The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, July 07, 1982, Page 7, Image 7
-sports
Gamecock ma:
By Todd Shealy
When the Gamecock mascot Cocky was
introduced to Carolina fans midway through
the 1980 football season, his reception was
less than pleasant. But with the aid of a little
redesigning and the crazy antics of the
costume's inhabitant, John Routh, Cocky
has since become one of the most popular
mascots in the nation.
"We expected some negative comments,"
Routh said of Cocky's debut appearance,
"but we didn't expect it to be as bad as it
turned out." Routh said USC football crowds
were used to the tougher-looking, former
mascot Big Spur; Cocky's personality didn't
catch on until the following baseball season.
Cocky successfully returned to the football
field in 1981 and has kept fans entertained at
virtually every USC sporting event since.
COCKY HAS become successful enough
that at the recent College World Series in
Omaha, Neb., the eight participating teams'
coaches voted unanimously to accept Cocky
as the official mascot of the series.
Routh said the National Collegiate
Athletic Association passed a rule last
summer restricting mascots from the
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Carolina grai
By Jim Corbett
NEW YORK-There wasn't anything fu
happened to USC graduate student Ray Kro
to a prestigious 100-mile, early June invitati
York's Shea Stadium.
Everything went wrong.
Krolewicz, traveling with his wife, three 1
school runners, made a major repair to the
? ? *. i-i. or *
somewnere on interstate yo m vii^inm u?
race.
During the trip, the driveshaft needed re]
took several hours for a mechanic to fix
crew then had enough time to get to Queens
He reached Shfea Stadium six and a half
start of the race, which had already bee
15 minutes past the original 6 p.m. start.
KROLEWICZ WAS set back from th
strained his right shoulder and leg making
t~dlirlinn T AiA fVinf " Vr>nlou)ip7 caiH
UC1U1 C. nucil A U1U uiai, luwivnivu uu.u,
any chance at (winning) the race."
Nevertheless, Krolewicz shocked the
overcame rain, sprinted past most of the
and put pressure on pre-race favorite Stu M
Because he was late for the race, Krolew
I miles of the lap race without socks and his
Vaseline on his feet. This was another mist
and really screwed up," Krolewicz said.
But he continued through the parking lo
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David Burr is one of four Gamecock s
have been selected to compete in the N
Festival.
mummmmmmmmmmammmKmrnmammmmmmmmmmmmmai
scot turns spectati
Series, stemming from complaints of
mascots' interference with players. "It was
nothing Dersonal against me or anv of the
other mascots, but more of a precautionary
measure,'' Routh said.
With the NCAA's permission and coaches'
consent, Cocky was the only mascot allowed
on the field for the College World Series.
Although without his Gamecock T-shirt,
Cocky's extra exposure to the fans and
media reflected well on USC, Routh said.
Routh graduated from USC in May,
but Cocky will be back in the fall. Charlie
Fitzsimons will fill the costume next year.
"It's good that Charlie starts out in
football season, so he can build his own
indentity from there," Routh said.
CONCERNING HIS future, Routh is
considering several mascot opportunities.
Ropaiico hp ujank tn ctav in (hp Qnnth Rnnth
said the only organizations he has talked
with are the Atlanta Hawks and the
University of Miami Hurricanes. If
becoming a Super Hawk or a Miami Maniac
doesn't work out, however, Routh said he is
seriously considering purchasing his own
i costume and performing at minor leauge
I baseball games.
dilate student
inny about what ' 1 kn6W >'d bl
lewiczontheway (winning) the race.'
ional race at New
tids and four high surrounding the home of b
i van's driveshaft co-sponsor, long enough to>
i night before the 26 minutes. By that time,
low-50s temperature to po:
pairs again and it time of 12:56:33.
it. Krolewicz and
, but got lost. IN THE STRUGGLE a
minutes after the Mittleman, a former colleg
:n rescheduled for finisher R. "Lion" Caldwc
Cup and an appearance o
America" show.
te start; he had Krolewicz did not finish I
; repairs the night as I've been about anything
"I knew I'd blown Nothing but better luck
the race, but some shrewd
small crowd. He Timing his laps so he cou]
other 48 entrants approached the finish lii
[ittleman champion less than 200 feel
icz ran the first 10 toward the waiting camera
customary coat of A few other things help<
ake. "I blasted off total disaster for Krolewic
the local evening news st
t and muddy track background. His late start
Four USC soccer player
named to the East team
coming National Sport
scheduled to begin Julj
dianapolis, Ind.
The four players are s<
Goodchild, Chris Heidell
H David Burr and junior Tor
Goodchild, a forward f
! Park, Fla. is second on Ci
time career point leader
three seasons. He totale
and three assists in 1981,
ir^ ^ squad's leading scorer in
' goals. Goodchild has pai
f > two previous Natior
Festivals.
Heidelberger started
Carolina's games this |
^ The 5-9 forward from Pon
111 rvrl civ rtno I
% V/UIIII, U211AVU OIA ^VUI
assists to help lead USC
mark in 1981.
; i * Burr, a midfielder fr
^ Ga., led the Gamecocks ii
J* * eight in 1981, while sc
\ ' goals. He is second on the
- a V ^ < time assist list with 15.
i |j| f- v J' Norton was USC's se<
i ^ scorer in 1981 with 23 p<
goals and five assists. Th
?:5 from Bethlehem, Pa. als
team lead in game-winnii
* v<f- THE SOUTH Carol in
Chemcocks have move
occer players who place in the latest intram
ational Sports softball poll.
The Chemcocks (4-0)
ors' boos to cheer
Cocky served as the 1982 College Worli
Fitzsimons will take over this fall as Cocl
loses race, wi
New York
own any chance at cbs sports
' Krolewic
off-beat co
- Ray Krolewicz runners, ai
When a
aseball's New York Mets, a race something
complete 74 miles in 16 hours and Later o
Mittleman had endured rain and harrassmt
st an American record 100?mile marathon
I consider
Krolewi
gainst endurance and elements, on nations
;e wrestler, held off second-place But the j
ill, M.D., to earn the Ted Corbitt long enou
n the next day's "Good Morning more thai
resident h
Ihe race. "I'm as angry about this Krolewi
Krolewiczsaid. youngest
could have helped Krolewicz win Club. But
planning gave a boost to his ego. the schedi
Id closely follow Mittleman as he last-minu!
le, Krolewicz congratulated the finished hi
; from the ribbon and followed him
s before continuing the race. IN THE
3d prevent the race from being a the best
:z. The Boston native made one of Ray Kro
ories of the race, as part of the But at
earned him a line in the next day's backgroui
soccer players prej
sfohrtehXn sports briefs
s Festival, ????????????
r 17 in In- by the Runnin Rebels (3-<
Exterminators (2-0), the V
eniors Dave an<* Norton's Nookies.
[>erger and Leviathan (4-0) leads th>
n Norton Po11- They are flowed by Nc
rom Winter J-School Nice Guys (5
?i; ?? ?n Absolute Zeroes (2-0) and CSJ
li uiuid o anist
with 59 in n f t 1 1
jd six goals
and was the FOUR MEMBERS of the
1980 with 13 baseball team are playing fc
-ticipated in Cape Cod League in Massac!
lal Sports First baseman Greg Mo
Winsted, Conn, is playing at
in all 21 of along with Gary Parmenter
)ast season. Gamecock pitching sign
nfret Center, national junior college <
s and four Middle Georgia College. Mo
" to a 16-4-1 .330 his freshman year, and
a school record .998 fieh
om Atlanta, centage.
i assists with Catcher Chris Boyle is p
coring three Cotuitt. Boyle batted .306 in 1
Carolina all- season for Carolina, with
runs and 59 RBI.
;ond leading Pitcher Mike Werner an
>ints on nine Neil Fox are both pla
e 6-0 forward Falmouth. Werner saw ac
;o tied for the games, mostly in relief. He
ng goals with record with two saves while
3.43 ERA for Carolina. Fo
with two home runs and 33 K
n n n
a Bookstore
*i into first USC'S TONY Rambo w;
ural summer three American athletes
events before 28,000 fan;
are followed Nikkan Niter track and fiel
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmaammmmmammmmmmmammm
s with zany antics
fc \
i \
f \
J Series' official mascot in Omaha, Neb. Charlie
<y, replacing John Routh.
ins attention
Times and his fast start caught the attention of
crews covering the race.
kept CBS's attention throughout the night with
mments and mini-debates with the crews, other
id anyone who would listen.
CBS crew member asked, "Why do you do
liKe tins f' ivroiewicz replied, wny 1101 r
ne of the producers, not fazed by the friendly
;nt, said, "Up until this week, I thought the
was the longest race like this run in the world. And
myself to know a lot about sports."
cz said the media attention "made my race. I was
il TV."
added exposure couldn't keep Krolewicz in the race
gh to finish. It was the first time in 30 races and
i 30 months of competition that thePontiac, S.C.,
ad failed to finish an ultra marathon.
cz, 27, was one of the highest regarded and
of the field, lured by the New York Road Racers
the race wasn't on for sure until a few hours before
jiled start. Heavy rain before the race forced some
te corrections to the course, with the final version
ours before the race's start.
END, everyone knew champion Mittleman was
ultramarathoner in the country.
lewicz was just a part of the background.
least Krolewicz was a prominent part of the
(id.
iare for Festival
Tokyo National Stadium in Japan
\ Saturday night.
??? The 5-9, 170-pound senior from
0-1), the Atlanta, Ga. won the 400-meter with a
raluables time of 46.17. Japan's Susumu Takano
was second with a time 46.84.
e Co-rec n n n
Ability (4 -0-1),
the THK NCAA has granted Clemson
D (3-1). University more time to respond to
charges of alleged violations of NCAA
football recruiting rules.
Clemson President Bill Atchley said
1982 USC the NCAA Infractions Committee
tall in the granted the school's request for more
lusetts. time and said the NCAA will conduct a
rhardt of hearing "after we've had a
Hyannis, reasonable chance to complete our
, a rtcem work and file a formal response to the
ee from allegations."
champion
rhardt hit Atchley said the request was
compiled necessary to allow the university to
[ling per- complete its own investigation in a
"systematic and very tough man>laying
at ner."
lis second _
12 home H H P
FORMER USC pitcher Randy
d catcher Martz was placed on the 21-day
lying f?r disabled list this past week by the
hV" 18 Chicago Cubs because of shoulder
had a 3-2 strain in his pitching arm.
pusiuig a
?x hit .299 The 26 -year-old right-hander has a
BI. 4-6 record with a 4.62 ERA. He will be
eligible to come off the disabled list on
July 20.
is one of Martz played only one season of
; to win baseball at USC. In 1977 he was 14-0
s at the with a 1.98 ERA. He came to Carolina
d meet at on a football scholarship.