Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Carolin BY JAMES P. HERSH Any discussion about how good Carolina will be this year has to start with two questions: First, can the offensive line, with only three starters returning, give Jeff Grantz and the rest .of USC's experienced backfield the blocking to score as often as last year, when they averaged 31.5 points a game? Aad second, can the young, but experienced defense, which starts more sophomores thanseniors, hold the oppositions' point production to something less than it did a year ' ago, when' 23.7 points were averaged by the foe? Obviously there are some people who think the answer to both questions is "yes." For instance, Playboy MAgazine, which admittedly does not specialize.in football coverage, picked the Gamecocks to be 16th in the nation and finish with a 9-2 record. And, according to Playboy, "I enemy offenses can be kept under reasonable control, look for South Carolina to play in a major bowl." No descriptioni of what con stitutes a "major" bowl is given, however. Other magazines also give op timistic predictions for the Gamecocks. The Sporting News says, "South Carolina, the area's (Atlantic Coast) leading in dependent, also looms as a top 20 candidate." Street and Smith's College Football Yearbook rates the Gamecocks as favorites in seven games and underdogs in only two Houstonand North Carolina State. Two other games- Georgia and Clemson- are rated as toss-ups. USC's strength will probably be the same as last year, namely quarterbacking . Junior Jeff Grantz will find it difficult to im prove on the kind of season he had last year, but, according to Dietzel, even should he be as good this year, hell still share the position with sophomore Ron Bass. 'Bbss responded with several outstanding performances last year when Grantz was injured, and Dietzel said he plans to give Bass a chance to.play. And, Carolina should be strong at the running backs. Andy LeHeup won the starting position- for the Georgia Tech game along with Jay Lynn :Hodgin, USC's leading rusher last year. Other running backs who Dietzel said he will use often are Tom Amrein, Randy Chastain, Clarence Williams, Kevin Long,as well as Casper Carter, whose progress has been slowed by a shoulder operation suffered in pre-season practice. Carolina is also experienced al the wide. receivers with Mike Farrell, a senior, and Scoti Thomas, a junior who played on the varsity when he was a fresh tun,.te., .la.end I..1uni.Jay BRAZIER FREE with this coupon foot long super chili cheese dog offer good thru Oct. 31 OnIy at 1366 Rosewood Dr La seaso Saldi. But, as good as Carolina is at these positions , its offensive success will still be determined by how well the line manages to ad. just to the loss of three starters. The new starters are guard Brad Kline, center Mike McCabe and tackle Bubba Shugart. Returning linemen are tackle Buck Thomp son and guard Jerry Witherspoon, both seniors. Dietzel said he considers the overall defense to be strong this year. But four sophomores,two of whom did not play varsity last year, could make the defense questionable. The sophomore starters are Don Abraczinskas, an end, and .Steve Courson, a tackle, who both saw considerable playing time last year with the varsity, and tackli Kerry DePasquale and safety Bill Currier, both of whom did not play with the varsity. Other defensive starters are: linebackers Grahl Phillips, Gary Mott, Bill Cregar, rover Zeb Shue, cornerbacks Henry Laws and C. A. Wilson and end Tony Pepper. All are experienced at their-pbsition-. DOM DIFFEREI *TROLLEi A Unique Where The To S 254 * BOILER Elegant Dini And Seafc House Win 253-; *SCA PUMPER Entertain n Finest. Folk4 254 A UNI / PAST Call F( - I ims n depends o fNUNDER COLUMBIA 4T RESTAURANTS & PAVILION Night Spot Eu (oung Meet Fr wing 1246 ROOM ng - Steaks Iod, FREE Iti e or Beer '611 RLET NICKELA tent at its k Pop Music 3483 -DOIIUEDR COLUMUII QUE ATMOSPHERE - A Si - OPEN BEFORE & AFTER r Information Or Located leservations Arcade A Main & n questions k HAS SIX NIGHTCLUBS * SOHO PLACE ropean Cuisine And Music im The Past - Discoteque 254-4430 * PIZANO'S An Exciting Selection of flian Food - Served with Atmosphere 254-9721 * JIM'S PLACE in Authentic Gay Nineties Bar. Play Your Favorites On An Old Time Piano 'EP INTO THE THE GAME Beneath The tall - Corner Vashington Sts.