Retro Mustang
By Lew
September 13, 2004
From: David Redwine 1969 May 19 2004 7:54:50AM
To: Lewis Patton 1970
(27) The Ramp Vs. The Stairs (in reply to 19)
Lew:
This is part of the mystique of the ramp. This is not a new prespective of opposing teams at Mustang Bowl. My first knowledge of "The Ramp" and opposing teams came in 1964 or 1965. The late Gordon Wood of Brownwood was scouting the 1964 or 1965, my memory isn't so hot anymore, Mustangs during his open week. It was belived by most in the area including the Abilene Reporter News that the bi-district game would be Sweetwater and Brownwood. Gordon Wood commented in the Abilene paper about the "Snake Pit" and remarked he would opt for a neutral site ie Abilene, rather than gamble on a home for home site. He said, and I am paraphrasing, when kids come down that ramp to enter the field they get their first snake bite and generally it doesn't get any better. Interesting comments coming from a legend like Gordon Wood.
I think this was attributed to the Murray Holditch era. Coach Holditch had this philosiphy when I was working with him: "I don't care how many players I go into that bowl with. I just need eleven, but those eleven will be the toughest eleven I have and when our opponent leaves the bowl win, loose or draw they are going to be glad to get out of here and not want to come back." I will never foget my first experience with coach Holditch when he said I don't care if you are a middle linebacker or a place kicker you do two things if you are a Mustang. You give 100% every time you come off the ball and you take every opportunity to knock someone's jock off every play. Sweetwater will forever play ball in his shadow. I didn't like playing for the man but his direction was without waver and his conviction was from the heart. He passed on some nearly 40 years ago and a kid from Greenwood, Texas, which wasn't even in existance when coach Holditch died has seen his legacy.
Interesting!
David