ASHLAND — Walking through the parking lot next to Putnam Stadium on Friday night, prior to Ashland’s game with Belfry, I happened on to some tailgaters debating the 1975 vs. 1990 Tomcat fantasy game.

Everybody, it seems, has an opinion on what would have happened.

Most of them disagreed with the outcome the dice-driven board game spit out: Ashland’s 1990 team defeating JAWS, 30-25.

However, all agreed it would have been an amazing game.

Mike Johnson, whose son Charlie was a punishing fullback on the ’90 team, had his own opinion.

“If anybody would have asked me, I’d have said 1967,” Johnson said. “We would have beaten either one of them.”

Mike Johnson started in the secondary for the state champion 1967 Tomcats, who finished 13-1. He was a junior that season and came back in ’68 as Ashland’s quarterback.

I’ve known Mike Johnson for many years but got close to him during my son’s Babe Ruth days about 10 years ago. He was coaching the Reds but every year also happened to coach the All-Stars. He was a great example who treated the players fairly and always reminded them what it was like to be a state champion since he was also a Little League and Babe Ruth champ.

Mike Johnson is an avid follower of all Ashland sports and always has been. His son, Mike and Charlie, were stars in football and his daughter Angie played for the Kittens and then the University of Louisville. She’s currently an assistant women’s coach at Florida State, where she has been for several years leading recruiting and academic efforts.

While talking with Mike Johnson before Ashland’s game, he mentioned something that he and Charlie accomplished that may be unique in Tomcat history. How many other father and sons can both claim being on a state championship football team?

I remember when Russell won its second state title in 2005 that there were several fathers who played for Ivan McGlone in 1978. It usually requires a 20- to 30-year age gap. There were 23 years between Mike’s title in ’67 and Charlie’s title in ’90.

I couldn’t recall another Ashland father-son combination although Doc Rice (’42 champs) and Randy Rice (’72 runner-up) came close. I may be missing somebody and, if that’s the case, let me know.

It was interesting seeing the players from the 1975 and 1990 teams as they lined up at halftime and were introduced. Both teams drew appreciative applause from the large crowd at the stadium. The biggest ovations came when Herb Conley and Juan Thomas took their bows.

Conley and Thomas are two larger-than-life figures in Tomcat history. They will be forever etched in Ashland lore.

Bill Tom Ross was also in the receiving line in a wheelchair. He was greeted warmly as well. Ross graduated from Catlettsburg and was a head coach at Boyd County (two different stints) and Raceland but he’s also stayed close to the Ashland program after cutting his coaching teeth with Conley.

Ross was an innovator and a motivator and Conley considered him an invaluable assistant during his days as Ashland’s head coach. Those who played under him have never forgotten him either.

It was also interesting to see the two teams meet and mingle before the game. You could almost feel the respect they had for each other.

Some of the ’90 players looked to have stayed in game shape even 20 years later. Coach Vic Marsh was there and exchanged hug after hug with players. The ’90 season was the highlight of a coaching career that saw him win more games than anybody else in Ashland history.

Rick Sang and Greg Jackson looked to be in the best playing shape of the ’75 team members who were at the game. Of course, Gen. Chuck Anderson may have put them all to shame if he could have made it. The JAWS quarterback couldn’t defend the Tomcat honor because he was busy defending the country during a tour in Iraq.

To be sure, it was a night of Tomcat legends — and at least one real American hero.

MARK MAYNARD can be reached at mmaynard@dailyindependent.

com or (606) 326-2648.