Still The Old Longnecker Field

Our small town of Amory, MS, was hit with an F-3 tornado in March of 2023. Even with the destruction, our little slice of Mississippi still stood strong. Amory High School was affected by this disaster, with the complete desecration of our roof, auditorium, library, and football, baseball, and softball fields. In particular, our once glorious football field, named “Longnecker Field,” was in ruins. The students and coaches were devastated, seeing their teams displaced and unable to experience playing on their home fields again.

Thus, the rebuilding of Amory began, and so much was donated by the kind people of our surrounding schools and communities. Their generosity gave the school hope again. Amory Panther Football played their 2023 fall season on the Tupelo High School football field, which was very generous and showcased Tupelo’s hospitality. The students of Amory showed up to every game supporting the team in our Amory football T-shirts, which were also donated by Tupelo.

The rebuilding process was long and arduous. It kept everyone on their toes, hoping that the field would be done in time for the 2024 football season. The wait was all worth it as the Amory Panthers were not only blessed with a new football field but also a new stadium, concession stand, jumbotron, lights, speakers, and running track just in time for the fall of this school year.

The entire town loves the new field! Several past graduates come on Friday nights in shock, seeing Longnecker Field in all its glory. Amory High School sophomore Samaria Perkins says, ¨I like the new field. It’s so much better than the old one!” 

Little elementary and middle schoolers are also in awe when they see the big field. The little girls love sitting high up in the bleachers, dressed in cheer uniforms, watching and hoping one day to be on the sidelines leading the crowd in all of our traditional panther cheers. The young boys are also dressed in their Panther football jerseys, dreaming of the day they can tackle and block with the team.

Seeing everything come together was a great experience. Watching the football players, cheerleaders, and dancers in their new uniforms almost commemorated the rebirth of our program. Seeing the smiles on everyone's faces when the ¨Get Loud¨ hype video on our new jumbotron comes on and the joy when the lights are flashing sets up a great environment for everyone to watch and enjoy the game. Junior Valeeka Walford says, ¨The field seems more like a stadium now, and it's so much better.¨

Amory has come a long way in a short amount of time, giving students the excitement of Friday nights again and again. Amory is so thankful for the donations and contributions. We still have a long way to go, with the rebuilding of our softball and football stadiums, the high school roof, the auditorium, and the library. With the support of our community, we will be able to provide a place for all up-and-coming high schoolers to have an amazing athletic and educational experience. It is old things becoming new.

And Old Longnecker Field, along with the entire Panther family, will always love that.