Fans of Longview High School football were treated to something new during Friday night's season opener against Lufkin. A honkytonk tune Here Come The Lobos composed by Nashville recording artist Tony Stampley accompanied the team onto the field, prompting excitement from Lobo fans in attendance.
'It sounded like something you'd hear on the radio, but it was about the Lobos!' said longtime season ticket holder Gail Gibson. 'I asked one of the coaches if there was a way I could download it, but he didn't know. If it was on CD I'd buy it!'
LHS athletic director John King grew up with Stampley in Springhill, La., and recently asked his buddy to put together a song to help get his team, and the fans, pumped up at the start of each ballgame.
'I talked with Tony about the team, gave him a little background about the program, and he took it from there,' he said. 'I really like what he came up with.'
LISD Audio/Video instructor Michael Palmer produced a video of Lobo highlights to go with the song, and said that he will be updating the video each week with up-to-date highlights.
The lyrics include various references to Lobo nicknames, 'Green Machine,' 'Beast from the East,' and alludes to Longview's tradition of smashmouth football. But the song also credits the Big Green Marching Machine, Viewettes, Cheerleaders, and infamous touchdown train whistle.
King said he hopes to have the video played prior to each ballgame, and would like for it to become yet another Lobo tradition.
'It's just a little something to celebrate the tradition of excellence that Lobo football is known for,' he said.
Here are the lyrics to Here Come The Lobos, by Tony Stampley:
CHORUS
Here come the Lobos, puttin' on a show,
Thumbs Up for the Green, White, and Gold!
Hear 'em howl, they're on the prowl,
strap it on, here come the Lobos!
VERSE
Green Machine is scoring touchdowns, just give us the ball,
Mean Green's gettin' after 'em all!
Beast from the East, howlin' at the moon,
Lobo Nation winning's all that we do!
BRIDGE
We're playing smashmouth, Down South, Texas way,
and Coach King he's calling all the right plays!
CHORUS
Here come the Lobos, puttin' on a show,
Thumbs Up for the Green, White, and Gold!
Hear 'em howl, they're on the prowl,
strap it on, here come the Lobos!
[GUITAR SOLO]
VERSE
We've got the Big Green Marching Machine,
Viewettes, Cheerleaders, and the ROTC.
Watch ol' Lobo hear that train whistle blow,
Lobo Nation is ready to go!
CHORUS
Here come the Lobos, puttin' on a show,
Thumbs Up for the Green, White, and Gold!
Hear 'em howl, they're on the prowl,
strap it on, here come the Lobos!
Hear 'em howl, they're on the prowl,
strap it on, here come the Lobos!
GO LOBOS!