Front Porch FootballFaces of the South: Patrick Fant
Hometown: Greenville, SC
Occupation: Attorney
Favorite College Team(s): Wofford, USC
Hometown: Greenville, SC
Occupation: Attorney
Favorite College Team(s): Wofford, USC
Why did you choose to attend Wofford?
I attended Virginia Episcopal School (VES). I wanted to get back home. Many family friends had attended Wofford. I went for a visit, met Charlie Gray, and decided to do early admission. I did not even think about another college.
Favorite Wofford memory?
Watching my children graduate from Wofford. Tailgating in the Verandah Lot with my fraternity brothers and Wofford friends.
Favorite Wofford sports memory?
There are so many. We have been tailgating in the Verandah Lot since 2003. My kids were raised going to Wofford football and basketball games. I remember when we first made the football playoffs in 2003 and going to the semifinal game against Delaware. Another great memory is when we won the SOCON Basketball Championship for the first time in 2010 and punched our ticket to the Big Dance. There I remember was, sitting at a table in the hotel bar with Mike Young, Richard Johnson, and Mike Arakas. We had the net- covered SOCON trophy in the middle of the table. It was the first of many appearances playing in March Madness.
Tell us a little bit about your band…
The current band is a collaborative effort between a Charleston-based band, The Dotards, and former members of The Nocturnal Realtors, a band we formed in the late 1980s while we were students at Wofford.
What’s the band name?
We really don’t have one. I guess we could be called The Nocturnal Dotards.
When did y’all form?
Our original band was The Nocturnal Realtors (primarily an REM cover band) and we formed in 1987. It was made up of James McKinney, Jamie McaAlister, John Crain, Larry McCalla and myself. John and Larry were our friends from UGA. We had a great time for a year playing fraternity and sorority gigs across SC and GA. Then we broke up and pursued graduate school and employment.
In 2018, I spoke with James and Jamie about doing a Nocturnal Realtors 30th reunion gig for our 30th Wofford reunion. James and Jamie had been playing with some guys in Mt. Pleasant – the multi-talented Wofford alumnus named Jay White, and guitar master and UGA grad Todd Hill. They’d been played playing some gigs in around the Creekside neighborhood where most of them they lived, so. Jay and Todd agreed to agreed to come aboard to help us out in putting together a band for a reunion. They were so gracious to give their time and talents. The KA’s at Wofford invited us to play after the football game and it all became real. It really was a great time, so much so that and they they invited us back to play again this year, which was also a blast.
Who all is in it?
The band is made up of Todd Hill and James McKinney on guitars, Jay White on drums/vocals/guitar, Jamie McAlister on bass, James McKinney, and myself on vocals. Jay normally is the front man and he agreed to play drums and then take lead on alternative sets. We were fortunate to have a Wofford student (Sean Denis) play drums when Jay took lead. This year we also added the talented Marie Evans (flute) to play. All of them are incredibly gifted musicians.
Y’all still play shows — when was your last show?
Yes, time permitting.. Our last gig was in October at the KA House for Wofford Homecoming.
Favorite album?
Murmur by REM
How can people get in touch with y’all if they’re looking to book you?
James McKinney (jamesmckinneymd@gmail.com) or Patrick Fant (pfant@charter.net)
