Panthers’ Ford: ‘We’re here to stay’
Leader photo by Matt Belinson
After three years without a true home, the Lincoln Prep football team made history and played a game on its new turf field Thursday night in Grambling.
GRAMBLING — Gordan Ford knew the day would come, but even as he stood in the face of history, the weight of the moment still hit home.
After three seasons as road warriors, Lincoln Prep’s football team played its first true home game Thursday against Madison on its own field — overcoming a federal lawsuit and years of displacement and uncertainty.
But through it all, Ford, executive director of Lincoln Preparatory School, knew the Panthers would come out the other side stronger and eventually have a place to call home. That dream came true Thursday evening.
“The biggest thing is we’re here,” Ford said. “ Through all of the trials when we were dealing with the lawsuit and there were all these temporary facilities and there were all these rumors, ‘Lincoln Prep’s going to close. Lincoln Prep won’t be here.’ We’re here, and we’re here to stay. We’ve been here since 1901, and we’re not going anywhere.”
After the U.S. Department of Justice ruled Lincoln Prep could no longer operate on the campus of Grambling State University in 2020, the Panthers were forced to be travelers — going without home athletic facilities for three seasons.
Some cast them aside, Ford said. Others figured the school would never find itself with a proper home again.
But Lincoln Prep believes in its strong roots in the city of Grambling and won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
“I knew we would get here someday, just didn’t know what day,” Ford said. “We knew it was coming. I trust in God and believed this was going to happen, and it was just a matter of waiting on that day of deliverance. And we’re here.
“We’re partially here today; we’re running things with generators and other stuff right now. By this time next year, it’ll be even more different. But we’re excited to give our kids a real home game,” Ford continued.
Temporary bleachers were in place Thursday to seat close to 500 fans on the home side and nearly 100 on the visitors’ side, with the Prep cheerleaders, band, and dance team all in full garb to add to the pageantry.
Glen Hall, Lincoln Prep football coach, wasn’t as shocked as others might have been to see the community rally into Panther Field Thursday. For him, the achievement of playing the first of many home games to come was made possible by the Grambling community’s unwavering support.
“Lincoln Prep is a proud place. That’s something we take a lot of pride in,” Hall said after Thursday’s game. “ The fans come out and support us in every sport. That’s what we do. We’re a small community but we got big hearts. There’s one heartbeat in this community.”
With five more home games to go this season, and cooler temperatures to bring out even larger crowds, Ford expects the games to bring a greater sense of comfort and emotional strength to the Panthers’ seniors.
After all, before Thursday, playing in the city of Grambling seemed so far away.
But not anymore. “I think it was emotional for our seniors especially,” Ford said. “They have never played a game in the city of Grambling. Never played. And so, it’s just exciting for them to be here and have their family and friends here with them.”
