Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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! '"I!""" '";!;V"""" !''1''V Questions Gamecocl By BRANT LONG Assistant Sports Editor The return of starters Todd Ellis, Harold Green and Robert Brooks leaves little doubt the Gamecock offense will put points on the board this season. The main question facing new head coach Sparky Woods is the defense. With the first game still days away, the defense already has setbacks of its own to conquer. Inexperience is a key factor. Defensive leaders like free safety Ron Rabune, defensive end Kevin Hendrix and cornerback Robert Robinson have graduated, leaving holes to fill, especially in the secondary. Returning are Stephane Williams and Dale Campbell at the cornerback slots with Pat Turner expected to battle for the free safety position. "It's a little scary," said Woods. "When you play teams like Duke who have a good passing attack and we have a young secondary." Another question mark for the - Gamecocks is the defensive line. > - ? Nose guard Bobby Brown, right tackle Marty Dye and defensive end Corey Miller return, but Woods says the line is thin in ** numbers. "We do not have a lot of defen} sive linemen. Depth is a problem," ; Woods said. The strongest and most stable element of the defense is the returning corps of linebackers. David ; Taylor, Scott Windsor and Patrick ; Hinton look to anchor the squad, *< with Cedric Surrat and Leroy Jeter 1 backing up the group. As far as size is concerned, this I year's defense is smaller than ! those in the past The squad won't I be able to stand toe to toe with lar* ger offensive linemen, but their t .strength is in their quickness. * "The defense has the ability to run fast and chase down opponents," said Woods. "We are very quick and we plan to use that to our advantage." With Woods and his staff come new defensive strategies. The consistent blitz of last season will give way to a more suprising blitz attack. ? "We're still going to blitz, but ?! ^ x? - y0f<"?. .-A USC linebacker Patrick Hinton quarterback in the Gamecock's 23member of this year's experienced ( USC gets sei By The Associated Press USC ended its second week of preseason football practice Friday with a two-hour workout that left first-year coach Sparky Woods pleased. "We had an improved practice this morning," Woods said. "We had lost some of our sharpness the past couple of days, but we bounced back with a better practice today." Several Gamecocks were still slowed by injuries, including offensive lineman Mark Fryer, with a shoulder injury and running back Albert Haynes, with a bruised toe. still face : defense file I Mjlp jj g Ji David Taylor not as much. Our quickness will help to catch the opponents off guard," Woods said. "It's still more blitzing than I like to do, though." "The base of this defense is to defend the goal," said Woods. "There are two attitudes you can take on defense. The first is to defend the man. The second is to defend the goal. I prefer defending our goal line." "It's hard to tell how the defense will do this season. They've tried very hard and they have gotten better over the summer. We just have to get ourselves ready for each team," Woods said. The Duke Blue Devils come into Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday boasting one of the most potent air attacks in the country and Ail-American receiver Clarkston Hines. The Gamecock defense will have a tough test early on in controlling Duke and quarterback Billy Ray. "We're going to spend this week getting ready for Duke. We are going to try to get in the way of Billy Ray," said Woods. There will be many questions to answer for the defensive squad this season. It will not be easy considering a schedule featuring four or five potential top 20 teams like Clemson, West Virginia, Florida State and Georgia. Woods said, "We'll hang in there no matter what." I '' * ' "V :m?s? _ - % * ; ^., . *2 ~~ -?ar *W U -?.- " - 4* % X *< y, ** File photo i prepares to sack the Georgia 10 victory last season. Hinton is a iamecock linebacking corps. t for Duke Wide receiver George Rush was slowed by the flu. USC didn't practice this past SatnrHov Knt haH a ?rhf?/tnlp/t nrac IU1UW; > ? x tice Sunday as the Gamecocks continue preparation for their season opener Sept. 2 against Duke at Williams-Brice Stadium. In a related matter, the Sparky Woods Show will premiere Monday at 8:30 p.m. on WIS-TV. The 30-minute program will preview the upcoming season. Jon Pritchett, a graduate of Appalachian State, where Woods coached before coming to USC, will serve as host and executive producer of the show. 11989 Gamecock ] JBL f ^^MEI' >~- - ^ - ^Maaas IBM ^^TlMTlffi?r^ . ,;., J ' /' *' ' . , / - & -V,, 1988 freshman sensation Robert last season. Brooks will be one of ir Woods bri, By BRANT LONG Assistant Sports Editor Everywhere you look these days, you see it. Anywhere you listen, you hear it. One word sticks in the mind .. . Sparky. Sparky Woods, in case you didn't know or have been living in a cave for the past four months, is the new head football coach of the Gamecocks. The circumstances of his hiring, Woods admits, were not the greatest in the world, with the unexpected death of Joe Morrison. But Woods has put that behind him. He is now concentrating on football. Woods started his coaching career at Appalachain State in 1984 and compiled a 4-7 record. But success wasn't far away. Woods would be named Southern Conference Coach of the Year three years in a row and lead the Mountaineers to two first place conference finishes in 1986 and 1987. In 1988, his team finished 6-4-1 and 4-3 in the conference. Then, the Gamecocks called. Woods' personality is different than that of most football coaches. The stern, serious faces of most college football coaches gives way to a smiling, joking face on Woods. However, when it's time to play football, Woods has a game face. "I impose a lot of pressure on myself to win football games. wnenever i piay, i want to win," said Woods. The outside pressure to win is also a little stronger for Woods USC possi By The Associated Press USC adjusted its method of disp* plimentary tickets to high schoi coaches after learning it violated N school officials said. Clemson, which says it dispenses USC did, remains in violation of I according to the NCAA's interpretaf The rule, which took effect in 1 Division I and II football programs high school coaches with two con admissions. Those admissions must be made o dual game basis. The coacn must a] gate, provide identification and sign Until USC changed its policy, bo and USC sold tickets to members c Carolina Coaches Association at a rate. The schools mailed the ticl coaches before the season. Selling tickets to the coaches at a Football Preview i i ? 11 '' I&f ^, J? i 1 A* v? * . <%? ;; * ?./. ^ * * :V.^< - . "A* V " File photo Brooks breaks upfield in a game lany veterans on the USC offense. ngs new st M. %J Sept. 2 DUKE Sept. 9 VIRGINIA TEC Sept. 16 West Virginia Sept. 23 GEORGIA TEC Sept. 30 Georgia Oct. 7 EASTCAROLIl (Homecoming Oct. 21 WESTERN CAR Oct. 28 NORTH CARO Nov. 4 Florida State Nov. 11 North Carolini Nov. 18 CLEMSON (ES since coming to USC. "The pressure is intensified here since South Carolina is larger than Appalachain State," said Woods. "A lot more people are involved, but believe me, nobody in South Carolina wants to win more than Sparky Woods." Woods also feels that the stu dents of USC are very important. "The student body is the hub of USC. They are a vital part of the teams' success, as well as everyone who calls themselves Gamecocks," said Woods. "The student body is what attracts me to college football. This year we're putting the visiting team in front of the student section to shake them up. The students will be very active in the game." Woods has many goals for the :bly violatec ?ncinrr mm oi football "The issue is \ CAA rules, pensjng) has to b< tickets like Pass list or by Pr< luie 13.8.1, tual) tickets." ion. 988, allows Director of NCA ; to provide nnlimentarv m an indivi- not a violation of NCAA ppear at the "'The issue is whether a pass list. be done through a pass 1 th Clemson (actual) tickets," said R if the South the NCAA legislative sei discounted Evrard said the interp kets to the first questioned on Aug. ber school he would not discount is Sterling Brown, assoc Experienc( to set tone By CHRIS SILVESTRI t Sports Editor t The responsibility of igniting the ? 1989 USC football team will lay in ( the hands of the highly exper- i ienced Gamecock offense. ( USC quarterback Todd Ellis, t I TT A running uulk naiutu vjicch, uuu wide receivers Carl Piatt and Robert Brooks will be the focal point of the offense. The Gamecocks will run a one back offense this season that is similar to 1988's pro-set offense. The pro-set powered the Gamecocks to an average of 28.3 points per game in the first six games of the season, but struggled late, scoring only 10.3 in the last six games. However, it will be run somewhat differently this season. "It will look very similar, probably, to the person in the stands. Looking at it, you wouldn't see a great deal of difference," head coach Sparky Woods said. "I think there's a lot of difference in it from a mechanical means. When you get into the technichal aspects of it, I think there's quite a bit of difference." The main concerns for the i Gamecock offense will be depth at the running back position and how the offensive line will perform, i USC has five running backs, led i by Green, a senior. Green is the i Gamecock's ninth leading rusher i in school history. The Gamecocks ...:n -.i?~ u;u win aidu iuuk iu juniui miii^ Dingle, senior Keith Bing and sophomore Albert Haynes to provide a balanced running attack. The tackles and right guard are yle to USC 89 Gamecock Schedul 0 7 p.m. H 7 p.m. 1 p.m. :H 7 p.m. 1 p.m. \IA 1:30 p.m. 9> 'OLINA 1:30 p.m. UNA STATE 1:30 p.m. 2 p.m. a 2 p.m. . PN) 7:30 p.m. M He Gamecock football program. The main goal is to continue to build the program. Woods has three fac- 1 tors he feels are important to achieving that goal. "First, I want to graduate football players. That is the most important thing. That is why they are here at college. Second, I would like to win football games. That has always been important to me. And third, I want the players and j fans to have a lot of fun," Woods ; said. i I The transition of the whole ] Woods family has been smooth, i Woods is married with two 1 children. "My family thinks it's exciting," ] Woods said. "The timing was 1 rough, but the people have been ] i NCAA's t ????? USC, said the Aug. 16. vhether (the dis- Brown infoi : done through a th': ne,xt day sch00's P?|1CJ sviumg nai u Evrard woi Rick FvmrH would considc A legislative services ^n' Br?wn.si be penalized. _______________ Clemson c coaches, assis . rules. brand said, "i (the dispensing) has to the right way.' ist or by providing hard Hilderbrand ick Evrard, director of 13.8.1 to meai rvices. "we're going I retation of the rule was Brown said 11 by an NCAA mem- policy to state identify. He offered iate athletic director at the new rule o id offense for USC he only positions yet secured on he front line. The center and left juard positions have not yet been letermined. Mark Fryer, who was t starter three seasons for the 3amecocks at tackle, was moved o right guard, with Calvin Ste)hens and Ike Harris expected to )e the starting tackles. 'Tackles look pretty good. The question is at center and guards ight now," Woods said. "The left tuard is ud for competition still between Kenny Haynes and Anoine Rivens. Center is not secure ^et, but three guys are working to ry to start at center." Of course, the other important xjsition on the Gamecock offense s controlled by placekicker Collin Jackie. The only problem Mackie vill be expected to overcome this leason is the new no-tee rule imjosed by the NCAA. The play calling will be done by )ffensive coordinator Art Wilkins. rhe offensive staff uses computer jreakdowns to decide what a cerain team's defense will do in cerain situations and choose a imaller list of plays from that nformation. After this past year's 8-4 season that saw the Gamecocks lose four of their final six games, the 1989 offense might be able to supply this year's team with a sustained spark. The Gamecocks begin the season with a Sept. 2 showdown against the Duke Blue Devils at wmiams-Brice siaaium. ine game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff. football >crd Coach Sparky Woods super nice. My son likes it because he gets to see his dad on TV more. Columbia is a great place." Woods admits he had never worked harder in his life than when he first came to USC. But the work seems to be paying off. Woods is both excited and nervous about Saturday's opening game against Duke. "I'm looking forward to it It's a great thing," Woods said. "I really appreciate all the support I've revived and the positiveness of all the fans. I'm very happy to be a part of the University of South Carolina. I hope to carry on its winning tradition." As the sports information department's bulletin boards anioiinr.p. Woods is starting "A Np.w Era" in Gamecock football. icket rule : school discovered the violation *med the NCAA of the infraction and immediately changed the f. lid not say whether the NCAA r USC's misinterpretation a viola lid he did not expect the school to ontinues to mail tickets to the tant athletic director Van Hilder\t this point, we're doing things I said he did not interpret Rule a tickets could not be mailed, but o try to get clarification." he mailed copies of USC's new high school coaches last week, them the chance to comply with r have their money refunded.