Georgiana High School, Georgiana, AL

Sign to Georgiana High School

     Georgiana High School was a school I barely happened to stop by.  I was on my way to Mobile, and told my buddy that I was finally finished looking at schools.  However, to get back to the interstate I had to take this shortcut road that led me right past the stadium.  I couldn't pass up the opportunity.
     Georgiana is a Single-A school in the Alabama High School Athletic Association w/ a daily average enrollment of 110.  I've seen where Georgiana is a 7th-12th grade school with an enrollment of around 250 but there is not much information out there about this high school.  However, Georgiana, AL is the home of Hank Williams.

Home stands

     This is one of the neater set of home stands that I've seen on my trips.  I love the layout, that they stretch the whole length of the field.  It's a very old field and its evident by the buildings and press box in the background.  But to me that's what gives it character and one of the reasons I enjoy traveling around finding jewels like this.

Visitors stands

     These are the visitor stands and again a very old structure, complete with the rickety press box which gives it even more character.  There's a huge grass lot right behind these bleachers, I'm sure this is one of the easiest drive in, watch the game and drive out times that visiting fans ever have.  (I know that sentence doesn't make much sense grammatically, but you get the point).  It's obvious from the pictures that the team was practicing.  In the photo of the home stands you can see two ladies sitting up on the bleachers.  I had a conversation with them about the team, and they were happy to have someone come out and take pictures of their boys.  I'm not sure If they quite understood what I was doing there, but I enjoy talking to people I meet along my journey. 

End zone shot of the stadium

Scoreboard 

Home stands press box

New concessions facitlity

       I was thrilled when I passed by the sign to Georgiana High School, and it was even neater when I found out Hank Williams Sr. had lived there.  I couldn't find out if he went to high school here, but I did read that he got into a fight with his physical education coach, and after the board did not suspend the coach he and his family moved to Montgomery, AL.  The football team may not be that great, but they do play in one sweet, old school stadium.   

Pendleton High School, Pendleton, SC

Pendleton High School Bulldogs

     Pendleton High School is located in Anderson County, between the city of Anderson and the city of Clemson.  Pendleton is in the 2-A classification of the South Carolina High School League and has an enrollment of 827.  They have had a lot of recent success on the football field which pairs nicely with their three-year-old football stadium.

Home stands

Side-view of the home stands

      The home stands are brand new  replacing the old cement-style stands that stood before.  They're extremely nice, and in good shape.  However, that is a long hike to walk up there from the bottom, but with the way they were built there really wasn't any other option.  The press box on top has plenty of room for both home and away radio teams, and gives coaches a nice birds-eye view of the field. 

  
   

     The side-view picture was taken just to show the slope of the stands and the entrances, pretty tall if you ask me.  There seems to be some sort of storage building below the stands.

   

Visitors stands

     The visitors stands also replace cement stands, and the design is perfect for the stadium.  Just like Vestavia Hills, the visitors side is shorter and just a bit more narrow.  The visitors side concession stand and bathrooms are scene in the far right corner.  I love it when there are separate concessions and bathrooms for the home and visiting stands, because lets be honest those lines can get pretty long.  The last thing about the visitors stands that I like are the middle entrances at the front.  Fans don't have to crawl over one another as much if there were only side entrances.

Scoreboard

      I love this scoreboard!  It gives all the information a fan would like to see and there's even a little scrolling message board, which is a great touch.  The logos on the top are a great addition and really make the board stand out. 

Ticket gate

View of the home concession stands and bathrooms and a full view of the field.

Full view of the stadium from the tennis courts

     I've never been to a game at Pendleton, but I really enjoyed seeing their football stadium.  I also love all the trees planted behind the end zone to add some scenery (although it blocked my view of a perfect full stadium shot), and the hedges are also a nice touch.  They've done a marvelous job with all the upgrades and it's one of, if not the best, football stadiums in Anderson County. 
     *If you use Google maps and search for Pendleton High School and click on the satellite view, you will not be able to see the current high school stadium.  Apparently it wasn't built the last time a satellite picture was taken of the area.  I thought that was pretty funny.

Crescent High School, Iva, SC

Crescent High School Tigers

     Crescent High School is located in Iva, SC just outside the city of Anderson but inside the county, but the high school serves the towns of Starr and Iva (which are located in the country). They are in the 2-A classification and the school has a student body of around 750 students.  They are known for their stellar softball program.  The stadium is small, but has several unique characteristics that add to its charm.

Home stands

     The home stands have enough seating for the fans, and since they aren't that tall the side entrances work well.  One thing I like about the side entrances here is that since most fans know each other any way, they are able to pass by and chat with one another on the way to their seats.  The press box is tiny but it serves its purpose here, and there is room on top for the coaches to stand and get a good view of the game.  The tiger mural in between the stands is a nice touch and one of the unique characteristics of the stadium.
   

Visitors stands

     These are the visitor stands which might be a little small, but I have never been to a game at Crescent besides a JV game.  However, I suspect that the seating is fine for most teams visiting.  The press box/coaches area behind the stands is a neat touch, although I'm sure the coaches would like to have a more separated area to talk amongst themselves and the radio guys would probably like to be more distant to drown out crowd noises.  But, this is a luxury at most 2-A high schools so it's something not to take for granted.  

     The other unique characteristic about this field is the field posts.  I'm not sure what era or what the reason for their design is, but it looks like something out of the '60s and '70s and its awesome!

Scoreboard 

     Looks like a new scoreboard and it's great for Crescent.  The sponsorship locations are great and not over-done, and the logo in the middle of the scoreboard is pretty sweet.  Good job on the new scoreboard Crescent.

New concessions and bathrooms

     Another great upgrade to the stadium with the new concessions and bathrooms.  It's located in the spot where I took the end zone view picture, opposite the scoreboard. 

     

End zone view of the stadium

     It was good to get over to Crescent High School and see their football stadium.  I hadn't been there in over 10 years and the only thing I had remembered from it was the tiger mural.  Its a great small town football stadium and the field goal posts and mural are great touches along with the updated scoreboard and concession and bathroom area.  I hope to make it over to a game at some point this season.

Vestavia Hills High School, Birmingham, AL

Vestavia Hills Rebels

     I visited Vestavia Hills High School while visiting my sister at Samford University.  Tonya was along for this trip as well and these pictures are from her camera.  Vestavia is in the 6-A classification of Alabama sports and has an enrollment around 1,250 (which seems small for a 6A school, however the smallest enrollment for a 6A school in Alabama is 744).  There are a lot of medium sized high schools located in Alabama, you would think there would be a better way to split up the largest division, but nothing can be perfect (not saying Vestavia shouldn't be in 6A, but 744 seems small for the largest classification). Vestavia is located right outside Birmingham on the mountain (or large hills if-you-will).  It is a gorgeous community and a great looking high school from an aesthetic point of view.

Home stands

      The home stands are pretty neat in my opinion, except for the fact that there is no middle entrance to the stands.  It is pretty large and the VH blue and red seats in the middle are a unique touch.  The press box is great and I'm sure there are concessions and bathrooms on the bottom level.  The stadium sort of sits in this valley up against the side of the hill where the home stands are located and it has the feeling of a great atmosphere when that place is full.

Visitors stands

     The visitors stands compliment the home stands very well.  It is shorter but the same width, which to me is the way it should be.  There are plenty of seats available for the bigger schools coming in, although I'm sure it looks pretty empty when the smaller schools come to visit.  Also I'm sure it is pretty intimidating to be standing over on the visiting sidelines looking up at that home side (the home side sitting on a hill has a daunting effect and makes it seem huge).  I love the field goal posts with the double support, it's kind of old school.  The entrance is great and if I remember correctly there are also entrance gates on the visitors side.  The lights are supported by big metal poles and they aren't just situated on the sidelines of the field but also along the corners of the field.
     There are a few more stadiums from Birmingham that I will profile in the coming weeks: Hoover, Wenonah and Mountain Brook.  I'm hoping to get in John Carroll Catholic High School at some point.  I loved taking a look at Vestavia Hills, not only because it's a great high school football stadium, but it's also a great town.    

Luverne School, Luverne, AL

Luverne School (formerly Luverne High School Tigers)

Luverne School was supposed to be the last stadium I visited on the way to Mobile in May, but then I hit up Brantley High School and Georgiana High School. Luverne houses PK-12 with a total enrollment of 1040 students, which puts it in the 3-A Alabama classification.  I have a lot of pictures of this little stadium, and it is situated right inside the high school grounds.  It's actually a pretty sweet location even though it is a small stadium.

Home stands (I'm assuming)

     I am assuming that these are the home stands since they are newer and the press box is named.  The visitors stands have a larger press box, but older, smaller stands.  The building to the left is the end of the schools gym and the walk way from the entrance over to the home stands is very small, but it puts you right in the action.  Very cool in my book.

Picture of the whole stadium

     In this view, my back is straight against the wall of the school.  Like I mentioned earlier, the walkway is very small, but it puts you right on the field.   Also these stands are extremely close to the field, assuming that both squads are not very big and cheerleading squads are small, you will be up close and personal watching a football game at Luverne School.

Visitors side of the stadium

    I'm guessing this is the former home side of the stadium judging by the pressbox, because what small school would have two press boxes unless they switched sides (Which seems to be a common thread in the stadiums I have visited, maybe the new thing now is to have a press box on both sides of the field, but I've only encountered that in small town stadiums not in the larger stadiums.  Which makes me think that the schools has switched the sides around).  This is set up very nice for the visiting fans, although it is spread out, it allows the fans to sit behind where ever their son probably stands for most of the game.  It is also closer to the entrance than the home side is.

Entrance to the stadium

Nice record of state champs and state runner up, should be due any time now for that next state championship.   The team is also in class 3-A now.

Scoreboard, I love the Tiger on top.  Very unique touch for a basic scoreboard for a small school.

Side of the school

Press box on the home stands

State banners

    I absolutely loved this stadium.  The setting is awesome, where the school is located is pretty neat too.  I would definitely drive down to this part of Alabama again on a Friday night to watch Brantley play and then come back through the next Friday night and watch Luverne play.  Two amazing small town football stadiums that explain why I really love traveling around and visiting stadiums.  Thanks Luverne School for letting me onto the field to take some pictures.

Jones County, Gray, GA

Jones County High School Greyhounds

     Jones County was a school Tonya and I came across on our way back from south Georgia.  I think it was the last one we visited on the trip because I remember the camera dying while we were taking pictures, which is why there are only four of them.  I apologize for not having more, especially one that shows the whole stadium or the sign of the school.

Home side of the field

     The home side of the field is a decent size.  This is a quad-A classification high school, and small one at that with the enrollment at 1,171 (schools w/ 1850+ students are placed in five-A).  The far left side of the stands are shorter than the main section and was an addition in the past several years. Now there are no lines on the field yet, but these seats seem very close to the field which is awesome.  The concession stand and booster club tent are right near by which is clutch for every fan and the scoreboard is visible to all.  It's a very standard home-stands look, but it is functional in every way.

Thats the visitors side, and my gf in the picture.  Her hair really isn't that poofy, windows rolled down will do that to long hair haha.  Sorry Tonya! (it does look like something out of the 80s.

     The one thing I like about the visitors stands at Jones County is that it gives the visiting band a section all to themselves.  To me that is nice so that the fans do not have to worry about the band standing up or being in the way the entire game.  Concessions aren't that close by, but definitely within hurry distance if you're needing to get back to the action.  Also once again, let me point out how different the light poles are in the Georgia and Alabama stadiums than the oil rig looking light poles that a lot of the Texas stadiums have.  

Entrance into the stadium.

     This is a gorgeous entrance.  Nice gated area, great statue and plaque to give the visiting fans a unique piece of information about Jones County.  It also gives me a nice shot of the scoreboard which is the type of scoreboard that should be standard at every high school. JCHS has a typically standard high school stadium but the entrance and the hound pound sign are two things that set it apart.

Brantley High School, Brantley, Alabama

I freaking love this sign.  Old school.

    I randomly happened upon Brantley High School (PK-12) when I was driving down to Mobile, AL in May 2011.  It was out of the way, but as soon as I got into Alabama I got off the interstate and hit the back roads.  I had just finished up at visit at Luverne High School (about 25 minutes away), and had told my buddy Alex that I would not stop by any more and I'd head straight to Mobile.  That didn't happen because I stopped by two more.

I wasn't even looking for this place when I turned onto the main street and bam, I hit the jackpot.  

Love this picture, taken from the middle of the road

     This was a gem of a place!  As I pulled in I saw a teacher standing outside the Admin. building and I asked him if it would be alright to take a few pictures.  He said sure, and he took me down the the locker room and introduced me to the head coach, who in turn introduced me to the rest of the staff.  The players had just finished with practice - a few were walking home and others were hitting the weights; and the coaches were studying in their section of the locker room.  I talked with the head coach for a minute and he let me shoot away.

Visitors Side

     The visitors side is pretty standard for a high school football stadium except it has a press box, which makes me think that the visitors side is a new addition.  I'm sure at some point everyone sat on the home side of the field, but I could be wrong.  The green seats are a nice touch, it makes me laugh because the visiting fans have to sit in them which could pose a problem sometimes haha.

Favorite picture

Wide shot of the field, I love pictures like this that show the whole stadium.  I try to get one in every stadium I visit, but sometimes its not possible.  This shot gives the player's point of view before they run out into this place, which  is one of my all time favorite smaller stadiums.  The head coach said it seats about 1500-2000 people which is pretty amazing considering the town population is 920 (Brantley is in the city of Luverne which has a population of 2600. And i'm not so sure that Brantley didn't have a bigger stadium than Luverne HS, which I'll profile later), and the school plays in single-A Alabama football.

Home side

Home side is pretty nice for a Single-A school.  Not spread out, steep and compact.  Perfect for keeping the noise level up, and giving everyone a great view of the game. Not to mention a very decent press box.  This town keeps impressing me.

Great scoreboard for the school, pretty cool backdrop as well.

Bulldog statue

     I'm not sure how long the statue has been there, but its a great addition to the already stellar facilities for a school this size.  Total student body is around 580!  I'm guessing the players touch the bulldog when they run out, but I do not know for sure.

Restrooms and Concessions

Locker room, weight lifting, and coaches offices

I had a great time stopping by Brantley High School, and I want to thank Coach Lowery for letting me chat for few minutes and take some pictures of his stadium.  Good luck in the upcoming season, and if I'm ever down that way in the fall I would definitely stop by to watch the bulldogs play.

   

More coming next week

Last week I discovered that I could not find pictures on the rest of the stadiums I have visited.  Last night however I found those pictures.  11 stadiums total.
Today I drove down to Mobile, AL to visit some friends for a few days and I made visits to 5 other stadiums along US 29 in East/Southeast AL. Those will be up soon as well.  

New Braunfels High School Unicorns (TX)

The first stadium I will blog about is New Braunfels HS in New Braunfels, TX.

And yes, that is a Unicorn on the sign for NBHS. As my family and I were driving through Texas this summer we randomly passed by here and as soon as I saw that the stadium name was Unicorn Stadium, we had to stop. I remember reading an article in Sports Illustrated for Kids many years ago about strange high school nicknames, and I'm pretty sure this might have been on there.
The stadium is built out of metal, and looks like your basic high school football stadium. Both the home and visitor sides are of equal length with the home side having a press box built on top. There was a decent amount of parking behind the visitors section, but most of the parking was in the actual school parking lot. One neat thing I started to notice about all these stadiums is the way the lights are constructed. To me they look like the tall structures that are built on oil fields that house the machinery used to pump the oil. I've never thought to look at the lights before, but during this trip most of the schools utilized this feature. It may be the way all across the nation. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled next time I pass by a stadium.
Another feature of the high school football stadium I like to look at is the entrance, which includes the section where tickets are taken up and the fans enter the field. This particular stadium had a tiny ticket booth, which to me is classic. It's old school and that's what I love to see. It doesn't match very well with the modern look of this stadium, so it definitely stands out.
**This entrance may be a former entrance, and tickets could be taken up at the gate in the background, but there were windows on that little brick building.
One thing I find hilarious about this picture is the hoof prints leading into the gates. They seriously have some Unicorn pride, which they should for such a unique mascot.
The reason for stopping by this stadium was not because of the uniqueness of the structure, and it was not even one of my planned stops but after seeing the mascot name I knew we had to make a special stop to snap a few photos of this high school.
Here are some more photos: