Anna+Clark


 * Permian High School

** //By: Anna Clark//

Permian High School opened in 1959 in a small town called Odessa, Texas. In the first year the school began the Panthers only won 3 football games. During the next season the team won 8. By 1965, only 5 years later, the Permian Panthers won state championship. “Permian’s first undefeated regular season was in 1970, when they lost in the state finals to Austin Reagan for the second time in three years” (Odessa Permian School History). This school has had many ups and downs through the history of their football team. At this school there were a huge amount of social and racial differences and the school is what unified them. An author named, H.G. Bissinger, found Permian High School and hung around the team during the 1980’s. He later wrote a book about the struggles of growing up in a small oil-rigging town, the pressures of being a football player and the overall differences between the races in Odessa.

Odessa Permian School History. KylGrafx. 20 August 2009 

**Gary Gaines**



//By: Anna Clark//

Gary Gaines is one of the real life characters in H.G. Bissinger’s book, __Friday Night Lights__. Gaines was the head coach for the Permian Panther football team in 1988. In the book Bissinger writes about Gaines after a loss against the Permian’s rival team, “When he went home late that night, several FOR SALE signs had been punched into his lawn, a not-so-subtle hint that maybe it would be best for everyone if he just got the hell out of town” (Bissinger). Through Gary Gaines history with the Panthers he served as assistant coach from 1979 to 1981. He then began as head coach from 1986 to 1989. The Panthers won in their 5A division in both the year 1980 and 1989 (About Coach Gary Gaines). Since being coach of the Permian Panther football team, Gary Gaines has coached for several teams. He has coached from other High School teams to colleges. He recruited many famous NFL stars today. Coach Gary Gaines will always be in the Permian High School football coaches hall of fame.
 * // About Coach Gary Gaines. KylGrafX. 22 August 2009  //**