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1 3amecock "ootball is I ;ust around ? 1 ? :he corner ' E 0 Hie countdown to kickoffhas begun id folks, Columbia and Gamecock ms everywhere are longing to jump f a time machine headed for September th and the football opener against a entral Florida. For you first year students Columbia id the Williams-Brice Stadium will j e full of electrcity as the new-look amecocks will take the field for battle. The defense will have lots of new ' layers headlined by inside linebacker arrin Hambrick. During practice ] >arrin Hambrick has been a eadhunter and on several occasions e has been seen taunted Anthony ^ /right and Duce Staley. His number . 118, which was worn last year by )rmer quarterback Steve Taneyhill. j On the offensive end head coach , Irad Scott appears to be close to nnouncing Anthony Wright as the tarting quarterback. In preseason ractice this year Wright has shown ' reat mobility and a string, accurate J rm. Wright was in a close battle with ophomore Chad Barnhardt and reshman Victor Penn for the starting , pot. In the kicking game, freshman 'ourtney Leavitt has been impressive hus far and seems to be. out shining enior Reed Morton and sophomore 5teve Florio. Morton missed an extra x)int during the spring game and Horio nissed a game winning Field goal igainst LSU last year. Pro Football Folks, that juggernaut of the NFL ;hat is the Dallas Cowboys seems to ?_ -li--1 1 : many nave snuwn signs ui landing is several mishaps are limiting the lominance of the Cowboys. First and foremost is the slap on ;he wrist suspension of wide receiver Micheal Irvin who pleaded no contest ;o charges of bribery and cocaine aossesion. Irvin will miss the first five james of the 1996 season while leammate Kevin Williams will try and [ill his talented shoes. Runningback Emmitt Smith who three days after signing the biggest contract in NFL history sprained his on/1 will mi oa fVu* firol two (TUTTlPfl LU1IVIV/ U11U T? UU ' uiiv uiwv vmw ^ of the year. And to add even more problems tight end Jay Novachek will miss all of the season with a back problem. After being demolished by the Patriots and the Chiefs the Cowboy's prospects for the year seem to be quite bleak. I do not see a repeat Super Bowl win for the Cowboys this time around. NCAA One of the Gamecock's biggest problems this off-season has been getting all of its freshman football players certified through the new NCAA Clearinghouse which looks at every prospective student-athlete's test scores and core class grades and determines if they are academicallly eligible or not to compete. Incoming freshman Jeff Chaney and Anthony Overstreet both are still waiting to be cleared by the NCAA even though coach Scott has repeatidly stated in the press that both have the grades to play. Because of the slow paperwork process at the INL'AA otlices tnese players who have worked hard in high school to become eligible are having to sit at home waiting for the okay to move into school. Even more damaging to the players is the missed practice oppirtunities of the past two weeks in which they could have learned the Gamecock system * -1 ? 1 1 J iL . Deuer ana may nave even naa me chance to earn a starting spot on the team. Instead they sit and wait while their competators get the advantage of practicing. And for what reason, the inablity of the NCAA to effecietnly do ifsjob? If that is the reason then maybe we need to look at changing how the NCAA is run and start making it accountable for its performance. This is not the first time it has messed up. Other mishaps with the NCAA include the inablity to declare an undisputed national football champion, gender equity faux paus, and of course the constant switching of conferences by the schools of the NCAA. But, even with all of these problems college football is still fun to watch and I just can not wait to see that first kickoff in two weeks. JSC aluir iCHIM HUNT Sports Editor 1 Everybody knows about Hbotie and j le Blowfish along with the hated Booby j iremins as famous alumni of the ] fniversity of South Carolina. But have you heard of another ' uccesful alum of our school? This guy i the General Manager of the Chicago j !ubs, Ed Lynch. Ed was recruited out of West Palm , tearh Florida hv tha late basketball oach Frank McGuire. McGuire saw him at a basketball amp that Lynch attended during his enior year of high school and decided hat he would make a fine addition to n already growing program. But those plans were sidetracked irhen Lynch decided he would walk-on o the basevball team then coached by lobby Richardson. Lynch was not immediatly welcomed iboard because everybody knew he was in above average basketball player, but lone dreamed that he could pitch as well is he did. "I decided that I wanted to try out for V>qanVtall taom an T nallarl P!nnrVl * UX UUUV/WUli IVU1U k?V JL vuiivvt v WV.VX1. Richardson and told him to schedule me 'or a workout," Lynch recalled of his early lays at USC. "They told me that the earn was alreaedy set and to not get my lopes up especially since they told me hat they had given away all of their iniforms already. I threw three 95 mile per hour fastballs and a decent curve and Richardson looked up to me and said Son I think we can find an uniform for you here." So in 1975 Lynch was off to play both basketball and baseball at the University of South Carolina. Then after his freshman year he decided'to concentrate on baseball and with a lot of fighting from McGuire he let Lynch pursue the sport of baseball. "Us making it to the College World Series was a big factor in my wanting to play baseball full -time," Lynch said of his decision. "In addition I had a decent season throwing the ball and I did not play much my first year in basketball." Lynch wait on to three more brilliant years of pitching for the Gamecocks as he led them to another World Series berth in 1978 under a new head coach named June Raines. Then his playing days were up and he was looking soley to go to the major Gameccx BRYAN JOHNSTON Asst. Sports Editor This year's version of the South Carolina Gamecocks is an intriguing one. No one is really sure how things will go. They could be really good, really bad or somewhere in between. Usually with a team, ifs pretty much known how they will do. Thaf s not the case with this year's team. A lot will depend on how quickly quarterback Anthony Wright can get adjusted to the college level and make The defense is also a big question mark. Last year, they were, to put it nicely, awful. rm ^ "11 i ?_ it. finn iney were ranKea iasi in me oca, in points allowed and were ranked 11th (out of 12 teams) against the run and pass. The defense must improve if Carolina doesn't want to be sitting at home come bowl time. One factor against the Gamecocks is their tough schedule. If they want a shot at a bowl, they better rack up some victories early because they finish up the season with some incredibly stiff opponents. After starting with cup-cakes Central Florida, East Carolina and Mississippi State, USC finishes up the season with Tennessee, Florida and Clemson. Lef s take a look at the Gamecocks' schedule, who to look for on each team and what to expect. Central Florida - Sept. 7 A word of advice to the Gamecock's secondary: Watch out! In his freshman campaign in 1995, Duante Culpepper passes for 2,071 yards and 12 touchdowns, despite having a limited receiving unit. This season he will hook up with high school teammate Kenny Clark along with a couple of Juco receivers to offset the Golden Knight's suspect running game. Middle linebacker Kendrick Thomas possess an NFL body (6-3,240) skills to match. Nakia Reddick's quickness and John Bryant's toughness complement Thomas on the outside. Central Florida makes the jump hum Division I-AA football to I-A play as an independent team this year. Georgia Sept. 14 SPOl mam inus leat eagues. Well on draft day Lynch got the call rom the New York Mets and was drafted ay them in the middle rounds of the draft lie was a tough pitcher in the majors and even decided to brush you off the plate if you tried to show him up. Lynch played from 1980-1985 for the Mets until he was traded to the Cubs to help and solidify their pitching staff that was being hurt by injuries just one year after the Cubs had won their first division title since 1945. Ed played for two more years on the team before he decided to retire as hefelt that he was becoming more and more ineffective. So Ed went back to South Carolina and obtained his law degree and fiddled with a couple of law firms in the Florida area. Then one day the Mets called and said that they would like for him to join the club in the front office as a personelle director. He accepted this and honedd his major league managing skills for hte future. While Ed was starting in his new job with the Meets the Cubs were falling into complete disary as ex-general manager Larry Himes made a lot of people mad with his favortism and bad moves that sent the Cubs from a contender to celler-dweller and also drove Ryne Sandberg from the game that he clearly loved so much before Himes took over. when the owners of the Cubs hired Andy McPhail from the Minnesota Twins after the 1994 season McPahil gotr the general manager that he wanted from the Mets, Ed Lynch. Ever since Lynch has taken over the team he has signed free agents Brain McRae and Jamie Navorro along with an excellent trade that sent Rick Wilkins ti the Astros for Scott Servais and Luis .Gonzalez. He also had the fortune of getting Ryne Sandberg to comeback to the team in addition to resigning Mark Grace. In just two short years he has helped the Cubs finish with a winning record last year and also gave the team a direction that they have seemed to lack since the last pennent race they won in 1989. "Ed is a great guy that has added a lot to this team aqd has made them a playoff calibar team once again," legend Ron Santo said about Ed. "I respect him :k footbc ft MM |PNi Wmm mmmm< | mmmm | * . ml- mm . i ,< - 4 ; W " 1 ' '* Redshlrt sophomore wide rece Freeman during the 1996 Sprlnj As far as offense goes, Georgia is loaded at the skill positions. Mike Bobo is a solid quarterback who only needs to get the ball near receivers Hines Ward and Robert Edwards for a completion. The Bulldogs are extremely deep at running back with sophomore Torin Kirtsey and Robert Arnaud. Kirtsey and Arnaud filled in for Edwards after his injury and did a good job. At fullback, look for a battle between junior Selma Calloway and junior college transfer Ronnie Bradley. The problem may be in protecting Bobo and opening holes for the backs. They return only two starters. Adam Meadows will anchor the line at tackle along with sophomore Matt Stinchcomb. ^ * T\ i T"> 11 1 1 senior Jttesiy oeaaies ana junior Antonio Fleming will start at the guard RTS ling Cubs i r Chicago Cub Sammy Sosa soon h< the New Mots on May 3rd. Chicago a lot and he understands the players needs and leets them know where they stand. There is a big confindence for a ball player for him to know where he stands with a team." "Ed is a smart baseball man and has the Cubs in the right direction in both attitude and performance," WGN coloranalyst Steve Stone said of Lynch. "He has weeded out all the bad things that can adversly affect this club and has filtered the club with good people that want to win and more importantly give the Cubs a big chance to win." Longtime voice of teh Chicago Cubs, Haray Caray even fells that Ed is teh right man to lead his Cubs to a World Championship. He likes Ed as a total person. "Ed is one hell of a guy," according to Caray. Lynch is making some definate strides in improving the ball club and they are now in the thich of a tough pennent race with the Cubs. Lynch is representing the Gamecocks well and it is nice to talk about a USC alum that has succeded without having to mention the words Hootie and Blowfish. ill: Are ) ||l ' ># ,, > " K m WW* ?##1**? ^^mhH^HHHH^ fHMC\ i Ivor Zola Davis Is seen being taken { football game. The Gamecocks open positions. The center position is up for crrahs. i] o The defensive side of the ball will be q a question mark. The secondary could r be good, as well as the linebackers. Corey Johnson brings leadership to the secondary at free safety. Strong safety Armin Love and cornerbacks Alandus Sims and Ronald Bailey have started, But the defense needs some help, too. They lost their top four ends. Georgia recorded only 25 sacks last year, so getting more production at the ends would be a novel idea. Chris Terry is the leading returnee, but he had just seven tackles last season. Punter Dax Langley is a solid player who averaged 39.5 yards last season. East Carolina Sept. 21 ft Thursday, August 22, 1996 to World Series iJf wf^pra^snwt ROBERT WALTON The Gamecock down to the turf of Wllllams-Brlco Stadium by sophomoro Auturo the home season on Sept 7th against Central Florida. The Pirates must establish a threat year, but Taite often struggles against a the backfield to kept the pressure off quality defenses. On the other hand, [uarterback Marcus Crandell. That the running back position will be a strong aeans the offensive line must stay point. Their top three backs return, tealthy and mature quickly. highlighted by durable junior Keffer A soft schedule should give the Pirates McGee, the SECs fourth-leading rusher heir second consecutive unbeaten season last year with 1,072 yards on 235 it home. If they can steal a couple of attempts. ictories on the road, a third consecutive Cameron Floyd and Jeremy Jones jiberty Bowl is likely. emerged as the top receivers in the spring Remember this: the last time East workouts. The offensive line will be Carolina made a trip into Williams Brice large, led by left tackle Brent Smith and Stadium, they stole a game from the left guard Brad Ainsworth. jamecocks on their homecoming. If USC Defensively, State will present some akes them lightly, it could happen again, problems for opposing offenses. Senior linebacker Dwayne Curry, a two-time Mississippi State Sept. 28 All-SEC selection, led the Bulldogs last Quarterback will be a weak point season in tackles (113). He also recovered or the Bulldogs. Senior Derrick Taite lad four of the SECs 10 longest passes FOOTBALL page 27 IS A <* rou ready for it? ~ i ~1 9 ?MH MBfS ADAM SNYDER The Gamecock ?re rounding third baso smashed a game winning homerun against Cubs general manager Ed Lynch graduated from USC. r*T7n Z ii 21 7l T1 1 I jnlaa college lootoaii ruie changes include overtime DWAYNE MCLEMORE of chances to score. A defensive score Asst.. Sports Editor on the first possession in a tiebreaker situation will end the game. College football will have a host t "Hie tiebreaker rale has probably of rule changes beginning this season ^ a longtune commS m our mckd^gTeSTsyrtem thai USC football coach Brad Scott said may change the game forever. . that were 418,1 Atotal of nine changes havebeen a44be e"d of regulation were oven made, ranging from a modification of , Neither team got the wm or he intentional grinding to whidi playem lo88'and bo4h rece.ved a tie in the can wear towels. standings. Thanks to the rale change, All will have an effect on Gamecock we will never ajjm have to see a team football. The tiebreaker system, with a record of 5-2-1. however, promises to have the most ? suPPort the "J1? because 1 ldt8 im act to play the game and come away with This new system is for all games a winner; Scott added "It will prcfcably that are tied after four quarters of cba44?8tbe o{1,8 way you play. Each team will have one play the last two minutes of a close possession at the opponents'25 yard ,. line with the opportunity to score. USC h3 ,40 wony about This "overtime- is not timed, and a r8Peat of last season 8 40,44884 w4h each team is given an equal amount RULES page 25