Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Carlie By BILLY COX Gamecock Sports Writer For a football team that's sup posed to be 0-2 right now, Carolina sure is off to a lousy start. The Gamecocks invaded Durham, N.C., the Blue Devils' own back yard (where they went undefeated last year), and made Duke their second victim of the young season. In completing their 24-16 win USC rolled up 355 total yards-282 on the ground-jarred the Dukes for 3 three fumbles, and C4 a upen gave a textbook lesson on how to run a flawless veer. A strong showing of Carolina fans, though, was unable to sit back and grin until a frenzied series of events occurred with just less than three minutes left. Freshman quarterback Mike Dunn, who was moving the ball steadily upfield, faded back to pass, his team down by five. Carolina defensive back Jacyn Adasmki intercepted at the Duke 45, returned it seven yards, and fumbled after being hit. USC's Bill m I)t al Mi ds Blue Currier recovered, was hit late, and drew a 15-yard penalty. Four plays later Bobby Marino popped in a 34-yard field goal for the clincher. Although USC head coach Jim Carlen was generally pleased with his squad's performance he was still reserved when questioned about Carolina's potential. "I don't talk much about what I'm satisfied with," Carlen said. "I talk about what I'm dissatisfied with. People keep saying 'Coach, when are you gonna be satisfied?' emeeeck Staf enSe by e. e.m.re 114 yards. Devils, I'm gonna be satisfied when we correct the mistakes we've been making." Carlen was bothered by the Gamecocks' kickoff and secondary coverage, "sloppy tackling," and specifically, the lack of first half opportunism. After Grantz plunged in from one yard out to complete a picture perfect 61-yard drive on first possession, Duke fumbled on its 28. Seven plays and two incomplete end zone passes later, a Marino attempt was wide to the right. The Blue Devils got off only two more plays before starting quarterback Bob Corbett pitched out to the invisible man, and Scott Blackman recovered on the Duke 16. Duke's defense tightened up again, with another Marino shot going astray. Following a Duke field goal, Carolina got the machine cranked up again. Grantz mixed the plays up beautifully, calling on Casper Carter, Tom Amrein, and big Clarence Williams (who burned up 114 yards for the day) on the option pass to spearhead the drive. Grantz took it over from the one, capping a 12-play, 61-yard drive in 4:56. "I wasn't satisfied personally with my performance," Grantz later reflected on his 102 total-yard afternoon, "but again, you're not gonna have a great game every week, and as long as we win, I'll take a bad performance anytime." A closer look at the opposing offenses revealed sharply con. trasting styles of attack. While the Gamecocks nibbled up yardage in slow, grinding fashion, Duke relied McGee son after losinA By BILLY COX Gamecock Sports Writer Wallace Wade Stadium sits like a crumbling, lifeless memorial to ancient, but now meaningless glory. Named for the Duke coach who took the school to three Rose Bowls, games now draw half capacity crowds to its drab stone confines. The South end zone has no seats, no field house, nor even a steep hill for students to rest on. There is no need for additional seating, really. Nor is there a need for renovation. On Saturday afternoon, as the sun began to burn away the haze, Duke's head cheerleader tried to turn on his audience by dancing, chanting, and telling jokes. An hour later he threw up his hands, grimaced, and moaned, "Oh well." In fact, the Blue Devil supporters looked most alive when reports of Maryland's win over arch-rival North Carolina started flooding in. But it didn't ease the sting. Duke lost. Again. In the depths of a dark and musty lockerroom, some 10 or 11 reporters sat waiting, like vultures, to hear the excuses. Some smiled at each other sar castically. Blue Devil coach Mike McGee shuffled in soberly and took a seat at the front. "I really don't have much to say," he began quietly. "It was obvious that mistakes early in the ame got us. in poor sports 24-16 on the big play, that sudden ex plosion, to add fangs to its ad vance. The Blue Devils had the tools. Runners Art Gore and Chuck Williamson consistently shot holes in Carolina's defensive belly. All ACC performer Troy Slade kept the Gamecock secondary honest, too, as well as presenting a breakaway return threat. Duke also rotated quarterbacks quickly. Corbett was spelled by cool pocket passer Hal Spears, who in turn was yanked for Dunn. It was Spears who guided Duke to a late first half touchdown, to trim USC's lead to 14-10. Williamson smashed over from the four for the score. Again, the Gamecocks took the second half kickoff down into Duke Territory, running off 4:52 before Williams darted in for a one-yard TD. Duke struck back immediately on the next series. Spears relied primarily on Gore to take him down to the one where he sneaked over to cut it to 21-16. A two-point conversion pass failed. While the fourth quarter was a see-saw of possession changes, with Duke linebackers Dave Dusek and Dave Meier operating with bone-shattering efficiency (14 tackles apiece), Carolina's defense arose to strangle the Blue Devils' potentially devastating offensive thrusts. Before the game, an electric message had flashed across the scoreboard: "This is a different S.C." No one in Durham or Atlanta will argue with that. tber, quiet Y to USC position," he continued. "Our defense played well against a good offensive team, but our offensive execution early in the game (inreference to two quick first quarter fumbles) was a problem." After a pause, he said in monotone, "As the game wore on, we didn't improve greatly." McGee's voice trailed off. McGee then saluted Jeff Grantz and Clarence Williams in USC's offensive back field as well as Art Gore's electrifying runs. "We've got an important con ference game coming up," McGee intoned listlessly, trying to change pace. "But this game was awfully important, too." McGee shouldn't be blamed for his opening loss. If you schedule Southern Cal you're going to take a pounding anyway. But Saturday he was on the short end of a 24-16 score with Carolina, a team forecasters said was down and gasping at the count of nine even before it had played its first game. Add to it that Duke sports department officials had sent releases proclaiming this to be one of the Blue Devils' best teams in history. McGee concluded his press conference in silence. One of the two reporters who had stayed until the end got up and said, "Thanks, coach." Then they both exited without a word. McGee just didn't have much to