COAL GROVE - If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this DVD is a library.

With more than 700 pictures, the DVD "Coal Grove Hornets: Taking Back Tradition," is a photo story of the 2004 Coal Grove football season.

Photographer Howie McCormick of The Smoking Lens.com put together the DVD that follows the Hornets through their five-game Ohio Valley Conference run en route to a 7-3 season.

McCormick said the idea was prompted by the return of Coal Grove's winningest coach in school history, Dave Lucas.

"Knowing he's been gone and came back, I thought it would make a good story. And then I had a feeling he would have a good season," McCormick said.

And he and the Hornets did.

After five straight losing seasons's Coal Grove went 7-3 for its first winning season since Lucas retired.

"There was a chance they could win a championship, but at the least they would be in the race," McCormick said.

Once the season had ended, McCormick spent two months working on the editing of the photographs.

"Once I started putting the DVD together, it took about a week," McCormick said. "Doing a book would have taken longer and it would have been more expensive. I wanted it to be more affordable."

There are more than 100 photos from each Ohio Valley Conference game. Additional footage includes cheerleaders, a halftime show, a bonfire before homecoming and the alumni band plus a "Meet the Hornets" section that has a team photo and individual pictures of each player.

"If you have any attachment to this past season, I think it's something fans would want," McCormick said.

Interested persons can send a check or money order for $36.19 (tax and shipping included) to:

Taking Back Tradition

c/o The Smoking Lens

182 Township Road 1385

Proctorville, OH

45669

For additional information or to place orders for multiple copies, contact McCormick at 740-821-1466.