The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, August 22, 1996, Page 24, Image 24
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
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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
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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
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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.
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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