The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 30, 1988, HOMECOMING ISSUE, Page 6, Image 14
Free safety F
leads (JSC's
By Jeremy Garlington
Outstanding defensive efforts are
often taken for granted by Gamecock
football fans.
With much of the attention being
given to Todd Ellis and his spectacular
passing efforts, little recognition or
praise has been given to the individuals
who have contributed to USC's superb
defensive showing this season.
Senior free safety Ron Rabune is
one such player.
Rabune, from La Palma, Calif., is
the leading tackier on the Gamecock
defense and recorded a career-high 17
tackles against Georgia last Saturday,
in perhaps his best performance as a
collegian. On the season, Rabune has
48 tackles, 16 ahead of the secondleading
Gamecock tackier, fellow
senior Derrick Frazier.
ror nis penormance againsi
Georgia, Rabune was named defensive
player of the game by the USC
coaching staff. Nevertheless, he feels
his personal performance is a reflection
of a total team effort.
"We took nothing for granted
against Georgia," said Rabune.
"Anytime you take a run-oriented
team such as Georgia out of its running
game and force them to pass,
you've got to feel good about your
performance."
Furthermore, Rabune claims most
of his tackles can be attributed to both
the defensive line making things happen
in the backfield and the fact USC
has played predominantly runoriented
offenses this season.
This week's homecoming game
against Apalachian State will be
Rabune's last chance to enjoy the annual
event as a player, and he hopes
history will repeat itself.
"Obviously, I'm glad we have not
Inst a homecoming eame since I've
been here, and I don't want that to
change."
Rabune also commented that he has
yet to miss Cockfest, an annual
homecoming pep rally at WilliamsBrice
Stadium.
After a redshirt year, Rabune
played mostly on special teams and as
a reserve strong safety his freshman
and sophomore seasons. Last year, as
a junior, he played a back-up role to
All-America free safety Brad Edwards,
now a member of the National
Football League's Minnesota Vikings.
Despite his lack of playing time
before this season, Rabune said even if
he had it to do over again, he would
stick with his decision to attend USC,
although he was also pursued by
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Ion Rabune
'50' defense
perennial college football power
UCLA.
"Once I made my first visit to USC,
my mind was made up to come here,"
said Rabune. "The people here are
great, and I've made great friends
from the very beginning."
As the Gamecocks head into this
week's game, Rabune is filled with
confidence and the satisfaction of being
the leading tackier on the No. 8
team in the nation, but says this
week's game with the Mountaineers
will be approached much like all the
others.
"We were very satisfied with our
performance against Georgia, but we
must also remember that on any given
day any team can beat us."
Ron Rabune will certainly try to
keep that from happening.
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