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Veterai By SEAN RYAN Staff Writer One year ago, the Gamecock baseball team anxiously gathered in front of the television to watch the pairings of the NCAA tournament field. With a 40-22 record, the team expected to see where it would travel for post-season. When the pairings were anounced, South Carolina's deserving team was left out. This year, the nationally-ranked Gamecocks want to show the nation they belong among the elite. "The players were really hurt," head coach June Raines said. "We felt that we belonged in the tournament." The Gamecock baseball team begins its 56-game schedule torn uiuuuw ai j p.m. wiieu western Carolina visits Sarge Frye Field. The Gamecocks will play 31 home games in 1992, including a threegame series against defending national champion LSU. This series also marks the first game for the baseball team in the SEC. Raines leads the No. 15 Gamecocks into the powerful SEC, as he enters his 16th season as head coach. With a career record of 590-262-1, Raines has never had a losing season. Raines and his team have their work cut out for them, as three SEC teams are ranked higher than South Carolina. Florida and Mississippi State are ranked third and seventh respectively, while LSU is ranked 13 th. Clemson f three-gam* By The Associated Press It is unfortunate Plemcon full. back Rudy Harris has to sit out the first three games next season, says the sports agent with whom he spoke. But Richard Stern of Kamson Sports Inc., a New Jersey-based sports group, said Monday he is glad the NCAA didn't rescind all of the player's remaining eligibility. Clemson officials told the NCAA Stem had entered into a contract in January with Harris, the agent confirmed. Stem said Harris" approached him after attending a seminar on sports agents. He said Harris considered bypassing his senior season for the NFL draft because of an uncertainty about his academic standing. Blair to hi /\ Albertville '92 Rv tho Assnniatorl Prpcc 1 ~ 'w? Bonnie's back. Two days after skating faster than anyone else over 500 meters, Bonnie Blair returns today to the temporary oval in the middle of this quaint Olympic community to try and triple the distance ? the 1,500. She's not just in it for the exercise. To be sure, the distance is not Blair's specialty. She is more comfortable at the shorter distances like the 500 and Friday's 1,000, a race in which she won the bronze medal at Calgary four years ago. Still, her coach, Peter Mueller, says it would be foolish to rule Bonnie out. "I think we can medal in the 1,500," he said Tuesday, watching skaters breeze around the oval on an overcast afternoon. "If I didn't think she could win, she wouldn't enter." q <? jm rr> ^ V SPECIALIZ 'iO's, 70's, 80's ovo^l ^ x. 2111 Greene St. 5 pts/^ W>Columbia, SC 29205 t 803-252-FEET \ fi baseba To make matters worse, South Carolina will play eight threegame series against other conference opponents. Doubleheaders will be played on Saturdays, with a single game following on Sunday. "People are going to realize that the SEC is the toughest conference in every sport," Raines said. "It's like playing Clemson every day." Experience is a huge bonus for the Gamecocks, as they return eight starters from last year's squad. Raines said intensity is also a key for the season. "We have to play hard every weekend, playing 25 innings in 24 hours, Raines said. "If you're not ready to play, you could lose three." The Gamecocks enter 1992 with one of their best offensive teams ever. Seniors Jerry Shepherd, Burke Cromer and Dave Willman, along with junior Jeff Parnell, will Drovide much of the offensive fireworks. "Our offense could be one of the best," junior pitcher Matt Threehouse said. "We need to avoid a midseason slump, like we had last year." "The key is for everyone to play hard every day," Willman said. "Last year, sometimes only five . players came ready to play." On the mound, South Carolina , looks to be in good shape. Threehouse will be flanked by junior and staff ace Jared Baker. Filling , out the starting rotation will be ju- , niors Sean Hardwick and Rich j ootball playe e penalty for Harris changed his mind after jj high school and college coaches, s and his family convinced him to return. "He was laboring under his own misgivings," Stern said, "but after j critically reviewing all that was going on, he realized he could make a go of it. _ r - . t ? n s unioriunaie 11 goi Deyona j, the point where the NCAA was s willing to overlook it. But I'm glad c everybody is able to say hey, let's y not basically screw this kid's life over for a stupid mistake." t Stern said he wrote a letter to j NCAA officials hoping they would r, be sympathetic to Harris' situation. t| There is precedent for not taking h all of a player's remaining eligibility for entering into a contract. In j, 1988, the NCAA suspended Michi- s ittle in spee< Also in the 1,500 field ? and y the gold medal favorite for the ^ event ? is Germany's Gunda Nie- a mann, who won the 3,000-meter gold in the first race this week at the widely-criticized speedskating venue. c "I'm really not in competition F with Gunda," Blair said. "I've al- t ways looked at the 1,500 as a way h to train for my two races ? the I* 500 and 1,000." a With Blair skating, even at a ( non-specialty distance, taped c coverage of the 1,500 is the feature of CBS television's coverage Wednesday evening. P Also scheduled is the women's downhill combined, which the net- I work showed live Wednesday morning; the women's luge, with U.S. teammates Cammy Myler and Erica Terwillegar running 6-7 halfway through the competition; and freestyle skiing moguls prelims, in which American Donna Weinbrecht is a gold medal favorite. Weinbrecht, the 1991 moguls world champion, calls the freestyle ski events perfectly suited to her personality. "I was an art student," she said. "1 had good perspective, lING IN THE 5, 90's & 2000's 1 *CK?TBnArS, gf h 7 1500 Central Ave. Charlotte, NC ^ 704-376-FEET ^ 11 team Pratt, along with sophomore Sco Pace. Junior Rob Mosser an Cromer look to be the closers. "We don't have a senior startei but our starters have been throug the wars together against toug competition," Raines said. "A bi key is to stay healthy on th mound." Threehouse and Baker havt overcome tender arms, and appea to be ready for the season to begir Mosser is expected to miss fron one to three weeks with a ba< knee. The Gamecocks also display great deal of depth as they ente the new season. Outfielders sue! as juniors D.T. Cromer and Joi Biernat are expected to see action Freshman Mark Gugino and so phomore Rob DeBoer will play ; role as well. "How well the guys not starting respond is going to be big for thi: team," Raines said. "Sooner or la ter, everyone is going to play. Wil Lhey be ready to play?" "All I want is for my players tc give me 100 percent each day Raines said. "We have enougl depth where if someone doesn' push himself, we can put someone else in there for him." The Gamecocks' main goal it that their play is worthy of ar SCAA tournament bid. "The) want to be good," Raines said. "We have a great amount ol confidence in our team," Three louse said. "If we play as well as we can, we're going to be tough tc )eat." r receives contract ;an State offensive lineman Tony dandarich for three games after he igned with an agent. "I'm very happy Rudy is able to >lay football," Stern said. "I wish L didn't get to the point where he ost his eligibility to play three ;ames. "I wish him the best. I think he vill be belter off as a player and a luman being if he's able to finish chool. If he didn't go back and lidn't make the NFL, he'd have lad a tough life." Stern declined to comment on he agreement he had with Harris, le also wouldn't say if he would ^present Harris next year when lie player's collegiate eligibility as expired. There is another issue involved i the case besides Harris' amateur tatus. d skating >ut I didn't do well with a sharp >encil. I did a lot better with the ibstract, which fits moguls." Other live morning coverage foused on the 15K cross country >ortion of the nordic combined, he men's 10K biathlon and the lockey game between Canada and Norway. Switzerland plays France nd the Unified Team goes against Czechoslovakia in Wednesday's >ther hockey games. H FINE C 830 Harden St. (acros SHIRTS Beautifully k < in rin/ ri, offer good ? Ull Carolina Mall 7, IN HOUSE S 'RayBan 'Maui VALID ONLY AT USC LOCATION j^^i^OSAB^ONTAC Introductory Offer Includ <?CQ INITIAL EXAI jjgjg -EYE HEALTI FIRST PAIR GLASSES Contact L VALID ONLY AT USC LOCATION head to looks a tt d MgNj r, h h g I I e ?* Wjl t fcHHi ' ""Jl S ; l , ^ -^rai i ^ -li iy ^ J J jB lv'^jBhK- v B,, * ^ k j :!-; " ' . *' . . ,. . , : . ' ' ' > x .... <-...-. viv x *, * ^ ;'" - -'^. ^,V-S> s -?* > > 1 1 The Gamecock baseball team 1 ; Cougars 1 : to the Cai | By ROB RODUSKY Staff Writer Professional football has finally found its place in South Carolina with the Carolina Cougars of the Professional Spring Football League. The new league, which is not affiliated with the National Football League, has two divisions with five teams in each. The Cougars will be competing astainst teams from Arkansas. Miami, Nevada, New England, New Mexico, Oregon, Tampa Bay, Utah and Washington, D.C. After the 16-week season, the top two teams in each division will play in a semi-final game, and the winners will meet at Washington D.C.'s RFK Stadium in the Red, White and Blue Bowl July 5. Each team is allowed a S2 million salary cap for 45 roster players, five developmental players and five practice players. Cougars Public Relations Director Mike Nicholson said the average salary for a player will be $45,000. Golf team From Staff Reports USC men's golf team, starting the 1992 spring season, finishec seventh out of 15 teams at the Bar nett Bank Invitational in Gaines ville, Fla. this past weekend. Senior Morgan Beam led the I lonm ...ifV. ~ ~ ~~ -4 1_ _ C 1A ir ivaiu WIUI pusiGU 1UU11US U1 /U, It and 73, finishing 10th in individua competition. Senior team captain Daniel Seawell finished in a tie for 13th place with 75, 71 and 70, totalling 216 Gamecock senior Michael Christie finished 38th, and junior Carl PauL E A N E R S is from Hardees) 254-7373 2 FOR 1 sundered with eaning order! it all locations 61506-58 | WM -? ?? Ar / /n ' /-ZdOv (Russell House) "of? ! UNGLASSES *Vuarnet Jim i i I OFFER. EXPIRES May 15,1992 j * :ts i es: VI i TESTS OF DISPOSABLE CONTACTS .ens Clinic I i OFFER EXPIRES May 15,1992 | i? ' Pfci'iiaiiiiii '"*"' * -' ^IJ^- '. . ' ; - * -; jjk . ..ik-:--?*? !??3' '-<v.x*tf'% *? ' '* X ? c ,n<Av''''"^ ""4| ?? >? *':' -:C< "* * ^" . -' "* "< '' ' ? ^ .* ? - - * *- ?v ' - _ rhursday will play Western Caro 3ring pro f rolinas this "A lot had a shot at the pro's but didn't make it or wanted tc try something different," Nichol son said. Players were mainly drafted b) region with the Cougars selecting from North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Some players making a homecoming of sorts wi.ll be formei Gamecocks Todd Ellis, Ira Hilliary, Woody Myers, Rusty Russell and Danny Smith. Formei Clemson Tigers playing for the Cougars are Wesley McFadden Joe Henderson and Eric McSwain. Some different rules from the National Football League include a two-point conversion, one fool allowed in bounds for a catch, overtime can only be decided b> a touchdown, no instant replay and allowed celebration. All ol these changes combined with a 30-second play clock should make for a quicker and exciting game. Coaching the Cougars is Pete Kettela. He served under George Allen in the now defunct USFL 7th at Flor _ slon and freshman Chad Maso j both placed 47th.~ 4 TUo i,? ? .?i i i 11c; vjaiii^e-u^ie:* team luiai - were 294, 286 and 289 for a sur - of 869 strokes. Placing in front c USC in the invitational were Floi ?| LOOKING FOF K AN EXTRA S T /i DDF D/?n JUCI- A AAA A m- [ Bring in this pi | $25 for first pi | for first dona Si j with Si Mi f| PBIPLASJ Mi 1620 Gervais Strec 6 Call 254-2280 1 *campus of 7 j y f can earn SEC - *?. x .^4,. * , , i f * ~ ' -? * v 4*? ? "? A. 12-7* ' ^ - s*-?v |j^l*; <"4fc Hie photo lina at 5 p.m. at Sarge Frye Field. ootball ; spring > and under former Green Bay ) Packer great Bart Starr for the Packers. Before accepting the position with the Cougars, Ket' tela was the offensive coordina; tor for California State University. Other ex-professional players are head coaches in the PSFL. Former New England Patriot quarterback Steve Grogan will coach the New England Blitz r~ while former Denver Bronco and Dallas Cowboy quarterback Craig Morton will coach the Ore: gon Lightning Bolts. Nicholson said the "players are under contract to give something ' back to the community." this t community appreciation "will be shown by the free public appearances the players plan to make. The Cougars are an early favorite for the championship game i because of the impressive seating 1 at Williams-Brice Stadium and ^ the organization of the team so far. ! The Cougars will kick off the inaugural season Sunday, March 1. ida tourney n ida, Southwestern Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Auburn and Florida s State. n The Gamecocks will next parti(f cipatc in the Florida Southern/ Imperial Lakes Invitational. ...1.!.!!... Moll : AWAY TO EARN 5 1130 A MONTH? J ma Center Help BONUS COUPON"j 51 donation or $20 tion of semester | || tudent ID J -3?f 1 ^ A A CENTER m t Columbia, SC 29201 'M for Appointment ? ff tGANIZATIONS } WTO $2000*