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Gamecock Sports The recruiting wars are finally over Charlie Wallace Senior Writer It’s finally over. The phone calls have stopped, the knocks at the door have ceased, and the letters have quit com ing in the mail. For high school senior football players across the country, Wednesday closed a book on the most emotionally trying time of their lives so far: being recruited. National signing day ends months of discussion about where players are go ing to school to continue their careers. Debates and speculation that have raged for weeks finally have come to a halt. At the same time, however, Wfednes day also opened a new forum of discus sion: which teams got the best recruiting classes. The general consensus across the na tion is that the South took names and kicked tail. In most recruiting rankings, Florida and Tennessee were either No. 1 in the country or close to it. The Gators, who are blessed with being located in the middle of the nation’s recruiting hotbed, clearly had the finest class. “We did get most of all the guys we went after this year,” Florida coach Steve Spurrier said. “It seemed like they all wanted to come play for the Gators this year.” What sounds like Spurrier’s same old cocky attitude is actually the truth. The Gators got a commitment from perhaps the best player in the country, quarterback Brock Berlin from Shreve port, La. Although Berlin only stands at foot 1,190 pounds, his statistics are eye popping. This past season, Berlin threw for an astounding 4,219 yards and 36 touchdowns. But probably the most impressive stat of all is that in his four years, his team was 60-0 with four state championships. So Berlin, who has not lost since at least 8th grade, goes to another team that is not used to losing. And in Spurrier’s system, if a quarterback loses, he sits the bench. Tennessee and Alabama’s recruiting classes also were consistently ranked in the top five in the country. As they say, the rich get richer. So do the poor get poorer? Well, as in all aspects of life, where there are win ners, losers will follow. However, in South Carolina’s case, I’d say they’ve worked their way up from rags to middle class. Carolina signed a rather impressive group of guys, considering the horrible record of 1-21 over the past two years. For a recruit, seeing that stat is like see ing a skin disease. Most players don’t want to go any where near it. If that’s the case, Caroli na has 26 newly-infected recruits. How ever, coach Lou Holtz is adamant about getting a remedy. “We believe that these athletes can play,” Holtz said. “You really can’t tell about a recruiting class until a couple of years down the road, but our coaches did a tremendous job recruiting these play ers.” Included in the class are several top players. Sumter running back Jamacia Jackson, defensive lineman Carl Smalls from St. Andrews, Cross quarterback Rod Wilson, and Hallahan defensive back Rachiem Monroe are Top 15 players fron the Palmetto State that will most likely have an immediate impact on the play ing field in the 2000 season. The Gamecocks also stole a few blur chips from neighboring states as well. Tu pelo, Miss., defensive back DeAndre Ei land, Waldorf, McL, defensive back Gonzir Gray, and Camilia, Ga., quarterback Don drial Pinkins are all likely to make an im mediate impact. However, players wht can contribute right away doesn’t nec essarily bode well for on-the-field sue cess. Talent is always great to have. Indeed programs are made or broken on the kint of talent that comes into the system. How ever, experience plays a big role. The football team will look awfully young this upcoming season. Most of thr team will have a majority of sophomore; and freshmen seeing plenty of actior against teams such as Florida, Tennessee and Alabama who, in addition to snag giryg the best players in the nation, already have the best teams in the nation. Carolina’s recruiting efforts were def initely remarkable. Riding the name o Holtz and the added promise of playinj right away, the Gamecock coaching staf was able to work some miracles. Sure some of the big fish got away again. Flori da State stole the top two players in thr state by luring offensive lineman Aler Barron and wide receiver Michael Boul ware. However, give Holtz and his crev time. The present is the best opportuni ty Carolina has had at playing with thr big boys. This past recruiting season, USC competed. Win some games next year and USC soon will be winning the re cruiting wars. Men’s from page 8 nitely going to have to step up and take the slack. I’m not going to say that he would have prevented some of Du pay’s shots but his defensive presence would have definitely made it harder.” In the last six games, many Game cock fans might have believed that missed foul shots were part of the close call losses. Heading to the line 28 times against Florida and sinking 22 of those free throws, USC proudly proved that wasn’t the case. With two of their big players, Tony Kitchings and Marius Petravicius, foul ing out of the game in the second half, the Gamecocks spent much of the game on the other side of the free throw line. “We did it to ourselves, we had a lot of dumb fouls,” said Kitchings, who had eight points on the night for USC. “I just didn’t play smart tonight.” Fogler had to agree. “We can’t play with our big guys in foul trouble,” he said. “Not in a game like that.” In the end, the Carolina players gave the luck to Florida. “I don’t think the better team won,” USC’s Antonio Grant said. “Some shots fell for certain teams on a given night and they just felHTorida’s way tonight. Everything that we did, they had an answer for it.” In summary of the USC season so far, Tony Kitchings put it simply. “Like our story goes, we stay close and just can’t get over that hump.” With the win, Florida head coach' Billy Donovan racked up his 100th ca reer win and his Gators sealed a 5-2 SEC, 16-4 overall record. Ending their road trip, Florida now will head home for another SEC match-up against the Georgia Bulldogs. As for the Gamecocks, they now head off on a two-game SEC road trip. They first will be in action against SEC East opponent Kentucky Sunday at lp.m. USC signs 26 to football team by Jeff Romig Sports Editor There was no nationally acclaimed signee. There was no drama reminiscent of the Derek Watson soap opera that oc curred in 1999. There was nothing to draw the nor mal attention to USC recruiting. So, now that USC has its 2000 class signed and sealed, will they deliv er? “I don’t know,” said Lou Holtz, USC head football coach. “I do know this. We made a commitment to each other that every athlete that we were going to re cruit or sign would be looked at by three different coaches. Wfe honored that all the way down the line. “Wfe didn’t go by reputation. Wfe did n’t go by, ‘did this individual make all state?’ We went in, we looked at the film and we did a thorough job on character and integrity.” But would USC’s 1-21 record over the past two years kill any possibility of bringing in top athletes this year? “It doesn’t mean you’re going to have a bad year recruiting, but it certainly makes it difficult,” Holtz said “If you work and approach it the right way, you can have a good year. I think that’s exactly what happened” One position that Holtz knew was in need of immediate attention was quar teiback. The Gamecocks definitely filled that need signing three including Cross JJigh School’s Rod Wilson and Dondrial Tinkins from Camilla, Ga “They’re both big. They’re both strong. They both can run. They both have strong arms,” Holtz said. “I think they have excellent potential for the type of quarterback we need to have.” The Gamecocks also signed Jarrod Reese out of Coffeyville (Kan.) JC. Reese played for the University of Oklahoma before transferring to junior college. How ever, it is not known if he will qualify academically. “He’s got an uphill struggle, but if he does make it, he falls into the same classifications as the other quarterbacks,” Holtz said. Another need that USC was look ing to address was the offensive line. This was done even though Orangebuig-Wilk erson’s Alex Barron chose Florida State over the Gamecocks. “Alex Barron is maybe as good of a lineman that has been in this state for a while,” Holtz said. “He is special. I guarantee you Bobby Bowden will coach at least four more years when he gets him.” Holtz was very pleased with the of fensive linemen that he brought in -a line that includes three 300-plus pound line men. Chad Walker (6-4, 300) of Al bertville, Ala., could be the best of the bunch. “If Chad Walker can stay healthy, Chad Whlker will be as good a lineman as there is in the country,” Holtz said. Jason Harris (6-6,340) graded out at 85 percent and recorded 72 pancake blocks as a senior at Whde Hampton in Greenville. “We saw his feet and his personali ty and we thought he could really be a good one,” Holtz said. Holtz also did very well in the state of South Carolina, which was a goal of his. Twelve of his signees are from the state, including Wilson, Brian Brownlee, a linebacker from Abbeville, and Sumter’s star running back Jamacia Jackson, who Holtz was very happy to be visiting when he was. “Jamacia’s father was a minister,” Holtz said. “When I visited Jamacia, and this is ironic, his father led us in prayer when I was getting ready to leave and he prayed for my safety on my recruiting travels. Three hours later, the plane crashed with all my stuff on it.” 2000 USC Football Signees Name Ht. Wi. Pos. James Adkisson 6-4 210 WR Corey Alexander 5-9 178 RB Jonathan Alston 6-5 247 L Brian Brownlee 6-3 230 L A DeAndre Eland 6-0 175 CB RonJohn-Fmn 6-4 240 L Jeremiah Garrison 6-1205 L Andrea Gausc 5-9175 RB Gonzie Gray 6-0180 RB Jason Harris 6-6340 L Jamacia Jackson 6-2195 RB Jack Johnson 6-2 215 L Nick Johnson 6-5 320 L Rachiem Monroe 5-9 175 DB Taqiy Muhammad 6-1 180 RB DondrialPinkins 6-3 215 QB Jarrod Reese 6-3 210 ATH Dunta Robinson 6-1170 L Carl Smalls 6-2 255 L Jolin Strickland 6-4 295 L Preston Thome 6-0 265 L Hart Turner 6-5 230 L Chad Walker 64300 L Rod Wilson 6-3 203 QB ixi£r?^| r in, 90.8Jg WMSffik __— I ' ! recognized for outstanding ethics by Council of Better Business Bureaus' Bahamas Party Cruise $279 5 days • Most Meals • Free Parties • Includes Taxes Panama $139 City Boardwalk. Holiday Inn Sunspree & More Florida $149 7 Nights • Daytona. 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CONTACT THE OFFICE OF DISABILITY 777^6142 List of Courses ACCT 222 ACCT 407 AIME 270 AIME 34 ANTH 10: ANTH 301 ARTE 101 ARTH 106 ARTH 345 BIOL 101 BIOL 101L BIOL 102 BIOL 110 BIOL 270 CHEM 111 CRJU 531 CSCI101 CSCI102 CSCIEl02 ECIV 301 ECIV 330 ECIV 360 ECON 224 EDCE710 EDUC 300 EDUC 400 ENGL 101 ENGL 102 ENGR 200 ENGR 210 ENGR 260 EXSC 224 FINA 301 FINA 342 FINA 363 GEOG 103 GEOG210 GEOG 212 GEOG 343 GEOG 495 GINT 101 GINT 365 GINT 491L GINT 55 HIST 1 HIST 1 HIST 112 HIST El 11 HIST Z111 HRTA 490 HRTA 730 JOUR 202 MART 201 MATH 142 MATH 152 MATH El 11 MATH El42 MGMT 371 MGMT 476 MGMT 478 MGMT E476 MGSC 291 MGSCE291 MKTG 350 MKTG 70IT MUED 357 PHIL 102 PHIL 211 PHIL 335 PHIL El 11 PHYS 201 PHYS 211L PSYC 226 PSYC 370 PSYC E226 RELG311 RELG 360 RETL 262 RETL 265 RETL 344 SOCY 1 SOCY 50 SOWK 71 SOWK 716 SOWK 791 SOWK 792 SPAN El 10 SPAN El22 SPTA 110 SPTA 201 STAT 110 SWAH 122 THSP140 UNIV 101 X^ UNIV 101E WOST306 r v,