howeenterprise.com
Monday, August 17, 2015
Page #13
Q and A with 80-year-old Bulldog Stadium
Bulldog Stadium in 2014 Q: What do you remember about that first season? A: Well, sonny boy, I’m 80-yearsold, so my memory isn’t what it used to be. But I was just taking a nap one day when all of a sudden this man with the biggest feet I’d ever seen came tromping around and cutting the weeds. I was just full of Johnson grass at that time. This feller’s name was Barnes Milam and he had played for the Philadelphia Eagles and I’m telling you his foot was a size 16 or some such. It hurt when he walked around. Anyway, this feller became Howe’s first head coach back in that first year of 1935.
endzone in pregame and it must have did something to me. It wasn’t long after that I had some vein work done. They tore me open and put this great big pipe down the middle of my chest. After that, I couldn’t control my stadium bladder and I’d tinkle all over myself at the exact same times every day. It was so embarrassing, but now everyone likes it because the grass stays greener. Q: Who was the first star player? A: That first year in 1935 was amazing. I’d never seen football before. I imagine Howe started playing football because of this kid Billy Bryant Cloud. He was amazing. He ran so fast, I never even felt him. It was 50 years or so before anyone else could do what he did. That Geer and Ogle kid came close, but nothing was more special than the first one.
Easton had those picks – I remember his dad was quite the player too. Lots of memories. Lots of memories. Yeah boy. Q: How do you remain so active as the oldest stadium anywhere around? A: Well, I take a lot of nitrogen now-a-days which keeps me healthy. Most stadiums around here have passed on. Sherman’s is almost as old as me. Denison is close too, but they just about made a robot out of that guy. Everyone wants a young whipper-snapper with all of these fancy seats and scoreboards. People think you need to trick everything up these days with fake grass and spread offenses and adding that darn red to our colors. I tell you what I’m for, sonny boy. I’m for real grass, running the football and black and white.
myself go. But I’m back to feeling great and I’ve seen more people lately than ever before. You know I had my knee replaced, right? Yeah, they took out the old one and built a new fieldhouse. That did wonders for me. I sure am grateful for those people who put in the track 35 years ago or so. I used to get lonely. But now people come see me all year. I was sure glad to see the varsity practice here last year in the playoffs. I only get five special nights a year and I like to welcome everyone the best I can. This year is the all-school reunion so I’ll be cleaned up real good. Since I’m 80, I ramble on sometimes so just stop me whenever. What’s Norman Dickey doing these days? He used to spend a lot of time here, but I hardly see him now. He’s probably hanging out with Buck Rose. Is he still fishing? Yeah boy. I used to have a stock tank. Tracy Beaty and... (cut off by question)
Q: How did you feel when they stopped playing football from Q: How do you feel about the 1948-1958? recent upgrades that you’ve A: Abandoned. It was the worst received? time of my stadium life. There A: I think it’s great. There for a used to be this old junk yard just while I was smelling like one of west of where the field houses are those cats at the corner of 75 and now. I had to look at that and be 82. A nice young man named reminded that I was a part of that Hudson helped clean me up. But Q: What are the best games that Q: Have you ever thought of the junk yard. But then Mr. Charles I’m telling you, he’s pretty strict on you remember? possibility of turf? Thompson showed up one day and me. He gets mad when I have just A: Well, that homecoming game in A: Why in tarnation would I do they started putting light poles up. one weed. He makes me comb my ’88 when it was raining so hard. I that? I have a full head of hair at I knew something special was about hair five times a day. I don’t think had mud in my eyes and I couldn’t age 80? You want me to look like to happen. I didn't figure they'd I’ve had anyone pay me this much see the Hail Mary, but I heard that Trump guy? Or Rand Paul? make me some youth soccer field. attention since I was 50 or so. He’s everyone yelling. Also the next I’m a real stadium. Yeah boy. I just knew I'd be the home of the definitely been great for me. He year we hosted a playoff game. Bulldogs again and it came true in keeps me looking good and I just They put a bow tie on me and Q: What has it been like to have so '58. Yeah boy, this kid named call him Mr. Sir and try to keep dressed me up real nice. I got a many people visit you every Friday Arterbury was pretty good. I've clean. clean shave and everything. That night each fall? been here ever since. Later on we sure was some night. Then that A: It’s so much fun to see got Norman Dickey. Me and him Q: What was the most game vs. Bells in ’90. That was a everyone. And it’s so much better spent a lot of time together. He had embarrassing moment for you? true humdinger. Yeah boy. Last now that I look good again. There the first field house built in '66. I A: Well, you see, those kids of the year vs. Tom Bean was a recordfor a while, other teams were could tell you some stories about 80’s used to leave coins all in the setter with all of those yards. embarrassed of me. I had just let Norman. Yeah boy.
