The Pop Warner program is the largest and oldest youth football, cheer, and dance program in the world. It is named for the legendary football coach, Glenn "Pop" Warner, who coached at the University of Georgia, Cornell, Pitt, Stanford, and Temple, compiling a won-loss record of 319-106-32. What many local readers don't know is that Pop Warner made an annual trip to Williamsburg County to hunt, beginning in 1914 and returning each year for at least 15 years.
On December 1, 1928, Stanford defeated Army 26-0 in New York. Following that game, Coach Warner made his way to Kingstree for his annual hunting trip. Laura Hemingway caught up with him on the street in Kingstree and interviewed him for a piece she published in The News & Courier on December 8, 1928. Here are portions of that article:
"Glenn (Pop) Warner, football coach of Leland-Stanford U, whose team conquered Army last Saturday in New York was scheduled to reach Williamsburg hunting fields Monday, but surprised his friends here by suddenly appearing upon the streets this morning. He came down with Dr. R.B. Waite of Springville, NY, whose guest he is at Dr. Waite's hunting lodge at Taft, 15 miles below Kingstree... .
"Mr. Warner is, in fact, no stranger to Kingstree. He has several close friends here with whom he has spent many leisure hours. Among these are B.A. Brown, whose guest the coach has been on many occasions. Another is Dr. Jack McCullough with whom Mr. Warner shared a room while on a hunting trip in Williamsburg woods.
The famous coach has been coming to this county for 14 years. It was in this direction he turned his face following the "let down" of big games during these Falls. Feeling the need of relaxation after his mighty triumph over the Army, he has again sought the low country hunting fields of South Carolina for rest and recuperation.
"'I have been coming here fourteen years," said the coach, "and welcomed this opportunity while east to return here and renew old acquaintances.'
"The visitor's expression lost every trace of fatigue as he launched into the subject of bird hunting in this part of the state. 'It is better sport here than in California,' he claims, 'because the quail found here are superior in certain ways to those of my home state. Out there we have the topknot blue quail, and they won't stand much for the dogs. The dogs add materially to the pleasure of the hunt down here in South Carolina. It is great sport, and I find I am always benefitted physically after a trip here.'
"When asked what kind of shot he claims to be, his eyes twinkled as he replied, 'Oh, I am just a dub (an awkward, unskilled person) so far as shooting is concerned, but I do not really care about that. It is the sport I enjoy, but Mr Waite is a wonderful shot.'
"Mr. Warner in years past brought his own dogs down with him, but since living such a distance from the state, he has decided it is too much bother. He has no trouble finding dogs for there are plenty of sportsmen around here who are glad to lend to the visitor, and Dr. Waite keeps a number of dogs on his preserve, also.
"'Pop' admits he came to South Carolina to hunt quail, but it is easy to see that his heart is on the gridiron. 'You might say,' he informed, 'that I am sort of familiar with the South. I did my first coaching at the University of Georgia in '95 and '96. From there I went to Cornell, and then took charge of my Indians. I have been often to Charleston while on my visits to South Carolina, and I have found it an interesting old city full of historic interest. I think it is much like New Orleans in Old World charm.
"When asked if he would accept the invitation given to by the Citadel-Clemson cadets to attend their game tomorrow, Coach Warner replied that he had not received the telegram due to his leaving New York earlier than he had expected, but he had read the telegram in the morning's paper, and he regretted very much that prior arrangements would make it impossible for him to accept. 'I certainly appreciate the invitation, though,' he added.
Laura Hemingway then asked him about the influence college athletics had on the athletes' future careers. He noted that there was much controversy about physical training being added to the mental training of university life, but noted, "The World War proved how unfit our young men were physically, and our institutions are doing great work in helping develop them through the medium of athletics. Athletics act as a stimulus to this improvement."
He also noted that almost every student at Stanford was involved in some sort of athletic pursuit and that it was a recognized part of the curriculum to play football, baseball or basketball, noting that the varsity football team had at least 50 men in reserve drawn from students who were participating in these athletic activities.
Hemingway's article continues, "Without laying claim to any special credit for his team, he casually discussed the contention held that the long trip out to the California coast where so many of the intersectional games have been played had proved harmful to the eastern players because of the open climate. 'So when our boys hopped on the train for their long trip east, we did not know how the trip was going to affect their playing,' he said. 'We think it helped them, due probably to the relaxation they found during the trip across the states.'
"Mr. Warner says this game with the Army was the first of a two-game arrangement, whereby the Army is to go out to California to play the Stanford team during the Christmas holidays of 1929.
"Mr. Warner will be the guest of Dr. Waite at Taft for a little over a fortnight. After that he plans to run down into Florida for a brief stay prior to going to New Orleans to attend the national convention of football coaches on December 20. He is also planning to see the game between the Georgia Tech and the University of California in Pasadena on New Year's Day.
"The far-famed coach is an athlete in appearance, and while in Kingstree was 'one of the boys' among local fans."
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