Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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He Dietzel On Post By JAMES P. HERSH Asst. Sports Editor Carolina opens its season at Georgia Tech next Saturday, a season in which most football experts predict the Gamecocks will do at least as well as last year, when they were 7-4. For his part, Head Coach Paul Dietzel, whose eight-year USC career has had both bitter and sweet moments, Tuesday night said his preseason goals included a better won-loss record than last year and a postseason bowl in vitation. The latter goal is quite lofty, considering the Gamecocks have gone to two bowls since the last World War. The last bowl was in 1969 when USC lost to West Virginia in the Peach Bowl. Nevertheless, Dietzel does have a multitude of returning players to build a bowl team. Foremost is quarterback Jeff Grantz, who turned Williams-Brice Stadium into an exciting place last year. Most Gamecock fans would be more than satisfied for Dietzel to hand the quarterback job to Grantz full-time and worry about the other 21 team positions. But, almost alarmingly, Dietzel does not seem apprehensive about moving Grantz out of the line-up, spelling him with sophomore Ron Bass. "I intend to use both Grantz and Bass," Dietzel said. "I'm not going to wait until one of them gets tired and hurt before taking him out." Even if Grantz has as good a -year, or better, as he did last season, Dietzel said "I still plan to play both of them." "Bass has looked good enough that he deserves a chance to play,'' Dietzel said. "It's a very nice problem; it's great to- have two quarterbacks whom you know can dlothe job." Realistically, it's difficult to Imagine Grantz . haring his poition with anyone, especially when~ USC's sports informatin A.,A adhistaing Rack in Seasc sets Sigl season] office already has published a full page, glossy public relations piece headlined: "G as in Grantz is next to H as in Heisman." That is probably a bit premature, but after last year's performance as a sophomore it seems inconceivable that Grantz will spend any sizeable amount of time on the bench. All of which is not to say Bass is not qualified to play. Last year, playing when Grantz was injured, he completed 15 of 23 pass attempts and rushed for 292 yards. Carolina has 19 lettermen returning on offense and 15 on defense. Major early practice casualties include Casper Carter, sophomore running back, and junior guard Joe Smith. Both Bruce Murdock In its BowI suffered shoulder injuries and will miss at least the first game. As a freshman last season, Carter rushed for 230 yards and five touchdowns for the varsity. In addition. the Brookland - Cayce graduate averaged 11.6 yards per carry for 220 yards while playing with the jayvees. a As a freshman last season, Carter rushed for 230 yards and five touchdowns for the varsity. In addition, the Brookland-Cayce graduate averaged 11.6 yards per carry for 220 yards while playing with the jayvees. Even with Carter injured, Carolina has depth at the running back positions, including Jay Lynn Hodgin. L POI J M Steve Parker Sports Editor It's been four years since Carolina was considered a serious threat to crack the nation's top twenty football teams, but a look at the 1974 squad indicates the wait for gaining national prominence via the polls might not be that long again for quite some time. USC returns the bulk of a team which went 7-4 last year and, with a little more speed and added experience, appears ready to improve that mark against this year's opponents. Football magazines are recognising Carolina as a moderately powerful team for the first time since Dickie Harris last carried the ball for the Gamecocks. The most flattering recognition of the Gamecocks came from Playboy magazine which tabbed Carolina to wind up 16th with a 9-2 mark. USC also recieved recognition in the Associated Press's preseason -predictions. Oddly enough, the magazine which picked Carolina to finish 15th nationally four years ago did not mention the Gamecock this year. Street- and Smith's College Football yearbook editors were perhaps a bit leery to be let down as they were last time. Instead of finishing 15th as picked, Carolina struggled home with a 6-5 mark, relying on a rugged defense and the kick return antics of All-America Harris to obtain that degree of respec tability. But, using the perfect vision of hindsight, Carolina does appear a much more legitimate threat to be a ranked team this season. Carolina has experience--only five players out of the starting 22 as listed in the preseason by Coach Paul Dietzel failed to letter last year. Back when Street and Smith's made their ill-fated prognostication, Carolina was a much weaker team. Offensively, the Gamecocks posed little threat to no one, chugging along behind a host of injured running backs and a quarterback, Glenn Morris, who threw more than four times as many interceptions as touchdowns. The defense then was stronger. The 1974 defense, which returns many starters from last year, must be considered the team's most outstanding question mark. Still, it was younger and more questionable last year but managed to hold all but three opponents to 24 points or Please Turn To Page ul FEET NT 1W0 ROSEWOOD DR. (AcmOSS FRM FAmeRoUNDSI I @@@BS