The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, January 12, 1998, Page 11, Image 11
Monday, January 12, 1998
staff writer \N\W\MA FOLKS |
When Recus Nix was just a middle-schooler
in North Charleston, he I
seemed to always find himself going up
against this same kid whenever he and
i t* ? J - - .. *
a nis menus went to the playgrounds
^ downtown to shoot hoops.
Fast off the dribble, quicker with
the pass, able to hit pull-up jumpers
from the top of the key; this particular
youngster was a defender's worst
nightmare, and it was more often than
not young Recus'job to try and contain
him.
Well, if there was any doubt be- m
fore about this junior guard's skills, es^
pecially after you consider that each of I
9 the starters from his Allegheny, Md.,
Junior College team now play NCAA ^
Division-I basketball, let this httle tidbit
put those doubts to rest. It
The youngster from the playground
was none other than fellow Charleston- P
ian and Gamecock floor general Melvin ra
Watson.
"He's one of the big reasons I came
here," says Nix of his teammate. "I knew
Melvin when we were both in ||
A Charleston, and I remember playing
against him for the first time when I
was in the eighth grade. I never really
hung out with him all that much but
he was always such a fun guy to play
basketball with."
Recus rolls his eyes and shakes his
head at the next question.
"Yeah, I remember trying to guard
him back then."
A superb defender foossiblv the
best in the nation's junior college ranks
while at Allegheny), Nix comes into
Coach Eddie Fogler's program with
seemingly limitless athletic potential.
He plays the ball with a ferocious intensity
that literally blankets opposing ar
point guards, and he moves away from st
the ball in man-to-man coverage almost
like a hawk in search of its prey. nc
He jumps, he rebounds, he steals, co
he assists and, one last thing: Recus to<
Nix can also score.
At Allegheny, he averaged 17.5 he
points a game his sophomore season do
while shooting an unbelievable 61.9 its
percent from the floor. He also aver- m<
aged 6.5 rebounds, four assists, and an
three steals per game as a sophomore *7
to round out his sensational junior col- th
lege career. wl
"It really helped prepare me," Nix
said. "We had six different guys on that 9?
Allegheny team that were averaging
over 15 points a game, and our com- ^
petition was always tough. Bob Kirk
also taught me a lot about being patient
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inior transfer Recus Nix has m;
e bench for the 10-2 Gamecocks
id waiting my turn, because I didn't
art my first year up there, either."
Recus says that while he may
it start this season in USC's backurt,
if he has his way it shouldn't be
d far-off in the future.
"I know I need to learn the system
ire. I think once I get the plays
wn everything else will take care of
lelf. When I do that, I know I'll be
)re comfortable and can go out there
d just play instead of having to worabout
where I'm supposed to be all
e time. Things will feel more fluid
len Fve learned the process."
One of three new faces in the
imecock line-up this season, Nix beves
that his learning process will
easier here at Carolina than it might
ve been at other schools due to the
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BRYAN JOHNSTON The Gamecock
ide a solid contribution coming off
unity and closeness of this Gamecock
team.
"They've accepted me with open
arms from the first day I got here," he
said. "It's a close-knit family on this
team. I can't tell you what a great group
of guys Fm playing with. Each one of
them would go out of their way for me
and Coach Fogler is the same way.
"He's really shown us how to be responsible,
how to follow through with
things. We're a group of young guys and
he makes sure everyone's on point.
He stresses getting to classes on time,
making our appointments, and so many
other little things that never really get
noticed. But he's also an amazing coach
who knows what to do with talent."
Rest assured, Carolina fans, Recus
Nix has all the talent in the
world.
ictedl
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1916 Taylor
Columbia, SC 29201
i
)RTS
necock
Michigan wins natioi
ace HUNT ^
PVc
Kickin' some Ace .
II sho
... , . . - zr
W elcome back to campus tor what d
promises to be an exciting semester of Pja3
Gamecock athletics. Its time to trade P1^
in those days of laying around being
lazy for hitting the books and getting
ready to cheer on a fast improving Plaj
Gamecock basketball team. ball
But one thing really got me upset P*a!
over the break. The lack of a true na- ^ 1
tional champion in college football. The
Rose Bowl was a fun game to watch, batt
but ended controversially by a bad call first
by those SEC refs that we have come helc
to know and mostly hate at USC games Wit
this year. stop
The Orange Bowl was what every- to gi
body expected it to be. A blowout! Ne- Troi
braska is year in and year out one of Woe
the best if not the best team in college
football and they get no respect. Sure, an ii
the Big 12 is not the greatest football ed. 1
conference in the nation, but when Ne- the1
braska beats everybody by at least 30 to tl
points that shows how strong they re- Hid
ally are. an c
Tennessee had Peyton Manning, ciev
He didn't win the Heisman and
shouldn't have seeing as how junior wer
quarterback Ryan Leaf of Washington bras
State had a better season than Man- and
ning- the
So by virtue of Nebraska's blowout wit!
of Tennessee and, just as important- half
ly, the retirement of Tom Osborne they
leapfrogged Michigan in the coach's poll the 1
to claim a share of the national cham- sto0
pionship with Nebraska, the Sportswriter's
poll top vote-getter.
So, with a split national champi- sess
onship, I got to thinking about how great coui,
it would be to have Nebraska and Michi- 0f tj
gan meet on the gridiron for the title. Qon
Don't leave the polling up to peo- ines
pie like Craig James and Brad Scott, lead
IF"00 <cS
TILL 8-1
08 ,e"r
iaCK T0D0.MILLS
54 WALDEN ROAD
CASH INI
If you're a freshman c
more with good gra
ply now for a three
two-year scholarsl:
Army ROTC.
Army ROTC sch<
THE SMARTE
For det<
HHPPfllP
mm/mm
I
rial champions]
ve the decision up to Scott Frost ?
tries Woodson. And seeing no r
t of Alliance Commissioner I
imer dictating that this game
fed, I resorted to my last optioi
ing Michigan and Nebraska ? 1
^station.
The game was simulated on 1
fstation with the game "College F<
98." The game features the ex
fs and players that are a pari
.11 Divison I college football tea]
The game started out as a cl
;le for field position for most of'
; quarter as the Michigan defei
I the triple option to near nothi
h the running game virtura
iped by Michigan, Scott Frost 1
3 to the air and challenge Heisrr
)hy winning defensive back Chai
dson.
Ana w ooason won tne battle w
aterception as the first quarter ei
rhe good field position only requi
Wolverines to move the ball 45 ya
ae goal line and that is what tl
as the turnover calmed down E
xriese and he started hitting his
ers with a fervor.
In only 55 seconds the Wolverii
e up 7-0 on 10 point favorite I
ska. After another defensive sta
strong passing effort from Grie
Wolves scored another touchdo
l less than a minute left in the fi
to stretch the lead to 14-0.
Nebraska could muster nothing
final minute and the halftime so
d at 14-0 Michigan.
Nebraska continued to strugj
fumbled the ball on their first p
ion of the second half. Michig
d do nothing with the ball by virl
leir fumble recovery being at t
ihusker 25-yard line, the Wolv
kicked a field goal to make th
17-0.
i week, the sports staff will ask
ions. After reading the questioi
iorts@aol.com by 9 p.m. o
name, year in school,
ere s your cnance to voice your
for you. This we
w would you ha
s NCAA football
No. 5^
$3500.00 ,
5MYROTC.SCHOLARSHI
QNG00I
>r sopho- ships pe
Ldes, ap- and fees
-year or month,
dp from leaders
offic(
rTTADERSHipl
Dlar- K p; sive
EXCSlen^
ARMY ROTC
ST COLLEGE COURSE 1
nils, visit Legare Collec
777-6543/6542
- rTTTTTT
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Page 11
hip in first Ace Bowl
ind By now I was wishing that I could
eal change the channel, but with still a
toy quarter and a half to be played I
1 1 il. 1 \T 1 1 1.1 f. 1
ue xnew mat ixeDrasKa couia come DacK,
i of and that is what they did.
Scott Frost finally decided to go to
the air and found his tailback Ahman
the Green for a couple of big gains and then
wt- v finally the end zone to make the game
act 17.7 with only seconds remaining in
t ?f the third quarter.
After a Cornhusker defensive stop,
ose Nebraska started running all over the
the Wolverines. Green showed why he will
lse be an NFL first-round draft pick with
n?- several big gains. Than, faced with third
^ and long from their own 45-yard line,
Green broke into the open field to score
ian and bring the score to 17-14 with three
minutes left in the game.
. k Michigan made two first downs,
^ and looked to be in a good position to
run down the clock much like they
^ where able to do in the fourth quarter
of the Rose Bowl, but could not convert
16V
^ on a third down opportunity that would
have allowed them to run out the clock.
reNebraska
got the ball back with
ieg 55 seconds remaining and no timeouts.
^e_ Frost started firing the ball down the
^ field, and appeared to be on their way
,se to victory when, on second and 10 from
^ the Wolverine 45-yard line, Frost was
ygt intercepted by Woodson and the game
was over.
rjn The Wolverines ran out the
Dre clock, and pulled the upset to prove that
they where the true national champigle
onsos
Although Michigan won that game
an I still think Nebraska has the depth
;ue and talent to beat anyone in the coun;he
try nine times out of 10.1 dont guess
er- college football fans will ever really
eir know until we have "January Madness"
in the form of a college football playoff.
you a probing question. What we want is
a, we want you to email your response to
n Wednesday. Be sure to include your
major and hometown.
opinion. Don't say we never did anything
:ek's question is:
ve determined this
' national champion?
) GRADES
iy tuition, most books
>, plus $ 150 per school
They also pay off with
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future employers.
m CAN TAKE
je or call
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