The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, February 15, 1985, Page Page 9, Image 9
> THE GAMECOCK Sports February 15, 1985 ? Page 9
USC football (
From Staff Reports
In what some have considered to be USC's best recruiting
year in history, the football program signed 36 prep standouts
Wednesday, including blue-chip recruit Todd Ellis.
In contrast to the past year's recruited class, in which only
two of USC's 27 signees were from South Carolina, 14 in-state
players signed for the coming football season,
t In addition to Ellis, a quarterback from Page High School
* in Greensboro, N.C., the Gamecocks recruited 14 backs and
rccievcrs, 13 linemen, seven linbackers and defensive ends.
and one punier.
Here are some of the top signees:
RYAN BF.TIIKA ? a top local recruit from Richland
Northeast High School. A 6-4, 200-pound prep All-American
at running back and reciever, who caught 34 passes for 803
yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior. Also recruited by C'lemson
and Georgia.
JOHN BROWN a 6-5, 280-pound lineman from Richmond,
Ind. Was named all-state by both wire services, and
lop 100 in the nation.
? TODD C'OOPKR ? 6-3, 235 lineman from Rock Hill
who totaled 77 tackles, three fumble recoveries and 10 sack'
last season at Fork Union Military Academy.
TODD KI.I.IS ? All-everything, including USA Today
mini /in<> AII. A Thnnv lor V
touchdowns, for 6,157 yards during high school. Page wa
3S-2-1 with J:llis as starting quarterback. Also considerei
Stanford, North Carolina, Georgia and Louisiana State.
MARK FKYKK ? 6-4, 230 lineman from Irmo. Played ii
state finals sophomore, junior and senior years.
C'llARI.IK. (iOWAN ? 6-4, 250 lineman from Marion
N.C. Three time all-conference, captain of all-state team, al
southern. Also recruited by North Carolina State, Clemson
North Carolina and Wake lorest.
IUSC faces Sunb
By Joe Sitarz I NK GAM10
With the Metro Conference Tourna- services of cent*
metil less then a month away, USC's played sparingly
men's basketball team is gearing up for tW^its
last six games of the season. Guard Micha
The Gamecocks, 13-8, face the 18-7 ^ points, di
F lorida International Sunblazers at wen' n|nc 'or nn
Carolina Coliseum tomorrow night. ''nc an^ added
The match up will be the first between emerging as the
? the two. said he thought
II Monday night's win against ^or 'c
Tulane is any indication of how the
team will play down the stretch, USC "I try to lea*
could be in good shape. said. As for his
?Ms mE?~~
^ (JSC's Duane Kendall takes the pats during the Gamecock
^ Feb. 9. Carolina takes on Florida International tomorrow
Coliseum.
irogram signs t
KKNNV II AVINiKS ? ft-4 lineman from Holinebrnnk.
111. All-conference (offense and defense). All-Chicago, allstate.
Chose South Carolina because "wanted to go to program
on the upswing." Also recruited by Iowa, Iowa
State,TCU and Michigan State.
KKVIN JONKS 6-1, 205 back and receiver recruit from
Airport High School. All-state, all-conference, Columbia TD
Club player of the year. Rushed for 1,600 yards and scored 19
touchdowns senior year, 1,700 yards and 21 touchdowns his
junior year. Also recruited by Florida State, North Carolina,
Penn State and Notre Dame.
DF.RRICK I.ITTI.K ? 6-4, 225 linebacker-defensive end
from Athens, (la. Prep All-American selected by Sporting
\'ews and Scholastic News. Mas 4.7 speed in the 40-yard dash.
Also considered Georgia, Tennessee, I.SIJ and Clemson.
KEVIN ROl'KK ? 6-4, 215 linebacker-defensive end
from Charleston. Palmetto Club's Defensive Player of the
I Year. Made 160 solo tackles. 256 assists, 49 quarterback sacks
during career. Honor Student with 3.7 CiPA. Recruited by
Clemson, Florida State, Michigan, Pittsburgh, Air Force and
? Notre Dame.
C,RE(, WKI.CH ? 6-4, 2(X) back and receiver from
Dal/ell, S.C. Most Valuable Player in Shrine Bowl Game,
) scored winning I'D and rushed for 145 yards. Clocked in the
s 40-vard dash at 4.5. Also considered by Penn Slate, East
1 Carolina and North Carolina.
i PAI TI'RNKR ? 6-2, 190 back and receiver from Can
ion. cia. i urcw ior j,i /u varus in mree seasons as quarterback
tor Cherokee High School Warriors. Was 81 of 151 in
II senior season for 1,550 yards and 15 touchdowns. Runs a 4.6
i, 40-yard clash. Also considered Clemson, Florida Slate.
Georgia lech and Vanderbilt.
lazers tomorrow
COCKS retained the him for leadership, he added, "I'm
. r Mike Brittain, who sure they do.
in the contest alter a "They see me playing hard, and it
lm an injurcu uiimi. gci* uicm iu uig uupu aiiu j'i?j
el Foster, who scored hard," he said.
splayed his talents and ,.,? u
ne from the free-thr.w XVH^ *OST*R >sQnt ^d.ng by
I seven assists, while example, reserve Tom Si.erle .s in. f.llteam
s "1 think we do a real good job workat
times the team look- . , . ... . ,
adership ing ,08ethcr' s,ierlc said- 1 ,ake on
the duty of being the spark coming off
the bench."
J by example, I oster With five of the six games left
teammates looking to against Metro Conference opponents,
i ydBB and three of those on the road, the
mpiaycit <i itum tnui i ntiuiu ii
1 ?iKSaH3r
"(iood things are ahead for us,"
loster said. "We're coining together
iB as a team. The chemistry is coming
r.M ll together."
use HEAD COACH Bill f oster
"We were like a strange breed in the
R:v j "It's not an excuse, but, I thought we
blended together down at Tulanc (a
77-71 loss, Jan. 26) when we made that
^ comeback.
1 "We made it as a team. It was a lot
of guys (playing together) that did it.
Ny Now we've got to keep it going,"
if. Coach Foster said.
^2 Stierle said he sees the remaining
jr games as big ones for the team.
? "I THINK if we play together and
V well, with a lot of enthusiasm, I'm sure
g we'll be able to beat those teams, he
"As long as we have defensive intensity,
we've got a chance."
mSM Coach Foster said the team has a
stigma on the road that they arc trying
\ to Ke( ,-jj Qf for ,|1C fjna| three road
games of (he season.
"It's gelting to us," he said. "We
have to live wiih it. Hopefully it
jjl* doesn't happen to us again. It's no
fun"
1 V '/ IIITIC L'DIIVTUiTIM/' ' -wl,lr>,l
' ?" i i auuvu
jfflk* Michael Foster.
. y "It's just a matter of getting one win
under our belts to get the pressure off.
Once we do, I think we'll be a hard
team to beat.
"It will help us have an impact on
the Metro Tournament at Louisville."
JOE RICKER / Thi Gwnwock Against Florida International,
Coach Foster will be shooting for his
s'98-81 loss to Clemton 400th win. His 25-year career mark is
at 7:30 p.m. in Carolina 399-247 (.618), while at Carolina, he's
78-58 (.574).
op recruits
A'dfrtw (94, 248} fiwnwft. Bbwion, 6*.
Ryan Bethea (64, 200) beck. receiver, Columbia \ 1
Ray BoJtcwi (5 U, 1881 back recoiver, Elbsrton, Ga.
Mm Brooks (8-2. 2051 linebacker defensive end. JecksonviK, Fit,
John Brown (6-9, 280} lineman, Richmaond. Ind.
Todd Cooper {6-3, 236) lineman. Rock Hi#
Todd Efts (6 3, 200} beck. receiver, Greensboro. N.C.
Deron farina (6 2. 270) Bneman, McKwiport, Penn
Mark fryer. (0 4, 230) lineman, Irmo
Charlie Gowan (84, 250) lineman, Marion, N.C.
'.Kenny Haynes (6-4, 260) Sneman, Boltnfibrook. ID.
Curt High (0 2, 255) lineman. Ralegh, N.C.
David Hodye (8 4, 230) Snebacker defensive end, Simpsonvilte
Kevin Jones (81, 205) back.receiver. West Columbia
David JoNnson (8-2, 205) linebacker. defensive and, SimpsonviNe
James latimer (6-2, 245) Imam an, HinesviKe, Ga.
Keilh l?wis (8-0, 1951 back.receiver, Aiken
Derrick little (64, 225) linebacker. defensive and, Athens. 6a.
Byron Uw (6 3, 240) Inimao, Griffin, Ga.
Vic McComw# (6 1, 195) back receiver. Canton, Ga.
Gary Prater (6-4. 210) back receiver, Cincinnati, Ohio
Rodnay (fr1. 225)|?nb?r, Batasbwfl
Robert Robinson (611, 180) back receivec, Shetby, N.C.
Kevin Rourk (0 4, 215) Inebacker.defensive end. Charleston
:J.Kan SaHy (9-1, 200) back.receiver, MorriStown, N-J
Paul Shivers (63, 235) fineman. Waft Cetomfcia
Richard Smith(8-0, 21S)b4ck tacaiver, AA?a>^'v *
Stave Strewder (8-1,215) towbacker defence end, Columbia
Todd Thartoo (83, 200) back.receiver, Dublin, Calif.
PM Ttwner (8-3. 190) back receiver, Canton. 8a. '
Record iwt enough
in recruiting game
By Ray Gronberg
While a 10-2 season helped, many other factors combined to
convince prep All-American Todd Ellis and other blue-chip
players to come to USC to play football.
When he announced his intention to sign witn me
Gamecocks at a press conference Tuesday, Ellis cited
Carolina's coaching staff and the overall commitment of
players, faculty and alumni to a winning program as his
primary reasons for coming to USC.
Recruiting director Ty C'oppinger said these are just two of
the aspects of the Gamecock program coaches try to point out
to potential recruits.
The selling points "might differ a little depending on the
situation," he said. "To a kid from Tampa, for example,
weather wouldn't be something we'd stress."
The major points, he said, are:
Leadership: "Regardless of the business, it's easier to be successful
if you've got good people at the top," Coppinger said.
USC President James Holdcrman, Athletic Director Bob Mar'Mim
onH hpaH Inp Mnrricnn ar/? all artivplv invnlvpH in
recruiting, particularly during recruits' campus visits, he said.
The university and its athletic facilities: "USC is an excellent
academic institution," Coppinger said, adding "we don't
have to take a back seat t:> anyone." In addition to academics,
he said, the athletic facilities here are also among the best in
the country.
The city: "Most cities the size of Columbia (400,000 in the
city and surrounding area) have a big part of the population
that could care less if Carolina plays football," Coppinger
said. "Most cities that go bonkers over football are college
towns. You're talking here about a city of 400,000 that goes
nuts."
Support: Connected with this, he said, is the rabid nature of
Carolina fans. "These people supported this place tremendously
well through the bad times. We were 15th in the nation
among colleges in attendence. It's a small state, but 70,000
people come in every game, and many others show their sup
pori ai omer nines.
"This past season was special," Coppinger added,
"because the team gave them something to hang their hat on.
We had people call after the Clemson game, say 'Thank you,'
and hang up."
Joe Morrison: The head coach is "very sellable because of
who he is," Coppinger said, citing Morrison's background in
the National Football I.eague and as a winning coach on the
collegiate level.
Schedule: "You know you'd better buckle it on if you come
to the University of South Carolina," he said. "Our schedule
always has intcrsectional flavor, but we also have great
regional rivalries." Annual battles with Clemson and Georgia
provide the centerpiece of schedules also featuring home
games against Michigan in 1985 and Nebraska in 1986, serving
to attract top-level talent.
Weather: "It can be a factor to some people," Coppinger
said. "Not to that kid from Tampa, like 1 said, but we brought
about eight or 10 kids in from the Midwest in December, when
it was 77 degrees outside one Saturday. That helps."
The decisive help, however, may have been provided by a
I A ^ ?,l rolrl
I VJ'4. UUM^II IIVJUVJUJ VAJJV,V,aU, 111. 1UIU.
"I look al recruiting as a snowball effect," Coppinger explained.
"A good season allows you to get good players,
which can lead to better seasons.
See "Recruits," page 10