The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, August 26, 1998, Image 7
Billy brings us part NFL Exhibition M ^ DE John Abraham Nate says senior guard
three of his series From Monday Nighty (knee sprain); OG Jason Recus Nix has been
on the Gamecocks, Green Bay 31 Cox (sore knee); FB declared academically
and Shawn Denver 34 v "% f ^ ^ A Antione Nesmith (knee ineligible for fall semesSingleton
returns . I J M % I 3 I sprain); DE Matt ter. Nix was expected
with another of his Tampa Bay 41 1 W | M m I Marsters-(heat cramps) to compete for the startcolumns.
Oakland 7 M J \ 1 L y ' ing point guard spot.
Offense
WILLIAM FOLKS I
With just 1,362 yards, South Carolina's
ground game ranked ninth in
the Southeastern Conference last season.
To put that in perspective, Tennessee
tailback Jamal Lewis rushed for
i,db4 yards last year, Dy nimseii.
Winning in the SEC means being
able to run the football. You could put
Jerry Rice and Cris Carter out there on
the field (snaring bombs from a 20-yearold
Dan Marino), and you wouldn't win
one game in this conference without an
intelligent, physical offensive line and
a consistent running attack. That's just
how football is played in this conference,
only the strong up-front survive.
But with three starting offensive
linemen (four, if you count Reggie Baker)
gone from last year's squad, offen
SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK
Tailback Troy Hambrick will be a
big part of the Gamecocks' new
running attack.
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sive coordinator Chuck Reedy has a
tough road ahead of him. In his quest
to "rededicate" the Gamecocks to the
ground game, the former Baylor Head
Coach must put at least three linemen
i.L . f-1 J V _ 1 i. i. _i l
on me nexa wno nave yei to scan an
SEC game.
Five redshirt freshmen (Jason Cox,
Philip Jones, Taylor Irvin, Melvin Paige,
and Kevin Rivers) are each described
as "immediate contributors," and
each will have to be, immediately.
Though the newcomers have yet to be
tested in game conditions, they have
come a long way in winning the confidence
of their teammates.
"I'm not worried about our line,"
USC quarterback Anthony Wright said.
"I think they'll be fine. They may take
some bumps and bruises out there
the first few games, but once they get
going and once they get sound, I think
they'll end up being one of the best offensive
lines to ever come through here."
The group certainly has an excellent
example to follow in All-SEC tackle
Jamar Nesbit. In addition to becoming
their friends and working with them
in practice, the senior from Summerville
has also bestowed upon them the virtue
of sacrifice, taking some reps at the center
position over the spring and summer
to help the coaching staff compile
their depth chart.
"They're definitely hungry," says
Nesbit of his charges. "If anything
they're anxious, they're ready to
prove themselves. I'll go on the record
right now and say I m proud of them.
I ride them hard because I see the talent
they have. They're probably more
talented than I was as a freshman, and
I see that in them. The coaches rode me
hard back then because they saw the
potential I had. Well, I see it in them
so I'm on them."
In the offensive backfield, juniors
Troy Hambrick and Boo Williams will
have some much-needed company this
season.
USC recruited the state's top four
high school running backs last year:
Nate Gary, Jonathan Martin, Antione
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Senior quarterback Anthony Wright
ing out his knee last year. Wright wi
ing for Coach Brad Scott this year.
Nesmith, and Jamie Scott. Junior Steve
Mixon reclaimed his fullback job during
spring practice (before Jacob Bush
was declared ineligible), and will
be backed up by a promising redshirt
freshman, T.J. Hines.
"We plan on being a
team that sets up the Folks' Ga
pass with the run," nffoncino P
Coach Reedy said. "I be- UncnSIVc r
lieve we'll have the GTBC
personnel to be success- - , . V
ful in doing that." Wide Receive
Wide receiver is
one of the few positions Quarterback
where personnel won't
pose much of a problem Running Rac
for the Gamecocks. Carolina
has one of the top Offensive Lin
10 receiving corps in the ?
nation, complete with six
bona-fide starters in sophomore Jermale
Kelly, senior Zola Davis, juniors
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SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK
Is back to 100 percent after blowIll
be one of the few seniors startshirt
sophomore Donovan Norman. Senior
speedster Shah Mays and true
freshman Willis Ham Jr. will also see
time in the rotation.
"We have a talented group of receivers,"
Reedy said.
"Not only did they immecock
prove this spring runWocaacnn
ningtheir routes and
iGoGdoUII catching the ball, but
they responded well to
the physical approach
srs"^ A:* we're taking and their
downfield blocking was
much better."
But the best news
ks J_ c for Carolina on offense,
however, has to be the
ie c healthy return of "A-l."
No one in the Gamecock
program has worked
harder than Wright these past 10
months. He has spent countless hours
in the pool and weight room rehabbing
surgically repaired ligaments in his
right knee, and his scheduled return to
Loaf J
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115 Afton Court
Ground
the field on Sept. 5 for the season-opener
against Ball State, is nothing short
of a miracle.
"The hardest part of an injury like
this is the mental aspect, the 'not knowing,'"
Wright said. "Once you get over
that, the physical part of it isn't too
hard.
"I have a whole new appreciation
for this game, though, because you never
know when it could all be taken away
from you. I have to thank God, my parents,
and my teammates. Everybody
Women's soca
UNC Charlotte
staff writer ANTHONY M. ISAAC
CHARLOTTE ? The University of
South Carolina women's soccer team
tied UNC Charlotte in the Game
cuuis iitsl preseason scrimmage ui
the season Sunday, 2-2. Carolina
scored both goals in the first half.
Freshman Morgan Mclntyre put
the Gamecocks on the board first at
the 18:10 mark of the first half
with an assist from fellowireshman
Lydia Bienias.
UNCC tied the score at 1-1 with
a little more than 10 minutes remaining
in the first half.
Carolina took the lead, 2-1, with
sophomore Charlotte Moore's first
goal of the season with an assist from
junior Leslie Lamb. UNC Charlotte
scored the only goal in the second
half to tie the score at two with
Christina Papp's goal off the double
assist from Meredith Mayo and Julie
Miller.
The Gamecocks play their final
preseason scrimmage at home on
Aug. 29 at 3 p.m. against UNC
Greensboro.
Carolina opens the regular season
against Davidson on the road
Sept. 1 at 7 p.m.
(II You1
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ter all, at Rising High Natural Bres
loafing is encouraged.
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l-Chuck
has been there for me from the beginning."
Backing Wright up will be two highly-touted
QB prospects in redshirt freshman
Phil Petty and true freshman Keith
Matkins.
Barring injuries, Matkins will be
redshirted this season while Petty backs
up Wright at the No. 2 spot on the depth
chart.
Now that the 1998 opponents and
the Carolina offense have been talked
about, check out Friday's edition for a
preview of the Gamecocks' defense.
in scrimmage
Football practice notes from Friday
Head Coach Brad Scott said that
the movement in the defensive secondary
as a result of the injury to Arturo
Freeman has resulted in the following
lineup: Ray Green has moved
from strong safety to free safety;
Homer Torrance has moved from cornerback
to strong safety; and Andre
Goodman has moved up to take
Torrance's spot at corner. Kevin
Brooks is manning the other cornerback
position.
Scott says that the Gamecock offense
plans to involve the tight end
and fullback more this season.
Four players are currently filling the
tight end spot, including Trey Pennington,
Trevon Matthews, Jim
Levandusky and Rod Trafford. Pennington
appears to have the edge
as the starter right now and has had
a good preseason camp, according to
Coach Scott Trafford, a redshirt freshman
who arrived last year as a quarterback
prospect, has put on more
than 40 pounds and is up to 238
pounds. Steve Mixon is holding down
the starting role at fullback, although
true freshman Antione Nesmith has
been impressive during camp.
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