Erskine College Athletics

Dear Flying Fleet Family,

On behalf of our student-athletes, coaches, and administration, thank you for your continued support of Erskine College and our pursuit of excellence in academics, athletics, and faith.

Your generosity helps create an environment where student-athletes can grow as scholars, competitors, and followers of Christ. Through your support, our coaches are equipped to mentor, challenge, and develop young men and women both on and off the field of competition. Every gift helps provide opportunities that shape lives and prepare our students for success long after graduation.

We are excited about the continued growth and momentum of Fleet Athletics across all of our varsity programs. As we work to elevate the student-athlete experience and compete at the highest level of NCAA Division II athletics, your partnership plays a vital role in our success.

One of the most impactful ways to support our student-athletes is through the Flying Fleet Club, which serves as the foundation for academic and athletic excellence across all Erskine programs. Contributions to the Flying Fleet Club provide critical funding for student-athlete scholarships, academic and athletic support services, facility enhancements, and other resources that benefit every team.

You may also choose to designate your gift to a specific varsity sport, allowing you to make a direct and lasting impact on the program that means the most to you.

Thank you for investing in Erskine College, the Flying Fleet, and the transformational work taking place through our athletics program. We are deeply grateful for your partnership and commitment to our student-athletes.

Go Fleet! 

Thomas Holland

Associate Athletic Director 

(864) 379-8859

tholland@erskine.edu

Flying Fleet . . . a Unique Mascot

Erskine folks are often asked, “What is a Flying Fleet?” The story behind the answer reveals some of the history of our athletic program. The early Erskine teams in baseball, football, and tennis needed a team name and chose the name “Seceders,” not because of the state of South Carolina’s famous decision to secede from the Union, but because the name acknowledged Erskine’s relationship to the Associate “Seceder” Presbyterian Church in Scotland. The 1917 “Seceder” football team earned Erskine a reputation as innovative, mainly because of the team’s liberal use of the forward pass. That season saw Jake Todd catch a 50-yard touchdown pass to lead Erskine to defeat South Carolina 14-13.

Twelve years later, in 1929, Todd would employ a wide-open passing attack as head coach that led the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association in scoring. During that 1929 season, in a game at Furman, Todd’s passing attack so impressed Greenville News sportswriter Carter “Scoop” Latimer that he labeled Erskine teams “The Flying Fleet.” The name struck a cord with the Erskine student body, and that fall they voted to have the nickname replace “Seceders” as the team name.

Erskine enjoys the distinction of being the only college in the country known as “The Flying Fleet.”