Re: While Browsing Around Online I Found This Little Gem

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Re: Eddis Freeman -bio from CU HOF induction

Jul 11, 2017, 1:06 PM

Eddis Freeman
Football, Basketball, Golf; 1943-46

Eddis "Fireball" Freeman lettered at Clemson in three different sports, still one of just 15 athletes in Tiger history to do so. The Greenville, SC native earned eight letters combined at Clemson in football, basketball, and baseball. He lettered from 1943 to 1946 in football, 1944 to 1946 in basketball, and 1945 in baseball.

Freeman played in the 1942 Shrine Bowl in Charlotte, and was named All-State and All-Southern in high school football, as he played for Greenville High School at a modest 135 pounds. He attended Greenville High at the same time as Clemson SID legend Bob Bradley.

Freeman started at the end position at a meager 150 pounds in his four years at Clemson. He was also picked to the South Carolina All-State football team at Clemson. Freeman was a teammate of fellow inductee Chip Clark and former Tiger great and former Clemson President Phil Prince.

On the hardwood, Freeman led the 1945 team with an 11.1 scoring average, as he played three seasons under Rock Norman. He set the freshman free throw percentage mark at Clemson as well.

After his playing days, Freeman coached more than 22 years at Chester, Greer, Gaffney, and Hillcrest High Schools. His teams won three state championships in both basketball and golf. Freeman was the coach for Upstate All-Star teams in both football and basketball.

He later became the first athletic director of Mauldin High School in Greenville in 1973, where he served for one year.

Freeman died of a heart attack one year later at the age of 50 on June 11, 1974.

Gil Gillivan, the former sports editor at the Greenville Piedmont, remembered Freeman. "He was a low-keyed, witty, conversationalist. He could be equally enthusiastic about persons and situations which impressed him. He was explosive and tough, but in private, he seemed like a mild person who would be slow to get angry."

After his death, Mauldin High School dedicated the home football field as Freeman Field, "because of his love for the Mauldin community, his exemplary spirit of good sportsmanship, his strong dedication to high school athletics, and his love for Mauldin High School," stated former principal Marilyn Koon in a pre-game ceremony. "We hope that in the future those who come to participate on Freeman Field will develop in themselves those qualities of character to which Mr. Freeman dedicated his life."

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Very few players before WW2 were over 200#. I played HS football in 1936-'37 & '38 at a whopping 125 - 130 #. If there was a player approaching 200#, we called him "Battleship". Out football field was mostly sand interspersed with a few weeds. When I got into the game (that was when all of the other ends were injured) I knew the next play by our opponent was coming my way. We were playing a team with the RB weighing about 195#. We had already received word he was a dirty player. Sure enough, when I went in at right end, here came that big bruiser. Just before he got to me, he leaned down, got a hand full of sand and threw it in my face. He ran into me and pushed me back about ten yards. I felt like I had been hit by bulldozer. James and Leland were playing right tackle and guard, both weighing about 165#. They told me he would most likely come my way again and for me to play out wide so the bruiser would have to cut inside. They were going to converge to the right and meet him head on. There he came, he cut inside and James and Leland nailed him. I, and several others. went over and jumped on the pile. There were moans and groans coming from the bottom of the pile. James and Leland were working him over. The officials were slow to break up the pile and I have always believed they were aware of what was going on. At least there was a big smile on their faces. From that point on, the old bruiser was no longer a factor in the game. Dang, that was fun !!!!!

While Browsing Around Online I Found This Little Gem

Interesting to see 1 Junior and no Seniors