The football field at Okolona High School now carries two names. It is officially Faulkner-Bowens Field. A lasting tribute to Coach Charles Faulkner and his former player, NFL defensive tackle Tim Bowens.
The stadium was named Faulkner-Bowens Field during a senior night game in October 2023. The community held was a formal dedication this past Friday night to celebrate and honor the legacy of Coach Faulkner and Bowens.
The decision to place both names on the field is more than symbolism. It recognizes the two pillars of high school athletics. The steady leadership that builds a program. And the rare talent that rises from it to earn national recognition. Together, they represent a bond between mentor and pupil that shaped generations and brought pride to a small Mississippi town.
Coach Faulkner was the architect of Okolona football.
His career came in two parts but stretched across more than two decades. From 1967 to 1969, he went 24-6-1. A decade later, he returned and stayed for 15 more seasons, guiding the Chieftains until 1994. By then, his career total stood at 136 wins. His 1989 team finished 11-1 and claimed a district championship.
Faulkner’s impact was larger than the numbers. His return to the sideline in 1980 showed his commitment to the program and the town. He shaped players as athletes and young men, instilling toughness, discipline, and perseverance. He was not just passing through. He was part of the community’s fabric.
He served 18 years as head coach at Okolona and amassed a record of 136 wins, 68 loses and 1 tie.
FAULKNER’S HONORS
2X Tombigbee Conference Champion
3 Bowl Appearances
9 Playoff Appearances
4 Undefeated Regular Seasons
6X District Coach of the Year
6X District Champion (1982, 88, 89, 90, 91, 93)
1 North State Championship (1993)
1 State Championship (1993)
Okolona Citizen of the Year
2X Daily Journal Coach of the Year
Head Coach of the Bernard Blackwell All-Star Classic
Head Coach of the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game
NEMFCA Hall of Fame inductee
MAC Hall of Fame inductee
Golden Glove Boxing Champion
From that foundation came Tim Bowens.
He grew up in Okolona and played for the Chieftains during Faulkner’s second run. As a freshman at ICC, Bowens helped lead the Indians to a 7-2-1 record. In his final season, the Indians wrapped up the regular season with an 8-2 record and advanced to the MACJC Championship game and played in the Mineral Water Bowl in Excelsior Springs, MO.
His college career at Ole Miss was short, just nine games, but his potential was undeniable. In 1994, Don Shula and the Miami Dolphins took a chance, selecting him with the 20th overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Bowens rewarded that faith immediately. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1994. He anchored Miami’s defensive line for 11 seasons, starting 155 games. No interior defensive lineman in franchise history has started more. His consistency was legendary. He missed only two games in his first nine years, battling in the trenches week after week. His play created space for future Hall of Famers Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas.
Bowens retired from an illustrious 11-year career after spending his entire career with the Dolphins. He finished his career with 407 tackles (297 solo), 22 sacks, 21 pass deflections, nine forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and made an impress interception in 2000 against the Minnesota Vikings. Tim earned Pro Bowl honors in 1998 and 2002, helped Miami reach the playoffs seven times, and started 92 consecutive games, which, at that time, was the third best run in team history.
BOWENS’ HONORS
2X All-District
MHSAA All-State
2X MACJC All-State
3 District Championships
Itawamba Community College Athletic Hall of Fame (2010)
2X MACJC All-State (1991, 92)
NJCAA All-American (1992)
MACJC Hall of Fame (2015)
All-SEC 2nd Team (1993)
1st Round selection of the NFL Draft (1994)
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1994)
NFL All-Pro (1994)
PFWA All-Rookie Team (1994)
NFL Pro Bowl Selection (1998, 2002)
Miami Dolphins Walk of Fame (2012)
Miami 50th Season All-Time Team Selection (2015)
Dolphins Ring of Honor (2024)
What ties these two legacies together is timing and influence. Bowens came of age during Faulkner’s second and most dominant coaching run. The connection is clear. The mentor who built the program. The player who carried its name onto the national stage. The field that bears their names is both a tribute and a reminder of what they accomplished together.
Faulkner-Bowens Field is more than a stadium. It is a monument to dedication, resilience, and pride. It honors a coach who gave decades to his town. It honors a player who reached the NFL’s highest levels but stayed true to where he came from. And it honors the community that shaped them both.
In Okolona, every game played on that field now carries their legacy. The past and future meet on its grass. And the names Faulkner and Bowens will live there, side by side, for as long as football is played.
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