BLUE RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL AND SOUTH CAROLINA SHRINE BOWL
HEAD COACH DEAD AT 57

Dateline:           November 29, 2007 ...  Spartanburg, South Carolina

Contact Name:  

Ron Long - Athletic Director – ad@shrine-bowl.com

K. Joe Sessoms – PR Chairman -  publicity@shrine-bowl.com

SBOC Contact Phone:  800-648-2695 or 1-803-547-0300 

Fax: 803-547-9545
Web Address: www.shrine-bowl.com

Ron Long, Athletic Director of the Shrine Bowl of the Carolina’s announced today that Coach David Farnham, Head Coach of Blue Ridge High School of Greer, South Carolina and the South Carolina Sandlappers Shrine Bowl Team for 2007 has died.  He was 57.  Long added that “Coach Farnham had been bothered by headaches and dizziness throughout Blue Ridge's memorable season, during which the Tigers won their first seven games and rose to No. 3 in Class AAA”.  

He was diagnosed with cancer during the last week in October and began undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

Farnham, who was in his fourth season as Blue Ridge's coach, had been chosen to coach the South Carolina team in the 2007 Shrine Bowl. He attended the Tigers' second-round playoff game against Greenville at Sirrine Stadium Nov. 9, received a standing ovation from the Blue Ridge crowd when he appeared on the sideline and was presented his Shrine Bowl jacket in a pregame ceremony.

Long in an earlier announcement said, “Coach Farnham named George Harrelson, an assistant Coach at Blue Ridge High School to be an assistant Coach on the Sandlappers squad.  He added “Coach Harrelson is a former head coach of Riverside and J.L. Mann high schools and he has been added to the Shrine Bowl coaching staff to fill-in for Coach Farnham, NOT to replace Coach Farnham.  Coach Harrelson's responsibility for the Shrine Bowl will be coaching the quarterbacks.”

Coach Reggie Kennedy, head coach of Orangeburg Wilkinson High School in Orangeburg was recently named Acting Head Coach of the South Carolina Sandlappers.

Dave Farnham, was a Travelers Rest High graduate, started at center for Clemson University in 1970 and 1971. He was a head coach for 26 years, also leading teams at Westminster, Palmetto, Carolina and Wade Hampton. He served as an assistant at Riverside and Greer. He was the offensive coordinator on Greer's 2003 state championship team.

Farnham is survived by his wife, Susan, and six children. His son, Jamie, had been an assistant coach under his father..  Long added, “Farnham had been bothered by headaches and dizziness throughout Blue Ridge's memorable season, during which the Tigers won their first seven games and rose to No. 3 in Class AAA”.

Shrine Bowl Board of Governors Chairman, Billy Benfield, said “The Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas’ extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of Coach Farnham, his Blue Ridge Tiger football team and his many friends.”

END