AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2007 > October > 10 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTake 10: Houses of horror
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Watching the Florida-LSU game last weekend, witnessing the sheer intimidation factor of Tiger Stadium at night, we at Take Ten couldn’t help but think, “Which high school stadiums in Georgia can stand up to Tiger Stadium in an ability to make opponents want to turn the bus around before they even hit the field?”
So we set out to answer the question. There are a lot of stadiums in Georgia, but only a few have been a house of horrors for the opposition. These are places where opponents rarely escape unscathed. Maybe it’s because of ghosts. Maybe it’s because of the crowd. Or maybe it’s just bad hot dogs.
Some of the stadiums on this list surprised us, as did some of the ones that didn’t make the list. We looked at the past 10 years and tried to identify teams that were nearly unbeatable at home and significantly better at home than on the road.
At last, here it is. Don’t go into these places without a helmet.
10: Jackson’s Red Devil Hill
The Red Devils are in the midst of the best 10-year stretch in school history, and even with a subpar start to this season, seeing that wild-eyed, pitchfork-wielding red devil at midfield still has to make opponents’ hearts skip a beat. Jackson wins more than three out of every four games at home, while losing more than one out of three on the road.
9: Thomson’s The Brickyard
The brick wall around the perimeter adds to the ambiance here, where the Bulldogs have won more than 82 percent of their games since 1997. Between 2000 and 2002, they won 16 straight home games, and they haven’t lost more than two home games in a season since 1994.
8: Statesboro’s Womack Stadium
It was refurbished last year, but that didn’t make it any easier to win for those who made the lonely ride down I-16. The Blue Devils had a 22-game home winning streak from 1999-2002, including a state championship game in 2001.
7: Washington County’s House of Pain
Winning the prize for the most aptly-named stadium is Washington County. They shoot off an old cannon every time they score, and they put up tombstones for every team they beat. All this seems to make a difference in the past 10 years. The Golden Hawks are have won 86 percent of their home games while only winning at a 68 percent clip on the road.
6: Commerce’s Tiger Stadium
Between the glowing green lights and the fabled “Run down the hill,” there seems to be something going on here. The population of Commerce just about doubles every Friday night, and the atmosphere is a little crazy. The Tigers are 59-9 (.868) at home since 1997 and just 45-22 (.672) on the road.
5: Lowndes’ Martin Stadium
This place is loud. You probably can’t hear your radio if you drive by the stadium on the interstate on a Friday night. It’s also huge. We’re not sure if The Concrete Palace is the most flattering nickname for the place, but it seems fitting all the same. Lowndes only gets nipped about once a year here.
4: Northside-Warner Robins’ McConnell-Talbert Stadium
Of course, Northside isn’t the only team that plays here, but the Eagles have clearly made it into a home during the past decade. Sure, this team would win a lot of games playing in a vat of quicksand, but they’ve been practically unbeatable at home. They’re 73-5 at home in the past 10 years and haven’t lost a regular-season home game to anyone other than Warner Robins since 1997.
3: Valdosta’s Bazemore-Hyder Stadium
No, the team hasn’t been quite as good lately. Yes, the stadium was finally renovated. But this is still Valdosta, and the Ghost still lurks in the East end zone. Nobody goes here without knowing the history of the place on some level. It may not be the hands-down toughest place to win right now, but a 5-0 home start to this season isn’t hurting its cause.
2: Thomas County Central’s Jackets’ Nest
Few crowds can compare to TCC’s in terms of enthusiasm. The Jackets had won a state-record 27 consecutive home playoff games before losing to St. Pius in the quarterfinals last season. But the real kicker is here: Since 1997, the Jackets are 55-11 at home (.833) and 39-25 on the road (.609). There’s something about this crowd and the Nest that turns TCC into an elite team at its home stadium.
1: Marist’s Hughes-Spalding Stadium
The place seems innocent enough. Old-style concrete stands, the school flanking the East side of the field. No shooting cannons. No intimidating-sounding name like “The Eagles’ Claw Sharpener” or whatever. Just victories. An astounding number of victories. Marist is 68-3 at home since 1997, with all three losses coming to Tucker. If there’s a better home record in the state during that time period, Take Ten can’t find it. The Eagles lose one out of every 23 or so home games while losing more than one in four on the road. If Marist ever figures Tucker out, the Eagles may never lose another game there.
Go on. Take Ten. Yeah, I know. We left YOUR stadium off the list. So why should it be there? What makes it so tough to win there? And why should we bump one of these guys off the list? Jump in the fray and let us know.
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Comments
By bgloyd
October 10, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this
I know they havent been good in the past but watch out for East Paulding. Undefeated so far this year. They havent lost in the Bone Yard in 2 years.
By Thomaston Dawg
October 10, 2007 10:52 AM | Link to this
Manchester, but simply because of the fans. If you go there and win, it’s very likely you will get multiple items thrown at you on the way out.
By Jeff
October 10, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this
I’ll plug Cass again. Even I might not rank it in the Top 10, but it deserves a mention.
With the Civil War history of the area, the mascot being a Civil War style Colonel, and the fact that they have a genuine Civil War reenactor fire his cannon after every TD - I haven’t seen Washington County’s cannon, but Cass’s LITERALLY rattles windows in both the school, visitor, and home parking lots! - it gets downright SPOOKY!
Matter of fact, I remember working the down marker on the night of the Banneker game in 2004. Whichever team won was going to the playoffs. If Cass did it, it would be the second time in school history. My little bro was the starting center. Between the cannon smoke and the genuine fog that began hanging low to the ground, it started to get to where the PLAYERS could barely see - much less the crowd! It seemed that night that the very ghosts of the Civil War were there waging war once again.
BTW: Cass prevailed and went to the playoffs, long before they had ever heard of Richard Samuel. (They got pretty soundly beaten in the first round, but hey - they went!)
By Pat
October 10, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this
Lincoln County’s Buddy Bufford Stadium
By Jeff Haws
October 10, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this
Nice story about Cass, Jeff. That’s pretty cool.
Another thing I didn’t have room for in the story was talking about which teams surprisingly didn’t make this list.
A few teams I really thought would make it when I started were Parkview, Lincoln County, LaGrange and Carrollton.
Parkview and LaGrange have the best case of any of them.
Parkview is 63-9 at home since 1997. Their only problem is that they’ve also won more than 80% away from home. Basically, the same with LaGrange (62-8 at home, 50-12 on the road) The small difference makes me think they’re just a great team. Of course, if they had been just a little better at home, I would have included them anyway.
Lincoln County has been very good at home (67-13) but almost identical on the road (61-16). Nothing there indicates Lincoln County gets better when you put them on their home field.
Carrollton was one of the more interesting ones. They’ve been good at home (54-12), but they were almost actually better on the road, sitting at 53-15. They win a lot of games wherever they play, but they don’t seem to be any tougher on their home field.
By Puddin
October 10, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this
THE GRANITE BOWL! Elbert County. As a young lad at Parkview walking into that place scared the face mask right off my helmet. We thought at any minute lions were going to come out of the tunnel.
By JaxDawgFan
October 10, 2007 11:56 AM | Link to this
I live in Florida now, but I grew up in LaGrange. My brother & I graduated from Troup while both my husband and sister-in-law went to LaGrange (yeah, mixed marriages, I know).
Back in the 80’s and 90’s, Griffin was a tough stadium for the opposing fans. For one LaGrange-Griffin game, it hadn’t rained anywhere in the area for weeks, yet their field was a mud pit. And when LaGrange won, the buses had to take an alternate route out of town to avoid getting hit by stuff thrown by fans standing on the side of the road. My husband personally got hit with a milkshake thrown through the bus window from a local Burger King!
There is nothing like high school football in Georgia. It’s just not the same here in the Sunshine State -Friday nights aren’t the same.
By linda morrison
October 10, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this
Nice to see that Charles Gilman Stadium, home of the Camden County Wildcats where the state record for consecitive wins did not make top 10
By icaasports
October 10, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this
Phil Reeve Stadium in Calhoun deserves a mention. No track around the field so the stands and the fans can get really close to the action.
By Jeff Haws
October 10, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this
linda-
Thanks for bringing up Camden. I should have mentioned them in my previous comment.
They’re another one I thought would be on this list. But when I crunched the numbers, it didn’t pan out.
Since 1997, Camden is 58-12 at home and 48-11 on the road. Almost no difference between their home and road record. Plus, they have four home playoff losses since 2000, which bumped them further down my list.
By The Brook
October 10, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this
Pebblebrook beat East Paulding in the bone yard last year.
By champaigndawg
October 10, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this
Jeff, let me be sure I understand you - you aren’t including Parkview and LaGrange because they win away games too? Have you been to those 2 stadiums to have any other sense of the ACTUAL feel and atmosphere of games there? That seems like some pretty flawed logic - though I grant you have an awfully tough task given the vast quantity of stadiums in the state.
I Agree with JaxDawg about Griffin. That was one nasty place to play back in the late 80’s and early 90’s. The smoke coming out of the bear’s nostrils, rowdy crowds (especially outside the stadium), very intimidating.
By schoolingthem
October 10, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this
Marist have one darn good atmosphere, students tailgating before the game etc.,
By Jeff Haws
October 10, 2007 1:43 PM | Link to this
champaign-
The reasoning behind it is, if a team wins road games at much the same clip as it does home games, that tells me they’re just a great team. There’s nothing particularly tough about playing them at their stadium; they’re pretty much equally tough anywhere.
The one exception I made was for Northside. That was because their home winning percentage was just so good (.936) that I simply couldn’t ignore them. Marist is the only team I can find that can touch them in terms of home winning % over the past 10 years.
By RIP
October 10, 2007 1:54 PM | Link to this
Don’t forget to count the Dome as a part of the Jacket’s nest. Ask Marist
By Metro Coach
October 10, 2007 2:03 PM | Link to this
No one is scared of playin those whiteboys at Marist. The officiating they get at home is worth 17 points on a bad night, 21 on a good one.
By to champaigndawg
October 10, 2007 2:11 PM | Link to this
Brookwood loves to play in the Pig Orange Swamp. I would guess most of those 9 loses were to the Broncos.
By Jeff Haws
October 10, 2007 2:29 PM | Link to this
champaign-
Parkview is 3-3 at home vs. Brookwood since 1997. They’ve got a rubber match in a few weeks.
By Mike
October 10, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this
Bill Chappel stadium at Harmon Field in Dalton deserves a mention as well. No track here either and the incessant playing of “Cat scratch fever” before the game is bound to get on an opponent’s nerve. Don’t know the won-loss record here the past 5 years, but I would think it pretty good, especially against the local “cupcakes” as some posters on GAVSV.com have named them.
By BC TIGER
October 10, 2007 2:51 PM | Link to this
Jeff, another good topic.. Although almost every high school in South Georgia will convey a hostile enviorment-becaue the entire town attends the game—I can give a list, without some detailed history about some stadiums, I think are hostile enviorments.. Creekside’s-Swamp.. The name says it itslef, and I am sure they boast a pretty good record at home.. Parkview’s Big Orange Jungle, a afformentioned school above, the tradition speaks for itself. Buford’s Stadium.. don’t know the name, but the entire North Gwinett area packs the house for those games. McEachern’s Walter-Cantrell Stadium—The Larger than Life Indian can be very intimidating.. And last, but not least, DeKalb Memorial Stadium (known as the grave yard)… I know several teams play there, but as former players, Memorial Stadium (Hallford Stadium) was known as the Grave Yard…
Here are some hostile venues I witnessed as a player in college..
The Citadel…. Thousands of Cadets yelling for 60 minutes is enough and that stupid Cannon, every time they score.. Add the Dogg that tried to bite me after running out of bounds on a tackle.. Tuskeegee’s Abbott Stadium… The fans are at the stadium, an hour before the first team arrives.. And the Stadium Caves in.. Enough Said..
By Blue
October 10, 2007 3:03 PM | Link to this
No one is scared of playin those whiteboys at Marist. The officiating they get at home is worth 17 points on a bad night, 21 on a good one.
Obviously you can’t read. I’ll repeat it for you:
If there’s a better home record in the state during that time period, Take Ten can’t find it.
You may not be scared before, but after the game, you sure will be sorry. History doesn’t lie, and history often repeats itself.
And officiating? Why would officials side with Marist? A small Catholic school with a relatively small fan base.
And if you truly are a coach, that’s classy posting.
By Blue
October 10, 2007 3:05 PM | Link to this
No one is scared of playin those whiteboys at Marist. The officiating they get at home is worth 17 points on a bad night, 21 on a good one.
Obviously you can’t read. I’ll repeat it for you:
If there’s a better home record in the state during that time period, Take Ten can’t find it.
You may not be scared before, but after the game, you sure will be sorry. History doesn’t lie, and history often repeats itself.
And officiating? Why would officials side with Marist? A small Catholic school with a relatively small fan base. The refs have so much to gain…
And if you truly are a coach, that’s classy posting.
By Irish Bill
October 10, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this
Nice column, Jeff!
Maybe our Dublin boys will keep another streak going and impress you!
By Davis
October 10, 2007 3:45 PM | Link to this
Clarke Central’s Death Valley was the toughest place I ever played. Those guys looked like pros coming down that hill thru the pine trees running on the field.
By tiftonblue
October 10, 2007 3:47 PM | Link to this
this is recent, but Tift County has a 15-game winning streak at home.
By JC597
October 10, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this
A couple of the tougher places that used to scare the dickens out of me were The Reservation at Stephens County, Billy Henderson Stadium at Clarke Central, The Jungle at Cedar Shoals, The Granite Bowl at Elbert County, and, of course, the Big Orange Jungle at Parkview. They all had their haydays.
By BK
October 10, 2007 3:56 PM | Link to this
Harmon field does deserve a mention. The region may not be as tough as some, but 47 straight years with a winning record is pretty strong. Dalton has played (and lost to Statesboro) for a state title within the last five years. They tailgate like no other before games. It’s a pretty cool off campus place. Although that record may get one game worse when Rome comes calling in a couple of days.
By Former player
October 10, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this
Pulling the bus up at Lincoln County and seeing how many State Championships they have won plastered on the back of their stands is a little disheartening for a mediocre program.
By Jon
October 10, 2007 4:42 PM | Link to this
I totally agree with Commerce being in there. The away team has to come down that hill too, through their fans, who are more than amped up. Especially when playing Buford. There were things thrown from everywhere. They play “Eye of the Tiger” way too much though, much like Tennessee overplays “Rockytop”.
By TheBud
October 10, 2007 5:07 PM | Link to this
Come on ! .. You’ve got to have The Bud (Buddy Bufford Field in Lincolnton) on the list. The Granite Bowl in Elberton is definitely among the most unique, if not the most.
By TheBud
October 10, 2007 5:21 PM | Link to this
Jeff Haws stated: “Lincoln County has been very good at home (67-13) but almost identical on the road (61-16). Nothing there indicates Lincoln County gets better when you put them on their home field”.
No, It indicates that the Devils pretty much kick butt regardless of where they play. Buddy Bufford Field is just a great “old school” setting without a distracting busy highway.
By A all day
October 10, 2007 5:30 PM | Link to this
If DeKalb county actually let schools build their own stadiums, it would be ridiculous. With over a million people in the county, imagine the Friday nights at your own stadium. 20,000 screaming for Stephenson?? Nobody would beat them.
By Jeff Haws
October 10, 2007 5:41 PM | Link to this
TheBud-
Certainly, no disputing that Lincoln County has been great wherever they’ve played. That includes at The Bud. But we’re looking here at teams that make it especially tough for opponents at their place. Lincoln County isn’t really any tougher at home than they are on the road. That’s what keeps them off the list. It’s not a knock on them at all. They just don’t really belong on this particular list. There will be others. And they will pop up again, I’m sure of it.
By SeminoleWarrior
October 10, 2007 5:47 PM | Link to this
Veterans Memorial Stadium, the home of the Thomasville High Bulldogs is for sure one of the toughest places in which to play the game. Like Valdosta, we have fell on some strained times of late but the “Old Dawghouse” has a storied history, is home to the second winningest program in the state (Valdosta is first), and the Bulldog nation is true. Always and forever shall we hear the battle cry “Glory, Glory, O’ Thomasville.” GO DAWGS!!
By elbertfan
October 10, 2007 6:16 PM | Link to this
Come on. you have to include the granite bowl. old sanford stadium scoreboard and seats about 20,000 people. that place is crazy to play.
By corpman
October 10, 2007 6:19 PM | Link to this
come on! you have to include the granite bowl. the old sanford stadium scoreboard and seats bout 20,000. crazy place to play.
By some sense
October 10, 2007 6:43 PM | Link to this
Alan Chadwick has never gotten the credit he deserves as a GA h/s coach. Simply put, the guy may be as good as anybody…ever.
Go to a Marist game and just watch the way their kids carry themselves.
Tucker is an aberration; nobody can compete with athletes recruited from all over DeKalb. The principal, coaches, anyone else associated w/ the Tucker program can only wish their kids had the demeanor and class of the Marist kids.
If you’ve gotta play the War Eagles, strap it on - no matter how talented you are, particularly at “The Dean” or “The Hughes” or whatever they like to call it.
Believe me…I know.
By Tucker student
October 10, 2007 7:09 PM | Link to this
Yes, “some sense”, I envy how great all of the people associated with Marist are. I hope that only one day we will be able to be as good and noble as the “Marist kids.”
By Northside Eagle Fan
October 10, 2007 7:31 PM | Link to this
When I first saw your article, Northside’s McConnell-Talbert Stadium did not immediately come to mind. Valdosta, Lagrange, Parkview, Statesboro and Lanier/Central (in old Porter Stadium) were my first thoughts. But after thinking about your rational over the last 10 years, you are right. Northside plays so much better at home its scary. We never lose at home except occassionally to the crosstown rival (we wont mention their name). Both teams are home then so neither has an advantage. Road games are always more troublesome. Last year we had close games at North Clayton and St Pius (Dome) but blew out Marist at home for the State Championship. Even the AJC sportwriters mentioned the McConnell-Talbert stadium atmosphere as not giving Marist a chance. The only time the old home stadium has let us down was in 2001 against Parkview for the State Championship. Northside was driving for the winning score inside the 25 during the 4th quarter when the lights went out. Long delay, fumble, we lost! After that night no one liked McConnell-Talbert stadium for a while. GO EAGLES 2006 State Champions 2007 #1 in Georgia 2007 #11 and climbing in the USA
By 86 Lithonia '92 -'93
October 11, 2007 1:55 PM | Link to this
Simply put…Dekalb county schools can’t be seen in playoff games played in DC (see parkview-stephenson ‘05). Title games at Memorial (hallford)and Marist are ridiculous (see parkview-swd ‘95)(marist-worth co. ‘89). Playoff ontenders better be glad that we don’t have our own stadiums in DC, it wouldn’t be fair. You’re talking 20-40,000 fans. When DC schools lose in the playoffs it’s almost always on the road(see cartersville- cedar grove ‘91)(swd-clarke central ‘89)(swd-valdosta ‘90)(dunwoody-valdosta ‘92)(tucker on plenty occasions), schools that have their own stadiums. These were just a few games from my playing days.
By shipnorth
October 11, 2007 3:37 PM | Link to this
Marietta’s Northcutt Staduim has the record and the history…..Deserves an honorable mention at least
By rukrazy2
October 11, 2007 4:00 PM | Link to this
The Reservation at Stephens County is pretty tough….since 1997…59-8 thats a 88% winning precentage at home. only 4 loses at home during that stretch.
By Roger
October 11, 2007 9:57 PM | Link to this
The reservation at Stephens County is I think one of the best and toughest places for a visiting team to play. I can’t see how you can’t put them in your top ten with a winning percentage of 88% at home; that is higher than many in your top ten.
By Hey Porter
October 12, 2007 12:14 AM | Link to this
Glad to see the Reservation getting some mentions. The Indians aren’t generally noticed in the Atlanta papers. Just wanted to point out that their 88% home field record was achieved under three head coaches and that two of their home losses were in the playoffs. But, since their overall winning percentage is 80%, the home team advantage might not be as great as it is at some of the schools on your list.
By Hey Porter
October 12, 2007 12:19 AM | Link to this
Glad to see the Reservation getting some mentions. The Indians aren’t usually noticed that much in the Atlanta papers. Just wanted to point out that their 88% home record was achieved under three head coaches and that two of their home losses were in the playoffs. But, since their overall winning percentage is 80%, home field advantage might not be as great there as at some of the schools on your list.
By JEROME SAULSBURY SR.
October 12, 2007 12:48 AM | Link to this
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MENTION THAT THE BALDWIN BRAVES WILL BE PLAYING THE NORTHSIDE EAGLES THIS FRIDAY NIGHT IN WARNER ROBINS AND THE WINNING STREAK THAT NORTHSIDE HAS AT HOME WILL BE BROKEN, THE BRAVES WILL WIN THIS MATCH UP FRIDAY NIGHT.
By former roswell
October 12, 2007 4:56 AM | Link to this
what about walton??? they have a huge home side to their statium and its always filled i remember playin there once a year and it was the one place i did not want to go play! the noise there is insane and they are a very good home team!! as you may have seen against the former #1 roswell hornets a few weeks ago went in there and came out with a L on the schedule
By Jerry
October 12, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this
You guys need to come to a real stadium. The home of the North West Whitfield BRUINS!!!!!!!!!! Undefeated and untied. Winners over such powerhouses as Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, Paulding County, Pepperell and RIDGELAND!!! Why we can seat at least 2,000 people and there is ample parking that only costs $3.00 per car!
By Long Blue Line '98
October 12, 2007 12:07 PM | Link to this
Metro Coach’s race-baiting excuses are similar to the ones made by Lakeside when they lost to Marist 20-10 at home back in 1996. Lakeside proceeded to get blown out by TCC in the state final, whereas TCC barely inched by Marist in one of the greatest high school games ever.
By Long Blue Line '98
October 12, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
The team that prays together wins together-Marist players attend Mass every Friday before a game at the chapel at school. That might help the winning record…….
By hoya05
October 12, 2007 3:41 PM | Link to this
to jerry: paulding county a powerhouse? hardly. i can’t even think of the last time they had a winning record. maybe you should rethink that one…
i agree that marietta’s northcutt stadium deserves at least a honorable mention. it’s crazy because there’s no track, and the game is just right in your face. and it’s been around for forever. it was one of my favorite places to go as a harrison student from ‘01-‘05…
By Jeff Haws
October 12, 2007 8:36 PM | Link to this
If I had made an honorable mention list, Northcutt Stadium probably would have been on it, for what it’s worth.
By alec
October 19, 2007 11:16 PM | Link to this
Marist is the most well-disciplined, well-coached powerhouse in the state and has been for years. Those coaches could take the JV team to the playoffs. Keep winning, Tucker….only about 5 more weeks until you get to game that actually matter and your asses pucker up tighter than snare drums….and you lose in the playoffs. AGAIN.
By chandler
October 22, 2007 9:53 AM | Link to this
this text will be bolded I think that the ten are indeed correct on which stadium is ranked number one and thanks for recognizing the victories we have gotten over the past years it is a really good support to the team and the school. GO WAR EAGLES
By marist
October 22, 2007 9:05 PM | Link to this
I love how marist is the most trashed talked team on this thing, that just proves how grreat they are. No high school coach in the State of Georgia, or maybe in the US, has the brain nor the class as Alan Chadwick does. Marist may not be the best team this year, and we’ll probably be even worse next year, but in 2 years we will have a grade that went undefeated for 3 straight years (the only reason they lost games this year is because their whole starting backfield got pulled up) and a 9th grade team that demolished almost every team they played. Watch out. And yes, i give full credit to tucker for being able to beat us, they have good coaches but they also get DeKalb County Players, where marist has a whole buch of white boys who have to play mentally tough football along with sacfrificing their bodies every play. Some private school teams like pius might recruit, but no chance in the world you could catch a classy marist guy like Chadwick or Athletic Director Tommy Marshall every recruiting. Great Job Tucker. War damn eagles…..