Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Trul, Basketball Has Two Year Wait USC's basketball program will not be affiliated with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for at' least two years should the ACC accept the University's desire to rejoin the conference it left in 1971. USC President William H. Patterson told the Gamecock June 11 that C-r-lina would not compete in the ACC basketball tournament for at least two years because of schedule commitments. "1 would assume we are talking about two years before we are ready for the ACC basketball tournament, if there is still such a thing." Patterson said. Should USC rejoin the ACC it would be in immediate contention for the football conference championship, according to Patterson. "It is my understanding that a school must play at least five conference teams to be eligible for the conference title," he said. "Our schedule presently has five ACC schools booked each year until 1980. USC's basketball team would play 14 additional games each year if it rejoined the ACC. Such re - scheduling could cancel several nationally televised games USC might play as an Independent. Walsh's 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. However, Donnie 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." "Donnie Walsh is a fine man to work with," Patterson said. "He 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 dorne for the university and they (USC's Board of Trustees) wouldn't even make him the athletic director when he asked for the job. I don't know if I can develop a warm trust in them. Look at what they have done to a person like Frank McGuire. I just wonder what they would do to me if I accepted the job here in the future." Walsh said that he recently turned down two head coaching jobs at major universities to remain Associate Head Basketball Coach to McGuire at USC. tees 1 On June 11 the University released a statement which said Carolina had begun exploration for possible reaffiliation with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). In that dispatch it was revealed that USC's president, William H. Patterson, won the Board of Trustees approval on May 27 to begin negotiations with ACC Commissioner Robert James. That day the Inter-Collegiate Activities Committee recom mended to the full Board of Trustees that the President, after consultation with the University Athletic Committee, be em powered to make formal ap plication for immediate re-entry into the ACC. This was approved by the Board. USC, a charter member of the ACC, left the conference in the spring of 1971 because of con flicting views on academic requirements of prospective student athletes. The ACC ruled that an athlete needed a SAT score of at least 800 to be eligible for conference athletics. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) requires an athlete to project a grade point ratio of 1.6 out of a possible 4.0. ACC Commissioner James said June 11 that a meeting Of con ference member athletic directors was the first time there has been .ME'] A Dance ins to advant( ROS. Rosann Sch, (ant A serious discussion about expansion of the conference itself. He called the meeting a very free and open exchange of information and philosophy on expansion. "in cluding the possibility of the University of South Carolina rejoining the conference. "We are now assessing South Carolina's interests in reaffiliation and other expansion possibilities and will be making responsible recommendations to the the various institutions," James said. Patterson told the Gamecock July 24 that there has not been any communication from Com missioner James about USC's possible re-entry into the con ference. "Actually, we have never for mally applied for re-entry into the ACC," Patterson said. "We have been exploring the matter unof ficially. We intend to explore it further at the NCAA meeting of schools in August." "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. RO P BAL 30MI uditions: Ai St ~truction is a ~ed students I BALLET JAZZ TAP AINN DAI wvartz Buitman - I 788-! WCC Be Prominent Leaks Exi BY BILLY BAKER Sports Editor A prominent member of the USC Board of Trustees told the CAMECOCK June 30, the real reason why he thinks the university is seeking to rejoin the Atlantic Coast Conference it left in 1971. The trustee insisted that his name not be revealed because he felt that all communications on the ACC issue should be related through USC President William H. Patterson. The source said that during the WILLIAM H. PATTERSON. 1OLI] LET ig. 24 2-4 P3 vailable for I ACROBATIF TOE BELLY DAL VtCE ACAI )irector - 23 yeara 5132 ck Trustee Planation spring, USC basketball coach Frank McGuire and his top assistant Donnie Walsh were approached by numerous major Independents desiring to form a private basketball association. The idea of such an association grew from the NCAA's reluctance to extend additional invitations to Independents for post season play offs. The source said the Board of Trustees became interested in rejoining a conference after it discovered that USC's basketball program "had serious intentions" of joining a private association. "I know that President Pat terson told Coach McGuire that should the basketball program join a private association it would box in other USC sports to remain Independent," the source said. "It didn't seem very practical at all." Both McGuire and Walsh were present at a meeting of the USC Board of Trustees on May 27. it was at this time that the board voted to give Dr. Patterson the power to negotiate with the ACC Please Turn to Page 4 C >einners OS ICING )EMY