspective and passion for unearthing hidden stories. With a keen eye for detail and a mind brimming with information, Chris effortlessly weaves a rich tapestry of narratives, breathing life into otherwise forgotten events. In just a short conversation, he reveals the profound impact that even the humblest of regular season games have had on our community's sports history.
Yet, Chris's sights are not solely set on the past. With great anticipation, he awaits the upcoming football season. While he is excited to witness Decatur's performance this year, his true allegiance will always lie with the Vikings. He says he is "excited to see Coach (David) Reeves lead the team to new heights." And, of course, he eagerly looks forward to that January steak dinner in Montgomery, where he can savor the culmination of his yearly tradition amidst the camaraderie of the friends he's made along the way. 78