The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 05, 1980, Football Special, Page Page 3B, Image 27
Garry Jhfarp<
use
more
By Michelle Burchette
Assistant Sports Editor
It's been a long journey foi
riorrnr UnmAn ?
vjm* a j jlicii pci r uui ycttiu u
playing quarterback foi
Carolina has done man}
things for him, and in this
his senior year, Harpei
hopes to show USC fans wha
he has learned.
7 feel I've comt
and the biggest i
Since his sophomore yeai
Harper has started a
quarterback for th<
Gamecocks, but it hasn'
been an easy job. He's had t<
fight for his position eacl
season, and take th<
pressure that comes with th<
job, both on and off the field.
During those years
however. Harper's con
Head coach Jim CarU
Gamecock quarterback
Will ti
For some mistaken reas
hyped-up about preseason fo
Last year, Playboy Maga:
when they predicted the Ga
Street and Smith's 9-2 predk
anxiously awaiting the start
The knowledgable football
faith in Dreseason oredictioi
v --V,
mean nothing. The beauty <
predictability.
Granted, some teams I
preseason prophecies, but a
u: ~ 11 A
jjiuy wiiium uiiDWS piUIIlOie
worthless preseason football
THE MOST ASKKI) quej
sports media gets these daj
going to do this year...will it
ET
ouarfp
confic
fidence has grown steadily.
"My sophomore year when I
r started it was hard because I
f had never played before and
r I really didn't know what I
j was capable of doing," he
said. "Now I feel I've come a
r long way from when I first
t started and the biggest
improvement is in coni
a long way from wh
improvement is in com
r fidence. I feel really cont
fident on the field."
t HARPER BELIEVES one
) reason his confidence has
i increased is due to ex;
perience. The only senior
; quarterback on the team,
Harper has had more
, playing time than the other
quarterbacks, and feels that
By Mike Chibbaro \
Sports Editor
I
I
!
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JI tuiicgc lUUlUclii HCJ> 111 lift UI1- '
]
lave gone on to fulfill their
s a whole predictions are just a
rs to sell millions of copies of i
?..ui: A: ~ ?
IJUUIICctlllHlS. ]
stion any member of the iocal
rs is, "How are the Gamecocks <
be 7-4, 8-3, 9-2, or KM?" It ap- <
?1 1
:iUclCK
lent
is to his advantage.
"My experience is a big
asset," he said, "because I
can pick up things where it's
hard for the other guys who
don't have experience and
haven't been in some
situations."
One aspect of Harper's life
which he feels has con
en / first started
fidence.'
-Garry Harper
tributed greatly to his
performance and confidence
is his religion. With things
going badly his freshman
year, Harpe** turned to
Christianity and feels his life
has changed completely
since then.
"I've learned that football
and Christianity in mv life
relate very much," the
Hialeah, Florida native said.
"In my own heart I've been
happy, and that's important
because you play as good as
you feel.
14 A i 1 ** ? ?
~^7?&'&?''; 'i'2 ' {-V"?:
9n offers some advice to
k Garry Harper.
A fl_ _ T
toe /on,
many football fans get all
.AltWrfcll
viuau ^lcuiciiuns.
sine had Gamecock fans buzzing
mecocks to finish 9-2. This year
tn- T 1CP /" ~ t
.iiuii iui uov/ uas uanicvutR ictiid
of the 1980 season.
I fan, however, doesn't put much
is. To most coaches, predictions
i
rts a quaneroacK 1 ve goi
to be confident and the guys
have got to have confidence
in me that I can do the job. I
feel that God gave me the
ability to play football and
that's why I play football."
PLAYING FOR A
SCHOOL that mainly utilizes
a running game can be hard
on a quarterback's image,
especially when that running
game features a stand-out
running back like George,
Rogers. However, Harper is
not worried about being
overshadowed and concentrates
his concern on the
overall effort of the team.
"We won eight games
which we'd never done
before and we went to a bowl
game so it really doesn't
matter if my performance
was or wasn't overshadowed
as long as we win and I was a
part of it," Harper explained.
"I did the things I had to do
for the team to win," he said.
"I didn't throw many interceptions
and when you
don't give up the ball it helps
the team to win."
T-I o rrvnr hnlrlo fVm c o ?
iiUi pvi ftl\S?UO Lilt OOlllt
attitude for the upcoming
season. In his eyes there are
4,8-3
pears to be a responsibility
predictions. So whatever it mij
attempt to make a few predicts
Before any predictions can
quick assessment of the 1980 Gi
USC lost 24 seniors from la
seniors, 11 were starters. Desp
rash of serious injuries, the 11
very good football team.
According to head coach Ji
talented this year. They may
Dositions. but the talent is therp
Offensively, the Gamecocks v>
With a double-threat backfield,
and Johnnie Wright, the Gan
nation's finest running attacks.
THE GAMECOCKS MAY al
their aerial fireworks. Garry
mature aiu competent colleg
Gamecocks to throw more to th<
On defense, an experienced s<
will be very inexperienced. Ta
returning lineman, but look for
Emmanuel Weaver (6 4 250 po
(6-3 255 pounds) to stand out. Pi
the strongest member of the G
presently one of five USC playc
pounds. Provence benches 475.
The following is a iist of th
Gamecock's 1980 season and
mil/ht hur.ru?n if (Wut n?<nWi
" iiu^yvu u null pi V7V41
mm
\z -fjpHL
|r.r ~'^jj;t v|
A more confident end cap
the starting USC quarterba
certain team goals that need p
to be accomplished before he b
considers personal c<
achievements. ,4'This year
we want George to get the k
Heisman, we want to win all ru
our games - that's what th
we're pulling for. So, it se
really doesn't matter if the tx
attention for me is there or ar
not," Harper said. th
Although trying to help
Rogers in his quest for the he
Heisman means emphasis th
once again on a running ov
game, Harper thinks he'll be Cc
throwing the ball more this ab
season. "I think we're going bu
to have to throw more this re
\rnar " V*n ooirl ?
jvun, iic acuu. ui cuurse ne
it's going to depend on the ab
situation at the time and who it'i
we're playing, but I think m<
we 11 throw to open up our ga
running game more."
NO MATTER WHICH type pe
of game the Gamecocks to{
> o o
for sports media to make fight
be worth, this column will viei
ans. oro
e made, one must first make a reti
imecocks. Hon
st year's squad. Of those 24 fool
ite the losses and barring any
)80 Gamecocks will still be a 7US<
m Carlen, the team is more the
be a little green in certain
8/ill
be tough to defend against , app
, comprised of George Rogers go 1
lecocks will have one of the deft
9Iso
suprise some teams with
Harper has developed into a "U1
e quarterback. Lx>ok for the
eir tight ends this season. ?ro
econdary returns, but the line
ickle Chuck Allen is the only Pre
a couple of monsters named
unds) and Andrew Provence
-ovence, only a sophomore, is j*w?
amecock football team. He is
;rs who bench press over 4(M) .
Alsi
.u.- _.-x - .. vuni
e pussioie outcomes ror tne
a few words which indicate
ction turns out to be gospel 11
I0A/0 Garry Harper will bet
lay, the pressure will still
k on Harper, and he feels
*? ? ?u^
nuiucui nc can nanale u,
"I've got to perform
*cause if we don't score,
iturally the quarterback is
e one to get rid of," he
;id. "I can except that. I
ilieve we will score points i
id as long as we do I'll be in I
ere." s
Harper holds the same
ipeful yet honest outlook on
e season as he does for his
/n performance. "I heard
lonh Po rlrvM r. ? ?
'uvn vai icu oay auuieuilllg I
out being very optimistic i
it at the same time 1
alistic. That's very true," {
said. "We've got the t
ility to go undefeated, but
3 a matter of being
sntally prepared for each 1
me. <
'Our offense is very ex- 1
rienced. We've played (
;ether for the past two to i
ur iu5:
After an 8-4 season in IS
ved by many as a step back>
gram. GROC(Get Rid of Carl
lrn to the cars of many of the
vever, 6-5 is not a likely outcc
ball season, so keen those stirl
4: The four losses in a 7-4 S
:'s four road games. Without i
Gamecock's couldn't bank on j
3: Another eight win season
earance for the Gamecocks. 1
o would depend upon the call
jated the Gamecocks.
2: Perhaps this is best predi*
(u wuuiu guarantee a wormy
ing the year would be to So
>rge Rogers would have an ex*
phy and anti-Carlen activist
OC bumper stickers. For t
diction is your best bet.
hi; After a 10-1 year in 1980,
ly with national coach-of-the-;
a shoe-in for the Heisman. ?
necocks would probably be in
3, led by former anti-Carlen
ild petition to have the fool
len-Williams-Brice Stadium.
i-O: To dream the impossible d
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fl^GBEG9L'%
i %2 Si
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7//i his third season as
three years Defensively the
talent is unreal. It's just the
best it's ever been at
Carolina, but it's a matter of
getting some experience.''
BARKING INJURY,
Harper's hopes for a good
season are realistic. He's
been lucky so far, avoiding
serious injury despite his
size. "I'm probably the
smallest guy on the team
and I probably get hit more
ind harder than anyone else
)n the team, but I've sur/ived
for three years and
lavpn't hp#?n hurt " Harnai
? w, K*'*
idmitted. "I'm thankful for
hat."
Between his veteran experience
and growing
confidence, Harper should
>e a very stable player in the
GJamecock's offensive
structure this season.
1 f
79, a 6-5 record would be
vards for the USC football
en) bumper stickers would
local anti-Carlen activists,
ime for the 1980 Gamecock
leers in hybernation.
sason would most likely be
ei victory away from home,
a bowl bid.
would mean another bowl
How big a bowl they would
ber of the three teams that
ction of the lot. A 9-2 cambowl
bid. Probable losses
uthern Cal and Michigan,
cellent shot at the Heisman
s would burn all of their
ne gamming man, this
Coach Carlen would walk
year honors. Rogers would
On New Year's night, the
Miami at the Orange Bowl.
activists, Gamecock fans
.ball stadium renamed to
ream...