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t 2 T Scrimmage shows team is improving I S T by Kyle Almond The Gamecock One week before their season opener against New Mexico State, the South Carolina football team went through a dress-rehearsal scrimmage at Williams-Brice Stadium. Head Coach Lou Holtz had positive things to say after the Friday night scrimmage, but admitted that there was much work to be done. “I didn’t keep a list of all of the errors because I only had two pens,” said Holtz. “We didn’t kick the ball particularly well, and our return game was disappointing.” However, Holtz had good things to say about the offense, which is coming off a lackluster sea son in which they only scored an average of 7.9 points per game - last in the SEC. ’ “The longer we played, the better rhythm we showed on offense,” Holtz said. “Our offense started to show some continuity.” Sophomore running backs Andrew Pinnock and Derek Witson had impressive outings for the Gamecock offense. Pinnock rushed for two touch downs during the scrimmage, while Witson had a long run of 17 yards and made a key downfield block on a Ryan Brewer touchdown scamper. Starting quarterback Phil Petty threw a 20 yard touchdown pass to junior college transfer James Adkisson, who Holtz says has made progress. “James has come along nicely,” he said. “He is very talented. He doesn’t have a clue on how good he can really be.” Holtz was also optimistic on the rest of the re ceiving corps, including senior wide out Jermale Kelly. “The receivers made some plays,” he said. “They have improved since the beginning of two-a-days and are much better against the bump and run than they were when we first started camp Jermale Kelly has really come on. He is not the same receiver he was a year ago.” Defensive standouts on the evening included linebacker Shannon Whdley, who recorded a sack, free safety Antoine Nesmith and comerback An dre Goodman. Goodman, who is battling for a starting posi tion, had an interception in the scrimmage, and Ne smith, who was converted into a safety after playing fullback his first two seasons, made a tack le for a loss. ‘Linebacker Kenny Harney did not participate in the scrimmage because of a minor shoulder in jury he received during pre-game warm-ups. Of fensive lineman Cedric Williams and fullback Travis Lewis bruised their thumb and knee, respectively, while running back Trevin Smith strained his hip during the game. Holtz and the coaching staff also used the scrim mage to prepare themselves for Saturday’s show down against the Agues. “We had our coaches in the press box and ran everything like a real game,” said Holtz, who for the first time in his head-coaching career is using a cordless headset on the sidelines. “The com munication was pretty good on the sidelines.” USC watched game film from the scrim mage the following Saturday morning and spent time correcting their mistakes during a light, non-contact practice. After viewing the game film, Holtz was pleased with his team’s focus. “Their focus was pretty good,” he said. “We had some missed techniques, but we worked to correct those in the morning.” Holtz was able to come up with a tentative depth chart for the much-maligned kicking game. At present time, according to Holtz, the Gamecocks’ placekicker will be punter Tyeler Dean, but Jason Corse would han dle kickoff duties. Holtz also concluded that he will make more changes defensively this season. “Last year, our team began to tire in the fourth quarter,” Holtz said. “We will rotate more people on defense than we have in the past.” Holtz had no luck de ciding on a back-up for start ing quarterback Phil Petty. “I can’t tell you much more about the back-up quarterback situation,” he said. “Wfe’ll just have to take it as it comes.” Sophomores Mikal Goodman apd Erik Kimrey are competing for the po sition, along with freshman Rodriques Wrlson. The Gamecocks had Sunday off and will return to the practice field this af temoon in preparation for their season opener Saturday evening at Williams Brice Stadium. Injury Notes Linebacker Andre Offing, who was nursing a pulled hamstring for much of the preseason, saw action in Friday night’s scrimmage. Defensive tack le Cecil Caldwell also played Friday night. He was sidelined with an ankle sprain. Offensive lineman Chad Whlker, who was taken to the hospital after becoming ill during Thursday’s practice, has been ' diagnosed with a condition that does not allow his body to maintain adequate blood pressure dur ing physical exercise. It can be treated with med ication, however, and coaches are optimistic that t I the freshman can return to the playing fiejc soon. i» ' . • -« The sports desk can be reached at gamecocksports @hotmail.com. '■ — - Sean Rayford The Gamecock*" « * ft -i Head Coach Lou Holtz changes his players around at practice. The Gamecocks spent their week- J end tying up loose ends to prepare for Saturday evening’s kickoff, set to begin at 7 p.m. USC coaches eager to begin seasons by David Cloninger The Gamecock Although the buzz around the USC campus is mostly centered on the upcoming football Satur days, four other fall sports started the new season Thursday with the official end of two-a-day prac tices and the beginning of their own quests for SEC and NCAA championships. Coaches Andrew Allden (cross country), Mark Berson (men’s soccer), Sue Kelly (women’s soc cer) and Kim Christopher (volleyball) each spoke about their respective teams at Thursday’s Media Day, covering questions about the past season, new faces and the tough schedules looming on the hori zon. However, one common theme was found among all the coaches - optimism. All the coaches expressed their excitememt for the new seasons but also addressed the con cerns for their primarily young squads. The Gamecock cross country team is com ing off a fifth-place finish in the SEC, which is the best finish yet for a USC team. The team placed two members on the All-SEC team but also lost two members to graduation. Despite this, Allden said his team is ready. “We had a very, very successful year last year,” Allden said. “That puts the bar at a higher height.” Allden, who guided USC to the state meet championship and was named S.C. Women’s Coach of the Year in 1999, lost three of his most pro ductive players in seniors - Joyce Peebles, Karen Padula and Sarah Hadwin - but replaced them with a strong recruiting class. “That’s good and bad news,” Allden said. “The good news is this is by far the strongest recruiting class we’ve had since I got here and possibly in the history of the program. But, we lost our No. 1 and No. 2 runners to graduation, but we return our No. 3, No.4 andffo. 5 runners.” Allden is one of several USC coaches with a youthful team, with seven freshmen on his 13 member squad. Allden says he thinks the recruits will im mediately produce and become a force in the SEC. Returning to the 2000 team are senior Sarah Davis, and juniors Katie Orr and Rachel Smith. Although bothered by an injury in 1999, Smith is healthy again and will lead the team along with Davis and Orr. “Our schedule is by far the toughest since I’ve come to South Carolina,” Allden said. “I think these meets will be excellent preparation for the SEC schedule and for the regionals.” Allden and the cross country team open up with a meet at Appalachian State, facing the host team, Florida State, South Florida and Navy. The season begins Friday. Beginning his 23rd year at USC, Berson has the men’s soccer team primed for a shot at the Col lege Cup (soccer’s equivalent to the Final Four), which will be held this year in Charlotte, N.C. As Berson pointed out, it would be'an excel lent opportunity to travel and hour for the NCAA title. The squad was left on the NCAA Tournament bubble last year after a 10-7-2 record, although they had a 2-2-2 record against NCAA Tournament teams. Also, two of the squad’s most productive play ers, John Harr and Ryan O’Neill, are graduated. “We have a very young team,” Berson said. “We have 19 freshmen or sophomores on a 24 man team. “Our schedule doesn’t help matters,” Berson added. “Only three of our first 12 matches are at home, one-third of our schedule was in the NCAA Tournament last year, and three of the top eight seeds in the tournament are on the schedule, none of which are at home. We certainly have a very difficult schedule, but that’s good.” With such a hard slate of games and such a young team, it would seem hard for Berson to seem so upbeat. However, Berson has led the Gamecocks to 13 NCAA appearances, including to the champi onship match in 1993, and has placed dozens of his players in the professional soccer ranks or on the All-American lists, all while playing in an in dependent conference. Returning to the team will be goalkeepeer Hen ry Ring, who will go down in Carolina history as one of its greatest at that position. Also, 1999 leading scorer Joey Worthen is back with sophomore Tim Glowienka, both leaders, as well as players, who make tilings happen. “You don’t know what’s going to happen in terms of leadership, you don’t know what’s go ing to happen when the game’s on the line,” Berson said of his young team. “That’s going to be an important part of this team’s growth. We really will not have a starting lineup until well into the season.” The team got off to a good start this weekend, as they beat fellow 1999 bubble team Notre Dame 2-0 at the Soccer Showcase in Fort Wayne, fnd. USC returns home Friday at 7 p.m. at Eu BANQUET see page 2 Sean Rayford The Gamecock All-SEC sophomore Berna Dwyer returns to help the 2000 volleyball squad in the upcoming season which will kick off Sept 1. Coach confident in 2000 men’s soccer lineup BY SHANNON ROOKE The Gamecock Most coaches would be slightly nervous if their starting lineup consisted of seven freshman and sophomores. Not Mark Berson. The South Carolina men’s soccer head coach watched happily, as His youthful team not only took over half of the spots in his starting eleven, but also took it upon themselves to finish the job. Joined by No. 1 Indiana, No. 7 Duke, No. 9 St. Louis, No. 20 Rutgers, Akron, Notre Dame and host school Indiana-Purdue University at Fort Wiyne (IPFW), the South Carolina 2000 squad took part in their first soccer showcase of the season. Although the wins, losses and statistics will not count towards the 2000 season statistics, beginning their tough scedule with two or more wins would bring the Gamecocks into their next matchup with a little more experience. Showing off its youth in Saturday’s season open er, the Gamecocks went on to deafeat Notre Dame 2-0. Wasting no time, USC got on the board early in the first half. With only 1:33 gone from the first-half clock, sophomore Jordan Quinn recorded the first goal of the season with a header that reached the back of the net off an assist from freshman Jack Cummings. The tough Notre Dame squad would then hold Carolina to a 1 -0 lead and would head into the sec ond half, looking for a chance to tie the game. Freshman Ryan Daley silenced that chance with a goal of his own in the 58th minute. Daley re ceived the ball off an assist from Quinn and placed his team up 2-0. The USC defense was also on top of their game, with starting goalkeeper Henry Ring recording 5 saves. Ring was relieved in the second half by team mate Mike Bachmeyer. South Carolina begins their regular season Sept. 1 against UMass at 7 p.m. The contest will take place on USC’s home field, Eugene E. Stone III Stadium. The sports desk can be reached at gamecock sports@hotmail.com. USC, Clemson face off 41 times in Baseball season] by Kyle Almond The Gamecock A home series versus national champions Louisiana State and four games against Clemson are just a few of the highlights in the South Car olina baseball team’s schedule for 2001, which was released Friday. The Gamecocks, SEC regular season cham pions in 2000, start their season February 3, when they take on the Wofford Terriers for the first of a two-game series. Also in February, USC travels to Charleston to Lake part in The Citadel Tournament. This is the first season that South Carolina and Clemson will play each other four times in the regular season. In seasons past, the archrivals competed only twice, playing once on their home field and once on the opponent’s field. The first meeting of the two teams will happen March 3, when the Gamecocks will trav el to Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The next day, Clemson will visit Saige Frye Field. The teams will also face off in Columbia April 18 and in Clemson April 25. Arkansas kicks off SEC competition for USG. The Razorbacks roll into Columbia March 9 for a three-game series. LSU, who won both the SEC Tournament and the College World Series in 2000, will play the Gamecocks in Columbia April 6-8. Carolina will also host an SEC series against Vanderbilt (March 23-25), Auburn (April 27-29), and Kentucky (May 4-6). This year’s SEC Tournament will be heldjin Birmingham, Ala. May 16-20. The sports desk can be reached at gamecocksports@hotmail. com I i 2001 Baseball Schedule 1 FEBRUARY 3 Wofford 1:30 p.m. 4 Wofford 1:30 p.m. 6 Coastal Carolina 3:00 p.m. 9-11 at The Citadel Tournament (Charleston, S.C.) 9 VCU 10:00 a.m. 10 Richmond 1:30 p.m. 11 Old Dominion 1:30 p.m. 16 Delaware State 3:00 p.m. 17 Delaware State 1:30 p.m. 18 Delaware State 1:30 p.m. 23 George Mason 3:00 p.m. 24 George Mason 1:30 p.m. 25 George Mason 1:30 p.m. MARCH 3 at Clemson 2:00 p.m. 4 Clemson 1:30 p.m. 7 Furman 7:00 p.m. 9 Arkansas 7:00 D.m. 10 Arkansas 4:00 p.m. 11 Arkansas 1:30 p.m. 13 Davidson 7:00 p.m. 14 Butler 7:00 p.m. 16 at Tennessee 7:00 p.m. 17 at Tennessee 2:00 p.m. 18 at Tennessee 2:00 p.m. 21 at Wofford 7:00 p.m. 23 Vanderbilt 7:00 p.m. 24 Vanderbilt 4:00 p.m. 25 Vanderbilt 1:30 p.m. 27 at C. of Charleston 7:00 p.m. 28 Elon 7:00 p.m. 30 at Alabama t 7:00 p.m. 31 at Alabama 4:00 p.m. I APRIL I I at Alabama 1:30 p.m. 3 at Furman 7:00 p.m. 6 Louisiana State 7:00 p.m. 7 Louisiana State 4:00 p.m. 8 Louisiana State 1:30 p.m. [ 10 at The Citadel 7:00 p.m. II The Citadel 7:00 p.m. 13 at Mississippi State TEA 14 at Mississippi State TEA 15 at Mississippi State TEA 18 Clemson 7:00 p.m. ! 20 at Georgia 6:30 p.m. » 21 at Georgia 2:00 p.m. j 22 at Georgia 1:30 p.m. | 25 at Clemson 7:15 p.m. 27 Aubum 7:00 p.m. j 28 Aubum 4:00 p.m. 29 Aubum 1:30 p.m. , I MAY 2 Charleston Southern 7:00 p.m. [ 4 Kentucky 7:00 p.m. 5 Kentucky 4:00 p.m. j 6 Kentucky 1:30 p.m. | 11 at Florida TEA 12 at Florida TEA 13 at Florida TBA 16-20 at SEC Tournament (Birmingham, Ala.) 25-27 NCAA Regionals i i JUNE 1 -3 NCAA Super Regionals 8-16 College World Series (Omaha, Neb.) _1