The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, March 24, 1995, Page 7, Image 7
Gamecock footbaJ
K LARRY WILLIAMS
Out of Bounds
Would you believe it if I told you the following print contains
nothing concerning March Madness, Michael Jordan
or the annual tractor pull up in Tigertown?
Well behold, fans, as I have chosen to write about the
fourth biggest thing since sliced bread - Carolina football.
SOUTH Carolina football.
The team, which is fresh off its first bowl win and taming
of the Tigers, is on the gridiron as we speak preparing to add
to the foundation left from last year's accomplishments.
This week, the Gamecocks ended their third week of drills.
A week from Saturday, the squad will conclude its spring
practice session with the annual Spring Football Game at
Williams-Brice Stadium.
Many of us are anxious to'see how the team is doing and
if it's ahead of where it was last year. Well, I'm sure coach
Brad Scotf s answer to those questions would be "fine" and
"yes," respectively.
If letter grades were applicable at this point in time, Carolina's
would have to register as an INC. That's not a bad
analysis, and its not necessarily a good one, either. The problem
is that, like in all spring practices, you just can't tell this
early in the season for two reasons.
1) The shuffling factor. Coach Scott and company are ex
Junior A!!America Slew-A! Urn and iha Lady Qan
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USC Dance Company
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March 23-24,1995
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Koger Center
Tickets available at the Coliseum E
1 Tickets $5 for Students with U
and $10 for GeneralAdmissi
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Rebecca Rio 777-0378 F
The
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U team filling hole:
tremely busy switching players, filling holes, seeing who fits
better at given positions. Senior Eric Sullivan has been moved
to defensive tackle, and Mike Washington moved to the starting
nose tackle spot.
2) The incoming freshman factor. With the impressive recruiting
class absent until summer, it is hard to figure which
players will come in and make immediate impacts. No matter
how dominating a player is in high school, you can never
tell if that player will come into the SEC and produce early.
3) The best conference in the world factor. No matter how
hard the team practices, no matter how many drills it runs,
nothing can simulate the aura of game-day SEC football. The
only way to truly evaluate this team will be Sept. 2 between
the hedges in Athens against the Georgia Bulldogs.
There are many pluses and a few minuses with this team
(and also a few question marks). Lefs start with the pluses.
On Marrh 11 in a twn-hrmr rnntmllpri srrimmatre An
thony Wright, the Gamecocks' redshirt freshman quarterback,
showed a glimpse into the future of Carolina football.
Wright, a 6-foot-2,185 pounder from Vanceboro, N.C., accounted
for four touchdowns during the session. He had touchdown
tosses of 20 yards each to Zola Davis (remember him?)
and Shah Mays. Wright also scrambled for touchdown runs
of 10 and 20 yards.
Another player by the name of Steve Taneyhill also looked
impressive. The senior starter at quarterback threw three
touchdown passes ?12 and 25 yards to Joe Troupe and eight
yards to Stanley Pritchett.
After the scrimmage, coach Scott said he was pleased with
his team's effort, but that the offensive line will need to imM
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fiecocks will compete In the Lady Gamecock C::sslc
e SunBank Lady Gator Invitational with a score of
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Spring 5
come and enjoy tl
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wm hi rvi singers and dancers should comt
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Eg. i.? For more information call
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port of your Carolina com
pick up an application for the
Conduct Boqi
n the l-building between Burney and Baker
tion about the Peer Conduct Board
tyan Coleman 544-0344 Peer Conduct Bo
cock. Read i
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s as spring practic
prove fundamentally.
"Our offensive line is not playing as well as a unit as it
needs to," Scott said. "We may have two or three getting the
job done, but as a unit, we're not performing that well."
Some areas that need to be looked at are running back,
the defensive line and the secondary.
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don Bennett should be a major loss for the team come fall;
however, it might not be so bad, as the coaching staff is doing
its best to compensate for the loss. With Mike Reddick
being the only returning tailback who received any sort of
playing time last year, other players are getting an opportunity.
Receiver Corey Bridges is being looked at, and bruising
fullback Stanley Pritchett also is being considered for the job.
The coaching staff is looking forward to Jucos and some true
freshmen to challenge for some playing time this summer.
And perhaps to be hit most hard by graduation this May
will be the defensive line. With Chris Rumph, Stacy Evans
and David Turnipseed going, Carolina will lose the heart and
soul of its defense. If s difficult to forget the torment the three
caused Nealon Greene and the Clemson Tigers in Death Valley
this past fall.
Trying to plug the holes will be players such as Eric Sullivan
and Mike Washington. The two will likely provide key
senior leadership for the squad this year. Redshirt sophomore
Robert Smith and junior Quinn Brodie will man the defensive
end positions, but sophs Jody Caldwell and Sylvester
Miller (Heathwood Hall) also are seeing some action.
The secondary will be hurt by the loss of head hunter Tony
Watkins, who was surely one of the most vicious hitters in
BASEBALL
JAar. 24 at Alabama*
Mar, 25 at Alabama1" *
Mar, 26 at Alabama*
MEN'S GOLF
f^&?'24-26 at SoutHeasterr* Mvitationajl!
..... (Montgomery, AL)
WOMEN'SGOLF
Mar, 24-26 LADY GAMECOCK CLASSIC
SOFTBALL
Mar. 24-26 USC ROUND ROBIN %
MEN'S SWIMMING
I' M&r. 23-25 ait NCAA Swimming and DMr
(indianapoiis, IN)
P SOP\\OMp\HLS I zr,
ESTED IN
sr Certification Programs!
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CALL 777-6732 |
ta Alive
:nts the
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pop singing group!
Center
arch 25 7:30 fg
;nts: $4 - J|
imission: $8
og a pari of USCs finest group of
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on date is April 4. J nee
Dr. Richard Conant 777-3125 (SSI Pro;
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t_ _ _ _ _ All prograr
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e comes to close
USC history. Not to mention that Watkins led the team in
tackles for three straight years.
Something tells me, however, that Carolina's secondary
could really emerge as a strength for this year's squad. Senior
Ron Nealy will provide experience at the comerback spot.
At the other corner is redshirt freshman Jeff Kilgore. Sophomore
Ben Washington is primed to become a superior impact
player at the free safety spot, while junior Chris Abrams currently
holds the starting job.
Sophomore Lee Wiggins, who had two interceptions in
the scrimmage, is showing definite improvement. Senior speed
demon Reggie Richardson underwent reconstructive knee
surgery a few weeks ago, but should come back as good as
ever.
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diate impact in the secondary this year. A true freshman from
Orangeburg, Freeman was ranked with the best coming out
of high school; however, his grades needed improving, and he
had to sit out this past year. Add Freeman to the mix, and
you've got yourself a fine secondary hungry to redeem itself
for last year's play.
In a nutshell, there you have it, a not-so-complete analysis
of this year's football team. If my opinion means anything,
I think the squad looks 100 percent better than last year's
squad did at this time. Last year, we wondered if the team
could do it. This year, we, the players and coaches KNOW it
can. And guess what. Only 160 days left till Athens. Can you
wait?
Mar. 26 ait Georgia Tech
WOMEN'S TENNIS
- v LOUISIANA STATE*, t s
Mar. 25 UTAH
. TRACK AND FIELp^I!^
Mar. 24-21 a#Mabama Relays
(Tuscaloosa, AL)
^ - ? 'y t \ ^ ^
Ghwjiionsftps
Puppet Regime presents...
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programs paid for in part,with student activity fees. People
ding special assistance for disabilities, please contct the Carolina
gram Union at 777-7130 at least 48 hours prior to the event..
Jecond Annual
emy Awards Party
the GOLDEN SPUR
MARCH 27
pm
50D DOOR PRIZES BIG SCREEN
e the Oscars, Forrest: You never know
're gonna get...
A ? **
* * * * ?! #
I
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ns paid for, in part, with student activity fees. People
ecial assistance for disabilities, please contact the CPU
77-7130 at least 48 hours in advance.