Longtime Buford head coach Ed Cochran said it was like the Wolves had died and gone to heaven the first time they took the field at Tom Riden Stadium in 1990.
The results over the last 35 years have centrally been heavenly for those in green and gold.
The City of Buford is in the process of building a new stadium off of Buford Highway, meaning this will be the final season the team plays in Tom Riden Stadium. With the playoffs underway, that means any home game could be the last one they play in the venue.
Buford hosts East Coweta tonight in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs.
The stadium was named for one of the first coaches in Buford's history, Tom Riden, who led the team from 1946 through 1960. It was not the first football venue the Wolves called home, however, as they previously played home games at the old City Park Field off South Hill Street.
Cochran, who coached the program from 1973 through 1991, said the growth of the city and school led to the decision to build a new stadium on Sawnee Avenue.
"It felt like we had died and went to heaven, because we had a practice field, our game field was used for games, we had a track that we could use," Cochran said.
Every Buford coach to lead the team to a state title has coached in Tom Riden Stadium. Ed Cochran won a state title at Buford in 1978 and coached the first two seasons Tom Riden was open in 1990 and 1991. Dexter Wood took over in 1995 and shortly turned the Wolves into a dynasty, sparking a run of dominance unprecedented in Georgia high school football history.
Two of his former assistants, Jess Simpson and Bryant Appling have been able to sustain that success to the tune of 20 region championships and 13 state titles combined between the three men's tenures.
Wood said Tom Riden Stadium has been a special home field advantage for the program.
"I think there's a little bit of a mystery for visiting teams when they come in Tom Riden because we've won so many big games and because of who we are," Wood said. "We think that works to our advantage in a lot of big games."
Buford's record in the stadium certainly bears that out. The Wolves have an all-time record in the venue of 237-25.
While the Wolves are excited to open their new home in 2025, those who played and coached in Tom Riden Stadium say they'll always have memories of the place they call "Gloryland."
"It's the end of an era of Friday nights and barbecue smoke coming across the sideline. Running out of the tunnel and running through the sign," current Buford Head Coach Bryant Appling said. "It's a special place."
"It's certainly not going to be neglected or forgotten, we're still going to be coming through here for certain events and activities," Wood said. "But there will always be a memory, once we walk out of here for the last time. Memories that our people will forever remember."
Click play on the video above to hear more from Cochran, Wood and Appling about the history of Tom Riden Stadium.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2024/11/1272262/football-buford-prepares-for-farewell-tour-for-tom-riden-stadium