Legendary coach Dafford Smith waves to the crowd of Aggie faithful just prior to kickoff on Friday, Oct. 21, 2016, Fairview's first game back at Dafford Smith Stadium since 2013.
FAIRVIEW – There are new stories every day in the sports world, some good, some bad, but every so often a story will come along and it will stick with you. This was the case when I had a chance to write a story about the return of football to Dafford Smith Stadium on the campus of Fairview High School.
“Unless you have gone through it, you can’t imagine how important one game was,” said Fairview High School Principal Chris Gambrill. “For three years I have imagined what that night would be, but I never imagined it would be like it ended up being. The community, leaders and students got to come home. I would have loved five home games but I will take one.”
“The atmosphere was amazing,” added Fairview head football coach George Redding. “It is an atmosphere we have seen so many times here in Dafford Smith Stadium. There was electricity, excitement and pure Aggie pride.”
Closing just prior to the 2014 football season, Dafford Smith Stadium has been silent save for the occasional sounds of crews working to repair the cracking concrete bleachers that gave school officials no choice but to close the beloved stadium. The smell of popcorn, hot dogs and hamburgers were long gone. Cheers from the Aggie faithful no longer pulsated throughout the stadium, and, most importantly, the Fairview Aggies could not feed off the atmosphere of the home field. That all changed Friday night, Oct. 21.
As the Aggies exited their home locker room for the first and last time this season, the electricity in the stadium was overwhelming. From the fans cheering and the athletes ready to compete with a true home field advantage, it was an experience like no other.
“It was an honor to get back into the stadium,” said Redding. “We discussed how we didn’t know why we were the ones chosen to be the team back, but we were, and it was up to them to honor that by playing with tremendous pride and effort. I believe they did just that.”
“In my 25 years in education, I’ve never experienced excitement like I did last week,” Gambrill told The Cullman Tribune. “From the faculty and staff to the students, it was the topic of every conversation. So many of our students have not had the opportunity to cheer for their team at Dafford Smith Stadium, so it was special in so many ways.”
Friday, Oct. 21 marked the first true home game for the Aggies in three years and the fans turned out in mass to celebrate football back on the campus of Fairview High School. From the tailgating outside the stadium to the game ball being flown in by helicopter, a festive atmosphere filled the air. As an added surprise, the stadium’s namesake, legendary coach Dafford Smith, was honored before the game.
“It really got to me when Coach Smith was honored in front of the whole stadium,” Redding recalled. “It was a privilege to a part of that and to witness that. Also when we were standing on the sideline with our band and cheerleaders in victory formation…WOW! That was truly an amazing moment.”
“Words cannot express how proud I was to be an Aggie last night Friday night,” said Gambrill. “Getting to see so many people smiling and fellowshipping was awesome. It was like a huge family reunion. The Fairview family was able to demonstrate the pride that is embedded so deeply in this community. I want to tell anyone who helped in anyway, thanks. #purpleandgoldforever.”
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