SCHSL State Championsip games- Press Conferences

[SCPrepTalk]

SCHSL State Championsip games- Press Conferences 2A, 3A, 4A

[SCPrepTalk]

SCHSL State Championsip games- Press Conferences 1A, 5A

[Penguin]

Thank you so much for posting these to the site. As I sat and listened to all of the players and coaches responding to the questions, I was overcome by emotion with the knowledge that my Alma-Mater will be playing in their second consecutive State Championship game. As I sit and reflect about where this program once was, and to now know where we are, I have a much better understanding of how so many of the posters here feel when it is their teams who have made the journey to be playing on the last weekend of the season.

Now, instead of being the hunters, we will be the hunted. Becoming one of the standard bearers for football in this state once seemed impossible for Beaufort. Yet, here we are, now a team that every other team in the Lower State will compare themselves to. Proud, but humbled by the long journey that I have been on. I have been going to Beaufort High Football games since 1964 when my parents would drop me off at the ticket gate with money for a ticket and a bag of popcorn and a coke. It was less that a half mile walk home after the games. Yes, times were different back then, and I was only able to attend Home games. I had 2 cousins who played for the Tidal Wave back then, (Beaufort High's Name before the integration of public schools in South Carolina) and then went on to play for legendary coach Frank Howard at Clemson.

Then, during my Sophomore year in High School, Beaufort County split Beaufort High and allowed then head coach Mike Lopatka to move to Battery Creek and take any and all of the players from Beaufort High, with him. Beaufort High fell into the lowest depths after that move. Then in 1983, head coach Mike Rentz and a rag-tag band of stellar athletes, led by RB Zeke Gadson, OL Andy Smyth, OL Scott Dennis, WR Gentry Thames, and QB Chris Tattersall (my brother-in-law) along with a bunch of other hard working and dedicated young men, brought Beaufort to the brink. This was after the creation of the Big 16 fiasco, and on September 16th, 1983, head coach John McKissick brought his #1 Summerville Green Wave down to Beaufort to face the #5 ranked Beaufort Eagles. 48 game minutes later, the Green Wave boarded their busses to head home after a 17-7 defeat. It would be the Wave's only loss all season as they romped to the Big 16 Championship. Playing in Class 4A Division II, Beaufort sailed into the playoffs also with just 1 defeat, losing to Berkeley High as the #2 ranked team in the state, just 2 weeks later. In the playoffs, the Eagles easily dispensed Marion in the 1st round, before getting bounced 7-6 by Hartsville in Round 2. That was easily the best Beaufort high team since the 1945 state champions.

Beaufort dropped back to Class 3A shortly thereafter and were completely made irrelevant by a former 1A coach whom I shall not name. After a rise back to Class 4A Division II around the turn of the century, it took the hiring of Mark Clifford in 2004 to once more bring Beaufort to relevance. A stinging loss of our undefeated Eagles to Bob Hanna and Irmo in the 2004 Lower State 3rd round, created a rise in enthusiasm for the program. Coach Clifford led us to the 2007 state championship game against Clover. A game which we led in the second half before a couple of very questionable play calls and some very timely big plays by the Blue Eagles, ultimately led us to falling one win short.

Then last season, we went on an unexpected late season surge that saw us defeat a super talented South Florence team in the first round before going to North Augusta and beating back the Yellow Jackets. On to Myrtle Beach for my favorite game of all time. Then back home to beat Jody Jenrette's West Florence Knights before going to Columbia and allowing the bright lights, the high expectations, and our former head coach Devonte Holliman and his South Pointe Stallions to utterly embarrass us in a way not seen in many seasons.

Now we have to face off tomorrow night against a powerful and talented Powdersville Patriots squad. I have no idea how the game will turn out, but I do know that I am extremely proud of this team, Coach Lybrand, and our fans who literally filled the stands on the visitor's side at Dillon last Friday night. A certain poster who I will not name, watched our every game and posted derogatory comments on every Beaufort High thread this season. I pointed out that only someone scared to death would do such things. That is all of the proof that I need to know that the Beaufort High School Eagles are now one of the elite teams in this state. And yes, damn right, I am proud!