The Orthopaedic Clinic: Keeping Opelika-Auburn sports rivalry healthy
BY SAM VISE | FOR THE OBSERVER
AUBURN/OPELIKA — The roar of the crowd, the thud of helmets, the cheers of a community united — this is the sound of high school football. For nearly a century, one game has defined the spirit of high school football in this community: the storied rivalry between the Auburn High Tigers and the Opelika High Bulldogs.
It’s more than just a game; it’s a deep-rooted tradition that pits neighbors against neighbors, friends against friends and families against themselves, all in the spirit of friendly competition.
In a rivalry defined by tight scores, legendary moments and a shared history that stretches back to 1917, a different kind of player has emerged from the sidelines.
Each year, The Orthopaedic Clinic steps into the spotlight as a key sponsor. The clinic’s support for this historic game speaks to the staff’s deep commitment to the community, recognizing that on one Friday night in the fall, every person in the stadium is a potential patient, a neighbor and a vital part of the enduring spirit of Auburn and Opelika.
A 45-year tradition of care
The Orthopaedic Clinic’s involvement with the Auburn-Opelika rivalry is not a recent development but a long-standing tradition.
“We’ve been providing sports medicine coverage and care for athletes at local high schools for quite some time, Auburn and Opelika high schools in particular for 45 years — this is the 45th year that we’ve been providing sports medicine care for them,” said Dr. Trent Wilson, a surgeon at The Orthopaedic Clinic. “And so, what that looks like is we’re on the sidelines on Friday nights and seeing patients and taking care of on-the-field injuries, trying to keep these athletes safe and get them back to play as quickly and safely as possible.”
The partnership extends well beyond a single game. Wilson explained that the clinic’s program consists of orthopedic surgeons who provide care for the athletes, and athletic trainers who provide on-field support. The clinic works with 13 high schools across the area and has evolved its athletic training program since 1997.
“It’s kind of evolved as the profession and as the needs have evolved,” said Terry Rosenthal, the clinic’s CEO and an athletic trainer by trade. “We went from just stopping in and checking on schools to providing full-time athletic trainers.”
A rivalry beyond the field
The passion for the Auburn-Opelika rivalry is rooted in the unique connection between the two cities. Only nine miles apart, the communities are intertwined economically and socially, but the football game becomes the central stage for a friendly conflict.
According to Rosenthal, the game’s atmosphere is unlike any other he has experienced, even compared to college or professional football.
“These are two communities where, if you take a wrong turn on the highway, you go from one community to the other,” Rosenthal said. “You’ve got kids that grow up playing Little League Baseball against each other, and that just kind of builds and morphs into when they’re in high school.”
For Wilson, who grew up playing for Auburn High School, the rivalry is personal.
“I’ve played in many Auburn-Opelika games myself,” he said. “It’s kind of fun to be a part of it on the other side now and help keep these student-athletes healthy.”
This year, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) named the Auburn-Opelika game as the state’s biggest high school rivalry.
More than just a sponsorship
The clinic’s support goes far beyond financial contributions. They provide medical supplies and volunteer their time to be on the sidelines, ready to assist with any injuries.
“We want to get these kids seen, taken care of and evaluated quickly and on their road to recovery as soon as possible,” Wilson said.
The clinic facilitates this by having physicians on the field on Friday nights and holding a clinic on Saturday mornings to see injured athletes.
This dedication to local athletes extends year-round and to all sports, not just football. The clinic also provides free athletic physicals at both schools, a service that benefits hundreds of students and allows the schools to generate funds for their athletic departments.
“We’ve really tried to put an emphasis on being there year-long for all the sports,” Rosenthal said. “That child playing volleyball or playing cross country is just as important as the one playing football, and we try to embrace that.”
The clinic’s commitment even extends to those who aren’t players.
“We take care of cheerleaders,” Rosenthal said. “We’ve been known to have band members who get hurt on Friday nights that we take care of and will see on Saturday mornings.”
Memorable moments on the field
Both Wilson and Rosenthal have a treasure trove of memories from their years on the sidelines, many of which highlight the intense nature of the game. Wilson recalled a memory from his playing days.
“My favorite memory from Auburn-Opelika was when I broke my collarbone as a junior in high school,” he said. “I don’t think that classifies as a favorite.”
Rosenthal, with his background in athletic training, spoke about the memorable atmosphere and a few standout games.
“To me, one of the memories that sticks out is many years ago when this game was played at the end of the year […] it is the coldest high school football game I’ve ever been to in my life,” he said. “There have been some great last-minute games, like the region championships that have been decided.
“You just look at the facilities and the support that they get. It’s a tremendous rivalry, and I think it’s great for the communities and great for high school football,” Rosenthal continued.
Giving back to the community
While high school sports are a passion for the staff, they are a small part of the clinic’s overarching mission.
“Athletics is actually a small part of what we do,” Wilson said. “Most of what we do is older folks with degenerative conditions and arthritis and rotator cuff tears […] The high school athletes are actually a small percentage of what we do.”
Being on the sidelines at football games, which is entirely volunteer based, gives people a sense of comfort.
“I think it’s just important to the community to see that we care and we’re involved,” Rosenthal said. “We’re not paid by the schools to do any of this.”
He also said several other doctors have volunteered their time to perform physicals for the local park and recreation football programs, extending the clinic’s reach even further into the community.
This long-standing commitment to the health of the community has been carried on by a proud lineage of physicians, including Dr. Frank Thomas, Dr. James Whatley, Dr. Frazier Jones, Dr. Adam Dooley, Dr. Ronald Hillyer, Dr. Todd Sheils and Dr. Ryan Palmer, among others.
“It has been an honor and a privilege for me to serve the community for nine of the past 45 years,” Dooley said. “The relationships with the players, coaches and families have been most impactful. The Orthopaedic Clinic looks forward to continuing to serve for many years to come.”
