The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 05, 1986, Page 8, Image 8
Kickoff ?
" Friday, September 5, 1986
rPrpss Box ? ?? ? ^
Disloyal fans: ipfiHn
Don't aive uo u ri
on season yet
L?-By Tracy Mixson
Now that USC's football team has opened its
1986 season, let's see what we can determine from
the first week of play:
1. The Gamecocks still have room for
improvement;
2. Miami deserves its preseason ranking as the
number three team in the nation; and
3. Carolina fans are as fickle as ever.
Only onr t-ame down and already grumblings can
be heard ab<?ut how lousy the Gamecocks are. But
just because they lost 34-14, it doesn't mean they're
going to go 0-11.
A few mistakes in the opening game were to be
expected, and when USC took on perennial power
Miami, most people picked Carolina to lose.
So why were they so surprised ? and so critical
? when their prophesies were fullfilled?
Some fans have already come up with their own
versions of USC's new pass-oriented offense, the
"run and shoot:" run and shoot yourself in the
foot, run and shoot blanks, run away and hide, run
and throw it away, run and choke, and several other
modifications that aren't fit to print.
Apparently, the Gamecock loyal (disloyal?) arc
still waiting for a repeat of 1984. That year's
"dream team" relied on experience, Black Magic
and a little bit of luck in catching several traditional
powerhouses in an off year. The Gamecocks finish
ed 10-2, and head coach Joe Morrison could do no
wrong.
During the past two years, some of the gold has
chipped off Morrison's halo as his teams have lost
seven of its past 12 games, and fans who had planned
to give Morrison a lifetime contract in '84 are
now starting to second-guess their hero.
Much was expected of last year's team, and the
players just couldn't deliver. Normally, USC supporters
wouldn't have been suprised ? they're used
to mediocrity. But after the 1984 season, the losing
record in '85 was like finding coal in your stocking
on Christmas morning.
Perhaps the 10-2 season should never have happened.
Gamecock fans who never before faced the
realistic possibility of a national championship now
use the record as a measuring stick to judge subsequent
USC teams.
That's too bad, because those fans choosing tc
live in the nasf aren't oivino thic venr'c cnnarl a fnit
shake. The Gamecocks of '86 aren't as old, a:
strong, as experienced or as lucky with their playing
schedule as their predecessors.
But the two teams do have something in common
confidence in their abilities. Two years ago, th<
Gamecocks concentrated on taking one game at i
time and turning in their best performance possible
Ten times out of 12, it worked.
This year, the goals are the same. Despite th<
ninth-toughest schedule in the nation, the player
are enthusiastic about the season. Last year's tean
was anxious to start the year and see what fate hel<
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in siuic ? uiu^ iav*cu mtjcuiuic pic^uic n
keep the magic alive in '85. In contrast, this year'
squad was eager to begin the year because the;
realized most of that pressure was off.
Most of the "experts" have picked Carolina t<
lose at least five games, but should they go 6-5 witl
its schedule, a bowl bid is possible. Therefore, sine
losses are expected, the the Gamecocks hav
nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Many USC followers expecting an overnight sue
cess Saturday night were sadly disappointed, an
admit they already have lost confidence in thci
team.
But as long as the Gamecocks have faith i
themselves, there's still hope for getting things fixe
in '86.
USU's cllis has i
Redshirt freshman quarterback Todd Ellis th
became the first rookie quarterback to start
his first game for the Gamecocks, and is only 18
the second USC freshman to ever start a to
game. In 1973, Ron Bass started for the ar
Gamecocks, but that was his ninth game of ya
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USC hope
By JOHN BOYETTE
Managing editor
USC head coach Joe Morrison hopes
his team can avoid the "road blues" that
plagued the Gamecocks last season,
J whpn r~"nrr?1inji frnvplc in Viroiniti <Iatnr.
day for its sccond game of the season.
In 1985, USC was 1-3 in away games.
The Gamecocks were whipped 42-7 by
Pittsburgh, 35-21 by Georgia and 56-14
by Florida State. USC's lone road victory
was a 52-10 win against East
Carolina.
And despite last Saturday night's
season opening, 34-14 loss to the University
of Miami, Morrison hasn't given up
on starting quarterback Todd Ellis.
In fact, Morrison seemed encouraged
by the fact Ellis threw for a pair of
touchdowns late in the game to avoid being
the first Gamecock squad to be
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i
, Gamecock Fitzgerald Davis pulls down Miami hall
Bame (not B
By WAYNE WASHINGTON
e Assistant sports editor
s In a season dominated by high expectal
i news of USC's "run and shoot" offense,
J tention has been placed on the Gamecocks'
3 unit. After all, with such an explosive
C t V* Aro * c ininimol nKon/?a *^ni?'11 V*** ir* n
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y and-too-much-to-go-situation, right?
Wrong. When Carolina's highly touted
a ran into a brick wall Saturday night agair
h ranked Miami, there was plenty of need
e And walk-on Scott Bame was there to fill
e Bame played a major role on opening
tempting nine punts and accumulating
average with one block. The game won't go
d one of the all-time greatest for a USC punt
J wasn't a bad outing for a man who was fig
the position at this past spring's Garnet ar
n game.
d He admitted the crowd of 73,000 p
Williams-Brice Stadium made him nervoi
impressive stati
e season.
Ellis' stats were impressive as he completed
1-38 passes for 227 yards a.id two
uchdowns. He was intercepted four times
id rushed the ball nine times for minus 16
irds. His total offense was 211 yards and the
'o scores.
Those figures are the best ever for a
iderclassman Gamecock quarterback in his
"St name. As a iunior aeainst Piftshnroh
ordon Beckham passed for 235 yards and
ree touchdowns in his first start.
Other notable Gamecock quarterbacks in
eir first start were Tommy Suggs with 6-11
issing for 76 yards against North Carolina;
an Reeves with 1-4 passing for 10 yards; and
ff Grantz with 7-9 passing for 79 yards and
'o touchdowns. All three were sophomores
their first starts.
ISC versus Virginia
The Gamecocks lead in the series that dates
ack to 1912, 19-10-1. But the two teams have
ot played since 1981, a 21-3 South Carolina
Tl :?-r -t
iwiin y. i nc majority 01 me games piayeu
etween the two schools came from 1951
irough 1963. This will be only the sixth <
leeting for the teams in the past 15 years. '
In games played in Charlottesville, the
iamecocks hold an 8-6-1 advantage. In Colmbia,
USC leads the series 9-4 and Carolina
'on single games at both Richmond and Nor3lk,
Va.
iigh school ties
r I O a l_ /"? ?*
ocvciiti Duum Carolina ana virguua
layers were high school teammates.
Gamecock starting nose guard Tommy
haikin, a junior from Bethesda, Md. and
nd Walt Whitman High School, was a teamlate
of Cavalier place kicker Jeff Gaffney.
>uarterback Todd Ellis and Virginia offen
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22<
PREVIEW t<?i<
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tot
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shutout since Georgia dumped USC 24-0 1
in 1981. US
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ference, Morrison had a lot of praise for we
Ellis, who was the nation's most-sought yai
after quarterback two years ago. agi
"I thought Todd did an excellent job i
in running the football team and the Vii
poise that he showed out there," he said. Ca
"You know sometimes he might have M<
gotten a little antsy and overthrew some bu
of the receivers, or maybe he didn't get rui
the ball quick enough." ]
Ellis completed 18 of 38 attempts for Mj
wc
PHIS' the
He
vet
ho
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Pji ?? * als
* gar
KELLY CHARLES/The Gamecock in
[back Warren Williams 12:
ane) ready to
his first outing as a Gamecock.
"I really was nervous at the begi
ions and "I've never played before that mai
little at- Most of those people had never
punting before Saturday night. That's
offense, Gamecock fans, who normally kee]
h-down- roster and are used to a traditionall
unit. The Gamecocks have been bl
I scheme with strong punters such as Max Ri
ist third- Norman, who both made it to
to punt. ranks.
the bill. But now, USC has four punters i
day, at- Price, Eric Markle and Wes Hendi
a 34.3 household names. In fact, even
down as media guide had trouble with Ba
cr, but it listing it as "Bane."
hting for But things like that don't b
id White 184-pound native of North Myi
transferred from Chowan Junior
eople at freeboro, N.C. Working to win a
is during was his primary goal this summer,
istical debut
j^T PTES
sive guard Mike Pascucci were teammates on
Greensboro, N.C. Page's state high school
championship team. Pascucci was a defensive
tackle in high school.
Also, Gamecocks Curt and Tim High
played with junior center John Langdon at
Raleigh, N.C. Milbrok High School, and
USC linebacker Derrick Little and freshman
wingback Carl Piatt were teammates with
wide reciever Derek Dooley at Athens, Ga.
Clarke Central.
Hanlar pnntinimc fn china
imjjiwi uwiiiiuuuu iu oiiiiiv#
Senior placekicker Scott Hagler nailed both
his extra point attempts against Miami to run
his two plus year total to 82 straight. Hagler
did not attempt a field goal.
He is currently number nine on the all-time
school scoring list with 130 points and needs
nine points to take over eighth spot.
Cniinriil rt I <n unro aninrnfl
UGvciai piaycio iirjuigu
Freshman starting middle linebacker Zip
Zanders suffered a broken left thumb while
blocking a Miami punt, but the injury, while
painful, will not keep him out of the lineup
Saturday against Virginia.
Junior offensive right tackle David Poinsett
did not play with an ankle sprain but should
be ready for Virginia. Those expected not to
play include defensive ends David Hodge
(ankle) and Curtis Kilgore (ankle),
linebackers Carl Hill (knee), Kevin Rourk
(neck) and Joe Todd (foot), and wingback
r? l- /1 v ?w
vjcuijjc ivusii \Kneej. noage, mil ana Kiigore
should be back for Western Carolina.
jet 'roa
7 yards, but threw four intercepti
"I'm sure you all remember your
ecast or first sportswriting da
)rrison told reporters. "I imagii
)k Edgar Allen Poe a few year
Tie out and write 'The Raven,' to
In't just happen overnight."
Morrison was also quick to point
IC won't be facing such a balai
inin and passing attack wcek-in
ek-out. The Hurricanes racked up
rds passing and 169 yards rus
ainst USC.
usl.s opponent this weeki
rginia, is a prime example,
valiers' starting quarterback,
ijkowski, is a proven quarterb
t Virginia still relies heavily on
i.
Morrison, for one, is impressed
ijkowski's abilities.
"He can throw the ball very,
11," Morrison said. "He likes to
; option down around the goal
: looks like he reads it and execut
-y well."
The big question with Majkov
wever, is whether or not he
:over from injuries that kept him
action for most of last sea
rginia head coach George Welsh
o have to contend with the loss<
Tensive lineman Jim Dombrowski
lback Barry Word, the Atlantic C
in fnrnnno nloirar f " 1 f*Q
'iiiviviiwv wi iliv jrtttl III 170
iduation.
"Don Majkowski is really an exce
lletc," Welsh said. "He had a r
od year for us in '84. He's had s
ury problems with the bad elbow
)ulled hip muscle last year.
for USC's "run and shoot"
ise, Welsh said his team got a hii
iat to expect by watching ESI
ecast of the Gamecocks' se
cncr.
'We didn't know what was hap]
until we saw them on televi
linst Miami," Welsh said. "I'm
e we're ready for it. We felt
ve had to change some things."
The USC-Virginia game is the /
ne-of-the-week, and will be telev
the South. Kickoff is scheduled
20 p.m.
be house
nning," he said. "ThGTB 3T
ly people." .
heard of Bame t3k6 yOUT jO
; unusual for
p up with USC's
y strong punting
essed in the past ??????
inager and Chris eluded runnir
the professional stamina.
The work 1
n Bame, Rodney Bame is the fi
icks ? none are secure. With I
this year's USC to take his jol
ime's last name, form well.
"I'm starti
other the 5-11, change if I c
tie Beach, who always peoplt
College in Mur- got to keep w
starting position ,4A starting
and workouts in- tion. I've jus1
ni i
uemson nop;
closes book i
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
CLEMSON, S.C. ? Clerr
son University hopes a gran
jury's decision not to indi<
four present or former footba
players on criminal sexu<
assault charges has "closed th
book" on the alleged inciden
a school official said Thursday
"This has been a long an
complex issue to deal with,
said Nick I.nmav arfino vir
president for student affairs.
"This was an ugly inciden
Clernson University is n(
pleased when our students particularly
those who repr<
sent us as athletes ? mal
mistakes in judgment an
engage in behavior that is en
barrassing and countei
productive. However, v\
believe the situation has bee
resolved."
A Pickens County grand jui
decided Tuesday there was ii
sufficient evidence to indi
tailback Kenny Flowers an
defensive back A.J. Johnsc
and ex-players Duke Holloms
and Craig Crawford on chargi
of criminal sexual assault, ki<
napping and larceny.
Lomax said he didn't kno
who contacted Columbia a
torney Richard Harpootlian i
represent Flowers and Johnsoi
but he said the school was in r
id blues' 1
I
ons- Gamecock Thouahts
first w
ic it
s to ^
the "We need to get the
with finer points ironed out. I ? I
think we'll bounce back
very
run (this) week against ]
lin? Virginia. We just need to
execute."
vski, Danny Smith
can USC wide receiver
l out
son.
will
n r\ rl
allu MBBB @
-?ast ""VHi
5, to
llent WBbSJm
eally
PN's
ason "We've got a positive
attitude. We know what
pen- rR
ikio hono tn rlr? r? hoof I I
siuii iii/ uuvu iu uu iu ucai 1 ?
Hkc Virginia. We just have to
go out and do it.
^ Zip Zanders
for USC linebacker
>hold name
[?
e always people there who can
b, so I've got to keep working."
Scott Bame
USC punter
?g in the heat of the day to improve
las paid off with a starting job, but
rst to say his first-string position isn't IP
:hree other Gamecock punters waiting
a, Bame said he must continue to per
ng against Virginia, but then it could
lon't produce," he said. "There are
there who can take your job, so I've
-orking.
; job is never really secure at any posigot
to take it day by day."
ss jury decision
sn rape charges 11
way involved.
i- The university paid no legal
d fees, Lomax said.
f i !
11 Lomax said the status of the
*1 students is unchanged.
le "In accordance with our
t, university disciplinary polices,
/. they were reprimanded then for
d bad judgment, counseled about
" their behavior and warned
:e about the seriousness of the
charges almost brought against
t. them," he said.
)t Lomax also said that the
? State Law Enforcement Divie
sion and the solicitor's office
:e had "assured us ... the inld
vestioation chnwc nn im.
i- proprieties or administrative
r- problems with the way the war'e
rants were handled by universi;n
ty police."
Arrest warrants were drawn
ry after the woman reported she
i- had been attacked by four men
ct on June 20. But the charges )
id against Crawford and
?n Holloman were later dropped,
in and warrants against Flowers
es and Johnson, both expected to
J- be starters on the Clemson football
team this year, were drawn
w and signed by a judge but needt
ed to be countersigned by a
to judge in the Clemson University
n, jurisdiction before being
10 served.
, ( ;