Ol' Abe - New turf coming!

[Favpack]

Just drove by and stopped in at Abe Martin. Dozers are flying - new turf coming! What an awesome site - the naysayers can whine all they want - Lufkin is coming of age - at least in the turf/scoreboard category. One of the coaches told me the construction crew is absolutely gettin' after it with these longer, dry days. Old drainage system coming up - new one going down - and then I guess it's turf time.

I think the State's fastest team just gained another step ;)

[ktCarl]

That's great Fav, but I still think real grass is better for the players ankles and knees.

[pack0808]

this is the new safe type turf that is said to be softer and safer then grass. this not the old school astroturf anymore. they have went bankrupt and are out of business. the only people using that old stuff are the ones that have not replaced it yet.

[Jtate862003]

no more mud games at ole abe....i still remember 2 yrs ago a game that lufkin vs tyler lee at lufkin that lee won in ot...that our cheerleaders did nose dives int he mud on that field :) So now i guess grass is a thing of the past! Safeplay is awesome tho...i think i liek it better than grass!

[pack0808]

that 2002 game made me ill jtate and to make things worst i got my truck stuck in the grass in front of the stadium. lol i just remember lufkin was ahead by 6 in overtime after missing a controversial 2 pt conversion and the pack stuffed tyler lee on on 3 consecutive plays to bring up a 4th down and long. one of the lb or cb missed an assignment and left a wr wide open for a td and rest is history. that was the last time lufkin lost at home by the way. once in the past 4 years.

[TheDuke]

Can't wait until we come to Ole Abe and win on the new field!! :D :D

[PantherPack]

Don't know about that one Duke.

[PackAttack2005]

Duke, we will be waiting for you. Abe is a tough place to play, besides The Woodlands does not play well on the road and Abe Martin will be three times the challenge.

Go Pack!!! :)

www.lufkinpanthersports.com

[Bootsdaddy]

Just drove by and stopped in at Abe Martin. Dozers are flying - new turf coming! What an awesome site - the naysayers can whine all they want - Lufkin is coming of age - at least in the turf/scoreboard category. One of the coaches told me the construction crew is absolutely gettin' after it with these longer, dry days. Old drainage system coming up - new one going down - and then I guess it's turf time.

I think the State's fastest team just gained another step ;)


You need to post this in "Sound-Off" No matter how many times there have been articles in the paper explaining that the old field needed $300K worth of work and the savings of $50K to $75K in maintenance every year and the prospect of additional playoff games and no tax dollars used the usual idiots call in to the Lufkin Daily News' "Sound-Off" almost daily.

[LP-79]

If you ever read sound-off you would realize idiot is to nice a word for some of them! Now if we could just get more seating, and wider seats at Abe I would like it. My old butt don't fit them seats like my young butt did!

[Bootsdaddy]

If you ever read sound-off you would realize idiot is to nice a word for some of them! Now if we could just get more seating, and wider seats at Abe I would like it. My old butt don't fit them seats like my young butt did!

I do my best not to read it but the Unintentional Comedy is pretty good sometime. About 2,000 more seats would be nice. I sit on the visitors side and they only covered the old wooden bleachers with aluminum about 3 years ago! Splinters!

Weren't they supposed to do something about the concession stands. I know when we play a team that travels well (Tyler Lee, Katy) your going to miss half of the third qtr standing in line.

[LPMOM]

If you ever read sound-off you would realize idiot is to nice a word for some of them! Now if we could just get more seating, and wider seats at Abe I would like it. My old butt don't fit them seats like my young butt did!

i do so miss "sound off"!!! it's comedy at a whole new level :D

[ktCarl]

this is the new safe type turf that is said to be softer and safer then grass. this not the old school astroturf anymore. they have went bankrupt and are out of business. the only people using that old stuff are the ones that have not replaced it yet.

I guess it's the same stuff that's in Katy's Rhoads Stadium and at the Alamodome.
When I first saw the stuff at Rhoads it looked like real grass. I've heard that there is small, granulated rubber or synthetic rubber all across the turf. It's fast but not like the ol' Astroturf. I guess it saves in maintenence costs.

[TheDuke]

Don't know about that one Duke.


Just stirring up the pot guys!! :D :D ;)

[TheDuke]

[QUOTE=PackAttack2005]Duke, we will be waiting for you. Abe is a tough place to play, besides The Woodlands does not play well on the road and Abe Martin will be three times the challenge.

Go Pack!!! :)

I know Abe will be difficult, but when we went to State 2 years back were all our games at home? :confused: :confused:

[CoppellCowboy57]

Coppell was one of the first schools in the State to get the New Turf almost 5 or 6yrs ago during our renovations. I loved playing on it in all 6ears of High School/Middle School football, never ever had a major injury caused by the turf, cept for turf burn when I had my bref stent as a TE

[KLH75287]

Just stirring up the pot guys!! :D :D ;)


It wont be long Brother. All I can say is buy your ticket as soon as you can, and get ready to be in the prescence of a legendary home crowd draped in purple and frothing at the mouth for victory. Ol' Abe is not recommended for the weak at heart.... :o

GO PACK IN '05

[Mr. Buddy Garrity]

I get chills just walking into the stadium.

[wide-e-wide]

[QUOTE=KLH75287]It wont be long Brother. All I can say is buy your ticket as soon as you can, and get ready to be in the prescence of a legendary home crowd draped in purple and frothing at the mouth for victory. Ol' Abe is not recommended for the weak at heart....

Did I miss something?
When did Abe Martin become South Bend or Ann Arbor?
And what is the legend associated with the home crowd...
did I not a get the memo?
gimme a break dude...now I have to wipe the cheeeeeze off of
my screen...

[Jtate862003]

Neither of you have any idea at all how hard it is to play there and absolutely 100% what a EXCELLENT atmosphere it is......the legend of the home crowd is just that...you can expect EVERYONE from LP to be decked out in the purple and white.....but i still have to say i have never been to a LP game like the one they had against Euless Trinity a few years back at rose stadium...........50 degrees pouring down rain.....after halftime HERE COMES REGGIE........the crowd chanting LP! LP! LP! LP! 95% of the second half...shoot i still get chill bumps just thinking about that game...........But just expect anytime you play at ABE to be out numbered and out done by the crowd and spirit! And when you play them at your house....expect them to have as many fans as the home team......

[PackAttack2005]

Scooter, you got a chill going to Ole Abe cause it was cold. I am from Lufkin too, but come on Ole Abe don't scare anyone, it's mainly the travel and the Lufkin fans on the visitor side that get them.

The old 32 year old place is getting a nice facelift this spring and summer, it won't be as scarey now without the barbed wire on the fence.

No seriously, the Lufkin home crowd is tough on visitors, we just don't give anyone any breaks when they step into Abe Martin to play. Now, if you want to see legendary, go to Ratliff Stadium out in Odessa. There you got 20,000 screaming fans, RV's parked everywhere, tailgate parties and BBQ cooking all over the place, now that is closer to Ann Arbor.

Abe Martin is going to be looking good in September and Scooter if you come up in October and November bring a jacket cause Ole Abe is a chilly place at night. ;)

[Mr. Buddy Garrity]

Scooter, you got a chill going to Ole Abe cause it was cold. I am from Lufkin too, but come on Ole Abe don't scare anyone, it's mainly the travel and the Lufkin fans on the visitor side that get them.

The old 32 year old place is getting a nice facelift this spring and summer, it won't be as scarey now without the barbed wire on the fence.

No seriously, the Lufkin home crowd is tough on visitors, we just don't give anyone any breaks when they step into Abe Martin to play. Now, if you want to see legendary, go to Ratliff Stadium out in Odessa. There you got 20,000 screaming fans, RV's parked everywhere, tailgate parties and BBQ cooking all over the place, now that is closer to Ann Arbor.

Abe Martin is going to be looking good in September and Scooter if you come up in October and November bring a jacket cause Ole Abe is a chilly place at night. ;)
Yeah, you got that right. I was freezing my butt off at that last LP game I went to. Then it really sucked cuz I had to sit on Longview's side. UGH!

[Mr. Buddy Garrity]

Neither of you have any idea at all how hard it is to play there and absolutely 100% what a EXCELLENT atmosphere it is......the legend of the home crowd is just that...you can expect EVERYONE from LP to be decked out in the purple and white.....but i still have to say i have never been to a LP game like the one they had against Euless Trinity a few years back at rose stadium...........50 degrees pouring down rain.....after halftime HERE COMES REGGIE........the crowd chanting LP! LP! LP! LP! 95% of the second half...shoot i still get chill bumps just thinking about that game...........But just expect anytime you play at ABE to be out numbered and out done by the crowd and spirit! And when you play them at your house....expect them to have as many fans as the home team......
Man that was the game of the year in 2001 for any classification! :D



REGGIE! REGGIE! REGGIE!

[Shoot2thrill]

Now, if you want to see legendary, go to Ratliff Stadium out in Odessa. There you got 20,000 screaming fans, RV's parked everywhere, tailgate parties and BBQ cooking all over the place, now that is closer to Ann Arbor.

You haven't been to Ratliff the past few years. They have some very sparse crowds there now. I will agree with you though. It truly was something to see- especially when they played Lee. Lee will still bring out a BIG crowd I am sure due to the rivalry. :cool:

[jtk1519]

You haven't been to Ratliff the past few years. They have some very sparse crowds there now. I will agree with you though. It truly was something to see- especially when they played Lee. Lee will still bring out a BIG crowd I am sure due to the rivalry. :cool:

They still draw crowds for the Permian/Odessa game. It was either last year or the year before that they drew somewhere in the neighborhood of 22,000 fans. Not bad when you consider that neither team has been competitive for the better part of a decade.

[PackAttack2005]

To be honest with you it has been about 10 years ago or more. Mojo and Lee were still going strong. The crowd was okay maybe 15,000, but I was more impressed by the RV's and all the tailgate cooking going on. It had the feel of a college game.

Ratliff Stadium is a big HS stadium with lots of parking in the wide open spaces.

I still prefer things on the East side of the state, it's just me.

[Bootsdaddy]

Abe Martin is a very good atmosphere and its tough for visiting teams to win there but I agree with Wide. Let's not go overboard! If you are visiting though be prepared to be surrounded by Lufkin fans on the visitor side. I know people hate that!

[wide-e-wide]

I agree Boots...it's tough for visitors because of all the folks (loud folks)
that come out to support the Pack. But when these guys start saying stuff about "legendary" and "not for the weak at heart" they just sound stupid.

[Shoot2thrill]

To be honest with you it has been about 10 years ago or more. Mojo and Lee were still going strong. The crowd was okay maybe 15,000, but I was more impressed by the RV's and all the tailgate cooking going on. It had the feel of a college game.

Ratliff Stadium is a big HS stadium with lots of parking in the wide open spaces.

I still prefer things on the East side of the state, it's just me.

Pack...it is still my favorite stadium to witness games in even though I live in Abilene. There is something about Ratliff that appeals to me- maybe it is the thought of all the state champs that have played in that stadium. I have seen far more losses there than wins so you would think that I would hate it. You know SLC thinks they travel well. Nothing compares to Mojo in the 80's.
When they would play at Shotwell, the parking lot would be full of black Winnebagos and Suburbans with the Permian logo all over them. Then their side of the stadium would be a sea of black. And they had to travel 160 miles not for a playoff game but a district game. Even though we were often pummeled, it still was a sight to see. Back in 1985 (I believe that was the year), Mojo came to Shotwell # 1 in the state (a perch they were quite used to over a 15 year period) and AHS was 3-0 as well after beating Longview. We had a defense that was superior to last year's D in my opinion. Final score was 7-7. No OT on those days. I took great pleasure in watching those Mojo fans load up with their tails between their legs and face that 160 mile drive home! :cool:

[pack0808]

hey wide abe has become a stadium teams dread coming to. i have seen great teams look horrible there but it was mostly due to the team they were playing. it is a very rare site to see lufkin lose at home now. very rare!! i would not want to come there if i was on another team.

[wide-e-wide]

I know dude...it just sounded kinda corny to me..."weak at heart"
Like the next words were gonna be " the frozen tundra... Lambeau field"
It's a tough place to play because of rabid fans and good LP teams... but the stadium is still the same (bleep)-hole we played in back in the day.

Wonder what they did with all of those old Panther Rocks?...remember those?

[Bootsdaddy]

I know dude...it just sounded kinda corny to me..."weak at heart"
Like the next words were gonna be " the frozen tundra... Lambeau field"
It's a tough place to play because of rabid fans and good LP teams... but the stadium is still the same (bleep)-hole we played in back in the day.

Wonder what they did with all of those old Panther Rocks?...remember those?

I think those Panther Rocks went to a place out on 69N! Corny! Hey, Culpepper was trying-traditions had to start somewhere. Culpepper, I think, kind of started the revival of Lufkin's program. He was not as good a coach as Outlaw, though. Obviously!

[LPMOM]

I know dude...it just sounded kinda corny to me..."weak at heart"
Like the next words were gonna be " the frozen tundra... Lambeau field"
It's a tough place to play because of rabid fans and good LP teams... but the stadium is still the same (bleep)-hole we played in back in the day.

Wonder what they did with all of those old Panther Rocks?...remember those?


one of those rocks went to the burger king (the one close to crown colony). it might have been moved by now, but it was there. maybe someone from lufkin can drive by and check it out.

[pack4life]

I am pretty sure its still there, but not too sure, i dont really take notice, because i don't eat there very often..

[PackAttack2005]

Most of those old Panther rocks are located in front of Easley's Steel Fabricators on Hwy 69N, they are right by the highway, you can still see the purple paint on those things. I am gald they were moved shortly after Culpepper left town, they were an eyesore.

I am sorry, Culpepper did not start the revitalization of the Panther programs, John Outlaw will get full credit for where the Lufkin program is today. Culpepper did more harm than good for Lufkin athletics and wasted lots of good talent along the way. He did not have good character and his record at Lufkin was not much better. Except for the 1988 team that went 10-4, Culpepper was mediocre at best. In his eight years at Lufkin, he was 49-29-7. The man that succeeded him, Jim Slaughter record was worse, only 14-18-1 in his three years at Lufkin. That's because Culpepper left him nothing to work with. Now, Outlaw's record speaks for itself, since he arrived in 1995, he is 95-30-1, big difference.

Culpepper was all about himself, he never worked for the kids or with the teachers, administration or booster organizations, it was all about him. He left Lufkin athletics in shambles when he finally decided he had to leave town or be fired.

[TheDuke]

I am just hoping it is big because we follow just as bad as Lufkin does and I have been hearing that Abe doesn't hold that many people. Tell me this Pack fans, is it bigger then Moorehead Stadium?

[pack0808]

lufkin holds almost 10 thousand i am pretty sure?? that is pretty normal for a 5a stadium. lufkin could probably fill up 15 thou on a consistent basis though.

[pack4life]

Drove by the fields today, looks like there is quite a bit of water on abe martin, which is all dirt right now...

[wide-e-wide]

Uhhh...yeah ...rain tends to do that.

[PackAttack2005]

Those guys working to the field don't waste any time. They pumped all the water off and had some of the earth moving machines working this afternoon.

Drainage system will go in starting this week. The foreman told me that with a little luck the field could be ready sometime in mid-July.

I am told they have 9333 tickets to sell for each game, not counting the areas used by the bands. The stadium will hold approx. 9960+ and allow up to 3500 fans extra in the grass areas by city ordinance. There are about 6500 season tickets on the home side at Abe.