Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

Confidence By BILLY BAKUK Sports Editor USC's defensive coordinator Richard Bell considers confidence and unselfishness two important reasons for the improved play of the defensive unit this season. "They have gained confidence in themselves this year," Bell said. "And they don't care who gets credit for recovering a tumble or making a big play. They are very unselfish." IN 1975 USC'S defense gave up 261 yards per game against the rush and 149.5 yards per game against the pass. Statistics like these got USC labeled a weak defense by the local and national media. "1 think these players wanted to prove a point to everybody," Bell said. "They accept each game as a challenge. We will have a chance to play good defense throughout the rest of the year." Against Appalachian State and Georgia Tech Gamecock defenders gave up 153 and 179 yards respectively. They shutout Tech's passing attack and allowed Appalachian State % yards passing. USC uses the 50 defense. "It enables us to use a multiple front and a multiple dP1 ovtrklim ? From \jcti u'uiia?Carolina quarterback Ron Bass com] 286 yards against Georgia Tech. "It's < and did throw the ball the way we did a{ In two games, USC fullback Kevin 1 yards while tailback Clarence Williai attempts. Split end Phil Logan caught and two touchdowns against Georgia Fligg said the Gamecocks basicall; football better in the second half again defense played a big part in the offensi second half. "Our kids are tackling better than w< Rpll whn thic io 1^^.. ~; * * , 11 ii o 10 me rvc: V pUIIII l< "They're getting to the gaps," Bell sj up with the big plays this year." Carolina's defense, led by lineb defensive end Scott Blackman and c Barber, allowed Georgia Tech 27 yar< second half. "The past two or three weeks, we'v the wishbone offense," said Bell. The week for Duke's Pro-I offensive form USC's offensive tackle Jerome Pro knee injury on Saturday, said Fligg. Di ueorge Page are questionable star weekend. : The King Is Here! j THE RECORI 45's and Tapes also c Open 1 0 a.m. - 9 p.m., : Boardwalk Plaza Lone * !, unselfishne Richard Bell secondary without making difficult adjustments," he said. "We try to slide and move around orior to the snan nf hull hopes of confusing blocking assignments." T1I1S YEAR'S DEFENSIVE unit returned nine starters fromlastseasorv pleted 20 of 32 passes for encouraging that we can gainst Tech," Fligg said. ^ Long has rushed for 142 ms has 151 yards in 33 ^ 11 passes for 175 yards Tech. * X O y threw and caught the <<t TV?ph T-I^> nlcr? foir4 tlm x/x/t., **V UIOV OU1U llic t q scoring 20 points in the |^N.| e were a year ago," said 1 M o USC's defense. aid, "and they're coming i acker David Prezioso, lefensive tackle Charles is in total offense in the ) / e been getting ready for squad is practicing this _ ttiiuii, according 10 tsell. | vence will be out with a ; ike's John McDonald and ters for the game this |i dicing! Ij hese prices" OH $|j?* *ry week : I IAL ALBUMS \ C?l available AAon.-Sat. I Live the King ! : | "The 5 ;ss key USC d< Bell believes other factors have improved the defense." After being here a year the players now better understand what we are trying to accomplish," he said. "Their ability has always been there. There's just uwn improvement, we are trying to get them in the situation where they make the most of their abilities." Duke will confront the Gamecocks with the most versatile offense than either Appalachian State or Georgia Tech. Bell said the defensive strategy will change this week. "You have to get your secondary out of there," he said. "You still want them to give run support but their primary responsibility is the pass." Bell said USC will play a zone defense against Duke. "They will be able at all times to get three and four receivers out on us," he said. "Duke does a good job in balancing out the run and pass. It creates a real guessing game for the defense." BEFORE THE SEASON begins Bell said the team is drilled hard. After the season begins football becomes just as mental as it ic nhvcinnl 4'ITrAin * IUIII IIV/ W UII lilt important thing now is to keep a high mental attitude and high level of morale so when we take the field we will be ready to play/' he said. "The defense has to imA ME JP' WITHS Ill I ? I J I Er " illllA^yMB MA A\ir* I *** Lk. 1 _ " I i * Avunuuie in me bos LUMBIA CHRIST 1 1 lOTaylorSt. (between Mc Phone: 252-88 >o uth's Largest Inventory of Cc efense prove each week and we try to be realistic about this. We ask them to improve 1 per cent each week during the season." One of Bell a main jobs is to recruit athletes for USC. He said that Carolina doesn't attach a certain height or weight limitation on their recruits. "Football is a game of movement and we try to recruit players who can move," he said. "Of course we would like to get the big ones who ran mnvp " Bell said there is constant communication between the players and coaches at USC. "If they think we can do something better we listen to their ideas," he said. "We have been able to incorporate some of their ideas into our system." Jumpers to meet USC skydivers will participate in a parachute meet Saturday at Lugoff Parachute Center in Lugoff, S C. The one day event is an accuracy meet where participants attempt to land on a sixinch target from 3,200 feet in the air. Lugoff Parachute Center is the home drop zone of the USC Sport Parachute Club. W LABEL... iOME OLD FRIENDS... Barry McGuire iement"at ! IAN SUPPLY I ain & Assembly) 95 1 >ntemporary Christian"