Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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2 SEC wil By TIM THORSEN sports baitor Saturday is the big day. At 8:05 p.m., the Gamecocks will enter the Southeastern Conference, right in time for the 60th Anniversary of the SEC. The 1992 SEC season is entering a new era in its rich heritage. Some of the heritage can be noticed in that the SEC led all leagues in non-conference winning percentage for the eigth time in the last 12 years which helped SEC members post an impressive 32-8 mark. In addition, the SEC oil pnn in trvt o 1 UtaUHUVU ?111 CUlllUV/ilVVO 111 IV/1 ?11 attendence for the nth-consecutive season and topped all leagues in average attendance for the third-straight campaign. Divisional play, expanded schedules, bowl alliances and a first-of-its-kind championship game are the results of the conference's vision for the future. This was made possible through the additions of the two newest members into the SEC family, the. University of South Carolina and the University of Arkansas. Since July 1, 1991, anticipation has built toward what could be the most historical and excitinv season in SEC historv. Perhaps the most exciting M % ri jmp gp ^ ^IP!* The Georgia Bulldogs have lc will be an exciting opening aci II mean r I I H development is the SEC Championship Game, to be held Dec. 5 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. This game will feature the champions of the Eastern and Western Divisions of the SEC who will battle for an automatic hut to thp Snoar Rnvvl "The excitment surrounding the inaugural game will be unsur >ng been a regional foe of the G? t for USC's entrance into the Soutl TEhe (Bametock MfffinvfTifiri ?Mi.wMgrai5ISlll lew char I'lv i^i?iiiiiuik^ 1. "A - I?i$&; passed in SEC history," Commissioner Roy Kramer said. "It certainly is fitting that our 60th season be celebrated with a game ot tKio mannitiirlo " uiio inai;iuiuuv. 1 he championship game, which will be televised nationally by ABC Sports, will also mark the debut of the newly-formulated tiebreaker system in Division I col 4 - #(0 i * r^r & ^0. ::jKFile phol imecocks. Their renewed rivalr heastern Conference. irrnc fnt* i IU1 \ ^Tj gHH nnf^ lege football. In the event of a tie at the end of regulation time, the 9FP will allow extra neriods The extra period will consist of two series with both teams putting the ball in play trom the opponents 25-yard line. The overtime will be played exactly like a regular season game, with each team keeping the ball until they are stopped Gamecock rivalry hes I ? %J By NANCY SALOMONSKY Sports Editor Leading to Saturday's game, the University of South Carolina has met the Georgia Bulldogs in football competition 45 times over the past 100 years. The Bulldogs lead the series 33-9-2, but USC has won the last two meetings. The last time the Gamecocks played Georgia was Sept. 30, 1989, in Athens, Ga. South Carolina was victorious 24-20. On that day, the Gamecocks dealt Ray Goff his first defeat as head coach of Georgia. Gamecock quarterback Todd Ellis threw for 126 yards, with three scoring drives in the first nine minutes. At half-time USC led 17-14. In 1988 in Columbia, USC defeated Georgia 23-10. Ellis threw for 321 yards and one touchdown and wide receiver Robert Brooks made a diving one-handed catch as the Gameo cocks took a surprising victory y over the Bulldogs. On Sept. 26, 1987, Georgia Friday, September 4, 1992 Carolina in four downs, or they score, t he team to score the most points in the overtime period will be declared the winner. The schedule of each SEC team has also been expanded from seven SEC contests a year to eight. Each team will play the other teams in its division once, and three of the teams in the opposing division. The divisional games ti/ill Sp nla\;pH urith mlatirio hnmp field advantage.Thus, each year, the venue will switch between the schools. For the three intra-divisional contests, each school has two other SEC schools which they will play every year, and the third game will be chosen from one of the four remaining opposing divisional teams. For example, the Gamecocks will play each of the other five Eastern Division teams, as well as playing Arkansas and Mississippi State on a rotating basis. The Gamecocks eighth game will be Alabama for the next two years, and will then go to Louisiana State in 1994 and 1995, Auburn in 1996 and 1997, and Ole Miss in 1998 and 1999. The two-year contracts are so each team will have one home and one away game against each foe. s, Bulldog its up "(famuocfa' beat USC 13-6 at Sanford Field in Athens. The Georgia defense was led by freshman Richard Tardits, who held the Gamecocks to six first quarter points. Tardits had seven tackles, and sacked Ellis twice, causing two interceptions and a fumble. In 1986, Georgia beat South Carolina 31-26 at Williams-Brice. The two teams combined for almost 900 yards total defense. Andv Dotson's interception at the Georgia five-yard line insured the victory for the Bulldogs with 1:36 left on the clock. Goff served from 1979-80 on the South Carolina football staff. He is now starting his fourth season with Georgia with an overall record of 19-16. Sparky Woods, with a USC record of 15-15-3. will begin his fourth season with Carolina Saturday.