The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 19, 1989, Page 10, Image 10
Pep Tali
By Brant Long
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Recently, a small uproar occurred
in Gamecock athletics. A huge article
ran in The State a couple of
weeks ago about USC possibly joining
the Southeastern Conference.
Students were livid. Everywhere I
went it was, "Hey, Brant, Carolina
might play Tennessee."
Being a displaced Tennessee fan,
I was instantly interested. "My
Cocks and my Vols might play," I
pondered to myself, "What a great
world we live in."
Now the hoopla has died down,
and 1 have heard no more about the
issue, but dang it, I wanna talk
about it! So here goes. . . .
The Southeastern Conference, as
every living, breathing Southerner
knows, is a bastion of college football.
Every Saturday, hundreds of
thousands of diehard football
junkies head for their nearest SEC
stadium to cheer on their respective
teams to victory. It's amazing just
to watch, say, a Georgia-Florida
game. This ballgame has to be held
at a neutral site, it's so big. As we
all know, the Metro Conference
isn't exactly a football haven.
That's why us football crazies here
in Columbia, for that one 1984
season, suddenly metamorphasized
me vjamecocxs mio an inaepenaeni
powerhouse.
We've had our good seasons as
an independent, and I'll admit
Florida State and N.C. State have
become good rivalries, but it's time
for a change. The SEC would be
tough, sure, but wouldn't it be fun?
As my fellow Tennessee fans would
say, "Hell, yes!"
Picture this ? 92,000 screaming
fans, ABC television coverage and
my man Keith Jackson in the
booth. Neyland Stadium in Knoxville,
Tenn., the site for the battle
between the mighty Gamecocks and
the Volunteers. What a game.
Then, we'd go on to play Alabama
at home, hit the road for a game
against Auburn, then on to Baton
Rouge and Death Valley to battle
LSU. Maybe a quick win over
Mississippi State, then we finish the
season against a lesser conference
opponent and Clemson. It would be
perfect.
And for those of you wondering
about money, think about it. WTBS
does a different SEC game every
week, and ABC and CBS often do
Softball tea
From staff reports
The 15th-ranked Lady
Gamecock softball team swept a
make-up doubleheader from UNCCharlotte,
2-0 and 8-0, at Lady
Gamecock Field Monday, improving
its record to 37-7.
USC hurler Charlene Manley
raised her season mark to 18-3 by
firing a shutout in the opener, and
shortstop Marianne DiRupo led the
way at the plate by going two for
three with a double and an RBI.
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should join SEC
presents itself
them as well. We may lose opponents
like N.C. State and Florida
State, but, hey, 59-0. . . we won't
miss them. Then again, the SEC
will not be much easier.
In basketball, the competition
won't be as stiff, yet the SEC is
moving up. There were five SEC
teams in the NCAA Tournament.
So what if the conference was 0-forthe-NCAA's,
it was an off-year.
Usually, Kentucky would join those
teams. We'll have some great competition,
and we can still play games
against Ohio State and Clemson to
keep us in good standing with the
NCAA tourney committee.
In baseball, we'll miss Florida
State as a foe, because they're
always good, but SEC-member
Mississippi State is now ranked second
in the country. Alabama,
Auburn and Florida are also good.
The Metro isn't bad, but a move
to the SEC would not only be profitable,
but exciting for the fans as
well.
Now, to address the suggestion of
adding more teams to the conference
and splitting it into two
divisions, with the two football division
winners playing in the Sugar
Bowl for the mega-championship.
Other teams possibly being looked
at are Texas, Arkansas and Texas
A&M. The conference would be
split into two divisions, probably
East and West. I
I don't really agree with the
sugar Bowi plan, out tne divisions ,
would be interesting. That way, you ,
could have a small game at the end
of the season to decide the overall
conference champion.
The winner would be in the Sugar
Bowl and the runners-up would go
to various other bowls! The SEC
would vault to being the premier
conference in the country, and the
Gamecocks would get a lot more
recognition.
For now, the debate has silenced,
but if it comes up again, I hope
every party thinks it over carefully.
I think USC's name would look
great on the list of SEC schools.
The SEC is a Southern tradition, as
is Carolina football. Let's put the
two together. It would be a very
profitable relationship.
Until next time, keep your feet on
the ground and. . . ah, forget it.
m takes two
The Lady Gamecocks picked up
both their runs in the sixth inning,
when third baseman Stacy Agee
reached on an error, stole second,
and scored on a DiRupo single.
DiRupo later scored on a grounder
off the bat of Kelly Grotheer.
USC utilized its team speed and
more excellent pitching in the
nightcap, as they had six stolen
bases and another shutout pitching
performance, this one by Angie
Lear, to take an 8-0 win.
8
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is Layaways PBBBI s I
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USC offsets r
By DAVE KAY
Staff writer ^
The USC baseball team returned to
winning form Monday night with a JH
12-9 victory over Campbell University
at Sarge Frye Field.
The Gamecocks, who had lost
their previous three games on the MgK*
road, were glad to be back home,
where they are now 20-2 on the year,
compared with a 4-13 road mark.
"We've been playing good
baseball at home and horrible on the I
road," said USC head coach June
Raines of his team's inconsistent
play. "You had 33 hits and
20-something runs tonight. It's
amazing the way we are playing I
baseball right now ? it was a big win
for us." Brian Bes
The game was not a pretty sight for
the pitchers, however, as a total of 33 Burke Cr<
hits were recorded by the two teams. Beatson, v
Joe Cardwell, the USC starter, went Mike M
five innings before submitting first to led the wa
Woods war
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By The Associated Press
MOUNT PLEASANT ? Coming out of his first
spring football practice at USC, coach Sparky
Woods is cautiously optimistic about the
Gamecocks' chances in the fall.
Woods took over as head coach for the
Gamecocks after the death of Joe Morrison on
Feb. 5. And, although he's been on the job less
than two months, Woods said his players have adjusted
well to the change.
USC completed 18 days of spring drills on
Sunday.
Woods, who came to USC from Appalachian
State, said the team has a positive attitude, but he
is concerned about depth on the club.
"I'm not pessimistic about our chances. I am
pessimistic we'll get hurt," Woods told broadcasters
attending Saturday's annual meeting of the
S.C. Associated Press Broadcasters Association.
"We have a chance to be a good football team if
we don't get injured."
Woods said he's been approaching things dif
terently from Morrison, stressing spring practice,
where the focus is on fundamentals.
"There hasn't been as much emphasis on spring
practice with Joe Morrison as there is now,"
Woods said. "Coaching football has been the
easiest part," he added, saying so many other
things have demanded his attention he hasn't
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"your partner in education"
oad woes with
ting attack, each with fc
gjHpp , pair of runs batted in.
The Gamecocks struc
vantage was shortliv
Camels scored four in
tHl the third to take a 4-2 1
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the bottom of the third b
bell jumped on Cardwel
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once again take the lead
Gamecocks bettered th
the USC half of the fo
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With USC leading
itson quiet until the sixth whe
erupted for four runs., B
Dmer and then to Brian replaced Cardwell, bu
/ho picked up the win. Camels scored two
cGee and Skeets Thomas Raines sent Beatson to
y for the Gamecocks' hit- Beatson allowed just th
y, but sees it
coached as much as he would like.
Woods says he will stress academics with his
players and candidly admitted, "We have a real
academic problem with some players."
Woods said Morrison's philosophy was that the
players had an opportunity to come to college and
earn a degree and it was up to them to make the
most of it.
He said he sees it differently and will be more
like a parent to his players, keeping after them to
do well both in school and on the field.
"I don't trust 'em," Woods laughed. "1 think
you have to watch them a little bit and help them
along."
Woods now requires the players to attend
breakfast. They don't have to eat, Woods said, but
at least the coaching staff will know they're up and
not sleeping through classes.
There were some initial objections, Woods said.
"It was almost like I was asking them to give away
their first son," but now the players know he
means business, Woods said.
Class attendance is also mandatory for scholar?
L. I ?1
Miip piaycia.
Woods said he told the team, "If I'm going to
pay for your education, you're going to get it."
The Gamecocks will be small along the line of
scrimmage again this fall, but Woods is modifying
the all-out blitzing defense USC has used in recent
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l win at home
>ur hits and a the last 3 and 2/3 innings and picked
up the win after the Gamecocks' out:k
first in the burst in the bottom of the sixth,
:atcher Dave when they scored four runs on three
ick Mack and hits to take the lead for good,
two-run ad- USC pushed over an insurance run
ed, as the in its half of the seventh, which was
their half of all Beatson, now 3-0, needed to nail
ead. down the win.
; the score in The Gamecocks improved their
>efore Camp- record to 24-15 heading into Tuesday
1 for two hits night's home game with Coastal
the fourth to Carolina, while the Camels dropped
, 5-4. But the to 7-23. USC begins a three-game
e Camels in weekend series at 7:30 Thursday
urth, scoring night with ninth-ranked Clemson at
r Chad Sims, Sarge Frye Field. The Tigers swept
ack. the Gamecocks in three games earlier
7-5, all was this season at Clemson.
n both teams
urke Cromer CAMPBELL 004 104 000 ? 9 15 3
t When the USC 022 304 lOx ? 12 18 3
quick runs, Milton, Russell (6) and Ellis. Cardwell,
the mound. B. Cromer (6), Beatson (6) and Willman.
ree hits over W ? Beatson (3-0). L ? Russell (1-7).
mprovement
seasons.
Instead of attacking the offense, the Gamecocks
will use a more disciplined defense and "defend
our goal line first," Woods said.
The offense will feature a single back attack built
around tailback Harold Green, who has rushed for
more than 2,000 yards during the past three
seasons.
"I've never coached a running back who has the
skills that he's got," Woods said.
The new system will rely less on the passing of
quarterback Todd Ellis, who has shattered school
passing records during the past three seasons, but
has also thrown 67 interceptions.
"We've got to help Todd Ellis not to throw as
many nnereepuons as ne nas in me past," wooas
said. "We'd like to take it (the ball) away from
him. We've got other talented players, and we want
to put it in their hands."
Woods said he's concerned about recruiting and
said he'd like to have some different players on the
USC sideline.
Ten quarterbacks are on scholarship at USC,
and four of them are incoming freshmen.
"Of the six practicing, I believe Todd?is the only
one who can go win football games for us,"
Woods said.
"I'd like to trade about six of those quarterbacks
for tackles," the coach added.
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