University of South Carolina Libraries
Gamecock fans Go Gamecocks! USC's football season has started 4-1, the best in my three years here, and I am just as excited as the next fan. But just as much as I am thrilled at our great beginning, I am cautious not to get overly ecstatic. Take this weekend's srame aerainst East Caroli na. Now their 2-2 record may not seem intimidating, but six points separate them from 4-0. Three point losses to Syracuse and at Duke show they are better than most expect. Many people feel this game should be automatic and we'll be 5-1 going into the Mississippi State game. Just as Brad Scott has told the team week in and week out that we have to take one game at a time and not worry about bowls or the next opponent. The Gamecocks are fifth in the nation in turnover ratio. ECU happens to be first with 13 interceptions. Their quarterback is passing an average of 226 yards per game. USC is only averaging 192.6 yards a game. I'm not saying we are outclassed by any means, but underestimating your opponent can swing the advantage the other way. Carolina will have to run the ball down the throats of the ECU defensive line, which should be their weakest point. They are giving up an average of 119 yards on the ground this season. Brandon and Stanley should break out for the big runs we all know they can make. Now not to dwell on the facts, the Gamecocks have won two big games on the road and in the fourth quarter no less. We owed the Wildcats one after last year's crumbling in the fourth. The win in LSU was great, but we are not in a bowl yet. USC needs at least two more wins and a winning SEC record to get there. Last year, when we beat Georgia between the hedges, I started makGO G ILance I October < Seen at USC, o I Star Search I Evening at the I Thursday nights College Nigh $2.50 admiss W 3 a. ? i>^^: ?g^S M *J S' g ,.;|S p TO EMPOWER 7/?;? ^iuTT-SilS :g;;EDUCATETHI .^AS; fj[k should focus o] Jit*, JIMMY DeBUTTS mjp.:" Sports Editor ing plans for New Year's Day. The scars are still visible so I won't allow myself to celebrate prematurely again. If, by the grace of God, we do make il to a bowl, I will celebrate the hardest and longest but not until that day. All I can say about a bowl is school should be shut down the day after we are invited, because the parties won't be over until then anyway. When Coach Scott was named to replace Sparky, I was happy we got someone from a winning program, but I really did not expect results as good as this sc soon. I doubt Coach Scott thought he'd see these kind of results this year. His system from top to bottom has put the Gamecocks in a position to win ever} game this year. Conditioning has really improved the Carolina davers. This season it looks like our offensive line is stronger in the second half than ir the first. Defensively, the intensity never falls. This year I'm not going to fantasize about going to a bowl, but I will revel in the facts: Fact No. 1: Stacy Evans was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 12 for his play against the Arkansas Razorbacks. (Danny Ford, have we improved yet? 4-1 to 2-3,1 think so.) Fact No. 2: Steve Taneyhill was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week for his play against the Kentucky Wildcats. Fact No. 3: USC has outscored its last four opponents 50-3 in the second half. XT? A. TTCr< V. ,J 1CU.,.U + ? ion By : Join us on in the Russ SSI FMPHWI JL^Jx. T JUL J J A resourc promoting wc 5ES Sponsored b Association anc For more inf raut i^u. *?. uuu iicia suuicu 1 o tuuuiiuuwiia tu only four interceptions. Last year, Taneyhill had AMEC Montalto I - October 9 n HBO, I S Improv WK-ff 11 ECU, not bowl only six touchdown passes and 14 interceptions. 1 1994? 8 TD's, 3 INTs. Fact No. 5: Clemson is 2-2 heading into Athens. Go Bulldogs!! (Hi Miles. Good move, not!!) Fact No. 6: Brandon Bennett is averaging 152 all-purpose yards a game. I Fact No. 7: Monty Means has two touchdown catches. Fact No. 8: Reggie Richardson has three interim ceptions. Fact No. 9: Stacy Evans has seven sacks, six quarterback pressures and three tackles for losses, j He has 28 tackles (22 solo), recovered a fumble, blocked a punt and broken up a pass. He is just , three sacks behind the USC record of 10 in a season set in 1982 by Andrew Provence. Last year, Staj cy had eight. I hope I haven't jinxed you Stacy, roll on. ract ino. iu: u&u nas won its last iy homecoming L games. r The players did their job the last two Saturday's I by winning on the road. Let's do ours as fans and fill the stadium. Don't be a fair weather fan. SupL port the team. Cheer loud and often. Every third down for ECU, get on your feet. Have confidence in r Coach Scott and the players; they have earned it. I hope tomorrow's game won't have to be decided in the fourth quarter. If things keep going like r they are, by the Clemson game I'm going to have a ulcer from all the close games. I guess I won't mind so much if we do make it to a bowl, just as long as I get out of the hospital before New Year's. Lastly, I want to repeat what I said earlier? take things for what they are. Celebrate the wins, don t iook aneaa, take it game by game and don t overly criticize. Follow these rules and keep your t expectations realistic (i.e. win Saturday then worry about Mississippi State, etc.). OCKS i 11 ?i A .on wciuuei li ;ell House Ballroom for the ERMENT FAIR :e of organizations mens interests at (JSC. y the Women Students' 1 Womens Student Services, 'ormation call 777-5780 I^crr+jc- fy* Kdfl ^I I COLU 254 Harbiso ? I All-American swimming trio making big splash in the SEC LIZAACIERNO Staff Writer Valery's department," she said. The Ail-American trio of Sara Hen- Sophomore freestylist Valery ninger, Valery Calkins and Michelle Calkins has her sight set on the McCarthy is the core of the USC Olympics. She has earned All-Amerwomen's swim team, land they hope *ca h?nors by placing 11th and 15th to make a bier splash in the upcoming NCAAs, as well as SEC honors season ~ * by placing second in the 200-and 500Seniorbreaststroke specialist Sara met?r freestyle at the SEC champiHenninger achieved all her collegiate ons^1P-. . goals by setting team records, con- Calkins is a marine science major tributing to the team and becoming a.n c^ose USC because of its facilian All-Ameriqan. She originally chose *"les" , ,. T USC because of head coach Kelly Park- . ^1 *? er Medlin's coaching style and the at- mmg is that last year>i missed two mosphere of unity on the team. weeks of sch?o1 ^ 1 wa? c?mPet* Henninger also sought to escape mS internationally. It really had an Ohio's cold winters. ~ * effect on my grades," she said. "The Junior i v. i ' Michelle in Ohio "Swimming is such a hard sport because McCarthy that had a it's so individualized; you're competing was elected swto- gainst the ell,e of the e,|te.- ^ gram was JJSC All-American swimmer Michelle McCarthy the 1994-95 Ohio State, season. She arvrJ if uroc inef fnn Vm rrn ** oVto eoi/i 0I1CG WSS One '^ratinVmomenUnVaraV undecided between USC and Michicareer was her freshman year when S311 ^ c 3e because this team she false-started three times in the was cl?sernational qualifiers. , "I get along best with other ath"I was upset at the time, but I can let3s ,atschoo! ^ause training causlook back on it and laugh now," she es delirium and we all follow similar ggjjj traimng schedules, she said. Her proudest moment was her Michelle plans to attend the 96 sophomore year when she dropped tnals- Stl6 PJaCed the four seconds off her time and quali- Olympic trials, but only the top fied for the NCAA championships, two make the team. Sara is currently a psychology ma- Swimming is such a hard sport jor and wants to workvdth athletes because it's so individualized; you're after she graduates. She plans on re- competing against the elite of the elite, tiring from swimming competitively. , e P1? great Part is, though, Tve accomplished everything I set that the[? ? always another event or out to accomplish; the Olympics are meet look forward toI ?\%k>k*i4ig sCJtsrto^t4-*f XfXkMfAC jCtu <AfUA-> ejU*v', 4+ ****** ^ M \ \| ^cksT 4 \ / . / ^^^dtfWCw???????K MB1A SPORTS n Boulevard Across from Columbiana Centre 1/01 g@e iptoUI PHPRESENTHH r j? l n ftvl LIVE IN CONCERT WITH SPECIAL GUEST: DEAD RECKONING Saturday, October 8th Showtime at 9:00 p.m. j'rM Admission tl I 18 or Older Admitted " rw*! <: 1A AAi. sMI Doors Open at 7:00 p.m.