Erskine Flying Fleet football

History

Erskine football started in 1896. It was discontinued in 1951. The period from 1917 to 1921 brought most of the program's success, including athlete Dode Phillips. During those seasons they have wins against Wofford, Presbyterian, South Carolina, Clemson, and the Citadel. It was during a game in 1929 that Erskine took on the name "The Flying Fleet". They were given that name by a Greenville reporter who was blown away by their passing performance in the game. They had previously been known as the "Seceders". On October 18, 1948 when they defeated Florida State 14–6. It was only a couple more years until the Flying Fleet ended their football program in 1951.

In 2018, Erskine College announced return of the football program for the 2020 season competing in NCAA Division II.

Conference affiliations

In 1915, Erskine began intercollegiate football and competed for the state title with other members of the South Carolina Intercollegiate Athletic Association. In 1925, Erskine joined the ranks of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association. In 1939, Erskine was a founding member of the South Atlantic Conference, which was for "small liberal arts schools that do not place undue emphasis upon athletics." The conference's founding members were Erskine, Newberry, Oglethorpe, Presbyterian, and Wofford. They added Rollins and Stetson in 1940, and then Mercer in 1941 before it disbanded due to several programs discontinuing football. The schools maintained membership in the S.I.A.A. while also competing for the South Atlantic title. Erskine was also a member of the South Carolina Little Four alongside Newberry, Presbyterian, and Wofford. The "Little Four" informally was naming champions in the period before the war as well.

Seasons

• = Interim head coach, † = Conference champions, ‡ = Conference co-champions, ♯ = Little Four champions, ♮ = Little Four co-champions

References

1. (November 15, 2018). "Shap Boyd Officially Named Head Football Coach".
2. Michael Lananna. (February 27, 2021). "Erskine makes history, plays first football game in 70 years — and gets the win". The State.
3. (December 9, 2011). "A Proud History of Athletics". Erskinecollegesports.com.
4. Scott Adamson. (May 27, 2008). "Erskine College tries to gauge interest in restarting football program". Independent Mail.
5. (November 2, 1929). "Parkinson Counts Thrice As Erskine Runs 40 to 6 Victory Through Indians". Greenville News.
6. "What are the Flying Fleet?".
7. (December 24, 2018). "Coolest college helmets in SC? Erskine football relaunches program dormant since 1951".
8. Sapakoff, Gene. (October 27, 2016). "Sapakoff: The night tiny Erskine College beat Florida State in football".
9. "1921 Erskine The Flying Fleet Schedule and Results - College Football at Sports-Reference.com".
10. Alishan. (December 9, 2011). "A Proud History of Athletics".
11. (August 18, 1915). "Erskine to Open September 15th". Abbeville Press and Banner.
12. (August 29, 1913). "Newberry Plans for Athletics". Newberry Weekly Herald.
13. (December 13, 1924). "Palmetto Members". Greenville News.
14. (November 21, 1939). "Hose Take South Atlantic Title". Index-Journal.
15. (December 22, 1940). "Mercer Added to South Atlantic Athletic Group". Tampa Tribune.
16. (January 26, 1942). "Fewer Warmup Games For Football Big Fellows Seen For Next Fall". Pensacola News Journal.
17. https://erskinesports.com/documents/2024/8/29/EC_Gameday_guide_Game1_2024_WIP.pdf {{Bare URL PDF. (July 2025)