Former St. John’s football coach Robert Biggerstaff to be honored during North-South Game

Saturday’s North-South All-Star Football Game will be played in honor of former St. John’s coach Robert Biggerstaff.

“It’s probably the biggest honor I have ever received,” said the 76-year-old Bigger-staff, who retired from St. John’s in 1998 after serving 33 years as coach.

Biggerstaff will speak Friday night at the North-South banquet in Myrtle Beach and will be honored at halftime of the all-star game at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium.

He posted 275 career victories and reached the state championship four times, including 1968 when the Islanders captured the title.

Biggerstaff said he is being honored for coming to the aid of former coach and close friend Phillip Morgan, who suffered a massive stroke nearly two years ago when four aneurysms burst in his brain. Biggerstaff raised more than $30,000 to help with medical bills and related expenses.

Morgan was on Biggerstaff’s first team at St. John’s in 1965 and played on the state championship team.

Morgan’s first job out of college was as an assistant at St. John’s under Biggerstaff.

McKissick featured

Summerville football coach John McKissick is featured in ESPN The Magazine’s Dec. 10 issue.

The story is titled “Lessons Learned from 600 Wins,” and football’s all-time winningest coach shares his insights he’s learned in his six decades of coaching.

Among the highlights:

On A.J. Green: “Shoulda thrown the ball to A.J. on every play. We never would have lost a game.”

On possible retirement: “My wife, Joan, says it, and I say it too: I would retire, but it would look bad after 61 years of marriage to get a divorce.”

On officials: “That’s the only thing I don’t like about this game.”

Mr. Football

Goose Creek standout Tramel Terry is one of five finalists for the state’s Mr. Football Award.

Terry, a 6-1, 190-pound senior, tallied 1,861 all-purpose yards this fall and scored 24 touchdowns.

Terry, who has committed to play for Georgia, rushed for 841 yards, averaging 7.4 yards per carry and had 818 receiving yards, averaging 16.7 yards per catch. Terry also averaged 18.4 yards per kickoff return.

The other Mr. Football finalists include Byrnes receiver Akia Booker, T.L. Hanna linebacker Ben Boulware, Strom Thurmond running back Darius Hammond and Conway quarterback Mykal Moody.

The winner will be announced Friday at the North-South banquet.

All-Lowcountry football

Coaches can nominate players for the 2012 All-Lowcountry football team. Coaches should include a player’s height, weight, position and grade. Coaches should also include season and career statistics, along with any honors.

The deadline for nominations is Monday. Nominations should be emailed to pbowman@postandcourier.com.

Follow Philip M. Bowman on Twitter @pandcphil