Art Briles

[IndianFan]

Good for Art Briles. Great coach and a historic name in Stephenville. For whatever he was demonized for in the past, I’m sure he regrets it.

Stephenville ISD names new football stadium after Art Briles

Stephenville ISD is naming its new stadium after former Baylor head football coach Art Briles.

www.kwtx.com

I toured Stephenville ISD’s new ‘Champions Stadium’ and this is what I learned about the impressive $40 million project.

By SARA VANDEN BERGE I got a little dusty this morning when I met Stephenville ISD Superintendent Dr. Eric Cederstrom for a personalized tour of the district’s new football stadium. My boys are both grown now and no longer play football for the Yellow Jackets, but that doesn’t mean getting an...

www.beneaththesurfacenews.com

 

[rush]

Briles deserves it!
Just waiting on PNG to name their stadium "Doug Ethridge Stadium." I'm surprised it hasn't already happened.

 

[PNG Proud]

Briles deserves it!
Just waiting on PNG to name their stadium "Doug Ethridge Stadium." I'm surprised it hasn't already happened.

IDK... As good as he was, "The Reservation" has a certain mystique about it.

 

[IndianFan]

It could end up being Jeff Joseph Stadium before it’s all said and done. In some ways he’s already surpassed Ethridge or soon will, and is just getting started.

All Time Head Coaches - PN-G Indians Football

Coaching Leaders Years Coached – Matt Burnett (15) Games Coached – Matt Burnett (161) Wins – Brandon Faircloth (102) Winning % – Jeff Joseph (88.9%), Lewis Ford (78.8%) District Championships – Brandon Faircloth, Matt Burnett, Gene McCollum (5 each) Playoff Games Won – Doug Ethridge (15), Jeff...

www.pngindians.com

 

[rush]

IDK... As good as he was, "The Reservation" has a certain mystique about it.

The Briles situation is Art Briles stadium and Mike Copeland field. So keep the "Reservation" for the stadium and name the field after Ethridge.

 

[1989NDN]

Thankfully, we still have www.pngindians.com to see how great Coach Ethridge truly was during his 11 years as Chief of the PN-G Tribe. 11-0 vs. Nederland. 7-4 vs. Thomas Jefferson. Four consecutive years of reaching the semi-finals when only one team made the playoffs. President of the Texas HSCA. He put PN-G on top of the world. All that said, I would never give up the name, "The Reservation." The politically correct crowd may say, Indian Stadium or the PN-G Football Stadium, but in my house, we say---The Reservation. The Ethridge Family Student Center (practice facility) has a nice ring to it.

 

[IndianFan]

True and nothing will ever take away from his legacy. But I’ll take current and future greatness over the past. As much as loved it while living it, I’d like to see Port Neches-Groves soar past that 70’s era. As such I see a lot of upside to focusing recognition on our current coach. We are living in great times again. And I hope no one short circuits it by being too free with criticism of the coaching effort. Current players have a chance to grab personal greatness, build on the current success and continue the PNG winning legacy. In that spirit, maybe any future new stadium or renamed stadium should be called Legacy Stadium. With tributes around every corner of past great coaches and teams. Would really like to see a HOF type room become a reality.

 

[IndianFan]

PNGISD Stadium - Doug Ethridge Field has a nice ring to it. ‘Unofficially’ known as The Reservation. Then you could have something like the McCollum-Ford Field House. And the Tip Durham Press box. And if we ever had an indoor facility, maybe the Bum and Wade Phillips All Purpose Facility. But if the upward trajectory and high level continues, be prepared to give the Joseph name due credit.

Lots of possibilities.

 

[Xcrystalbeachbum]

There are many great coaches in the past and many to come, but there is only one "The Reservation" for me. Just my 2 cents.

 

[tony79]

There are many great coaches in the past and many to come, but there is only one "The Reservation" for me. Just my 2 cents.

Great point
People come and go but the Indian nation goes on and The Reservation is where it's done for all.

 

[#1 NDN FAN]

Briles deserves it!
Just waiting on PNG to name their stadium "Doug Ethridge Stadium." I'm surprised it hasn't already happened.

I agree! I've been hoping for 30 years to see the stadium named for Ethridge.

 

[#1 NDN FAN]

It could end up being Jeff Joseph Stadium before it’s all said and done. In some ways he’s already surpassed Ethridge or soon will, and is just getting started.

All Time Head Coaches - PN-G Indians Football

Coaching Leaders Years Coached – Matt Burnett (15) Games Coached – Matt Burnett (161) Wins – Brandon Faircloth (102) Winning % – Jeff Joseph (88.9%), Lewis Ford (78.8%) District Championships – Brandon Faircloth, Matt Burnett, Gene McCollum (5 each) Playoff Games Won – Doug Ethridge (15), Jeff...

www.pngindians.com

It’s WAY too soon to be thinking about naming a stadium or creating a memorial for Joseph. There’s no guarantee that the success he had the last two years will carry on into the future, or that he will even stay at the Reservation for 11 years like Ethridge did, although I certainly hope he does!

I think it’s a shame we haven’t named the stadium, or at least the football field, after Doug Ethridge. After all, this whole mania surrounding PN-G football all began with Ethridge in the 1970s, and has carried on into the 21st century. At the time we called it “Indian fever.” As 1989NDN pointed out, Ethridge took the Indians to four consecutive district championships and four straight semifinals appearances at a time when only the district champ qualified for the playoffs. If not for a couple of unfortunate breaks in the 1974 and 1976 semifinals, we could have had four consecutive trips to the state finals under Ethridge.

And let’s not forget about the crowds that filled the Astrodome and Texas Stadium to watch Ethridge’s PN-G teams. I remember how proud I felt seeing people from Beaumont and the surrounding communities cheer for us. I was surprised to meet people who lived in other parts of Texas, far from the Golden Triangle, who knew about Port Neches-Groves and followed us in their sports media. We still have incredible fan support, but we haven’t broken any attendance records, like we regularly did then, in a very long time.

I suspect that the vast majority of those who are active members of this message board remember those “glory years” under Ethridge. A memorial like Ethridge Field, to the man who made it all possible, should have happened long ago. If not for those four thrilling, memorable years when PN-G football was dominant in Texas, I doubt that this message board would ever have existed in the first place, or continued on for 24 straight years! On that note, thank you IndianFan for all that you do for us!

 

[IndianFan]

It’s WAY too soon to be thinking about naming a stadium or creating a memorial for Joseph. There’s no guarantee that the success he had the last two years will carry on into the future, or that he will even stay at the Reservation for 11 years like Ethridge did, although I certainly hope he does!

I think it’s a shame we haven’t named the stadium, or at least the football field, after Doug Ethridge. After all, this whole mania surrounding PN-G football all began with Ethridge in the 1970s, and has carried on into the 21st century. At the time we called it “Indian fever.” As 1989NDN pointed out, Ethridge took the Indians to four consecutive district championships and four straight semifinals appearances at a time when only the district champ qualified for the playoffs. If not for a couple of unfortunate breaks in the 1974 and 1976 semifinals, we could have had four consecutive trips to the state finals under Ethridge.

And let’s not forget about the crowds that filled the Astrodome and Texas Stadium to watch Ethridge’s PN-G teams. I remember how proud I felt seeing people from Beaumont and the surrounding communities cheer for us. I was surprised to meet people who lived in other parts of Texas, far from the Golden Triangle, who knew about Port Neches-Groves and followed us in their sports media. We still have incredible fan support, but we haven’t broken any attendance records, like we regularly did then, in a very long time.

I suspect that the vast majority of those who are active members of this message board remember those “glory years” under Ethridge. A memorial like Ethridge Field, to the man who made it all possible, should have happened long ago. If not for those four thrilling, memorable years when PN-G football was dominant in Texas, I doubt that this message board would ever have existed in the first place, or continued on for 24 straight years! On that note, thank you IndianFan for all that you do for us!

No doubt they were glorious years and Ethridge, his staff and the players on those teams will always be legendary figures. But the legends won’t stop there and are in progress as we speak. Ethridge had an amazing 4 year run, but was 36-32 at PN-G before and beyond that. Joseph is working on another amazing streak and will be equally remembered if he does the same.

As far as this message board existing, it would definitely have regardless of the 70’s streak. The motivation to start this and the website was sparked by the 1999 season, but was preceded by fascination of the years prior to 1974 as well. It became obvious that depending on the local media was not sufficient to obtain a PN-G information fix.

This PN-G Indian grew up wearing a #24 Jeff ‘The Jet’ Bergeron jersey on the backyard and sandlot football fields. And of course the 50’s with coaches McCollum, Ford and great players like LeBoeuf, Laborde and many others were the glory days before Ethridge’s time. Every era has its legends and lore and Doug Ethridge and the coaches and players from that era are at the top.

The desire to keep the message board around is a living, daily motivation that is confirmed by fan interest. There are not a lot of high schools that have a dedicated web site and public forum. Statewide or national. PN-G is as deserving of both as any program on the planet and I hope the availability and interest remains long after we’re gone from the scene. I’ll always plan and do what it takes to make that happen.

Just one opinion…

Hall of Honor - PN-G Indians Football

There is no official list of greatest players, but based on performance and accolades, the individuals listed here are arguably among the best to ever play or coach at Port Neches-Groves High School. PLAYERS Don Miller (1948-1950) – Offensive Lineman, All-State 1950. The first Port Neches...

www.pngindians.com

Wrinkle-Ford Creative Arts

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