The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, August 27, 1980, Page Page 15C, Image 59
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OP LCV<C
By Mike Chibbaro
Sports EdK6r
Running back George
Rogers hasn't completed his
career at USC yet, but
already he is being acclaimed
as the best football
player to ever wear the
garnet and black.
wiin no aisrespeci 10
Rogers intended, many of
the community's old-timers
will never be able to accept
Rogers as the king of USC
football. To them, only one
man deserves the honor of
being called the "greatest
football player ever at
USC." That man has now
become somewhat of a
|pf?pnrl Hp is thn Into Jstovp
Wadiak.
Anytime the name Wadiak
is mentioned by someone
who knew him or saw him
play, it is uttered with an
obvious inflection of
reverence. As a football
player, Wadiak was brilliant
beyond comparison. As a
person, he was even better.
Vot hi<i liff? whir>h sppitipH cn
I harmonious and productive,
ended suddenly at the young
age of 24.
ALTHOUGH WADIAK'S
stay on Earth was brief, his
story is immortal.
Wadiak came to USC in
1948 in a rather prodigious
manner. He never played
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discovered by a Gamecock
scout. The USC scout found
Wadiak playing sandlot
football in Chicago and
persuaded him to come
south.
A 20-year old freshman
J running back, Wadiak immediately
captured the
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2. Bologna
3. Ham, Sa
4. Salami, (
5. Cheese,
6. Roast B<
7. Cheese,
8. Cheese,
9. Ham, Ct
&& 10. Turkey I
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13. Salami, i
14. Proscett
15. Ham, CI
16. Corned I
17. Cappico
18. Bologna
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20. Past ram
21. Ruben (
Swiss C
! 22. Italian f*
23. Italian S
24. Steak &
| Peppers
25. Bacon, I
|! Sandwiches
j i oregano, si
B I 749 Saluda Ave . Co
5 POINTS
jj 736 St Andrews Rd . <
I ST. ANDREWS
|;j SHOPPING CENTI
1
Wadi
hearts of Gamecock fans.
On the field he was fearless.
"Steamboat Steve", as he
was often called, captivated
audiences with his determined
and powerful style of
running. Rarely could one
man alone bring Wadiak to
the ground. As a freshman,
Wadiak rushed for 420 yards
with an average of 7.8 yards
a carry.
During his sophomore
season, Wadiak began to
establish himself as the best
running back in the powerful
Southern Conference. He
Hie r-nchinrJ nntniif
from the previous season
and for the second straight
year, led the Gamecocks in
scoring.
Then came 1950-the year of
Steve Wadiak. In the first
four games of the season,
"the Cadillac", another of
his many nicknames, rushed
for 524 yards. In the fifth
game of the year, the
Gamecocks faced arch rival
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v.iemson on tug 1 nursaay.
THE TIGERS came intc
the game with the nation's
top-ranked defense. The>
had not yielded a single poinl
in their first four games ol
the 1950 season. 35,000 fans
jammed into Carolina
Stadium to witness the
greatest individual per
formance ever turned in by ?
Carolina football player.
wii a i>iuppy idiii-oUciKtri.
field, Wadiak ripped the
Tigers apart. On the firsi
play from scrimmage, 'Th<
Cadillac" burst off right
tackle and sprinted 66 yardf
down the muddy field. Thre<
plays later, Wadiak score<
from five yards out.
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OUT
Cheese
& Cheese
lami & Cheese
Cheese & Pepperoni
Turkey & Ham .
?ef & Cheese
Pepperoni & Ham
Salami & Cappicola
leese & Cappicola
^ Cheese
ih & Cheese
tse
Cheese, Pepperoni & Ham . .
mo & Cheese
leese & Proscettino
Beef & Cheese
la & Cheese
, Ham, Cheese & Cappicola .
a Salami. Bologna. Chet
SPECIAL Turkey. Cappicola. Ha
_ _ ^ Peppefoni
ii On Rye
3n Rye with Corned Beef,
heese, Mustard & Sauerkraut
/eatball (in sauce)
lausage with peppers (in sauct
Cheese with Green
t & Onions. . . wq'.s^edar 5 Po
Lettuce & Tomatoes
s include lettuce, tomato, ot
lit & pepper.
Hot Pepper A Dill pickle spear by re
lumbia, S C 29205 7101 Parkla
256-6681 dentsv
Columbia, S C 29210 64?0 Garners
798-7505 CEDAR Tf
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jone ahead for faster
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rushed for 256 years with
long runs of 73, 66, and 40
yards. The game ended in a
14-14 tie. This tie was the
only blemish on the 1950
Tigers' 9-0-1 record.
The first half of Wadiak's
Steve Wadiak
1928-1952
> senior year was frustrating
; for the USC star. Opposing
' teams began to key on him.
t Against Duke, the Blue
f Devils employed what was
> known as the "Wadiak
i Shift". They' stacked the
; right side of their line and
used a linebacker to key
i solely on the talented
Gamecock back.
1 As it turned out, the
i "Wadiak Shift" was one of
t the minor obstacles that
; Wadiak had to overcome in
t 1951. Prior to the fifth game
; of the 1951 season, the USC
j athletic department
i released word that Wadiak
had played the first four
ew Menu
plete Meal On A Bun"
VENIENT LOCATIONS IN
DLUMBIA AREA
3RDER BY NUMBER
WHOLE HALF
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non, oil, vinegar,
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ine Rd . Columbia, S C 29204
ILLE 788-2464
i Ferry Hd . Columbia, S C 29209
Ic^NTER 783'0337
SERVICE
3 legei
games of the 1951 season
with four fractured ribs.
Before each game, the
courageous star was injected
with novacaine to
deaden the pain.
With his injury fully
recovered, Wadiak was in
top form when the
Gamecocks faced Clemson
in the fifth game of the
season. Wadiak continued
his mastery over the Tigers
as he led USC to a 20-0 upset
victory. Coming into the
game, the Tigers had gone 16
consecutive games without a
loss.
WADIAK COMPLETED
his career at USC with, 2,878
rushing yards-a record
which was broken by George
Rogers this past season. He
was selected to several AilAmerican
squads and was
honored as the Southern
Conference Player of the
Year in 1950. Upon
graduation, Wadiak was
selected in an early round by
the Pittsburgh Steelers of
the National Football
League. He looked forward
to a career as a professional.
Wadiak's achievements on
the field were surpassed only
hie anri Prarflfiil
demeanor off the field.
Despite all of his greatness
and all of the recognition he
received, Wadiak never lost
the common touch. He
always had time to
talk...time to be a friend.
His religion guided his life.
He was a model human
being in every respect.
Kids idolized him. Parents
admired him. Players and
coacnes respt^ieu mm.
Everybody loved him.
ITIO
ill ^ssir
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On March 10, 19&2 Steve
Wadiak's life came to a
tragic end. He and some
friends were returning from
Augusta, Ga., on Highway
215, about seven miles
outside of Aiken, when their
car failed to make a curve.
The car overturned six times
killing (JSC's most loved and
respected athlete. Wadiak
was the only passenger in
the car who failed to survive
the crash.
THE EVENTS which
followed Wadiak's death
symbolized the impact his
life had on the Carolina
community.
The USC student body was
excused from classes or
March 11, 1952 in order tc
attend Wadiak's requiem
Mass at St. Peter's Romar
Catholic Church. Spring
football practice was can
celled for a week. Letter*
poured in from all over the
country expressing sym
pa thy over the tragic loss.
Some of the most moving
letters came from Clemsoi
fans who had watched an<
mm
*
_
spec
Phone
2767 Rosewood Dr.
itrur 11 itrLAi L
FIVE POII
Saluda
>ne 256-<
CUP THIS COUPON
simioi
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any sandwich (witt
is on
admired Wadiak during his
four years at USC.
USC student body
President Floyd Spence
addressed a special meeting
of the student council in the
following manner.
"He (Wadiak) was to me
an athlete, all that I, or
anyone else would like to
have been. He was admired
by old and young, teammate
and opponent, man and
woman, athlete and nonathlete.
He was admired
because of his friendliness,
i humbleness, courage, and
ability to get along with
anyone off the football
field."
Every year an award is
presented to the most
valuable player on the USC
football team. That award is
rightfully called the Steve
[ Wadiak Award.
Perhaps Wadiak's most
> avid admirer was his college
j coach, the late Rex Enright.
- The coach appropriately
summed up the life of his
I star player when he said
i simply, ''Steve was
j everybody's friend."
trJHjTJJ
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I riAIMorfcroo
LETTERING
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>n a Bun"
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