Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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sports i > i * t I I I I ' id vB^H^^Bv9^ki^,.^IHL - ^^BiyliSsiS ^WhMeP^: *bB I^HIm USC's Sieve King makes a close play al base daring Tuesday's game against C< Carolina. King had two hits in the gan Bobby Bryai By MARK LEARY Special to The Gamecock CopyrtfM 1*77 by Mm Bredwiten HtrM ROTONDA, FLA. - He's from the other USC (University of South Carolina) and that distinction might be the only thing that bothers Minnesota Viking cornerback Bpbby Bryant.. Even in the Superstars press kit, the curly-haired Bryant is listed as being from South Carolina University, which is later rofprroH ?n oa CTIT "ITS NICE they created a university for me," the Macon, Ga., native joked. "I guess it's just one of those things. My school will always be mixed up with that one on the West Coast. Whatever its name is." All kidding aside, Bryant is one of the few South Carolina graduates to make it to the National Football League, much less the Super Bowl. He played cornerback for South Carolina as well as pitching and setting a Gamecock baseball strikeout record. He was chosen in both the baseball and football drafts. He chose Minnesota and his identity problem began to be solved. He just completed his 10th season wjth the Super Bowl losers. ITS NOT THE wav Bryant look* at tho season, though. "All the people around me can have any attitude they want to," he said. "I maintain that it was bettor to be there and lose than not to be there at all." Bryant played a big role in getting his team into the Super Bowl. He returned a blocked field goal 90 yards for a touchdown and intercepted a pans in the final minutes of his team's 24-13 win over the Los Angeles . 1 |l|if jF^v^?SifcBa^'aM^ffl^Wi;^TS^S!^^MBai>?i* r V Colllnt WaTki t first eluding a double. USC won the oasta! 11-0. ie inat: 'One of the ? <ma BBT^fegsw1^ v ^ tuiins in tne NFC championship game. "That touchdown was a very exciting moment for me because it helped us get into the Super Bowl," Bryant said. "But I couldn't call any one moment my most satisfying in football. If it was anything it would have to be my association with the Viking organization and the great bunch of teammates I have had for the past 10 seasons." SOME OF HIS comments smack of public relations for the Vikings. But Bryant talks "the way I want to, not to please others." His remarks in defense of teammate Fran Tarkenton prove it. "I can sympathize with why Fran didn't play in the Pro Bowl. He's played four or use op wi th wii fT JLMLJL fT JLJ By MITCH SHERWOOD Sports Editor Led by senior Jim Le strikeouts, Carolina opene over Coastal Carolina T Center. Lewis, having one of his USC and allowed just thr (? ,? "NO, I DIDN'T expect J head coach June Raines nings)." An area of concern for R However, USC had 13 hits icil ueiuer uoiuuiy mniue "They were aggressively The Gamecocks scored Mookie Wilson and shortst walked USC's Mark Van B USC scored every inninf i eighth inning when they i FIRST BASEMAN Stevi pgBpPi each had a double, and Mc) r Coastal Carolina's one h steve Billingsley hit a sinj Carolina got on base was c *** ei8hth Lewis said his arm is in i j?b of Setting it in shape mf Ipwifi wac fuin ^ ?? " ???u vttv ou incuu QHBwPSSiS** record. In 1972, George B< ir-tmi oamkcock State and again in 1972, Citadel. season opener USC plays Duke at 1 p.n doubleheader. The Gamec athletic center against M nice guys' in ] ?? v am so enthusiastic every on when it's time for ing camp that I don't have to think about which year is ast. One thing I've learned at you can't think football -around or you burn self out." I -Bobby Bryant J uve umes in that game and also he was hurting," Bryant said. "That game doesn't pay anything and when you're 37 like Fran you shouldn't take any more chances of getting hurt than you can help. People just didn't take all those things into consideration when they criticized him." AND BRYANT doesn't subscribe to the theorv that Siinor RauiI vt ?.? r? ?'?> ' m nun MJC V IHIIiyt last playoff chance because of their age. "I have never seen a team go down the drain in (me year. Sometimes I don't understand people when they say things like we'll never be back. They don't take into consideration the fact that we could pick up some good players in the draft." I ens season i ti over Coastal wis who pitched a one-hitter, including 5 d its 1977 baseball season with an 11-0 victory uesday afternoon at Rex Enright Athletic ; hest Havk pvor nitchoH (ho ontlro aomu - J ? w, J vi.v vaavi?v game il/I ee men on base. lim (Lewis) to pitch so well," USC first-year said. "He surprised me by going nine (inaines during the preseason was USC's hitting, with everyone getting at least one hit, except nto hitting before the season," Raines said, hitting today. They were all swinging at the first in the third inning when centerfielder op Greg Jonson scored after Coastal's pitcher ever on four straight pitches. ; except the fifth and gained a 7-0 lead in the $cored four runs. e King and designated hitter Chuck McLean Lean had two runs batted in. lit came in the sixth inning when rightfielder jle to left field. The two other times Coastal in an error in the fourth inning and a walk in good pitching shape. "Raines had done a good he said. ts away from tying the Gamecock strikeout iam had 17 strikeouts against North Carolina Alan Hilliard tied that record against The l. Friday c\\ Rex Enright Athletic Center in a ocks play again at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the adisnn ' \ 3ro football Bryant backs his statement by adding that he won't be one of the Viking veterans to fizzle out by next season. "I'm S3 and I expect to be around for two, maybe three, maybe four and, who knows, maybe five more years." he said "I AM SO enthusiastic every season when it's time for training camp that I don't have time to think about which year is my last," Bryant said. "One thing I've learned is that you can't think football year-around or you burn yourself out." Bryant keeps busy in the off-season by singing in a rock group he formed and by running his shirt shop in St. Paul. "More so now than ever you have to think about your ? future and do things away from football. You know, you can't play football forever." The alumni of South Carolina haven't forgotten Bryant. Whenever there's a coaching vacancy at South Carolina, his name is bandied about with former Gamecocks and pros Dan Reeves of the Dallas CowbovH ??vt aw J - ..... .uu> cwnauuo U1 Baltimore. "I DON'T KNOW if I'd be receptive to coaching. That's one of those things that I'd figure out when I got out of the pros," he said. "It's nice to know they think of me like that." Bryant considers himself one of the few Vikings that can joke about his team's Super Bowl Toss. When Fred Biletnikoff was asked if there was a mistake in his coverage during the Superstars press conference, Bryant broke in and said, See BRYANT, page II