Crocker Field at Bailey Memorial Stadium - Presbyterian College Blue Hose

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43

Crocker Field at Bailey Memorial Stadium 503 S Broad St Clinton, SC 29325

Presbyterian Blue Hose website

Crocker Field at Bailey Memorial Stadium website

Year Opened: 2002

Capacity: 6,500

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Swing the Sword

In the South Carolina town of Clinton is Presbyterian College, home to the Blue Hose. Originally known as the Blue Stockings, a name a local sports reporter once used to describe the school’s blue socks, the term eventually morphed into Hose. By 1954, the school was most commonly referred to as the Blue Hose, a name that carried a more ferocious tone than Stockings.

Football has been played at Presbyterian College since 1913. Much of the school’s football history was written at the original Bailey Stadium, which opened in 1928 on the site where Stanton Hall now stands, before being replaced in 2002 by Bailey Memorial Stadium.

The move to a new home field came during a period of transition for the program. Not long after upgrading its facilities, Presbyterian climbed from the NAIA to NCAA Division II in 1993, and later advanced to the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) in 2011. The Blue Hose competed in the Big South Conference for 11 seasons before joining the Pioneer Football League in 2020, where they continue to play today. With a century of history behind it, Blue Hose football continues to grow at Bailey Memorial Stadium, the stage for today’s game day experience.

Food & Beverage   3

Concessions here are straightforward, with familiar staples like hot dogs, nachos, and pretzels, plus the option to add chili or cheese sauce. Fans can also grab snacks such as candy, chips, or popcorn, alongside Pepsi products, Gatorade, and Aquafina water. Beyond the basics, local vendors bring in extras like sno cones, smoothies, and fresh-squeezed lemonade, adding a bit of variety.

Alcohol choices are limited but cover the essentials, with Michelob Ultra, Hazy Little Thing IPA, Bud Light seltzers, and red and white wines from Franzia.

Atmosphere   3

The game day atmosphere begins in the grassy tailgating fields beyond the outfield fence of Elton Pollak Field, where fans fire up grills, watch early games, and play cornhole or participate in any of the other tailgating staples. Presbyterian’s identity is tied closely to its church history, and that tradition comes alive about two hours before kickoff, when the sound of bagpipes echoes in the distance. Soon after, a bagpiper, joined by cheerleaders and mascot Scotty, leads the team past fans lining the road into Bailey Memorial Stadium.

One noticeable absence is a marching band. With Presbyterian’s small enrollment, fielding one would be a challenge, so the stadium relies instead on popular music between plays, as well as presentations during breaks in the action to keep fans engaged. Seating is mostly general admission, which allows for flexibility in finding a good view, though the highest rows in the main stand are less desirable. Visitors sit across the field in aluminum bleachers built into the hillside, where the late-afternoon sun can be tough. An eight-lane asphalt track adds some distance between fans and the field, though not dramatically more than at similar venues.

Bailey Memorial has just one scoreboard, located in the south corner. It shows a live video feed along with standard game information, time, score, down and distance, quarter, and timeouts remaining.

Neighborhood   3

Bailey Memorial Stadium sits at the southeastern edge of Presbyterian’s campus, directly across from baseball’s Elton Pollack Field.

The campus itself is only about a mile from Clinton’s town center, where a handful of shops and restaurants line the streets; at the center is a replica of the town’s brick, arched train depot, built as a tribute to Clinton’s railroad history. Visitors can also follow a walking tour marked by 15 bronze historical plaques, with narration available through the Distrx app on both Apple and Android devices.

For food, locals point to Dempsey’s Pizza and Wilson’s Curb Market, both known for their burgers and sandwiches. Big “D” Butcher and BBQ offer another well-regarded option, while craft beer fans often gravitate to The Lumberyard.

Fans   3

As of last season, Presbyterian averaged just over 2,600 fans per game, a number that has been on the rise. One challenge the Blue Hose face is that Pioneer Football League teams are spread across the country, which limits the number of opposing fans who can make the trip. Additionally, Presbyterian’s undergraduate enrollment is under 1,000 students, one of the smallest in FCS, which limits the size of both the student section and alumni presence at games. Despite this, in the early weeks of this season, the Blue Hose are drawing roughly 4,000 fans per game, an impressive number given its limited pool of fans to pull from.

Access   4

Presbyterian College is a short trip off I-26, which runs locally in South Carolina from Greenville to Columbia. Parking at Bailey Memorial Stadium is in the fields next to the stadium, leaving just a short walk even from the farthest spots.

The school recently switched to digital-only ticketing, with QR codes posted around the tailgating lots to encourage fans to buy before reaching the gates. From there, entry is simple – most fans head through the main entrance, while an additional gate at the north end provides another option. Visiting fans do not have an entrance on their side of the stadium; however, they have to trek around the south end of the field to reach their bleachers. Re-entry is allowed as long as fans hold onto their ticket.

Return on Investment   5

Tickets run $25 for adults and $11 for children, and parking for most vehicles is just $5. The only exception is campers or RVs used for tailgating, which carry a $20 charge. Concessions are priced with the same family-friendly mindset, keeping costs low enough that grabbing food or drinks never feels prohibitive. While the quality may not be elite, the affordability makes it easy for fans to return to the concessions more than once without worrying about the expense.

Extras   3

As with several other colleges and universities throughout the Carolinas, philanthropist Irwin Belk donated sculptures of athletes competing in different sports. In addition, just inside the main gates is a 15-foot statue of Scotsman Cyrus, also a donation from Irwin Belk.

A plaque just inside the stadium recognizes Presbyterian’s success in Conference Carolinas, noting four conference titles (1966, 1968, 1970, and 1972).

In a tribute to the college and its fans, the team gathers after each game in front of the stands to sing the school’s alma mater.

A grassy area just within the gates has several inflatables to help keep the youngest Blue Hose fans occupied, if sitting through the game might be too much.

Final Thoughts

The Presbyterian Blue Hose football experience is not comparable to the major programs in the state, Clemson and South Carolina, or even fellow FCS team Gardner-Webb. Still, it does accentuate the passion and excitement of the campus community, alumni, and locals. The atmosphere might lack the pomp and circumstance of a marching band, or stands so tightly packed that most of the day is spent with a stranger’s knees in your back. What the Presbyterian football experience offers, however, is an authentic representation of the love that students, current and former, and the surrounding community have for their football program.