Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Offense Gamt on shot By Frank Vertto Gam*cock Staff Writer The Carolina offensive unit lost nnlti nnn otnptar fr\ nrnrlnotinn on/f viuy v/iiv oMiim w giauuauvu hhu should be one of the team's strengths when they open against the North Carolina Tar Heels Saturday. The offensive squad will feature the return of fullback AilAmerican candidate George Rogers and quarterback Garry Harper. Harper will have an experienced receiving corps to throw to led by last year s leading receiver Zion McKinney. 'I feel like we lack depth in some areas, but in the past we've lacked depth in a lot of areas "WE HAVE MANY talented, experienced players returning on our offensive unit," said Carlen. ? i ouui our running DacK and receiving positions have quality and depth. Quarterback Harper will lead the offensive show this year. "He gained confidence this spring, and we feel he'll give us the consistent play we need," said Carlen. In four scrimmages this spring Harper had a 68 percent completion mark A Gamecock defem during last year's G / i ?nc%r\c fnrfii ilder of QB while throwing to McKinney and sophomore split end Horace Smith, who had a sparkling 32 yard avoratfo nor nafph fVlic cnrino M V v? U|^V vwvvca Ur *"0* The tight end spot is solid with returnees Ben Cornett ? highly regarded for his blocking ability ? and Willie Scott who grabbed four touchdown passes last year. "Ben Cornett has improved his catching and Tim Gillespie is a (Truv4 hantrjin of urir^a pa^auror " 5WU WUVI\ Up U t TTIUV t VWA VVt , added Carlen. The loss of Johnnie Wright at the tailback position hurt the UdUn.*Sf*ii jSH^HE^^BB^RBw^irscliil r t Zion McKinney Gamecocks, but senior Spencer Clark who led the team inrushing back in 1977 and Steve Dorsey who excells in short yardage situations should be able to step in and do the job. AN EXPERIENCED offensive line is returning and should be able to open up the holes for the running backs. "We have four starters returning back on the offensive line and Quay Farr had a good ^^mTnrBfnr ff mfTCTffffTfffflf Wmsiu ||EK9tty?:/ . GAMECOCK STAFF PHOTO ier deflects a pass icuryiu i etri yurne. nes rest Harper spring and seems to have solved our problem at center," said Carlen. With the graduation of both Max Kunager ana Brut parrisn, tne kicking game is one of the club's question marks. No one has won either the punting or kicking chores outright. Last year's squad outscored the opponents by a 231-181 margin while recording a 5-5-1 mark. This year's squad will face four teams that went to bowls last year, and their opponents overall recorded a 73-53-1 mark. "So far we've only had one setback, and that is losing Johnnie Wright for the season. He was a 900 yard rusher last year, and that's a real minus," Carlen said. "Some of the players are playing better than I thought they would, and some of them aren't living up to my ex pectations, but overall we've had a good fall. I feel like we lack depth in some areas, but in the past we've lacked depth in a lot of areas," Carlen added. Defense 'Qualit make By Mark GHUam OwYwcocfc Staff Writer As the Gamecocks anticipate the 1979 football season opener n_l 1 _ ? _ ! A. il iL daiuraay againgi uie worui Carolina Tarheels in Chapel Hill, this appears to be "next year" as far as the defense is concerned. The coaching staff feels that the defense has more depth than last 'year. The line should be the strength of 1.1 j_# * ? ? _ t a uie aeiense according 10 neaa coach Jim Carlen, who will take his fifth Gamecock gridiron team into Kenan Stadium tomorrow. "If we have to lose anyone, I hope it's off the defensive line," he said. Starting at thp Hpfpnsivo piiH positions will most likely be Brett Bond and Arthur Broussard. Bond, a (6-0, 220) senior and two-year letterman, was a regular at end last year. A native of Missouri City, Texas, Broussard (6-2, 220) received some playing time last year. BEHIND BOND AND Broussard will be freshman Phil Ellis and junior college transfer Donnie McDaniel. Ellis (6-1, 205) was noted by the coaching staff for his aggressive play this spring. "McDaniel is going to have to play with a higher level of intensity," Carlen said. Senior Steve Bernish (6-4, 245) will start at left tackle and Chuck Allen (6-3, 245), a junior, will begin the game at right tackle. Behind Bernish is senior Neal Timmons (6-4, 250). Behind Allen is W. T. Williams, a 6-1, 240 senior from Lincoln ton, ua. Between Bernish and Alie.. on the line will he Fred Sinclair at middle guard. A native of Homestead, S.C., Sinclair made the move from tackle to middle . >-X'X:>:^^BQ&B&^% j^BHBHSHk ,:-: v:Jllili>9|lBra69k wfcxSe ^H|n ^jpjjl SV^IlpX | Quarterback Garry Harper hi season. The junior from F/oria seems ready for Saturday's opet y depth,' vt (JSC tougl guard to replace Bill Janus who graduated this past year. Another South Carolina product, Roscoe Watson from Clinton, will share the spot with Sinclair. BECAUSE OF "quality depth," Carlen is extremely pleased with the linebacker situation. He encouragingly explains, "We're strong at linebacker, for the first time." Starting at one linebacker spot is senior Scott Wade, who led the team with 110 tackles last year. Tne otner linebacker position is up for grabs, but it appears that three "We've got some good kickers, but they're not Runagers rr mmm #: *+ m Jim i* an an year letterman Tim Singleton or perhaps Walt Kater, a 6-1, 210 junior college transfer will win the spot. A Charleston native, Singleton (6-4, 235) contributed 108 ' tackles last year. Starting at strong safety is Senior Lou Biondi (5-5, 170), from Pittsburgh. He is backed un hv freshman Pat Bowen. Sophomore Robert Perlotte, who started in m a every game lasi year, win again start at free safety. Perlotte's replacement is Gary Burger, a junior from Decatur, Ga. The graduation of stand-outs Max Runager and Britt Parrish has left Carlen with obvious concern. "We've got some good kickers, but they're not Runagers," said Carlen. Fresh ^v / mm Dave Roback ? GAMECOCK olds the key to a successful f? Lma LMW /A// ortW ftf nan riau a oirvrii/ ion anu ier against North Carolina. iteran line 1 ud front A man Tim Lee and junior Timmy Vaughn are battling for the position of starting punter. "The kick-offs concern me because we plan to kick-off a lot/' Carlen said. Soccer-etyle kicker Eddie Leopard will handle the kickoffs. The Cayce junior kicked 13 field goals last year, and hit on 14 of ISp*trs nnints Carlen apparently feels that the entire squad is prepared for the Tar Heels. Asked if the team would snpnH fnmnrrnu; nioht in rhfltlftl Hill, Carlen said, "I don't make it a habit of spending the night after you whip someone." Highly touted Ed Baxley, a transfer from Arizona Western Junior College, is a linebacker that has received much attention and prompted Carlen to say, "one out of every four or five times you'll Het a good iuninr cnltaap nlnvpr But I'll tell you, we've got one this year. He's a good one." After "learning the program" Baxley may earn the other starting linebacking position. "He's only been here a few weeks. He's got to learn what we're doing, but he'll be a good player in time," Carlen said. Reserve linebackers are freshman Phillip Vickery from Spartanburg, S.C., and freshman Karey Johnson from Athens, Ga. WITH AN EXPERIENCED quartet returnino the aeeondarv . should be significantly stronger than last year's. Senior Andy HflflHntfS an<4 {iihIak ifn >!? D?J/lrtnc -u??\4 juiuvi iviai iv miujjw will start at the corners. Hastings, who led spring scrimmages with interceptions, will be backed at left corner by freshman Harry Skipper while at the right comer, Al Stevens, a junior, will give Bridges a "breather." " v