The Lanett Panthers christened a $1.5 million turf field on Friday evening in a most special way. They held a 51-0 halftime lead over the visiting Barbour County Jaguars when the official announcement came that the place has a new name -- Clifford Story, Jr. Field at Morgan-Washburn Stadium. The names of the school's three most successful coaches now identify this special place to play high school football.
The new field is spectacular. With its bright green color, clearly seen white lines and yard markers, huge Panther L logo at midfield and huge letters spelling out LANETT in one end zone and PANTHERS in the other, it looks like a place an NFL team would be playing, yet it's the home of a 2A high school in Alabama.
Lanett High is truly fortunate to have such a place to play its home football games. It's also a great place for the Lady Panthers (a 25-member flag football team) to play, to have junior high games and for the bands to perform at halftime.
Rev. Richard Carter, a legendary local high school basketball coach, emceed the halftime dedication ceremony. He retired in 2020 after having coached the sport on the high school level for the better part of 50 years. He won three state championships at Lanett High from 2016-18. He's now in the Alabama High School Hall of Fame after having won more than 700 games.
"I want to thank all of you for being here tonight to take part in this celebration of our new football field," Carter told the good-sized crowd present for the game. "This would not be possible without the dedication and the work done for this project by Clifford Story, the support of Superintendent Jennifer Boyd and the city board of education and our city officials."
Among those recognized on the field were Boyd, members of the school board, Mayor Jamie Heard and Council Members Tony Malone and Tifton Dobbs.
Carter said that Story had been born and raised in LaFayette and had been a three-sport athlete at LaFayette High, having played football, basketball and baseball there in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He went on to play football and baseball at Jacksonville State University, where he earned B.S. and M.S. degrees. He started his coaching career at Weaver High near Jacksonville and went through the ranks up to being the head coach at Lanett High in 2009. Along the way, he was the defensive coordinator at Riverdale High near Atlanta, where one of the teams gave up only 12 points in the regular season. He then went back home to Alabama and coached at Auburn High under Robert Maddox and Tim Carter.
People who follow football at Auburn High still think a lot of Coach Story and the job he did there.
He went on to great success at Lanett High, posting a career record of 114-50 and a playoff record of 21-8.
His three sons, Tre, Kristian and Caden, had great careers at Lanett High. The two older boys were quarterbacks and the youngest son was a mammoth defensive lineman.
Carter highlighted Story's two best years. "In 2017, his team went 15-0 and won the 2A state championship," he said, "and two years later, his team was 14-0 and won the 1A state title." Son Kristian (a.k.a. "Ken Ken") quarterbacked those two teams. A player on that team, Trikweze Bridges, is now a member of the 53-man roster of the Dallas Cowboys.
A large delegation of Story family members and close friends were seated on the field for the ceremony. They were all delighted when son Kristian went to the lectern to speak. "He was so good at his craft and in teaching his players to do the right things," Kristian said about his father. "We learned from him that just because you can do something doesn't mean you should."
Kristian said he'd never forget learning at a very young age how dedicated his dad was to his craft. "I can remember being with the family in a restaurant and he was designing plays on a napkin," he said. "He was always so good at the little things. I am so glad I can call my dad my role model."
Just before Coach Story spoke to the big crowd, Rev. Carter presented him a plaque that read "In honor of Coach Clifford Story, Jr. for your unwavering commitment to the Lanett High School football program and your visionary leadership that culminated in two historic state championships. Your legacy of excellence, dedication and inspiration will forever be a part of Panther Pride. Dedication Date: September 12, 2025."
Story was deeply moved by being in the spotlight. "I'm just a country boy from LaFayette," he said in a voice breaking with emotion. "All I ever wanted to do was to give kids a chance. My dad always told me to never be outworked. That was my motivation to do what I did. My family, many of whom you see here tonight, is my life. When I think about where I started and where I am now, I know God is great. Thank you, Lanett, on having given me a chance to coach and work with kids."
The program ended with a spectacular fireworks show on the east end of the football field.