Monthly Archives: August 2015
Jimmy Carter — a life of simple virtue
It was announced last week that Jimmy Carter has cancer. I don’t know what will happen or if it will cut short his life – though I’m not sure “cut short” applies to a man that is 90 years old.
The one thing I do know is that Carter will deal with his illness just as he has lived – with courage, determination, good humor and faith.
In an era of venal politics and personal vilification as practiced by too many on both the left and right, Jimmy Carter and his character are all the more unusual and compelling. Simply put, he is a good and decent man with an abiding Christian faith who in his life and career has simply sought to do the right thing for the right reason. That reason was he simply believed it was the right thing to do.
It may sound a bit old fashioned — and it’s certainly not a term you will hear from the Acela-corridor elites who have never really liked him – but Carter has simply led a virtuous life.
First a little context. Carter was an unknown one-term governor of Georgia when he announced for president in 1974. The reaction was best captured by the leading newspaper in his home state which ran a headline the day after his announcement that proclaimed, “Jimmy Who Is Running For What!?”
Carter ran in the immediate aftermath of Watergate, when the country was fed up with lying politicians in Washington — aka Richard Nixon and his crew. Carter famously said, ‘I’ll never tell a lie,’ and it’s a sad commentary that he was maligned by many of the nation’s pundits for saying so.
Carter’s campaign was politically very savvy. He ran as an outsider and reformer and was the first presidential candidate to focus on the Iowa Caucus, which he won largely because his innate decency and peanut farmer roots resonated with voters in rural Iowa. And when he then won the New Hampshire primary and a succession of other contests, the other more well known candidates, mostly Washington politicians, began to drop out of the race one by one.
He went on to defeat Gerald Ford, the first incumbent president to be defeated since Herbert Hoover lost in 1932 during the depths of the Great Depression.
As president, Carter had his share of successes, such as the historic Israel–Egypt peace accord that he personally negotiated at Camp David and a bold new energy policy that began to wean the country off of foreign oil. He took some tough, unpopular stands that history has mostly vindicated, such as his strong advocacy of human rights, turning over the canal to Panama and the pardoning those who had evaded the Vietnam-era draft.
But in the end, Carter’s presidency was overshadowed by the taking of 52 American hostages by radicals in Iran shouting “Death to America — the great Satan.” And when a rescue effort ended in failure, it all seemed to be a metaphor for what Ronald Reagan called Carter’s failed presidency.
Upon leaving the White House, Carter created a new model of a post-presidency. He established the Carter Center to promote human rights, the spread of democracy and to tackle diseases in the developing world. The list of the Carter Center’s achievements is far too long to recount here but one notable achievement has been the virtual elimination of guinea worm disease, or river blindness, which has afflicted millions of people a year in Africa since time immemorial.
It was hard unglamorous work done away from the glare of TV cameras and celebrity activists. It was simply and quietly fighting a debilitating disease of near forgotten people – typical of the work of the Carter Center and the man himself. And, there has never been a scandal about where the Carter Center got its money nor how that money was spent.
Many have said that Carter was a better ex-president than he was a president; perhaps, but I’ll leave that to historians to decide. I do know that four U.S. presidents have received the Nobel Peace Prize but only one, Carter in 2002, has received the prize for his post-presidency activities.
I have always been attracted to Carter as a fellow Southerner and as a politician who embodied so many positive traditional Southern values. First, the politics: in 1976, he won every state of the old Confederacy except Virginia, and he carried South Carolina with more than 56 percent of the vote, ranking S.C. fourth of the 50 states with the largest Democratic majority. No other Democratic presidential candidate has even carried South Carolina since.
Carter embodied the old values of faith, family and community. Anyone who makes even the most surface examination of Carter realizes that his Christian faith is the bedrock of who he is, how he defines himself and it provides the moral compass that guides his everyday life. Even today, whenever he is back in his beloved hometown of Plains, he teaches Sunday school at the Maranatha Baptist Church.
Though some on the right seem to think they can claim a franchise on family values – Carter and his beloved wife Rosalynn have been the personification of real family values for the 70 years of their marriage. And community? Well, what can you say about someone who still lives nearly in sight of the graveyard where generations of his family are buried and can probably call by name every one of the 755 white and black souls who live in Plains?
Yes, Carter may lack the presidential success of Bill Clinton or the personal charisma of Barack Obama. But, at the end of the day, he is an honest and decent man who kept us out of foreign wars, cared for those in the world least able to care for themselves and told the truth. Few presidents of either party can claim to have done the same.
Yes, Jimmy Carter’s is a life of simple virtue.
Phil Noble is a businessman in Charleston and President of the S.C. New Democrats. He can be reached at phil@scnewdemocrats.org.
Courier Letters to the Editor 8-19-15
A death in the family
Dear Editor,
To all true Southerners, seeing our sacred banner come down was like a death in the family. Sen. Larry Martin, in his quest to vindicate himself on the issue of the Confederate Flag, used the names of two of our great Confederate heroes — Gen. Wade Hampton and Gen. Robert E. Lee.
He insinuated that both men would approve of what he did, but he did not give any quotes to prove it. I have never seen any quotes that these brave Southern men would sell out their heritage like our present-day politicians. Lee and Hampton did their duty and never apologized for it. Unlike Larry, I will give some quotes from our heroes.
General Hampton said, “If we were wrong in our contest, then the Declaration of Independence of 1776 was a grave mistake and the revolution to which it led to was a crime. If Washington was a Patriot, Lee cannot have been a rebel.”
That doesn’t sound very apologetic to me.
General Lee in 1870 said, and I quote, “If I had foreseen the use these people desired to make of their victory, there would have been no surrender at Appomattox; no Sir; not by me. Had I seen these results of subjugation, I would have preferred to die at Appomattox with my brave men, my sword in my right hand.”
That doesn’t sound very apologetic to me.
Larry didn’t mention President Jefferson Davis, but I will, because he said something that applies directly to Sen. Martin.
Davis said, “Nothing fills me with deeper sadness than to see a Southern man apologize for the defense we made of our own inheritance. Our cause was so just, so sacred, that had I known all that has come to pass, had I known what was to be inflicted upon me, all that my country was to suffer, all that our prosperity was to endure, I would do it all over again.”
This is definitely not apologetic.
There is a Confederate soldier buried at Secona Baptist Church in Pickens, who went off to war to defend his home, family and country. His last request was that the Confederate soldiers be his pallbearers. He did his duty. His name is James Martin, and it’s a tragedy that his great-great-grandson Larry Martin failed to do his duty.
Sen. Martin represents special interests, and not the people of Pickens County. He has given up his Southern birthright on the altar of political correctness.
All we want is to be left alone to honor our ancestors, but that isn’t going to happen, is it, Larry? You voted to take the flag off the Capitol and move it to the monument. You said that was the end, and you lied. You then voted to take it off the monument.
What is the next thing on your list, Larry; that you and your politically correct Scalawags are going to take from us?
Jim Bay
Six Mile
Turning the page – Blue Flame looking for fresh start under PHS grad Boggs
2015 PICKENS BLUE FLAME
By Eugene Jolley
Courier Sports
ejolley@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — In what could only be described as a nightmare season last year, Pickens finished 3-8, losing to region rival Wren in the first round of the State AAA playoffs.
Several suspensions, many key injuries and an assistant coach getting arrested during 
the season were some reasons why everyone is ready to turn the page on last year and fully focus on this season.
In as new head coach is former Blue Flame player John Boggs, who has previously been the head coach at Walhalla and at Westside and served as an assistant last year under former PHS coach Chad Seaborn.
“I think a year ago, I don’t think in one single year that I’ve seen so many things that all happened at once,” Boggs said. “Just an awful combination of things, but last year is last year and this year is this year. These kids have been moving forward since we got into offseason conditioning and weights and made a good commitment of what we asked them to do. We’re just anxious to get going.”
Pickens scrimmaged at Greenville with Eastside, at Greer with Abbeville and played Christ Church in the Foothills FCA Jamboree at Daniel and Southside and Travelers Rest in the Easley and Pickens Jamborees. That was on top of a busy summer competing in the 7-on-7 passing leagues.
“It’s been a productive summer,” Boggs said. “The kids have worked hard. It’s just been sporadic. With kids on vacation, you don’t have everybody together. You’re selfish and you want to have your whole family together. When you’re missing a couple of kids, you don’t feel like everyone is together. Going into the preseason, getting everybody back together, having everybody here every day, the kids have worked hard. We’ve made a lot of strides in a short amount of time trying to teach and get everything in and work on both sides of the ball. With us playing week zero, we’ve been working special teams trying to get all of that in. I’ve been pleased with their effort and their commitment so far. “
Boggs takes over for Seaborn, who resigned following the season, giving the former player a chance to take the reins at his alma mater. Boggs had a successful run at Walhalla before taking the Westside job, but he was let go after just two seasons there and came on board as Pickens’ defensive coordinator last season.
“I think in the back of your mind (coaching at your alma mater) is always there,” Boggs said. “As you move on in your career and go later on, you kind of think it’s never going to happen. It really wasn’t thought of the last 10-12 years. The opportunity presented itself like it did, and already being here helped out because I already knew the kids having worked with them last year, we were able to get rolling in the offseason and not really having a transition. (It was important) being able to get our staff together, getting things together, where if you were somewhere else, you would have to take days off to get things done. Being here, we were able to go straight to the weight room and get things done.”
The Blue Flame will have several linemen back to count on. On the offensive side, four starters are back in seniors Renny Croley, Jeb Kelley and Trevor Gillespie and junior Dorian Butler. Defensively, two linemen return in senior Tyler Gravely, playing his fourth year on the varsity and starting for a third year at defensive end, and senior Ridge Clark, starting a second year at nose tackle.
“We’re pretty deep on both sides of the line,” Boggs said. “I’ve had lines where we had more talented individuals, but as for depth from top to bottom, having a lot of kids, they have been more productive.”
Gravely had two sacks in the jamboree against Christ Church and can also play on offense.
“Tyler Gravely is tough. He’s physical. He plays a hundred miles an hour all the time,” Boggs said. “If we had about 31 of him we would not lose very many football games. He’s a winner in every aspect. He does things the right way. He’s small, but he certainly plays a lot bigger than he looks. He’s a tough kid.”
After a successful season on the junior varsity and as backup on the varsity, sophomore Tanner Stegall will take over at quarterback. The Blue Flame will still try to be balanced with juniors Aakil Sitton and Brandon Batson vying at tailback and senior fullback Gunner Covey.
“I think we’ve got good leadership this year,” said Covey, playing his fourth varsity season. “We’ve got a good freshman class coming up. Our team is coming together more than last year. We actually do stuff as a team and not as individuals. We’ve been working hard in the offseason and in the weight room.”
Covey will play fullback and long snapper on special teams, and either defensive end or outside linebacker on defense. Covey is garnering interest from Western Carolina, The Citadel and North Greenville.
“I’ve got to figure out which way I’m going to go,” Covey said of his college choice.
Covey is embracing being one of the leaders on the team.
“It just seems like yesterday I was playing with my brother (Mason) and all the older guys,” Covey said. “Now he’s off in college, and I’m one of the older guys teaching the younger guys how to play. It’s different, but I like taking on the role of a leader.”
Offensively, the Blue Flame will try to be balanced.
“We spent the spring working on our running game and we spent the whole summer working on passing game in 7-on-7s,” Boggs said. “Trying to mix it all together and get that happy marriage during preseason going into scrimmages has been the big thing. Even though we’re similar philosophically, we still changed the system, changed the number and changed the way we called things, on the offensive side especially.”
Catching passes should be seniors Matt Gravely and Adam Thomas, along with juniors Kirkland Gillespie, Isaiah Ferguson, Drew McConnell, Chad Bayne, Sam Lawson, Logan Lusk and sophomores Daniel Hooper and Jamal Blythe. Senior Clay Adcox will start at tight end, challenged by senior Corbin Hinkle. Covey and Cole Seaborn could play there as well.
Other starters along the offensive line are senior Brandon Culpepper and possibly freshman Braden Gravely. Junior Hudson Burgess will look for playing time when he returns from injury.
“We’re still a 3-4 on defense and pretty much the terminology is still the same,” Boggs said. “We hired Jabo Burgess from Easley to be the defensive coordinator. That’s been a plus, and he just fit right in. Of course, his dad (Joe) was a Pickens graduate. He’s got ties here, too. For the most part, the staff stayed intact. We had to shuffle some guys to different positions. That’s been a plus, as it has kind of energized everybody, and they’re excited about learning and moving forward.”
Sophomore Bryson Capps and junior Tanner Stewart will battle at one end position, while Kelley will provide depth.
At linebacker, inside positions will be manned by Seaborn, a junior, senior Will Reynolds or senior Trevor Gillespie. Outside backers will be either junior Jared Pace, senior Matt Gravely or junior Jensen McLeroy.
In the secondary, junior Robert Jones and junior Kirkland Gillespie will try yp hold off the challenges of junior Logan Lusk and sophomore Jamal Blythe. At the corners, Blythe, senior Adam Thomas, Lawson, Bayne and Sitton lead the way.
The kicking chores will be in the capable hands of Matt Gravely, a senior who played in just two games a year ago. He gives the Blue Flame a weapon kicking the ball.
“He’s done a great job and had a great offseason,” Boggs said. “He’s had some great camps, and he’s got Harold (Alexander) coaching him. When you have Harold Alexander in your back pocket coaching your kickers and punters, that is kind of like having an ace in the hole.
“Matt has a strong leg, an NFL-type leg. He’s also playing outside linebacker and receiver for us. He’s been one of the most committed kids the whole off-season. He kind of changed his ways in the classroom and is doing a good job there.”
The Western AAA will again be one of the toughest in the state. Boggs said the goal is to contend with the upper half of the region.
“What Coach (Russell) Blackston and those guys did at BHP a year ago with all of those young guys is probably the best coaching job they’ve done as a staff. Those guys will be right back having everybody back,” Boggs said. “Seneca has everybody back, and they’ll probably be preseason favorites by a lot of people. Wren has done a great job every year that Jeff (Tate) has been there. Randy (Robinson) and those guys at Daniel never seem to have a down year. They lose a kid and they just reload. Till someone knocks those guys off, they’ll always be in the mix at the top of the region.
“The rest of us are trying to battle to get in that group. That’s been what it has looked like the last few years fighting for playoff spots. We want to be in the conversation at the top of the region, not the bottom of the region. We’ll continue to work and take things one at a time. Our focus since we took over has been week zero. When that one is over, we’ll move on to week one. Till then, we’re focused on week zero and getting ready for Easley.”
When they open the season this Friday against the Green Wave, the Blue Flame will be trying for their first win over Easley since 2010, the last game in the rivalry at Bruce Field.
“The next one is always huge,” Boggs said. “That would be a good one, because it’s the opener. You hear about winning the opener, and that’s the one you’ve got all that time to work on. You focus on beating them, and your goal is to beat them, but your focus is on making yourself better. We just have to look at what do we need to work on to get better every day in order to accomplish our goals and move on down the road.”
Devils ready to roll – After productive summer, Liberty is coming out of the gates focused
2015 LIBERTY RED DEVILS
By Jimmy Kirby
Courier Sports
jkirby@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — In high school football, every season starts with belief in your program, and this year is no different for coach Kyle Stewart, who is entering his fifth season as head coach at Liberty High School.
Coming off a 4-6 season that could easily have ended up 6-4 or even 7-3 with a few 
breaks, Stewart believes his team will do well because the players have put in the time in the offseason to make it successful.
Stewart turned over the weight program to coach Josh Smith and says he has done a good job handling it.
“This has been the best summer of workouts that we have had,” Stewart said. ” They have just gotten after it.”
Stewart feels he has a good nucleus of guys who have the right attitude.
“We have a number of guys who wrestle and have developed a good strength regimen with lifting weights,” he said. “It has helped our football team to have a mental toughness about them, and I believe it will filter over into our football program.”
Stewart said a key this season is teaching the team to be ready to play each week. The Red Devils, who will open their season hosting Crescent on Friday, are playing in week zero for the second year in a row.
“(Last season) was the first time we played in week zero, and we just weren’t prepared like we needed to be, even though we came away with a win,” he said.
Stewart said he felt his team improved as the season went along last year, but he wants to make sure the Devils are ready to come out of the gate focused and prepared when they open the season Friday.
Stewart said last season he had to tweak his offense as the season went along to utilize the talent he had on hand.
This year’s squad will be built from the inside out based on returning offensive and defensive linemen, according to Stewart. After having a very inexperienced team two years ago with freshmen and sophomores starting, he now has juniors and seniors with varsity experience under their belts.
Returning and playing both ways at times on the lines will be seniors DeAndre Mansell, Charlie Meinders and Trace Moore. Austin Hickey, Spencer Taylor and Nathan Bolding will also provide depth for the interior.
Juniors returning up front will be Jacob Herman, Bo Felton, Michael McGaha, Josh Shuman and Breck Dismukes.
Stewart said if the Red Devils can develop some depth and rotation, it could mean the difference for some game outcomes.
“We have to play so many guys both ways that we get worn down toward the end of games,” he said.
The Red Devils have 38 players listed on the varsity roster entering the season, with a few sophomores sprinkled in. With the new high school league rule change this year from allowing players to participate in eight quarters per week to one game per week, small programs like Liberty will have to make decisions on whether to hold certain players for possible Friday night action or play them on Thursday night on the JV squad. That definitely will cause a coach to toss in his sleep during the course of the season. It could also mean less depth for programs and even jeopardize JV schedules if teams don’t have enough players to dress out and play.
The Red Devils lost leading running back Jordan Bash from last year’s squad but return Eddy Mathis who has been a four-year varsity player. Stewart points to Mathis’ presence for leadership and expects big things from him this season. Last season Mathis was the second-leading rusher behind Bash with 320 yards on 45 carries while playing in only six games due to an ankle injury.
Tyler Renaud (53 carries for 282 yards), Shaun Karr (78-283) and Kris Murphy (69-271) return to the backfield for the Red Devils as well to bring experience to the running game. Sophomore Cavaugio Butler is expected to see some time in the backfield as well, while Aaron Bates will see action at the fullback position.
Nick Reeves was expected to be the starter at quarterback for the Red Devils this season but will be out until around the first week of September. Reeves, a junior, was 4-for-12 passing for 49 yards in a backup role last season. Stewart said Reeves is very intelligent and makes good decisions and is looking forward to getting him back during the season.
In the meantime, junior Austin Huey will get the call under center to start the season. Huey has a bigger body than Reeves and will adapt well to the position, Stewart said. He will gain valuable experience by default.
Brayden Shirley will be back at tight end for the Red Devils. He had five receptions for 84 yards a year ago. Seth Dover and Dylan McCall also return at the receiver position. Also seeing some action at receiver for the Red Devils will be Cole Murphy, Austin Miller and Colton Leroy.
Expect the Red Devils to continue to throw to their backs as well to complement their passing game.
Defensively, a lot of the same players will see action for the Red Devils. Liberty improved its scoring defense last season, a change that kept the Devils in a lot of ballgames. Stewart said he wants to put his best players on the defensive side of the ball.
“They will play on defense, and if they need a break, it will be on the offensive side where I will give them a break,” he said.
Stewart said the key to this season will be to cut down on turnovers, be effective in the red zone and develop depth. He is excited about what this season holds. He is looking for some guys to blossom and provide a spark for a successful season.
When the lights come on Friday night against Crescent, Stewart will find out how focused and prepared this year’s squad will truly be.
A new beginning – First-year coach Windham hoping to resurrect Green Wave
2015 EASLEY GREEN WAVE
By Kerry Gilstrap
For the Courier
news@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — The buzz is in the air. Football season is upon us, and it’s a brand new start for teams across the state.
Every team has great expectations at this point, and they are all hoping to present their fans with a great season.
It’s no exception in Easley, which is hoping for a new beginning under a first-year head coach.
In coach Grayson Howell’s second — and final — season at the helm last year, the Green Wave finished with a disappointing season. Although there were some close games against some good teams and it seemed as though the Green Wave had opportunities, things just never came together as Easley finished with a 4-7 overall record. The Wave managed to finish with just three region wins in the always-tough Region I-AAAA.
But with the loss of some great talent, the Green Wave are looking to fill some positions and go into this season with great expectations.
This season will be the first for the program under new head coach John Windham, who will be calling the shots for the Green Wave after several years on the staff at Furman University.
Windham had been the Paladins’ defensive coordinator since 2011 before accepting the Easley job in the spring. He has been in a number of coaching roles in the past after a successful playing career.
After graduating from Vanderbilt University, Windham went on to the NFL and played outside linebacker for the New England Patriots. He has a Master of Education in Sports Administration from Mississippi State University and a Bachelor of Science degree from the Vanderbilt.
In addition to Windham, the Green Wave coaching staff features a few more new faces, as the head coach also brought in a number of coaches to help revamp the program.
As always, the road will not be easy for the Green Wave with the likes of Daniel, Seneca, Wren, Laurens, Greenwood and Hillcrest on the schedule, among others.
Easley will also face a stiff challenge to open the season this Friday night in week zero, as it will play host to archrival Pickens, which is also under the leadership of a new head coach in former Blue Flame player John Boggs.
The Green Wave made a good impression throughout the preseason in scrimmages and jamborees, as the Easley offense has moved the ball up and down the field fairly well as the defense has stood up to all comers.
Leadership has been a strong point so far for Easley, which enters the season with nearly 20 seniors on its rosters, a deep junior class and only a handful of sophomores.
Windham has been impressed with what he has seen throughout the early part of his tenure.
“Coming in, I didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “I knew Easley had a bunch of tough kids, and they haven’t let me down at all. I’ve really been surprised at the support we have gotten. The parents and the community have been tremendous.
“We want to have a good football team, and by continuing to work hard, maybe we will be.”
Focus has been an issue at times for the Green Wave, Windham said.
“We have to go out there and value every play,” he said.
On the flip side, however, the first-year coach said his players seem to rebound quickly from tough breaks.
“We seem to bounce back — it doesn’t seem to bother those guys and they recover quick, which you have to do,” he said. “We are trying to get it to where we are competing on every play.”
Windham is just excited to finally get things going under the Friday night lights.
“There are situations that are hard to simulate in practice,” he said. “I think we have gotten better, (and) I think we have gotten more comfortable in what we are doing.”
Windham and the Green Wave are taking things one game at a time.
“The team that sticks out to me right now would be Pickens — that’s our next game,” he said. “We are excited about getting ready for them.”
Easley will host the Blue Flame for this year’s eighth annual Sam Wyche Food Fight Bowl to benefit Pickens County Meals on Wheels on Friday night.
Lions look to roar – After disappointing finish, DWD hopes to come back strong
2015 D.W. Daniel Lions
By Rocky Nimmons
Publisher
rnimmons@thepccourier.com
CENTRAL — Sometimes it’s the little things that change the season for a football program.
Last year, the Daniel Lions were rolling along, looking to be in position for another long run in the playoffs.
Five weeks into the season, the Lions looked unstoppable, but the proof was in the pudding as the upcoming five weeks featured the meat of their region schedule. Games against undefeated Wren, Belton-Honea Path and rival Seneca were all ahead.
The Lions were rolling along as usual until a single bad call derailed the Lions’ hopes of a region title and home-field advantage in the playoffs. The game of the year was the battle with the Wren Golden Hurricanes, with the winner poised to take the region title.
With Daniel ahead 42-41, Wren quarterback Kelly Bryant — now a Clemson Tiger — drove the Hurricanes down to the Lions’ 24-yard line with 11 seconds to play. After taking the snap, Bryant looked to be poised to spike the ball and stop the clock, but instead his guard took a step back and dislodged the ball from his hand. Bryant swatted the ball to the ground, where Daniel defensive lineman T.J. Reese took it on its first bounce and raced toward the Wren end zone. The visiting crowd was going wild until the officiating crew gathered at midfield and called the fumble a spike, giving the Hurricanes one last play. Bryant then took the gift and capitalized, finding Bailey Rogers open from 24 yards out for the winning touchdown with 0.9 seconds to play.
In the following weeks, the Lions snapped back and beat Belton-Honea Path, Pickens and Walhalla, but the damage was done. The loss to Wren dropped the Lions from first place in the region to fourth and forced Randy Robinson’s squad to travel to Columbia in week one of the playoffs, where their season ended wit a 37-14 loss to A.C. Flora.
“The positive thing is that one play at Wren could have destroyed the season, but it didn’t,” Robinson said. “We watch the video, and it was clear to see that one call costs us the game. That was the tough thing to overcome, but we beat BHP the next week. So seeing the kids overcome that was a positive. That team showed some character.
“One thing people don’t realize is by week 10, we would have been region champions if that call does not happen. And the Seneca game would have just been the Seneca game. It would not have had any value, and we would have been region champions. We went from first to fourth on that one call. That was why we were so far away for the first round of the playoffs.
Robinson said the Lions’ returning players are bothered by the deflating end to a once-promising season last year.
“We have already brought it up, and I think that has added some fuel in the offseason,” he said.
Robinson said he has a lot of anticipation going into the 2015 season, as the players have worked hard all summer to ready themselves for another run at the Western AAA crown. He said he has some really good young players moving up and he sees great potential in them from the weight room and from summer workouts and the 7-on-7 circuit.
“We have already gotten to know the kids, but until you put those pads, on you are still kind of curious to see how they are going to perform,” Robinson said.
The Lions will sport a roster featuring 23 seniors, and the group will have the fate of the team resting squarely on its collective shoulders.
“We expect leadership from this senior group. I have communicated that more in the offseason than I have with any group since I have been here,” he said. “We are trying to set the expectations.”
But the Lions look to have a bright future ahead, as the underclassmen will be pushing for playing time from the start of the season.
“The seniors are aware of it. These seniors know there is a sophomore class back there that is loaded with talent, where the kids just need a chance to play,” Robinson said. “So the competition is there. Some of our seniors are going to have to fight to hang onto a job.”
Robinson said the rising junior class reminds of the 1997 senior class.
“We went to Columbia with seven seniors,” he said. “Our juniors are a small group — there are only 10 of them. They are all good kids and they all work hard. It happens once in a while where you have a lull. I think part of it was the process. They kind of got caught in the move of the school. It may have affected that group.”
Robinson sees great promise in the sophomores and freshmen behind them.
“Like I tell these seniors, these kids are going to be pushing for playing time — they can take their jobs,” he said.
When the Lions take the field, it may be a little different than it has been in recent years. Robinson and company may see more balls in the air than ever before. The Lions will feature a strong-armed sophomore quarterback in Ben Batson and a bevy of talented receivers including seniors Carter Groomes, Dante Gilliard, Jacob Wichelns, C.J. Scott, Brandon Kwietniewski, Duncan Williamson and Jamarcus Black.
“We are going to match our offense to our skill position guys,” Robinson said. “This may be the best depth we have ever had at receiver. So we may throw the ball a bit more and line up in more spread formations so those kids can be on the field to make plays for us.”
Robinson is also very high on his quarterback.
“With Batson, you talk about a competitor, he came out there in that Wren game last year and in four plays he had us in the end zone,” Robinson said. “He pretty much proved to the Daniel faithful that this kid was serious about winning. He wants to be the quarterback, and he has had a great off season and worked hard in the weight room. He is one of those guys that don’t come around very often.”
The Lions will also have to somewhat rebuild the offensive line, with only Cade Stewart and Dylan Perry returning from last year’s starting unit.
“On the offensive line, Hunter Joplin is a great example of how Daniel kids are,” Robinson said. “He was a starter on the defensive line, but he is clearly the best center on the roster, so he has gone to offense to play center for us. He knew for us to be successful he needed to go to offense. So he and Dylan Perry and Cade Stewart will start and we’ll just have to find two guards, and we have four or five kids competing there.”
The final piece of the puzzle for the Lions will be to find a durable and sure-handed running back who can get the yards needed in the tough situations. Robinson said the running back spot is still up for grabs.
“You will see a bunch of people get a chance there,” Robinson said. “Somebody will win the job, because I do not have a starter.”
Looking to fill that roll will be seniors Stephon Kirksey and Jules Morgan. Sophomore Nick Taylor will also get a chance, along with Marnielius Cobb and others.
The team’s strength and what will help the Lions stabilize as the season starts will be a tough-as-nails defense that features six returning starters.
“I think defensively we have led early,” Robinson said. “We have all the defensive linemen back. Jacob Maloney is healthy in the secondary, and Malik Watt and C.J. Scott were good corners back there last year. We expect the defense to lead because we think the offense could make some mistakes with us playing a sophomore quarterback and running back.
“I felt like last year, Jordan Dunkley and Dylan Pilgrim held the defense together. We win with kids that love this Columbia blue. They are the epitome of what Daniel is all about. At most schools they were not fast enough or not big enough, but those jokers sure did lead our defense.”
Robinson said the Lions see similar love of the program and leadership from defensive players such as Chris Barnes, whose dad was a standout Daniel fullback by the same name in the 1990s, as well as T.J. and Jaelon Reese, whose dad, Gaston, starred for the Lions in the early 1990s.
Robinson said fans will grow accustomed to hearing Barnes’ and the Reese brothers’ names over the loud speakers this season.
“Cade Stewart and Dylan Perry will be our leaders on offense,” Robinson said. “They have worked hard and want their class to lead the way and have confidence.
“On defense, it will be T.J. Reese — he is a Daniel boy all the way. He will lead the defensive front, and Jacob Maloney will lead the secondary.”
The Lions will have both their kicker and punter back in Rivers Sherrill and Justin Craig, although both the long-snapper and holder are gone from last season. Look for Will Swinney to fill one of those roles, as he has shown great skill in both snapping and holding.
As the season gets underway, all the Lions’ opponents look to have improved their games. It will be as challenging a year as Daniel has faced in a long time.
“All I have heard is about Emerald’s speed on defense, and that one will be interesting,” Robinson said. “Westside won about every 7-on-7 tournament we went to, so they will be a AAAA contender for a state championship. Two of those games in the first three weeks will be as intense and physical as we will face. I think those type of games get you ready for the BHPs, Wrens and Senecas.”
The Lions have always approached the year as three seasons — the preseason, region season and the playoffs — and have traditionally scheduled strong opponents in the preseason.
“It is so important in developing your team. We have to develop the weakest link, because that is where the chain is going to break,” Robinson said. “The thing that will make the season one to remember is if we keep getting better every week. We will have at least four sophomores starting at linebacker. How quickly they develop will determine how the season goes. I have faced this in 2007 and 2011, and those kids responded and those were double-digit win seasons.
“We are probably in better shape right now than we have ever been in. We worked on speed training probably harder than we ever have. We still lifted in the weight room, but we could stand to eat a few more cheeseburgers. This is the skinniest Daniel team we have ever had. This is a team that is going to compete, and it is not going to matter how hot it is. These kids are going to be ready.
Robinson said this year will be an exciting one for the Columbia blue and gold.
“At the end of the day, Daniel football is special,” he said. “It always has been, and I think the fans will see an exciting team. Our offense will be a little more wide open than it has been in the past, and the defense will be just as tough as it has always been.”
The season starts on Aug. 28, when the Lions host the Easley Green Wave. Daniel will have one final tune-up this Friday when Singleton Field hosts the annual Daniel Day Jamboree at 7 p.m. After West-Oak takes on T.L. Hanna and Greenville battles Palmetto, the Lions will close the night with a clash against AAAA Laurens.
YMCA swim team takes 3rd place in state
The Pickens County YMCA Piranhas Swim Team placed third overall in the Carolina YMCA Swim League State Summer Championship Meet held recently in Georgetown.
GEORGETOWN — The Pickens County YMCA Piranhas Swim Team placed third overall in the Carolina YMCA Swim League State Summer Championship Meet held recently in Georgetown.
Piranhas head coach Larry McMahan said the Georgetown state championship meet was a great one for the Pickens County swimmers.
The 12-and-under girls’ 200-meter freestyle relay state champion team consisted of Pickens County YMCA Piranhas, from left, Tamara Boysworth, Caroline Lucas, Kerragan Howell and Emma Yousey.
“I just wanted to let everyone know how proud I am of the swimmers who participated in the State Summer Championship Meet,” McMahan said. “Every swimmer that we had cut time on at least one of their events. This is a first for our team. We took 20 swimmers to the meet.”
McMahan said the Pickens County YMCA has already ordered a new banner to be placed permanently on the wall at the Pickens indoor pool.
“When team members see the state championship third-place banner, they will know that every one of them played a huge part in that banner,” he said.
The Pickens County YMCA Piranhas finished third in the state behind Newberry YMCA and Beaufort YMCA, both perennial swimming powers in the Carolina YMCA Swim League.
Swimmers who participated in the July 18-19 Georgetown event were Kinsey Altop, Avery Baker, Elizabeth Blakeley, Will Blakeley, Tamara Boysworth, Kayden Elrod, Ava Fields, Iyla Fields, Kerragan Howell, Landon Howell, Ivy Hyder, Caroline Lucas, John Mark Phillips, Rachel Rahn (who also participated as a coach), Tyler Rose, Aidan Wakefield, Connor Wheaton, Sam Wheaton, Emma Yousey and Mia Yousey.
The Piranhas Swim Team ranges from ages 5 to 18 and features a diversified group of swim levels. The team competes in both YMCA and USA Swim meets, allowing the swimmers to compete on the level that benefits the swimmer the most and allows them to enjoy competitive swimming. The swim team also fosters skillful aquatic ability, good fellowship, team association loyalty, a finer appreciation of swimming for its own sake and not just for winning, and sportsmanship.
For more information on how to get a child involved with the Piranhas, contact the Pickens County YMCA at (864) 878-8380 or visit pcymca.net/swimteam.php.
Hopewell Plantation joins the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail
CLEMSON — Hopewell Plantation, adjacent to the Clemson University campus, has joined the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail.
Rebecca Calhoun Pickens’ coverlet utilized a candlewick technique, which traditionally uses an unbleached cotton thread on a piece of unbleached muslin. It gets its name from the nature of the soft-spun cotton thread, which was braided then used to form the wick for candles. Motifs are created using a variety of traditional embroidery stitches as well as a tufted stitch. Pickens used flowers, insects and pine trees in her coverlet, which were all native South Carolina plants. It is a variation of the vase or basket of flowers design popular in the late 1700s. Pickens was the sister of U.S. Senator John Ewing Calhoun Sr., aunt of vice-president John C. Calhoun and wife of Revolutionary War General Andrew Pickens.
General and Mrs. Pickens had a dozen children, including a lieutenant governor and governor, six daughters who married into prominent families and three children who died young.
Their home, Hopewell Plantation, was built about 1785 and is representative of a rural house common in the late 18th and early 19th century in the South Carolina backcountry. The home’s historic significance rests on the national stature of Gen. Pickens, who is remembered for his significant contributions as a Revolutionary War general and later as a Native-American negotiator. Hopewell is where Gen. Pickens negotiated the Treaties of Hopewell with the Cherokees in 1785 and the Choctaws and Chickasaws in 1786. These treaties still today provide civil liberties to First Peoples.
For more information and pictures, visit uhqt.org.
GLPE Kids For Christ Rally a grand success
LIBERTY — Gospel Lighthouse Prison Evangelism sponsored its first-ever Kids For Christ Rally on Aug. 8 at Rice’s Creek Baptist Church in Liberty.
Dr. J.W. Stansell presents a Pickens County Sheriff’s Office deputy with teddy bears Gospel Lighthouse Prison Evangelism collected for children.
Speakers included coach Brian Fuller from Liberty High School, youth pastor Trenton Kickery from the Warehouse Church in Easley and the famous God Squad. The event was very successful, and the children all had a great time.
The Liberty Fire Department provided a fire engine and a brush truck for the children to play on and to ask questions about fire safety, and the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office provided a patrol car, which the kids fell in love with.
Pistol the Clown provided entertainment and made balloon animals. Dr. J.W. Stansell, the founder and president of GLPE, presented teddy bears and other stuffed animals that GLPE collected for the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office.
Pumpkin Festival quilt tickets available
PUMPKINTOWN — The 37th annual Pumpkin Festival, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 10, is rapidly approaching.
As usual, a quilt will be given away at 4 p.m. on the day of the festival. This year’s quilt is a T-shirt quilt made from T-shirts from previous years of the festival. The quilt was designed and quilted by Susie Flowers. Tickets for this year’s quilt are $1 each, or six for $5, and will be available at various locations in the Pumpkintown area for the next few weeks. Tickets will also be available in the Oolenoy Community Building the day of the festival. You do not have to be present to win.
The Pumpkintown Community Club, which sponsors the festival, meets the second Monday of April, May, June, August, September, October and November. Anyone who is interested in helping to prepare for the festival or help with other community projects is invited to join.
Spots are still available for vendors at this year’s festival. If you are a vendor with handmade/homemade goods, contact Flowers, the festival chairperson, at (864) 898-0261. Flowers is also the person to contact for rental of the Oolenoy Community Building for weddings, reunions or other events.
For further information on the festival or the Pumpkintown Community Club, contact club president Bob Flowers at (864) 898-0261 or (864) 884-2671.
