University of South Carolina Libraries
Nash to i Jim Nash (3) puts stop on hard-running Brent Cunningham (44), during USC's 24-7 Winless N challenges By CHARLIE COLLINS Asst. Sports Editor N.C. State comes to Carolina's rug Saturday night at 7:30 as both teams seek repentance from disappointing performances of last weekend. State, still winless after two games, will attempt it's first win over the Gamecocks since a 36-12 runaway in 1968. After capturing the ACC crown that year, the Wolfpack has had little success on the gridiron, having losing records of 3-6-1 In 1969, and 3-7-1 in 1970. The Pack sports some new faces this year. Al Michaels became head coach last July, and three sophomores added needed speed to the backfield. Willie Burden is the most notable of the three sophomores. The 5-11, 201-pound halfback rushed for 198 yards against Kent State in the Wolfpack's opening game to break the school rushing record of 184 yards set in 1949 by Ed Mooney. Burden is no strarnger to Carolina. Last year he was instrumental in State's rout of the Gamecock freshmen. ''Our Freshmen didn't even slow him down last year," said Carolina head coach Paul Dietzel. Joining Burden In the backfield are Charley Young, and Pat Korsnick. Talented liar record books By GARY WEST records. He nel Sports Writer kickoff returns, Dick Harris, Carolina's All- yards per game America return specialist, has return yards an compiled a statistical record book returns yards of his own since his debut as a established in 11 Gamecock. Harris needs 1 For his career, Harris now has yards, 1,156 puni 1,460 yards in kickoff returns, one 588 total kick ret totaling 96 yards and a score. He NCAA career re has 564 yards in punt returns, two As a sophomol of them touchdowns covering 97 kickoffs for 534 and 77 yards. The speedster also per return>, 10 has 2,024 yards in total kick '7.7 yards per re returns. kicks for 611 ya The Point Pleasant, N.J. native Last year, he . s the holder of four NCAA season- for 8O ards si he rescue upset victory over Georgia Tech. (olf pack Carolina Young is the fastest man on the Pack squad, running the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds. At 6-1, 200 pounds, he poses a fine compliment for his running mate. Korsnick was hurt in State's opener, but will return to action against Carolina. The high school All-America transfered from Purdue last year, but had a disappointing sophomore season. Korsnick bounced back, however, with an outstanding spring and won a starting berth. Korsnick's receivers consist of sophomore Mike Stultz and juniors Steve Lester and Gary Saul. Lester and Saul saw substitute duty last season and Stultz brings speed up from the 1970 Freshman squad. He was the leading frosh scorer with 38 points, caught nine passes for 187 yards and four TDS and had 470 kick return yards. The Wolfpack has a veteran line with only one sophomore. Howard Bradburn, at 6-2, 225 moved a letterman out of the way to win the left guard position. Junior, Herber Whitley, at 6-0, 220 holds down a tackle position. Senior John Elliott at 6-4, 243 plays the other tackle with junior John Sanderson, 6-0, 225 at guard. State's defense sports ten returning let termen. Redshirt sophomore Bobby Piiz is the only non-starter from last years squad. ris shatters for USC ted 880 yards in '39.3 yards per return), 30 punts 50.0 kickoff return for :319 yards and one touchdown , 1,199 total kick '1.6 yards per return)i and 60 total d 109.0 total kick kicks for 1,199 yards and two per game all touchdowns. riO. From his defensive halfback 82 kickoff returns spot, Harris intercepted three return yards and passes as a sophomore and four arn yards to break last fall as a Junior. He returned cords- the seven interceptions a total of 99 re, he returned 21 yards. including one 97 yards for a yards (29.3 yards score against Georgia last year. )unts for 77 yards Harris also made 91 backles, 40 turn) and 31 total assists and three fumble rds- recoveries in his two previous returned 30 kicks seasons. id.ene .touchdown Eye in the eyhole By Doug Williams Sports Editor Some 22 years ago, a relatively unknown coach stepped out on the field at the University of Maryland. Two Saturdays ago, this same coach, although he is a bit better now, won his 200th game. On the eve of his 58th birthday, Paul "Bear" Bryant's Crimson Tide from Alabama nipped highly favored Southern California, 1710. It had been a long road from Maryland to win number 200 for one of this nation's most prolific head coaches. Following his brief stay at Maryland, the Arkansas native journeyed to Kentucky for eight years then to Texas A&M before settling down at Alabama for perhaps the best years of his life. The past is somewhat vague to the Tide mentor. "I think we were 6-2-1 or something like that at Maryland in 1945. I really couldn't tell you what kind of job we did at Ken tucky. At Texas A&M we won some and lost some." Ah, but the Bear's memories of his years at Alabama ring through with shining brilliance. While hastily going back through the years, Bryant fondly remembered the high points, as well as some of the low points of his, illustrious coaching career. "When you ask me about our biggest win here at Alabama," he begins with a deep Southern drawl, "I would have to say it was the first time we beat Auburn, back in 1959. They had a great team, and had beaten Alabama quite a few times. Besides, they had been national champs the year before. "Well, we went out there and beat them 10-0. We were real big underdogs. I guess you could call it our first really big win here." As is the case with every successful college coach, there are a few times that you would just as soon forget. "We've had lots of Bear Bryant really bad losses," he continued. "The ones that really hurt the most are the ones where you hurt the team. This team has won quite a few in spite of me, I guess. I'll tell you one thing, one of the most disappointing losses I've had was when we lost to Auburn last year after leading 17-0. That one really hurt." Bryant was not the least bit hesitant to cite the most outstanding athlete he had ever coached. ''Has to be Joe Namath. He is the greatest passer I have ever been with. But I hate to try and start naming the other greats we've had. As soon as you start that, you're bound to forget someone.'' What about your greatest team, Coach? "it was the team I had in 1966. We didn't win the championship, but could have. The last three or four weeks of the season, they were the best there was. Then we went out and beat Nebraska something like 35-7 in the Sugar Bowl. Reaching a milestone like win number 200 may seem like quite a feat, unless you hear from Bryant himself. "The win felt lust fine. We beat a great team in Southern Cal. But actually, it was no different from any other win. But since they really humiliated us last year, it made this win that much better." Now that we've gone through 22 years, what about the very first Bryant win on the gridiron. ''I remember that one well. It was- against Guilford in 1945 when I was with Maryland. We won 60-6. I was scared to death, because I thought they'd beat us. I guess I'm just a coward." Right. The ki!nd, of coward that evokes fear.