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About Fulton Stadium/Bob Black Field

“Knoxville’s oldest and most exciting high school football venue.”  - Tim Parker

   Long before Fulton played its first home game at the school, what is now known as Bob Black Field served as Fulton’s practice field. Home games from 1951-1964 were played at Evans-Collins Field. In 1964, the North Knoxville Stadium Association was established with the goal of building a football stadium at Fulton High School. The NKSA worked hard to raise money for the project from local businesses and individual donors. In October of 1964, local dignitaries gathered for the ground breaking of Fulton Stadium/Falcon Field. The original stadium, consisting of the middle section of the current stadium’s bleachers, along with temporary stands, seated 3000 people and was ready for the first game of the 1965 season on August 27, 1965 against Unicoi Co. On that historic evening, a full house watched the Falcons defeat the Blue Devils 13-0. The stadium was expanded to its current configuration before the 1969 season. Fulton lost to Sevier Co. 14-8 in the first game in the completed stadium. Falcon Field was renamed “Bob Black Field,” in honor of the coach and athletic director on September 12, 1986. In the dedication game, Fulton defeated Alcoa 10-7 on Mike Potter’s overtime field goal. Fulton concluded the 2002 season with a perfect 8-0 home record, including three consecutive home victories in the TSSAA Play-offs. For the first time ever on November 1, 2002, Fulton hosted a live regional cable broadcast on CSS, as the Falcons defeated the Gibbs Eagles 47-7.

 Fulton Stadium/Bob Black Field Timeline

§         1964  Groundbreaking for new stadium

§         1965  1^st season at Falcon Field, Fulton completes the season with a perfect 5-0 home record.

§         1967  Fulton defeats Oak Ridge 14-13 on Falcon Field en route to an undefeated season.

§         1969  East and West stands added to existing stadium.

§         1974  Perfect 5-0 record at Fulton.

§         1979  Fulton hosts 1^st home play-off game. Oak Ridge 28 Fulton 14.

§         1986  Falcon Field renamed Bob Black Field.

§         1995  New scoreboard installed.

§         1996  Track re-surfaced.

§         2000  Press Box renovated creating a new second level.      

§         2002  Fulton wins all 8 home games and advances to the BlueCross Bowl.

§         2003  Fulton posts an undefeated 7-0 home record and defeated Macon Co. 26-0 to advance to their second consecutive BlueCross Bowl.

§         2004  New scoreboard installed honoring 2003 state champions.

Field Decorations

     Fulton takes great pride in the appearance of Bob Black Field. Many fans have said that Fulton’s field is the best-decorated field in the area. The coaching staff spends many hours on Wednesdays painting the field for Friday’s game. The drop wing falcon on the 50-yard line first appeared during the 1992 season. This is the third season that the falcon has been painted black. The FHS designs in both end zones debuted in 1993. The current field design has been in use since the 1996 season. The drop wing falcon logo is outlined by hand prior to the start of the season by Fulton graduates Tim Parker and Jason Harbison.

2005 Schedule

8/12     Bearden (Jamboree)   W, 8-0

8/26     @Austin-East             L, 36-33

9/2      @Anderson Co.           L, 27-26 (ot)

9/9       Alcoa                   

9/16     Boyd Buchanan

9/23     @ Chatt. Tyner

9/30     Scott (HC)

10/7     Kingston

10/14   @Catholic

10/21   @Carter

10/28   Livingston Academy

 Fulton at Home

   Fulton Stadium/ Bob Black Field celebrates its 40^th birthday this season, and the Falcons have been successful in the past in defending their home turf. Fulton finished the 2004 home season with a record of 5-2. 2004 saw the end of a record 19-game winning streak at home. The Falcons opened their stadium with a 19 game unbeaten streak (17-0-2) from 1965-1968. Fulton’s all-time home record is 116-88-3, and Coach Coatney is 43-31 at home. Currently, Fulton has an 8-game winning streak in home playoff games, and has a home record in the playoffs of 10-2.

Coach Buck Coatney

 Coach Buck Coatney is in his 14^th season at the helm of the Fulton football program. His 91-70 record makes him the winningest coach in school history. Coatney’s teams have developed a reputation for both a physical defense and a high scoring offense. Coatney’s roots are colored maroon and white, as his father John captained Fulton’s 1959 team. Coatney was known as a hard-nosed linebacker and tight end on the Falcon teams of the late 70s. He was named to the all-state team and the Knoxville Journal defensive player of the year, as he led Fulton to a region championship in 1979. Coatney earned Honorable-Mention All-American honors at Furman University where he was coached by current Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson. He began his coaching career at Furman as a graduate assistant. After leaving Furman, Coatney spent two years as an assistant coach at Middlesburg High School in Florida. He returned to Fulton in 1987, where he served as Defensive Coordinator. He was named Fulton’s 11^th head coach in 1992. Fulton has advanced to the playoffs under Coatney for the last 12 years. In 2003, Coatney directed what was thought to be a rebuilding effort into the school’s first ever state championship team, and led the Falcons to a repeat championship in 2004. For his work in 2004, Coatney was named state coach of the year by the Tennessee Sportswriters Association, and the Tennessee Titans.   

Fulton vs Anderson Co.- The Series

Last Week

   The Falcons saw a 20-6 4^th quarter advantage evaporate before losing 27-26 in overtime at Anderson Co.. Fulton looked strong on the opening drive of the game, driving 66 yards in 4 plays, scoring on Dennis Rogan’s 1-yard run. Rogan scored three touchdowns in the game and rushed for 168 yards on 22 carries. Fulton increased the lead to 14-0 in the first quarter on a 39-yard run by Rogan. Anderson Co. answered on a 59-yard run by Justin Carden to close the deficit to 14-6 at halftime. The Falcons increased their lead in the third quarter to 20-6, on a nine-play fifty-four yard drive capped off on a Rogan 7-yard run. AC quarterback Jimmy Colson rallied the Mavs with two late touchdowns to send the game into OT. Anderson Co. scored on its first possession of overtime to take a 27-20 lead. Fulton QB Jack Wagner hit an uncovered Dennis Freeney for a touchdown, setting up Fulton’s two-point conversion attempt for the win. Wagner’s pass to Chris Pitchford was ruled incomplete without penalty, helping AC to the 27-26 victory. Wagner was 10-22 in the air for 197 yards. Freeney and Rogan each had four pass receptions. Tim Morris led the defense with nine tackles and a sack.

Falcons on TV

   Tonight marks the eighth time that Fulton has played on live television. Three of those appearances have come in the BlueCross Bowl. Fulton has an all-time record of 4-3 in TV games. This is also the third time that Fulton and A-E have played on CSS. The Falcons are scheduled for three live appearances this season.

Fulton vs. Alcoa-The Series

   The Fulton Falcons and Alcoa Tornadoes meet for the 7^th time this evening at Bob Black Field. Despite the success that both of these programs have enjoyed over the years, this is the first meeting between the schools since 1990. Fulton and Alcoa met every season from 1985-1990 when the schools were members of district 3-AA. Alcoa leads the all-time series 5-1. Fulton’s lone victory in the series came in 1986 on the dedication night of Bob Black Field. The game went into overtime before Fulton came away with a 10-7 victory. Current Fulton assistant coach Mike Potter kicked the winning field goal. Alcoa has a 2-1 advantage in the series in games played at Fulton.

Returning Stat Leaders (2004)

Last Meeting

   The 1990 Fulton Falcons were snake bitten by the schedule maker. Their three losses in the season came to Central, Alcoa, and Powell, who were the top teams in the Knoxville area that year. Those teams combined to lose only four games in 1990. Fulton met the number 1 ranked Tornadoes on a rainy night at Bob Black Field. Fulton squandered several chances inside the Alcoa 20-yard line in the game before the Tornadoes came away with a hard fought 13-0 win.

Next Week

   Next week the Falcons face the Boyd Buchanan Buccaneers for the first time at Bob Black Field. Boyd won the 1A state championship in 2003, and were runners-up in ’04. Local kickoff time is 7:30.

FalconTalk

   Coach Bob Black has been recovering from an infection in his leg over the last few weeks. Despite the illness, he has still been coaching his lineman. He will be with the coaches in the press box tonight…. Coach Michael Holt is new to the staff this year. He is an English intern at Fulton. He played his football at Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett….Tonight’s game will be telecast on CSS, and broadcasted on WNOX 990-AM, WKGN 1340-AM, and WKCS 91.1 FM…. Two A-E assistant coaches played football for Fulton High. Coaches Marshall Walker and Howard Hensley wore the maroon and white in high school.