Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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The Gamecock Sports I Carolina nl n?fi Tricli for 1st time Rv cm v uin cnw WLM T V/i WW KKJUVfll Asst. Sports Editor If playing tough games almost every week improves the quality of a football team, Carolina should have at least one edge over Notre Dame in the first meeting between the two schools Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium. Carolina has won and lost several close games this season, including last week's 10-7 victory over Mississippi, an 18-17 loss to Baylor, a 20-12 loss to Georgia and a 27-17 win over Georgia Tech. Since losing its season opener to Pittsburgh 31-10, Notre Dame has won decisively four straight games, including last week's 41-0 win over Oregon THEY (NOTRE DAME) really haven't been extended since they played Pittsburgh," USC's head coach Jim Carlen said. In other games this year, Notre Dame defeated Purdue 23-0. Northwestern 48-0, and Michigan State 24-6. Their oDoonents' srnrps in nact f?nr. ?- ? t ? ? ... w.v iuui gainca die clll indication of the quality of Notre Dame's defense. After their Pittsburgh loss, the Fighting Irish defense has allowed two field goals but no touchdowns. i do feel our defensive team has done an excellent job in the past four games," Notre Dame head coach Dan Devine said. Carlen said the Irish defense is mmnapaWo - .W wan^M&Ul^lV/ Willi Mississippi's defense except Notre Dame has bigger players. "They're an extremely large football team, as Notre Dame usually is," Carlen said. Defensively, Notre Dame outweighs USC by at least 12 pounds per man while Carolina's offensive line averages 237 pounds compared Aith Notre Dame's 253 pound averace. EVEN THOUGH CAROLINA lacks the size of the Irish players. Devine credits other aspects of USC's football team Sec IRISH, Page 11 L- I'aC 4 4 * 1? -* ^ i viwiyaica i lUUlglll Carolina's annual Cockfest pep rally will be held tonight at 7 p.m. at Williams Brice Stadium. Cockfest. cancelled Homecoming Week because of :r. clement weather, will feature skits by USC student organizations and music by the USC band. Head football coach Jim Cnri^n anri ' v?44 avss U1IU tuu VJdUlCUUCK I football team will appear during the activities. I Cockfest is sponsored by Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. The j ^ event is open to the public at no charge. A chance U Their recruits come from everywhere: Ken MacAfee, Massachusetts; Mike Carney, California; A1 Hunter, North Carolina and in other years they were preceded by people like Knute Rockne and George Gipp who helped Notre Dame become the epitome of college football. Sure. Notre Dame may have already seen their best days as a collegiate power but they come into Saturday's game ranked 12th in both wire service polls while Carolina is ranked llJth by the Associated Press. The Fighting Irish are probably one of the most glorified athletic teams in history. Kach week the Mutual Broadcasting Network airs their ^ame over more than 350 stations throughout the nation Ahile the C.I). Chesley Network video taDes the eamp fnr television in 85 per cent of the country Sunday morning. TIIK.SE TWO factors along with a rich football tradition are just some of the reasons Notre Dame has a relatively easy time recruiting good athletes from all parts of the country. On the other hand Carolina has come a lone wav in two years under Jim Carlen, who has a 12-7 recordat USC' L*evine is 12-4 at Notre Dame. So. in many ways it is a case of two veteran coaches with winning records who have just come into new coaching ? J w?v y / ^ 1 H S ir - A jfl fl IK A ^K; ... SySiEftg^raS8?**l&S?C^'>KCv';:VN>.^< / '- - : ? ..w : . . > .-.' ?^?_ - . Li?^?^_??;*??^ Did he score ? As Mississippi's Reg Woullard (23) lunge for the winning touchdown, US( (24) grabs and eventually strips the t Sanford (extreme left) comes in to Legend mi defeat ua; By RONNIE HUTCHINS Gamecock Staff Writer Does the Notre Dame football legend intimidate or spur superior performances by the Irish opposition? "It's a question that I'm asked all the time and I just really don't know how to answer it," said tight end Ken MacAfee, pondering his team's advantages and disadvantages. "WEEK IN AND week out, our opponents look at Notre Dame as the one team to beat on their schedule. It really doesn't matter if we're havine 0 a good year or not. There seems to be a special aura or mystique about the school and the people that have been connected with it like Knute Kockne or George Gipp." According to halfback Mark McLane, the team's reputation has ni*Airoti l/v Ka a ?4 ? piuvvn in uc d uisauvuiiiiigc. "All the teams we play get up for Notre Dame? especially if it's the first time they've ever played us. All t -d ? Ct ? MMK. Billy Bake ^ Sports Editor situations at two schools with different foo Notre Dame is the school with the winnir Carolina is just beginning to consistently On his way to an early morning class th defensive back Bill Currier talked about witn Notre Dame. "I think we have to ov< thing," he said. "When you look at the fil don't look as great as the image you hav< Notre Dame. "TllEY ARE very human," Currier sa guys on our team have played against som and they tell the others all they know about Carolina should have no problem getting M pi ailiil^H ^ay^ vmm *'<-"> ? $St^f^SWPP makes a final tackle on Woullard :'s Bill Currier end zone as USC to >all loose. Rick ran the clock out to make a hard i_ i * ay neip in mecocks S j ^P-X:3b|^P8^: -x t-'aSgM MMnOHB^^^HBk. i ilM^ i >TI?H Ken MacAfee tu? * ?? " uic iecu us piay wun me attitude that they can beat us. "We have to be up for every game because we can count on the other team to be up. Every play we go the *Jorifiet As in the past, Notn wherever they go. ! by the Gamecock sa up to play hard ag ine game is imp< Dame win keeps th< the Orange Bowl. A could finish 9-2, and ference in the Orai Notre Dame neec tball reputations. Devine received mi ig tradition while while a USC team ' win. collegiate opponent; e other day, USC small margin, some Saturday's game 0f victory for U SC w ;rcome the name Tj|K pRESSUKl 1ms of them they Gamecocks have a v in yum neau 01 ponents. After Noti Forest and Clemsor id. "A few of the and Southern Califo e of their players for Carlen and USC them." Only the quality of i ; up for the game. Saturday. Marti Al?x?nd?r?THE GAMECOCK . Currier recovered the ball in the ok the ball on the 20 yard line and win the game Saturday 10-7. i sh IS1 a *r people are enthusiastic about playing us. They want to go out and see what we're really like." Defensive right end Willie FYy said the quickness of USC's offensive line concerns him. "They are very quick and move off the ball real well," he said. "They have two very fine running backs and a good quarterback in Ron Bass. I don't think there is any one place we can key on." ALTHOUGH PITTSBURGH HofoataH Mnti./* o-i i? '1 uvivutt/U nunc L/dlllC Ol'lU in me Irish' season opener, MacAfee and ^ McLane feel that defense will play a key role in Saturday's confrontation with Carolina. "The team did give up a lot of points f n Pitt Kut i mop ? 4..? ;?? ?11 w * AVV MUi Alt TV CIO OU& I U1 Cl tUi IllUg point for the defense too," MacAfee said. "It was really embarrassing for all of us. The game was on national TV and it was the first home opener we'd had in two years. I think a lot of us got our heads on straight after that game." See PLAYERS, Page 11 I i ttam 3 Dame players are used to large crowds Several Notre Dame players contacted lid they know teams always get psyched ? ainst them. Drtant for many reasons. First, a Notre e Irish in contention for an invitation to -? ' * * * iiu even ii uat wins, it is possible they meet the winner of the Big Eight Conige Bowl. Is to win big to keep their fans happy, ich criticism last year for his ft-3 record has never won eight games against 5 in one season. If Notre Dame wins by a ! of their fans will be upset. Any margin ;n ?11^ - (ii caciic mi oamecock tans. I appears to be on Notre Dame. The ^ Iready played most of their tough ope Dame, USC plays N.C. State. Wake ?. Notre Dame still must play Alabama rnia. It appears to be another bowl year regardless of what happens Saturday, the bowl will be affected by USC's play ft