Blue Hose Defeat Newberry To Win The Bronze Derby

CLINTON -- All good things must come to an end is adage that has been passed around for as long as anyone can remember, but when it comes to the Bronze Derby, that adage needs to be retired, not the Derby itself.Amid a sea of red on the visitor's side and a wall of blue on the home side, the Bronze Derby between Newberry and Presbyterian was played for the 60th time Saturday (95th meeting all-time) at Crocker Field, and the Blue Hose came away with the 10-0 win in what might be the last time the schools play.The Blue Hose finish the regular season with a 7-4 overall record, while Newberry suffered its first loss and fell to 10-1. The Indians came into the contest averaging over 33 points per game but were held to 97 yards of total offense on 48 plays.The Blue Hose will be moving from Division II to Division I-AA next season, at least temporarily putting the rivalry on hold. Schedules through 2008 are already set, so it will be at least two years and perhaps longer. However, reaction to the possible end of the rivalry was mixed among some fans, coaches and players.Advertisement "It is unfortunate that the rivalry is ending, but we will be renewing rivalries with other schools that we had when I was playing," said Alan Smith of Greenville, captain of the 1977 PC team and current fund director for the Scotsman Club. "We will be adding Furman, Wofford and the Citadel, and I wish Newberry could move with us. When they do, we will be glad to get it going again."Newberry wide receiver Charles Brandon said he hopes the rivalry can pick back up before he graduates."It is a big game every year, and we could play this one again," a disappointed Brandon said after the game. "But this one is over, and I hope before I leave that we can play them one more time."Presbyterian's Kevin Molony, a redshirt junior free safety, said the atmosphere was the best he has played in at PC and that it would be shame to see it end with Saturday's contest."It's good knowing that if this is the last game, then we won it," he said. "I would like to come back and watch future games. Our athletic director is a great man, and I am sure he will work it out."Presbyterian head coach Tommy Spangler had mixed feelings about the possible end of the rivalry, knowing his program has a brighter future in I-AA."Right now, we just have to do what is best for our program," he said. "It is not like we are running from Newberry, and it will be rough on us for a while. I wish we could continue to play, but it will probably pick back up. I hope that is the case, because it was a great atmosphere out there today. It is good for both teams."David HoodThe Greenville NewsContributing Writer