Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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w M r/ \ # j?mm " * * % Free safety Robert Perlotte returns to lead the USC defensive backfield. 1 Attention: " '" i OFFCAMPUS STUDENTS ;i cet your free copy at Russell House in- I 1 formation Desk or at the Communications j Dept., Harper College on the Horseshoe. "Where do you go when your spirits are low"? "Where do you find all the Special Times"? | ( IN THE MOST USED BOOK ON CAMPUS... THE UNIVERSITY DIRECTORY y,? . ilj.vJVf/-#/UVU.VVt... . VWVVMtVt VV.VW.V.V. Perlo' Sttin Aiwa By JIM CORBETT Asst. Sports Editor DnKnxf f/> ?n r* ivuuvi i * ci iwibc; to liui U1C type of person who would stand out in a crowd. But the 6-foot, 165 pound senior free safety has stood out on the football field during his three years at Carolina. Perlotte has started at safety since the first game of his freshman year and led the Gamecocks in tackles curing ms sophomore .season. Last year, Perlotte was the sixth leading tackier on the squad and second in interceptions (two) ? despite playing in just nine games. Perhaps the best example of Perlotte's worth was- his ausence irom tne USC secondary after a knee injury during the Citadel game that caused him to miss the Gamecocks final three games of 1980. Head Coach Jim Carlen commented at the time, "He's the best player I've ever lost at a key position." The results of those eamps vprifipd that statement. The Carolina defense *iTMTf "TfMfif * XM&* /i*WC\ /MVTV /^^V/WKN /#PVT\ /XW> I Centsj Ms. | The G I!* xrnts xtm* He dout Defen rys On The yielded just 10.6 points per game the first nine contests, but a Perlotte-less defense barely survived a Wake Forest aerial assault, coming from behind in the last minute to beat the Demon Deacons 39-38 in a downpour at Williams-Brice Stadium. USC then lost to arch-rival Clemson 27-6 and then was routed by Pittsburgh in the Gator Bowl 379. Opponents averaged 27.1 points per game in the last three contests. PERLOTTE will be in his customary starting role when Carolina travels to Winston-Salem. N.C.. Saturday to face the Demon Deacons in the season opener. And he'll be happy just to be there. "I didn't think I'd be able to play college ball," the Greenwood native said. Perlotte wasn't sure he could play collegiate football in high school and later planned on attending the ^liaaei. mui a trip 10 Columbia and a scholarship offer on the spot made Perlotte a Gamecock. nporary $ Presents M, '\w* Thursday September 3 9:00 $1.50 olden Spi I ? isive Back -tjj Rail 1 J As a free safety, Perlotte riftj, is the "quarterback" of the defense, keying on the ball in most situations. "I just try to make something happen on defense because I'm around the ball," Perlotte said. "I go to tne Dan. Perlotte said a successful defense must interact as a unit. "Everybody's got responsibilities (on defense). If one person misses their responsibility, 0) it's a bad day," Perlotte said. "The defense can't afford to have a bad day." INTERCEPTIONS are just part of the job, according to Perlotte, and also are part of the responsibilities of the entire secondary. "All of the secondary look to make an interception. That's the best thing that can happen." With the loss of first-round fj) draft choices George Rogers, Willie Scott and others from the offense, Carolina's defense may have to create scoring opportunities. "We did lose George Rogers, so we're going to have to pick up some of the slack on See PEtyOTTE, page 7. s< >mk >3&< >mcymcyme% a % owr.ds | i i * i VV % ' y 8 I I t f ? I jp || IH'J 3 russe# house 3 g &yMKXmi>MKyM<yam J|k