The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 11, 1996, Page 8, Image 8
USCs D:
JEFF PENROD Staff Writer
Not satisfied.
That is the theme inscribed on all
of the players' practice shirts this year.
After last fall's disappointing 4-6-1
season, the team probably could not
have agreed on a much better one.
Perhaps no one player knows the
meaning of this theme better than
USC's standout redshirt sophomore
life
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wide receiver Zola Davis.
Davis, who finished as last season's
runner-up for SEC freshman of the
year, led the 1995 squad in receiving
with 911 yards and 58 receptions.
However, the road to breaking these
freshman records was a little curvier
than Davis expected coming out of high
school.
During Davis' junior year at Burke
High School (Charleston), he had 40
receptions for 858 yards.
The following year he eclipsed those
marks, bagging 45 catches for 1,260
yards, and his accomplishments read
like a campaigning flyer he was named
Super Prep's top receiver in the nation;
named to Blue Chip Illustrated's
Dream Team; he was an all-state
selection thrice as well as making the
Shrine Bowl team his senior year; and
the Deep South Recruiting Guide
named him the South Carolina Player
of the Year.
Davis was being recruited by
collegiate powerhouses Florida, Florida
State, Tennessee, and even annual
SEC nuisance Georgia, along with a
host of others.
He chose South Carolina to be close
to his family and his daughter. So,
wViat frmlfl Vinvo ruvaaihlv errmft wmncr?
"I thought I was going to play pretty
early as a freshman, but I came in out
of high school and things were a whole
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lot different," recalls Davis. "First of
all, I came in like 210 pounds. I was q
kind of overweight to myself, so I t
couldn't really make the (transition)
on the field from a high school 210 to j,
a college 210." p
"You got to be much lighter and a lot c
faster and I wanted those things. So,
I had to lose 25 pounds and now I feel n
that I can do a lot of the things that I d
want to do," Davis said. g
After coming in heavier than the i
coaching staff wanted Davis, he was
redshirted. n
Although Davis did not expect to n
be redshirted, he used this as a t
motivator, losing the weight he had r
put on between his senior year in high
school and his redshirt freshman year n
at USC. I guess you could say he was y
"Not Satisfied". t]
That-first year is the same year
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2 Coliseum.
variety of the freshest foods
ttle for a stale candy bar frc
ches, soups & salads to bag
.kfast and lunch at great prit
*ving through lectures, FAS
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d For The Stude
satisfied
hat Davis met and forged a friendshi
vith current roommate, A-1. Mos
mow him better as redshirt sophomoi
Anthony Wright. Last year, the tw
inally got a few opportunities to pla
vith each other on gameday.
"Last year, we got a little bit (
ilaying time together against Georgii
nd he threw me a touchdown again;
Cent St., so we had some kind of ide
f how it was going to be," says Davii
lashing his two gold-teethed smili
We do a lot of throwing on our owi
o I kind of understand how his gam
s and he kind of understands hoi
aine is."
Off the field, the two do a lot c
tudying together.
"Everybody wants to be prepare
nd I want to be prepared. Anthon
3 the same way," said Davis.
Together in their first game agains
/entrai Florida, tne two connecte
wice for 42 yards.
That was just enough to entic
ramecock fans of more to come fron
his sophomore dynamic duo.
For Zola Davis, last year's stats ar
jst an indication of the outstandini
otential that he possesses as i
lamecock, and beyond.
Breaking four freshman receivini
ecords and tying two more has alread;
rawn him comparisons to former US(
reats Sterling Sharpe and Rober
(rooks.
This season, perhaps Davis will b
n a mission to continue making i
ame for himself, and you can believ
hat he knows about the receivini
ecords that have yet to be broken
Even though next year'
lotivational theme will likely change
ou can bet that Davis' own persona
heme will read the same.
Still not satisfied.
I
ring
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i
? Selected comments from Unive
)f "For the First game, our defense played
i, good. Offensively it was very perple
?t because it's not typical of our program to
a those kinds of mistakes."
"I was very impressed with South
l> Carolina and the way they played I
Saturday night. They played the exact I
opposite of us: very few mistakes and it I
^ really looks like they're ready to go."
, "Obviously we've got some good I
players, we've just got to get the ball to I
them and see if we can get some one- H
,t on-one situations." II
d DC
"The thing that impressed me as
e much as anything about [South Carolina]
Q their offensive line and the way they
blocked, the way they protected the passer."
e
g "[USC] seems to have a really bala
a attack."
U "Against their defense, we're just goir
y have to be ready for everything."
t "I think it's good rivalry. The fact that S
Carolina is in the SEC now, makes it
e even more of one. This is a big game for us
a Saturday."
e
?
neaiui uciicm *juii
Student Insuranci
Un
The University of South Carolin:
An alternative hea
University of So\
Stu
He
Insu
Coverage that complements St
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and Illness coverage.
$1,000,000 in maximum bene
Premiums are payable mont
It's portable - you keep this
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You decide how long you w;
flexible coverage periods.
For more inf
Dnttnfit Pnat
ifffiSfiH
rsity of Qeorgia head coach Jim Donnan:
very "You always go back to the basics when you
ixing have a couple of things go wrong,
make "We didn't turn into a terrible team
overnight. I still think we can be a real good
football team as a whole."
I "We need to build around our
defense and hopefully we can get a little
cepts, Inc. (800) 463-2317
b Division (800) 303-3815
dcnvrittcn by
IilucCross BlueShield
of Soutli Carolina
An lin|p|?riiftriil l.nr??vr nf Ihr Blue Cross
.1.1.1 ninr Slur 14 Asvx taiion
i docs not endorse or sponsor this health plan.
'
- . ? ? ?? '
ilth insurance plan for the
uth Carolina Students
sclent
ialtti
trance
udent Health Center services as well as
i, such as Emergency Care, Accident
Tits,
hly.
plan as long as you pay the premiums
erminate upon graduation).
ant your coverage. This plan offers
ormation, contact:
H "We've got to get consistent play out
of our quarterback and get the ball to
the skilled-people. I feel like we can do
"I'm sure everybody's going to make
tNNAN a lot of comparisons, particularly as
poorly as we played, but I don't think
was mat nau anytning to ao wun our oeing a
zone [Division] I-AA coaching staff as compared to a
I-A."
"There's a lot of press and a lot of extra
need things outside of football, but as far as the X's
and O's, they're very similar anywhere you go."
lg to - on the differences between coaching
at a Division I-AA school and a I-A school.
louth "We really feel like we've got a lot to prove
as a program after last week's game but at the
i same time we feel like we're capable of doing
it."
I