Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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By Michelle Burchette Garnecock Staff Writer Kicking off their season earlier than expected iast weekend, the Lady Gamecocks traveled to Alabama for their first volleyball tournament of the year. Although her team had only been i: r A i t_ practicing ior uvo weeKS, coacn Judy Martino accepted the invitation to participate in the Alabama tournament, viewing it as a valuable chance for her players to gain some experience. WIIII.K! I!S<' did not nlnrp py ceptionally high in the competition, Martino believes mistakes and lack of experience were at fault. "We didn't do real well as far as winning and losing, but all of our games were close. We played well," Martino said. "It V A. 11 A A I i 'l1_ wasn i inai any learn ueai us, u s that we beat ourselves, but that's okay. It doesn't worry me?we can improve. Our timing was off and we knew it." Considering the short amount of time the team has for practice, Martino is confident her team will improve with time. "I'm not real worried about the outcome," she coi/1 rnfnrrinrt fa ouiu, i viti i 1115 IU 111c IUUI iiauicui, "The other teams had all been practicing for over a month and had already played in tourThe poli r? .? _ n otxin in <* se Finances became another source of mounting tension. After the first gridiron season, Carlen gave raises to all football assistant coaches but none to roundballers. Later, McGuire and his assistant coach, Donnie Walsh, were called before the board of trustees "to explain certain unnecessary items on meir expense accounts; they fumed and blamed Carlen. Frank faced accusations that he SjWJTC tggwmMKmmB . "<:' ' ..<&GB \ i*j ' . 'V 7.; v":' ?" m. '/. S1HHH Volleyl naments, but this was our first. "WE HAVE TO work a little on our defense because the girls come : from high schools where they're , used to playing a certain defense. I 1I7~ 4 4 4 we nave 10 concenu aie on practicing our own. We're also trying to have a strong attacking game," i Martinosaid. "There's a lot of potential on this ; team. The girls are coming in a lot more experienced, with a very < good attitude. They also seem very < eager to learn. They're aggressive young players. I think that by the , middle of the season we should be verv verv strong " shp said / 7 / 07 * The major concern of the volleyball team at this time is not centered on this past tournament but instead on the season ahead. With only five players returning from last year's state chamDionshiD sauad. the team is onite young. r insr rr.AK Carolina siuaenis fill out the remainder of the 12 person squad, which was cut this year in order to accomodate traveling limitations. tical fight ven part series had incurred lavish expenses in onthe-road recruiting and was asked to justify even minor notations for liquor, food and hotel accomodations. Though they refuted every charge, Walsh and McGuire were struggling against a new alliance: Sol Blatt, Sr., board ^ViQirivioin T -xmnrnron r-: jLj^iuii mat Liiaiu, influential trustee Michael J. Mungo and Jim Carlen. The Blatt-McGuire feud raged Oft Tk'fjlr IWBpya' t-urtt-i' Vc'.'o<< <.i' f jAMECOCf i 11 i dan ream rr^ll? LI 1 !iL' a. 1 A. ine new uioou wiiinn me leani. however, has Martino very optimistic. The new recruits are specifically volleyball players and are not multi-sport athletes as had been common in the past. "We lost a lot of players from last year but I think we made up for it in this year's recruiting. In the past we were mainly recruiting a kind of all around player because u 1 : A vuneyuaii wasn i a preuuiuiuaiu sport in most high schools. Now, since it's gotten to the point where they're playing a lot in high school and a lot in the summer, we're recruiting volleyball players, so thprp'c n Irtf mnro luttonlial " V U M IWV IllVt V pVVVllVIUl| Martino explained. "Also we have five girls who are over 5'11" this year so the extra height should help us." WHILE THE height and experience of the new players will be a detinue asset to tne squad, the backbone of the Lady Gamecocks will be formed by the five veterans: Leslie Fern, Maureen Ahern, Star Burdell, Alexis Homer, and Patty McClellan. "Leslie Fern is our very strong begins into an open conflict during the early months of 1977. At a Gamecock Club banquet, held to honor the school's new president, Dr. James B. Holderman, Mr. Sol tsiait, me guest speaker, praised all the athletic mentors who were present except Frank McGuire. The basketball coach sneered at the old man and whispered, "I'll get you for that!" Later Blatt apologized to McGuire, claiming he was old and forgetful. In private, he said it was because he had drunk one too many, but the damage was done. BY THE TIME the 1976-77 season was about to begin, Frank McGuire was unsure about his tenure at the university. Frank's squad was inexperienced and erratic, his worst in over a decade. In addition, the USC hoopsters played one of the nation's toughest schedules, meeting nationally *-? ?? ranked Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Marquette and Notre | Dame. The fans were anxious, as were the trustees, and McGuire needed to find another winning formula?fast. In early February, while the Gamecocks were struggling with a break-even record, McGuire discovered he was on the verge of capturing a landmark 500th career victory, a feat shared by only a iidimiui ui tuatucd. mtuuiic iuai little opportunity in turning the achievement into a mammoth celebration?just the spark the sagging season needed. In February, McGuire '' o became the third active coach ;i basketball history to be elected to the Hall of Fame. South Carolina's coach had become "a living lndpnH " f'olphritioc fenm o IV^VIIVI. vyvavK/t vivo ll v/ill U myriad of professions came to Columbia to honor McGuire at a black tie banquet. Priests, writers, cops, jocks, longshoremen, politicians and matinee idols stood to applaud their trysted friend. See McGuire, page 14 begins power hitter. Star Burdell, who is the only senior on the team, is doing most of the setting for us," Martino said. "Alexis Homer is Gvmnasl 'a backu By Tamm Gamecock Gymnastics at USC has been cl in an administrative change in th< The decision to reclassify the g summer by the athletic departme Advisory Committee and USC Pre Women's athletic director Pam to club was made in the process oi athletics program. "When gymm it will be a team." PARSONS POINTED out thai south have either made evmna: program altogether. Based on th< available, the athletic departm rather than eliminate the progran Even though the intramural sports, the athletic department u end of this season. All travel and athletic department. Because the athletic departm insurance expenses, ^arsons nas of the gymnastics club, unlike mc to pass a physical. "They are no' year ago," she said. There are currently eight v scholarships and they will contii graduate, according to Parsons, people. Here are a few girls cau| change. I don't want them squelcl GYMNASTICS COACH Bob V decision was a mistake. "The cor four or five years," he said. "We'i White said the club will keep th for the year, and workouts are a girl has dropped out of the club. The lack of well-developed facil the decision to make the snort a justed Booker T. Washington as interim space. When we reach available, you won't have any s nasties, but facilities are a factor. White said he believes gymnas a team. "Gymnastics will not b< changed back to a team sDort." h THE ONLY MEMBER of the [ switch from team to club sport w scholarship, Fischer has been i three years. "I think it's like ? gymnastics is a growing sport," continue in the club next year. jjiL Bm Ih' P jBjct. ' mgjgggk ^psB Pam Parsons a a t-? a a m m _ _ 11 _ anoiner seiier. rauy ivic^ienan is a hitter-defensive player, and Maureen Ahern's expertise is mainly defensive." MARTINO WILL only have a week to blend the specific talents of her 12 players into a working Coo l/sW/ow/tn// 1A T tic switch )ard step* y Kilpatrick : Staff Writer langed from a team to a club sport i athletic department. ymnastics program was made this int with the approval of the Athletic ?sident James B. Holderman. Parsons said the switch from team f deciding the future of the women's istics is a strong sport in the south, t many major universities in the sties a club sport or dropped the t facilities and recruiting currently ent's decision was to reclassify, j i. office is responsible for all club rill sponsor gymnastics through the 1 meet expenses will be paid by the ent will be paying for travel and final approval of eligible members >st clubs that only require members t being treated any different than a vomen on the club with partial lue to be on scholarship until they "We like to feel we do things for jht in tho rniHHlo aC a^minictKn(i?a *,??v vnv niiuutv vi ouiiniiiQvi aiivu led in the middle," she said. Vhite believes the reclassification npetition level has risen so much in re well above the club level.'' le same meets originally scheduled Iready underway. He said only one ities for gymnastics was a factor in club. Parsons said, "We have adhocf ac nnccihla I Jo ' wvuv uu pv/00i*/iv. ll lO IHCI Cljf ctil i a time when we have a space tronger support of women's gymtics will falter at USC if there is not e in USC after this year unless it is esaid. gymnastics club to comment on the as junior Julie Fischer. On a partial nvolved with USC gymnastics for \ DacKwaras step because I think she said. Fischer said she plans to Bob White