The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 11, 1980, Page Page 14, Image 14
The greatest season in USC basketball history ended recently, not for
Frank McGuire's men's team, but for Pam Parson's Lady Gamecocks.
After only three years as head coach and women's athletic director
Parsons took USC to unbelievable heights.
When Parsons came to USC from Old Dominion University no one in
Columbia knew much about her, except that she signed the best
basketball player in the history of women's basketball when she got
Nancy Lieberman to come to ODU.
necrumng is one ining, coacning is anomer. tsui parsons proved sne
could do both compiling an 81-26 record in three years. There was no
rebuilding period.
BEFORE PARSONS came to USC, the women's program was in
disarray. The Chicks, as they were called at the time, had compiled a
15-33 record in the two seasons prior to her arrival. No one really
seemed interested in women's athletics at Carolina, but coach Carlen
decided to build the program and he thought Parsons was the best
person for the job.
How right he was. The energetic Richfield, Utah native left Norfolk
and Old Dominion University to come south to Columbia. She brought
together a group of inexperienced freshmen, a junior college transfer,
and the remaining players from the preceeding team to obtain an
amazing 24-10 record, the state championship and a fifth place finish in
the Region II Tournament.
Parsons was not only interested in basketball. Under her guidance
other women's sports have prospered. In 1979, four of the women's
programs finished in the top 20.
ALTHOUGH MOST USC followers were satisfied with Carolina's first
year performance. Parsons was not. She went out and recruited two of
the most highly sought freshmen in the country. The team went on to
post a 27-10 record and their second state championship in as many
years. They improved to a fourth place finish in the region and went on
to the National Women's Invitational Tournament where they stunned
the basketball world by winning the title.
Nancy Lieberman and Inge Nissen, both of ODU, wanted very much
to transfer to USC for that season. Neither player was happy with the
new coach at ODU and Lieberman was having grade problems.
With these two players and the ones already at Carolina, the odds on
winning the national championship definitely would have been in USC's
favor. But Parsons was so opposed to the transfer rule, which allows a
girl to play at her new school without sitting out a year, that she refused
to take the two Ail-Americans.
"I THINK THE transfer rule is the worst one the AI AW has," Parsons
said. "The way it is now a girl is not forced to make a commitment. She
can leave for any reason without a sacrifice. I do not take transfers for
this reason."
Besides winning the NWIT there were other highlights for Parsons
and her Lady Gamecock crew during the 78-79 season. They defeated
national power NC State and the Czechoslovakian Olympic team.
See Great Season, page 15
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"The draft is slavery. It is ir
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On February 3, 1980, the Libertarian Natioi
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Whereets the Libertarian Party has a long-si
conscription, as stated in its national platfo
Whereas registration for the draft is nothing
conscription, and
Whereas conscription is slavery and poses t
Buuieiy in nus aecaae,
Therefore Be It Resolved that the Libertariar
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Be It Further Resolved that we further endo
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h 31, 1980
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OP
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ivoluntary servitude. It has
sty. Registration is a major
?ra treatment of American
Ed Clark, Libertarian
Candidate for President
nal Committee unanimously
landing opposition to registration and
rm, ana
3 more than a prelude to military
;he greatest threat to the survival of a free
1 National Committee opposes any form of
rse civil disobedience as an appropriate
datory registration and the draft.
Am/
KslJAWX
PRESIDENT
lark for President Committee
9250, Boh Budru&k, Chairman ..... , . ,