The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, November 02, 1998, Page Page 7, Image 7
No. 3
asst. sports editor WELLY MAQUIRE
They came, they saw, they conquered.
Tennessee proved Saturday why they are t
in the country, as the Volunteers won decis:
Gamecocks, 49-14.
The Vols, off to their best start since 196S
of the game from the start, as Carolina mana
in each of its first two series.
Even the presence of former Gamecock t
the injured Randy Wheeler, couldn't ignite i
the burned out Gamecocks.
Wheeler suffered severe spinal injuries in
July that left him paralyzed. While on his wi
mi Dolphins training camp, he lost control of
a storm near Stuart, Fla. Wheeler returned fr(
past week to see his family and the Carolii
game.
Head Coach Brad Scott visited Wheeler in
ly after the accident and presented him with
by the Team Gamecocks organization, along
tos from the 1998 team.
"When I first went down to see Randy soo
cident, we talked a little bit about setting a g
be back for the Tennessee game," Scott said."
doors, one of the nurses was quick to say, "No
that will happen for Randy.m
Wheeler fought back through extensive p
py, however, and has been cleared to receive
Florence, S.C., which is closer to his home
Wheeler was introduced during the Dreea
along with the football team's senior memb<
surrounded Wheeler after the announcemen
as the roughly 69,500 fans applauded enthus
Wheeler also visited with the team prior
"Randy came in the lockerroom and spoke
ere," Scott said. "He's very loved and respected
The content of the conversation will be kep
the public, but several players said it was an e:
tional one for them.
"It [Wheeler's situation] makes you put li
tive," stated quarterback Anthony Wright.
Wright said that Wheeler's condition m
fr? i a n h a nn/1 iti a4- viaiw/t a 1 i*ta
- picuatc laiiiiiy, menus, cum juot ucuig anvc.
Seeing that Wheeler is improving als
team.
"It put a lot of our hearts at rest just kno\
coming back [from the injury]," said center J
The game started off in the Gamecocks' 1
won the toss and elected to receive the openii
After a series of downs, Tennessee was
15 yards on a personal foul. However, on the n
made a critical mistake, fumbling at their ow
"Unfortunately, we were definitely our o\
my," Nesbit said.
The Vols took advantage of the Gamecocl
and ultimately scored on a 21-yard pass fron
back Tee Martin to Jeremaine Copeland.
Boo Williams returned the kickoff for 16 ]
Gamecocks were stopped again after Wright
Coaching st?
for Carolina
I TODD MONEY I 18'
clu
"It's frustrating, but life goes on.
You've got to keep moving."
Anthony Wright's words following
USC's 49-14 pounding at the hands of
No. 3 Tennessee Saturday could ^
serve as the mantra of the Gamecocks' ^
1998 season. This latest loss, solidify- ^
ing South Carolina's worst final season
record since 1966, wasn't really a
low point, though. It was more a reaffirmation
of what the season has al- er
ready shown. USC's mistakes weren't gig
anything new ? turnovers, the lack of ecj,
a potent running game, missed cover- Qa
ages ? Gamecock fans had already ggg
seen it all. bu:
So, who's to blame?
Many a team's supporters make it s
a rule to castigate the coaching staff US
before anyone else. Sometimes, this is sta
a valid argument. And Brad Scott and Bri
his assistants certainly didn't help their car
case Saturday. Midway through the thi
second quarter, down only 14-0 to the pas
highly regarded Volunteers, QB Phil co<
Petty and USC began a drive at their do^
Inn
mRide^th
In order t(
- w
Don
I
Only
Call 777
rolui)
to Troy Hamt
a 10-yard gai]
and Deon Gr
lie No. 3 team ^ many d
ively over the The first.
On the fii
i, took control bomb to Jern
ged to fumble 19.yard ^,
for an illegal
;eam captain, Carolina c
i flame under a^^chel
, . goal. The fres
acarcrashin leftandgivil!
ay to the Mia- beightp
his vehicle in puttingthem
)m Miami this On their.
la-Tennessee ballattheir(
Florida short- Peftt:
- , . , line. On a foi
.ftmdsraised field a]Tu(
with memen- byBi|yRatli|
r, , returned it t(
n after his ac- TTOri, Tr .
:oal for him to usCsKevm
Behind closed ^ourfm
, I don't think
could make a
hysical therai
treatment in bl , ed' ,
in Hartsville. weve8?'alc
me festivities. catt!! w?.dm
2rs. The team l he Vols
t of his name, ^eam 92 yar^
siastically. ^meto
kickoff. "I know t]
with our play- we gave out ti
on our team." Scott said,
t private from The Vols
xtremely emo ^ Martin thi
period's secoi
fe in perspec- olina.
After ano1
akes him ap- Shawn Biysoi
completing ai
o helped the gle game, ai
against Alabi
ving that he's "He [Mart
amar Nesbit. Scott said aft
;avor, as they Soon afte:
1g kickoff. Phillip Crosb
penalized for Midway t
ext play, USC scored. Petty j
n 49. in a 24-yard'
vn worst ene- ated the first
quarters,
is' misfortune Davis' 17'
i U1 quarter- uamecocK an
for the all-tin
fards, but the Davis als
fired a bullet reer receptioi
iff, fans
football
yard line that showed little sig
wing. Running the ball almos
sively with Boo Williams and
mbrick, the Gamecocks drove <
the Vols' six, where they fat
rth-and-two.
With fans sensing a score, Scot
. chose to send out true fresh
et Tucker for a field goal ? 1
5 first-ever try since taking ove
king duties from downtrodden C
f l-eavitt. A field goal.
F.ins' eyes grew wide, and the
ired down. The low kick from 1
was blocked, and the collei
h that's all too familiar this
toed through the stands again.!
mecocks weren't out of it, their
mingly outnumbered by Big Oi
ffs in attendance, certainly \
Speaking of those fans, they si
so share part of the blami
IC's predicament. Nowhere d
dium empty out as fast as Willi
ice when the game's cause look:
ious for USC, as it has a few t
s year and several times ove
st few years. Heaven forbid the G
:ks fall behind by three to
vns by the third quarter of a g
Hwiti
us to and fro
ee lunch provi
) participate
late a USC T
Jve on campu:
41 spaces aval
2481 to reserv
... WM
"Shirt
s
liable!!
'e your spot! *1
teers 'Te<
>rick. Hambrick caught the pass and fought for Late
a before DeAngelo Lloyd stripped the ball away for the A
anf rofnvoroH tVio flamofW?lra' carnnH fiimKlo Cfwrincr'
UA1V IVVV/f V1VU MXV VlUillVVVVUU UVVV/X1U iuiuwiv UVUlUlg
rives. The
quarter ended with the Vols up 7-0. Petty tl
st play of the second quarter, Wright threw a hands o
lale Kelly for a 40-yard gain to the Tennessee r ....?
The Gamecocks were then penalized five yards
procedure.
?uldn't make up the lost yardage and on fourth;
Tucker came out to attempt a 39-yard field I
hman's first career attempt failed, sailing wide
ig the Vols the ball at their own 22.
lays, Tennessee drove 78 yards for another TD, i
i ahead by 14 points.
ensuing drive, Carolina took possession of the ajj|
>wn 18 an
y moved the offense to the Tennessee 6-yard
irth-and-two situation, USC elected to kick a
;Kers second attempt, a zd-yarder, was DiocKed r
BF and recovered by Derrick Edmonds. Edmonds L f
) the UT 8-yard line, where he was halted by &
Sides. ^
otions maybe say go for it out there, but we'd mmjif
t and I really had a lot of confidence that we
in 8-yard field goal," Scott said,
ly wildest dreams did I think we would get it HEP*
tt said. "I'd be foolish if I tried to tell you that
?t of confidence in our field goal right now, be- jpi
took advantage again, as Martin moved his fJm
Is in 10 plays to take a 21-point lead into half- f 11
tie first half, I was very pleased with the effort
here, really on both sides [offense and defense],"
came back from halftime electrified, though,
ew a 71-yard reception to Peerless Price on the
id play, resulting in a 28-point deficit for Car
ther Tennessee TD, a 5-yard run courtesy of
a, Martin added his own stamp to the damage,
i NCAA-record 23rd consecutive pass for a sinad
24th overall counting the Vols' game
ima the previous week.
in] is obviously going to be a fine quarterback,"
erwards.
r UT made the score 42-0 on a 1-yard run by LT'^ -i
y, the third quarter ended.
hrough the fourth quarter, Carolina finally
aimed a pass for Zola Davis, and Davis brought
ID reception. The duo of Petty and Davis cre;
TD pass allowed by the Vols' defense in 16
th career TD reception tied him with former
d Green Bay Packer standout Sterling Sharpe
le career TD record at USC.
o moved into the No. 2 spot for all- time ca1S.
to blame ?
misfortunes jp
;ns of as was the case Saturday. Opposing
;t ex- teams aren't intimidated by Carolina
Troy faithful; they revel in it. USC finishes
iown this year 1-5 at home and are 4-8
:ed a against SEC teams at home the last
tiiicc jcaia.
t and The players, however, are the ones Ba^-Trr
iman on the field. They're making (or missuck"
ing) the plays. They're not supposed to
;r fumble the ball, as Carolina did on its
ourt- first two drives against Tennessee. |^.?i
They're trained not to miss defensive I
. ?s coverages, as was the case repeatedly mmm
c" Saturday, when Vol QB Tee Martin I
" lve caught fire and completed an NCAAIf
the recor(* 22 straight passes to receivers l||PP
fans w^? were consistently wide open. |p
ange Th?/1"? (supposedly)coached to close i
vere holes on special teams, which the Game- I
lould cocks have failed to do for most of the I
e for yearu.,4.:
'4. u 4-u? ?i?'
OeS a u iaii t it tnc luames juu tu mtr %v .
[ams. tivate and to inspire the players? ^
5 pre- Good teams don't look to place blame
jmes on anyone but themselves, and really
r the good teams don't have to worry about |
lame- blaming anyone. Now, USC is finding |L
uch- out what it feels like to be several notchfame,
es below either of those levels.
Same I
m the game 1
i/ you must*
e' off on (
r in the quarter, Tennessee's Travis Henry scored This
Ms. The point-after made the score 49-7, and the and deft
tirade by the Vols was over. Florida
Gamecocks fought back for one last touchdown, as "Wer
irew another TD pass, this time into the waiting Scott sai
f Kelly. v gram."
\ * .
v -3'
p*
ill ?sii::iiil!i:flilli: -ill 1 -'':
. : ' > ....... ' ;:'' . .
g back Troy Hambrick bobbles a pass in Saturday's loss 1
s on 10 carries.
"nTntPl^nfl R^ItttiI |Mfol<^"
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Thursday, Nttvembi
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Carolina
weekend, the Gamecocks will take a break to try
srmine how to approach the final two games against
and Clemson.
11 continue to press on and try to improve as a team,"
id. mere are better days anead lor pur tootDau pro<
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SEAN RAYFORD Sports Photo Editor ^
o Tennessee. Hambrick finished the day with
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Dai ?
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