"Why do they [write] for their money? Why do they [work] for short pay? They ain't getting nowhere and they're losing their share. They must have gone crazy back there." — Michael Burton (paraphrased)
By MONTE DUTTON The Raiders were at full song (Monte Dutton photos) Click here. It doesn’t get much better than the Olympics men’s basketball game between Serbia and the USA. I watched the first half, took a shower, dressed in dirty pants and old shoes in preparation for mud, and headed to Honea Path, where …
Continue reading County Signs: Raiders pass only preseason test
Evan DiMaggio (Furman photo) Click here. It’s much the same in the inside linebacking linebacking corps as with most of Furman’s position groups. Good players gone. Good players ready to replace them. It’s not a leap of faith to head coach Clay Hendrix. It’s the process of college-football life. "We have some depth at linebacker. …
By MONTE DUTTON Corey Fountain and the Red Devils had their first scrimmage rained out for the second straight year (Monte Dutton photos) Click here. It’s impressive that everyone in the state knows how to pronounce my hometown’s name. Clinnun. Area broadcasters who call the university in Columbia “South Cuh-lina” know how to pronounce Clinton, …
Continue reading County Signs: Not how it’s said around here
By MONTE DUTTON (Monte Dutton photos) Click here. As another day of chipping away begins, I am relieved that perhaps Debby won’t be as much a downer as was thought. Staff meteorologists tend to get a bit giddy. But my heart bleeds for Thursday. If the weather outside is frightful, it might cost some scrimmages …
By MONTE DUTTON (Monte Dutton photos) Click here. Down in the soccer holler, where the Raiders practice football, it’s exciting. Greg Porter and his staff are agitating a bunch of kids previously aggravated. A whole lot of shaking was going on, not to mention grunting, yelling, cheering and that inimitable sound of pads popping. Porter …
By MONTE DUTTON (Monte Dutton photos) Click here. It was a pleasant Monday afternoon as the Laurens Academy football team endeavored to become more agile, hostile and mobile. Seventeen cavorted about, blocking and tackling stuffed implements of various sizes, leaping, hurdling, stepping, sidestepping and generally trying to get up to wherever the snuff is. Up …
Brock Chappell (Furman photo) Click here. It has become fashionable in recent years to define position groups as “rooms.” The one that figuratively contains the Furman tight ends is well appointed. Since 1977, Furman has produced 34 All-Southern Conference tight ends, and the last two years that roll of distinction has included a pair of …
By MONTE DUTTON (Monte Dutton photos) Click here. Based on my experience, some athletes belie their public image and others reflect it. One of the better examples is Bill Elliott, whom I like. Elliott, though, is far from his Huck Finn image. He is one of the moodier athletes I’ve ever known. Sometimes Elliott would …
(Furman photos) Click here. Furman’s defensive line has a sense of loss. It lost a pair of All-Southern Conference performers, end Jack Barton and tackle Matt Sochovka, but the loss of Bryce Stanfield leaves lingering sorrow. Stansfield died suddenly in February. Furman’s success the last couple of seasons, highlighted by 20 wins and a 2023 …
Continue reading Paladins again have ample depth in defensive line
By MONTE DUTTON (Monte Dutton photos) Click here. It wasn’t hot … yet. It wasn’t yet 8 a.m. when the varsity Red Devils joined the JVs out on the practice field Saturday morning. By the time it ended, sweat was prevalent, even for guys walking around with cameras. They needed to wash their shirts, anyway. …
Nightrider's Lament 