Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 1975 The Making of a Dynasty Column by Sports Editor Billy Baker Delta Airlines Flight 727 was greeted by several hundred fans after it touched down Sunday at Columbia's Metropolitan Airport with the nation's number twp college baseball team aboard. The scene was reminiscent of the fan gatherings after im pressive USC basketball victories on "Tobacco Road" in the late 60's. This small gathering of humanity had come to say thank you to USC baseball coach Bobby Richardson for a truly outstanding job. They also came to say good-bye to several stars of the 1975 dream team. Earl Bass, Greg Ward, Garry Hancock, and Hank Small all hope to go on to even bigger and better things in the world of professional baseball. There have been promises from coaches at USC about particular sports entering their "Golden Ages." There have been thousands of dollars spent on these almost scandalous publicity campaigns aimed at attracting fan support. It is great to know that USC's baseball team did so well under the circumstances. It has a rather small budget of $100 thousand and the team travels to away games via bus. And can you imagine who does the driving; Bobby Richardson, himself. The fans got their money's worth this past baseball season. The ambassadorship, extended in Omaha, Neb. where the World Series of College Baseball was recently played, should add dimensions to Bobby Richardson's recruiting ability. At a banquet before the South Atlantic Regional tournament, held to decide a representative to the World Series, Richardson told this writer that next year's team should be even better. He thinks he has the inside track on several truly outstanding baseball players. This is a real beginning towards a real "'Golden Age" of a sport at USC. The gathering that Richardson has is not a "fair weather one." He now has a small army of supporters. They are waiting in want of similar success in football and basketball at Carolina. Richardson has made Frank McGuire and Jim Carlen less popular in a way. Fans want the success to show up elsewhere. McGuire and Carlen can justify the millions of dollars the University is willing to give them to coach championship potential basketball and football teams. Richardson is not a complicated person. He does not own a book of cliches. He tells you straight why he won or lost. He is a realist; far from the Don Quixote types, who : spend lifetimes chasing windmills for little gain. At the ripe old age of BOBBY RICHARDSON 39, Richardson can easily become the Johnny Wooden of college baseball. Some ay he could even coach some of the players' sons he has coacha ad at USC the past few years. A t the airport Richardson could be seen milling around when the team arrived shaking hands. A stranger just passing through Columbia could have thought Richardson was cam paigning for political office. He was taking time to meet the fans who took time to come and say thanks for a great season. He didn't jump off the airplane and asked to be praised, b'ut the fans cheered him as he walked through the airport greeting everyone with a happy smile. In a year from now we may see for sure if Bobbby Richard son fields a better baseball team. If so, USC could have a NCAA championship to hang on the mantle. Get those b)ulldozers over to the Roost. The fans have to have somewhere to) sit next season! H ecause of the large volume of response to last week's decision concerning USC joining the A(CC, the Gamecock is con d (ucting this plebescite to more accurately [jIa info Idetermine the opinions of the Carolina Alni os Icommunity,.ao, o IResponses should be returned via N tYer Icampus mail to: Trhe Gamecock Iamnti I l)rawer A L a or n eronRussell HouseofieAlncCas4 rinpro to the Gamecock ofiein the IRussell House, Room 317. IResults will be forwarded on to the OhrCm e IUniversity of South Carolina Board of ~p7ruseesACC I Several hundred fans greeted I at the Columbia Metropolitan Air USC Finisl BY BILLY BAKER Sports Editor Texas, a team with eight pro draft picks, took advantage of several USC errors and a sterling pitching performance from Richard Wortham to defeat the Gamecocks 5-1 in the final game Saturday of the NCAA baseball championships in Omaha, Neb. The loss spoiled USC's hopes of winning the University's first national championship ever. The Gamecocks finished with a record of 51-6-1 for the season. Texas registered eight hits off ace pitcher Earl Bass who finished out a brilliant career at USC with a season record of 17-1. He is ex pected to sign with the St. Louis Brian Wi BY FRANK SHIEALEY Of The Gamecock staff Brian Winters, former All America at USC and an All-Rookie team selection with the Los Angeles Lakers this past season visited the Carolina campus recently. The most noticeable difference in Winter's appearance is a "fumanchu" he has grown. It gives him a more mature, rakish appearance. GAMECOCK: What is your SURVEY r of USC rejoining the I Conference (ACC). (If in hen: --I...mmediately; i -..nLater)I or of USC rejoining the lonference (ACC)I tsI oCh SPC he Gamecocks baseball team i port where the finish in the Col ties Secon4 Cardinals this week. Texas scored their first run in the second inning. Mark Griffin singled to left field and Charles Proske walked. Gary Pyka then reached on a fielder's choice when Pankovits' throw to second was high, loading the bases. Mike Anderson then walked on four straight pitches to force in Griffin. Texas added two more runs in the third on two hits, one a double off the bat of slugger Tom Mooreland. The Longhorns added an insurance run in the eighth inning. Hank Small was the only bright spot for USC in the championship game. He hit a 390 foot homer over the left center-field fence in the fourth inning to give USC its only tally of the game. nters Visit impression of the NBA, now that you have completed your first season? WINTERS: I was somewhat disillusioned because it wasn't exactly what I had expected it to be. You know, over the years in your imagination you paint this ideal picture of what you think the life of a pro player is like, and it's just not as perfect as you had imagined. Being a pro is so dif ferent from playing in college. It's almost a completely dlifferent game. There are so many more games to play. The 24 second clock, all the travel involved, and the very physical play can get to you;it becomes almost a strain. You just have to love basketball because it gets to be your life, and you have to be willing to pay the price. It is exciting to travel and compete with people you have idolized all your life. GAMECXO(K: Assess your first year as a pro basketball player. WINTERS: I believe I had a good year. I played a good deal and even started on several oc casions. I think I learned what it takes to play in the NBA and I )RTS Johnny Drummings returned from a second place lege World Series. i In Series USC advanced to the cham pionship round of the College World Series with a brilliant 4-1 win over Arizona St. on Friday night behind left-hander Tim Lewis. Lewis, finished the season with a perfect 11-0 record. USC had trailed 1-0 going into the bottom of the ninth inning. However, Mark Van Bever led off with a double and Jeff Grantz walked as the roof fell in on the Sun Devils. Van Bever scored on Garry Hancock's single. Two errors and another hit put the Gamecocks into the championship game with Texas. Three USC players were tabbed All-Tournament performers. They were Bass, second baseman Mark Van Bever and centerfielder Steve Cook. s Campus believe I have the tools to stick around for a while. At this stage of my life I am just happy that I can still walk around and not be noticed by everyone. GaAlgECOC'K; As a pro how would you evaluate Carolina's basketball pro talent of this past season? WINTERS: I think Tom Boswell, Alex English, Mike Dunleavey and possibly Nate D)avis could eventually play pro basketball. Some of the younger players could dlevelop into NBA material as well. GA M EC'OK: Hiow does it feel to come back to Carolina and Columbia? WINTERS: It is strange to come hack because you have lost touch with your friends. I tried to keep up with the Gamecocks, even when we were on the road. I would get clippings and read the sports pages regularly. I remember watching the USC Notre D)ame game on television. I like Columbia and Carolina, and I enjoyed going to school here. I will always have good memories of the people here and of going to school her.