The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, November 21, 1997, Page 8, Image 8
Gamecocks
look to stnr
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visitor's lucl
in Columbia
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BRYAN JOHNSTON Sports Editor
What looked like a promising season 11 weeks aj
for two teams has come down to one game. And wh
a way to end the regular season.
Two teams, each needing a victory to be bowl e
gible, and only one will come away with the "W." 1
spice it up a little more, if s two teams that just pla
hate each other.
That's right. If s time for the battle with the bo;
from the Upstate as Carolina and clemson do battle f
the 95th time Saturday.
The Tigers lead the series, which dates back
1896, 55-35-4. At Columbia, clemson holds a 44-28
advantage.
The USC-clemson rivalry is considered one of tl
better ones in the nation. Sure, there's Florida-Floric
St., Army-Navy and even the heralded Penn St.-Pitt ]
valries, but the Carolina-clemson series is differer
In a state where the Gamecocks and Tigers are tl
only two major college football teams, fan loyalty
divided pretty evenly.
But what makes it even more special is the longe>
ty of the series. The Carolina-clemson series is tl
fourth-longest uninterrupted series in the history of I
vision I-A football, with the two teams having met f
straight times since 1909 heading into this seaso
The series has taken a peculiar twist these pa
six years, with the visiting team winning all six co:
tests.
That's a question that has clemson Head Foe
ball Coach Tommy West baffled, but not looking for ?
answer.
1 don't have an answer as to why the visiting tea
has done so well in this series the last few years," We
said. "I'm not looking for a way to change that rig]
now. IH worry about that next year."
Last season, Carolina went into Death Valley ai
defeated the Tigers 34-31 when clemson kicker Ma
Padgett missed a 34-yard field with 11 seconds lei
USC scored 21 consecutive points in a seven-minu
span of the fourth quarter and survived a late Tiger n
ly. Sophomore Troy Hambrick's 75-yard scoring ri
capped off a 135-yard, two-touchdown performance f
the Gamecocks.
This year, clemson is led defensively by lineback
Anthony Simmons, a man who has made his care
against the Gamecocks. Simmons has had two of h
top-five tackle performances of his. career against USl
The junior had 19 tackles against USC in 1995
Williams-Brice Stadium. He had 20 tackles in 199
still his career high
"Anthony Simmons is right up there with the be
linebackers in the land," USC Head Football Coa<
Brad Scott said. "He's on his way to being a grei
pro.
Offensively, the Tigers have relied on tailback Ra
mond Priester to carry the load against USC. The s
nior had 18 carries for 137 yards last year against tl
Gamecocks.
The Tigers also have a pretty good quarterback i
Nealon Greene. The senior, who is 1-2 against USC s
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against South Carolina.
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Sophomore Troy Hambrick, who had a 75-yard touchdi
up tnis year witn tne recent injury to starting taunacx oc
ie As far as the Gamecocks, they're looking to get back on
)j. track after a disastrous fourth quarter against Florida
38 last week. The Gamecocks trailed No. 12 Florida 21-14 headn.
ing into the final session, but let the game get away from
st them, losing 48-21.
n- Vic Penn, who made his first career start last week,
completed 12 of 33 passes for 191 yards , two touchdowns
and one interceptions. Troy Hambrick was USC's leading
m rusher with 50 yards on 11 carries.
Both Carolina and clemson are banged up severely. For
m USC, quarterback Anthony Wright is out, while linebacker
st Darren Hambrick and tailback Boo Williams are probaht
ble. The extent of their effectiveness remains in question.
The news is not as good for the Tiger faithful. Greene
id has been hampered with back spasms, but is listed as prob.tt
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Bryan Johnston Tigers, 3-2 Rebels
er Farmer K.T. 37-18
er
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AchimHunt USC, 17-9 Rebels
g Farmer Sly 34-21
t Nathan Brown USC, 17-16 'Dawgs
jt Farmer Kamon 38-17
e- Kelly Maguire USC, 24-21 'Dawgs
ie Farmerette Jill 33-22
in
DrewCawood USC, 19-10 'Dawgs
is Old MacDonald 22-12-199
A YOUR UNCLE IN^AD.
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BRYAN JOHNSTON The Gameeoek
jwn run against the Tigers last year, will have to step it
to Williams.
able for Saturday. He had to sit out the final drives last
wpplf flcrninst TTNf! when thp snasms flarpH un on him
Running back Raymond Priester sustained a sprained
ankle in the Wake Forest game. He missed the Duke contest
and played sparingly last week against North Carolina.
He's listed as questionable. 1
Also, linebacker Mond Wilson is questionable with a \
knee injury.
This year's game will once again be televised by ESPN2
and will kick off at 6 p.m. The game could break the
Williams-Brice attendance record set last year against UGA. i
Speculation is that this could be one of the better games
this rivalry has seen in a while. The weather is predicted
to be cold Saturday night, but the action on the field will be
as hot and intense as ever.
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'Noles Wolverines Cougars
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'Notes Wolverines Cougars
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only game on
writer's mind
new world order | 0
Football season was a rough time for me during my child
ginning ol tne season ana it won t worn at tne ena witn victor
Penn. This may be Brad Scott's last chance to keep that Heinz a
contract, so expect more out of the offense. ^
As if anyone in South Carolina gives a damn, my Seminoles
will try to skin the Gators of Florida, and put that little crybaby's
head on a spear. I'm referring to Steve Spurrier, who
would not have won a national title had it not been for his whining
and bitching to game officials and referees before the Sugar
Bowl earlier this year against Florida State.
He no longer has his prized possession, who is getting his
ass kicked in New Orleans, but then again, how many Spurrier
prodigies have found success in the NFL? Billy Joe Tolliver has
been a career backup with several teams and Dave Brown has ^
been a waste of Giants fans' time in New York. However, the Giants
have made up for their mistake by replacing Brown with,
ironically, a Florida State quarterback.
While we're on the subject of mistakes and the state of Florida,
it's now time to reward more stupidity by inducting a new
member into the Singletonian Hall of Shame with the TJ Suck"
Award.
This week's award goes to a team that won it all (as if any
one cared;, out now is giving 11 ail away.
If you just won the lowest rated World Series since the
networks started televising it, the first thing you would probably
do is reload so you could win again. The Marlins have done
the opposite. They've traded key players like Moises Alou, Devon
White and Robb Nen away, and the December meetings
are still a month away. What was Wayne Huizenga doing when
he devised this plan, playing baseball or Virtual Valerie?
This could be the biggest fire sale of a world championship
team in about six decades, and if the Marlins finish above .500
next season, I will truly be surprised.
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hood. My parents were both clemson lans, and tney tried, unsuccessfully,
to convert me to redneck orange and white. However,
they aren't rednecks, and I still don't know why the hell
they cheer for them.
Growing up, I was neither a Carolina or clemson fan, I was
a die-hard Florida State fan. The only time I cared about USC
and clemson was when they played each other, and I always
cheered for USC.
I still am a Seminole fan, but I'm a USC student now, so I a
go to USC games and watch all the Seminole games on television.
This weekend, two of the biggest rivalries in the South will
be in action when my Seminoles battle Florida and my Game
cocks will battle the Tigers, who have gotten "special privileges"
to come here, including, but not exclusive to, work furloughs
and "cowjugal" visits.
They've played a tough schedule, winning games at home
against Levenworth and Attica and losing a couple of close games
at Shawshank and Hiker's Island.
Since their win against Broad River was not a Division 1- ^
A win, they must beat us on Saturday to qualify for a bowl game,
or else they will be breaking rocks for Christmas. This will be the
only football game this season in which all the female Gamecock
cheerleaders will not be in attendance for their own safety.
Once again, our beloved Gamecocks must open up the offense,
even with Victor Penn, if we are to have any chance of winaing
Saturday and playing football after November. Anthony
Wright can't be the only USC quarterback that knows the plays,
30 why be conservative. It didn't work with Wright at the be