TEAM

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.

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.

 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 119-89-3, and Coach Coatney is 46-32 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. Fulton rallied from a disappointing home opening loss to Alcoa earlier this year to post a 3-1 record in home games in 2005.

Fulton Quick Facts

Location……….. Knoxville

Opened………... 1951

Enrollment…….. 956

District/Region... 2-3A

Home Field……. Bob Black Field

Principal………. Kitty Hatcher

Athletic Director.. Bob Black

Head Coach…… Buck Coatney

Seasons………..  14

Record………… 93-71

Seasons Played.… 55

All-Time Record…318-261-11

Playoff Appearances..15

Playoff Record… 21-13

Coach Buck Coatney

 Coach Buck Coatney is in his 14^th season at the helm of the Fulton football program. His 93-71 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.   

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                          L, 46-8

9/16     Boyd Buchanan         W, 43-7

9/23     @ Chatt. Tyner          W, 16-13

9/30     Scott (HC)                 W, 56-24

10/7     Kingston                    W, 44-28

10/14   @Catholic                 W, 38-9

10/21   @Carter                    W, 42-0

10/28    Livingston Academy

Fulton vs. Livingston- The Series

   Tonight marks the first-ever meeting between Fulton and Livingston Academy. The schools have met one time on the hardwood, with the Wildcats defeating Fulton in the first round of the 1997 TSSAA boy’s state basketball tournament. This is the 11^th time that the Falcons have faced a team hailing from the mid-state. Fulton has a record of 6-4against teams from middle Tennessee. This will be the first regular season meeting between Fulton and a mid-state school since 1959.

   Livingston Academy is located in Overton County. The school opened in 1909 as a Christian school. It became an Overton Co. public school in 1947, and is the only high school in the county. The Wildcats have made 13 appearances in the TSSAA football playoffs. They reached the state quarterfinals on two occasions, 1996 and 2004.

Last Week

Fulton 42 Carter 0

Catholic 38 Kingston 23

Webb 26 A-E 22

Anderson Co. 21 Scott 0

Smith Co. 26 Livingston Academy 21

Senior Night At Fulton

   Twelve football seniors will be honored before the game as a part of Senior Night activities. The class of 2006 has amassed a three-year record of 33-6, and been a part of two state championships. This senior class has never lost in the playoffs. The 2005 seniors are:

#4 Chris Pitchford

#15 John Burnette

#22 Tyrone Cobb

#29 Russell Jones

#30 James Macon

#54 Bradley Cooper

#55 Ikey Lane

#58 Laray Ash

#59 Trevan Capshaw

#68 Karlton Mills

#70 Tim Morris

#71 Brandon Kee

Last Week

 A unusually small crowd turned out on a rainy Friday night at Bob Black Field to see the Fulton Falcons improve their record to 4-3 with a 44-28 victory over the Kingston Yellow Jackets. Those who chose to stay at home missed another impressive performance by Fulton running back Dennis Rogan. For the second consecutive week, Rogan scored five touchdowns in front of the home crowd. His first touchdown of the night came on the opening kickoff. Rogan followed the

Falcons Earn Weekly Honors

   Fulton Senior DB Chris Pitchford earned player of the week honors this week for his three-interception effort against Carter. Pitchford was honored by the Knoxville Quarterback Club and prepxtra.com.

Dennis Rogan was nominated for PrepXtra player of the week this week for the fourth consecutive time.

Last Week

Fulton 44 Kingston 28

A-E 13 Anderson Co. 9

Livingston 42 Scott 34

Catholic 14 Webb 12

Next Week

Fulton @ Carter

Catholic @ Kingston

Webb @ A-E

Scott @ Anderson Co.

Smith Co. @ Livingston

FalconTalk

Media members can find complete coverage of Fulton football on the web at www.fultonfootball.com. ..The Falcons will wear Maroon jerseys and black pants for tonight’s game. Fulton has a record of 2-0 in this uniform after wearing them in the 43-7 victory over Boyd Buchanan, and in the win over Kingston three weeks ago. … Fulton’s 2005 schedule features five schools that have won a combined total of 12 state football championships … Fulton’s OT loss to Anderson Co. was the Falcons’ first OT loss since 2001 when the Mavericks defeated Fulton 36-33 at Anderson Co. in the 2^nd round of the playoffs. Fulton had won 3 consecutive overtime games… Tonight’s game will be broadcast in Knoxville on WKCS-FM 91.1 with Russell Mayes, Ryan McDonough, and T.J. Earl on the call, also on the Sports Animal 990 AM with John Wilkerson, Tim Stafford, and Dave Nathan. The game will be broadcast in Livingston on  WLIV.  . .. Only 9 East Tennessee schools have won back-to-back state championships. Fulton won in ’03 and ’04. Alcoa, Cleveland, and Maryville are the only ET schools with three consecutive championships.

Poll Watching

FHS Playoff Streak Longest in Knox

   A Fulton win tonight over Livingston Academy would propel the Falcons into their 13^th consecutive trip into the playoffs. This is the longest playoff streak in Knox Co. The streak began in 1993, as Fulton upset Happy Valley 37-8 in the first round. During the streak, Fulton has compiled a record of 19-10 in playoff games with three consecutive championship appearances and two state championships. Fulton’s playoff streak is longer than another local power; Maryville. Maryville’s streak is only at 8 years.

Playoff Possibilities

Region 2

If Fulton wins, Catholic is first, Austin-East is second, Fulton is third, and Livingston Academy is fourth, unless Austin-East wins and Catholic loses, in which case Austin-East is first, Fulton is second, Catholic is third, and Livingston Academy is fourth.

If Fulton loses, Catholic is first, Austin-East is second, Livingston Academy is third, and Anderson is fourth, unless Austin-East wins and Catholic loses, in which case Austin-East is first, Catholic is second, Livingston Academy is third, and Anderson County is fourth.

Fulton Statistical Leaders

This edition of the Fulton Football Game Notes was compiled by Russell Mayes. Any media inquires concerning the Falcons should be directed to Mayes at 594-1259.