Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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JTHE BRD CAGE 4WZ Tem AfeLdown Wfen the Univbrsity. of South Carolina' went'up against the North Carolina Tar Heels in a regionally televised basket ball game recently, the surprising chbice to start at center. for the damecocks was 6'10" soph Larry Diat It was only Larry's second appearance of the season, his firA as a starter. Sitting there by the TV -set, we wondered how Larry must feel to be suddenly thrust up against the nation's No. 1 team. (Ed. Note: Since then, a loss to West Virginia has knocked the Tar Heels down to the No. 3 spot.) To find the answer, we went directly to Larry himself. "I can honestly say that that was the scaredest I've ever been in my life," said Larry. "I didn't know I was going to start until two minutes before game time or I probably wouldn't have niade it." Reminded that in his first game just three days before, he had run up against N. C. State's All-American John Richter, he said, "I was put in that game so fast I didn't really have time to be scared." FACED ORDEAL Inaugurating one's basketball career against the nation's number one and 11 teams, plus an All-American, is enough to give anyone cold feet; however, Larry came throuigh the ordeal okay. He scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds against State and contributed two points and three rebounds against UNC. Coach Frank Johnson called Larry's debut performance far better than that of former Gamecock All American Jim Slaughter. Larry played only one year of high school ball at Fair forest High in Spartanburg County. "I went out for the team in the ninth grade but I didn't do any good so I didn't try again until my senior year," he said. By this time he had grown up to a hefty 6'9" size, just right for dunking in basketballs. Larry "averaged 18 points a game and led the team in rebounds as Fairforest compiled a 20-2 record. NAMED TO ALL-STARS He was named to the Spartanburg County All-Stars and played in the North-South high school all-star. game. 'Asked when he settled on the choice of Carolina for college, Larry said, "I hadn't given college basketball a thought until Coach Frank Johnson came up in mid-seasorn and scouted me. He offered me a scholarship and I was kind of speechless." Later in the season Wofford and N. Green ville Junior College took notice and offered him scholarships but he had already decided on Carolina. In his freshman season, Larry's awkwardness and lacli of poise, that stemmed from the fact that he had played only one year of high school ball, was evident. He still man aged to average seven points a game and pull down his share of rebounds. This season there was talk of ',bohunking" him to give him a year's extra experience, but he came along rapidly and Coach Johnson decided to use him this season. Larry will probably play basketball this summer in a summer league and he will have a chance to gain some valuable experience. Meanwhile, Carolina fans who remember big Jim Slaughter are keeping a hopeful eye on the future. INCIDENTAL NOTES AND QUOTES Congratulations are in order to the Gamecocks' Bob Frantz for making the Gator Bowl all-tourney team. Despite the disappointing team performance of the Gamecocks during the two-game affair, Frantz sparkled enough to gain the recogni tion of the local scribes. . . . Congratulations are also in order for guard Dickie Prater, who turned in fine perform ances last week against Maryland and Virginia. . . . Some people think it was a mistake to break up the Hudson twins combo. However, the ankle injury suffered by Bury caused him to miss so many practice sessions he probably would have had a hard time catching up. Anyway they will have two more seasons together in which to show their wares. . .. Note to Coach Johnson: We wish you would make more use of Freddie Luigs. He seems to be one of the smoothest performers on. the team. . . . North Carolina forward Pete Brennan, who will be seen in action here Feb. 1, when the TaifIeels meet the Gamecocks, was selected on the all-tourna ment teams of both the Kentucky Invitational and Dixie Classic. Coaches Go To Footbalil.YOU Meet In Penn. The University of South Caro- O S O lina is Veil rejpresented at the annual meeting of the niation's college footbalf coAches and ath lic* directors 'which is i sessionLA N In PhilaTelphla this week. Led by -Athletic Direetor' Rex Enrighi, Coaches War'ren Gese, Ernie La*horne, Leo Mahoney, satvin Bass and f Hank Bartos alamn'n -somie 2,000 represen- FNS E aie ssuing muitual prob Veinms in the "City of Brotherly the cogehes are consldering five veoaiumndatlons which the Rules 0ommlttee of the -American Foot- E 0.6*65ke Assni. drew up re s, ~erWa lbeaised in 784 Huarrden -aa TRY OURd'~A '4~ONESTOI 'LAUN A-: COACHES AT PRACTICE LUL ter Hambrick glance at the came cock forces since 1940. Assista by Jerry Sanders.) Basketball Is A 'Man You might say that University of South Carolina basketball coach Frank Johnson is a "rMan without a lineup." He needs a scientifie device to determine just which of his numerous sophomores are going to have their shooting irons loaded before each game. The up-and-down nature of those first-year performers has resulted in a half-dozen starting combinations for the Gamecocks thus far, as at least four sopho mores have come up with out standing performances on particu lar nights but not sufficient ten dencies toward consistency. For instance, it was forward Walt Hudson who broke loose with 18 points against Georgia, and it looked as if he might be a regular. Frantz Makes Gator Bowl All-Tourney Bob Frantz, Carolina's soph center, was named to the Gator Bowl all-tournament team for his work in the recent holiday tourna mient. Despite the fact that the Game cocks were beaten In both games, Frantz sparkled by pouring in 12 points against Georgia and 20 against Clemson. The Gamecoc)cs, wvho wvere favorites in the tourna ment, succumbed to Georgia 81 66 in the opening round and then lost to Clemson 85-65 for the consolation title. Others making the all-tourney team were: Ray Allen of Georgia, George Krajack and Vince Yockle of Clemson, and Joe Hobbs of Florida. PRO D'ACONS -Wake Forest will have two of its former grid stars playing in the eighth annual Pro Bowl game in Los Angeles' Memorial Coliseum Sunday. Bill George, a standout lineman with the Chicago Bears, will be playing for the West while All-America fullback Bill Barnes, will be performing for the East. COMPLETE 'SERVICE ROMAT .EANING LAUNDRY BINSON Dry Cleaners -Fivre Point. IL TAYoR-s) ~~X 7 L ... Carolina basketball coaches F raman during a break In practice se nt Coach Hambrick has been at tl Coach Fraj Without A He yielded his role to another soph, Mike Callahan, two games later, and Callahan's 17 points proved the bright spot of an ef fort against national champion North Carolina. It was Larry Dial's night against North Carolina State, and the 6-10 sophomore contributed eight points In the second half when he made his debut against North Carolina State. Then it was 6-7 Bob Frantz, a sophomore forward, who bright ened the picture with 20 points against Clemson in a Gator Bowl tournament loss. So Johnson finds it a rather frustrating job to attempt fore casting which of the four are going to be in good form for a particular. game. "We'll just have to keep trying them until we find which one ap pears to be having a good night," "In a ~ rc "dHere at General Elect year-old marketing tra about the future - eve fact, I've discovered tha lea's needs 10 and 20 yei of the electrical industi me, General Electric's l< future into account. I'r ment in the Company's' -- all planned steps ini "I'm pretty confideni too. For one thing, Amr been doubling every toi oven faster as our popu lion by 1978 -and as r4 to new electrical produi ter. The way I look at in= and marketing r.o W X ions. Johnon has led the Game e University since 1955. (Photo rk Johnson Lineup' Johnson says. "I guess our lineup will continue to vary from game to game." The Gamecocks have been given indication that they can count on guard Ray Pericola, one of the Atlantic Coast Conference's stand outs, for a sizeable contribution each game. He is averaging 14.1 to lead the squad, along with being the team's best ball-handler and "take-charge" guy. Guard Dickie Prater has started hitting well, too, and he could' be a great offensive boost to the Gamecocks, if he continues to shoot as he did in recent starts against Maryland and Virginia. He is currently averaging 12.1 per game. Forward Dick Hoffman and center Fred Lentz, two returning starters, continue to rate as "usual" startets for the Game cocks. rowing ir som for rn ric," says Penn R. Post, 24 inee, "you hear a lot of talk n as far ahead as 1978. In it planning ahead for Amer-. trs from now is characteristic 7y. And, what's important to. mng-range planning takes my n now on my fourth assign 'echnical Marketing Program my development. about the electrical future,' erica's~ use of electricity has i years. And it will increase lation grows another 65 mil isearch and development lead eta that help people live bet t, the technical, manufactur lrces of lae comnaniaa HJrk GLiese. _r Abot i fly Doun Barton Warren Giese. is looking back on his two ytars as he4d coach for the' University football team with an ever-strengthening conclusion that he agrees withthe bandleader Phil Harris. It was two years ago -on Jan, 5 that -Giese's appointment to suc ceed Rex Enright as Coach of the Gamecocks was announced, and the anniversary finds the youthful former Maryland assistant chapt ing "That's What I Like About The South." Perhaps the accent doesn't smack of grits and chitter lings as much as Harris', but Giese sings It with conviction. No doubt the fact that the Mil waukee native's first two seasons at U. S. C. had football fans in this area saying, I'That's What I Like About Giese," has something to do with his fondness for this section. Made Debut Giese made his debut as a head coach in tempo with four other changes in command among At lantic Coast Conference schools, and his early record has easily ranked at the top of that list. In two years Giese's Gamecocks have won 12 games while losing eight, compared to an 8-11-1 for North Carolina's Jim Tatum, 7-12-1 for Maryland's Tommy Mont, 2-15-8 for Wake Forest's Paul Amen and 6-13-1 for Virginia's Ben. Martin. However, Giese's feelings about his post are based deeper than that. Giese points out "the friend liness of the people, the love they have for athletics and the wonder ful place it is for raising chil dren." (He has three little ones.) Although Giese. maintains a driving pace in his work as a coach, he appreciates the slowed down tempo of the "Just plain living" found in South Carolina. Another item close to Giese's heart, the football player in this area, has made quite an impres sion on the Carolina Coach, too. Natural Trait "Boys down here have the na tural trait that a coach often has to inculcate into a player. A fierce loyalty seems to be inherent in Southern boys," he explained. PENN4 R. POST re< engineering fronm He is now in thi General Electric' koting Program, General Purpose) cdustry, i is to gro3 General Electric are importa1 of the electrical industry. A1 try, there's room for me to g Young people like Penn: part of General Electric's p1 tunities and challenges of thu of our 29,000 college-gradu opportunities for training ari velopment that help him to a bilities. Fot General Electric ress of any industry -~- and c on the progress of the people BENERAL* imun, E. "The high caliber of. the on otir squad has . been 'gea iatisfying to me," he. continujL. "For Instapce, in 1956 we:hed what. I eonsidered 4he siiinl s college squad I had ever seen. Our center weighed only 190 pounds, we had a 180-pound guatd .nd a 195-pound tackle, but they sure made -up for it in determinatida. Giese expressed delight in the mental capacit3 of the fooil player in this area, too, pointint out that seven members of iest year's U. S. C. squad were "onle khe * dean's list and that the Gamecooks . have placed five men on the-All Atlantic Coast scholastic team in two seasons. Players Produced "This is a small state," Giese conceded, "but I think it produces an exceptional proportion of good football players. Naturally, we can't hope to fulfill all of our requirements for athletes from this State, but seven members of our starting lineup in 1956 and seven starters in 1957 were South Carolina boys. "I consider that 'a great credit to the high school coaches In this' State. And, incidentally, the at.. tendance at the annual coaches' clinic here is a tribute .to their progressive attitude," Giese stated. "And the way sports fans seem to want to talk about. football 12 months out of the year pever ceases to thrill me. That Interest has been reflected in the fine turn outs for our home games over the past two seasons," Giese con ,eluded. That "glance. backward" was just a momentary 'pause for the studious South Carolina coach, be cause he spends most of his time looking ahead. He has crammed a lot of "past" Into two- years in thir state, and there's every Indi cation that his future is even brighter. TOUGH GUARD Nick Patella, Wake Foreac sophomore guard, earned a spot on the West Virginia All-Opponent team for the 1957 season. Full back Nell MacLean was chosen on the second team. elved hi. B.S. In U.C.L.A. in 1958. s second year of * Technical Mar in the Compan'y's fotorDepartment. isre's ~t factors in the growth aid in a growing indus. L'Ow." Post are an important ana to meet the oppor.. electrical future. Each ate employees is given Ld a climate for self-de-.'~ chieve his fullest capa believes that the prog f the nation - depends init ELECRIlC