Columbia – For almost four decades, High School Sports Report has celebrated high school football in the state of South Carolina with its Media Day. The event has normally been held just a few days after the start of fall practice as part of the countdown to the upcoming sesaon.
The most recent edition came on Sunday at the University of South Carolina’s Jerri and Steve Spurrier Indoor Practice Facility, and HSSR wants to thank Gamecock head coach Shane Beamer for allowing for the use of the facility.
Many head coaches made the trip with their players, who are interviewed by members of the media as well as have their photos taken. Some of the head coaches are veterans of the media day while many are just in their first or second years as a head coach. One, Silver Bluff head coach De’Angelo Bryant, attended the media day as a player for the Bulldogs two decades ago.
HSSR spoke with most of the coaches in attendance on Sunday about their feelings on the event.
SHANE GRIFFIN CENTRAL
I think this is very special. I really do appreciate what the High School Sports Report does for our kids and the football community. Our kids need all of the support and coverage they can get, and you guys do a good job doing that.
DE'ANGELO BRYANT SILVER BLUFF
Any time that these young men can get exposure, not just for themselves, but for the great representation o f the school, it truly means a lot to the program and the community, to get that exposure, to get that experience more than anything.
I'm really glad that (HSSR publisher) Billy (Baker) is continuing to do this. I've been getting an opportunity to experience it as a coach, but I got to experience this 20 years ago as a player as well. “It's something that’s always been great, and we look forward to coming to it every year.
ADAM HOLMES GRAY COLLEGIATE
It's an opportunity for them to get out and see some other players that are here in this great state of South Carolina. This is a day where it always starts ramping up. We've been in camp a couple of days and they realize that football season is here. To let them come out here, get a little exposure, some guys who have really been working hard on your team. You have a lot of seniors who've been in your program three to four years, so it's good for these guys to come out and get recognized by you guys.
JAMES MARTIN BLYTHEWOOD
Like anything else, it just gives the players some exposure to be here. To be able to come on USC's campus and for them to host it is special for the kids on top of it. Also, for our community to be able to come down and represent ourselves through our school and our community is an honor.
STEPHEN BURRIS LAMAR
This is a special opportunity to get our program in front of the eyes of a lot of people around the state. Class a football kind of goes overlooked until the playoffs or the state championship. game, so to get our kids around some other well-known programs around the state, just to meet with some other coaches and their friends is good. They all know each other now through social media, so it's a great opportunity to showcase all of the good things going on with Lamar. We really appreciate you guys doing it.
BRIAN RIMPF CAMDEN
This is great for the players. It's a really good experience for them The ones that are going to be playing after high school, they're going to be doing this more. It's really awesome for them to get out here and see guys from all around the state, have their photos taken, to be interviewed. The kids like exposure. It's a big part of the recruiting process, and you guys surely help with that.
LEROY COLLIER MCCORMICK
I think they're enjoying themselves. This is great exposure for all of the kids. Four seniors and one junior.
GREAT FALLS BRIAN KANE
It's a great Idea to get all of the top players here together in a room so they converse, become friendly with one another. Eventually some of these guys might be teammates with one another on a college team, so having the chance to meet, converse, exchange numbers, exchange twitter handles, talk to one another, build a little bit of community, makes it a great thing to do.
KEN FLOYD A.C. FLORA
This is good for the guys to get out and get a little exposure, meet some of the best talent in the state, some of their counterparts. It's always a joy.
DEMERTIUS DAVIS FAIRFIELD CENTRAL
It's a good deal. It gives some country folk from Winnsboro, South Carolina, the chance to come and see some of the other players in the state, and kind of get recognized and be seen, things of that nature. Any exposure you get nowadays is good exposure.
VICTOR FLOYD CHESTER
This is huge, it's a great idea. I'm sure every state does it. in some shape, form or fashion. Billy does a super job putting this together for kids. Any type of publicity, notoriety or recognition that they can get is always a plus. Our kids are real excited. They enjoy coming out here and taking pictures with one another., meet and talk with other players, so it's a huge plus for the state all the way around.
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