Port Neches-Groves High School

Infobox high school


name = Port Neches-Groves High School
principal = Marc Keith
superintendent = Dr. Lani Randall
type = Public
established = 1925
enrollment = 1510
address = 1401 Merriman
city = Port Neches
state = Texas
country = United States
colors = Purple and white
mascot = Indian
district = Port Neches-Groves ISD
information = 409.729.7644
website = [http://www.hs.pngisd.org/ PN-GHS Home Page]

Port Neches-Groves High School (PNG) is located in Port Neches, Texas. The high school is the only high school in the Port Neches-Groves Independent School District and serves portions of Port Neches, Groves, and .

History

Much of this area is in a Mexican Land Grant of convert|4428|acre|km2|0 that was acquired by Thomas F. McKinney in April 1831, the first land grant in Jefferson County. Joseph Grigsby received a land grant on November 6, 1834, that included much of the city of Groves.

Port Neches-Groves High School has traditionally been recognized as a strong academic school. The school received blue ribbon status in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002.Fact|date=February 2008

School Spirit

PN-G fan school spirit is recognized statewide. PN-G fans are well-known for their pre-game parties and support of the school. Regardless of how far they have to travel, the communities of Port Neches and Groves and school alumni from across the state and nation recognize and support the efforts of the students and faculty.

Large crowds have become synonymous with PN-G games. During the high school football playoffs, it's common to see crowds of 30,000 to 40,000 dedicated Indian fans at a game. Record attendances include the all-time Texas high school record and national high school record of 49,953 at Texas Stadium for the 1977 State Championship game against the Plano Wildcats.

The Indians also hold the top high school attendance records for the Houston Astrodome. The 1999 4A State Championship game drew a crowd of 39,000 with 34,000 PN-G fans filling half of the Dome. The remaining top five PN-G crowds in the Dome are 38,570; 35,439; 33,836; and 33,000.

Generations of PN-G graduates faithfully pack Indian Stadium, affectionately known as the Reservation, to watch the new generation learn and promote the school's purple and white pride.
49,953 Plano vs. Port Neches-Groves Texas Stadium 1977
39,102 Stephenville vs. Port Neches-GrovesAstrodome 1999
38,570 Port Neches-Groves vs. Houston Kashmere Astrodome 1977

Alma Mater

Port Neches-Groves High School, High School so dear,Teachers and comrades Change from year to year.

We are always pulling, As you all know,For PN-G High School We love just so.

And when the year is over, God bless our school.We've done our best to Mind the Golden Rule.

Never shall we falter, Nor let our spirits die.Rah, Fellows, Rah! Rah! Rah! For Indian High.

Fight Song

Cherokee

Cherokee has become synonymous with PN-G tradition. Cherokee was arranged by the PN-G band director Frank Gioviale and had its origin as a half-time performance for an out-of-town football game. This first half-time performance featured Cherokee with the drum major in the long headdress down to the waist and the twirlers headdresses down to their shoulders. It was such a huge success they used it all during the year, and it eventually became the fight song.

Lynne Jeffrey, drum major and valedictorian of the senior class of 1960, wrote the Indian fight song. Once she received her teaching degree, Lynne Jeffrey James returned to PN-G as an English teacher. During her career, she also served as Indianette director. Mrs. James retired as principal of Port Neches Middle School in 2006.

One of the most recognizable fight songs in high school football is PN-G's "Cherokee".

Cherokee Lyrics are as follows:

Always be faithful...To purple and white...Cheer on with spirit...And our team will fight... Here come the Indians...Down the trails of victory...Winning our conquests for PN-G! (YELL) I-N-D-I-A-N-S scalp 'em Indians scalp 'em!

(YELL) I-N-D-I-A-N-S scalp 'em Indians scalp 'em!

Mascot

Indian Spirit

The Indian Spirit proudly dances to Cherokee in a style that has evolved over the years. The Indian Spirit tradition began in 1961 with Jamie Rohe as the first Indian Spirit. As a Scout who belonged to a semi-professional Indian dance team, Jamie was asked to dance at football games during his junior year which he did for two years. At the end of his senior year, the school decided to hold a contest to see who would be the next Indian Spirit.

Perhaps one of the most distinctive sights in high school sports, the Indian Spirit has graced the field at PN-G football games with traditional dance techniques since 1961. Each year, PN-G students compete for the honor of carrying on this proud tradition of being the spirit leader.

Bonsoir, mes amies. Laissez les bon temps roulet! - "Welcome, friends. Let the good times roll." This French phrase is spoken over the PA system at halftime of every football game to announce the PN-G band's performance.

The choice of "Indians" as the PN-G school nickname in 1925 was likely influenced by the rich local history. Port Neches was once the home of the only Indian village in Jefferson County, Texas. As early as 500 AD, Nacazil, Attakapas, Karankawa and other Indian tribes once made their home on a high bluff overlooking the Neches River that later became the town of Port Neches. In 1980, Port Neches-Groves High School was presented the official seal of the Cherokee Nation.

1975 - Football team ranked #3 in the nation

1953, 1955, 1975 - Football State Champions

1954, 1977, 1999 - Football State Finalist

Since 1925, the Indians of Port Neches and Groves have been a strong presence on the Texas high school football scene. In the 82 years of PN-G football, the Indians have compiled a 513-307-33 record*, won 22 district championships, 13 regional championships, appeared in 6 state championship games and won 3 state championships. Only 60 schools have achieved 500 wins in Texas high school football history. PN-G is among the top 10 percent of winning programs in all state classifications based on records kept by football historian Joe Lee Smith and ranks in the top 2 percent in playoff success.

Rivalry

Call it the longest continuous high school football rivalry in Southeast Texas... or Mid-County Madness.... or Braggin' Rights... or the Mid-County football championship of the world. Since 1925 the Indians and Bulldogs have battled for the bragging rights of the area nestled between Beaumont and Port Arthur known as Mid-Jefferson County or 'Mid County'. During game week, football in the small towns of Port Neches, Groves, and Nederland, Texas is backed with a level of enthusiasm that matches any area in the state.

Nothing quite compares to the matchup of these friendly but highly competitive next-door neighbors -- Nederland and Port Neches-Groves.

It's a matchup that enters the minds, hearts and tongues of refinery and factory workers year-round. It never truly vanishes the thought processes of an area football mind much the same way that Army-Navy, Texas-Texas A&M, USC-UCLA, and Harvard-Yale consumes the subconscious of college football followers.

By winning 15 consecutive games -- 1969 through 1983 -- the Indians established a stranglehold on the Mid-County series that they have enjoyed to this day. Counting a couple of ties before that 15-game win streak, the Indians actually went 19 straight years without tasting defeat against the Bulldogs.

While Nederland finally halted that PN-G streak at 15 in 1984, the Bulldogs have struggled to produce a streak anywhere close in longevity to that stretch during the 1970's & 80's.

Nederland's longest MCM win streak extended four straight years, with the last of those four occurring in the Bulldogs' memorable 1957 state AAA championship year under head coach Emmett McKenzie. That string of four straight Nederland wins can be duplicated this week if NHS head coach Larry Neumann's unbeaten squad can keep its unblemished record.

PN-G vs. Big Ned. Indians vs. Bulldogs. Purple and white against black and gold. 15,000 fans jam packed into the 13,000 seat Reservation. College game atmosphere. "Mid-County Madness". All that and more describes the 84 year rivalry between the Port Neches-Groves Indians and Nederland Bulldogs.

Notable Alumni

*Lew Ford, Major League Baseball player
*L. Q. Jones
*Dustin Long — football player
*Ben Weber — baseball player
*Mary Karr — Author, Poet
*Wade Phillips — Head Coach, Dallas Cowboys

References

External links

* [http://www.hs.pngisd.org Official Web Page]
* [http://www.pngisd.org Port Neches-Groves ISD]
* [http://www.pngindians.com Port Neches-Groves Sports]

See also

* List of sports team names and mascots derived from Indigenous peoples
* Native American mascot controversy