Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Recruit -seei f6 USC ter Apair of recruitshavebroken into Carolina's tennis- line-up, one holding down the top singles spot, and USC fans will have their first chance to view them in competition Friday when the USC fall In vitational Tennis Team Cham Clyde S:stad has' defeated every player on the USC squad and so has earned the team's number one seeding in only his first year after transfering from junior college. Another new recruit; Jeff Hull from Mt. Lakes, N.J., has moved into the line-up, holding down the sixth position and challenging for fifth, a spot currently held by Steve Geller. If anyone doubted Skaflestad's ability, he certainly silenced those doubts this past weekend with his strong play in the extremely tough Citrus Bowl Invitational tour nament in Vera Beach, Fla. Skaflestad advanced farther than any USC player in the tournament field which included several professionals. Te recruit went to the singles qua.rterfinals, defeating two seeded players en route, before falling to the number three seed in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. USC advanced a pair of doubles teams into the round of 16,but the tough tournament field made the tournament's chief purpose being a primer for the USC tourney which Mountaineers 5-4 GamecockG BY BILLY BAKER Of The Gamecock staff With their chances of a winning season shattered by State last week, the GanecQcks hope to regain their . winning ways beginning with Applachian State Saturday night at home. If the Gamecocks maintain the kind of play displayed in its last three outings Saturday night the Mountaineers from Boone, N.C. should see their record dropped to .5-5. However, the Mountaineers could assure themselves a winning season with an upset win over the Gamecocks. Carolina's defense has had thehardest time defensing the Wishbone attack that ASU will also run. Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech both enjoyed im pressive wins over USC's defensive unit with that offensive attack. "We are going to have to play hard and take them seriously," said the Gamecocks leading rusher Jay Lynn Hodgin. "I think we have got everything together offensively. Since the Ole Miss game we have really played well. "Since we assured ourselves of a losing season with the loss last week winning the .next three games would be some kind of a consolation for us" paid Hodgin. "It will not be ea& to' explain things if we lose." "Practices are har~ now than ever because, the co4ches realize how easy It is tohav~ a let down against a team that is not as strong," said Cregar. "We have to prove to people that we are not quiltter's just because of hard times. We won't lay down and quit. "I think we have had a lot of trouble defensing the Wishbone because It Is so deceptive," he added. "It Is hard to tell who ac tuafly has the ball, so when you stand up It makes It easier to get led first mis team runs Friday.. Saturday and Sunday. Carolina - won the tournamemi last year, which returns the same opponents this season with the exception of oe team. Clemson, the runner-up is back, as is Presbyterian and Furman. The Citadel is replaced by Jacksonville. "It should be a'good weekend of tennis," Coach Ron Smarr said. "Two or three teams have a chance to win, so we can't afford a bad day." Clemson returns a strong team, adding the top junior college player in the nation, a native of Peru. Jacksonville and Presbyterian should also challenge. USC opens the action with a 1 p.m. singles match with Presbyterian on the Physical Education Courts. Other USC singles action will be Furman on Saturday at 10 a.m. on the varsity courts. At 12:45 the Gamecocks play rival Clemson on the varsity courts. On Sunday, USC and Jacksonville vie at 12:30 on the P.E. courts. USC doubles action starts Saturday morning on the varsity courts against Jacksonville at 9 o'clock. USC plays Presbyterian at 2:45 that afternoon on the varsity courts. Sunday, USC plays - Clemson and Furman on the varsity courts at 1:45 and 3:15, respectively. PARKER play ASU blocked. We hope to be able to stay low, shed blockers and make good tackles." Hodgin and Cregar both said a Mountaineer win would make the season for Applachian State. The Mountaineers always come ready to play a good game, they said. Last year USC found themselves locked in a 7-7 tie at the half against the Mountaineers. A dertermined second htalf brought the Gamecocks a 35-14 wip. In the teams first meeting in 17 USC prevailed 41-7. The Mountaineers do have several outstanding athletes. Punter, Joe Parker , leads the nation with a 44.4 yard average. Left halfback Clinton Bradshaw is the top runner on the team with a 5.8 average . The workhorse in the Mounties Wishbone attack Is the fullback, Richard Patrick, who has a 4.7 yard average. Hobble Price and Phil Coccioletti have shared the quarterrback role all season. Price, who passes more than he runs, is expected to start against USC. The Mounties have the sixth best pass Defense in the nation while USC leads the nation in this category. Jeff Grants will play the entire game against ASU barring injury. Hon Bass is not expected to dress out for the. game because of a shoulder separation. Freshman Randy Martz will back up Grantz. Earlier In the week a Gamecock football player said all the team needed to do towin isto getthe ball handed off without fumbyling. Things might not be so simple considering everything else that has hapnened to USC this year. Player,. -DBY MARK LEARY BILLY BAKER Two coaches who publicly acknowledge they would like the Carolina head coaching job are Dan Reeves, assistant coach of the Dallas. Cowboys, and Mooney Player, ex-coach at Lower Richland High School in Columbia. Reeves, a running back for the Cowboys from 1965 to 1972, played quarterback for Carolina from 1962-64. He now coaches the specialty teams and helps with the offensive unit for Dallas. Player is a well-known high school coach in the state. In 16 years of coaching, most at Lower Richland, Player's record was 154 24. He was named South Carolina Coach of the Year seven times, and in 1965 was named United States Prep Coach of the Year by Pepsi Cola. His teams won five state chamDionshivs. In 1973 Player was an assistant coach at North Carolina State, instructing the Wolfpack's specialty teams. Since Paul Dietzel announced his plans to retire after this season, Player has been campaigning for the job. which he says he dreams about having. "People have said I am running a campaign for the head coaching job at Carolina,"Player to a Gamecock reporter. "I like to say I am working for the job of head coach. "When you have had a drpam to coach at South Carolina ,and South , - OWL,~*~& AW ~t4 eo~ . ~ ~ g $ . ........... ..... Reeves se Carolina alone, for all- your coaching career, like I have, you must go out to the public and get your feeling across toas many people as possible,' layer said. Meanwhile, when contacted in Dallas earlier this week, Reeves said he is interested in a head coac'hing job, especially at Carolina. 'Reeves applied for the job in October when the search and selection committee began to accept inquiries. "My ambition'is to be a head coach someday," Reeves said. "I would have to consider any offer (Carolina makes). It would -be especially nice to return to a school where you played, and be the head coach. I would love to get back to the University" One thing that may hamper Reeves chances at getting the job is Dallas's long season, which will not end until late December, and later if they make the National Football League play-offs. T. Eston Marchant, chairman of the USC board of trustees, has said he hopes to have the new coach begin work the first week of December for recruiting purposes. "I would be interested in the job after the (Dallas) season," Reeves aid. "All I have done is told them I would be interested in the job. My obligation now is with the Cowboys for the rest of the year." However, if he is asked to coach at Carolina, Reeves said "I can't roresee anything that would keep me frou it. If you get the op portunity to become a head coach The Budweiser Sweater * Endlosed is $ tor the fludeieiii SO 4 4 1i77 0SO..o IftM CIX________ el,job 1 it Isometbing you have got to take seriotiMy." Pier, meanwhile, has been talkative about his situation. "My opposition for the coaching Job Is from the big-name syndrome," Player said. "I want the job because I am better thAl any big name that this school can get, and that is not because the big names can not be bought by Carolina." Player Is so sure he can build a winning team immediately at Carolina that he has told different groups he will forfeit hissalary and quit If he does not have a winning team in two years. "Yes, I have said many times I would not take any money if I did not have a winning season," Player said. "But in an official purpose it would not be professional to make this kind of an agreement. "I did mean it though, because this is how strongly I feel I can have a winning team at Carolina," Player said. "Two years is all I want. Either I will be leaving if I fail, or I will be talking contract with the University (If he wins)." Because Player is not a big name in the nation in coaching, many people claim he will not be able to recruit strongly enough to build a winning team. Player refutes this. "I have great confidence in myself os a convincing man," he said. "I feel that a one-on-three situation (Player. the recruit and his parents), I can convince anybody to come to Carolina." 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