Friday, Nov. 1 was a day to honor the Panther Legacy and celebrate 75 years of football in the Panther Pit. Friday night’s game against Pisgah was the last regular-season home game.
The current stadium will be razed later this fall as the Macon County school system begins construction of a new stadium and new Franklin High School.
On the morning of Nov. 1, the high school hosted a Panther Legacy handoff with the Class of 2025 seniors meeting the kindergarteners, who will be the Class of 2037, at the 50-yard line on the football field. The seniors presented the young students with gifts.
“Today is a representation of the Franklin Panther community coming together to share our legacies,” said FHS principal Blair King.
Senior Addix Sutton spoke during the event Friday morning. “Panther Pride is not just a motto; it’s a way of life at Franklin High. It represents our commitment to positively representing our school both on and off campus. It’s about the courage to stand along and do the right thing, even when it’s difficult,” he said.
Prior to the kickoff at Friday night’s game, Mission Health’s MAMA helicopter made a special on-field landing to deliver the game ball. The ball was presented to Howard Johnson, who is believed to be the oldest living Panther football player and was a member of the 1948-49 team that played the first year in the stadium.
Bill Dyar, coach of the 1976 FHS Panthers that won the state championship, was among the coaches and former FHS principals recognized during the halftime presentation.
Former Panther athletes, cheerleaders and band members were invited to the field for the halftime presentation.
More photos from the halftime program will be posted on The Franklin Press Facebook page.