Field of Glory | Palatka Daily News, Palatka, Florida

Veterans Memorial is one of state's grand old stadiums

The home stands at Palatka's Veterans Memorial Stadium liven up during the fall with the sounds of cheers from the crowds rooting for the Panthers at the Pit.
The scoreboard welcoming visitors to the Pit at Palatka's Veterans Memorial Stadium.

There once was a feeling to football Fridays in Palatka, as if a drumbeat was calling the community to rally behind the hometown Braves.

Wait a minute. That WAS a drumbeat.

“Every time we played a home game, somebody stood on top of the fieldhouse and beat a drum. They would beat the drum all day at school,” said John Raymond Theobold, a stalwart for Palatka Senior teams of the late 1960s “There was a lot of school spirit.”

The drum was silenced as the Braves and Central High Bulldogs joined forces to become the Panthers in 1977. But the combined team was an almost immediate success, winning a state championship in 1981 and keeping spirits high for most of the next 20 years with the district and conference titles that followed.

But the Panthers have had only one winning season since 2003 and were 1-10 last year, figuratively bringing a game-night chill to one of Florida’s grand old high school football stadiums.

Palatka Mayor Terrill Hill, quarterback of a 10-1 district champion and Putnam County Player of the Year in 1989, has witnessed the highs and lows.

“My first memories went back to the early ‘80s going to the Palatka High football game and watching the state championship team. As kids, we got the opportunity to go out on the field and interact with the players,” he said. “We tried to let younger folks understand the history of Palatka High School and the Pit. When you’re on the field, you’re representing the entire community.

“When you look up at the stands, they were full of people. The younger kids were on the side playing tackle football. It was just a tradition that was passed down, kinda like the movie ‘Friday Night Lights.’“

Originally known as Maroon Stadium, it is right around the corner from the city’s storied Azalea Bowl, its baseball home since 1934 and football stadium until 1948, when Gov. Millard Caldwell came for the dedication of the new place.

It became officially known as Veterans Memorial Stadium in 1980 and has become popularly known as the Panther Pit.

Entering the northwest corner, the stadium unfolds with the visitors’ stands running the length of the field; the home stands and press box are on the opposite side. Walking behind the north side, one passes signs celebrating the 1981 state championship and 1983 state runner-up teams. It also displays the retired numbers of the following PHS greats:

• 1, Willie Offord, defensive back, played on three playoff teams, Putnam player of the year in 1996. Played for South Carolina and four years with the Minnesota Vikings.

• 3 Jarvis Willams, defensive back, delivered “The Hit” that defined the Panthers’ ‘81 championship rout of Riviera Beach Suncoast. An All-Amercan for the University of Florida, he played for the Miami Dolphins under Don Shula and one year with the New York Giants

• 5 Clifton Reynolds, quarterback, prep All-American who led ‘81 and ‘83 state finalists. Played at UF.

• 22, John L Williams, running back. School’s career rushing leader from 1981-2003, starred at PHS and Florida before moving to NFL career in which he was twice a Pro Bowl fullback with the Seahawks and Steelers co-captain in Super Bowl XXX.

• 41 Darryl Oliver, running back, another member of the ‘81 team, he earned a national championship ring with Miami. Had two stints in the NFL.

• 84, Darcy Johnson, tight end. Offord’s brother made the Giants as a free agent and claimed a Super Bowl ring. Ended playing days with the Rams.

There’s a Panther statue in the northeast corner. Players are encouraged to touch it as they take the field.

Then there are the home stands, complete with 513 reserved seats that bring the capacity to 3,500. There is no track encircling the field, bringing fans closer to the action. Wooden bleachers gave way to the present home stands.

Yet the most impressive thing about the field is the field itself, immaculately groomed by Billy Bennett, football coach from 1964-78 and athletic director until 1990. The playing surface took on the name Bennett-Cooper Field in honor of Bennett and longtime Central coach Willard Cooper.

If the place doesn’t fully measure up to its former glory, it’s close.

“I’ve had a lot of people come from out of town to tell me about what a wonderful place we have to play,” said Jim McCool, head football coach from 1983-2003. “It’s still a very nice place to play.”