In Vian, football is more than just a game. Football is something the community centers around. For generations, Vian Wolverine football has brought the town together, gathered under the Friday night lights on a grass field that has witnessed decades of victories, heartbreaks and unforgettable memories. That field isn’t just a patch of grass. It’s a gathering place, and a symbol of pride for the entire Vian community.
The grass field at St. John Stadium has been home to countless players, coaches, cheerleaders and fans for as long as most can remember. It has endured rainstorms, hot Oklahoma summers, playoff games, pep rallies, graduation ceremonies and community celebrations. When the decision was made to replace Vian’s grass field with turf, it marked not just a physical change, but the beginning of a new chapter for a community rooted in Vian Wolverine football tradition, Vian coach Gary Willis has been at the heart of that tradition for the past 10 years as head coach of the Wolverines. He knows what that field means, not just to him, but to everyone who has ever worn a Vian jersey, sat in the stands or cheered from the sidelines.
“To me, it was important to continue the tradition on that field that was there long before I started coaching here,” Willis said. “There have been so many games won on that field. It’s a special place to me and this whole town.”
Out of all the years he’s witnessed on that grass, one game stands out to him.
“It was either 2017 or 2018 the second round of playoffs,” Willis said. “Vian was playing against (Tulsa) Victory Christian. We had a really talented team, and it was one of the best games they had ever played. We beat a team we probably shouldn’t have. That game was one of the best I’ve ever been a part of. The team was really talented, and it was a game well played.”
Now, as the demolition of the grass field has begun, Willis is looking forward to an upgrade that not only means something to the football program, but for the community.
“The turf will offer us a good, flat surface to practice and have games on,” he said. “We will be able to practice no matter the weather, and it will be something that youth league and up can use — even cheer and band will be able to use it. It’s something the whole community will benefit from. It’s very important to me that the school, and the community have invested in this. It will be another new upgrade to our campus.”
Willis also notes that with the recent changes to high school athletic transfer rules, facilities play a role in attracting new students. With the new agriculture building and followed by the new high school, he thinks it will help draw students in.
“High school sports are changing,” Willis said. “Kids are transferring and announcing their moves on social media like college players. Having upgraded facilities helps us stay competitive and keep building something special here.”
Although the grass field may be gone, its legacy will never fade for the Wolverines. With the new turf, Vian is laying the foundation for future generations to write their own chapters in Wolverine football history.
Vian High School’s St. John Stadium has had its natural grass ripped out so the new turf can be placed down. It’s expected to be ready for the 2025 season, which will begin at 7 p.m. Sept. 5 when the first-ever game played on the new turf will take place when the Wolverines will entertain the Eufaula Ironheads.
