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aneyhill ASSOCIATED PRESS CHARLESTON ? A municipal court jury deliberated almost fair hours Tuesday night before finding former South Carolina quarterback Steve Taneyhill and Carolina Panthers tight end Mathew Campbell innocent of charges of interfering with a police officer. But the panel of five men and one woman could not reach a verdict on an assault charge against each player stemming from a January incident at a Diarlaatnn Judge Joseph Mendelsohn declared a mistrial on that charge; both men could face a second trial in the future. Taneyhill, expected to be selected in next month's National Football League draft, said he was pleased with the outcome. "Of course," he said. *Tm not guilty. Well wait and see what happens on the other charge." Tm happy with it," Campbell agreed During testimony, city police investigator Feldman Taylor said Taneyhill Mississippi S Well, I am just sitting at my desk here in the Russell House wondering what it would be like to be in the Big Apple this week for the NIT Final Four. College Basketball I don't know about you, but I found it really hard to watch the NCAA Tournament this past Thursday as my wounds were still sore from our loss to Alabama on Wednesday night. The mere sight of the first dribble made me sick to my stomach with the image of Melvin Watson losing the ball out of bounds was still fresh in my mind. But then there was Friday, and I had finally overcome the hangover from the loss to watch some of the NCAA Tournament. Mississippi State has pulled off one of the greatest runs XT/^1 A A rrU*\*r V* r*Trn rlnfnnf/vl ill liiSLUIjr. JL lie J uavc uurawu UCONN and Cincinnati to advance to the Final Four. Another mild surprise addition to the Final Four is Syracuse, who have won tough games against very talented ' 9 1 The La S AuTH( 1 II r 1 fri > Harper Collins I Bhhhhhmbhi y , Campbc pushed him violently three times at the entrance to a local nightclub early Jan. 27. Taylor also said Campbell later turned him around and pushed him twioe in the street outside the club. A second officer testified that the football players shouted obscenities. Both players took the stand and denied there was any assault cr any foul language. Taneyhill said he bumped into fliA /Iaaw aC 4>V\a nlnk u?Vinm OUU1CUUUJ at tilC UWI Ul UlC UUU) n itvrn he later found out was Taylor, an undercover officer. It was like a brush. It was not a push or a shove," Taneyhill said. Campbell said Taylor lata- approached Taneyhill in the street. "I said We're not looking for trouble.' I said Tin Mat Campbell of the Carolina Panthers, and we're not in a position to be looking for any trouble." Jurors would not comment as they left the courtroom. Prosecutor Ira Grossman said he would have to review the trial before deciding whether to seek a new trial on the assault charges. tate shocks tl Kansas and Georgia teams. And then you have UMASS and Kentucky, which are the two best teams in the tournament They will participate in what will be the best game of the tournament on Saturday night. This game features one of the best guard match-ups of the season with Walter McArthary against Edgar Padilla. I also want to say good riddance to all the ACC teams that made the tournament this year. In the past six years, all I have heard is how great and holy the ACC is. Well, I am happy 4-r\ foil otromrnnQ fliof civ Aiif nf hViO locf IAJ l^li UilVj U1UV OiA VUV VJL U1AO AUWV . 16 teams to make the Final Four have been members of the SEC. And, for the first time since Dean Smith was in diapers, the ACC has no entry into the Final Four. Spring Football The USC football team has two weeks and a day of spring practice under their belts, and I must say after seeing them a couple of times this year test Novh dr of Dow] uvd Colon iS hit | m m us Pi Phone: 803/777-4161 - g|| r> r-T |i ill make i Jbth players said they had come to Charleston for a weekend vacation with former South Carolina player Hank Campbell and other friends. Taneyhill said that with the draft coming up, he could not take any chances on getting into trouble. "The position Fm in at this point in time, I would never do anything if I knew I was going to drink and drive," he said. He told Grossman that a conviction could hurt him financially in the draft. This case is about money," Grossman told the jury. "This case is not rocket science. It either happened or it didn't happen. Don't go into that jury room and come back and call these officers liars." But the defense presented a total of 13 witnesses, including several nightclub employees and bystanders who said they never saw Taneyhill or Campbell push anyone. Taneyhill and Campbell remain free on $314 bond each on the assault charge, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail or a $500 fine. ie nation, a^ achim 1 that the talent HUNT level has I increased with the addition of the redshirts and transfers. The race for starting quarterback is heating up between Anthony Wright and Chad Barnhardt. Wright has good mobility and seems to have an arm that is equal to, if not a little stronger, than Steve Taneyhill's was. Barnhardt was surprisingly accurate with his throws and hit a lot of his passes during the situational scrimmage held last Saturday. Also, Florida transfer Darren Hambrick, who will be USC's Bandit back on defense, plays the game with tremendous emotion and has great skills. The secondary looks to have improved this year with nice tackling and the ability to bat down and intercept some passes. Look for Arturo Freeman and Ray Green to be key parts of the South Carolina defense L BY THE I STTOWN I Y I Ax/nilnhlo fit* riYUIIUUlU Ml. J Fax: 803/777-8673 c^uit appi *T,inmn '** ' Former Gamecock quarterback Stev< is on trial along with former tight em faits chance t( this year. The battle for placekicker will not get into full swing until this fall when Courtney Levitt comes to Columbia. So far this spring, kickers Steve Florio and Reed Morton have not been really impressive. The annual Spring Game will be held this Saturday at 1 p.m. at Williams-Brice Stadium. ITK Gameballs, Goofballs This week, I would like to give two ITK Gameballs away. The first goes to Richard Williams, the head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs, who i i a _ 1 f 1_ * nas aone a great joo ui cuacimig uvex the past few weeks of postseason play. The folks in Starkville were calling for his job early on in the season when his team lost to Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Alabama and Kentucky. Then, the team turned it around by becoming SEC Conference Champs and winning their first four games of the NCAA Tournament in easy fashion. PEZau ine armcn Ren i 0 Pat, Chip, Kaycie then & if you're too sti 01 " , v - [ For a li New in *96 College Prep Camp iin Myrtle Beach with NCA College Cheerleading Camp August 15-17 Springmaid Resort J \ Carol 1 1 wtA 903 Huge ?- j< earance i ' ' ^ |Bk RLE PHOTO The Gamecock 9 Taneyhill, seen here in action, I Matthew Campbell for assault. ) try on the \ My other gameball goes to BJ McKie, who was named the SEC Freshman of the Year. BJ, after a'rough start to the season, turned on the heat after the Furman game and never really had a down game after that He was a reliable man in three-point land and also at the charity stripe. McKie will be a main part of the team next year as they look for bigger and better things from this young talented group. The ITK Goofball goes to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf for not standing for the national anthem before his NBA games. He should at least stand and be dignified like his contract states that he should be. I like Dennis Rodman's advice, "Make him stand up during it, but let him sing his own national anthem to himself while our is being sung in the arena." I look for this to continue to be a big controversy this year,' and maybe there will be some riiles passed to do away with the national anthem at air Quarterbacks' Tai inion Spe One Time Only MARCH 2H 7PM LIVE & RAV N WCFG-1 , Rookie & even the or ?! Vou should be there, jpid to get home foi AQTV, then tune in 90.5 FM ve audio sii >rA yl COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE mAMAWW Stadium on Saturday ,11p.m. glass slipper most ballgames, with the exception oi the Final Four and the Super Bowl Final Look The USC baseball team is looking to be better than first thought and arc in first place of the SEC East all alone for the first time in school history. Thej look to hold on to first place this weel as they travel to Arkansas for a three game series. The women's softball team defeatec theNo.l ranked Arizona Lady Wildcat; this weekend to reach the quarterfinal; of the Pony Invitational Tournament Keep a watch on this team as this mto be the school's first-ever NCA/ Championship Team. Finally, here's hoping you survivi the last few moments of Marcl Madness and may all of you; tournament pool picks come in thii weekend. HUM Igate Party cial ' 4?' i# f k: S; . *$?&! >>>> M V'Mr# / . . .... Y. \i; ' mm m m If W iqinal crew will be too! the mighty return to: nulcast! College Prep Classes Wednesday's at 7:<* Thursday's at 8:00 a fay/let level. cademy i and Gervais ;nt! / A S . ./ /7 J . ? Ie&lUMUKQ. CK 2XUCCH (2*AMUt4, C& na Cheerleadlng A r Street Between Blossorr 2S4-900Z >IN THE EXC1TEME