Dode Phillips

Dode Phillips
Biographical details
Born(1900-01-02)January 2, 1900
Bradley, South Carolina
DiedDecember 29, 1965(1965-12-29) (aged 65)
Due West, South Carolina
Playing career
Football
1917–1921Erskine
Baseball
1918–1921Erskine
1923–1924Anderson Electricians
(Carolina League)
1925Greenwood Emeralds
(Carolina League)
1926Reading Keystones
(International League)
1928Durham Bulls
(Piedmont League)
1929Columbia Comers
(South Atlantic League)
Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate
Position(s)Halfback, Third baseman
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1922–1925Boys HS (SC)
1926–1927Erskine
1928–1936Moultrie HS (GA)
1939–1941Erskine (assistant)
1941 (midseason)Erskine
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1926–1928Erskine
1928–1937Moultrie HS (GA)
1942–1944Erskine
1944–1947SCHSL (director of physical education)
1947–1948Erskine[1]
Head coaching record
Overall3–14–1
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
All-Southern (1921)
Honorable Mention All-American (1921)
Service to Sports Award presented by Atlantic Coast Conference Sportswriters Association (1958)
South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame (1960)
NAIA Hall of Fame (1965)
Erskine Athletics Hall of Fame (1982)

David Gardiner "Dode" Phillips III (January 2, 1900 – December 29, 1965) was an American football player and coach.[2] He coached high school in Anderson, South Carolina and then his alma mater.[3] He also played several years of minor league baseball before committing to coaching full-time at Moultrie High School in Georgia.[4] Moultrie High won the south Georgia title in 1928.[5] Phillips worked for NBC WFBC as a sports analyst and color commentator in 1937 and 1938 before returning to the sideline as an assistant for Jakie Todd at Erskine.[6] In 1941, Todd was appointed as chief of the state pardon and parole board. Phillips took over and coached Erskine for the final three games of the season.[7]

In 1950, a pool of sportswriters named him the best athlete of the first half of the 20th century in South Carolina.[8] Phillips played for the Erskine Flying Fleet of Erskine College. He was inducted to the school's sports hall of fame.[9][10] Some writers picked him All-Southern in 1921.[11] Walter Camp included him as an Honorable Mention All-American halfback in 1921.[12] In 1965, just before his death, Phillips was selected to be admitted to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Hall of Fame.[13][14]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Erskine Seceders (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1926–1927)
1926 Erskine 1–7 0–4 T–23rd
1927 Erskine 2–4–1 1–2–1
Erskine Flying Fleet (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1941 (interim))
1941 Erskine 0–3 0–2
Erskine: 3–14–1 1–8–1
Total: 3–14–1

References

  1. ^ "Dode Phillips, John McMillan to HeadErskine's Enlarged Program", Greenville News, Greenville, SC, p. 13, April 13, 1947
  2. ^ "Erskine Memorial Honors Immortal Dode Phillips". Herald-Journal. January 20, 1967.
  3. ^ Woody, Howard (June 10, 2003). South Carolina Postcards, Volume IX:: Anderson County. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738515335 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Hamer, Fritz P.; Daye, John (November 9, 2009). A History of College Football in South Carolina: Glory on the Gridiron. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781614232933 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ Nelson, Jon (August 11, 2011). Georgia High School Football: Peach State Pigskin History. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781625842299 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ "Broadcast from G.A.R. Encampment At Madison, Wis., is Scheduled", Greenville News, Greenville, SC, p. 14, September 8, 1937
  7. ^ "Names That Make News", Greenville News, Greenville, SC, p. 9, October 29, 1941
  8. ^ Ernie Trublano (December 7, 2009). South Carolina Sports Legends. p. 35. ISBN 9781439637746.
  9. ^ "Hall of fame to include Abbeville County natives". The Index-Journal: 11. October 11, 1982. Retrieved September 1, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  10. ^ "Erskine College - Hall of Fame".
  11. ^ "Scribes Are Finding Material Plentiful For All-Star Machines". Atlanta Constitution. November 29, 1921. p. 12. Retrieved March 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  12. ^ "'Red' Roberts Is Only Southerner On Camp's First All-Star Team", Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, GA, p. 14, December 21, 1921
  13. ^ "Erskine Memorial Honors Immortal Dode Phillips", Spartanburg Herald-Journal, Spartanburg, SC, p. 7, January 29, 1967
  14. ^ "Hall of Fame - National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics".