Calling All Elder Statesmen

[Penguin]

The funniest thing that I can remember, was BEF, his Dad, and Myself, all 3, getting called to the Principal's Office because we were talking trash about Coach Greg Brady up in the stands at a Berkeley game in Monk's Corner. That was in the early 1990s. I never went back to a Beaufort High game until his sorry arse was fired and gone. That was the time period when I traveled all over the state watching games. Funny now, but I was really pizzed at the time.

[Onion Rings]

Thanks 96 and Onion Ring for the insight this is freaking awesome. Onion Ring we won't talk about that Northwestern vs Gaffney state title game back in 1993 ever Ok does that sound good to you lol

ok but that was a great one as well. Amazing how many games come down to the final play

[Ddub14]

New poster but longtime follower on another board.
Onion I think you were sitting in front of me at that South Pointe game 2 years ago and we had a long conversation about these type of games . Hope all is well with you in the Rock Hill area . Don’t think we will be over that area this year unless we play Chester or Union in playoffs. Seeing you post about that chameleon prompted this post.
So I little history I’ve been going to Daniel games since 1979 . Saw the rise in the 80s into the 90s turn into a juggernaut and some crazy games . Yep figure I’m somewhere in the 400 plus game range at this point .

[96fanatic]

Me and my brother -in-law went to watch DR. Pepper High school
in Orlando Fla. back in the 90's while the wives were at Universal Studios.
I have also been to watch Lincoln County Red Devils a few times
over the years.I miss 96 playing Ware Shoals, Mccormick, Dixie and Calhoun Falls
every year like in the 60's 70's and 80's. i worked with people from
all these towns and we use to have fun at work jawing at each other.

[CITYSLICKER]

PAPA, YOU WAS ON TEAM MOSES

[Onion Rings]

New poster but longtime follower on another board.
Onion I think you were sitting in front of me at that South Pointe game 2 years ago and we had a long conversation about these type of games . Hope all is well with you in the Rock Hill area . Don’t think we will be over that area this year unless we play Chester or Union in playoffs. Seeing you post about that chameleon prompted this post.
So I little history I’ve been going to Daniel games since 1979 . Saw the rise in the 80s into the 90s turn into a juggernaut and some crazy games . Yep figure I’m somewhere in the 400 plus game range at this point .

hey man! I remember talking to you pretty much the whole game

This guy know his Daniel football guys, hope you stick around:)

[CITYSLICKER]

Fifty years later, Berkeley gets second shot at Daniel in season opener
BY DAVID SHELTON
Special to The Post and Courier
Aug 18 2016 12:38 pm

Randy Robinson begins his first season as head coach at Berkeley High School when the Stags play at Daniel High School on Friday. (Wade Spees/Staff)
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Fifty years ago, the Berkeley High football team traveled to the upstate to take on Daniel for the state Class AA championship. Daniel won the game, 20-6.
The memories of that game, played on a cold November night, still play fresh in the mind of arguably Berkeley’s biggest football fan, Billy Ott. Ott attended the game as a 16-year student at Berkeley and remembers vividly the disappointment of coming up short.
“They ran all over us in the second half,” Ott recalls. “The best part of the night for me was I got to ride back to Moncks Corner in my friend’s ’65 Mustang.”
On Friday night, Berkeley, and Ott, will again make the long drive to Central, just outside of Clemson, as the Stags open the season at Daniel. Friday night will be the 580th time that Ott has seen his beloved Stags play as he continues his quest to reach 600 games. Ott has missed only one Berkeley game since 1966, the 1996 season opener at Sumter. Friday night will offer a first-time experience for Ott.
“I’m riding the fan bus and it will be the first time in my life that I been on a bus,” Ott says. “It took me 66 years to get on a bus. I’m still not sure how I feel about riding a bus for four hours but it beats driving at my age.”

Berkeley’s new head coach, Randy Robinson, also is making a return trip to Daniel. Robinson spent the last 20 years at Daniel High, including the last 10 as the head coach. Robinson won 96 games as the Lions’ head man before leaving to take on the rebuild of Berkeley’s program.
Robinson and Berkeley’s former coach, Jeff Cruze, have been friends for more than two decades and thought it would be a “neat idea” to schedule each other in a home-and-home series in 2016-17. Little did Robinson know that he would be standing on the visitor’s sideline this Friday night.
“Certainly, had I known I would be coaching here at Berkeley, I would not have scheduled Daniel,” joked Robinson, who played at Daniel and spent three seasons as an assistant at Berkeley in the late 1980’s. “Every game I have ever played or coached in that stadium, I have been on the home side. It’s definitely going to be a little weird on Friday night but I’ll be focused on what we have to do to win the game.”
The Stags will leave Moncks Corner early Friday morning and will stop at Clemson for a walk-through at Clemson’s indoor facility. They will take a brief tour as well before eating and moving into game mode later in the day.
Robinson may have a slight advantage in the game, having in-depth knowledge of Daniel’s personnel and coaching staff. His former defensive coordinator, Jeff Fruster, replaced him as the head coach. Robinson says the Lions are a bit young but extremely talented. Junior linebacker Jake Venables is a Division I prospect, as is freshman safety Tyler Venables. As you might have guessed, they are the sons of Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables.
“Both of those kids are really good players and they have some other underclassmen who are going to be really good for them,” Robinson said. “I have a good idea on their personnel and it’s pretty good personnel. I know what I left there and I expect them to be a really competitive football team on Friday night.”

[CITYSLICKER]

AFTER, TWO MORE LOSSES, STILL LOOKING FOR A VICTORY OVER THEM LIONS AT 70.8 YEARS OLD, ITS FUNNY, THE BUS RIDE WAS HORRIBLE AND ONCE AGAIN, GOT A RIDE BACK WITH A FRIEND, HISTORY ACTED AGAIN AND SENT ME HOME IN ANOTHER CAR. HAHAHA.

[Rebel-Fan-74]

Very difficult to narrow it down:

Coach Carr at Spartanburg in the early 70's - Wayne Tolleson, Carnie Norris, Steve Fuller, leading up to still one of the best ever to play in the upstate, Stephen Davis.

Woodruff with the massive lines about the same time, those boys? were men! Willie Varner....At Woodruff High In 42 years, he had a record of 383-133-10. His Woodruff teams won 10 state championships, 16 Upper State titles, and 28 conference crowns. The four state titles his teams won from 1975-1978 is a feat that only two other South Carolina schools have accomplished.

Clinton had a running back named Kevin Long and their QB would come to the line of scrimmage and look at the defense and his audible would be "Hey Kevin, run it over here!" and he would point to where he wanted him to run and he'd still gain yards.

Back in the early 70's, these were the teams that ruled this area. Byrnes would rotate from AAA to AAAA during those years and either one of these teams would block our path to the playoffs. We made it 1976 with one of the best tandem of running backs I've seen in the same backfield. Two 1,000 yard rushers. Great Defense that year as well... several shutouts, even in the playoffs.

[96fanatic]

I am 73.Been going to high school games since i finished 96 in 1964.
I go watch my Wildcats most of the time but have been to watch other
games if 96 ain't playing.i have been to most of the stadiums in all classes
in the upstate and a few in the lower state.some of the games that stick
with me are the 1968 upper state game between Greenwood and Wade Hampton
played at Sirrine Stadium in Greenville.games didn't start till 8 pm back then.
Me and my brother in-law got there about 7 and the place was already packed.
both bands were rocking and the Cheer leaders leading the crowd.
Greenwood won 17-6 i believe the score was.1972 an undefeated Easley team
led by the great Stanly Morgan came to Greenwood for a play-off game and
beat Greenwood 21-13 that was a head knocking game.Easley beat Lower-Richland
7-6 for the state championship.i was at that game also.in 1970 a 9-0 Wren team
came to 96 and were favored by over 40 points.My Wildcats won 12-10.That was
the best defensive game i ever watched 96 play. In 1982 my 14-0 Wildcats coached
by Shell Dula hosted a play-off game with Chapman.it had rained all day and the field
looked like a pond.in the 4th quarter Chapman had the ball 1st and goal inside the
96 5 yard line.My Wildcats held them and took over at the 2 yard line,fumbled the
ball and Chapman had 1st and goal again inside the 5. 96 held them again.that
1982 team was and still is the best 96 team.they beat Barnwell for the 2a state that year.
Man i wish coach Dula had stayed at 96 all these years.I have seen some great players
over the years. Stanley Morgan, Carnie Norris,Casper Carter, Stephen Davis and of coarse
Ronald Williams played for 96. and many more.Ain't nothing like high school football.
I am finished with my rant. Wait,i almost forgot the 1973 3a upper state championship
game with Clinton at Saluda.that was a heck of a game.Clinton won 14 -13. i watched
a few Clinton games back in the 70's and man they played some defense..ok i am through.