05/11/2026
To the Citizens of Abilene and the Gladiator Faithful,
As the dust settles over the West Texas plains and the "Pit" finally dim, I find myself looking out across this horizon with a heart full of pride and eyes slightly misty as we look back on this season.
This 2026 season wasn’t just about football; it was a love letter written in sweat, turf beads, and the unmistakable roar of a Key City crowd.
When this team first set foot in Abilene, the air was thick with doubt. The critics looked at a new roster and saw a long road to nowhere. But they didn’t account for West Texas Grit.
They didn't see the way these men transformed from strangers into a brotherhood, or the way this community opened its arms to turn a team into a family.
To Our Players and Staff,
You laid it all down on the gridiron every single night. You played for the name on the front of the jersey and the people in the stands.
Making the playoffs wasn't just a "win"—it was a statement to everyone who counted us out that the Gladiators don't just participate; we persevere.
To the Fans, Friends, Family, Sponsors and vendors.
You are the heartbeat of this organization. You turned "the Pit" into a fortress of sound and spirit.
While we took our final loss of the season, let it be known: "a scoreboard can measure a game, but it can’t measure a legacy."
We have built something here that is forged in determination and fierce perseverance for these gentlemen and for Abilene to be proud of.
The Pit may remain desolate for now, the echoes of the whistles replaced by the quiet Texas wind.
But don't mistake silence for defeat. We are resting, we are growing, and we are preparing.
When the sun rises on the 2027 season, a new day will dawn, and the Abilene Gladiators will be a force the likes of which this league has never seen.
I want to thank this incredible organization for letting a wandering soul like me be along for the ride. It has been the honor of a lifetime to run with this pack.
As we head into the off-season, I need you to hold onto two things for me:
Stay WILD, Stay LEGENDARY.
Because like the song says, "What we do in life, echoes through TIME!"
GO Abilene Gladiators!
With love and grit,
Texas Coyote 🐾🏜️🤠🐺🎤
Cowboy Snapback
Puckered Up
Runitbackclassics
Jukebox General
Rafter K Photography
Amber Dragon Meadery
Scott Agraz
Olga Lilia Gutierrez with (Olipaintsdfw)
Cupcake Dreams Abilene
Crow Towing & Environmental Services - West Texas Division
The Lab ATX
The Lab: Training Facility
101.7 The Patriot and so many more.
THANK YOU! 🏈⚔️💛🤍🩵