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JPIK (iAMKCOCK Sports May a, 1(.>H5 - Page 13 Rogers rea By Joe Sitarz Former USC running back and Moisman Trophy winner George Rogers had no regrets about leaving the New Orleans Saints to become one of the newest Washington Redskins. "It feels real good. I must have said that ^gbout KM) times," Rogers said about being I traded to Washington, alter his work out yesterday in the weight room at WilliamsBrice Stadium. "It's real good to be playing with a winner lor a change. The Redskins are a Super Howl team," said the 6-foot-2, 229 pounder. "WITH A real good team, you try to make yourself better and hone that one dav you can go to a Super Bowl and wear some of those big ol' rings I saw when I was in Washington." Rogers, one of the most productive hacks over the past four seasons, was used sparingly by the Saints in 1984. He carried the ball 239 times and Rained 914 vards ? his lowest total since the Saints selected him No. I in the I9KI college draft. In four professional seasons, Rogers has gained 4,267 yards. "I'm a pretty young fella, and 1 thought I was capable of running the ball." lie said. Hut because the Saints had Rogers, Hokie (iajan, Wayne Wilson and Karl Campbell, Rogers said he "wasn't able to run the ball as much as I wanted to." III-'. ADDK.I) that he felt he wasn't used the : way he thought he should have been. "The yardage I got wasn't enough for me. I want to think 1 can get 1 ,(KK) yards every year. 12 carries a game ain't gonna gel I ,(KK) yards a year. "I have to carry the hall. I wasn't getting IliFM I ffiSL jSBBOM fl?wT>iWdevwvw ^Y)WIW%V* / 'M / WnWWH&iwRfl ? t|B J >m\ ? tob# >3iP A \Av^?p ; ?wm smssasmW* ^ S y I / W J i / S&M IB^gg J /, -. V-- * T M L L ^Aik^ AL i wu neaus ueuer mail on ^>1 USC's Glen Witt goes up against a Citadel p ^ the Graveyard. The Gamecocks sponsor their story, page 13. idy to wear "With a real good team, you try yourself better and hope that one day 1 a Suoer Bowl and wear some of thn< rings I saw when I was in Washingtoi .'.^yV . ' ^ , 'jyf - JljF Former Us"? me nan anu mat reaiiy maue me leei naa. The Saints' situation got so bad that he wanted out. He said he considers the Redskins a first class organization and nothing like the Saints. THK OPPORTUNITY to play with the Kedskins, Honors said, has given him a chance to start over. "Nothing will be given to me." Since acquiring the 26-year-old Rogers, the Redskins have traded veteran running back Joe Washington to the Atlanta I alcons. "You want to think that the trade opens up as slot lor you," Rogers said, "but I'm noi iiic oniy running nacK inars going to ne there. I certainly don't want to sit down. 1 did enough of that in New Orleans." Rogers said he'll have competition for the starting spot from John Riggins, 35, although the 13-year veteran has said he's considering retirement. Nevertheless, Rogers j T -^? I E^S!??18/M ^yPBr^Sp^pPy?^> t^ tf K W WBfSfr < -?u . 4 0^ RAY GRONBERG/The Gamecock layer recently during a spring practice game at annual alumni game tomorrow at 3 p.m. See Redskins still feels there will be competition in the Redskins' camp. "IF ANY SLOTS open, I hope it's the starting slot," he said, although he added, "I'm pretty sure that Riggins will probably gel lirst priority." Rogers said the Redskins are taking a chance with him and the bad reputation he gained following his much publicized use of cocaine during his rookie season in 1982. "I was a little wild," he said. "I took everything for granted." Me said he felt his drug problem helped bring about an end to his usefulness with the Saints because "it was always held over my head. When I got in trouble, things fell apart. "II you're going to do drugs, you're going to pay for it somewhere down the line. I certainly did." UK SAII) he has learned his lesson from . ii i _ rru Tooioaii arc USC All-Americ By Associated Press The National f ootball League draft was "a dream come true" for some local players, but it was a day of disappointments for players like USC linebacker James Sea wrigbt. Before Tuesday's draft, pro scouts had considered Seawright a fourth or fifth-round pick, but the Simpsonville native wasn't selected until the I Ith round by the Buffalo Bills. "I am a little disappointed," the 6-foot-2 All-America said. "I knew I wouldn't go in the first four rounds, but I thought I'd go before the 11th." IJSC: DKFKNSIVK COORDINATOR, Tom Ciadd, said he was surprised Seawright was chosen so late in the draft, but said it doesn't matter when players arc selected. "You hope for the young men's sake they'd gel picked sooner," Ciadd said. "I really don't place any value on the location t\V ?n nfhlnfo'i. /Irafl n/wihnn I L?w\i?( /?! many first-round draft choices who didn't make it, and many seventh-round choices who have." Seawright says he has to prove he is better than an llth-round selection. "I want to show the Hills I can play football," Seawright said. "I want everyone to know that athletes from USC can play football. I I HINK the reason they didn t draft me sooner is because of my size. I weigh around 220, and they were choosing linebackers that weighed around 230 to 240 pounds." USC's All-America defensive lineman Del Wilkes was not selected in the draft and plans to become a free agent. Wilkes said he hopes to try out for Tampa Bay and Denver. Meanwhile, Clemson middle guard Willi;im "Thr Kcfriupraliir" fVrrv selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round. "This is a dream come true for me because I have always wanted to play in the NIT. since I was a little kid," Perry said. "I have watched the Bears for a long time, and'I rcmemoer waicnmg last year wnen waiter Payton broke the rushing record." I IIK SKI.I'.C I ION of I'eny was the draft's biggest surprise, according to many scouts. uniform (he experience and hopes thai others learned lot). "Here I am, I he Heisman Trophy winner, and I get invloved with drugs. It really doesn't do anything hut bring you down. "It really brought me back down to earth." Besides having an alTeet on his career Rogers said he probably disappointed his menus ana nun nis image wnn ume kius. In college, Rogers s;tid, he never realised how important that image was ? but now, it's important (o him. AS h'OK his debut in a Redskins' uniform, he'd rather not make any predictions. "No telling whether it's gonna be good or bad," Rogers s;iid. "It's gonna be interesting. I know there are going to be a lot of people following me to see what s going to happen now to George Rogers. "All eyes are going to he on me, I know that," he added with a smile. "But I've had eyes on me before. "There really isn't any pressure. There should be. I know a lot of people are going to be expecting big things out of me," he said. "AND OF C'Ol'KSK, I'm gonna be expecting a lot out of myself." He said he was happy to be with a team that throws the ball as much as they run it. In New Orleans. Rogers said everyone cxpeetcd him 10 get the hall and run to the left, to the right and up the middle. "If (quarterback) Joe (Theismann) comes out and completes all his passes, then I don't have to run the hall." he said. "With Theismann, I'm gonna get a chance to come out of the back field and catch the passes and do some of the things I should See "Rogers" page 15 ift disappoints an Seawright "I am a little disappointed. I knew I wouldn't go in the first four rounds, but I thought I'd go before the 11th " James Seawright USC linebacker Perry's fluctuating weight was a major concern for most scouts. "Everyone asks me about my weight, but I'm confident I can get it down to wherever the Bears want me to play at," Perry said. "I think 295 to 3(H) would be a good weight for me." Chicago Hears head coach Mike Ditka said Perry will be a valuable addition to the team. "WK'VK MAI)K some mistakes in the pasl, bin we uidn'l make a mistake in this draft," Ditka said. "I don't think we will ever regret it. "I'd rather have him on our team than try to line up against him. Mow are you going to block him? He's going to be a problem for the opposition. I already feel sorry for opposing centers and our centers in practice." Besides F>erry and Seawright, nine other area players were selected by the NFL. Five players were drafted from Clemson, three from USC and one from South Carolina State. Clemson defensive back Tyrone Davis was picked in the third round by the New York Giants. Punter Dale Hatcher was also selected in the same round by the Los Angeles Rams. TIGHT KNI) K.D. Dunn was picked by St. Louis in the fifth round, defensive back Reggie Pleasants in the sixth round by Atlanta and Donald iKwebuike bv Tamna Bav in the 10th round. USC wide receiver Ira Miliary was selected by Kansas City in the seventh round. Defensive back liarl Johnson and defensive tackle I rank Wright were picked in the ninth round by the (Wants and New Orleans, respectively. South Carolina State defensive tackle Leonard Wingate was drat led in the eighth ronnd hv the I on Angeles Raiders.