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Gamecock Athletics Volleyball at Tennessee, Fri.; at Kentucky, Sun. Women's soccer at SEC Tournament Soccer vs. College of Charleston, Sun., 2 p. m. Friday, November 3,1995 SI I S ? Vjead coach Nancy Wilson will tool players, like guard Natalia Funderl tm|M starters from last year's 12-1 \ Gafciecock rec Hie Gama^ock football team entered the 1995 season with high bowl expectations. Those expectations now dangle by a thin string). Florida and Clemson will enter Williasms-Brice Stadium in the next few weeks trying to cut that string and keep Carolina at home for the Holidays. As I watched the Volunteers run us out of Neyland Stadiufti last weekend I realized something I fyad never really thought of before. The iGamecocks recruit well year after year,\but the Gamecocks don't recruit anywhere close to the SEC teams that are consistently at the top of the conference, such as\,Tennessee, Auburn, Florida, and Alabai:na. The Gamecocks have al|ways had their occasional prize recruit1,such as a Todd Ellis or Steve Taneyhill, bait overall our recruiting classes are a little beti ter than average. Fans, a little better than average doesn't cut it in th^ SEC. Sparky Wood's recruiting classes were consistently better than his predecessors. His classes were usually ranked in the top 25, but usually in the very bottom of the top 25. Brad Scott has done a lot of things better than his predecessors including ' recruiting. Scott's first recruiting class was a huge success considering the time he had to recruit after being hired as head coach. That class included high j school Ail-Americans Zola Davis, Ben Washington, and Anthonv Wright. Last season's recruiting class was | also a top 25 class. That class included high school Ail-Americans Jason Pomar, , 1 Rodney Brown, and Errol Rochester. It also included starting tailback Duce Staley who transferred from a junior col- ] lege. Even though the coaches brought in some of the best players in America j with these recruiting classes, overall the classes are still not at the level they need | to be to make the Gamecocks a major j contender in the SEC. r.v I ^ mm FILE PHOTO The Gamecock ( for team leadership from senior liurfc. The Lady Gamecocks return 5 team. :ruiting key to OVERTIME Robbie Meek We all know Scott is a good coach and he has been tabbed as a great recruiter. I believe Scott can and will bring in the talent it takes to win in the SEC, but until he does we are just another average SEC team at best. All you have to do is look at a media 1 guide from Florida, Tennessee, or any 1 rS fko nfV?oi? Vvirr QT?0 *\n/\rpwnw>a ???! VI uxv vtiivx uig UUVJ piugiouio IAJ iCttlize just about all of their recruits are 1 high school All-Americans. True you 1 don't have to be a high school All-Amer- 1 ican to be a college star, but that is the < case most of the time. Great recruiting 1 classes make great teams. ' 1 Sweet end to a long season. Our ( hated rivals to the northwest have been j playing well as of late. The Tigers are thinking bowl birth. As of now, the Tigers j are 5-3. Since the Western Carolina win doesn't count toward a bowl the Tigers c need to win two of their last three games ( (Nov. 4 North Carolina, Nov. 11 Duke, ^ and Nov. 18 in Williams-Brice Stadi- ( um). Should the Tigers lose one of the next two they would come to Columbia ' needing a win to go to a bowl. If Caroli- ^ tia doesn't qualify for a bowl, what would t be the next best ending to the season? c Keeping the Tigers from going to a bowl? \ 1 Mourning trade-good or bad? Be- a ing from the Charlotte area and being ^ a Hornets fan, I have a strong interest in the Alonzo Mourning trade talks. Alon- ^ zo is a major part of this team and their ^ bopes for the future, but 91 million per , year is out of the question and it doesn't look like he will settle for less. Yes, the Hornets shot themselves in 0 the foot when they gave Larry Johnson a 34 million (two wrongs don't make a 8 I Stop by the 4th floor, R ?* SPOK] . lady Gamecocl ACHIM HUNT Staff Writer This year's women's basketball season looks to be q xrnnr nv/wfinrr nr?n oo t n 1 j U T WXJ WVV/1. VlXXg UUCj OO bllC UCLULJf U OiliCVUtAjS SCCI11CU poised to make a move at joining the elite of the SEC. They have a core of three seniors including AllAmerica candidate Shannon Johnson, along with three returnees and five newcomers that include a junior college transfer and four freshmen. Hie team has struggled in recent years because of the lack of depth caused by having only eight players in uniform. Coach Nancy Wilson, who is entering her 12th year of coaching at USC, definitely is anxious about having plenty of depth on her team this year. " Fm looking forward to seeing what this team can do with added depth, because I feel like we've got our nucleus from last year back with our seniors," Wilson said at her pre-season press luncheon. "I feel that our outlook is much brighter in the depth and in the talent area, so now it's up to us as a team to pull it all together." The Lady Gamecocks' fate for this season will ride on the shoulders of two time All-SEC and senior Johnson, who has led the Lady Gamecocks in scoring, assists, and steals the last two seasons. Wilson thinks that Johnson is a tremendous talent and is a true team player. "Shannon's award's are backed up by her ability and her great performances in our games," Wilson said. "Natalie does a great job of getting her the ball and Shannon makes her shots. Shannon has great individual stats and yet at the same time she is a true team player." Even though Johnson has accomplished many great SEC success T&nc right). But the point is the Hornet's nest has now been stired and it's time to send Staff Repor Zn nn his wnv o^?4-u J ' UUUU1 vc Best deal: Zo for Rod Strickland and is one of fiv< Cliff Robinson. The Hornets need a point ny Unitas Gi guard that can shoot It has been proven goes to the i you can win championships without a terback. dominant center (Bulls-Bill Cartwright, The othe Pistons-James Edwards), but not with- of Nebraska, out a capable point guard Muggy Bogues' da State, Bol 3ize and shooting ability, or the lack and Mike Gi there of kills the Hornets in crunch time. Taneyhi] Ifthey go with one of the other trades 328 passes that has been mentioned, they are mainly trading for picks. So, that would mean they are trying to build a franchise. The only problem with that is they would be am ;earing down what has already built. a fwjh Ihey have to make a trade that will keep he franchise alive and growing. You ion't tear down your new house before Soonsm t is finished. \ Strickland can get the job done and ilobinson, who can play all three front GRILLE Vi :ourt positions, would also be a big adlition to the Hornets roster. Well since ve're in this trade talk, do you think we Ryan Wil an trade Alan Bristow for a real coach? Sports Co-E Record: 31I Indian War. The Braves showed vhich tribe was the best in baseball as Larry Wil hey finally got their World Champi- Sports Co-E t t 1 i a .-i. nuiuji. x uui i oaj x was iiapy_y aiAiut it, rtBUUlU. or ' >ut I will say, they deserved it. They ? lave been the best team in baseball for Dnhhip IL i few years now, but haven't been able A .7 . 0 11 la x-ixu- Assistant Si 0 pull out the series until this year. Record" 39This series matched the best pitch- ' rig staff in baseball against the best of- ensive team in baseball. More than like- rai FICK L y next year's series will consist of the Senio^Lyo'o< ame match-up. The Indians have a lot f young bats and the Braves definitely ~ Z ren't going anywhere, so baseball fans ?. I. et ready for another Indian War. Wagenhi No. 1 Slaye TTTtE G3TF Get a head start on your The Gamecock Advert Department is seeking en self-starters as Accoi Executives. Incredible "< you learn" opportuni Experience is not require positive attitude is ? Student Media Advei ussell House and star rs ^ ks ready to ste| things during her career at USC, she still loves teamwork and the good feeling of the team when the Lady Gamecocks win. 1 "My first priority here at USC is to play hard and to the best of my ability at every game," Johnson said. . "I think that if we play hard as a team then we can do , OAtMA . rm ? ouniu gi cat Liimga wiuii urns team una year. In addition to Johnson, senior point guard Natal- j ie Funderburk from Camden, S.C. is another another team leader whi was second on the team in assists with 126, and third on the team in steals with 50. Senior forward Cindy Kelly from Sanford, N.C. is ' the other team leader and started in all 27 games fin- ' ishing with an average of 10.8 points per game. ' "Natalie and Cindy are my other two seniors this season," Wilson said. "They wUl not get as much recog- - J nition as Shannon will but they both possess quality 1 talent and are great leaders on and off the court." t One of the newcomers to the team that will have < immediate impact on rebounding and blocked shots is junior college transfer Trese Hickey. Hickeyisfrom T Cleveland, Tenn. and averaged 10.2 points, 8.9 boards, \ and led north Oklahoma A&M in blocked shots with i 14. "Trese is aiLoqtstanding talent for us from junior college," Wilson said. "She has excellent talent and is 1 a smart shot taker. Trese has a knack for putting back points that don't go from our guards." This year, the Lady Gamecock's face a tough non- e conference schedule as they will travel to the Wake Forest Tournament over Thanksgiving to start the J regular season. They also will travel to Michigan this * year for a tough road game against the Wolverines. ? The longest road trip of the year happens right af- c yhill named Unitas fins ?; ? school record 27 touchdowns irolina s Steve Taneyhill n^ne games. He is two touc $ finalists for the John- away from setting a South }lden Arm Award, which Conference single-season 1 lation's top senior quar- ing rec0rd and leads the le passing yards, xs are Tommie Frazier The Unitas award winne Dannv Kannell of Flori- GOT) Kv fVio Tfonfiiolrv okonf/ UVAA KfJ VilV X^VUVUVAJ VUCAJSl/t )by Hoying of Ohio State National Football Foundat roh of Virginia. Hall of Fame. The winner wi 11 has completed 223 of nounced Nov. 30, with the for 2,713 yards and a tation Dec. 8 in Louisville, i ' GAMECOCK SPORTS I wtby tftw UMC LSI) N-westen v_i* vs vs vs /grog Clemson Alabama Perm Stat ??!* N?rf!1 Alabama Jf 2d2?r Carolina State I* Clemson ISU N-westen 16 ports Clemson Alabama N-westei 14 'oherty north ICM ?g Carolina * i tim North Alabama Ponn '"P Carolina AlaDama state r fan nroim? L W J l\ I 1 LJ v y i?i \_J I i career, ising ergetic, ant ^arn as ty. j i j. _ u dui a t rtising Department. t your career today! . Saturday's Games LSU at Alabama* Mississippi State at Arkansas NE Louisiana at Auburn*N. Illinois at Florida E Kentucky at Vanderbilt*Ole Miss at Memphis Southern Miss at Tennessee a i i tn npyt IpvpI ter final exams when the Lady Gamecocks travel hal a world away to the Alaska Northern Lights Invita tional at Anchorage. * The Lady Gamecocks will be decided underdog against Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Georgia. The; will do battle against Vanderbilt and Tennessee in th< friendly confines of Frank McGuire Arena but have U face Georgia in Athens on a game that will be nation ally televised. A glance on the schedule also shows that the La ly Gamecocks must travel to arch rival Clemson ii aarly February for a game that is always tough an< ixciting. The season ends with a trip in early March to th< SEC Women's Basketball Tournament which will b leld at Chattanooga, Tenn. At last year's tournament die Lady Gamecocks capped off a disappointing sea son of 12-15 with an 80-70 loss to Arkansas. "We must play well in our tough conference thii fear," Wilson said of her team's status inside the SEC his up coming season. "We are improving but the con erence is improving also. We have to compete at i ligher level and we must execute both mentally anc ihysically as a team." Hie Lady Gamecocks will improve this season with he increased depth from the five newcomers. The tal :nt level is higher this season and is led by Johnson Hie season starts with two exhibition games at the 'Yank McGuire Arena. Hie first game is on Nov. 14th it 7:30 p.m. against Champion. The final exhibitior fame is against the Czechoslovakian National Team m Nov. 16 at 7:00 p.m. ^H? r is cho11 be an- SflflHwt| TYJg i *XHHH presen- uLjUg^^^MM Ky. mUA 11 EUPC tnHLLcnuc s % X >" ' !,s "' " " " > s?3?i? \XS\ . &?& >| Baylor 1 Oregon I Maryland VS I? 8 Miami Washington ll.C. State Dayiar uregon N.u. state 11 Miami Wash NX. State i Miami Oregon N.C. State Baylor Wash Maryland Baylor Wash. N.C. State .