Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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University of South Carolina Gettino g Bryan Johnston Sport Administration senior Playing in the tough Southeastern Conference demands both topnotch teams and facilities. The University of South Carolina is either there or getting there in most of its facilities. The teams are rising to the top of the league, with both recognition and awards following close behind. For students just arriving on campus, who are picking and choosing which event is easy, what is often most troubling is determining where the venue is and how to get tickets. So to help you out, I've compiled a list nfrhp farilirie? their hisfnrv. their location and how to get tickets. Enjoy, and I look forward to seeing you there. Home to the USC Gamecocks is Williams-Brice Stadium, recognized as one of the finest facilities in all of college football. Carolina annually averages among the nation's leaders in home attendance. In 1997, the Gamecocks averaged 80,000 fans per home games to rank 10th nationally. The stadium is located on George Rogers Boulevard and has plenty of parking in and around the South Carolina State Fairgrounds. Tickets are distributed in the Russell House at least a week in advance. Students must have their ID scanned to get a ticket. The Gamecocks host six home games this year, the first on Sept. 5 against oall State. Home to the Lady Gamecock volleyball team, the intimate Volleyball Competition Facility is a state-ofthe art facility that has become a cozy a imI^^ home for Caroli- V n a . V Since H opening ^BH9KEB^^^5raim in 1996, W Carolina ic RSB^IBe^HhRKSSkl loud and exciting atmosphere. The Volleyball Competition Facility is adja- Or?^ cent to the Carolina "The ^ ^ Coliseum on Blossom tf*etvS Street, and matches are free to USC students with an ID. Just show your ID at the door, and you're in. I Carolina ti r -i:_. i?a. I lie laeiuiy aisu uuuuics as uuui the men's and women's basketball teams' practice facilities. Located in the heart of the uni- ?l versity's campus, Eugene E. Stone III Stadium, sometimes referred to as "The Graveyard," is home to |Z3| the USC men's and women's soc- iMM cer teams. The newly erected JS stadium, which debuted in 1996, rSBfl was made possible by the $1 MM million gift from the late Eu- MU^r gene E. Stone III. The west side houses Mr efj&S 4,000 permanent seats while the east side's stands can accommodate 1,700, provid- - ing a capacity or), / uu. Both the men and women play in the fall, and matches are free to USC students with an jgl ID. All students have to iQH game and show their ID to get in. . Built in time for ^ce the 1968-69 season, the Carolina Coliseum ? now with its playing surface dubbed Frank McGuire Arena for the sensational coach or the lVoUs and /Us ? has proven itself to be one of the toughest places for opposing teams to play. In the 1980s, a column in Basketball Times described the Carolina Coliseum as the nation's best arena for watching college basketball. Built with the latest architectural de c '^"um and Frank McGuire Aren '"H teams. The fecilir "itv of 12 'o01f"Ldo?40<l... signs of the Vfi ^ late 1960s, the Coliseum has 12,401 steeply-sloped seats that put fans right on top of the action. "I am certainly well aware of the crowds here and the interest for has IISCOVER CAROLINA tickets i ketball, with me being a player, an assistant coach and a head coach for the opposition and now after six years fcy-?^ with the Gamecock gram," aPadty of 8q USC coach Eddie Fogler s said. "This is a very difficult place to play because the fans are right on top of the court and are very close to the benches." Carolina's home record in 30 seasons of basketball is 333-100. for a 76.9 percent winning percentage. The I Gamecocks went 13-1 at home last season with exciting wins over Cincini nati, Florida and V Georgia. A Tickets for home A basketball games are A picked up in the same m way football tickets Wk are, except tickets A for more than one A game are handed A out each time. 8a Toward the end ra of the season, A fans have been B known to sleep A in the Russell A House for g?rlSe3tsiPECIAL TO DISCOVER CAROLINA . 1 he ?Q] i are home to both the aSe.Uln is v is regarded as one of , s o 0tJie to f h e j .. wumen s> uab' ketball team. Coached by Susan Walvius, the Lady Gamecocks had one of the best recruiting classes in the nation and look to challenge for the SEC title in the 1998-99 season. All games are free, and students need to show their ID at the door to get in. Home of one of the top baseball not very i teams in the nation, Sarge Frye Field is part of a 30-acre complex of athletc-u j u..:ij: ?.i_~ r> c_ it ueius anu uuuuuigs ai uie ivex imiright Athletic Center. In the first stage of extensive renovations, a new player's lounge and locker room, 60-inch big froni Cajjj screen television, was added 5 in 1997 along with the enlargement of the home dugout. Other planned renovations include enlargement ofthe visitor's dugout and increased seating. Sarge Frye Field currently seats 4,000 but can cram in a couple thousand more. The facility is nestled in between the Roost and Beckham Field or\A is frf?p lr> I T9P shirlpnfc wirVi !>n ID. The Lady Gamecock softball team's home has a new look. Beckham Field, as it was named after long-time supporters David and Mitzi Beckham donated Si million to the athletic department, is one of the area's most' modern facilities. The newly renovated Beckham Field is a state-of-the-art facility that includes new dugouts, a new press box and 500 permanent seats. Combined with the metal bleachers down the foul lines, Beckham Field seats 1,000. But when fans lined the fences and crowded into the outfield, 2,250 fans watcnea tne Laay Cjamecocks capture the 1997 Regional Championship. This past season lights were added, and a new scoreboard and more permanent seats are to be added in the near future.Carolina has posted a 241-41-2 record for a winning percentage of more than 84 percent and has hosted three NCAA Regional Tournaments. The field is located on South Marion Street between Sarge Frye Field and Weems Baskin Track. All Page 41 difficult games are free to USC students with an ID. * Carolina's track and field facility, Weems Baskin Memorial Track, has fk a a m qaaaI/c' ll Am A CI nop uttu lilt uaniiv.uv.ivj uuinv, ainww 1969. The outdoor track is dedicated in honor of the former USC coach, Weems 0. Baskin, Jr. The track, with renovations 7 tures a 400-meter, iVM Bjju eight-lane track with multi-directional sPrint straight-aways. are two mnlti-direc- . W Y tional long and triple I jump runways that in" Bmffil c'U(ie four pits. The out^ door track also features jgBjJI world class throwing facildiscus circles are surrounded by a 20-foot high cage that meets NCAA and international standards. There are also two shot Dut rinffs. a iavelin ijjjS runway and an additional discus ^ ring with a cage. The 2,200-seat facility is lo' cated on South Marion Street behind Beckham Field and all meets are free to everyone. Considered to be one of the finest collegiate swimming facilities in the Southeastern Conference and in the country, the Carolina Natatorium has served as the home of the men's and women's swimming and diving programs since 1975. Housed in the Sol Blatt Physical Education Center, the swimming facility is equipped with some of the most modern swimming components. The Carolina Natatorium has served as the training center for the 1996 Russian Olympic Team the past several years, and the Russians trained in Columbia again in June of 1996 immediately prior to the Olympics. "The Carolina Natatorium is one of the Dremier swimmin? facilities in r o the nation, as is evident by the Russian Olympic Team selecting it as its training site prior to the Adanta Games," USC men's swimming coach Keith Switzer said. All events are open and free to the public and students. Enter through the main doors of the P.E. Center, and go to the second level. On the whole, the athletic facili ties are top notch and are home to some of the best programs in the nation. Events are held year-round, and every event is free to USC students. Check out The Gamecock three times a week for schedules and events.