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State of South Carolina High School Football
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2025 7:41 am
by DFOLDMAN
When you say the word "dynasty"...several things come to mind. Regarding South Carolina high school football, that word says different things to different people. All time "dynasty" looks back to the very beginnings of high school football in SC. Early on, teams like Columbia, Charleston, Florence, Gaffney, Epworth Orphanage (Slick played there), and Thornwell School come to mind. Before strict age verification and prior to desegregation, it's hard to say who were in fact "the best"...the moniker "champion", did not always mean the best then.
Looking at the state, obviously teams like Gaffney, Abbeville, Summerville, Brynes, Woodruff, Clinton, Lake View, Daniel, Greenwood, Columbia, Blackville-Hilda...all have had extreme success and have won their share of titles. Going to put on my complete "homer hat" now and say I don't the state has seen anything like the past 12 years with what Dutch Fork is doing.
The top "dynasty" in SC for me is Dutch Fork and what Tom Knotts has built there... let me hear your picks.
Fear The Fox...
Re: State of South Carolina High School Football
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2025 9:49 am
by OLDFART51
The reign of Dutch Fork will end with Knotts retiring or leaving. It happened to the schools you listed when the Great One retired or left the school. Speaking for Woodruff we have hired around six coaches since Coach Varner retired. We haven’t hit on the Great One. The Great One is very hard to find. Enjoy the time you have with Knotts. Keep bragging and telling everyone how great Dutch Fork plays football. It to shall come to end when Knotts retires or leaves. You say he has built a dynasty. But the dynasty is Tom Knotts. Without him there is no dynasty. You will have good teams after Tom Knotts but not the dynasty. Sorry to burst your bubble but it’s the truth.
Re: State of South Carolina High School Football
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:13 am
by Greerfan1
DFOLDMAN wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2025 7:41 am
When you say the word "dynasty"...several things come to mind. Regarding South Carolina high school football, that word says different things to different people. All time "dynasty" looks back to the very beginnings of high school football in SC. Early on, teams like Columbia, Charleston, Florence, Gaffney, Epworth Orphanage (Slick played there), and Thornwell School come to mind. Before strict age verification and prior to desegregation, it's hard to say who were in fact "the best"...the moniker "champion", did not always mean the best then.
Looking at the state, obviously teams like Gaffney, Abbeville, Summerville, Brynes, Woodruff, Clinton, Lake View, Daniel, Greenwood, Columbia, Blackville-Hilda...all have had extreme success and have won their share of titles. Going to put on my complete "homer hat" now and say I don't the state has seen anything like the past 12 years with what Dutch Fork is doing.
The top "dynasty" in SC for me is Dutch Fork and what Tom Knotts has built there... let me hear your picks.
Fear The Fox...
I still think the early 2000's run by those Byrnes teams, is the most impressive run by any school I have ever seen. I think the competition was better back then than it is now.
Not taking anything away from what TK and the Silver Foxes are currently doing. He is the greatest Coach our state has ever seen.
Re: State of South Carolina High School Football
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:18 am
by DFOLDMAN
OLDFART51 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2025 9:49 am
The reign of Dutch Fork will end with Knotts retiring or leaving. It happened to the schools you listed when the Great One retired or left the school. Speaking for Woodruff we have hired around six coaches since Coach Varner retired. We haven’t hit on the Great One. The Great One is very hard to find. Enjoy the time you have with Knotts. Keep bragging and telling everyone how great Dutch Fork plays football. It to shall come to end when Knotts retires or leaves. You say he has built a dynasty. But the dynasty is Tom Knotts. Without him there is no dynasty. You will have good teams after Tom Knotts but not the dynasty. Sorry to burst your bubble but it’s the truth.
....you must be Legend's twin.
Stating facts about DF football isn't hype. Just stating fact.
I said it years ago, on another site... all DF needs is a good coach...didn't know it would be "the coach"....DF will be fine after TK hangs it up. No team can expect a run like DF has had since Knotts came, but he demonstrated the potential of the school. That will attract other good coaches once he hangs it up.
DF is a little different situation, from say Woodruff...the DF area is a bedroom community for greater Columbia. Woodruff hasn't won a title since 1984-long time ago... about the time textiles dried up. Same problem with places like Union, Chester or Whitmire...
People dislike Knotts...I get it. He's like me...not everyone's "cup of tea"- definitely an acquired taste. This board dries up after the title games, but throw out words like, Dutch Fork or Knotts, and god forbid, DFoldman...and the sparks fly, and the chatter starts...have to keep things going...lol
Fear The Fox...
Re: State of South Carolina High School Football
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:28 am
by DFOLDMAN
Greerfan1 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:13 am
DFOLDMAN wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2025 7:41 am
When you say the word "dynasty"...several things come to mind. Regarding South Carolina high school football, that word says different things to different people. All time "dynasty" looks back to the very beginnings of high school football in SC. Early on, teams like Columbia, Charleston, Florence, Gaffney, Epworth Orphanage (Slick played there), and Thornwell School come to mind. Before strict age verification and prior to desegregation, it's hard to say who were in fact "the best"...the moniker "champion", did not always mean the best then.
Looking at the state, obviously teams like Gaffney, Abbeville, Summerville, Brynes, Woodruff, Clinton, Lake View, Daniel, Greenwood, Columbia, Blackville-Hilda...all have had extreme success and have won their share of titles. Going to put on my complete "homer hat" now and say I don't the state has seen anything like the past 12 years with what Dutch Fork is doing.
The top "dynasty" in SC for me is Dutch Fork and what Tom Knotts has built there... let me hear your picks.
Fear The Fox...
I still think the early 2000's run by those Byrnes teams, is the most impressive run by any school I have ever seen. I think the competition was better back then than it is now.
Not taking anything away from what TK and the Silver Foxes are currently doing. He is the greatest Coach our state has ever seen.
Beg to differ on the competition then versus now. Kids are bigger, stronger, faster now than even a decade or two ago. Offensive and Defensive schemes are more complex and effective...conditioning programs are better... off season camps etc. I hear people talk about the "good ole days" (and trust me, I am from back then..ha) and how those teams would beat today's teams, and I just shake my head. Friend talking about the 70's Spring Valley teams and how they would stack up- told him straight away a team like today's Spartanburg, Irmo, South Florence, NW, Gaffney etc... would stomp a mudhole in them. He told me I was wrong of course but just a different game now.
Fear The Fox...
Re: State of South Carolina High School Football
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2025 12:36 pm
by HoodRoad
DF is only 33 yrs old, granted 23 of those have been winning seasons and of course we all know of all the titles won since TK’s arrival. They are the standard but for me when you say dynasty I think more of a place that has been around for a long time and has been consistent regardless of class, location, numbers, etc. For me, it’s Abbeville esp with the new age way of kids swapping schools like underwear. Gaffney now goes out and gets a new QB every year it seems, Byrnes had kids relocating because of BMW, allegedly, DF can get a kid here or there from the metro or Irmo, and don’t get me started on the charters, etc. Abbeville is just different. Those kids are born into football. Love the topic, great for DT banter.
Re: State of South Carolina High School Football
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2025 1:10 pm
by Justafan
DFOLDMAN wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:28 am
Greerfan1 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:13 am
DFOLDMAN wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2025 7:41 am
When you say the word "dynasty"...several things come to mind. Regarding South Carolina high school football, that word says different things to different people. All time "dynasty" looks back to the very beginnings of high school football in SC. Early on, teams like Columbia, Charleston, Florence, Gaffney, Epworth Orphanage (Slick played there), and Thornwell School come to mind. Before strict age verification and prior to desegregation, it's hard to say who were in fact "the best"...the moniker "champion", did not always mean the best then.
Looking at the state, obviously teams like Gaffney, Abbeville, Summerville, Brynes, Woodruff, Clinton, Lake View, Daniel, Greenwood, Columbia, Blackville-Hilda...all have had extreme success and have won their share of titles. Going to put on my complete "homer hat" now and say I don't the state has seen anything like the past 12 years with what Dutch Fork is doing.
The top "dynasty" in SC for me is Dutch Fork and what Tom Knotts has built there... let me hear your picks.
Fear The Fox...
I still think the early 2000's run by those Byrnes teams, is the most impressive run by any school I have ever seen. I think the competition was better back then than it is now.
Not taking anything away from what TK and the Silver Foxes are currently doing. He is the greatest Coach our state has ever seen.
Beg to differ on the competition then versus now. Kids are bigger, stronger, faster now than even a decade or two ago. Offensive and Defensive schemes are more complex and effective...conditioning programs are better... off season camps etc. I hear people talk about the "good ole days" (and trust me, I am from back then..ha) and how those teams would beat today's teams, and I just shake my head. Friend talking about the 70's Spring Valley teams and how they would stack up- told him straight away a team like today's Spartanburg, Irmo, South Florence, NW, Gaffney etc... would stomp a mudhole in them. He told me I was wrong of course but just a different game now.
Fear The Fox...
Agree they are bigger stronger faster. I remember people wearing 250# bench shirts .that may get you laughed at now.
There was some speed .but size speed ?
Games just different now on every level of football .
There's access to information and things that were not available aswell.
Teams were good ,I just don't see teams of the past being able to do what they did vs today's teams .
That's no disrespect. I've had this same conversation umpteen times .
I think the older teams were tougher to a degree .they had to be the equipment demanded you were .
Re: State of South Carolina High School Football
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:27 pm
by mikey
DFOLDMAN wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:18 am
OLDFART51 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2025 9:49 am
The reign of Dutch Fork will end with Knotts retiring or leaving. It happened to the schools you listed when the Great One retired or left the school. Speaking for Woodruff we have hired around six coaches since Coach Varner retired. We haven’t hit on the Great One. The Great One is very hard to find. Enjoy the time you have with Knotts. Keep bragging and telling everyone how great Dutch Fork plays football. It to shall come to end when Knotts retires or leaves. You say he has built a dynasty. But the dynasty is Tom Knotts. Without him there is no dynasty. You will have good teams after Tom Knotts but not the dynasty. Sorry to burst your bubble but it’s the truth.
....you must be Legend's twin.
Stating facts about DF football isn't hype. Just stating fact.
I said it years ago, on another site... all DF needs is a good coach...didn't know it would be "the coach"....DF will be fine after TK hangs it up. No team can expect a run like DF has had since Knotts came, but he demonstrated the potential of the school. That will attract other good coaches once he hangs it up.
DF is a little different situation, from say Woodruff...the DF area is a bedroom community for greater Columbia. Woodruff hasn't won a title since 1984-long time ago... about the time textiles dried up. Same problem with places like Union, Chester or Whitmire...
People dislike Knotts...I get it. He's like me...not everyone's "cup of tea"- definitely an acquired taste. This board dries up after the title games, but throw out words like, Dutch Fork or Knotts, and god forbid, DFoldman...and the sparks fly, and the chatter starts...have to keep things going...lol
Fear The Fox...
and you sound like B#1 and this reminds me of the bluebloods post in the old PFT yall oldtimers will remember…and get that fear the Fox crap outta here..Gaffney don’t fear no one including DF…in fact in title games the great Tommy boy is 0-2…I heard the same crap when Byrnes was on a roll..they were “ winning at faster rate than Gaffney”..
Teams including Gaffney are adjusting to what Tommy perfected ..why they run him off at Independence ..what Bentley sorta started..don’t get me wrong both are damn good coaches that sell/sold their programs…in the last 2 weeks I have seen 4 kids that are transferring to Gaffney…2 from Daniel ..a damn good program..now wether or not they all on the roster next year ..I have no clue…we use to call it loading up in baseball..
No one wants to play Gaffney..Tommy proved that this year..guess he “ Feared the Spear” …that’s the original bro..
It’s late..I going to bed…..I’ll await your little, but we’ll thought out smart azz response ..
Re: State of South Carolina High School Football
Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2025 7:55 am
by DFOLDMAN
mikey wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:27 pm
DFOLDMAN wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:18 am
OLDFART51 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2025 9:49 am
The reign of Dutch Fork will end with Knotts retiring or leaving. It happened to the schools you listed when the Great One retired or left the school. Speaking for Woodruff we have hired around six coaches since Coach Varner retired. We haven’t hit on the Great One. The Great One is very hard to find. Enjoy the time you have with Knotts. Keep bragging and telling everyone how great Dutch Fork plays football. It to shall come to end when Knotts retires or leaves. You say he has built a dynasty. But the dynasty is Tom Knotts. Without him there is no dynasty. You will have good teams after Tom Knotts but not the dynasty. Sorry to burst your bubble but it’s the truth.
....you must be Legend's twin.
Stating facts about DF football isn't hype. Just stating fact.
I said it years ago, on another site... all DF needs is a good coach...didn't know it would be "the coach"....DF will be fine after TK hangs it up. No team can expect a run like DF has had since Knotts came, but he demonstrated the potential of the school. That will attract other good coaches once he hangs it up.
DF is a little different situation, from say Woodruff...the DF area is a bedroom community for greater Columbia. Woodruff hasn't won a title since 1984-long time ago... about the time textiles dried up. Same problem with places like Union, Chester or Whitmire...
People dislike Knotts...I get it. He's like me...not everyone's "cup of tea"- definitely an acquired taste. This board dries up after the title games, but throw out words like, Dutch Fork or Knotts, and god forbid, DFoldman...and the sparks fly, and the chatter starts...have to keep things going...lol
Fear The Fox...
and you sound like B#1 and this reminds me of the bluebloods post in the old PFT yall oldtimers will remember…and get that fear the Fox crap outta here..Gaffney don’t fear no one including DF…in fact in title games the great Tommy boy is 0-2…I heard the same crap when Byrnes was on a roll..they were “ winning at faster rate than Gaffney”..
Teams including Gaffney are adjusting to what Tommy perfected ..why they run him off at Independence ..what Bentley sorta started..don’t get me wrong both are damn good coaches that sell/sold their programs…in the last 2 weeks I have seen 4 kids that are transferring to Gaffney…2 from Daniel ..a damn good program..now wether or not they all on the roster next year ..I have no clue…we use to call it loading up in baseball..
No one wants to play Gaffney..Tommy proved that this year..guess he “ Feared the Spear” …that’s the original bro..
It’s late..I going to bed…..I’ll await your little, but we’ll thought out smart azz response ..
"but throw out words like, Dutch Fork or Knotts, and god forbid, DFoldman...and the sparks fly, and the chatter starts...have to keep things going...lol" - Bingo...Mikey woke up.
It's called sympathy, Mikey - after the last two hidings y'all toted from DF- how bad do the Injuns want to look? Gaffney is good at the transfer portal, we know that...QBs especially. Don't worry about DF catching the Gaffney record- Abbeville has it dead in their sights and if they stay 1A....no one can keep pace with them. If Gaffney does the right thing and hires Pelham, I will be a huge Injun fan. I get the Bentley hype, but folks seem to forget Miller won about as many of those titles as Bentley did.
I saw the future 25 years ago at DF....first time I walked through the school and traveled around and looked at the district. Perfect storm for the right coach. I love these homers saying it's all Knotts and the school, kids and area have little to do with it. Drop Knotts off in Oakway SC and see how the dynasty at West-Oak pans out....or Pickens or Union....some places just can't win like that- the resources and talent are not there or not there any longer. Knotts would have done the same thing as he has done at DF at Summerville, Dorman, Irmo, Gaffney, Byrnes, Spartanburg, Fort D...etc, but he would need the resources and talent...give the confluence of the Broad and Saluda a little credit...lol.
Haters gonna hate....
Fear The Fox...
Re: State of South Carolina High School Football
Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2025 8:20 am
by mikey
DFOLDMAN wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2025 7:55 am
mikey wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:27 pm
DFOLDMAN wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:18 am
OLDFART51 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2025 9:49 am
The reign of Dutch Fork will end with Knotts retiring or leaving. It happened to the schools you listed when the Great One retired or left the school. Speaking for Woodruff we have hired around six coaches since Coach Varner retired. We haven’t hit on the Great One. The Great One is very hard to find. Enjoy the time you have with Knotts. Keep bragging and telling everyone how great Dutch Fork plays football. It to shall come to end when Knotts retires or leaves. You say he has built a dynasty. But the dynasty is Tom Knotts. Without him there is no dynasty. You will have good teams after Tom Knotts but not the dynasty. Sorry to burst your bubble but it’s the truth.
....you must be Legend's twin.
Stating facts about DF football isn't hype. Just stating fact.
I said it years ago, on another site... all DF needs is a good coach...didn't know it would be "the coach"....DF will be fine after TK hangs it up. No team can expect a run like DF has had since Knotts came, but he demonstrated the potential of the school. That will attract other good coaches once he hangs it up.
DF is a little different situation, from say Woodruff...the DF area is a bedroom community for greater Columbia. Woodruff hasn't won a title since 1984-long time ago... about the time textiles dried up. Same problem with places like Union, Chester or Whitmire...
People dislike Knotts...I get it. He's like me...not everyone's "cup of tea"- definitely an acquired taste. This board dries up after the title games, but throw out words like, Dutch Fork or Knotts, and god forbid, DFoldman...and the sparks fly, and the chatter starts...have to keep things going...lol
Fear The Fox...
and you sound like B#1 and this reminds me of the bluebloods post in the old PFT yall oldtimers will remember…and get that fear the Fox crap outta here..Gaffney don’t fear no one including DF…in fact in title games the great Tommy boy is 0-2…I heard the same crap when Byrnes was on a roll..they were “ winning at faster rate than Gaffney”..
Teams including Gaffney are adjusting to what Tommy perfected ..why they run him off at Independence ..what Bentley sorta started..don’t get me wrong both are damn good coaches that sell/sold their programs…in the last 2 weeks I have seen 4 kids that are transferring to Gaffney…2 from Daniel ..a damn good program..now wether or not they all on the roster next year ..I have no clue…we use to call it loading up in baseball..
No one wants to play Gaffney..Tommy proved that this year..guess he “ Feared the Spear” …that’s the original bro..
It’s late..I going to bed…..I’ll await your little, but we’ll thought out smart azz response ..
"but throw out words like, Dutch Fork or Knotts, and god forbid, DFoldman...and the sparks fly, and the chatter starts...have to keep things going...lol" - Bingo...Mikey woke up.
It's called sympathy, Mikey - after the last two hidings y'all toted from DF- how bad do the Injuns want to look? Gaffney is good at the transfer portal, we know that...QBs especially. Don't worry about DF catching the Gaffney record- Abbeville has it dead in their sights and if they stay 1A....no one can keep pace with them. If Gaffney does the right thing and hires Pelham, I will be a huge Injun fan. I get the Bentley hype, but folks seem to forget Miller won about as many of those titles as Bentley did.
I saw the future 25 years ago at DF....first time I walked through the school and traveled around and looked at the district. Perfect storm for the right coach. I love these homers saying it's all Knotts and the school, kids and area have little to do with it. Drop Knotts off in Oakway SC and see how the dynasty at West-Oak pans out....or Pickens or Union....some places just can't win like that- the resources and talent are not there or not there any longer. Knotts would have done the same thing as he has done at DF at Summerville, Dorman, Irmo, Gaffney, Byrnes, Spartanburg, Fort D...etc, but he would need the resources and talent...give the confluence of the Broad and Saluda a little credit...lol.
Haters gonna hate....
Fear The Fox...
sympathy my butt…we call it ducking..quack quack..quack quack quack..just be happy they split 5A…it made your road to state a lot easier..let me hear you QUACK