Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Ben Cornett TWO' By M Sta According to some nation pair of tight ends in the ns South Carolina. The Gamecocks, are not< featuring Johnnie Wright < George Rogers. But senior \ Scott deserve much credi giuuuu j$ume uue 10 meir Dl( Beginning their final yea the two spent the summei which unfolds tomorrow nig Comett stayed in his hom for a moving company. "I ran a lot and lifted w Gamecock. "I am presently EARLY IN HIS college i..: i i? ii uuviseu uy me coacnes 10 ae "They wanted me to slack was affecting my catching, based on concentration," 1 much now, but I still work fa Scott on the other hand i summer school. The quarte caught for them," he said. "I worked on the weights now," he added. "I put on , 245. I've gained some weight Both Cornett and Scott i i 1 AU ~ 1/VAA nicApci icucc in nit; xyou uan "We have more talent thi some of the younger playen "But we just want to do the 1 our record this year." Last i ever posted by a USC team. "We'll be good provided v Cornettsaid. ml -t j * i nougn me running attacl receiving duo anticipate 1 season. "I expect that we'll be pas going to open up things a littl LAST YEAR COACH JIM end set in the Western Mi alignment the duration of i Fame bowl against Missc wrinkle in the offense - no hu USCk By Jim Cortoett Staff Writer With two returnees and concentrated effort to ir prove on last year's puntir inconsistency, Gamecoc kickers should give fai something to crow about. "We're two-thirds inta and feel confident that tl other third will come alon but a lack of experience <:;l?s?-i ?JI 44*\' '" r fffirfwi- '***jf'*l ^.w/Ao^vw.'y.yy^Av. Cayce native Eddie La place-kicking duties fa and Willie Scott f>l the r ark GHHam iff Writer ial football publications, the best ition belong to the University of ?d for their strong ground game and Heisman Trophy candidate :ight ends Ben Cornett and Willie t for the successful Gamecock Hiking strength. r in garnet and black uniforms, preparing for the 1980 season ht. letown of Greenville and worked ?i 1J At. - - ? eiguts, saia me t>-z, 2ZU pound benching 365." career, Cornett was ironically crease his weight lifting. i off, because they thought that it But I think catching is primarily j le admitted. "So I don't lift as irly hard." stayed in Columbia. "I went to irbacks stayed in Columbia, so I a lot this summer. I'm lifting 375 a little weight. I'll be playing at but I haven't slowed down." hope that talent will overcome lecock football season. is year, but it will take time for 5 to gain experience," Scott said, best we can. We want to improve season's eight wins was the most re can stay away from injuries," t should be as strong as pvpr th#? e Gamecocks to pass more this sing more this year. I think we're le more, "Scott said. I CARLEN went to the two tight ichigan game and he kept this the season. Then in the Hall of Hiri, Carlen instituted another ddle. ickers sti the major drawback'* commented kicking coach Harold White. a n- Eddie Leopard will start ig his third year as the field ik goal and extra point man is and John Tanner returns to handle the kickoff's, but the big question mark is the ct punting game. Sophomore he Mark Fleetwood and 0 fraehmnn Pliric Mnrman will Of ii vtjiuiftuii v?u iu iivt limit nan is compete to fill the shoes of -<:v w I y III M.I I. 111II. J 11 '' O ' __ mm . ..yf-y ut ---j > I operd (17) will handle the r the Gamecocks this f*H. J lanon Cornett and Scott share sent without a huddle - "it's tiring." "Going without a huddle is aw calls the play at the line/' exp when the crowd's loud. Against But it's not that much of a proble Cornett, a three year starter the advantages of going without i "It throws the defense out of much time to react. It catches th With the running backs that th tight ends are vital blocking elen profess to enjoy blocking and Heisman aspirations. But they h their blocking roles. "I think that being primaril; explained Scott. "The pros kri . ; "' -: - . :'V . . : -x: . ** .**: / "* *:*:"**** .; : [;:*v : : . ^ ' ':^P^ Tiaht ends Willie Scott ends in the nation. Scott 'ivefor < Jay Feltz. Unlike last year, when Feltz returned to Columbia expecting to be the graduate assistant and instead was asked to be the punter, this year's candidates have been preparing ail summer. "We've worked extremely hard on our punting this season" White said. Practicing against a live rush and working against game conditions should help give the inexperienced punters a taste of game action. FLEETWOOD AND ^ NORMAN are both very competitive, according to White. Fleetwood, a 5-10, 180 pounder from Atlanta, was originally recruited as a placekicker-quarterback. White says he was asked to take up the punting chores last spring and has shown considerable improvement. Norman, the 6-2, 190pound, Albany Georgia native, was recruited as a _ quarterback-punter, and is presently the Gamecocks 1 number one punter. White is s encouraged by the fact that c Knth nrp ahonrl nf lac* woqp'o c WV?? MA %/ W* AUUV J VMI O V progress, and are ap- r proaching the levels of t consistency hoped for. I The goals of the punt team e are broken down into three c parts. The snap from center t should reach the punter in i< nine tenth of a second, and t the punter should take 1.2 t seconds to get the ball away s according to White. Add on h one second for every ten f yards the ball travels, hopefully at least forty, and you have a punt that will i have any coach satisfied. c 1< THE ALL IMPORTANT t POSITION of long snapper \ will be handled by either n 'sbes iments concerning running fully tiring. Garry (Harper) lained Scott. "It gets tough Missouri Garry lost his voice, m in Columbia." along with Scott, points out ?huddle. whack. They don't have as em off guard," Cornettsaid. le Gamecocks showcase, the lents. Both Cornett and Scott are excited about Rogers' Q? ave different philosophies on p a blocker will help me," iow you can catch. You're IT3 '*' : consist Randy Teston, who will snaj: for field goals and extra points, or sophomore Marl Austin. Austin, a fi-4 240 pound native of Union, S.C. or Teston, the 6-1, 240-pounc junior from Jesup Ga., wil attempt to replace four yeai starter Gary Hassen. In comparison to punting Leopard was Mr. Con sistency last year. The Cayce, S.C. product was successful on 8 of 11 fielc goal attempts and 26 of 2t PAT's last season, anc strives to equal if not bettei iifMrr ? f'v hi lis performance. Leopard .ays his secret to success is concentration on each and ivery kick. "I want to try to nake one kick at a time, and ry to make all of them," ^eopard commented. In an effort to improve his con :entration and mental oughness, Leopard took up ong distance running during he summer, leopard adds hat imagining game ituations while running or licking helps him to prepare or the actual event. RESIDES PLACEKICKNG, the senior will be ounted on to provide eadership and instruction to he young kickers. Coach Vhite feels that he will help ot only with technique, but 2+ ImVi^ ?? supposed to be able to catch thing the pros ask about is youi Cornett disagrees. "I think "See, the pros usually pass naturally they look for tight c block. THE PAIR OF TIGHT END shots at the professional ranks "I really haven't thought n merited. "Atlanta would be rather go somewhere where it' But at the moment the tw< i coming season. "We're going to give Geo blocking," Scott promised. "W Heisman, and we aren't going 1 ^ are conside round pick in this year's NFL < ency ) also with mental attitude; t helping his teammates c through the inevitable low - spots. , Tanner was last year's 1 walk on sensaiton. The 1 sophomore from Winnsboro, S.C. will start his first full season as the kickoff man, , having debuted midway through the 1979 season. The 4% <1 4 nr 1 5** * ; o-4, iod pounuer win De ? counted on to send his I booming kickoffs into the ! endzone, as he did so often I last year. The Gamecock kickers 'We're two-thirdi confident that the come along, but a is the major drawt will strive to repeat the success of last season and to be more consistent in the I If you dor Gam we'll shoe - J_ .enas if you're an end. But the first r blocking ability." ; it might hurt me," he said, more than college teams so ;nds that can catch as well as S both appear to have excellent luch about it yet," Scott coma nice place to play. But I'd s not too cold or not too hot." 3 are concerned with the up?rge and Johnnie some good e really want George to get the to let him down." ; <* m at L.: *: if[ytf^i:?j>l&r||||iP Bf --I as f/io /> >sf pair of tight draft. (Photo by John ParneH) punting department. White is encouraged by the progress shown by all his pupils, especially in attitude. White says that they are all becoming consistent and confident to the point where they "wish next Saturday were here already." Coach White sums up the thinking of the kickers. "There will be points in every game where the kicking game will make the difference... we hope the > intact and feel t other third will lack of experience tack.' -Harold White punters and kickers will be able to meet these _ l 11 ? cnaiienges. I't read the ecock, f r V. >t; this dog!