Playoff Memories

[IndianFan]

I think a lot of us remember the playoff trips to Houston or Dallas back in the day. Caravans of cars with purple and white streamers, bumper and window stickers as well as windows covered with various phrases in support of the team. Stories tell that the caravan stretched for miles and miles. A lot of people even had the custom horn that played the first few notes of Cherokee. Man those were the times. As a kid making the trip with my Dad to Texas Stadium, I put my Indian bank on a yard stick and displayed it in the back window of Dad’s ‘74 Chevy truck. Special times. Special memories. We are blessed to be associated with PN-G and it’s communities. A history and standard built by generations of good people before us. And carried forward with new generations. May God bless all on this Thanksgiving day and tomorrow as this era of PNG football, coaches and players strive to make their own great history.

Thank you to new coaches Joseph, McDaniel and McCrary… Bradley, Parsons and Wilson and all the other dedicated coaches who have been here for years. All have worked hard to help the 2022 team succeed this far.


This is a relic that made the trip to Texas Stadium in 1977.

 

[PNGIndian75]

Very Well Said IndianFan!!! I'm with you all the way, sounds like we may be the same age, graduated in '75.

 

[IndianFan]

Several years behind you but from the same football era for sure. Those were the glory football years in many ways and more innocent times in general. I’d take the 70s over current times without thinking twice!
It’s important for younger folks to hear some of the tales from those times and earlier. To me that’s what the Tradition part of honor, pride, tradition means. Not the Indian related stuff. The tradition is the history of the schools, people and communities. The excellence that everyone strives to reach. The hard work, determination and ethical play that Ethridge and his staff, and those coaches before him instilled. How everyone united to stand behind the students and players and represent the community with pride. That’s what Honor, Pride, Tradition means. And now the communities have a chance to do the same again.

 

[Usedtocould]

I believe I tried to talk my parents into that statue (may have had one)

 

[IndianFan]

I believe I tried to talk my parents into that statue (may have had one)

That was a bank from one of the local institutions. I can’t check it because it was dropped and ruined years ago.

 

[Usedtocould]

I’m 90% I had it

 

[1990NDN]

I remember as a kid getting in the car in the middle of the night and leaving to go to Texas Stadium. If I'm not mistaken it was PNG vs Odessa Permian in the State Championship. It was cold and rainy on the way. Had a group of cars all following each other. I remember when they opened the gates back then it was a free for all and you better be ready to run to get your seats. So much fun.

I played on the 89 team which returned to the Astrodome after so many years. I'll never forget walking out of the tunnel to see the size of the crowd and all the signs etc. I happened to make a pretty big play in the game against Lamar Consolidated and I'll never forget when I stood up, I could physically feel the sound on the field from the crowd roar. I remember every hair on my body stood up from the power and feeling of the sound hitting me. It was incredible and something I'll never forget.

PNG fans are special.

 

[PNG Proud]

I was in the band my Sr. year that we won state. Was such fun times, playing in the Dome and TX Stadium. Lifetime of memories, no doubt.

 

[Xcrystalbeachbum]

<<<<<<Guess what I found packed away???? Oh yea!!!!! Go Indians!

 

[IndianFan]

Flashback to the big playoff crowds, and a look at overall state attendance records.
Keep in mind that the state championship playoff games where the PNG-Plano record was surpassed, are now an amalgamation of several games. Fans can pay once and stay for as many games as they want. The 1977 PNG-Plano attendance record was only those two teams and will likely never be surpassed as the single game record.

Texas High School Football All-Time Highest Attendance - PN-G Indians Football

Statewide Records 54,347, Allen vs. Pearland, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, 2013 52,308, Allen vs Cypress Ranch, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, 2014 49,953, Plano vs. Port Neches-Groves, Texas Stadium, Irving, 1977 *Single Game Record 48,421, Longview vs Beaumont West Brook, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, 2018...

www.pngindians.com

 

[IndianFan]

I hate to upset any Gen X, Y or Z’ers here, but the Greatest, Silent and Baby Boomer generations made up one hell of a football following that was present through the 50’s, 70’s, 80’s and even 90’s and beyond. There are always exceptions, but some lessons can be learned from them about properly supporting a football team.

 

[Indian99]

My Boomer dad once told me that the talent and having what it takes to get to the state championship is generational specifically in our town, evident by the successful deep playoff runs we’ve seen in the 50’s, 70’s, late 90’s, and now. A couple outliers sprinkled in there, but the numbers makes sense for the most part.

 

[pngfanatic]

My Boomer dad once told me that the talent and having what it takes to get to the state championship is generational specifically in our town, evident by the successful deep playoff runs we’ve seen in the 50’s, 70’s, late 90’s, and now. A couple outliers sprinkled in there, but the numbers makes sense for the most part.

It is interesting how we seem to find the right combination of talent and coaches to make long playoff runs every 20-25 years.

 

[PNGIndian75]

I hate to upset any Gen X, Y or Z’ers here, but the Greatest, Silent and Baby Boomer generations made up one hell of a football following that was present through the 50’s, 70’s, 80’s and even 90’s and beyond. There are always exceptions, but some lessons can be learned from them about properly supporting a football team.

I agree IndianFan, I remember driving from Corpus Christi to the Astrodome in 1989 for playoff games. Ten years later in 1999, I drove from Cincinnati to Houston Astrodome for the state championship game against Stephenville. That was the game the Astrodome officials decided to open the upper deck the only time for a High School Football game just to accommodate the huge PN-G crowd. I miss those days terribly and have always loved and supported the PN-G Indians. Glad to be back living in Texas now in retirement and I will be at the game in Galena Park this Friday with 3 family members.

 

[IndianFan]

My Boomer dad once told me that the talent and having what it takes to get to the state championship is generational specifically in our town, evident by the successful deep playoff runs we’ve seen in the 50’s, 70’s, late 90’s, and now. A couple outliers sprinkled in there, but the numbers makes sense for the most part.

True. I wasn’t around in the 50s, but the 70s teams were a special group. Those guys won at every level and they were bad dudes. Multiple players received Division I scholarships. Coaches included Ethridge, Greg Davis, Bruce Bush who were all or became legendary coaches. Coach Troy, Bush, Clearman, Wynn, Hooper and others were excellent position coaches. Those coaches could motivate a player to run through a wall.

Malone and the 1989 team and Burnett’s 1999 group were also exceptional.

PN-G has always had some outstanding players. And many more who may have not received the recognition but made a big difference.

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