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Sensatioi By STEV^E Sports Editor It started with the familiar, # triumphant strains of "2001" intermixed with the intensely loud cheering of 71,050 fans at Williams-Brice Stadium. At the climax of Strauss' dramatic masterpiece, a black curtain dropped on a smoke-filled cage revealing a gigantic, fluorescent-red bird waving a Gamecock flag. As the music slowly fades, a onarpe cnargea mio a crowa or players. Leaving a trail of dust and Blue Devils behind, Sharpe streaked up the field so fast it looked like nobody would catch him. The already steady noise of the crowd reached deafening heights as Struggling By PATRICK VILLEGAS Assistant Sports Editor The stats speak for themselves. The Gamecocks Metro road re< Gamecocks last five games: 1-4. The bruary record: 3-4. It seems USC is on the verge of 'sure thing' NCAA tournament bid in of regular season action. Since drop Associated Press poll on Jan. 28, the ( managed to turn the heads of no 01 Gamecock fans in disgust. In this month of decline, the Gam* by an average margin of 15 points pe UNIVEl CAROI 1 AFFORE SOUT] CHDMITi: K Ul' Wedr Febri I HERFF JOM ONLY a $20.0( USC Law Students new law ^^^H?g^&>::::' W? .??v::S*Xv 9HH^ cannon is fired and about one hundred muscular young men in black jerseys charge out onto the middle of the playing field. The date was Oct. 12, 1985. The event was that year's Homecoming game against the Duke University Blue Devils. After a close first half in which USC led by a score of only 14-7, an unlikely hero emerged. Though only a sophomore and thrust into a new position as kick returner, wingback Sterling Sharpe stood in a fearless, confident manner (with his hands comfortably resting on his hips) as he awaited the second half kickoff. It was as if Sharpe knew exactly how easy it would be to do what he did next. The kick was high and long, backing Sharpe all the way to the goal line. With an army of Duke defenders charging towards him, he let the ball drop into his arms. Without a moment's hesitation, lal Sharj Sharpe crossed the opposing goal line for a touchdown. "I got hit a couple of times," Sharpe said after the 28-7 win, "and when I got past the line around the 40-, 45-yard line, I saw that they were catching up to me, so I had to put it on. All I could do was just run." The versatile receiver and graduate of Glennville (Ga.) High School ran all the way into the record books ? at USC and now with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. Although he earned his second letter at USC in 1985, it was the following season that was the breakthrough year for Sharpe. He rose to the occasion again on Homecoming in 1986, this time against East Carolina, catching eight passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. Sharpe topped off a sensational season with a nine catch, 167-yard day in a 21-21 tie that included a 72-yard pass from quarterback Todd Ellis for a touchdown. He tallied 74 catches for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns in '86 for the best single season ever by a Garner cock receiver. His numbers were also good enough to earn him a second team Ail-American selection as a wingback. 1987 was a year that saw Sharpe put up more stellar stats as a senior and tri-captain of the USC football team. In a close road loss to 20thranked Georgia on Sept. 26, Sharpe caught 11 passes for 144 yaras. ine loiiowing week the Gamecocks lost again on the road, this time to 2nd-ranked Nebraska. Despite the loss, Sharpe was able to scorch the Cornhusker secondary on an 80-yard touchdown reception from Ellis. It was in the Homecoming game again, though, that Sharpe once again proved his versatility.* With star running back Harold Green injured, Coach Joe Morrison opted Gamecock; only declare wins Louisville and per USC ? 19-9 c :ord: 1-4. The temPl 10 wi Gamecocks Fe- ca^s a ^ac^ n they travel to Bla losing its once Virginia Tech T1 the final month te?m a 1 ?nP 1 ping out of the witt a victory 3amecocks have Virginia Tech 1 le, except loyal r latdy. Losers are 10-15 overall i Virginia Tech 1 scocks have lost nursing his young r game, and can and hasn't had an *SITY OF \ ANA STUD fOU HAVE AN ABLE ALTER! COME BY THE H CAROLINA BOOKS' AT THE I OF GREENE AND IV lesday, Thursday, Fr lary 27, 28, and Mar 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM AND PREVIEW IES QUALITY CAROLI 3 DEPOSIT is needed to pla Tel. 799-7406 Come by and see thi school rings. Availabl SBKr ft lHH| >e sets re< for the 'T'-formation against Virginia Tech and chose Sharpe as the centerpiece of his "new" offensive attack. Sharpe rose to the occasion while switching from receiver to tailback ? rushing for three touchdowns in a decisive 40-10 victory. The pinnacle of Sharpe's achievements in a Gamecock uniform though, were reached the following week in a game against Virginia. On Sept. 17, Sharpe broke Fred Zeigler's all-time USC career receiving mark of 1,876 yards. Not only did Sharpe catch six passes for 106 yards and one touchdown, he demonstrated his versatility again by returning a punt 59 yards for another touchdown in USC's 58-10 win over the Cavaliers. Sharpe finished his career with USC in 1987 by being named a first team All-American, having his number (#2) retired, and shattering numerous school records. His career numbers are as follows: Most consecutive games with a reception (34) Most career touchdown pass receptions (17) Most career receptions (169) Most career receiving yards (2,497) After competing in two postseason all-star games (the Senior Bowl and the East-West Shrine Game), Sharpe was picked in the first round of the 1988 NFL Draft by Green Bay. He went on to catch 55 passes for 791 yards and one touchdown and averaged 14.4 yards per catch for the Packers in '88. It was an impressive rookie year, but the NFL had yet to truly see what Sharpe could do after he caught a football. Sharpe's level of play reached such heights in 1989 that he was no longer a secret. It didn't matter though because opposing secondaries found it nearly impossible to contain the strong, speedy Packer receiver. In '89 Sharpe not only led the NFL in receiving, with 90 s vie for ess 5 over cellar-dwellers Clemson and ennial wimp Winthrop. le Now!!! | >verall, 5-7 in the Metro ? will atth what head coach George Felton lotivation" plaguing the team when cksburg, Va., to face the Hokies of mrsday. The game could give the on the slippery NCAA tourney rope las not been traveling down an easy 5 in their last two games, the Hokies and 4-8 in the Metro, lead coach Frankie Allen has been team into maturity all season long, y time to think about the decine of SOUTH ENTS! NATIVE. roRE IAIN ST. iday ch 1 NA RINGS. Lee you order. ? art mnrlc fnr tht> cords at I receptions for 1,423 yards and 13 J| touchdowns, he also set new Packer season records for recep- 1 tions and yards. Sharpe represented ^ the NFC as a wide receiver in the 1990 Pro Bowl. The gutty Sharpe played in all A of this past year's games despite the fact that the pain from a cracked rib prevented him from practicing the last five weeks of the season. Even when he's play- W ing at less than 100 percent, U| Sharpe has earned enough respect from his fellow players to have them name him to his second V straight Pro Bowl. Sharpe caught ^1 67 passes for 1,105 yards and six touchdowns for an average of 16.5 yards per catch. In just three quick years, Sharpe 1 has already climbed to ninth place I on the Packers' all-time receiving list with 212 receptions for 3,319 yards. Sharpe smashed James Lofton's old record for passes caught during the first three seasons with the Packers. (Lofton had 72 in his |jj first three seasons with Green Bay while Sharpe already had 145 after just two seasons.) Sharpe has also reached the 200 reception mark pa faster than any receiver in Packer history. 4 Shnrrv* is nnnnlar not railv with the fans but also with his fellow a players and his head coach. "Sterling has a great personality," said Packer coach Lindy Infante. "He's a leader both on and nff tKa fialH Ua IaaHo ktf k?n r\r\ uii uiv/ ut/iu. iK/ luiud vy uid avtions. I think he gets more and J more respected by his peers in the NFL as the years go by. I hope he continues to grow and improve. He % Ji played incredibly well this past 8 season considering he played with a cracked rib but we're expecting even bigger numbers out of him next season." ^ Sharpe will undoubtably exceed even Infante's high expectations. It's just too bad the Packers don't Ste have a Homecoming game! sh( ential win a the Gamecocks in recent weeks. On a team that carries only one startii the squad and a majority of underclassir more concerned with the stability of the t< 'They don't know what it takes to win tent basis, even at home," Allen said. Although USC has plenty of Metro ro< len is in no way relying on the Gameccx weakness. Despite USC's fall, Allen stres team always has the ability to shift gea game to the next. (vote STUDE RUNTHURSDA) POLLS You must vote at tin Please ] I. RU! Lit II. BUSINESS III. GAM TJ n Hi V. CO A VI. MEDICAL SC IF YOU HAVE JSC, in the NFL fpWk ? Jfak mmL ** jfiF' |HGP? J ^F^M|Bg&. J i JL.^1ypdllru^"1 : g^^plpRMB^^p auflNBMflfl|^HBj^B^HS9BK! File photo jrling Sharpe, the best receiver to ever play at USC, in a rare )t of him not racing across the football field. gainst Virginia Tech Allen said the Hokies have to watch for USC's inig senior on side and outside game, especially with the play of Jo ian, Allen is Jo English and Jeff Roulston. ;am. on a consis- Thursday's game between the Hokies and Gamecocks will be the second meeting of the year between id woes, Al- the teams. The first game occurred an hour after the cks apparent opening shots of the Persian Gulf War on Jan. 16. ;sed that any Despite the world events, the game went on as Englrs from one ish and Barry Manning scored 20 points each to pace the Gamecocks to a 83-67 defeat of Virginia Tech. 51 VOTE! VOTE!) 'NT GOVERNMENT OFF ELECTIONS Y FEBRUARY 28, 1991 WILL BE OPEN 10:00 am - 6:00 pm te following locations according to your major, present your valid student ID card. SSELL HOUSE-2nd Floor Lobby Continuing Education Criminal Justice Education Engineering Health Interdisciplinary Studies ?rary and Information Sciences Pharmacy Science and Math Social Work I ADMINISTRATION - 1st Floor Lobby Business Administration BRELL HALL- Near Front Entrance bnors College Baccalaureate umanities and Social Sciences Nursing IV. LAW - Main Lobby Law School LISEUM - Blossom Street Lobby .pplied Professional Sciences Journalism IHOOL - Student Affairs Conference Room Medical Students QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL 777-2654.