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Kickott ? ? u Friday, October 10, 1986 . v Knnnnth Rnhincnn hut 99(1 tntnl tnrWIn* in fnur eluding this one against Michigan in 1985. Not enough Robinson wan than 'moral vi By JOHN BOYETTE record. Managing editor Thing: Playing well against top foot- arrival i ball teams is fine and dandy for Morrisoi Kenneth Robinson, but it still son suff doesn't change USC's 1-4 in 1984. record. of the Robinson, a senior strongside Citadel, who is known by his teammates rest of tl as simply "Gus," doesn't put forearm m??^k r t r* /-? 1/ i r\ tkn r> /-\ />n 1 I iiiuv.il 3iuv, i\ in nit au-cailtu vjuiiiv,v,u "moral" victories USC played ii registered in close losses to But si Georgia and Nebraska. exciterm "I really don't get any Robins (pleasure) out of it," Robinson himself said of the narrow losses. "I Gameco think that's why it was tough sive uni losing on Saturday, because I total ta knew the game was over and 131 and when we went back to class that top tad everyone was going to say, stops. F 'Well, you guys did a great has a toi job.' is the "But that doesn't mean history, anything because five years Again from now nobody's going to Robinso remember how well we played. ed thigh In the record books, it's going starting to be . Nebraska 27, South goes wit Carolina 24," he said. son woi Robinson's perspective can tackles I be better understood by review- "I thi ing his USC career. After starr- time l'v ing in high school at wanted Charleston s St. Andrews, said. Robinson came to Carolina in me. Th 1982. That was Richard Bell's one I re one and only year as the head the ganr coach of the Gamecocks, and Despi USC posted a dismal 4-7 Robins 1 Gamecc "I think Saturday salvage (against Nebraska) d -we< was thfi first time sa,d " to havc I've cried, because I can win really wanted to win g? that one." ^ason ?_???_?_ the woi A look into c (JSC's football squad has reached the nanway point 01 its season, and even though the Gamecocks arc 1-4, they've played well the past two weeks against Georgia and Nebraska. Many fans have thrown in the towel for 1986, but I have a secret ? USC will finish with a winning record. But how, you ask, especially with a second-half schedule featuring the likes of North Carolina State on the road, Florida State at home and the always-tough (sorry, I had to have at least one cliche in this column) Clemson Tigers in equally-tough Death Valley? Well, seems this gypsy came through town this week, and he let me peek into his crystal ball. Believe me, this actually happened. Here's what I saw; take it for what you want, but don't be surprised if on: October II ? USC travels to Blacksburg, Va., to take on the Virginia TP i. * i _ i-! ? ? ? i cuii rioKics in mcir nomecoming game, and wins bifi. Really big. Does 35-14 sound big? That's the score. Believe it or not. October 25 ? The Gamecocks win their 11th consecutive homecoming game, 48-20 over East Carolina. Quarterback Todd I Gaml By JOHN BOYETTE jJgJ&r ** Managing editor ^ m Joe Morrison am PPjpkat ^|fc que challenge Satur ^ against Virginia Te< fi&V The Gamecocks, y p|ay Hokies ii Dack-to-oack losses J The Gamecocks decision to the Gee and then followed near upset of third Morrison and hi ficult task of trying spirits up. Morris< W -WWKt S(lua(Js have CXI defeats, most nota f *" * and N.C. State in '* two barnburners oi Compounding IV fc k .+ < '' fact Virginia Tech i ^L7/ "<, v ^ field. TJie Hokies h , 0rwins after droppin \ nati, including a v \ Death Valley. Wt* \ "We bounced b *P?f Georgia and I feel . ^ ... iNcorasKa, Morris confcrcncc. "But, ? . . about our mental yea.s a. a Gamecock, in- thjnk thcy,? bc m bouncing back, rc? going to realize tha fine footbal team.' Virginia Tech 1 whose brother Vim USC in the Oen ,1. Gamecocks. ff5 mora >>ithink thcy hj record is very c ? - / "After viewing fi frf/ir/PC Nebraska and Uni1 U 1 \Ji *I/U unbelievable to bcl ly one game." s got brighter with the Hokies are of present coach Joe back Erik Chaprr n in 1983, but Robin- upset of Clemson crcd a personal setback completed 60 of 1C During the first game Vr touchdowns, season against The he was sidelined for the r ' he year due to a broken P??. ^ . That was the year the f,nc J ,n !\ eks went 10-2 and Morrison said. "T n ihc Oalor Bowl. and have some i nee missing out on the don 1 comc away :nt of the 1984 season, on has established L as the leader of the | ? O | fijfci cks' "Fire Ant" defent. He led the team in rk!<*<; Inu ticaunn with Junior wingback this year he is also the against Nebraska, I cler with a total of 49 at USC. He's caugl or his career, Robinson touchdowns. :al of 290 tackles, which Sharpe is averag sixth best in school Vards PCI catch- Fl 1968 with 59 rece| ist the Cornhuskers, receiving mark wit in shrugged off a bruis- tions at USC, 12tli I which kept hmi^irom uSC-Tech se iomaKcninciacKics.il hout saying that Robin- Saturday's cont lid have given up those Hokies will be the for a victory. on the football fiel ink Saturday is the first The series, how e cried, because I really the series is tied at to win that one," he played in Columbi rhat was a big one for Tech has a 2-1 reo at will probably be the Va., and a 1-0 n member most, out of all Roanoke, Va. ICS I've played here." rty con*jn.i te the tough losses, Clllb on still thinks the Todd Ellis has r >cks have a shot at his team's first fiv< lg a winning season and per outing. The fi )le bowl bid. of 158 passes for ve got six games," he eight touchdowns We've still got a chance Ellis has passed : a wood season. It wc nan nam - ?,v K""' ***?- e>"'" the next six and be 7-4, yards against Gee :t a bowl bid. That was against Nebraska al at the start of the tempts. He had 2! I think it'll ease some of The National "ids." record for yards pi by Northwestern'! rystal ball shi TOM GATTO'S i Press Box 9G&mF Ellis sets a school record (his fifth record this season) by throwing seven touchdown passes. Ellis says, "Marino? Who's he?" November 1 ? Not to be outdone, Ellis throws five more TDs in a 35 10 romp over N.C. State in Raleigh. Wolfpack head coach Dick Sheridan, who beat USC while at Furman foui years ago, resigns after the game, saying, "There's no way we should lose to those turkeys. I'm quitting coaching forever. November H ? The Gamecocks don't get on the board until the final four minutes of the game, but come from behind to beat scocks plai d his staff will facc a uniday when USC squares off JL ch. 1-4 on the season, must ti Blacksburg, Va., after an not "c a . to national powers. USC and Vii dropped a narrow 31-26 ' irgia Bulldogs on Sept. 27 that performance with a 1 ranked Nebraska. s staff now face the dif- 9r ; to keep team morale and In .in's three previous USC ^erienced heartbreaking bly against Navy in 1984 1985, but have yet to lose i successive Saturdays. lorrison's problem is the H| s no slouch on the football avc reeled off four straight g their opener to Cincinictory against Clemson in ack from a tough loss to wp will aftr?r thic lr\cc tr? I .AH on said at his weekly press >^^5 I'm concerned as much im condition as anything. I $ uly to play. They've been 1| illy, all year long. They're *| t they're going up against a * STjl head coach Bill Dooley, :e was taken to the wire by $ ;. rgia contest, praised the ive a football team whose i leceiving," Doolcy said. Ims of the University of k'crsity of Georgia, it's just ieve that team has won on- . led on offense by quarterlan, who engineered the earlier this season. He's 6 passes for 869 yards and rhe Hokies also have a fine Maurice Williams and Eda /?*' V W* N ,? ' ' and his staff have done a ig a successful program," hey arc off to a good start impressive victories. You Quarterback Toi from Clemson with a win with a pitch to A !'s performance Sterling Sharpc had 10 receptions I ihe fourth-best outing by a receiver I ht 32 passes for 368 yards and four I 1 ing 6.4 catches per game and 11.5 ed Zeigler set the school record in I ? Dtions. Zeigler also has the career yards ? h 146 catches. Sharpe has 65 recep i best for a Gamecock. "6 D iries tied at seven th',hc ? est between the Gamecocks and Three ol 15th time the two schools have met Miami, 1 Id- State ? ever, nasn t semeci inucn occause bined rc 7-7. USC holds a 3-2 edge in games which is a and in Blacksburg, Va. Virginia ord in games played in Richmond, ilOKIB lark in the lone game played in j jlc j. Hokies ; mn Am <tn4 ainAAw<l? tOTV. Th IC5 IU 5>CI IBUUIUd Virginia low passed for 1,255 yards through The h ; ball games, for a 251 yard average year, bu eshman redshirt has completed 93 last six g a 58.9 percentage, and has thrown Prppw and 12 interceptions. UltSBII for more than 200 yards in four of Here i ics, including a school record 342 thiswcel >rgia. He set another school mark tackle ^ , completing 26 passes in 38 at- Shivers $6 yards against the Cornhuskers. Mclntee Collegiate Athletic Association (thigh b assed by a freshman was established and run > Sandy Schwab in 1982, for 2,735 expected imi/c hrinht nit WWW m+aa+jaam. 15th-rankcd Florida State, 10-7. Seminole head coach Bobby Bowden calls the loss "a tough one to take." Coaches use cliches, too. use has now won lour straight to go over .500 at 5-4, with two games remaining. Pans are beginning to believe in the Gamecocks again. Black sweatshirts are once again chic among the more fashionable tailgaters. Before this streak, a paper bag over the head was in vogue. November 15 ? The bags arc back as Wake Forest runs it up against USC in Columbia, 38-21, snapping the winning streak. Deja vu from 1984? A loss to a team everyone expected Carolina to beat, the h#?fnrp th*? f'lpmcr*n oamA? Vnn November 22 ? THF GAME. Carolina vs. Clemson. For all the marbles (oops, another cliche). In Death Valley. USC is 5-5; Clemson comes in 3-7. They've lost six straight after getting into the Top 20 in Oc tober, including a loss to No. 20 Wake Forest. Hut, of course, you can throw out the records when these two teams get together (I know, I know, but I couldn't resist). i to 'bounce back" when the Hokies spoiled the Gamecocks' l/rIF W Homecoming festivities with a 31-17 victory. "Y.. Carolina hopes to return the favor this year, as Tech celebrates its Homecoming Saturday. Virginia Tech has compiled an 18-3 Homecoming record in Lane Stadium, ineck of a football team." eluding a 27-24 loss to (JSC in 1973. rginia Tech last met in 1974, Saturday's game kicks off at 1 p.m. Hsi. Ji' v*t: k\' ^^^000^ , DAVID DOTSON/The Gamecock dd Ellis will be trying to avoid Virginia Tech's pass rush, as ho does here against Virgins nthony Smith. a rGamecock Thoughtsbest this year an average of 248.6 yards per game. yjft >v . iW1 est really do play here lli^adPV6*. illboards posted around the state this year oast "the best play here" is true thus far. A&jmf-M me uamecocKs iocs tms season ? ino. i No. 3 Nebraska and No. 17 North Carolina are unbeaten through five contests. The com- "Virginia Tech is Q0:cords of USC's 11 opponents is 29-18-2, f l tminh a winning percentage of 62.5 percent. '"a lu UK iuuy?s spoiled USC Homecoming J"*1 6 v?u *}? <w? r 3 tough games like that ist time the schools met was in 1974, and the / p * a spoiled USC's homecoming with a 31-17 vie- (agaiflSt beorgia and c Ciamccocks held a 17-7 lead at halftime, but Nebraska), it's difficult Tech rallied for the win. . 4 r ? omecoming loss put USC's record a( 0-5 that *? 9e* eflthUoiaStlG for t the Gamecocks came back to win four of its thB IlGXt QaiTlC. But (? ames for a 4-7 record. when you-fe 4.^ 1, Others should play everything is going to is the latest injury report for the Gamecocks be touah." k: Center Randy Harwell (knee) and defensive / %I/:i /I V J L.f I rt I v4orlinn Chnvnn k.un wiimjii ikiiccj arc uououui; guaru raui ouaipu (ankle) is questionable; defensive end Willie USC wiflflback (hip pointer), linebacker Kenneth Robinson ruise), linebacker Derrick Little (shoulder), ning back Harold Green (ribs, shoulder) are ^ffil ;ture ahead Jt, *1 The Tigers take a 21-3 halftime lead, A jr silencing the 10,(XK) Gamecock fans in at- ^ tendance. But USC gets a safety early in the *" third quarter to make the deficit 21-5, then Mm# ifjfnflHil scores 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to close the gap to 21-19. With two rimjf minutes to go in the game, Clcmson is fore- HWwwnTOPm ifll ed to punt. Sterling Sharpe returns it to the "Thm/ It ho Un|/incl Clemson 45. USC gains eight yards in two I iiBy \U1B nUKItfbJ plays to make it third and two at the 37 have been consistent | with onlv 55 seconds left. I - use U in Scot I H agler's field goal range, anQ ,n,S Vear S "am IS but the senior kicker is out with a hamstr- HO exception. They are a ing pull Thai means his brother Sam a off tQ a good star, an() raw freshman, is the placekicker. He s ? already missed a 30-yardcr, and now he sits I19V8 SOfTIB IfTiprGSSIVe alone on the sideline. uintnrinn Vm. .... , , V ll> I Ul ICO. I UU UUII I A run up the middle gams one, and with . p| 26 seconds to go it's fourth and one from COfTIB 3\A/ay trOfTl UBm* the 36. Carolina calls timeout. son with a win and flOt Here's where the crystal ball went luzzy, , , , , . , ,, and finally blank. The gypsy tried, but 3 hfiCK Of a TOOtball couldn't revive it. I never did find out who team.'' won ?' But don't worry. A psychic friend told Morrison \ me Northwestern University will hire Dan- USC hflfld COBCh ny F ord as head coach.