Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Frosh In 'L SPORTS g9ANDERS BY SANDERS The number one game of South Carolina will bring a climax to a colorful extravaganza called the State Fair. During a period of two hours tomorrow afternoon, the hum, hustle, and bustle of the fairways and sideshows will lapse into a whisper and almost suspended animation as the Gamecocks do battle with the Clemson Tigers. The battle actually appears to carry a bit more intensity this year as both squads are unbeaten in Atlantic Coast Conference competition and the winner will quite possibly be the ACC representative in Miami on New Year's Day for the annual Orange Bowl classic. The "Big Thursday" affair will match the wits of a new head coach and the "dean of football coaches in the ACC against each other; namely, Warren Giese of Carolina and Frank Howard of Clemson. Thus, youth and knowledge against experience and tobacco. MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS Tickets for the annual affair are harder to get than a snowball in July, even with a deep freeze available. It's practically an impossibility to get a single anywhere in the stadium unless the person wishes to get a close haircut. The scalpers are out to make that extra buck and, unfortunately, they usually make it. Things got so bad in 1946 that a group of racketeers moved into the Columbia area with hundreds of counterfeit Carolina-Clemson ducats. The ample supply of "tickets" available soon aroused the suspicion of the.local police and after a rapid investigation several arrests were made. However, some got "taken" by the bogus ticket scheme and made an attempt to get into the game. The gate officials protested and refused to allow the people to enter the gate. The fans soon gathered in a huge mob and rushed the entrance. Naturally it was impossible for the police officers and gate keepers to subdue the mob and everyone rushed into the stands and on the field. The game was halted several times by the officials as the fans overflowed onto the field, getting in the way of the players. The Gamecocks finally won the game 26-14. There are many memories coming out of the 1952 battle. The Gamecocks won that ball game 6-0 on a pass from quarterback Johnny Gramling to halfback Gene Wilson for the only score of the game. But, the most inspiring moments came at halftime when the late Steve Wadiak was honored. The Carolina card section formed the number 37, Wadiak's playing number, with a heart as a background. The band on the field also formed a "37" and played "Old Lang Sy'ne." Wadiak, as many of you remember, was killed in an automobile accident near Aiken, S. C. in March of 1952. His jersey has been retired and his shoes have been bronzed in a tribute to a great athlete. They are nowv displayed in the lobby of Russell House. HOOTS AND HOLLERS C'lemson still is beating the wvar dIrum before v'arious personages of the state to the effect that the game should be played on a home and home basis, preferably at the end of each team's season. It appears to be unfair, say Clemson supporters, to play in enemy territory all the time, even though the number of supporters are equally divided. Reasons submitted by Clemsonians haven't been sufficient enough to dispose of the flavor and atmosphere which goes to make up "Big Thursday." The classic is a combination sports and society event of the year for South Carolinians. Clemson, unfortunately, leads Carolina 30-20 in the ancient series, thus proving that "strange fields" and time of season have nothing wvhatsoever to (Io wvith the outcome of the game. Carolina Stadium actually becomes a "state" stadiumi one dlay a year. The game is played (luring the middle of the week for one main purl)ose. That one factor is to put the state of South Carolina into the national limelight for a single day a year. The game could be called a bowl game, but there are so many "b)owl" games existing todlay that such games are losing much of their significance. So, that leaves "Big Thurs (lay" in a special class by itself. SEASON RE-PLAYED South Carolina's Gamecocks opened their 1956 football season against the best of the Little Four, Wofford, and p)roceededl to lower the Terriers 27-13. The running of King Dixon andl Alex Hawkins, along with the fine play calling ('f Mackie Prickett aided the cause. After the game, several sportswriters gave that casual ho-hum look toward the Birds for the 1956 season. The victory had been won, but how would they (Gamecocks) stand up against teams such as D)uke, North Carolina and Miami. Well, the answer to those queries came just one week later as Giese's team downed the Blue D)evils from Duke 7-0. It was merely a game of terrific poss('ssion ball and inspiration that won the ball game. The victory in '56 was the first over the D)evils since Coach Hill Laval's days here at Carolina in 1931. Then, on the next Friday night in a sultry Florida climate the Gamecocks were overcome b)y the running and play making of Don Bosseler and Sam Scarnecchia, the fullback and quarterback, respectively. Carolina put up several goal line stands, but the heat and humidity appeared to be too much as the final score read Miami 14 and South Carolina 6. The defeat at the hands of Andy Gustafason's men was, (Continued on page 10 k\. 11 05'~ Ay a Coaches By Sylvia Hanna Staff Writer "The Big Thursday gamne is tlt players' game," say Ernie Law horne and Jesse Berry, two former Carolina football players who are coaching the Gamecocks now. "The coaches prepare the boys thor oughly for the Carolina-Clemson game, but the spirit and hustle are generated by the players them selves." Ernie Lawhorne has played in Big Thursday clashes and has seen the game from the coach's posi tion. le is a backfield coach now. Jesse Berry will see the game as a Carolina coach for the first time Thursday. le played in the Big Event in '50, '51 and '52, and is in charge of the junior varsity team this year. "Wrung the Chicken's Neck" In recalling past Big Thursdays, Coach Lawhorne mentioned the "wringing of a chicken's neck" by Clemson students during the half time in '46. Bedllam followed the incident as rival fams convergedl upon the field. The "free-for-all" was soon dispelled, though, andl the Gamne (cocks p)lunged on to wvin that one. At this same game, enthusiastic ticketless fans crashed the gate andl swarmed into the stadlium. The box wvhere .James F. Byrnes, then Secretary of State, had a ticket was overrun. Byrnes saw the game that day from the players' bench - nearly on the p)laying field. Two-Platoon System Lawhorno and lBerry played football under the twvo-platoon system. Lawhorne dloubledl as halfback and qjuart.erback, and was usually on the de(fe'nsive' te'am as a halfback. lie pllayedl on the~ freshman squad in '43 and the varsity in '43. A hitch in the armedo forces interrup)ted Lawvhorne's (a reer, lbut he returned to the Gamecock squadl in '46. A shoulder injury kept him out of the '418 Carolina Clemson game, the only one he missed while he played for the G;am'cocks. lherry ce'ntere'd offensively for the Gaimecocks, against Tiger Fritsch Tops Vale's 13-Day Punt Record Greensboro, N.( CThe Atlaontic Coast Conferene's puInting record, set by North Carolina's WalIly Vale against Oklahoma, lasted only 13 days. Maryland quarterback .John Fritsch, in the Trerp's loss to Miami, erased Vale's mark with an 88-yard punt against the Hiur ricanes. Vale had set t he new record wvith an 84-yarder against the Sooners, according to ACC Servien Bureau ronrdis hero due sd~ Coaches Reminisce Reueal1 P( center Don Wade who is one of Clemson's football coaches now. W'hen asked about the outcome RARE WAI r @a (.oed Ilunter (C) Mituater ( A) palsses, eindler is ear II unter then leaps quicki' winning her affection.( vaniced Ilnnters only.) uzch a ffection, hiowever, SO21W'F.* TIhis nay heC men lt plani, which, by the It's~ available to college n: cant pus representaltives I< * SCM WF. Sali,LCtzn..] Ety 4)cI * is t Days of Thursday's game, they both hastened to reply, "We'll win, and it'll be the players' gamel" (~ (S OF CAP* o Theursa'uge, eptghe bth hsteaed to epy "Wertlived and i'besthe plyes alymento way ca mkefoua woC 1 Ie nyaddeoismyh iday Ia-iha-uue NAToNA LIREME ash T Biddies M In Stadimn "Little Wednesday," the obvious handle for the day that precedes "Big Thursday," seems to be carrying the usual interest with South Carolina's Biddies set to compete for the jinx victory against Clemson's freshmen. Traditions has it that the winner of the "Little Wednesday" affray, second only to Big Thurs day in spectator interest, is likely to be loser of the varsity game the following day. However, few bother to remember what happened in previous years-but it's a good tradition story anyway. This year's baltle, set for 8 o'clock tonight in Carolina Stadi um, shapes up to be another thriller. The 1955 contest ended in a 14-14 tie, and it featured the terrific running of several backs now playing for the varsities. Rudy Hayes, fullback from Pickens, has provided consider able punch to the already powerful Clemson backfield, and South Carolina's King Dixon of Laurens and Alex Hawkins of South Charleston, W. Va., are showing the same form at their halfback positions that thrilled the fresh man crowd last season. [URING CO AN thwt lcrc a'H n a Sitdeleprctice fand gooad an is imuportant to immediately dI Ing that you own a NATIO'NA: t of money ovier a perlodl of til leferred until after gradluation., DANCE COMPANY onight eet Cubs n At 8 Apparently, this year's teams have equally spectacular stars. For the Biddies, fullback John Saunders of Churchland, Va. is living up to his high school record which saw him score 52 touch downs (468 points) in his junior and senior years. Highly sought after Harvey White of Greenwood, a quarterback on the cub team, seemed to pick up where his phenominal prep record left off. Other outstanding players for the Biddies are Tom Stuart, a 196-pound fellow who can play almost any position on the team; Steve Chisholm, Don Archer, Ed 'itts, and )oug Hatcher. The freshman squad of South Carolina is composed of 16 "na tive" sons and other players from the east, midwest and north. Chisholm and Archer are both Canadian products, giving the Hiddies an international flavor. T'he records of the two teams, though not as impressive as last year's squads, still appears in t eresting. Clemson lost 13-37 to Georgia Tech before defeating N. C. State 33-0. South Carolina has lost 0-6 and 6-1 to Wake Forest and Duke. Admission prices are $1.50 for adults and 50 cents for children, with students gaining admission to the game upon presentation of their identification card. EDS-NO. 3 ? @ of c'inders (ID). As Coed kissing her lightly, thus u. Rleconu nend(edl for Ad emnonstrate that one is a L. COLLEG;E LIFE invebt (OIseek with one of your Rowu Waon '55E