Spartanburg Day School Brings Back Football Program After Decades
Spartanburg, South Carolina, is a town buzzing with excitement as Spartanburg Day School prepares to bring back their football program that was last active during Ronald Reagan’s era as president. They are readying themselves to leap back into the football fray, with plans to field a junior varsity team in 2025 and hit the varsity schedule in full gear by 2026.
A Headmaster’s Excitement, A Town’s Anticipation
“We are very excited that the path to varsity football we set out to develop is coming to fruition,” remarks Dave Skeen, the school’s headmaster, who has every faith in the teacher-coach, Patrick Moffitt. Moffitt’s qualifications are undoubtedly impressive. A former football coach at St. Andrews School in Middletown, Delaware, Patrick Moffitt also shone as the quarterback for Williams College, contributing significantly as a three-year starter. His excitement to develop the football roster at Spartanburg Day is palpable.
The Journey of Building the Football Program
The seeds of revival took root in May 2024 when the school hired Moffitt, spearheading the formation of a middle school team. The Griffins, as the school team is known, debuted this past season and summited an impressive 3-3, scoring wins over St. Joseph’s and Southside Christian, playing two games each alongside Christ Church Episcopal School. Already part of the South Carolina Independent School Association for other sports activities, the school now stands ready to let its football program make its mark in the same organization.
Legacy in Sports
Spartanburg Day School, established in 1957, has long had a precedent of producing athletes of caliber. The school’s baseball team, for instance, secured back-to-back state championships in 2001 and 2002. But perhaps its most accomplished alumnus is none other than the New Orleans Pelicans’ forward, Zion Williamson. He commanded the school’s basketball team to three straight SCISA state championships from 2016-18 before making his mark as the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft after a single season at Duke.
Looking Ahead
The Griffins’ last victory came with the boys’ basketball state championship trophy in 2022. But with the advent of the football program’s revival, Spartanburg Day’s landscape of athletic achievements seems poised to diversify. The school’s community eagerly anticipates this new chapter, a throwback to a football legacy that, previously, experienced its golden era during Reagan’s presidency. Now, under the astute guidance of coach Patrick Moffitt and headmaster Dave Skeen, Spartanburg Day School is ready for the football pitch once more.
