Bamberg Ehrhardt football built from within

By Neill Kirkpatrick

Special to the HSSR

Bamberg – In 1979 Sister Sledge came out with the song “We are Family” and the Pittsburgh Pirates adopted it as their mantra for the year but the song may be a better fit for the football coaching staff at Bamberg Ehrhardt as most of the staff has either played for the Red Raiders or are from the area.

Head Coach Corey Crosby said “All my coaches are great. I built a staff where I didn’t want everybody to be the same. Each one brings a different strength to the program and they know the kids from a young age and they have watched them develop. They have all been with me for a while and I wouldn’t be where I am at without them.”

Travis Wilson has been with the program for a long time coaching the defensive line and being the defensive coordinator. Coach said he is tough on the kids but fair and they respond to him and what he is teaching.

Willie Carter came from Blackville Hilda with coach Crosby four years ago and is also the head basketball coach while Greg Fanning came to Bamberg two years ago and is the teams offensive coordinator. He has put his stamp on the offense.

The rest of the staff consist of Terrel Haynes, Marcus Cann, Charles Kelly and Thomas Williams.

Coach Crosby has also put his stamp on the program as he has gone 31-8/ 12-1 in his three seasons at the helm with two region championships and a lower state final’s appearance. Prior to his return home he went 9-3 at Blackville Hilda.

“I wanted to establish toughness and accountability when I took over the program. I have been around a lot of great coaches and have learned a lot. We wanted to make sure that the kids knew they are not entitled to anything. We have to earn what we get and you have work every year to get where you want to be at the end of the season,” said coach.

Coach continued, “Every team is different and you have to be able to make changes with each one. You need to find out what that team does well and hone in on that. You also have to work to get better on the weak parts of your game.”

One thing that coach impresses upon his team is you have to put in the work off the field, in the community and in the classroom to achieve the goals you set and to show that you. He also talks about his final two years as a player for Bamberg Ehrhardt where the Red Raiders suffered through a couple of 2-8 seasons.

Coach said the memory of those years drive him to this day to be better tomorrow than he was today. He does not want his players to go through that type of season. He also jokingly said that he is hard to work for but his coaches understand his moods.



“I told our kids and it is what we say around here, ‘Leave the program better than you found it.’ You can only do that if you put in the work everyday and pay attention to the little things,” coach said.