The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, July 24, 1975, Image 8
THURSDAY, JULY 24, 1975
Off The Cuff
With Jim Carlen
By Sports Editor Billy Baker
Jim Carlen lives in a world of reality. He is not a windbag of cliches
recalling yesterday's conquests; nor is he an egotist. He explains very
simply, "I'm just a head football coach."
Well, for the grand old sum of more than $40,000 a year Jim Carlen has
become the 25th coach at an institution some have referred to as the
"graveyard of college football coaches." Jim Carlen accepted the
challenges of rebuilding programs at West Virginia (1966-1969) and Texas
Tech (1970-74) and put those schools into the nation's "Top Twenty"
before departing for greater challenges. He was 25-13-4 with the Moun
taineers and 37-18-1 at Texas Tech.
"Before I say anything else let me remind you that the team I coach
belongs to the students," Carlen said. "I wanted to become a head coach
because I wanted to work with young people.
"I feel like young people have the answers to many of our problems,"
Carlen said Monday at his beautiful office at USC's Roundhouse.
"Machines certainly can't solve all our problems. If you have a chance to
influence young people I think you should try."
Wanted to Run His Program
Jim Carlen has never been impressed with athletic directors telling
him what to do. He discovered a long time ago that they couldn't help him
win football games.
"You can't analyze why people do things," Carlen said. "I had the
opportunity to run a football program by coaching here and I didn't want
to pass up the opportunity.
"Let me say that I'm not politically minded," Carlen said. "I didn't
apply for the job here; they came after me."
Carlen Went After Defensive Personnel
Twenty four of USC's 26 recruits for the
fall played defense in high school. Carlen
is quick to remind one that USC's defense
gave up an average of 344 yards per game
during last year's 4-7 campaign.
"You have to fill the voids," said Carlen.
"Defense is a big part of college football."
Carlen has claimed that USC has
basically eight really blue chip athletes on
the team. He claims it takes at least 20 to
make championship teams.
"I've never seen Jeff Grantz play a
game before," said Carlen. "I hope he is
as good as people say. He is not playing
summer baseball. As a matter of fact, I
think he is around campus working his legs Jin Carlen
into shape."
Carlen said Ron Bass was injured most of the spring so neither quar
terback seems to have an advantage over the other. Grantz missed
spring drills because of a baseball commitment with Bobby Richardson's
number two ranked club.
Carlen is quoted in a recent issue of Southern Football as saying: "We
don't know how many games we'll win, but we'll just work as hard as we
can and accept the results. We'll strive to create a winning attitude with*
our players and I guarantee you they won't lack enthusiasm."
A Bobby Dodd Player
Jim Carlen played under the legendary Bobby Dodd at Georgia Tech in
the years 1951-54 as a linebacker and punter. During these years Tech
recorded an impressive 40-5-3 record and won all four of its post season
bowl appearances. Carlen was raised in a winning atmosphere.
"Bobby Dodd taught me to be interested in the football player as a
human being," Carlen said. "I'm a personal kind of man.
"I hire my men to coach," Carlen said. "We are associates and we
make decisions together. I am not on an ego trip. When we win it is our
victory, but when we lose it's my loss," Carlen said referring to his
coaching staff. "I have said it before and I'll say it again, I have the
finest staff in America."
His Philosophy
"You simply have to work hard," Carlen says. "There are no easy
roads.
"The key is to recruit good athletes," Carlen claims. "I'm not a
gimmick man. I (don't have a bunch of witty sayings. Hard work will
always pay off. "
"I can remember years when I just lost one game and do you know
which one I remembered the most?" he asked. "That one loss was
replayed in my mind hundreds of times Ilassure you."
"'I guess I'm selfish because I only want UJSC to win,'' said Carlen. "'I
want people to s upport the program . The worse thing t hat c(ouldI happerw
is to have st udents I et (down) on the foot ball players. TIhere is no nleed to
because they will be playing as har(l as they can."
.Jim Carlen, the country boy from Cookville, Tlennessee is still a new
name to most South Carolinians. lie can sometimes be seen around
C:olumbia (riving his 1932 red and blac'k Chevrolet coupe. lHe's nothing
fancy, but he gets the job done as well as any coach with the same amount
of talent.
V(I amut
Celtics Sign
USC's.Boswel
Former USC basketball star
Tom Boswell signed a one-year
contract yesterday with the
professional Boston Celtics of the
National Basketball Association.
Boswell, although offered a 3
year contract by the Celtics said he
would rather have his freedom
than security and took only a one
year pact.
The Celtics refused to disclose
the terms of Boswell's contract
yesterday afternoon, but did say
that the USC forward would
receive the highest salary ever
paid for a rookie at Boston.
Boswell, who started his career
at South Carolina State College,
had another year of eligibility
remaining at USC after redshirting
his first year here.
In his one season with the
Gamecocks, he led the team in
both scoring and rebounding. In 27
games for Coach Frank McGuire's
team, Boswell averaged 16.5 points
and 8.7 rebounds per outing.
The 21-year-old, one of six
children in his family, was dr
dafted last year by the New York
Nets of the rival American
Basketball Association. He was
not chosen in this year's ABA
draft, however.
In his sophomore season at S.C.
Staste, Boswell averaged 24.8
points and 17 rebounds per game
under Coach Ben Jobe, now an
assistant to McGuire.
For the Gamecocks, who
finished 18-8 last season, Boswell
hit on 53 per cent of his free throws
while leading USC to the National
Invitation Tournament where the
Gamecocks won once and lost
once.
USC Idles On A
BY BILLY BAKER
Sports Editor
No new significant developments
have surfaced in USC's desire to
rejoin the Atlantic Cost Conference
(ACC) it left in 1971 over eligibility
rules for athletes.
Dr. William H. Patterson, the
University's president, told the
Gamecock Monday there has not
been any communication from the
ACC Commissioner, Robert
James, on USC's possible re-entry
into the conference.
"Actually, we have never for
mally applied for re-entry into the
ACC," Patters,>n said. "We have
been exploring the matter unof
ficially. We intend to explore it
Table Tennis (
Victorious In F
This past weekend two members
of USC's 'Table Tennis Club ex
perienced success in their first
tournament of the summer.
On July 19, participants gathered
in Atlanta for the AGTTA Summer
Open Table Tennis Tournament.
Seve-l states were represented
including Kent ucky, Tennessee,
North Ci(arolina , G;eorgia,
Alabama, Florida, andl South
Carolina.
Wilson Bryan and Bob Ervin,
both officers of USC's club were
rewarded for their efforts with
Irck SPC
Tom Bosw
LCC Issue
further at the NCAA meeting of
schools in August."
The NCAA has called 1 special
meeting to discuss the economics
of college athletics to be held in
Chicago around August 14-15ac
cording to Patterson.
"If the ACC presents us with
obstacles we feel we can't meet
then we will remain Independent,"
Patterson said. "I don't know of
any Board member who has
changed his mind about wanting
Carolina back into the ACC."
Patterson said three sponsors
are needed by a university seeking
admission to the ACC. Thus far
USC has not sought any support,
according to Patterson.
lub Members
'irst Tourney
trophies. Bryan won second place
in the Class B sirngles event while
Ervin gathered the first place prize
in Class C. Oddly enough, both
faced the same opponent in their
respective final matches. A
Chinese now living in Tallahassee,
Florida, Ilong Tchen proved to be
an extremely tough opponent
winning second place in Class A,
first place in Class B, and second
place in Class C.
USC's club members plan to
attend several additional tour
naments this year.
41 (.33)
Walsh Future
Discussed
USC's president said he would
support Donnie Walsh as Frank
McGuire's successor should USC's
highly successful basketball coach
retire in 1980 when his present
contract is due to expire.
Howeve'r, D)onnie Walsh is not
expected to be an assistant to
McGuire at that time. In an ex
clusive interview in last week's
Gamecock Walsh said, "I think I'm
ready to be a head coach. Coach
McGuire feels the same way. He
has put me into every aspect of
coaching one would need."
"D)onnie Walsh is a fine man to
work with," Patterson said. "Hie
certainly has my support for the
job."
Walsh also told the Gamecock he
couldn't understand some of the
things that have happened to
Coach McGuire in recent times,"
he said. "Look at what he has done
for the university and they (USC's
Board of Trustees) wouldn't even
make him the athletic dlirector
when he asked for the job. I don't
know if I can develop a warm trust
in them. Look at what they have
(lone to a person like Frank
McGuire. I just wonder what they
would dio to me if I accepted the jot)
here in the future."
Walsh said that he recently
turned down two head c'oaching
jobs at major universities to
remain Associate Head Basketball
Coach to McGuire at USC.