Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Steve Parker Sports Editor Unfortunately for Carolina's football team, one of the things that was counted on to be a strong point--even the strongest point--has instead turned out to be a weak spot--quarterbacking. Junior Jeff Grantz, who displayed so much talent his sophomore season that he was tabbed by many as a preseason All-America candidate and promoted by the USC sports information department as a Heisman Trophy candidate, has been disappointing. His play thus far won't win any awards. Grantz has hit just nine of 22 pass attempts for 148 yards, one touchdown and four interceptionsd in three games. He's carried the ball 37 times for an average of 3.0 yards per carry. Grantz' three touchdowns do represent the team lead, but that won't win him the Heisman. USC Coach Paul Dietzel is quick to explain Grantz' problems. The coach firmly believes that Grantz' missing spring football drills to play baseball instead, cost him an edge in sharpness that Grantz has yet to regain. Dietzel compares Grantz' case to that of a quar terback who played for him at LSU while also playing baseball . That player usually took three or four games to regain his old form. Perhaps Dietzel is partially right, although the coach was not moaning over Grantz' form prior to the season's start. But the play of Ron Bass, also an excellent quar terback last year as a freshman, indicates that Grantz' problems are not strictly his own. Bass has completed just three of nine passes for 34 yards, suffering an in terception against no touchdown tosses. His 3.6 rushing average does look better than Grantz', but not compared to his 5.1 average of a year ago. His completion average last year was .652. So Grantz' downfall of sorts, if it is fair to label it as such after three games, is not strictly his own fault and there would seem to be more behind it than simply needing time to warm up. A few things have changed since last year that might account for both Grantz and Bass thus far failing to live up to the preseason potential they promised. For one thing, the offensive line has changed drastically and, while its has blocKed extremely well for the rush, maybe it has'been lacking in its pass protec tion. It's difficult to judge this though, especially since both quarterbacks are so quick to pull the ball in and run when they see openings, perhaps making some pass plays look like designed runs. Last year's top linemen are gone in Rick Anthony, Dave Cash and Darrell Austin. Some good linemenr remain, although they are not quite in the same class. .Another major possibility for the quarterbacking woes is USC's offensive philosophy which this year is: run, run and run some more regardless of the score, unless it's an obvious passing down. Under those situations a successful passing attack is difficult to have. When the opponent knows you're going to pass the percentages of successful pass plays drop considerably. Another difference from last year is the alternating of two quarterbacks--a situation which can be argued from both sides. Can a quarterback get a feel of the game when he directs only two or three series before being rested awhile? In any event, the two quarterback system isn't working so maybe Carolina should go back to one. Grantz has lost something from last year, but its unlikely that it's his fault. The offense isn't working, even though the rushing game has been good, so some changes would appear to be in order. When the run is working in a run-oriented offense then a team should put more than 20 points on the board in its best scoring game. Changes numeroi Carolina lk Since the Georgia Tech game, Carolina has made six line-up changes in its defensive unit and when USC and Houston play Saturday night, four Gamecocks will be defensive starters who weren't starters in the 'opening game of the season. The new starters are: Stan James, freshman tackle; Gary McLaren, left middle linebacker; Russ Manzari, end and Keith Colson, halfback. Opening game starters now on the bench are Steve Courson, an injured tackle; Gary Mott, irijured left middle linebacker; C.A. Wilson and Don Abraczinskas, an opening game starter at end. New starters on offense for the Houston game will be Clarence YOUNG JR. FASHIONS OPEN FRID How To Eve TIRED OF LC LET US HI TODAY'S MIX IN e DYNAMITE * SUPER LOV eNAME BRA: * STYLE e Di SUPER L JUNIOR JEANS GATSBY SWEATERS SOLID MID CALF MATCHING PRINT BLOUSE~ "I >oking for h Williams, replacing Tom Amrein at halfback. Otherwise the USC offensive line-up will be the same for Houston. Carolina's offensive line--tackles Brad Kline and Bubba Shugart, guards Brad Kline and Jerry Witherspoon and center Mike McCabe--has remained unchanged since the beginning of the season. Tight end Steve Blackmon has replaced first game starter at tight end and Williams, at halfback, replaces Andy Le Heup, who started the first-two games before being replaced by Amrein. Jeff Grantz again is to be the starting quarterback with Mike Farrell and Eddie Muldrow his wide receivers. Jay Lynn Hodgin, USC's leading ball carrier, is the other starter at halfback. Even in the placekicking C( he Y- 10 A.M. TILL Look Rich n If You're Not!! OKING THROWN TOC PLP YOU "PUT TOGE'I ' MATCH SPORTSWE) STYLES V, LOW, PRICES NDS LSH.e CHICK OW LOW PRI4 i.50 JEANS ' VESTS $7 AND * SHRINS ' SKIRT TURTLENECI~ ~12 SWEATERS OPEN 6 DAYS 10 A.M the 1120 Shop Rd. (. Below Highway Dep est line-up department USC has changed faces. Steve Young now kicks for Carolina in place of Bobby Marino, who kicked last season. But the biggest changes have come to the defensive unit, which has only five players at the same spot they started the season at. They are: Grahl Phillips, a strong linebacker; Bill Cregar, right middle linebacker: Zeb Shue, rover; Henry laws, left halfback and Bill Currier, safety. Casper Carter, a halfback from Brookland-Cayce High School, will be in uniform for the first time this season. Carter, who played con siderably last year as a freshman, suffered a separated shoulder during pre-season practice and missed the first three' games. )NTEMPORARY MISSY 9 P.M. rETHER? 'HER".... R LOOKS. ES 5 .-7P.M.