Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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rormer By Mlcholl* Burchette Q?m*cock Staff Wrtt?r Year after year, the names and faces of Carolina athletes consistently change. Players come and go in pursuit of careers with only a handful leaving behind their names to be remembered. Among that handful is Jeff Kefalos. From West Virginia, Kefalos came to Carolina six years ago to play tennis for the Gamecocks. According to Kefalos the major reason he came south was to play for coach Ron Smarr who is still the mentor of the men's tennis team. "He was younger and I liked his coaching," Kefalos stated. AS A FRESHMAN Kefalos held the number-three slot for Carolina and alternated at one and two * f f _ 1 I 1 during nis junior anu senior years. Adding to his long list of accomplishments, Kefalos was captain of the Gamecocks for three years and voted most valuable player during all four of his seasons at USC. So, why go into the background of someone who no longer plays for flarnlinfl? Rwansp thp pvnpripnpp and knowledge Kefalos gained as a Carle] i* f rr?, jor vcy play W (AP)-USC head football coach Jim Carlen said one of the reasons the Gamecocks lost to North Carolina last week was because they cared too much about winning. The Tar Heels shut-out the Gamecocks 28-0 but in his weekly news conference, Carlen took the blame. They wanted to win the game too bad...for the wrong reasons. It was probably my fault," he said. CARLEN DIDN'T elaborate. But last week the university's trustees announced that when Carlen contract expires in 1982, the 11! nn>| pusuions ui uuueuc uncviui anu head football coach will be seperated. Carlen has served in both capacities since coming to Carolina four years ago. The Gamecocks play Western Michigan of the Mid-America Conference Saturday at WiliamsBrice Stadium. It will be the first meeting ever between the two schools. The Broncos were also shut-out in their opening contest, a 10-0 setback to Central Michigan. THE HEAD COACHES of South Carolina's two Southern Conference schools - Furman and The Citadel - agreed Monday that they'll have to correct some mistakes and improve their execution if they are to gain their first 1979 victories this Saturday. J Furman's Dick Sheridan was respectful of the Paladins' next opponent, small-college power Tennis UdUl^CUC 'It's important U programs at US< improving be A mm S mim & t M A i intty imiuciibi community...' Jeff Y I USC althlete, he now puts to use as a USC coach. Currently coach of the women's tennis team, Kefalos has not faded e wmn A Y? irom UOL uisiury. in iusi yeai ? season he guided the Lady Gamecocks to the eighth position in the nation and is looking forward to another fine year in 1979. WITH SEVEN OF last year's eight players returning and the addition of three new recruits, n nlnrpc h C loss on J /. Miichiga Presbyterian. Sheridan said the Blue Hose's 21-13 victory over The Citadel last weekend "was no fluke. "When they (PC) have peak teams, like they do this season, They 'wanted to win the game too bad...for the wrong reasons...' Jim Carlen they can compete with any team in the Southern Conference. "JIMMY SPENCE is a quality quarterback and the Presbyterian defense gets to the quarterback it rw. L...> well, liwy IWVC CAtCUCIIi Sl?! CXI IVI good personel on defense," Sheridan added. Sheridan said the Paladins were "not discouraged" by their first star Jeff Kefalos k athlete tef the M C keep Jm 'cause JH I Kefalos believes his team will again place among the top 12 teams in the nation. "This year we could finish anywhere from 2nd to ? rtiL ml 1.. A. 1 A.A. izin. i nere s oniy one learn ueuer than us and that's Southern Cal. And, there are probably 12 teams as good as we are," he explained. According to the young coach, the offer to lead the women's team came as a surprise. "It just happened," he said. "The job was here and I was here." For the Lady t I lame himself; nnext shut-out loss in 45 years, a 21-0 defeat by Clemson. "In looking at the films we know we did not have good offensive line plav. but you have to Rive credit to Clem son's defense for some of our problems," he said. THE CITADEL Bulldogs are sure to have their hands full when they travel to Annapolis, Md, to play the Middies of the Naval Academy. "I'm not sure we've picked a good team to have to bounce back against,"Citadel head coach Art Baker said at his weekly press conference. "We'll have to have that little something extra this week." Baker is concerned about the size and speed of Navy's lineman, especially the defense, which he called "very, very impressive." The Middie defensive front averages 240 pounds, and the of fensive linemen run about 240 pounds, he said. "WE WERE NOT able to break anything last week," said Baker. "We must get to tne point wnere we can break that last tackle. "Against Navy, we can't go three yards and a cloud of dust and hope to be successful. We must get some big plays and particularly throw effectively if we hope tc move on offense/' we added. returns tc StfiiiS- ] Gamecocks, Kefalos was in the right place at the right time. Reflecting on his competitive playing days at Carolina, Kefalos said that the tennis program is continually improving. Because of the success of USC's program, he said the tennis programs around the area have also improved. "It's important that the programs at USC keep improving llfcis?&k> I * 4 1 HHH | ' : ' ' ' A , * " '.. . . R-; ;Vs. :* : ' ' . '. V*-'-'" :V ' Tongue< I USC soccer player Brian I t uvaiiaj 9 macwv aysinsi c 1 known at press time. t rnarVi because they influence the community," he said. "Because Carolina has a good program, tennis in the city of Columbia has improved." The success of the mens and womens teams at USC, however, are decided in different ways. According to Kefalos, "the success of the women's program rests on how well they get along." STRANGELY ENOUGH, the coach believes the women are more aggressive when it comes to seeking positions. "On a men's team once you find a position, you sort of develop a role for yourself. The girls, however, tend to be a little jealous of each other's Abilities: ?n far thou'uo ^ V? IVJ ?V 1VUAIU II harder to settle into roles," Kefalos explained. The differences in the teams, don't seem to be hindering Kefalos and his squad. If they can work as well together this season as they have done in the past, it looks like the Lady Gamecocks are on the road to another top ten season. ^ : Wt l;: ^ 3^?=;- ' ' S c,4": ,*7.' I I ] 's :\ v-; : ? x$ .-:'. . " | -<K J ?: i;:;^ Jp||lf N * ' I IT :. ... : 1 HF ^RKH I I m v ? Dave Roback ? GAMECOCK and cheek ^Instead heads for the goal In rskln . The result* were not