By Kareem McMichael
Oct. 13, 2024 – The West Savannah neighborhood, just outside Savannah’s downtown, has a rich history all its own. Included in that storied history is the Westside Whippers, one of the treasured organizations that recently celebrated 73 years of providing youth sports and community.
In what is expected to be an annual event, the inaugural celebrations were held on Oct. 4 in the recently expanded Grant Center Gym and Oct. 5 at Fellwood Park, both staples in the community.
“This was a celebration,” said Savannah Alderwoman Bernetta Lanier. “We are celebrating one of our own in West Savannah. We want the community to know we have a strong history in west Savannah.”
Lanier is a native Savannahian and a fourth-generation resident of the Hudson Hill neighborhood across from West Savannah. She was a part of the team’s cheerleading squad, the Whipperettes, in her youth and a coach in adulthood.
Since October 1951, the Westside Whippers have provided a space for young athletes to develop their skills, learn the value of teamwork, and build confidence. The organization has also been instrumental in promoting community engagement, building character and values in the men, faith and belief in God, and providing a safe and supportive environment for children and families.
“We have a community development organization. We have a community development operation, and our goal is to create a generation of wealth so that the community is using asset-based economic development,” Lanier said.
Founded by Deacon Clarence “Cool Blue Scout Coach” Grant, the organization is a testament to his dedication and the power of sports to bring people together and create a positive impact on the lives of those who participate.
“I got the nickname “Blue” as a small boy on the East Side because I liked to dress in blue. I loved the color blue, and everybody began to call me “Blue Boy,” Grant said in an interview in 2005 conducted by Charles J. Elmore for the Savannah Department of Cultural Affairs.
In October 1949, Grant’s family moved to Fellwood Homes in West Savannah. Grant started calling himself “Cool Blue,” and others would call him “Blue,” but the name stuck with him through his adult life.
“I started the Whippers when I was fifteen years old. When I organized the Whippers, we had three names to choose from: the Savannah Tigers, Savannah Beaters, and the Savannah Whippers. We chose the name Savannah Whippers so we could try to get the city of Savannah to help support the team. This did not happen. Kids came from everywhere and wanted to join the Whippers. We finally named the team the West Savannah Whippers,” Grant said.
With sports like baseball, softball, basketball, cheerleading and football, the organization’s commitment to excellence over the year, on and off the field, has earned respect and admiration from the community.
“The Whippers had the five best slogans, which were to say, Good morning, good evening, good night, please, and thank you. These were instilled in each young man who played for the Whippers. The five best were mandatory for every participant on the Whippers team. The Whippers team members had to have discipline. Our motto was ‘Talk Less and Do More.’ After we beat a team, our slogan was “actions speak louder than words,” Grant said.
Grant played semi-professional baseball with the Savannah Falcons, the Savannah Beehives, and the Savannah Red Legs. In 1986, Richard Street Community Center was renamed The Clarence “Blue” Grant Center, and in 2001, Fellwood Homes and the West Savannah community honored him in “A Man With A Vision” tribute and banquet. Grant died in 2006 at the age of 69.
Grant coached numerous teams, including the Reynolds Street Tigers softball and baseball teams, Carver Heights youth baseball team, Raggedy Nine Softshoe Whippers, Cool Blue Whippers, Hustlers Female Softball Team, Youth Whipperettes, Savannah Tigers, Savannah Cubs, Tompkin High B-Team Football, Frank Callen Boys and Girls Club Football, St. Pius Football Commissioner of the Tremont Christian Softball League, Central High School Football, Springfield, Ga., and the Club 44 Softball Team.
“Blue did not believe in losing; we had to win in games and in life. Anybody that played for him was taken care of. Even if you didn’t play but were associated with him, you were taken care of. As far as I know, he never got paid for all of the stuff he did. He was a godsend to us,” said Soloman Brannen.
Brannen grew up on Savannah’s westside and attended Tompkins High School and went on to play football at Morris Brown College.
He went on to become a defensive back who played three seasons in the American Football League with the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets. Brannan has also been a member of the Jacksonville Sharks of the World Football League. He was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs team that won the 1966 AFL championship.
“I hate to say this, but the NFL is very prejudiced,” Brannen said. “They were shocked. Here’s a black player who is very fundamentally sound and built so much. I owe all that to Blueboy Grant and coach Joe Turner. They taught me everything. I just wish they were still alive so I can tell them because I have so much gratitude for their impact on my life.”
Nolan Smith. Jr., a Savannah native currently playing linebacker in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles, got his start in football playing for the Westside Whippers as well. Smith has returned home different times over the years to enrich and encourage the next generation.
At the celebration earlier this month, a portrait of Grant was unveiled, to be displayed in the lobby of the community center and gym named after him.
As the Westside Whippers celebrated their 73rd anniversary and many accomplishments during their 73-year history, they also looked forward to continuing their mission of providing opportunities for young athletes and fostering a sense of community.
“This organization, this gym, these gentlemen, are all leaders and assets,” Lanier said … “We’re looking for a return on our investment. When we pour into our children, that’s what we’re getting.”
Many of those who have played for the team or coached for them went on to have children play for the team.
“For those who may not have known, I am a Westside Whipper through and through,” said Javonte “Hot Sauce” Middleton, a former player and coach. “My daddy, Earl “Tina B” Middleton Sr., was on the original Whipper baseball and football teams as a child. Throughout his adulthood, he remained active in coaching, supporting, and also educating folks on Whipper history.”
His father Middleton Sr. was the first batboy for the team.
“My dad looked at Cool Blue as his father because his dad wasn’t in his life,” Middleton said. ” I was around Cool Blue quite a bit when I was a younger kid, and many times I addressed him as granddad.”
Middleton said it was predetermined he was going to play baseball and football for the Whippers, with one of his first memories being taken to a baseball practice at Hudson Hill Park in the summer of 2004.
His father passed away in 2022, but his legacy lives on. Javonte has many memories of playing, and in addition to that, he recalls his mom and dad helping bring kids to and from practice and the genuine community effort it took from everyone working to make sure the organization is successful.
“It is very important that the Westside Whippers legacy lives on,” he said. “It is still changing lives 73 years later for people from the westside and beyond. To this day, my coaches still give me big hugs, talk to me, reach out to me, and are still mentors in my life.”
The Westside Whippers, 10 and Under, and 12 and Under Boys Football Teams, beat the Warner Robins All-Stars to become the 2024 Georgia Recreation and Park Association (GRPA) Class A State Champions. The 10U team won 15-0, while the 12U team won 44-0.
Kareem McMichael is a filmmaker, documentarian, writer, and multimedia content creator. The Macon native enjoys entertainment and sharing with locals and visitors’ stories about Savannah’s art and culture scene. When he is not working, he enjoys relaxing at the beach, grabbing a beverage, hitting a fun art event. You can find his work at https://kmcmichael.weebly.com
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