A legendary legacy. It was on display Sept. 18 as Hall of Fame coach Shell Dula impressed upon the high school football players in attendance the importance of knowing the kind of high-character people who had paved their way for success throughout Laurens County.
But, first, came a few words from Red Devils Football Head Coach Corey Fountain - in just 7 seasons, the second winningest head coach in Clinton’s more than 100 years football history* - talking about the lessons we can learn from the players who are up and coming.
Fountain and one of his Red Devil assistants, Dontavius Glenn, were in Abbeville the Monday before the Touchdown Club’s Thursday meeting coaching the 8U football team.
And, they were losing.
“Eight year old football is a microcosm of life, it is the beginning,” Fountain said. “These kids don’t know offense from defense when we started. They are starting to understand. You have to give them a guide, you have to give them a book before the game. Some people start with a head start. Some people start with people in their life that give them a head start and an understanding. Some people don’t.
“Well, I felt like the ones who didn’t. So we are getting our teeth kicked in. We are going backwards, we were going backwards more than we were going forwards in the first half. We were really out manned, (but) our kids they never quit.”
In the second half, it got a little bit better. “We told them at halftime, ‘just keep pushing forward, just keep tackling’ and everybody’s eyes are just looking at me - they don’t even understand how to look at the scoreboard, they didn’t know what the scoreboard said - they were just ‘yes, sir; yes, sir;’ and they were just determined to give their best effort; and the second half was a little better, but we still lost.
“At the end of the game, they’re looking at you and all they want to hear is ‘you get credit for the day, young man; you did a great job.’”
Fountain said his players were lifting each other up and coming back to hit, and be hit, one more time.
“Guys, we are in that same boat every single day,” Fountain said. “I don’t know if you are going through something in your life, but you get knocked down. If you’re in that fight, you keep moving forward - you keep moving forward, OK? If you’re on the sideline, you keep encouraging that person, if you have been through that issue, if you can. If you’re in the situation where you can be a mentor, you be a mentor. At the end of the game, it’s ‘I fought the good fight. I finished the race and I kept the faith.’
“Those kids, they finished the race, and all they wanted to hear at the end of the game was ‘Well done.’ You guys, keep the faith. Keep pushing forward. Make sure that you’re on the positive side of that.”
For his part, Dula said he wasn’t even going to try to top Coach Fountain’s words.
But, as a PC graduate who learn football under the late Cally Gault, he did give Presbyterian College Football (3-0 at this point) a cheer - and his version of the fight song.
“I’m not trying to slight anybody, but WHAT ABOUT THOSE BLUE HOSE! Bringing football relevance back to PC, to Clinton, and to Laurens County,” Dula said. “Thank you, Coach (Steve) Englehart.”
A State Champion coach at 3 different high schools, Dula said, “Football is the ultimate team game. You’re here because of your teammates. You’re here because of your coaches. You’re here because of your school support and your community support. You wouldn’t be here if your coaches didn’t feel very positive about you, and we thank you for the recognition you are bringing to your school.”
Dula’s 3-things message to the high school student-athletes brought to the Ridge for recognition by their coaches is “Do your best, keep doing the best you can do as a football player in your school, as a student in your school, as a child in your home. Do what’s right, make good decisions; we challenge you to do that. And, treat other people the way you want to be treated.”
Reflecting on the current Legends, who assist with getting speakers, at a meeting where an additional new group of Legends was introduced, Dula told today’s high school football players from Laurens District High School, Clinton High School, Laurens Academy and Thornwell Charter School, “You have a group of Legends who have done so much. You guys, you need to understand you’re in an area of this state that has people who have done so much and made such an impact, and now you have a new group coming in.”
*Highest winning percentage, .733, with a minimum of 3 seasons.
Hello Everyone,
The Laurens County Touchdown Club is proud to announce that for games played on Friday, October 3rd, the Player of the week is Laurens Academy H-back and linebacker Caleb Hardy.
Caleb is a junior multiple position player for the Laurens Academy Crusaders and lead the Crusaders on offense and defense Friday night in their 36 – 14 win against Wardlaw Academy for homecoming.
Caleb Hardy had an outstanding night for the Crusaders and he lead the offense with 232 yards rushing on 27 carries and 3 touchdowns. Additionally, Hardy scored one 2 pt. conversion and had 4 receptions for 22 yards. On defense Hardy had 9 total tackles, 1 interception, 1 tackle for loss and 3 pass deflections.
Head Coach Jolly Doolittle stated, “Caleb is a relentless competitor who cares about the success of the team. He is willing to do anything for team success. He is generally our first option at attacking another teams defense and the guy we match up on the other teams best weapon.”
The Laurens County Touchdown Club will honor Hardy on October 16th at the bi-monthly Touchdown Club meeting. The meeting will be at noon at The Ridge in Laurens with Big Air serving the meal and the food service line opening at 11:45 am. Player of the Week awards will presented in 2025 by Farm Bureau Insurance of Laurens County.
The October 16th meeting will feature highly popular Coach Mike Ayers, former head football coach at Wofford College who guided the Wofford program for 30 years, as our featured speaker.
Coach Ayers won the Eddie Robinson Award, given to the most outstanding FCS Head Coach in the Country during his tenure as well. Additionally, Ayers is a member of the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame as a 2022 inductee.
The Laurens County Touchdown Club meets every other Thursday throughout the football season at The Ridge located in Laurens at 301 Exchange Road and the public is invited. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $15. All meetings are at Noon with the food service line opening at 11:45 am.
Additionally, the Farm Bureau Insurance “Player of the Week’ awards will be presented for the October 3 and October 10 High School football games and we will have a recap from all of the coaches of the local High School teams and Presbyterian College.
On behalf of the Touchdown Club Committee Members, I would like to thank each of you for your support. Congratulations to Player of the Week Caleb Hardy of Laurens Academy for games played on Friday, October 3rd.
Thanks and Best of Luck to all of our county teams this week. - Gene Simmons, President, Laurens County Touchdown Club
