[You] couldnt find a better community to start a school [and] start a program and really create that excitement with, added head coach Brett Nichols, who played football for Hillcrest High School. The high school will open to ninth-graders in 2021, and Nichols will coach the seventh- and eighth-grade team at Fountain Inn Middle School this fall. 
"I've always loved played football and playing for a new team and building a new pillar of community is going to be great," Hilliad said. "Goal number one is going to be to have the most fun of any team in South Carolina," he said. "From the football side of it, what is so interesting to me is the way were phasing in and for me to be able to put 100 percent of my focus on the youngest group of guys were going to have in our program to start.". The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. "The location of it is about as perfect as it can be for me and my family," he said. "When youre coming into a new coaching opportunity and theres been a change, more times than not its for reasons that arent positive," Nichols said. 
A FEW YEARS AGO, MOST OF THE SOUNDS HEARD AROUND FOUNTAIN INN WERE THOSE OF CONSTRUCTION CREWS BUILDING A BRAND NEW HIGH SCHOOL. BUT ITS ALL NEW THIS GO AROUND FOR THE FOUNTAIN INN FURY, READY TO EMBARK ON THEIR FIRST VARSITY FOOTBALL SEASON IN THE SCHOOLS SECOND YEAR. Hes familiar with coaches and people that hes grown up with that now have children playing little league football. He said he's more than willing to accept the challenge. He played under both Steve Spurrier and Lou Holtz and says he learned a lot from his three seasons playing under Holtz. HE COULD MAKE PEOPLE BELIEVE IN THINGS AND WHAT WERE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH AS A GROUP AND AS A TEAM BETTER THAN ANYTHING IVE EVER BEEN AROUND. NICHOLS HAS COACHED IN DIFFERENT PLACES ACROSS THE CAROLINAS, BUT THIS IS HOME. He has connections with our recdepartments because hes played in those leagues.". What were doing right now is literally laying the foundation for the program.".
They can come watch us and honestly I think it makes them happy because a lot of [the players] were raised here.. 1998 - 2022 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.
"It's been very fun," sophomore Sean Smith said. The goal will be to have a Fountain Inn varsity team ready in time for the 2022 season. Deputy punched during search in Anderson Co. Senate group unveils bill to avoid repeat of Jan., SC deputies find 3 hand grenades during drug bust, Check your tickets: Someone in NC is a millionaire, Suspect in homicide investigation arrested in Asheville, Man charged after crash killed motorcycle thief he. WE WANT TO WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS AND BE AT THAT POINT AS FAST AS WE CAN GET THERE. He's confident that excitement is going to carry over to the football program.
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This is the first startup Greenville County high school in nearly fifty years. "I know the Fountain Inn community. "Hes familiar with athletics programs in our communities. THEYRE THE SOUNDS OF FOOTBALL SEASON GETTING CLOSER AND THE FOUNTAIN INN FURY IS READY TO WORK. BUT IF WE CAN GET FOCUSED ON THE LITTLE THING OF IMPROVING THATS HOW THE BIG GOALS ARE REACHED. Fountain Inn football team prepares for inaugural season. And every single bit of work that were putting in for it is how we do that., Theyre going to enjoy it, said Njoku. "Obviously I want them to be the best football players they can be, but I want them to gain the skills that are going to be necessary for them to be successful once football is over withbecause I think they go hand-in-hand.". "I played with them when I went to high school, and were looking to build on that build our brand and make them proud to play for Fountain Inn High School and be part of this community.". Lets go fight it out and see what we can do.. REPORTER: THIS FOUNTAIN INN TEAM HAS THAT BELIEF IN THEMSELVES. Nichols and players are grateful for the support of the community as they prepare to play their season opener on Aug. 19. All rights reserved. The Fountain Inn football team will play its inaugural season this year. Fountain Inn athletic director Robby Bell announced Nichols would be the first football coach in school history Monday on his Twitter account. Following a coaching legend at a football program is difficult. Its just us. No live or upcoming events currently scheduled, 644 Quillen Avenue, Fountain Inn, SC 29644, NFHS Network LLC NFHS Network is part of the CBS Sports Digital Network. The program will need to work hard to achieve its goals, but Nichols isn't above reminding players everyday why they come out to practice. REPORTER: THE FOUNTAIN INN COMMUNITY HAS A NEW TEAM TO RALLY AROUND THIS FALL WITH THE FOUNTAIN INN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM,SET TO PLAY IN ITS INAUGURAL SEASON.
THEYRE YOUNG, BUT THEY DONT WANT THAT TO DEFINE THEM. After his time at South Carolina he was an intern with the coaching staff at Furman for a season. ", "The fundamental building blocks are we work hard and we just have all the talent and potential in the world," sophomore Jacob Hilliard said. Nichols' wife, Elise, was born in Fountain Inn, and her mother lives in her childhood home in the city. The team will be young, made up of mostly freshman and sophomores, but this group is eager to give its community something to cheer about on Friday nights. City:Why Fountain Inn is the 2nd-fastest growing place in South Carolina. HES FROM SIMPSONVILLE AND HIS WIFE IS FROM FOUNTAIN INN. And continue to improve week in and week out. SEE WHAT WE CAN GET DONE. We're going to fight it out. GAMECOCKS. >> ITS BEEN VERY FUN. We want to obviously make them proud. AND CONTINUE TO IMPROVE WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT. "He could make people believe in things and what we're trying to accomplish as a group and as a team better than anything I've ever been around," Nichols said.Nichols and players are grateful for the support of the community as they prepare to play their season opener on Aug. REPORTER: FOUNTAIN INN WILL PLAY ITS INAUGURAL SEASON THIS YEAR UNDER THE DIRECTION OF HEAD COACH BRETT NICHOLS. "Once they produced the logo and put the helmet out there, the interest went up a lot," he said. "This community is hungry," Nichols said. The community has rallied around the group as well. Its an opportunity most high school athletes never get to experience: building a program from the ground up. FOUNTAIN INN, S.C. (WSPA) On a hot summer day in mid-June, at the newly formed Fountain Inn High School, the inaugural Fury football team breaks in the practice field. Were going to look a little different than most teams we play, said Nichols. We represent them and we take ownership in that, Nichols said. We want to be the best that we can be. But if we can get focused on the little thing of improving that's how the big goals are reached.". "The game is too hard, too difficult and youre asked to do a lot of things that arent very fun to not enjoy when you get to play. We're going to fight it out. 2022, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WYFF-TV. REPORTER: THE FURY WILL FACE SOME TOUGH OPPONENTS THIS YEAR, LIKE WREN AND POWDERSVILLE BUT NICHOLS SAYS THIS SEASON WONT -- SAYS THIS GROUP IS UP FOR THE CHALLENGE.
Especially being [the] first class, you know were going to have a bunch of camps ready for little kids and Im excited to just make an impact.. It's also a homecoming for the former Hillcrest and University of South Carolina preferred walk-on football player. Since graduating from Hillcrest in 2002, Nichols hasn't strayed too far from home. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, At least 21 homes damaged or destroyed by Texas wildfires, Worker killed after falling down smokestack at South, Blood coming from Florida condo leads police to 3, Secret Service turns over single message to Jan., The Rattler factor: What theyre saying about new, NBA player Miles Bridges charged with domestic violence, More area players selected as MLB Draft concludes, Spartanburg County Libraries Summer Reading and, Visit The Upcountry History Museum And Explore The, Retirement Coffee Talk Taxes In Retirement, The Southern Table Beautiful Garden Tablescapes, Brady Godfrey Different Ways To Get Protein, Worker killed after falling down smokestack, Blood coming from condo leads to horrid discovery, Secret Service turns over 1 message to Jan. 6 panel, Secret memo links citizenship question to apportionment, Back-to-school dates for Upstate SC, WNC, GA, Accused kidnapper shot, killed by NC police. He played under both Steve Spurrier and Lou Holtz and says he learned a lot from his three seasons playing under Holtz. I think its great that everyone can come out here as freshmen and sophomore and just play on varsity already and have that much more experience, said Hall. Body found behind Walmart in Greenville Co. But were going to line up and go play. Donning the navy, maroon and gray, they now set their sights on writing the teams first chapter at Fury stadium this fall. See what we can get done. ITS A FAMILIAR TIME OF YEAR FOR HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAMS, THE WANING WEEKS OF SUMMER PRACTICE WITH A FRESH SEASON FULL OF EXCITEMENT AND EXPECTATION RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. So is taking over a program that hasn't won many games in recent memory. THE TEAM IS YOUNG AND PLAYERS AND COACHES KNOW THEYLL ENCOUNTER SOME HURDLES IN THEIR FIRST YEAR, BUT IF THE TEAM GETS BETTER EVERY WEEK THEY BELIEVE -- CONTINUES TO WORK HARD AND IMPROVES EVERY WEEK, THIS SEASON WILL BE A SUCCESSFUL ONE. And continue to improve week in and week out. JULIA MORRIS IS IN FOUNTAIN INN. Theres a lot of good players that come from that community. ALWAYS GOT TO BE 100% IN EVERY REP AND EVERYTHING ELSE. Its going to be fun. Fountain Inn athletic director Robby Bell, Why Fountain Inn is the 2nd-fastest growing place in South Carolina, New Fountain Inn High School mascot and colors draw from segregated past, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Nowhe is in charge of the Fury, and he he wants to make sure the program is about more than football. >> WERE GOING TO FIGHT IT OUT. "He could make people believe in things and what we're trying to accomplish as a group and as a team better than anything I've ever been around," Nichols said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. >> IVE ALWAYS LOVED PLAYING FOOTBALL AND PLAYING FOR A NEW TEAM AND BUILDING A NEW PILLAR OF COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE GREAT. We hold ourselves accountable to be leaders out here, said sophomore lineman Jackson Njoku.
With that comes some challenges, though, as the Fury will be fielding a team made up solely of freshmen and sophomores. The Fury will be led by head coach Brett Nichols, who is from Simpsonville and played high school football at Hillcrest before going on to play at South Carolina. "They take pride it in it and we haven't even played the first snap on Friday night yet.
"We get to get into the weight room, get a little bigger, get a little stronger and always have to be 100 percent in every rep and everything else. Theres no building on what the last guy did. He also said if there's one thing he's learned about the Fountain Inn community, it's that excitement about where they live is not usually in short supply. Nichols acknowledged that it will be a challenge developing players from the middle school level this fall and building a program that Bell said should expect to be a Class AAA program by 2022. "Fountain Inn plays West Oak in its season opener on Aug. 19. >> WE GET TO BUILD FROM THE GROUND UP AND BUILD A NEW POWERHOUSE AND EVERYTHING ELSE. ", Recent changes:New Fountain Inn High School mascot and colors draw from segregated past. He speaks very well and hes got a good plan for what he sees Fountain Inn football becoming," Bell said. We want to win championships and be at that point as fast as we can get there. HE PLAYED HIGH SCHOOL BALL AT HILLCREST AND THEN WENT TO SOUTH CAROLINA, WHERE HE PLAYED UNDER LOU HOLTZ AND STEVE SPURRIER. Bell said the hire was a combination of Nichols' understanding of the area, as well as hisyouth and energy that will be needed to keep the number of players up for the young program. >> THE FUNDAMENTAL BUILDING BLOCKS ARE WE WORK HARD AND WE JUST HAVE ALL THE TALENT AND POTENTIAL IN THE WORLD, WE JUST HAVE TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER. TODAY, THOSE SOUNDS, A BIT DIFFERENT. See what we can get done. "They take pride it in it and we haven't even played the first snap on Friday night yet. "One of the main responsibilities with any head coach in any sport is to equip every young person they have in their program with everything they need to be successful in anything they do in life," he said. "Theres no fixing what the last guy did. His father still lives inthe Golden Strip in the same house in Simpsonville in which Nichols spent most of his childhood. The Fury will compete in Region 2-3A with the likes of Powdersville, Belton-Honea Path, Wren, Palmetto and Southside. REPORTER: FOUNTAIN INN PLAYS IT SEASON OPENER ON AUGUST 19 AGAINST WEST OAK. The Fury logo can be seen on full display as you enter the town that now has a team to call its own. THEY PRIDE IT IN IT AND WE HAVENT EVEN PLAYED THE FIRST SNAP ON FRIDAY NIGHT YET. The Fountain Inn football team will play its inaugural season this year. For Simpsonville native and Hillcrest High School graduate Brett Nichols, the Fountain Inn High School football coaching job offers a unique challenge: He'll have to build a program from the ground up. "We just have to put it all together. "We get to get into the weight room, get a little bigger, get a little stronger and always have to be 100 percent in every rep and everything else. And were not going to use that as an excuse or crutch. Copyright 2022 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. >> COACH HOLTZ IS LIKE EVERYBODY SAW ON ESPN, YOU GOT A GOOD TASTE OF WHO HE IS. 2022 www.greenvilleonline.com. EVEN THOUGH ITS A YOUNG GROUP, MADE UP MOSTLY OF FRESHMAN AND SOPHOMORES, THEYRE EAGER TO GIVE THEIR COMMUNITY SOMETHING TO CHEER ABOUT ON FRIDAY NIGHTS. 19. "This community is hungry," Nichols said. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Im excited. "I've always loved played football and playing for a new team and building a new pillar of community is going to be great," Hilliad said. 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Theyll have juniors next year, and seniors the year after that. ""The fundamental building blocks are we work hard and we just have all the talent and potential in the world," sophomore Jacob Hilliard said. We want to win championships and be at that point as fast as we can get there. "The Fury will be led by head coach Brett Nichols, who is from Simpsonville and played high school football at Hillcrest before going on to play at South Carolina. WE GET TO GET INTO THE WEIGHT ROOM, GET A LITTLE BIGGER, GET A LITTLE STRONGER AND TRYING TO GET TO THE VARSITY LEVEL. Just coming ready to work, said sophomore running back, defensive back and kicker Jeffrey Hall. The Fashion Deals You Need from Nordstroms Anniversary Sale, We Tried Dyson's New Airwrap and the Results Were Surprising, See the Best Home, Fashion and Travel Deals from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2022.
>> THIS COMMUNITY IS HUNGRY. Fountain Inn High School began classes in the 2021-2022 school year, but the football team will begin play for the first time this fall. "We just have to put it all together.". Hespent time as a volunteer assistant coach at Hillcrest, while also serving as a assistant at Brevard College and North Greenville before signing on at Gardner-Webb, where he spent the past six seasons, ending his run as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Fountain Inn plays West Oak in its season opener on Aug. 19. But if we can get focused on the little thing of improving that's how the big goals are reached. "Brett is a guy who is young, energetic. The team will be young, made up of mostly freshman and sophomores, but this group is eager to give its community something to cheer about on Friday nights. "It's been very fun," sophomore Sean Smith said.
