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Just one more night of mojo

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T'wolves and Lions to give stadium a first-class send off

Many football memories in Texas football lore were created here. Mojo developed. Friday Night Lights - the book, movie and TV series - originated here. It could be called the birthplace of modern Texas high school football. And they're merely bleachers. It's A.C. Bible Jr. Memorial Stadium.

It's been called Lion Stadium. It's been called Barrett Stadium. And after Friday, it will be called that former stadium. So it's only fitting that a stadium that has been such a pivotal figure in Texas high school history closes out with a meaningful game.

Friday night isn't just going to be a night for bragging rights when Cedar Park and Leander battle on the gridiron. Sure, the winner continues its season and the loser is finished until next year. But, it's much more than that - it's a time to say goodbye to the very stands so many fans will celebrate from.

While LISD will be saying goodbye to a stadium that saw so much since it was brought to Leander in 1983, the state and nation will be saying goodbye to a structure that's rich in history.

Prior to becoming the home to Central Texas football, the stadium was known as W.T. Barrett Stadium and was full of Mojo - Odessa Permian Panther Mojo. It was where Friday Night Lights came to be.

When the Panthers outgrew the stadium in the early 1980s, the steel structure was sold to Leander ISD to become Lion Stadium. It was loaded piece-by-piece onto 57 tractor trailers and was brought to Bagdad Road.

Though the name was eventually changed to honor former school board president A.C. Bible and memorialize all those who serve this country, it's still the same stadium that is steeped in history from West Texas - but it won't be around much longer.

Mark Weaver, assistant athletic director for Leander ISD, said demolition of the stadium will begin as early as next week. “They're going to begin work on tearing it down starting next Monday,” he said.

The hope is that the stadium will be completely rebuilt and ready for week zero of football next fall, said Weaver.

Next year when fans from Leander, Cedar Park or Vista Ridge file into the new stadium, they will see a new Bible. For the most part the new structure will be similar, but some changes will be made to enhance the facility, said Weaver.

The new stadium will seat 10,000 people and “it will look a lot like it does now,” Weaver said.

He said the concession stands and ticket facilities will be better, and “the restroom facilities will be vastly improved.”

The biggest change for everyone will be learning to sit on the west side for the home team.

“The press box will be on the west side and we're taking out [one of] the baseball fields for a parking area and football practice field,” said Mike Bridges, LISD athletic director.

Leander currently has two baseball fields and removing one of them will make it like all the other schools that just have one field, Bridges said.

Though many memories were made in the stadium when it housed the Panthers, just as many memories have been made at its Central Texas location.

“I was just glad to be able to play there,” said Weaver. “I won two district titles there. It used to be a great facility.”

Ross said he has a lot of memorable moments there as well, such as his first game here in 2005 when the Timberwolves beat Harker Heights 35-0 or when they beat Pflugerville in 2006 on the last play of the game.

“That was definitely memorable,” he said. “That win put us in the playoffs.”

The decision to tear down Bible was made by the school board in August, after learning that lead primer was used on the metal structure.

Instead of going with the original plan to paint the stadium, the board voted to scrap the structure and rebuild another one since sandblasting the lead paint while keeping it from contaminating the area would prove very costly.

No matter the reason, Friday night will be the end to a stadium that was built in 1947.

So while you're celebrating the win for your team or mourning its loss on Friday night, take a moment and think about the history you're standing on - the history that won't be there next season.

E-mail jenn@hillcountrynews.com

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