Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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SPOR TORAMA By DON BARTON BIG THURSDAY-THEN, NOW AND ALWAYS!! The Carolina-Clemson football game has developed into one of the most colorful athletic events in the South. It didn't just happen that way, however-it didn't become a classic overnight. Many factors have entered into making the State Fair game what it is today. Originally, the game became an at traction partially because it was played during the week of the State Fair, to which people came from all over the state. Gradually Carolina and Clemson developed a rivalry that made the State Fair the secondary matter and the game the main attraction, but the importance of this event owes much to the State Fair. There's something in the atmosphere that makes this more than just a football game-the teams participating have been mediocre more times than not. Yet, when the teams are not world beaters this game is still "it" as far as South Carolinians are concerned. Yes, it is more than just a football game; but it took from 1896 through many years, lean and fat, to establish it as the game of games in the Palmetto State. Then came the good year of 1947. The game received a divorce from State Fair admission charges, and several peo ple interpreted that change to mean that a new era was approaching. Of all things, they want to break up the State Fair game, start Carolina and Clemson playing on Saturday, on a home-and-home basis, and make it just another foot ball game. Red Canup of the Anderson Independent has written lengthy columns advocating this change and attempting to point out the advantages of the change, mostly in terms of commercial interests of merchants in that section. Besides the several thousands of sandwiches that they could sell in that section, he points out that the people in the Piedmont would like to see the teams in action just as much as Co lumbians. Well, brother, you take inventory at the game today and you'll find many more persons from outside Columbia at the game than you'll find Columbians. There'll be persons from Charleston, Florence, Georgetown and other towns in the lower part of the state, who want to see the game, too, and find Columbia much more accessible than Clemson. You'll find many others from Anderson, Greenville and Spartanburg, who have driven down in the THREE hours necessary to make the trip. Nobody needs artificial respira tion after a ride of three hours. Both Carolina and Clemson have alumni scattered all over the state, and as this is one game that most of them consider important enough to tell business to go hang for a day, it's a natural place to have it right here in Columbia, the center of the state. If Carolina and Clemson began playing on a home-and home basis, it would be one of the worst things that could happen to the game. It would gradually become just another football game, just as it gradually grew to its present status under the present set-up. Yes, there's more to the State Fair game than just two football teams. It is really surprising that persons who seem to be greatly interested in the game, and who should recognize the color and drama attached to it, would even dare to suggest such a change. As long as those individuals do advocate a change, SPORTORAMA stands 300% against it. We are confident that all others with genuine interests in South Carolina's one claim to individuality and prominence in athletic events will say, "No, no, a thousand times, NO!I" When they move the State house to Stump house moun tain so people in that vicinity Can see the legislature in ac tion, we'll talk over changes, but until then we stand for Big Thursday-then, now and always. ROCKY ROAD AHEAD Carolina faces an important game today, but after its over, don't relax . .. we face an increasingly rocky road. Miami, which lost only to North Carolina and Louisiana' State last year, while winning eight, is next up. "We'll have approximately three practice days between the Clemson and Miami games," explains Coach Enright, "as we'll prob ably lay off this weekend. "The bad part about the situation Is that most people don't realize what a dangerous team Miami has. They're going to give some the big boys a rough day before this sea son is over; it might be Vanderbilt or Alabama. We're going to try to be ready for them, but It's no easy problem," En right said. Take a look at Saturday morning's paper and see the re sult of the Miami-George Washington game. Then not far off loom Duke and Wake Forest, two na tional powers. Beating either of those teams would make the season end successfully, but we can't count on winning one. No one has to be told about Duke or Wake Forest. -It all adds up to the fact that there are hard days ahead for the Birds .. . but Sportorama has an idea that there's also a rough time ahead for Wiami, The Citadel, Duke and Wake F'orest. d1 Gamecocks Clash (Continued from Page 1) ground tactics. Quarterback At well has compiled an impressive passing record of 13 completions in 22 attempts. Looking over the season's rec rds, Clemson opened with a 42 :o 0 win over Presbyterian col ege, then dropped consecutive games to Boston college, 32 to ?2, Wake Forest, 16 to 14, and NI. C. State, 18 to 0. The three osses were to teams rated near :he top of the nation's defensive alevens. Carolina opened with a 27 to 6 victory over .Newberry, dropped games to Maryland, 19 to 13, and 4ississippi, 33 to 0, then snapped >ack with a 26-to-8 triumph over Furman. Coach Enright's Aggregation has suffered the loss of Bill Rut edge, who alternated at fullback with Red Harrison. Minor injuries mar the Gamecocks, but most of the squad will be in uniform and available for duty. The Clemson squad will be in good shape for the battle and has been bolstered by the return of its regular fullback, Jim Reynolds, and Cary Cox, breakaway back, who was recently discharged from the Marine Corps. These two ad ditions should increase the ef fectiveness of the Tigers' single wing attack. Both squads have avoided rough workouts for the past two days, as they went through concentrated scrimmages Monday. Limbering up exercises, pass defense, timing of plays and kicking drills have featured final practices for the classic. The Gamecocks worked out behind closed gates at Caro lina stadium this week, as Coach Enright made last-minute defen sive and offensive alterations. Probable starting lineups: Pos.-Clemison Carolina LE-Walker - Wilson LT--Prince Land, Jake LG-Clanton Walker C-Cox (C) Ekimoff RG-Gillespie Allen (C) RT-Salisbury Alexander, Phil RE-Thompson O'Harra QB-Moorer Atwell LHI-Gage Lawhorne or Couch RH-Mathews Striekland or Fagan FB--Miller Harrison Big Thursday Headquarters For the 41st Year We Welcome Everyone to the CAROLINA-CLEMSON GAME Hope-Davis Co. Main at L'ady St. J1~ 'I -I V..- A- - sIp,.,. V.. I"'. :~I ~ / 7 .~''' ~ b.. ~ I I,, ~LL4~ \. ~ p.' AWAYS Jvr' A ALWA 3 BET *C04 Cs~v~gh. 194? Lacom A lJwaas T~cco C. of : "AR "WEL Block C Club Meets Monda All members of the -Block C clab are reminded that their will be a meeting -of. the er ganisation at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon in the Block room. Bobby O'Harta president, urges every member to be present. Other officers of the Block C club are Burt Orr, vice-prsI dent, Ernie Lawhorne, trees. urer, and Fred Cross, secretary. -Tuxedos & Full Dress FOR RENT Wright-Johnston, INC. MEN'S CLOTHING SHOES AND FURNISHINGS Phonee 2-4?23 1330 Main St. HESTERFIELDS NO STRANGERS ALWAYS WELCOME" APPBARING WITH rZGERALD IN PARAMOUNT's OME STRANGER"