History Of MojoLand

BACKGROUND & HISTORY

The MojoLand® website came into existence in 1996, as a response to Buzz Bissinger’s ‘Friday Night Lights’ book. I felt there were several bent truths and sensationalized information in the book. Being a graduate of Permian, I found portions of the book to be exaggerated. Hence the creation of MojoLand®.

The site began as a personal web page. It consisted of a news page, roster, schedule, coaching staff, and playoff history of the football team. In 1998, the Ector County Independent School District was in its Phase Two of becoming internet friendly and having a site originating from its campuses. Along the way, more and more features to the MojoLand® site would evolve.

The ECISD finally got on track and launched their own site, which included the district’s full athletic department. In 2000, MojoLand® would yield to the school district site and re-focus on the football athletes and their achievements during and after dawning the Panthers uniform.

The production of ‘Friday Night Lights – the Movie’ began in March of 2004 and I had an inside track. MojoLand® was the only website on the internet with daily updates and photos, as I was directly involved cast as a Permian assistant coach. The inside scoop afforded MojoLand® to top One Million internet visitors a month for most of 2004-05.

In 2006, the website featured the first internet-based virtual museum in the nation that was dedicated to a high school football program and its history.

MojoLand® celebrated its Black, White, and Silver anniversary after an unprecedented year of Covid surprises in 2020.  Through the many highs and lows, I have enjoyed corresponding with several of you over the past 25 years.

*Due to health and financial matters, I have officially announced that 2023 will be my last year reporting on the achievements of our Permian athletes and sports programs.  In order to subsidize some of the web hosting costs, in addition to the mounting doctor bills and medicines, I am now offering my collected Mojo Memorabilia (and a few others) on the PermianSports.com website.


Past Permian Football Coaches

1959-61 TED DAWSON (21-10-0)
Bi-District Finalist
1962-64 JIM CASHION (15-15-0)
No Playoffs
1965-70 GENE MAYFIELD (62-10-2)
State Champions
State Finalist 2x
1971-72 GIL BARTOSH (23-1-0)
State Champions
National Champions
1973-85 JOHN WILKINS (148-16-6)
State Champions 2x
State Finalist 4x
1986-89 GARY GAINES (47-6-1)
State Champions
National Champions
1990-93 TAM HOLLINGSHEAD (43-4-2)
State Champions
1994-99 RANDY MAYES (45-25-1)
State Finalist
2000-02 T.J. MILLS (15-15)
No Playoffs
2003-04 SCOTT SMITH (10-10)
No Playoffs
2005-08 DARREN ALLMAN (38-11)
Region Finalists 3x
2009-12 GARY GAINES (23-21)
Region Finalists
2013-17 BLAKE FELDT (38-18)
Region Finalists 3x
2018-xx JEFF ELLISON (23-11)
Region Finalists

Continue reading “Past Permian Football Coaches”

Former Permian Players

Darren Allman
A 1987 graduate and former player, Darren Allman was a sophomore when the Panthers won the 1984 Class 5A State Championship. Allman was a junior when the team reached the state finals in 1985. He shares the school record for interceptions in a single game with four in 1986. A decade later, Allman would spend eight seasons coaching at Brownwood, one year at Temple, and one year at Highland Park. In February 2005, he was named as Permian’s 11th football coach. After reaching the third round of the playoffs in ’06, ’07, and ’08, Allman left Permian for Austin Westlake and then Colleyville Heritage.  He accepted the Athletic Director position at Southlake Carroll in 2015, and has returned to coaching at Nacogdoches. Continue reading “Former Permian Players”

School History

Permian came into existence 60 years ago, as the third high school to Odessa. Located in the northern part of town, it was only a matter of time for the 250,000 square foot school to root into fertile soil. The beginning year saw Permian win three games, and in the second season of existence the Panther football program set the standard for winning with a record of 8-3-0. In just five years later, the Panthers won their first state championship in 1965. In 1966, the school district allowed the annexation of the Permian Field House, and the following year, the swimming pool was added. As the building was growing, the legend was taking root and spreading faster than the construction. It was also during this time, the infamous “MoJo” chant began. Continue reading “School History”