The last name Hite runs deep in the Lakelands. Going back to 1936, there has been a Hite involved in elite-level athletics in the Lakelands area.
Tommy Hite, who spent 32 years as a head coach at Abbeville, Saluda and Swansea, is the beginning of the bunch. Tommy is most known for his time at Abbeville, where the prestigious Hite-Nickles Stadium is named in his honor. His son, Tommy Hite Jr., was a legendary quarterback at Abbeville who went on to play defensive back at the University of South Carolina.
It doesn’t stop there, though. Tommy Jr.’s two sons, Mack and Tombo Hite, were both great quarterbacks at Abbeville, and both went on to play college baseball at Presbyterian College. Mack is the current Athletic Director and head baseball coach at Emerald High School, while Tombo is a well-respected lawyer as well as the wide receivers coach for the Vikings.
Now it is time for the next Hite to step into the spotlight.
Beau Hite is a freshman at Emerald High School and he is already turning heads. Beginning when he was just 13 years of age, as a seventh grader at Westview Middle School, Beau was the starting shortstop for the Emerald varsity baseball team.
The hype was at an all-time high when disaster struck. During a football game toward the end of the 2023 season while playing for the Westview Titans, Beau suffered a shoulder injury that sidelined him for basketball and baseball season. According to Beau, it affected him heavily.
“It definitely wasn’t an easy process, but I can say that it definitely prepared me for the better,” said Beau. “I would go to my physical therapist and work with the trainer everyday to make sure I was good to go. I wouldn’t be here without them.”
Now in 2024, Beau is ready to go as the starting quarterback for the Vikings. This was not always guaranteed with the health of his shoulder in question and senior Cody Scott as well as blossoming sophomore Eli Swancey competing for the job. However, according to Emerald head football coach Tad DuBose, Beau was able to separate himself from the competition.
“Beau separated himself not only with his ability to play quarterback, but also in the way that he handles himself,” DuBose said. “He’s very mature to be a freshman and you can see that in him.”
Being the starting quarterback as a freshman is not easy, and having the last name Hite certainly does not make it any easier. With the history the name holds, there is a large amount of pressure placed on the bearer of the name. Though the name holds a lot of weight, Beau maintains that the pressure does not bother him.
“I don’t really think about it too much,” said Beau. “I just want to go out there, do my best, and make everyone else’s job easier.”
Beau has found himself in more than one unique situation this season. In addition to being the starting quarterback, his father, Tombo, joined the Viking coaching staff this season, initially as the junior varsity quarterbacks coach. However, he was quickly promoted to varsity wide receivers coach where he could coach around his son. When you ask Tombo, there is no other feeling like it.
“I’ve had the opportunity to be able to coach my son and his buddies from a very early age,” said Tombo. “As long as I have been coaching him it’s been a big blessing, and he’s been blessed to have good friends to push him along the way as well.”
Beau had his first opportunity to make his mark in Week 0 versus Ninety Six. That was his first start and he did not disappoint. He went 9-of-13 for 61 yards passing and picked up a rushing touchdown, though the exclamation point on his performance was the game-securing passing touchdown to Key Holloway late in the fourth quarter. The play was originally designed to be a swing pass, but DuBose is thankful that Beau was able to make such a high-level read at such a young age.
“He’s been coached to be a quarterback his whole life and he has a terrific IQ of the game,” DuBose said. “I’m very thankful to have him on our side not only because of his quarterback abilities, but also because he’s a fine young man.”
Looking forward, the future can only get brighter brighter for Beau. The 15-year-old is set to make his first home start in Week 1 versus Travelers Rest, a team that matches up well with the Vikings. Despite Beau’s young age, DuBose has all the confidence in the world in his 2quarterback.
“We’re starting him, aren’t we?”