Best S.C. Athletes of All Time

One year to go. Sometime in December 2009, if all goes as planned, the Pee Dee town of Bishopville will unveil its long-awaited tribute to perhaps its most famous athlete — no, scratch that; its most famous citizen — Felix “Doc” Blanchard, known to generations of football fans as “Mr. Inside” when he was a Heisman Trophy-winning fullback at Army from 1944-46.

Earl Wooten died in 2006, but his exploits on the baseball field and basketball court live on among those in the Upstate who witnessed his excellence.

In April 2007, Cherokee County’s heart turned purple. When the Minnesota Vikings selected Sidney Rice with the 44th pick of the NFL draft, the nearly 13,000 residents in his hometown of Gaffney became converts.

Twenty-five years later, Daphne Donnelly still fumes about the game — and national championship — that got away.

In four decades since Ronnie Lamb starred for the McCormick Panthers (now Chiefs), his high school sports achievements have attained mythic proportions here. His legend is more than touchdowns and points, though.

KING DIXON Laurens native starred at South Carolina from 1956-58. After graduation, he built a distinguished 22-year career in the Marines, retiring with rank of lieutenant colonel while earning the Bronze Star, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star. Returned to USC to serve as athletics director from 1988-92.

Kevin Long still remembers something Clarence Williams told him when the two met as freshman running backs at USC in 1973: The Gamecocks football program had never had a 1,000-yard rusher in a season.

MYRTLE BEACH — Buddy Gore still can imagine the Clemson huddle. Tell you whose teammates’ hands he was holding and where the rest of them were standing.

By his own admission, Danny Ford was never a kicking guru. But he knew others who were. In the summer of 1979, the then-Clemson assistant coach was sent over to watch the Tigers’ prospects camp, in particular a high school junior from Cheraw who was punting on the soccer field behind Fike Field House. With Ford was former Clemson great Fred Cone, who had punted in the NFL in the 1950s.

Raymond Priester grew up in Allendale County as the oldest of 10 children. “Numero uno,” he says these days with a laugh.

Maybe it was six months of playing the game left-handed. Or maybe it was that summer at the Harbour Town Golf Links bag drop, where he was coaxed from his shell by a dose of adult responsibility. Or perhaps it was inheriting the most God-awful golf program in the ACC.

Richland County’s athletic tradition includes athletes who have won Olympic gold medals, baseball Cy Young Awards, Super Bowl rings, NBA players of the year and college All-American honors.

Something wasn’t right, the old coach remembers thinking that night, some 40 years ago. Still, in the heat of competition, William J. “Lefty” Johnson didn’t stop to consider what he was seeing. He reacted.

Syvelle Newton is taking on yet another role at Williams Brice Stadium. Two years after ending a Gamecocks football career that saw him play quarterback, running back and wide receiver, the 23-year-old Newton is making a go at a music career. He is selling his 11-track CD at the stadium, and one of the songs is being played during USC games.

Driving in on S.C. 6, visitors to this quiet Calhoun County town are greeted by a green Department of Transportation sign announcing the home of the Calhoun County High Saints, 2000-01 state basketball champions.

Funny, isn’t it, how a life can turn on a moment? Not just one life, but dozens, hundreds, even thousands, that moment spreading in a ripple effect across a town, a county, a state — ultimately, a football-crazed nation.

Life has been good to Katrina McClain. Her remarkable gift for putting a ball through a hoop granted her multiple trips around the world and unparalleled success as a three-time Olympic medal winner.

For a few minutes that day in 1970, Charlie Waters envisioned himself catching passes from legendary quarterback Bart Starr, donning Green Bay’s classic green-and-gold uniform.

For once a coach’s rhetoric did not miss the target. Joe Morrison got this one right. Say hello to Harold Green, one of the so-called blue-chip prospects who did not disappoint.

Tall and lean, Banks McFadden hardly presented the physical picture of perhaps the state of South Carolina’s greatest all-around athlete.

One day on Sandy Island in Georgetown County: The Griot took stock of the young faces surrounding her. For the Gullah, this time was cherished. A storyteller had arrived and the community’s children anxiously awaited the tale she would share.

Everett “Cotton” Owens got the racing bug before he went off to World War II. It took awhile to itch, but when it did, Owens would scratch it for the next 35 years.

They still talk about the play years later. The play that showed people Alex Barron was special. In a single, electrifying moment, all of the 6-foot-7, 285-pound Barron’s athleticism, quickness, strength and dominance were on display. In a heartbeat, he changed the tone and direction of a game.

PHILADELPHIA — A street corner in Philly. You know, the street corner everyone from Philly thinks of when they ask, “Are you from Philly?”