LAMAR — Together again for the first time in decades, for many surviving members of Lamar's 1961-62 state championship team, those glory days feel like yesterday.
"It's great I haven't seen them in 50 years," teammate Moe Vallejos said.
"We've talked occasionally and it's a good feeling when we bring it up," teammate John Munez said.
While the memories of that magical 10-1 season are mostly black and white, the 40-14 championship win over Delta still brings up plenty of colorful conversation.
"We had this old bus sometimes we wondered if we were going to make it, it coughed all the time," Munez said.
"It's actually been spectacular, the last few days just getting ready for this conversation," teammate Larry Manning said.
It's a special brotherhood, forever linked by their ability to obtain the ultimate goal: A state title. One they hope these newest Savage standouts will get to experience themselves on Friday when they battle Eaton at 2 p.m.
"It's pretty awesome, it's definitely about time that we are back there again, had some good teams, good people, a good coach and it's about last time," Munez said.
A team forever immortalized in this football-loving town, hoping to create some new memories, to go along with those not soon forgotten.
"I tell people I played on the last state championship football team and they're incredulous," teammate Jamie Oxley said.
