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GAME SCHEDULE VOLLEYBALL vs. Mississippi State, 7 p.m. Friday FOOTBALL vs. Alabama, 12:30 p.m. Saturday WOMEN’S SOCCER vs. Florida, 12 p.m. Sunday MEN’S TENNIS vs. National Tennis Team Championships, Friday-Sunday FACE OFF f Alabama at USC 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at Willams-Brice Stadium TV: JP Sports WIS Columbia Radio: 56Q-AM.WVQC BY GREG WHITT THE GAMECOCK The 15th-ranked South Caroli na Gamecocks (3-0,2-0) on Satur day look to take another step they have never taken before: beating the Alabama Crimson Tide. Coming off an emotional, na tionally televised win against Mis sissippi State last week, the Gamecocks will be challenged to remain focused and not slight a very talented Alabama team. The Tide has an edge on the Gamecocks in every offensive cat egory except points per game, in which both teams are tied at 20. After the Crimson and White's per formance against Arkansas last week, Alabama could be heading back to its glory days under the leadership of new head coach Den nis Franchione. Alabama seems to be getting back to the level of the 199910-3 Or ange Bowl team. The Tide is already distancing itself far from last year's dismal 3 8 effort. The Gamecocks have never beaten Alabama in ten tries (though they were once awarded a win by forfeit), a statistic head coach Lou Holtz surely has re minded his team of. Holtz has also reminded the team plenty of times about the Tide's 31-10 bashing of Arkansas last week. Saturday's matchup will in volve two teams whose current manifestations are entirely dif ferent from their past histories. USC Offense vs. Alabama Defense: Rushing: The Gamecocks will continue with their three-back ro tation of juniors Derek Watson, Andrew Pinnock and even Ryan Brewer occasionally. Pinnock had an outstanding game against Mis sissippi State last week, gaining 97 yards on 12 attempts. He aver aged 8.1 yards a carry, with most of those yards being gained be tween the tackles. Also, look for Holtz to get Wat son more involved this week. He has not yet had the explosive type of performance Gamecock fans are used to seeing from him. Besides the games against Mississippi State and Tennessee last year, Watson had been a constant threat. Saturday's game should be a low scoring defensive battle. Both Alabama and USC’s defenses are extremely similar in their setup and philosophies. Alabama’s defense has only al lowed an average of 13 points per game this season. Junior defen sive end Kindal Moorehead, who was an all-SEC selection in 1999, is back after missing last season because of an ACL injury. Moore head is one of the top pass rushers in the nation. The Tide’s veteran defensive line forced four turnovers last week in their defeat of Arkansas. Alabama linebacker Saleem Rasheed is one of the best at his position in the country. ADVANTAGE: USC Passing: Senior signal-caller Phil Petty will once again t ke the helm for the Gamecocks, ’etty's passing ability has improved tremendously this season, after throwing 10 interceptions last sea son. This year, he has no inter ceptions and has completed 64 per cent of his passes for 474 yards and two touchdowns. Ryan Brewer, who has caught 10 passes for 128 yards this year, will lead the re ceiving corps. Petty also has reli able receivers in the speedy Corey Alexander and Brian Scott. Another possible option at quarterback has emerged in Corey Jenkins. Jenkins led USC on a game-winning drive where he rushed 11 times for 75 yards. Though there is no quarterback controversy, it is possible Jenkins will enter the game to make the Tide adjust their defense. ADVANTAGE: ALABAMA Alabama offense vs. USC defense: Rushing: Alabama can run the ball, too, averaging 168 rushing yards per game. Ahmaad Galloway leads the at tack on the ground for the Tide. He ran over Vanderbilt with 144 yards and has compiled 283 yards so far this season. Look for the Tide to try and get him involved early. Junior quar terback Tyler Watts is also second on the team in rushing with 98 yards. Carolina's defense, led by senior Kalimba Edwards, has been equal ly dangerous, allowing only 12 points per game. The Gamecocks will get a big boost when senior linebacker Ken ny Harney returns to action after missing the last two games. Sopho more Jeremiah Garrison will be moving back to outside line backer. Both teams like to rely on their defense to come up with turnovers and points. USC has a veteran de fensive line, led by senior defen ♦ FOOTBALL, SEE PAGE 9 Top: Sheldon Brown attempts to break up a pass against Boise St. Bottom: Derek Watson runs for yardage against Boise St. photo by aaron hark For Gamecocks, the best is just beginning CHRIS FOY GAMECOCKSPORTS@HOTMAIL.COM Could you imagine it? The Gamecocks are going to the Rose Bowl. The words every South Carolina fan is dying to hear - that USC will compete for the national title. But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. Is this South Carolina squad a No. 1 team? No. Are they an 11-0 team? Could be. This may not be the most “clicking” Gamecock football team you have ever seen, but one thing you have to admit is that they find a way to win. This season's Gamecocks have some serious advantages that last year's didn't. Two, mainly. They can score a touchdown in the final minutes under pressure, and (surprise) they have a field goal kicker who hasn't missed a field goal (we'll just overlook the missed PAT). Now, let's look ahead through the season and see what threats are present to thwart a perfect season. There are four pivotal games remaining on the schedule, and three are at home. Beating Alabama, Tennessee, Florida and Clemson will prove to the nation that this team is a powerhouse. And if we do happen to accomplish this feat, maybe ESPN will give us the rights to 'USC.' First on the list is tomorrow's matchup with Alabama. The 2-1 Crimson Tide won't pose too much of a threat, will they? Well, Carolina does have to overcome the hurdle of actually beating them, as the series is 10-0 in 'Bama's favor. But not only are they playing in Columbia, the talent factor lies with South Carolina. USC should win this game. Next up, Kentucky, Arkansas and Vanderbilt. These shouldn't be too much of a problem. But note “shouldn't.” In college football, upsets are frequent. However, Carolina can win these games and probably won't have any problems in doing it. Then the real test begins: The start of the Orange Crush, which begins on the road this season. However, the Gamecocks have already beaten two ranked opponents on the road. Tennessee is certainly better than Mississippi State and Georgia, but it's a testament to this South Carolina team about who they can play on the road. In a clean game, with solid performances by Phil Petty and either Derek Watson or Andrew Pinnock, the Gamecocks can easily upset the Vols on the road. South Carolina will roll over Wofford. By this point, USC could realistically be in a match that will determine the SEC East Champion — going 9-0 into a home game against Florida. Make no mistake; Florida is by far the best team on the schedule. But with a little bit of luck, and the luxury of playing at home, USC could be sending the Gators home with a loss. Remember last year's sudden attack in Gainesville when the Gamecocks went up 21-3 in the first quarter? Of course, the Gators came back and tore USC apart, but there was a solid lead for a time. If the Gamecocks have a very clean game and can capitalize on any Gator mistakes, this could very well be marked as a win for South Carolina. Are you seeing the possibilities yet? Let’s say this is reality. Clemson will come to town to face the 10-0 Gamecocks. South Carolina has the ability this season, regardless of what each team's record will be entering the game, to give Clemson a beating like they have never seen. But even if the Gamecocks are perfect when Nov. 17 comes around, the Tigers should never be taken lightly. It wouldn't be out of the ordinary for the next chapter in the Clemson-USC rivalry to feature the Tigers stopping the Gamecocks from achieving a ♦ FOY, SEE PAGE 9 Volleyball hits road to Miss. Mississippi State will be next challenge BY RICK JOHNSTON THE UAMECOCK The South Carolina volleyball team hits the road this weekend on a swing to Mississippi for games against Ole Miss and Mis sissippi State. USC (7-1,1-1 SEC) is coming off a weekend where it went 1-1 in its SEC season openers, de feating Georgia and narrowly losing to No. 9 Florida on the televised SEC match of the week. Mississippi State (5-4, 1-1 SEC) is coming off a weekend that saw them take on Auburn and Alabama. The Bulldogs won 3-0 at Auburn by scores of30-23, 30-27 and 30-18, giving the Bull dogs only their second win in an SEC opener since 1989. Also, I-- —— MSU took back-to-back road wins from Auburn for the first time in school history. MSU fell to Alabama 3-1,30-22,14-30,23-30 and 24-30. Ole Miss (3-7,1-1 SEC) is also coming off a 1-1 weekend against the Alabama schools, defeating Auburn and losing to Alabama. The 3-2 win over Auburn gave the Rebels their first road win of the season in dramatic fashion, winning in five games with scores of30-28,30-19,24-30,25-30 and 15-9. Last season, the Lady Game cocks swept the series against the Mississippi schools, winning 3-0 over Ole Miss and 3-1 over Mississippi State. Both matches were at USC’s Volleyball Com petition Facility. For Friday’s game, a key matchup will be on both teams’ right side. Mississippi State junior Misty Hubenthal recorded her third straight double-double in the win over Auburn, notching 15 kills and 15 digs. Her counterpart for the Gamecocks is junior Cally Plum mer, a two-time first team All SEC performer. In the loss against Florida, she led USC with 20 kills, giving her 121 for the season, an average of more than four kills per game. Plum mer is also hitting .288 for the season. MSU sophomore middle blocker Tanika Taylor will be matched up against the power ful USC middle, with junior Bema Dwyer, junior Sam Alban and redshirt freshman Niece Curry leading the way. Curry leads the Lady Gamecocks with 33 blocks, averaging just more than one per game. Ole Miss will be led by senior outside hitter Jamie Bums, who got a double-double of her own this past weekend, getting 21 kills and 11 digs against Auburn. The Rebels present their own force in the middle with junior Sarah Lansden, who recorded a career-high 19 digs against Auburn. Junior Erin Newsome will join Lansden to try and neu tralize the USC middle attack. Anlong the other Lady Game cocks looking to have big week ends is junior outside hitter Ya jaira Cadet, who had 16 kills in the Florida match. Also look for another solid outing by junior setter Megan Hosp, USC’s leader in assists, with 348 total and an average of 12 per game, and digs, with 81 total and an average of nearly three a game. Hosp also ranks sixth in kills for USC, with 26 on the year, av eraging just under one kill per game. The Lady Gamecocks are ranked 18th in the AVCA/USA Today Coaches’ Top 25. In the all-time series, USC leads Mis sissippi State 13-4 and Ole Miss 13-6. (-s- •“! FYI for Saturday’s Game Fans are encouraged to be in their seats at 12:15 in order to see the special pregame show. Larry Gatlin will sing the national anthem. Fans are also encouraged to stay for the halftime show, which wil be a special tribute in recognition of firefighters, law enforcement, and emergency personnel. REMINDERS: ♦ No coolers, thermostats, bookbags or any other types of bags will be permitted inside the gates. ♦ If you bnng in a purse or medical case, it will be searched before you can enter the gate. ♦ You will not be allowed to park on the shoulder of National Guard Road. ♦ All cars on the stadium grounds will be subject to search. ♦ Gates will open 30 minutes early, at 10 a.m. ♦ Unless it is absolutely necessary for students to bring anything else, they are encouraged to bring only their student IDs.