Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Blatt Succeeds Cremins BY BILLY BAKER Sports Editor Greg Blatt, an assistant basketball coach at the College of Charleston and former member of the 1967 USC freshman team, has been named an assistant basketball coach at Carolina. Associate head basketball coach Donnie Walsh said Blatt was hired to fill the position of Bobby Cremins who was named the head basketball coach at Appalachain State this past spring. Blatt is a Barnwell High School graduate and is the grandson of Sol Blatt, former member of the state legislature. "We are very happy to have him on our staff," *Walsh said. "We don't assign anyone specific duties but his emphasis will be on recruiting duties." Blatt coached at Fort Johnson High in Charleston before joining the staff at * the College of Charleston in 1972. He also managed the team for two years according to Walsh. Hagan Favors ACC Harold "Bo" Hagan is USC's athletic director, succeeding Paul Dietzel, who resigned at the con clusion of last football season. Hagan was the "MVP" on the 1949 football team at USC. He had been the athletic director at Rice before returning to USC athletics a few years ago. He favors the University's desire to return to the ACC. "I've been involved with both the Southeastern and South West Conferences before and I know that the NCAA is oriented towards conference teams, and not In riependents," he said 4 Hagan's goals are to try and help produce the best athletic teams USC has ever had. "There's always room for improvement," Hagan said when told that some USC teams had already reached chamDionship material. Brian Winti BY FRANK SHEALEY 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 in June. 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 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 different 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. CARLEN COMMENTS On Team t'ENERAL OUTLOOK OF TEAM: We have a lot of question marks we have to iron-out. We have some strengths, but we also have some obvious weaknesses. For this to be a successful year we have to show improvement each week. We won't say how many games we'll win, but rather we'll strive to put forth our best possible effort on the field each time out. EVALUATION OF SPRING DRILLS: Our players gave us a great effort and they impressed our staff with their attitude and hustle. We want this enthusiasm to still be there in the fall. It took a great deal of time getting our players in the right positions and we would have liked to have had a longer period to work with them after that. OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK: Of courise one of our strong points is at running back. We think we've got four or five players that are quality football players at running back. We know Jeff Grantz and Ron Bass are talented quarterbacks, but we've got to keep them healthy. The wide receiver positions are fairly sound, however, we certainly need more depth in the offensive line. DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK: One of our problem areas is our defen sive front seven. We felt our players adjusted well to the "Fifty" defense in the spring. We have to get some help on the defensive line and at linebacker. The secondary appears to be pretty solid. That's one of our strongest areas. KICKING GAME OUTLOOK: This was an area that vye were un certain on after spring practice. We feel we have some players who can do the job, but they have to produce on the field. EVALUATION OF FRESHMEN: Considering our late start, we have to be satisfied with the recruits we signed this season. We stressed defensive personnel and we were able to get some good football players. However, we lost some also. In the future we'll be better able to assess our recruiting, since we won't be working with a handicap as we were this season. THE 1975 SCHEDULE: We start off with a tough schedule and it doesn't get any easier. Georgia Tech is suppose to have one of its best teams in years and the same goes for Duke. Georgia has some ex cellent personnel and they were excited about their spring practice. Baylor, of course, won the Southwest Conference and they have a lot of letterman coming back. Those first four teams are strong and then comes Virginia and they're suppose to win seven or eight games this season. Ole Miss made some changes in its staff and playing them at Jackson makes it diffuicult. Louisiana State is rated one of the favorites in the Southeastern Conference and playing them Saturday night at Baton Rouge will be an experience. North Carolina State should be one of the top-rated teams in the nation again. AppalAchian State can't be underrated. They're always tough against Carolina. And Chuck Mills says Wake Forest will be improved. What do you say about Clemson? Coach Parker thinks they should have one of their best clubs in recent years. I can't predict how many games we'll win or lose, but we'll work as hard as we can and take the results. It should be interesting. ,rs Visited Campus GAMECOCK: Assess your first Milwaukee Bucks year as a pro basketball player. WINTERS: I believe I had a Backeourt Man 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 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. GAMECOCK: As a pro how would you evaluate Carolina's basketball pro talent of this past > season? ~UUW WINTERS: I think Tom Boswell, Alex English, Mike Dunleavey and possibly Nate Dai could eventually play pro basketball. Some of the younger players could develop into NBA material as well. G;AMECOCK: How does it feel to come back to Carolina and Columbia? WINTERS: It is strange to come back 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 gel clippings and read the sports pages regularly. I remember watching the USC Notre Dame game on television. I like Columbia and j Carolina, and I enjoyed going te school here. I will always have good memories of the people here BRIAN WINTERS ado on osho ee USC has been called the graveys 1966 Paul Dietzel came to Carolina and build USC into a football dyna was a mistake. Dietzel compiled university. Our new coach, Jim ( great previous record under his bel of the Ohio Valley Conference. Wi one. Jim Carlen has a great challen1 Visiting Playe With Carlen, A Texas Tech player visited USC recently and complimented USC's new head football coach and its athletic facilities. "South Carolina should feel fortunate to have Coach Carlen and his fine staff," said Cliff Hoskins, who played fullback for Carlen at Texas Tech the .past two years. The senior fullback is expected to start for the Red Raiders this fall. His team has been picked to win the Southwest Conference. "Coach Carlen is a very ob servant type," Hoskins said. "He strolls around various groups at practice taking down notes. He and his staff made me what I am." Hoskins was impressed with USC's athletic facilities. "Man, I couldn't believe it," he said. "Superb is the only way to describe the facilities here." VICTORIAP ArtCarved took stylir fashioned wedding ri Lyric and Perfidia./ sign expressed in prc with a contrasting an1 ionable weddings, st Carved collection sol cA4rt C From the makers of I0 per cent discount to students with U.S.C. 1423 Main St. (D)owntown Colu.m.bia ird of college football coaches. In from Army and LSU fame to try sty. It is easy to say his selection a career record of 42-53-1 at this arlen is also coming here with a L. Dietzel is now the commissioner th Dietzel USC was never number ge here. r Impressed Facilities When Hoskins was a senior in high school he was recruited by such schools as Texas, Notre Dame and Houston. He said he was committed to Texas when he was visited by Jim Carlen. "I decided on Texas Tech because Coach Carlen and his staff were so honest with me," Hoskins said. "They were fair and seemed to be really interested in young people." Hoskins said he hopes USC fans have patience with Carlen during the upcoming season. "I takes a while to establish a really great program," he said. "I used to be a big Texas fan and I know that it took Royal six years to produce his first national champion at Texas." Hoskins is suggesting that Jim Carlen is the best hope for USC's football future. Many people hope he is right. 4 BEAUTIES PRFIDIA ig frorn the past and ngs for today's love. i delicate floral de cious 14-karat gold, ique finish. For fash ~e our complete Art >n. arved Lenox China & Crystal WeWelcome Student Accounts