Kevin Blue

Blue starred in football and basketball at Alexandria High School. As a senior in 1984, he played wide receiver, defensive back and punter for coach Lou Scales. When injuries sidelined the Cubs’ quarterback, Blue stepped into that role, too. He passed for 223 yards and touchdowns of 25 and 16 yards as outmanned Alexandria lost 28-22 to Cherokee County in the 4A playoffs.

Blue was chosen as Calhoun County’s Class 4A-6A football player of the year after the 1984 season ended and named to the 4A-6A all-county first team as a split end. He caught 27 passes for 479 yards and five touchdowns and averaged 39.4 yards a punt. He was a first-team selection as a defensive back on both the Birmingham News and the Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 4A all-state teams after intercepting seven passes in 1984.

As a junior, Blue caught eight passes, including touchdowns of 51 and 30 yards, in a 26-7 win over Oxford. The Valley Cubs clinched the 3A, Area 11 football title with a 21-17 win over Saks when he made a diving catch on a 17-yard touchdown pass with six seconds to play. He earned first team all-county recognition in the division for large schools as a receiver. The ASWA named him an honorable mention on its 3A all-state team as a wide receiver following the 1983 season.

Blue played three seasons of varsity basketball for coach Larry Ginn. As a junior, he earned the best offensive player award for the 1984 Calhoun County basketball tournament and was one of six players on the big schools all-county team. In 1985, Blue was the county tournament’s most valuable player as Alexandria won its first tournament championship since 1966. When the season ended, he was named Calhoun County’s 4A-6A basketball player of the year.

From Alexandria, Blue took his pass-catching skills to Jacksonville State where he played from 1986 through 1989. Coach Bill Burgess’ version of the wishbone offense didn’t include many passing plays, but Blue took advantage of his opportunities. In 1986, one of his 19 receptions was a 51-yard touchdown that won the game against Livingston.

His 10 catches in 1987 included one for 46 yards. Against Valdosta State in 1988, Blue caught three passes for a total of 57 yards to spark a JSU victory.

Kevin Blue died in October of 2018.

article written by Joe Estep.