University of South Carolina Libraries
Questions ! Nationally nhniinH fnr KAYCIE WILLIAMS Staffs CIUUUIIU IUI South Carolina's Wor ^ 1 ming and Diving Team loo) uamecocks ly ranked No. 22 in the Sj ca collegiate poll. OUT OF BOUNDS New head coach Beth LftTTy Williams herits a talented, returnin Ail-Americans Kerry Fra McCarthy and Jessica N Let's rewind a few months back for the pack, a minute. It is the week before the Geor- Carolina has a strong 1 gia game, and optimism is at a ridicu- ? lous high. Fans are calling the local sports talk shows, predicting 10-1 and I 0.9 QPaonnc ! I "I feel that we can open the season at 60," one caller says. "We might have trouble against Tennessee, but we should ^ win either that game or the one at home against Florida." Another Carolina fan calls in to voice his support. "I think the last caller was stretching it a little, but well go between the Hedges and whip Georgia and win eight games, no less than seven." The host for the show tries to give some warning signs. "Now wait just one minute, I think it's a little unrealistic to place those kinds of expectations on a team with a weak defensive line and a young team overall." But, alas, the fans won't listen. Eleven weeks, five losses and four Wm drubbings later, Carolina fans have finally had reality slap them in the face. With one game left in the season, the Gamecocks are limping into their an- , I nual State Champioinship against Clemson with a disappointing 4-5-1 record. If indeed there is a chicken curse, it has more than reared its ugly head this H year. Before the season, I thought it somewhat logical for the Gamecocks to win seven games. Hell, maybe with a few lucky breaks they would win eight; how- Hj ever, I concluded that, if the Gamecocks went 6-5, then it would be a successful season. Any less would be a failure. The point is that I placed reasonable ? ?? AM A 4aama 4U nU/Mll/1 exptxiaiiuiia uu a beam tuat suuuiu have won at least six games this season. Disagree with me? OK, then, let's rewind again, this time to the Kentucky game. I am, and always will be, adamant H in my belief that there was no excuse for Carolina to lose that football game to the weaker Wildcats. From the outset, the Gamecocks showed little emotion in the Southeastern Conference matchup, and there's no excuse for that. Sorry, but if a team can't get up for a Southeastern Conference game, then > they don't deserve to be in the conference at all. Most of you will say, "Oh, well, we're so much better than the Wildcats, so it had to be hard to eet ud for such a mediocre team." Here's some news for you; In their four years of conference play, USC is 1-3 against the Wildcats. Sort of humbling, considering Kentucky is the mediocre one. This is not, by any means, an allout assault on the players. The players have great heart and desire, but sometimes, if s just not there, and thafs a big problem, especially for conference games. This boils down to coaching. If 2 the coaching staff cannot get their players ready for games then some problems need to be adressed. f Let's rewind once more, this time to the LSU game. USC players came out like gangbusters against the No. 14 Bayou Bengals. There was a fire in the Gamecocks' eyes as they dominated the Tigers. One question; Why wasn't that same spark there the previous week against Kentucky? The answer, I'm afraid, is unknown. And so, the Clemson Tigers come to town Saturday for the annual battle for state bragging rights. The Tigers come into the game a hungry team, one that is headed to an unknown dowi. While we will question the Gamecocks readiness for the game, doing so for Clemson is not necessaiy. Don't think for a minute that the Tigers have forgotten about the 33-7 bashing they took last year at the hands of the Gamecocks. One other disadvantage for the r Gamecocks is that every one of Clemson's strong points corresponds directly to every one of Carolina's weaknesses. Clemson, led by Raymond Priester and Emory Smith, have a bruising running game. Carolina, with a weak defensive line, have had almost no success defending the run. Clemson's defense, led by true freshman Anthony Simmons, can get to the quarterback. Carolina has had trouble performing this season when opposing defenses have harassed Taneyhill. Objectively speaking, I believe that the Gamecocks are more talented than the Tigers. In last year's debacle in Death Valley, the Gamecocks won because they were superior in talent. Saturday, it might be a little different. Emotion plays such a big part in any sport ?just ask the 49ers. The Gamecocks, if they are to make their fans proud, must play their best game of the season Saturday to win the game. The Gamecocks have yet to prove to me this k season that they can be competitive I against a rushing dominated offense L and a good defense. Clemson's offense 1 is much like Georgia's, which poundB .?r tr\ . i- ii h>r interstate oils. I'rnmotior Bed USC for 42 points earlier this year. i-80o-<:ou.ix:r is, a^cro gprydiction: Clemson^0 USC 24. ^ ^ The Gamecock pranked swimming team /titer led by senior Kerry Fraas. She finished na's middle d nen's Swim- 13th at the NCAAs last spring in the The distar <s to improve ^ free and is expected to finish in the chored by sen; are current- top ^ree at this year's SEC Tourna- Stacey DeLar , . ment. year out of cc Sophomore Alison Kemmerling re- for the NCAA turns after an impressive season last ago. Co-capta arrellin- year. She and Fraas are joined by fresh- also excel. F g squad with men Ashley Murray and Judy Thomas, sophomore Ev as, Michelle Murray comes to USC winning North to the squad. Lxon leading Carolina's State Championship in the The indivi 100 free last year. Both Kemmerling strongest eve reestyle unit and Murray could also become Caroli- icans Jessica mJt -i v IBjgra JH % Jj| Bl *??<i BrJK?!^ jgK ,1 -NJ You are VI O t < l hole in your pocket render* you r e I u c You dial 1 800 CA Your pangs of g Know the Code. 1 800 CA M m m l i Your 1 i * is exc luded lI tr.idenurk of MO. K Vednesday, November 15,1995 looking to increase istance freestylers. Carthy will challenge each1 ice freestylers will be an- supremecy. McCarthy held tl ior Sheri Burns and junior record in the 200IM before Nixc ley. Burns returns after a it last season. Freshmen Lo tmpetition. She qualified Jodi Keuk and sophomore I l Championship two tears Wylie will compete in the 40( in Stacey DeLaney should olina. reshman Jodi Keuk and Sophomore Susie Stark a elyn Finklea will add depth man Bridgette Smith are Ul breaststrokers. Last year's co dual medley should be the the year, Stark is expected to b nt for Carolina. All-Amer- after a year of college compet: . Nixon and Michelle Mc- Charlene Miller, Nixon e t . mooch. But ? you cHangele 4 t ci n t I y call the foil LL ATT. uiit are minimcii ? LL ATT That's Your True Choit Mfc.T True Choice 4 > 7 success in '95-96 other for make up the butterfly crew. Nixon qualtie school ifled for the NCAA in the 100 and is exai claimed pected to do so again. Miller and Keuk ri Jayne, ^ swimming well and should be able Shannon ^ score points for South Carolina. ^ or ar~ Freshman Michelle Suozzi replaces nd fresh Ail-American Vivian Alberty in diving. 3C's only continues to wor^ with coach Todd -rookie of Sherritt perfecting dives, a stronger South Carolina faces a difficult schedition. ule, but with the talent and experience ind Keuk on the team they should find success. wsj^M m mm * when S5, ks collect. r SM e. ? 1995 AT&T ) *