Good article about Bullitt Park

[sup_rbeast 296]

http://www.tricities.com/sports/article_95545f94-16a4-11e3-9ce7-0019bb30f31a.html

 

HISTORY with HAYES: No. 1 with a Bullitt

 

BHC FILE PHOTO

Appalachia’s Travis Clark runs the ball in front of a large crowd at Bullitt Park in Big Stone Gap, Va.

 

           VHSL state championship games played at Bullitt Park in Big Stone Gap, Va.

1985 – Powell Valley 28, Lunenburg Central 27 (Group A)

1988 – Jonesville 21, Strasburg 20, OT (Group A, Division 1)

1989 – Powell Valley 21, Lunenburg Central 20 (Group A, Division 2)

1990 – Powell Valley 42, Lunenburg Central 28 (Group A, Division 2)

1992 – Appalachia 26, Strasburg 20 (Group A, Division 1)

1994 – Powell Valley 33, Sussex Central 12 (Group A, Division 2)

1996 – Appalachia 40, Surry County 14 (Group A, Division 1)

1997 – Powell Valley 28, Powhatan 7 (Group A, Division 2)

Posted: Thursday, September 5, 2013 11:45 pm

Tim Hayes | Bristol Herald Courier

Posted on September 5, 2013

 

Bullitt Park will be the site of a marquee high school football game tonight.

What else is new?

When the Union Bears host the Richlands Blue Tornado it will be the latest big game played at the venerable facility in Big Stone Gap, Va.

Bluefield’s Mitchell Stadium might seat more, Richlands and Honaker’s stadiums feature state of the art playing surfaces, Gate City’s Legion Field has loud and loyal fans, Clintwood’s Ralph Cummins Stadium owns a charming mystique that is hard to match, but there is just something unique about taking in a game on a Friday night (or Saturday afternoon) at the Bullitt.

Along with several legendary regular-season matchups and too many playoff games to count, eight state championship games have been played at Bullitt Park.

Can any other place around here top that?

According to the Town of Big Stone Gap’s website, the place was constructed in the mid-1930s and named after Joshua Taggart Bullitt, an “early entrepreneur, land speculator and coal baron.â€

Tennis courts, walking trails, a playground, picnic shelters and a track are also housed on the grounds. But it’s the football field – the home of the Union Bears and prior to that the Powell Valley Vikings and others – that holds iconic status.

Phil Robbins, who coached Powell Valley from 1983-2010 and won seven state championships, admits the off-campus gridiron holds a special place in his heart.

“The last 27 years I coached I got on a bus every Friday night,†Robbins said. “I think just pulling in the park in a bus and then walking down the middle of the field like our kids did made it a special place.â€

Robbins was there when renovations took place in 1985 and remembers that being a big deal. He was able to guide his team to five state titles on its homefield, but some regular-season games also stick out.

How about Powell Valley’s 20-14 win over Appalachia in 1997 – a year in which both teams were loaded with talent and both won state titles?

For Robbins, another special moment took place on Oct. 6, 1989 when 5-0 Powell Valley hosted 6-0 Lee High. Lee was in its first year of existence, having been born out of consolidation.

“We sold six thousand and three tickets at the gate,†Robbins said. “That has to be the largest crowd that we can document that’s been at the park. That is true, I know that – six thousand and three tickets sold at the gate.

“We had people still at the end of the first quarter lined up outside the playground trying to pay to get in. That was something else.â€

Powell Valley earned a 47-26 win with quarterback Robbie Duncan throwing for three scores and rushing for another against a Lee team led by running back Brady Yeary.

“They filled it up,†Robbins said. “They were five to six deep outside the fence with some people standing on the track. It was exciting. … We played almost a perfect game that night.â€

One unforgettable game played at Bullitt Park didn’t involve Powell Valley or Union.

Jonesville faced Strasburg in the 1988 Group A, Division 1 finals and the game was relocated to Wise County after the Virginia High School League deemed Jonesville’s field unsuitable to host the title game – Appalachia would get the same message in 1992 and 1996.

Playing the last game in school history – Jonesville would be one of the schools to consolidate to form the aforementioned Lee High – the Bulldogs eked out a 21-20 overtime win over Strasburg, stopping a potential game-winning two-point conversion on the last play.

Southwest Virginia teams were 8-0 in state championship games in Big Stone Gap.

Indeed, there is something special about the place located off Shawnee Avenue.

[starcityfootballfan 517]

Great read! Unfortunately, that is one stadium that I have not been to.

[ThomasDenton 79]

I've never been there either, but Battle plays Union over there at the end of the season (can't remember if it's the last regular game or second to last) so I'll get to see it finally. Heard lots about it.

[Ryan4VT 4,557]

It's definitely got a certain aura around it. It's just a true high school football venue. Love making the trip! Can't wait to head that way in a few hours.

[redtiger 1,742]

Bullitt isn't a great field and the stands are average(for the visitors anyway) but the place is special. There are better stadiums but none with the history

[sup_rbeast 296]

The ghosts showed up in the park tonight...it's a shame either team had to lose. That finish ranks right up there with the 1989 state title game and the 1997 PV-Appy game.

[redtiger 1,742]

The ghosts showed up in the park tonight...it's a shame either team had to lose. That finish ranks right up there with the 1989 state title game and the 1997 PV-Appy game.

 

Now that's saying something!