The Purple Shoe Gang                                  The Lipscomb Football Chronicles
The actual football playing field at the Reese Smith Athletic Complex is always dressed up for Friday night action.  At most schools, the coaches, players or the booster club is generally responsible for lining off the field.  At David Lipscomb its a little different.  A mixture of parents, former players, grandparents,  alumni, neighbors and patrons of the school take great pride in having one of the best playing fields under the lights of Friday night around.  The Mustang players appreciate the effort and often the field generates comments from the opposing team, its staff and fans. As mentioned above, the responsible group of people refer to themselves as "The Purple Shoe Gang".  Anywhere from 4-15 people gather each Friday around noon at the field on home game day.  Anyone can be a member of the gang, male and female, young and old alike are apart of this group.  The un-official leader is Phil Pharr and is one of the original members. The Origin of "The Purple Shoe Gang".  During the 1993 Season, the team made it to the playoffs.  After a team/parent dinner meeting, a group of dads decided that they would really paint up the field for the playoff run.  Some of the Dad's involved that evening included:  Pharr, Stu Brandt, Steve Burton, Stan Ezell, and Bud Martin. (let us know who we have left out).  It was their intention to paint each endzone purple, using hand-held paint cans.  After several hours, it was apparent that this was going to take some time.  Several of the guys left and rounded up five gallon buckets of paint along with compressors.  However several hours turned into many hours and very deep into the night-the dew arrived.  The endzones were finally painted but would not dry.  Everyone's shoes were now a solid purple.  After the game on Friday night, both teams' uniforms were also purple.  The purple endzones remained until the end of the 94 track season.  Needless to say, the endzones willl never be painted again as it was in 1993. Today, usually one of the coaches will outline a mid-field design such as the galloping Mustang or the interlocking DL or just an L.  The gang will paint it each week along with the lines and sideline numbers.  Coach Mac generally will approve new designs and color use while Pharr does the enforcing.  However, it has been known that the "Gang" after McCadams and Pharr leave the field at mid-afternoon, will take matters into their own hands and add some special touches contrary to the original orders.  In past years, the Gang was treated to ice cream novelities provided by Stan Ezell and Purity Dairies.  More recently, Lipscomb Alumni Mustang  and parent to former Mustang Phillip Bates, Dr. Eddie Bates will occasionally bring a full spread of Corky's Bar B Q, Ribs and fixings the gang wil enjoy while admiring their handiwork.  The Purple Shoe Gang is now acknowledged at the Annual Football Banquet and awarded the "Official Purple Shoe Gang" T-Shirt.  Membership is open to everyone.  Come spend your Friday Lunch hour or afternoon with the Gang at the football field.
			We are open to anyone who would like to join in and have some fun on game day! Show up on Friday around noon on home game days.