Rocks & Razorbacks podcast serves as a collection of stories from St. Andrew’s High and Middleton High
by Donna Jacobs | Contributing Writer
Podcasts. Today, everyone has their favorite. For the Rocks and Razorbacks (alumni of St. Andrew’s High School and Middleton High School, respectively), there’s now one to add to your playlist on YouTube.
Tim Fennell, Middleton High School Class of 1979, quickly realized that acquiring a “strong 30-second sound bite” for his upcoming documentary, Rocks and Razorbacks: When Your School Goes Away, was turning into a 30-minute opportunity. The concept for this documentary was born from Fennell’s learning of the upcoming demolition of C.E. Williams North Campus, which initially housed Middleton High School from 1970 until 2000, when the new West Ashley High School opened on West Wildcat Boulevard. (Check out the full story in the main feature on page 12.)
As the word began to spread about his idea, the opportunities for interviewing were exploding. Rocks and Razorbacks alumni reached out via Facebook comments, DMs, e-mails, and texts with fond memories and stories to tell. Wading through these hundreds of messages, Fennell knew the list would get long. It was becoming increasingly apparent that these great stories (and some not-so-great ones) from this period needed a permanent home in addition to the one-hour documentary he was planning. Enter YouTube.
Teaming with Neal Kinard, Middleton Class of ’86, local news legend Bill Sharpe, and Fennell’s brother Edward “Eddie” Fennell, a longtime reporter at The Post & Courier (both St Andrew’s High School Class of ’68), Fennell’s concept for the Rocks and Razorbacks podcast became a reality on YouTube.
Sharpe ushers viewers down memory lane with photographs and introductory commentary. In Episode 1, Fennell and Kinard interview Neal “Jimmy” Golden Jr., Principal of St. Andrew’s High School from 1973-1985. Episode 2 follows with Rusty Davis, Coach for Middleton High School from 1974-1989. Coach Davis handled junior varsity, later varsity football, and baseball.
Who’s up next on the podcast? Conversations with Edward Fennell and Bob Olsen, former Principal of St. Andrew’s High School, Teacher/Coach at Middleton, and former Principal at West Ashley High School, are coming in August. Future quests are lining up from that long list of alumni, teachers, coaches, and principals who have reached out to join the memory-making.
You can find the Rocks or Razorbacks podcast at https://youtu.be/70qZj8XJTX4?si=abU0N_wreY6L9mqU. Cue it up. Enjoy. And if you want
to tell your story, contact Tim Fennell
at rocks.and.razorbacks@gmail.com
