Erskine Flying Fleet football

Last updated
Erskine Flying Fleet football
Erskine Flying Fleet logo.svg
First season1896
Athletic directorMark Peeler
Head coach Shap Boyd
4th season, 6–33 (.154)
StadiumJ. W. Babb Stadium
Location Greenwood, South Carolina
NCAA division Division II
Conference South Atlantic Conference (Division II)
All-time record86–221–11 (.288)
ColorsGarnet and gold [1]
   
Website erskinesports.com

The Erskine Flying Fleet football team represents Erskine College in the sport of American football. The Flying Fleet compete in the NCAA Division II as an independent, but will join the South Atlantic Conference as an associate member in 2022. [2] The team is currently led by head coach Shap Boyd, who has held the position since November 15, 2018, making him the first head football coach at Erskine since 1951. [3]

Contents

The Erskine College football program was terminated after the 1951 season. The team went on hiatus before announcing the return for the 2020. The program will practice in 2019, and its players will use a redshirt season. Due to the global coronavirus pandemic, the fall 2020 season was postponed until spring 2021. The program played its first game in 70 years on 27 February 2021, defeating Barton College 30-28. [4]

History

Erskine football started in 1896. [5] It was discontinued in 1951. The period from 1917 to 1921 brought most of the program's success, including athlete Dode Phillips. [6] During those seasons they have wins against Wofford, Presbyterian, South Carolina, Clemson, and the Citadel. It was during a game in 1929 [7] that Erskine took on the name "The Flying Fleet". They were given that name by a Greenville reporter who was blown away by their passing performance in the game. They had previously been known as the "Seceders". [8] On October 18, 1948 when they defeated Florida State 14–6. It was only a couple more years until the Flying Fleet ended their football program in 1951.

In 2018, Erskine College announced return of the football program for the 2020 season competing in NCAA Division II. [9] [10] [11] [12]

Conference affiliations

In 1915, Erskine began intercollegiate football and competed for the state title with other members of the South Carolina Intercollegiate Athletic Association. [13] [14] In 1925, Erskine joined the ranks of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association. [15] In 1939, Erskine was a founding member of the South Atlantic Conference, which was for "small liberal arts schools that do not place undue emphasis upon athletics." [16] The conference's founding members were Erskine, Newberry, Oglethorpe, Presbyterian, and Wofford. They added Rollins and Stetson in 1940, and then Mercer in 1941 before it disbanded due to several programs discontinuing football. [17] [18] The schools maintained membership in the S.I.A.A. while also competing for the South Atlantic title. Erskine was also a member of the South Carolina Little Four alongside Newberry, Presbyterian, and Wofford. The "Little Four" informally was naming champions in the period before the war as well.

YearsConference
1896Independent
1897–1914No intercollegiate team
1915–1924South Carolina Intercollegiate Athletic Association
1925–1941 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
1939–1941 South Atlantic Conference
1942–1945No team (WWII)
1946–1951 South Carolina Little Four
1952–2018No team
2019–2020No intercollegiate competition (practice only)
2021Independent
2022–2023South Atlantic Conference
2024 Gulf South Conference
2025- Conference Carolinas

Seasons

YearHead coachConferenceOverall recordConference record
1896John Walker—0–1—
1897–1914No football
1915Norman G. LaMotteSCIAA0–7–10–4
1916Claude Moore2–41–3
1917Lucius H. Ranson4–32–3
1918Lieutenant F. C. Fishback1–0–11–0–1
1919Joe Lindsay (player-coach)2–52–5
1920David W. Parrish5–31–3
19216–26–2♯
19220–80–7
19231–51–5
1924Robert S. Galloway1–70–5
1925 SIAA 1–60–4
1926 Dode Phillips 1–70–4
19272–4–11–2–1
1928Jakie Todd3–71–5
19297–33–2♮
19302–5–11–2–1
19312–6–31–5–1
19321–80–5
19332–71–5
19341–80–4
19352–6–10–4–1
19364–63–1
19376–45–0‡♯
19381–7–20–3–1
1939SIAA / SAC1–91–5 / 1–3
19401–80–5 / 0–5
1941Jakie Todd / Dode Phillips•2–50–4 / 0–2
1942–1945No football
1946Harry BolickLittle Four0–90–3
1947 John D. McMillan 7–31–2
19486–40–2
19492–71–1
19504–61–2
19510–8–10–2–1
1952–2020No football
Spring 2021 Shap Boyd Independent1–5—
20213–8—
2022 SAC 2–90-9
20230–110-9
2024 GSC 0-00-0

• = Interim head coach, † = Conference champions, ‡ = Conference co-champions, ♯ = Little Four champions, ♮ = Little Four co-champions

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erskine College</span> Liberal arts college in Due West, South Carolina

Erskine College is a private Christian college in Due West, South Carolina. It is an undergraduate liberal arts college and a graduate theological seminary. The college was founded in 1839 by the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Its sports teams compete in NCAA Division II as a member of Conference Carolinas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conference Carolinas</span> American college athletic conference

Conference Carolinas, formerly known as the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) or the Carolinas Conference, is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) primarily at the Division II level. It is also considered as one of the seven Division I conferences for men's volleyball. Originally formed in 1930, the league reached its modern incarnation in 1994. Member institutions are located in the southeastern United States in the states of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The Conference Carolinas membership currently consists of 14 small colleges or universities, 12 private and two public.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wofford Terriers football</span> Football team of Wofford College

The Wofford Terriers football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Wofford College located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as members of the Southern Conference (SoCon). Wofford's first football team was fielded in 1889. The team plays its home games at the 13,000 seat Gibbs Stadium in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Josh Conklin is the current head coach for the Terriers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newberry Wolves</span> Athletic teams representing Newberry College

The Newberry Wolves are the athletic teams that represent Newberry College, located in Newberry, South Carolina, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Laval</span>

William Lawrence Laval was an American minor league baseball player, baseball manager, and college baseball, football, and basketball coach. He held head coaching positions at the University of South Carolina, Furman University, Emory and Henry College, and Newberry College. He is the only South Carolina football coach to have produced seven consecutive winning seasons. In 2009, The State called him "the greatest collegiate coach" in the history of South Carolina.

Steve Traylor is an American former college baseball and basketball coach. In basketball, he was the head coach of Greensboro College. In baseball, he was the head coach at Florida Atlantic, Duke, and Wofford. Traylor had 776 career wins and led both Florida Atlantic and Wofford to their first NCAA tournaments.

David Gardiner "Dode" Phillips III was an American football player and coach. He coached high school in Anderson, South Carolina and then his alma mater. He also played several years of minor league baseball before committing to coaching full-time at Moultrie High School in Georgia. Moultrie High won the south Georgia title in 1928. Phillips worked for NBC WFBC as a sports analyst and color commentator in 1937 and 1938 before returning to the sideline as an assistant for Jakie Todd at Erskine. In 1941, Todd was appointed as chief of the state pardon and parole board. Phillips took over and coached Erskine for the final three games of the season.

The South Carolina Little Three was an intercollegiate athletic conference that existed from 1946 to 1964. The conference's three main members, Newberry College, Presbyterian College, and Wofford College, were located in the state of South Carolina. All three teams now play in different leagues: Newberry in the South Atlantic, Presbyterian in the Big South (FCS), and Wofford in the SoCon (FCS). Erskine College was also a member from 1946 to 1951 when it dropped its football program. Erskine has announced that their football program is returning for the 2020 season. The College of Charleston was also a member of the South Carolina Little Five in basketball, now playing in the Colonial Athletic Association, but the post-season basketball tournament was always for the South Carolina Little Four and the College of Charleston was not invited.

The 1924 Erskine Seceders football team was an American football team that represented Erskine College as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) during the 1924 college football season. In their second year under head coach Robert S. Galloway, the team compiled a 1–7 record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1919 Furman Baptists football team</span> American college football season

The 1919 Furman Baptists football team represented Furman University during the 1919 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Billy Laval, Furman compiled an overall record of 6–2–1 with a mark of 2–1–1 in SIAA play.

The 1930 Presbyterian Blue Hose football team represented Presbyterian College as a member the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) during the 1930 college football season. Led by 15th-year head coach Walter A. Johnson, the Blue Hose compiled an overall record of 9–1, with a mark of 6–0 in conference play, and won the SIAA championship.

The 1941 Presbyterian Blue Hose football team was an American football team that represented Presbyterian College as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) during the 1941 college football season. Led by head coach Lonnie McMillian, the team compiled a 6–3 record and won the SIAA championship. Verne Church and Lloyd Evans were the team captains.

The 1915 Furman Baptists football team represented Furman University during the 1915 college football season as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA). Furman compiled an overall record of 5–3 with a mark of 1–1 in SIAA play. The team began the season led by second-year W. B. Bible, who also served as the school's athletic director. Bible resigned in mid-November, before Furman final game of the season. Assistant coach Billy Laval was elected to succeed Bible as head coach.

The 1976 South Carolina State Bulldogs football team represented South Carolina State University as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) during the 1976 NCAA Division II football season. In its fourth season under head coach Willie Jeffries, the team compiled a 10–1 record, tied for the MEAC championship, defeated Norfolk State in the Bicentennial Bowl, and outscored opponents by a total of 278 to 44. The team was recognized as the 1976 black college football national champion and was ranked No. 8 by the Associated Press in the final 1976 NCAA Division II football rankings.

The 1951 Furman Purple Hurricane football team was an American football team that represented Furman University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1951 college football season. Led by second-year head coach Bill Young, the Purple Hurricane compiled an overall record of 3–6–1 with a mark of 1–4–1 in conference play, placing 15th in the SoCon.

The 1946 Wofford Terriers football team represented Wofford College as a member of the South Carolina Little Four during the 1946 college football season. In their first and only season under head coach Ted Petoskey, the Terriers compiled 1–8 record and failed to score a point in the first five games of the season.

The 1930 Erskine Flying Fleet football team represented Erskine College as a member the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) during the 1930 college football season. Led by third-year head coach Jakie Todd, the Flying Fleet compiled an overall record of 2–5–1, with a mark of 1–2–1 in conference play.

The 1930 Newberry Indians football team represented Newberry College as a member the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) during the 1930 college football season. Led by eleventh-year head coach Dutch McClean, the Indians compiled an overall record of 0–5–3, with a mark of 0–2–1 in conference play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Bolick</span> American athlete and coach (1912–1999)

Harry Edmund Bolick Jr. was an American athlete and sports coach. He played several sports at Presbyterian, and was best known for football: he was team captain and won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy in 1934. Bolick later coached several high schools in the area, as well as for one year the athletics at Erskine College.

References

  1. ↑ "Erskine Flying Fleet Brand Guidelines" (PDF). July 1, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  2. ↑ South Atlantic Conference Announces Additions of Barton and Erskine as Associate Members for Football, June 10, 2021, retrieved June 11, 2021
  3. ↑ Shap Boyd Officially Named Head Football Coach, November 15, 2018, retrieved June 15, 2019
  4. ↑ Michael Lananna (February 27, 2021), "Erskine makes history, plays first football game in 70 years — and gets the win", The State, retrieved February 28, 2021
  5. ↑ "A Proud History of Athletics". Erskinecollegesports.com. December 9, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  6. ↑ Scott Adamson (May 27, 2008). "Erskine College tries to gauge interest in restarting football program". Independent Mail. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Parkinson Counts Thrice As Erskine Runs 40 to 6 Victory Through Indians", Greenville News, Greenville, SC, p. 10, November 2, 1929
  8. ↑ What are the Flying Fleet? , retrieved June 15, 2019
  9. ↑ "Coolest college helmets in SC? Erskine football relaunches program dormant since 1951".
  10. ↑ Sapakoff, Gene (October 27, 2016). "Sapakoff: The night tiny Erskine College beat Florida State in football". The Post and Courier . Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  11. ↑ "1921 Erskine The Flying Fleet Schedule and Results - College Football at Sports-Reference.com". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  12. ↑ Alishan (December 9, 2011). "A Proud History of Athletics". www.erskinecollegesports.com. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Erskine to Open September 15th", Abbeville Press and Banner, Abbeville, SC, p. 2, August 18, 1915
  14. ↑ "Newberry Plans for Athletics", Newberry Weekly Herald, Newberry, SC, p. 3, August 29, 1913
  15. ↑ "Palmetto Members", Greenville News, Greenville, SC, p. 6, December 13, 1924
  16. ↑ "Hose Take South Atlantic Title", Index-Journal, Greenwood, SC, p. 3, November 21, 1939
  17. ↑ "Mercer Added to South Atlantic Athletic Group", Tampa Tribune, Tampa, FL, p. 22, December 22, 1940
  18. ↑ "Fewer Warmup Games For Football Big Fellows Seen For Next Fall", Pensacola News Journal, Pensacola, FL, p. 2, January 26, 1942
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.