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| LOCAL NOTABLES • sports | |
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Mike
Ayres In 2003, Coach Ayers received the Eddie Robinson Award, which is presented annually to the top head coach in I-AA football. He was the runner-up 2002. Ayers was named the 2002 National Coach of the Year by the College Sporting News (www.i-aa.org). Ayers has led the program from NAIA to NCAA Division II in 1988, I-AA Independent in 1995, and the Southern Conference in 1997. Since that time, he has been named the Southern Conference Coach of the Year three times (2000, 2002, 2003). He has also twice received AFCA Region Coach of the Year. Under 16 years of Ayers' guidance, not only has Wofford achieved a record of 102-77-1, it has consistently topped the SoCon and ranked among the national leaders for all Division I members in its graduation rate of football players. With an enrollment of just 1,100 students, Wofford is the smallest school playing Division I football.
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Bobby
Bell Considered one of the greatest outside linebackers ever to play the game, Bell was an All-state high school quarterback; starred as Kansas City Chiefs linebacker in Super Bowls I and IV; eight-time All-AFL.
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Dick
Brooks Set University of South Carolina mark with 19 TD catches; caught 102 balls with Packers in 1995. In 1969 Dick Brooks was NASCAR Rookie of the Year.
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Robert
Brooks Set University of South Carolina mark with 19 TD catches; caught 102 balls with Greenbay Packers in 1995.
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Smokey
Burgess Five-time All-Star catcher; batted .333 in Pittsburgh Pirates' 1960 World Series win over Yankees.
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Stephen
Davis Graduating from Spartanburg High in 1992, Davis was the national 100-meter champion (He beat Gaffney's Tim Montgomery for the title). After an outstanding collegiate career at Auburn University where he earned all-SEC first team honors, Davis played for 8 seasons with the Washington Redskins where he was one of the NFL's top rushers and the #3 rusher in the club's history. Now with the Carolina Panthers, Davis finished this past season third in the NFC in rushing with a career-best 1,444 yards.
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Steve
Fuller Clemson QB was 1978 Gator Bowl MVP; ACC Player-of-the-year in 1977 and 1978. Holds numerous offensive records at Clemson; drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1979; Jim McMahon's understudy on '85 Chicago Bears team that won Super Bowl.
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Kevin
Garnett Jumped straight from high school to NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves in 1995; has averaged 16.5 points in first four-plus seasons; named to two All-Star teams.
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Lee
Haney In his last competition before retiring in 1991, Haney broke Arnold Schwarzenger's record with an eighth Mr. Olympia title.
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James
Hylton Hilton was NASCAR Rookie of the Year in 1965
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"Shoeless"
Joe Jackson One of the greatest hitters of all time, Jackson had a lifetime .356 average. Jackson was accused of being in a group of eight White Sox players that allegedly threw the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds, charges that were thrown out of court in the mid-1920's. Undaunted by the court ruling, Commissioner Kenesaw Landis, banned all of the players from baseball for life. Jackson has a considerable base of loyalists still trying to clear his name and bring him the Hall of Fame honor that he deserves.
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Fr.
Edmund P. Joyce Next to Knute Rockne, Fr. Edmund P. Joyce from Spartanburg is the person most responsible for Notre Dame's national stature as a football power. He ran Notre Dame's athletics programs for 35 years and was one of the most influential voices in the NCAA during that period. As the University's chief financial officer during the presidency of Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., Father Joyce presided over the construction of some 40 campus buildings and helped boost the endowment from $9 million to $400 million. In addition to directing the University's financial operations, Father Joyce chaired the faculty board on athletics and the building committee. He remains active as a life trustee of the University. Father Joyce earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from Notre Dame in 1937 (the first South Carolinian to graduate from Notre Dame). He was ordained to the priesthood on June 3, 1949. For many years, Father Joyce was an influential voice in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, particularly in matters dealing with the educational integrity of intercollegiate athletic programs. He also was instrumental in the formation of the College Football Association and served that organization as secretary-treasurer. Also on the national level, Father Joyce served on the Board of Visitors of the United States Naval Academy. He is the recipient of an Exceptional Service Medal from the U.S. Air Force. Retired since 1987, he holds honorary degrees from several institutions including Notre Dame and the University of South Carolina at Spartanburg, his hometown.
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Limestone
College From 1999-2003, Limestone College appeared in four straight NCAA Division II men's lacrosse national title games and won twice. www links: Limestone a lacross catalyst |
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Pete
Maravich Averaged NCAA-record 44.2 points over four seasons at Louisiana State (1966 to '70) and 24.2 in 10 years in the NBA.
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Marty
Marion The Octopus, six-time All-Star, won 1944 National League MVP award; led league shortstops in fielding percentage three times.
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Tim
Montgomery Holder of the men's 100m world record of 9.78 seconds, Mongomery switched to track & field when an injury prevented him from continuing to play football and baseball. In 2001 he was U.S. Outdoor Champion. He won a gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games running the second leg on the 4x100m relay team. Other accomplishments include the 4x100m relay gold medal at 1999 World Championships, the 1997 World Championships 100m bronze medal, and the 1996 4x100m relay Olympic silver medal. |
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Bud
Moore One of the most successful team owners in NASCAR history, Moore has recently sold the team, but stays on as a consultant.
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Stanley
Morgan Star running back, receiver and wingback at Tennessee (1973 to '76); played in four Pro Bowls with New England Patriots.
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Larry
Nance Won inaugural NBA Slam Dunk contest in 1984 as forward for Phoenix Suns; two-time All-Star had his number retired by Cleveland Cavaliers.
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Billy
O'Dell Holds Clemson mark for ERA (1.51) and strikeouts in a game (21); two-time major league All-Star (1958, '59) went 105-100 over 13 seasons.
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Cotton
Owens Named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers, Owens first made a name for himself in the early 1950s. Beginning his career on dirt tracks where he had over 100 wins, he continued this success in NASCAR Winston Cup competition. His accomplishments included winning 9 races, scoring 11 pole positions, 52 top-five and 84 top-10 finishes.
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David
Pearson Named Driver of the Century by Sports Illustrated, and second only to Richard Petty on NASCAR's all-time victory list, "The Silver Fox" had a career that spanned from 1960-1986 in which he won 105 races. Known as a tactician, Pearson would often hold back, until the final stages of the race when he would surge to the front of the pack for the win.
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Betsy
Rawls Won 55 LPGA events, including eight majors, from 1951 to '75; fifth on LPGA career win list and fifth in victories in majors.
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Jim
Rice Seven-time All-Star for the Boston Red Sox and 1978 American League MVP led league in home runs three times; retired in '89 with 382 homers.
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Woodruff High quarterback led Notre Dame to 12-0 record and 1988 national title.
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Jerry
Richardson When he graduated from Wofford College in 1958, Richardson was drafted by the Baltimore Colts where he won Rookie of the Year honors. Later he came back to Spartanburg, bought the first Hardees franchise in the country (which still stands on Kennedy St.) and over the next twenty years built a company that at its peak was not only the largest Hardees franchise in the country, but owned El Pollo Loco, Dennys and Canteen Food Service. Today Richardson devotes his full attention the Panthers.
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Al
Rosen All-Star third baseman four times; 1953 American League MVP with league-leading 43 homers, 145 RBIs.
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Donnie
Shell Signed by Pittsburgh Steelers as undrafted free agent out of South Carolina State in 1974; five-time Pro Bowl safety; member of All-time Black College Football Team. In
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Chad
Silvers As of 2003, Chad Silvers is a six-time National Champion and four-time World Champion arm wrestler. Currently (2003) ranked #1 in the United States and #2 in the world, at thirty years old Silvers has a bright future in a sport that considers 35 years of age to be an athlete's prime. www links: armsport.com |
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Chino
Smith Batted .423 with Negro League's New York Lincoln Giants (1924 to '31); also hit .423 in exhibition games against big leaguers.
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David
Thompson Considered one of the greatest collegiate basketball players of all time, Thompson was a three-time All-America and led North Carolina State to 1974 NCAA basketball title. Thompson played first for the Denver Nuggets from 1975-1982; then for the Seattle Supersonics from 1982-1984. He was voted the ABA rookie of the Year in 1976 and was the MVP of the All-Star Game in 1977, as well as 1979. In 1996 Thompson was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
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George
Webster Two-time All-America roverback at Michigan State; 1967 AFL Rookie of the Year with the Houson Oilers; three-time All-Pro.
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Gabe
Wilkins Professional Football - COWPENS, S.C. Wilkins played defensive end for the 1996 Super Bowl Championship Green Bay Packers. A four year starter at Gardner-Webb, Wilkins went to Broome High School in Spartanburg where, as a track star, he set a state record in the shot put, and an area and region mark in the discus. In 1997, he finished second among Packer defensive linemen with 50 tackles. In 1998, he signed as a free agent with the San Francisco 49ers.
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James
Worthy One of the all-time great small forwards, Worthy was on the University of North Carolina's 1982 NCAA championship team with Sam Perkins and fellow North Carolinian Michael Jordan
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