Ask anyone who has ever suited up in red, white and black about playing football at Wildcat Ram Stadium (a.k.a The Boneyard), and listen to what they say, “It’s an awesome experience just to walk to the stadium from the locker room,” says Lake Highlands senior Brian Marr.
“It’s a great feeling to know the neighborhood’s behind us, and we’re not out there playing alone.”
Long after an athlete’s days at LHHS are over, many still remember the excitement.
“Going to the Boneyard and getting all that support from fans and the student body was one of the greatest things about playing,” says former LHHS and Texas A&M University star Detron Smith, now a fullback for the NFL’s Denver Broncos.
Home games are packed with parents, teachers, students, alumni and neighborhood supporters, all cheering loudly, all wearing red, white and black.
“It’s a great atmosphere,” says LHHS head football coach Jerry Gayden.
“The people just come out, not just to support our football team, but our band, our drill team and our cheerleaders.
“To see so many people in the stands getting involved and supporting our kids is unique.
“It’s not just a football affair, it’s a community affair.”
The Tradition
Rick Marr watches with pride while his son, Brian, trots on the field.
Images of 20 years ago race through Rick’s mind as he recalls playing linebacker on the same field.
“That is kind of neat,” says Rick, 1974 LHHS graduate.
Watching Brian, he says, brings back memories of plays I made on certain parts of the field. That’s the kind of thing you remember.”
The Marr family’s ties to LHHS don’t end there. There’s also the matter of Beverly Sanford, Rick’s high school sweetheart. Today, Beverly Sanford is Beverly Marr, and she serves with her husband as co-president of the Wildcat Club, an organization of athletic boosters that raises money for all LHHS sports teams.
During her LHHS years, Beverly was a member of the drill team, performing during half-time at each of Rick’s games.
Today, it’s her daughters who pump up the crowds at half-time. Brenda is a LHHS varsity cheerleader, and fifth-grader Catherine, the Marrs’ youngest child, is a Little Wildcat cheerleader for the neighborhood Pop Warner football team.
“They start grooming the kids at a young age with football and the little cheerleader program,” Beverly says.
Perhaps it’s because of the growing number of LHHS alumni like Rick and Beverly, who chose to come back to the neighborhood and raise their family, that the people of Lake Highlands take their sports teams seriously and support their athletes and coaches.
Whatever the cause, the overwhelming support is evident. This love affair is something we don’t normally see in large cities anymore, but the residents in Lake Highlands like it this way.
“Lake Highlands is the closest thing to a small town in a big city you’ll see,” Rick says.
“Friday night in Lake Highlands is pretty much focused on what’s going on at the stadium.”
The Captain of the Ship
Jerry Gayden came to our neighborhood 25 years ago to take a job at Lake Highlands Junior High School.
Committed to a career of coaching and educating our children, Gayden paid his dues. He joined the LHHS coaching staff in 1979 and worked his way up the ranks before being elevated from defensive coordinator to head football coach and athletic director in 1995.
In Gayden’s first two seasons as head coach, the Wildcats compiled a record of 26-3-1 with appearances in the state semifinals both years.
Beyond that stellar record, Gayden has earned the admiration of other LHHS coaches by his interest and support for other sports teams.
“It’s great to have a leader who supports even the smallest of sports,” says Buzz Andrews, LHHS track and cross country coach.
“Cross country is not a major sport, but Jerry Gayden has been to three of our events this year.
“There are not too many head football coaches that do that or have time for it, but he makes time for it.”
Gayden moved to his current post in the wake of former head coach and athletic director Mike Zoffuto’s dismissal. Gayden’s ability to step in and maintain the quality and chemistry within the athletic department has earned him the accolades of coaches throughout the district.
“He came into a tough situation,” says Bob Duvey, Berkner High School head football coach and athletic director.
“And the quality job he’s done keeping all the pieces in place speaks very loudly of the quality person and quality coach he is.
“Keeping it together is the most difficult job, and our hats go off to Jerry Gayden for being able to do that.”
Gayden says he feels fortunate to be at the helm of the LHHS athletic department, and he’s grateful for the community’s support.
“To be a part of the Lake Highlands community is one of the best things that could happen to you in life,” he says.
“Our kids grow up watching Lake Highlands (players) and wanting to come to Lake Highlands and emulate them some day.
“And when you have the support from the community, you can’t help but be successful.
“In our junior high programs, the coaches do a tremendous job. And before that, a lot of youth programs start teaching kids the fundamentals in wrestling, football, baseball and all the sports we have.”
Duvey, a coach in District 10-5A for 21 years, says he has always been impressed by the level of excellence LHHS has been able to maintain.
“We have a great amount of admiration for the job that staff does in getting the most out of their athletes,” Duvey says.
“The coaching staff has pride, the students have pride, and the community has pride. And that carries you a long way.”
Strength In All Sports
That LHHS pride isn’t limited to football. The school fields perennial powerhouse teams in nearly every sport.
During the 1996-97 school year, the men’s gymnastics team won the state championship and has since been named the No. 1 team in the nation; the women’s and men’s track teams were district champions, as was the wrestling team; the volleyball and men’s soccer teams were bi-district champions; and the women’s soccer team won the area championship.
“You know the old saying: Success breeds success,” Andrews says.
“People move to our area because of the success we’re having. They just show up at the back door.”
“It’s not that way at every school.”
Since inheriting the track and cross country programs in 1989 after six years as a coach at J.J. Pearce High School, Andrews has built a dominating program.
Consider the National Power Rankings compiled annually for high school track and field programs: The latest results rated the LHHS men’s team fifth in the nation and the women’s squad 11th best in the country.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been fortunate enough to have good athletes,” Andrews says.
“Once you start winning, everyone wants to be a part of it. It’s like a magnet.”
Among the recent stars to pass through the Wildcat track program are Dawnyell and Shawntell Newhouse (twin daughters of former Dallas Cowboys fullback Robert Newhouse), Danasha Clark and Erin Aldrich.
Aldrich, a high jumper, competed in the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials, narrowly missing an opportunity to compete in the Atlanta Games. She is a sophomore at the University of Arizona.
Clark, last year’s state discus champion, competes for Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. And the Newhouse twins are continuing their careers at Abilene Christian University.
Clark and the Newhouse twins were the fuel behind last year’s district championship team that unseated perennial champion Richardson High School.
“When I first moved here 20 years ago, all I heard about was Plano,” Andrews says. Parents of children interested in athletics headed to Plano, he says.
“Lake Highlands has that now, and it’s a joy to be involved with a successful school.”
“You go around with your chest poked out when you have a Lake Highlands shirt on.”
