The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, August 29, 1988, Page 10, Image 10
Ellis ]
By The Associated Press
Let the hype begin.
Quarterback Todd Ellis already is
being touted as a Heisman Trophy
candidate and was the cover boy on
several national preseason football
publications.
But Ellis hasn't let all the hype go
to his head. After all, he remembers
the criticism he came under after last
season's 30-13 loss to Louisiana State
in the Gator Bowl.
And there's his girlfriend, who
wasn't quite as impressed by her very
own cover boy.
"I brought a couple of them home
one day after they hit the stands," he
said. "I showed my girlfriend, and
she looked at them, thought I didn't
look very good in the pictures and
put them down.
"So, it gets you humble right
away."
Ellis, who is on track to become
the NCAA's top all-time passer,
helped lead the Gamecocks to an 8-4
record last season ? their best mark
since 1984 when they were 10-2.
But all most fans remember is the
final game against LSU. Ellis hit 28
of 47 passes for 304 yards. But, he
also had four passes intercepted. And
the Gamecocks lost.
"You have to keep things in
perspective," Ellis said. "I can
remember after the Gator Bowl,
where there was not one thing written
in the world good about me. Things
come around and go around.
"Preseason covers don't mean
anything to me," said Ellis, who is
the Gamecocks' best candidate to
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magazines for years probably have
been drooling since George Rogers to
have somebody incredible that they
can put on a magazine.
"They know they'd sell a million
copies in South Carolina," Ellis said.
"Believe me, that had a lot to do with
it probably."
Ellis has the numbers to support
being touted as one of the nation's
best quarterbacks. Last year, the
6-foot-3, 203-pound Greensboro,
N.C., native hit 241 of 432 passes for
3,206 yards and 10 touchdowns. In
two years, Ellis has connected on 446
of 772 passes for 6,226 yards and 30
TDs.
Ellis already holds the school
record for career passing yards, attempts
and completions. In all, he
has set 22 school records in a career
that's just 23 games old.
Ellis also is on track to break the
NCAA record for career passing
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Todd Ellis
dshirt
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Dro, N.C. (Page High School)
'87 Statistics/Records
e mention Ail-American
Independent selection
41 of 432 completions for 3,206
A intorr>oritir>n anH 1 D Trie
/vn for 6,226 yards in two years and
to surpass all-time NCAA passing
425 by San Jose's Todd Santos.
yards set last year by San Jose State's
Todd Santqs, who threw for 11,425
yards in his career.
But one statistic that stands out
nearly as much as his passing yards is
his interceptions. He has thrown one
interception for about every 164
passes. He threw 24 interceptions last
year and has 46 in two years, compared
with 30 TDs.
Part of the problem may have been
the run-and-shoot offense, a highrisk
and high-excitement offense that
depends heavily on a quarterback's
athletic ability to make plays while
on the run. The offense also emphasizes
downfield passing and
doesn't offer much variety other than
a standard one-running back set.
This year, the Gamecocks have
scrapped the run-and-shoot in favor
of a multiple, or pro style, offense
similar to that run by the NFL's San
Francisco 49ers. The new offense will
feature a multitude of different sets,
from one running back and four
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receivers to three tight ends and two
running backs.
"I think where the run-and-shooi
was almost a reactionary offense
where you had to be a good athlete,
you have to kind of feel your way
through this offense. The (pro style)
offense is very efficient, very
mechanical," Ellis said. "We should
be more balanced."
Whether the offensive change will j
mean fewer interceptions is a question
only the season will answer. Ellis
can't be blamed for every interception
he's thrown. But no one knows
better than Ellis that playing quarter- back
means receiving an unfair
amount of praise and criticism.
"There's only so many things I
really relate as a total thing to me,"
Ellis said. "Maybe that's terrible, I
shouldn't be saying that. That
doesn't mean I don't take any
responsibility for it. I take responsibility
for every interception, even
though there are other things that go
into it.
"Of course I think I threw too
many interceptions, but then again I
look back and I was disappointed
with a lot of the balls I threw. But
you know, I put the ball up (432)
times last year. That's a lot of times
to put the ball into the air. A certain
percentage are going to be
intercepted."
Ellis said he won't let criticism ?
about his interceptions or anything
else ? get to him.
"There's a lot of expectations of
me, but I put a lot of pressure on
myself," Ellis said. "I don't think
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I've heard anything anybody has ever
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"You have to realize they're fans.
I do the same thing when I watch
NBA basketball. I feel I know
everything in the world that those
guys are doing out there. ... I don't
Ellis, DaMs
By The Associated Press
Quarterbacks Todd Ellis and
Dickie DaMasi combined for 297
yards and one touchdown during a
50-minute scrimmage Saturday
night.
About 2,0(X) people attended the
final scrimmage session at
Wiifiams-Briee Stadium, where the
Gamecocks will open Sept. 3
against the University of North
Carolina.
"We had some good indi\idual
performances out there tonight,
both offensively and defensively,"
USC head coach Joe Morrison
said. "I think we're coming along
with our offense. It takes time to
put in your complete offense, but
we showed improvement from
previous scrimmages."
Ellis was 12-17 for 143 yards, including
a 12-yard touchdown pass
to sophomore wide receiver Anthony
Parlor.
Demasi connected on six of nine
passes for 154 yards until he was
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resent those people at all. They might
have a little more ignorance of the
game, but they just say what they
feel.
"And the same people who are
booing you when you throw an interception
are the same ones screaming
when you throw a touchdown."
isi sparkle
m
sidelined with a bruised knee for
the remainder of the evening.
Junior running back Harold
Green rushed for 19 yards on four
carries and caught two passes for
41 yards. Sophomore running back
Mike Dingle scored the night's
other touchdown on a two-yard
run. He rushed for a total of 18
yards and caught three passes for
35 yards.
Defensively, junior end David
Taylor made five tackles and broke
up one pass. Senior linebacker Derrick
Little made six tackles, while
senior defensive end Kevin Hendrix
and junior free safety Keith
McDonald made five tackles each.
Morrison is hopeful that several
offensive linemen now injured will
be ready for next week's season
opener.
"We've got some guys bruised
up on the line, especially at the
tackle position." Morrison said.
"We need to get those folks healthy
this week." -
" ?n 4 i- ? *
Air Correll?
The volleyball rolls off the
fingertips of Lady Gamecock
Tammy Correll (No. 2), as
Stephanie Phluheupt (No. 11)
looks on during a game last
season. Big things are happening
to the Lady Gamecocks and head
coach Bonnie Kenny this season.
The team will travel to two tournaments
and be host to two others
? the Carolina Classic starting
Sept. 9 and the Gamecock Invitational
in November, in addition to
its regular Metro Conference
schedule. The Lady Gamecocks
travel to Rock Hill Sept. 7 to open
their season against Winthrop
College, and then return home to
play Western Carolina, N.C.
State, William and Mary and
West Virginia in the two day
Classic, Sept. 9 and 10.
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