‘Carl Madison Field’ — School Board Approves Naming Tate Football Field For Legendary Coach

January 20, 2021

The Escambia County School Board officially voted Tuesday night to name the football field at Tate High School as the “Carl Madison Field” in honor of the legendary coach that led the Aggies to a 1980 state championship and is one of the all-time winningest high school coaches in the nation.

Madison, who celebrated his 90th birthday Saturday, sits at number two on Florida’s all-time football coaching victories list with a 326-129-7 record.

In addition to winning a state title at Tate, he took the Pine Forest Eagles to two state championships in 1987 and 1988. The 1988 Eagle team was named as national champions by USA Today, and Madison earned the title of the National High School Football Coach of the Year. All in all, he coached at five different Florida High Schools including Ernest Ward, plus three out of state schools.

“Coach Carl Madison taught his players about the game of life, how to compete successfully as a team, and ultimately, how to win,” stated a school board resolution approved Tuesday night. “His teams were successful in part because of the vision he cast for his players. The fruits of his labor cannot just be measured in the games won, football championships or the players fortunate to earn scholarships, but in the lives of the players, turned men, he coached over the years; men who have established and grown businesses, led corporations, developed into successful high school and college coaches, schoolteachers & administrators, lawyers, community difference makers, charitable leaders and professionals from all walks of life.”

The name of the of the Tate High School football field as “Carl Madison Field” took effect immediately. The stadium will continue to be known as the Pete Gindl Stadium in honor of the longtime educator who served a total of 24 years on the Escambia County School Board and 18 years in the classroom.

Comments

5 Responses to “‘Carl Madison Field’ — School Board Approves Naming Tate Football Field For Legendary Coach”

  1. Stuart Miller on January 24th, 2021 1:47 pm

    I first met Coach Madison in the fall of 1973 I was only 14 and trying out for the 9th
    grade freshmen football team at Tate High School and Coach came to one of our early practices to observe his team of the future. I remember fumbling the ball and Coach grabbed my face mask and pulled me in close to his face and said son there are only 2 reasons for fumbling one is are you scared and second are you lazy or something like that and of course I said I was not scared …Ran the play again and did better. That was quite an intimidating moment for me but ever lasting of course.
    I quit playing football after freshman year due to a condition building up in my knees and told Coach that and he was fine with it/ but he knew I was on the staff of the school newspaper The Crimson & Grey and he wanted me to help write stories about the football team which I gladly did. I did play JV golf my sophomore season and played mostly in JV matches but did participate in 1 Varsity Match and Coach got me my Letter T at the ceremony for handing out letters and I was so proud.
    Congratulations Coach Madison on the football field being named in your honor. You so have earned this. God Bless, Stuart Miller

  2. Dave Jones on January 22nd, 2021 5:39 pm

    I attended Tate in the mid-70’s ,and Carl Madison was legend already, I observed so many victories by our outstanding team(s) it was like Trump and ”winning winning winning~!!!” lol I feel strongl;y that he should be remembered and addorn the Feild with his honored name, I wqould feel privalaged to see him menmorioalized this way, he was such a big part oif Tate, loved and respected by all not only at Tate, but in the County and surrounding counties and states in thr South East . Carl contributed ot our overall ‘’sprit & pride”
    Dacwe B Jones,
    My 2¢

  3. James Elliott on January 22nd, 2021 6:17 am

    Congratulations Coach you are one of a kind.
    Glad I got to play football during the yime you were coach.
    May God continue to bless you and uour family.
    Sorry to hear about your loss Sending Prayers.

  4. Bubba Griffith on January 20th, 2021 1:36 pm

    Congrats coach !! Well deserved!! Now the baseball field after Floyd Adams !! Let’s honor these great educators while they are alive!! They touched and molded so many lives!!

  5. JTV on January 20th, 2021 5:21 am

    Congratulations Coach, I can’t think of any other name deserving of this.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports