The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, October 10, 1990, Page 8, Image 8
Tigers and
take to the
I've always loved soccer (as if
you couldn't tell by my numerous
stories on the sport).
I remember as a child, playing
my sport on YMCA fields, scoring
goals, being a stud. Those were the
good old days.
Now, I probably couldn't score
a goal on my grandmother ... but I
still love the sport.
As a kid, I remember listening
for any hint of Gamecock soccer.
What could be better, I thought.
My favorite team and my favorite
sport together at last. But this was
the early 1980s, Clemson was king
of the soccer world, winning two
national championships in four
years.
I didn't know any better. I
pulled for Clemson to win the title.
I figured if a team from S.C. won
the title, it would still be good. Not
so anymore.
Ever since I arrived at USC in
1988, my soccer feelings have become
deeply rooted at The Graveyard.
Pulling for Clemson would
be like marrying your cousin (not
to offend any of our more "downhome"
readers)... let's just say it
would be pretty bad.
For the past four years, USC has
been the state's best soccer team,
defeating Clemson in each of the
past four seasons, including this
past season's 3-2 victory at Clemson.
Sunday at 2 p.m. at The Graveyard,
USC will look to make it
five years in a row. This year may
be even tougher than in the past
The rivalry may not be as intense
as the American football
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Student Organizatior
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Gamecocks
soccer field
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game, but it is a big event. The
Graveyard is always surrounded by
people. The field has to be roped
off so fans don't spill out onto the
field. Believe me, it's big. If you
1 J 1--.- i 1-? ?
nave any uuuoui, iry pariuiig around
the field on Sunday between
1 p.m. and 5 p.m. You'll get the
point.
The turning point in the USCClemson
soccer series, as statistics
will show you, was in 1985. The
Gamecocks, led by Doug Allison,
lost to the Tigers in the regular
season 3-1 at Clemson's Riggs
Field. USC advanced to the NCAA
South Region Championship to
play, you guessed it, the Tigers.
I still remember hearing what
happened on the news. USC upended
Clemson 1-0 on penalty
kicks to advance to the NCAA
Quarterfinals. The Gamecocks
have not lost to Clemson since.
So what's the problem, you
ponder.
Well, kiddies, Clemson seems to
be recapturing the days of old.
The Tigers, 11-2, are ranked
third in this week's ISAA college
soccer poll. That's right, third, as
in right behind first and second.
See Pep Talk page 9
)n...
1990
ing Carnival
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Looking ahead
USC captain Tommy Loeber lool
the Gamecocks' 4-0 win over Erski
plays the third-ranked Clemson Tig*
Graveyard.
Gamecock
I
rts
1. Aubum(l) 242
2. Virginia(l) 240
3. Miami 228
4. Michigan(6) 207
5. Tennessee(l) #//\205 M\ h/i
6. Nebraska 194
7. Oklahoma(l) A\\ 179 vl\
8. Florida Sate 176
9. Clemson 174
10. Colorado 162
11. Florid|5S-?\ 1/161 ff*
12. Noire Dame ' \ 157/
13. Southern Cal ! SS3139 f * ,
14. Georgia
15. BYU , , 102 V
16. Iowa 92
17. Illinois f / 90 JH
18. Texas A&M 80
19. Houston 74
20. Indiana _ _ 52
21. Washington 46
22. Arizona 45
23. Wyoming 39
24. Ohio State 37
25. Texas 34
Others receiving votes: Oregon, 26;
olina, 8; Arkansas, 5 and Fresno State,
Football Trivia r
Ca
1. Saturday's game against East
Carolina will be usu s oyth ni
Homecoming contest. How many ga
times has USC played ECU in
Homecoming games? de
sc
2. USC and ECU share two U
common opponents this season. in<
HOW W
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Digital cellular technology will enable peo- _ .'f k
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communications, complete with lax capabilities,
no matter where they are. The
we're developing will enable
being held across the co
We're also at work on a
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Top 25
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3. What is USC's current winng
streak in Homecoming
mes?
4. ECU is one of four major inspendents
on the Gamecock's
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SC's overall record against
dependents?
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CLASS II
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hance of getting across the
in less than an hour. But
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untry, or across the ocean,
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V
Defensive co<
remembers r<
By BRANT LONG
Assistant Sports Editor
Rick Whitt has coached on almost
every level and seen almost
everything.
The USC defensive coordinator
has been an assistant coach at the
high school level and both NCAA
Division I-AA and I-A collegiate
levels.
The Cheraw native, who came
fA T TCOCT n **?<f1 ? " ?1
i.w aa a i^uav^u wiiii opaiKy
Woods' Appalachian State staff,
was at one time a USC student.
"I came to USC for a year before
I went to Catawba College,"
Whitt said. "I was a business major.
Now, my dad has been in textiles
all of his life and ... I missed
sports. Then I decided I didn't
want to be behind a desk. I was an
outside guy, I wanted to play
sports. That's when I decided I
wanted to be a football coach."
Whitt was a three-year
defensive-back letterman at Catawba.In
1977, a year after graduating,
Whitt got his first coaching
job at Central Davidson High
School as defensive coordinator
and coach for the running backs
and defensive secondary. There,
his teams won three conference
championships and made the state
playoffs each season.
Whitt then moved to Clemson in
1980 to help coach running backs.
After a disappointing 6-5 season
for the Tigers, Whitt and the rest
of the staff moved into the now
legendary national championship
1981 season.
In 1981 Whitt worked under
Curly Hallman, now the head
coach at Southern Mississippi, and
transferred from running backs to
coaching the secondary. The Ti
gers went 12-0 and won the national
championship.
"It was pretty awesome," Whitt
said. "At the time, you don't realize
it because it's a week-to-week
thing. When it's over with, you see
it for what it is. There are a lot of
great coaches that go through a career
and never have a national
championship ring on. I was very
fortunate."
Whitt gives a lot of credit to
Hallman for getting his coaching
career off the ground.
"Coach Hallman is the biggest
reason I've been able to do what
I've done because he asked Coach
Ford if I could help him in the secondary
... probably the best thing
that ever happened to me. He let
me coach and gave me a lot of responsibility
and trusted me."
In 1982, Whitt coached the outside
linebackers and, by 1983, was
Homecoming
Kickoff for Saturday's He
tween USC and East Carol
from 1:30 p m. to 12:10 p.m.
XJGETFI
N NEW VI
JURE IN
nologies like digital cellular tele
PBX's, network development
these ideasjo reolity.
gle telecommunications _
?E??K Finance, or Business fi
jlation Io talk to one i i , r .1
'her?oil at the same lOOKing tOT the type
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S OCTOBER 24th & 25
i, ond oround the world An equol opportunity employer
ordinator
3ad to USC
coaching both the linebackers and
the strong safeties. *
wnitt served as assistant coacn
at Appalachian State for five years
? four years as defensive coordinator
? before coming to USC.
During that time, Whitt developed
a lot of respect for Woods.
"He is a great man to work for,"
Whitt said. "He makes suggestions
when he feels they are necessary,
but he also lets you coach.
"He also does everything he can
to keep up our image. I can't go
out and defend the defense but he
does," he said.
Since Whitt arrived in 1989, he
said USC has received better players
and that the players now understand
his defensive scheme.
"We're still not where we need
to be, though," Whitt said. "I'm
somewhat pleased with the defense.
We still don't take advantage
of opportunities. When we
start executing better, I'll be a lot
more pleased."
Whitt cited injuries to Erik Anderson
and Keith McDonald and
other "nagging things" such as
problems in the defense.
"Positive things are happening,
but we're not deep enough. When
key people are hurt it affects the
defense," he said.
The move to the SEC will eventually
affect the defense also.
Whitt believes the move was a
good one and will add excitement
not only for the fans but for the
coaches and players as well.
"It's always nice when you start
the year thinking conference
championship. You know even if
you lose, you still have a shot at
the conference title. That's what is
exciting," Whitt said.
On Saturday, the USC defense
plays East Carolina, a team that
Whitt says "goes as the quarterback
goes."
"Their quarterback is a big play
guy. He could throw one at us, or
he could make a big time throw to
the post for a touchdown.
"They've really got a good plan.
They are well-coached. They go as
their quarterback goes. Against
Virginia Tech, they're up 14-0
then, he (ECU quarterback Jeff
Blake) goes out and Virgina Tech
catches up. Their program has
come a long way," he said.
Whitt currently plans for ECU
but said he would eventually like .
to be a position coach in the NFL.
"A lot of people like to see
themselves as a pro head coach,"
Whitt said. "But in about 10 years, I
I'd like to see myself at the posi- I
tion coach level."
Information
jmecoming contest beina
has been switched
tOMA
3RK
LA? i
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and software systems,
i integral part in bringing
in Engineering, Computer
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