OUTLAW HORSE

All of you old Outlaw students and fans know what this big black horse represents in our community. Only an Outlaw know that this fierce horse represents the qualities that our mighty Outlaws try to exhibit in their love of sports.

Many years ago different names were suggested but the strength of an Outlaw horse is what was decided upon. Mrs. Mattie Mae told me that there was a big conflict over the selection of our mascot and the school colors. She said one suggestion was Lumber Jacks and green and yellow because we were a lumber town. Along the way purple and gold and the Outlaw horse was selected. Back in the late 50's or early 60's the colors were changed to blue and white. I remember one coach wanted to change because purple faded so badly.

For years other school would visit our campus and have outlaws hanging from the goal post like real shoot 'em up outlaws. An early story did exist that said we our coach would pick up young men working at the mill and out of school to fill in when the team could not suit up enough students. They were often called a pack of outlaws. Many, many stories exist about the early teams but finally in the 70's our Student Council decided to order a large black horse to stand guard at the entrance to our school and represent the Outlaw Spirit that exist among our students.

I remember the day the big package arrived and how excited we were. My Student Council and I had to decide where we wanted to put our horse. Some wanted to put a fence around him to keep people from being able to deface him but the big discussion was you can't fence in an Outlaw so the fence was out. We decided to put him down by the gym so as students drove up the hill to school they would see him and people could see him from the highway. He stood there until the new high school was build and then he was moved to the new school.

Through the years he has been defaced by opposing teams but never nothing very drastic. I remember the very first time he was defaced was by someone that used white spray paint to spray his private manhood parts. The Outlaws got very angry and won the next few games.

As his body gave in to the many years of weather he started deteriorating. He received many coats of paint and finally he was resurfaced with plastic but still his body was becoming brittle and finally his right foot broke off.

Years after I had retired I got a call wanting to know where I ordered the horse from. I couldn't remember but I did remember hanging on to the literature as long as I was at school but had destroyed it instead of handing it along to someone else. I think they found a company that made another horse or repaired the original and he looks great.

As you can see from the photo some students from Mineral Springs decided he needed to be decorated so they spray painted and toilet papered him. I fear that this will bring some retaliation by our students. I'm not sure about taking out their revenge on the field because we have had a pretty bad season. But let me assure you that most Outlaw fans don't take messing with their mascot lightly.

This little poem was on the wall of the old field house and I would almost guarantee that is has found its place in the new one. A former student wrote it and all Outlaw football players are aware of its existence.

TO BE A CHAMPION

Cost hours of hard work,
Gallons of seat, drops of blood
A mile of dedication, a ton of heart,
A chest full of courage, a body
Racked in pain, and a mind overflowing
with perseverance.

WILL YOU PAY YOUR DUES?

This is what it takes to be an Outlaw,
Because inside every true OUTLAW beats
The heart of a Champion!!*

*I'm not sure of the author but I think he is related to the Icken howers. (Icenhowers)