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It's time for Scott to go ' Over the shaini SINOLETON er,f , have singleton 5:16 called for my resignation. Nevertheless, those who both love and hate me ask the same question: What is the liquor store? Contrary to popular belief, the liquor store is not just the drunken ramblings of some jerk who has nothing better to do. It is a philosophy, written for the guys out there who drink too much alcohol and smoke too many cigarettes. It is for the guys who believe all that glitters is not gold, and that there is a dark side to this world. It is, however, not for those elitist, rich, suburban snobs who haven't done any work since they popped out of their mother's wombs. The liquor store is not for the vermin, either, because you serve just one purpose, and we'll leave that to your evil imaginations. By the way, let's make one thing perfectly clear: there is a difference be tween women and vermin. The difference is not much, but there is one. It's rather obvious that the Gamecock football team has no chance in all the circles of hell this weekend against Florida. Then again, this is no divine comedy. Instead, it is a comedy of errors written by Brad Scott and acted out by our inept offense in the form of turnovers and gutless play-calling. However, are we truly this bad? Do we deserve to be a 1-8 ? soon to be 19 ? team? Do we deserve to have our massacre by Florida shown on television stations all over the South? I thought televised executions were illegal in this state. I have come to one revelation. Seven angels will be blowing seven trumpets calling for the head of Brad Scott. There is too much talent on this football team to be misused as horribly as he has over the last four years. What happened to the Brad Scott of Florida State lore? What happened to the "Fast Break" offense, the trick plays, the innovation that was all but perfect in a conference like the SEC? I'll tell you what happened. Brad Scott is no more an offensive football coach than David Beasley is governor of this state. There is only one genius at Florida State and his last name is Bowden. Brad Scott was a puppet at offensive coordinator, and we fell for the ruse. Actually, it was the first of several ruses used to fool Gamecock football fans over the past few years. In Scott's first year as head coach, fans witnessed the school's first-ever bowl victory. However, that came with Sparky Woods' players. Two years ago, we went 6-5, and even though we weren't accepted to a bowl game, it seemed that a bright future was on the horizon for this football team. However, like the novel by James Hilton, the horizon was a lost one. Shangri-La became Benson-Hurst as the team fell to 5-6, punctuated by a demoralizing loss at the hands of Cowpens Technical Institute. That loss was only a precursor to the total capitulation that would be witnessed this season. If I had to personally sum up this season in one play, it would be the fourth-and-goal call in the Tennessee game. With the Lameclucks down 14-0 in the second quarter, Scott sent out the field goal unit instead of going for it to the boos of nearly every Gamecock fan. That field goal was summarily blocked, and the rout was on from there. It's gutlessness like this that calls for a change. How many more losing seasons do we, as fans, have to suffer through before we get some relief? A coach is a leader, a play caller and a teacher, and Brad Scott is none of these things. Mike McGee must make the right call and replace Scott with someone who is all of these things. After hiring two tremendous basketball coaches, an incredible volleyball coach, and excellent coaches in baseball and softball, it's time for McGee to correct his one mistake. When this season is finally over, I will hnv q KnH-lp nf Hpin? lrpfrhnn for the cookout I will throw following his firing. NCAA' staff writer JEREMY TOUZEL Alter a tremendous year that saw tJ gram pushed to new heights, the USC w soccer season ended with a 2-0 loss in the Tournament to UNC-Charlotte. The Gamecocks finish the year with 7-1 record. The 11 wins are the most in pi history. After her final match as a Gamecocl keeper Emily Crain said, "We didn't ma the second round, but we got to the NCA wanted to go to the SECs and we got tl was a bonus to come to the NCAAs. If s jus thing to build on next year." Next year certainly looks promising f olina soccer. The Gamecocks lose only f niors, with nine starters returning. This season was clearly the best in t toiy of the program, highlighted by the tv season tournaments and the No. 24 rank Gamecocks received at the end of the i season. "We've got a very young team," sai coach Sue Kelly. "As we close this season v to evolve to what we're going to do thro our spring and certainly this upcoming s Junior Jennie Ondo battles through Gamecock; asst. sports editor KELLY MAGUIRE q The hunt for the national champi- r onship has almost reached its pinna- i] cle. Carolina has already faced one SEC a foe in the race in Tennessee, and now Florida looks to take a large bite out of d the struggling Gamecocks. h The Gators are hosting the 1-8 C Gamecocks this Saturday in a game b that may determine Florida's chances w at national gloiy. "We seem to be peaking, hopefully ti at the right time of the year, but whether t< or not we can continue remains to be b seen," Florida head coach Steve Spurrier said. r Florida holds a decisive 12-3-3 lead ^ in the series with the Gamecocks. The a last time Carolina defeated Florida was in 1939 in Columbia. ^ Carolina is coming off a much-need- a ed open date after a tough nine straight games. " a*\nn rln4-n fuof hta unj /><%% me upcn uaic tuat wcjuot iiau tCI" tainly was good for our football team," ? head coach Brad Scott said. "First of all, I think it gave them a little bit of ^ a break away from football and then, secondly, we were able to get some in- ^ jured players healed up." Last year's game in Columbia was q close, until the end of the third quarter y when the Gators went on a scoring rampage in the final 41 seconds of the third c quarter and first seven minutes of the r fourth. 5 "They really had a good chance to beat us last year," Spurrier said. "It was n 14-all in the middle of the third quar- 0 ter up there, and they had two oppor- 7 tunities around the 20-yard line." 6 "They've got a good pass rush," Spurrier said. "Some of those guys - y they ran around our players like they s< were standing still last year." t Tourney < When asked about the outcome of the sea son, Kelly said, "I'm ecstatic. We've recruitec tie Dro- trnmr Ta rrnf fn tVin Mf^A A TAiiwiomAnf 11 ted Press and No. 6 in the USA To- Sports Editor 33 try/ESPN poll. "They're very good on both sides of tie football," Scott said. n i Offensively, the Gators are led by tv'T" , IB Doug Johnson (118-196-5, 1799 Ed,,0^a, Ass,st ards, 14 TDs). Tailback Terry Jackson has inreased the Gator offenses' ability to Sh3WI1 Singl un the score up on opponents with his staff Guest Picki 77-yards and three TDs. However, the Gator offense is geared lore to their dynamic duo in wide re- l/pllw |W|oni eivers: Travis McGriff(53-1035 yards, rve 1,vldy1 TDs) and Nafis Karim (33-548 yards, Asst Sports d" TDs). "It will be one of those games where ou try to match up with their per- Laura Bok( onnel that's in the ballgame, whether Friend of Sports hey're in a running personnel or % ' ^^:::^:r': :'M^ -, .. ' :. . two UNC Charlotte players In Wednesday's 2-0 loss 3 look to do u: I Of course, Carolina was without whether they ar [uarterback Anthony Wright, who had personnel," Scot eceived a season-ending knee injury If the Gators a the Gamecocks' previous game nationally regari gainst Tennessee. it. Florida has he The last time Carolina faced Flori- points or less si a in Gainesville, Florida was ranked "There are a fo. 1 in the country and ripped the players on that fi lamecocks apart in the fourth quarter Linebacker? y scoring 17 straight points. The Gators tackles and 7.5 rent on to win 52-25. sisted by tackle "Certainly Florida has the reputa- 20 tackles and 1 ion of being one of the toughest places year. Both Kear 3 play, and I think that's because they nalists for the L ave so much success there," Scott said Linebacker Spurrier has recorded more victo- recorded 103 ta ies (91) than any other college coach Rutledge has ti bis century in his first nine years at times. Free safe school- four intercepts "We don't ever worry about trying 3 win it big, because we try to do that ^^3 11 the time anyway," Spurrier said. HEVSI This year's Florida squad returns ? i rc 1 J me auuteia, eaui uii unease aiiu uemse from last year's team that postd a 10-2 record. The Gators finished ist year ranked No. 4 by the Associ- NatP x vcij iiaiu. iu gci tu tiiu iivim luuiuaiuciit i? omen's a credit to these young ladies. These guys worl NCAA very, very hard. If you were on the field [afte: the game], I think you could see there's not a dn an 11- eye out there." rogram The two teams were very evenly matched ant played a close game, just as they did when the; i, goal- scrimmaged to a tie in the preseason, ke it to The first half was mainly defense, with nei As We ther team getting many offensive chances. Mos lere. It ?t the play occurred in the midfield, with botl t some- teams making sporadic runs down the wings One such opportunity came when Melind; or Car Carter dispossessed a UNCC attacker and fe< the ball out to Kim Murray, who made a long rui down the left wing. Seizing the opportunity, Mur , ,. ray shot, but the ball sailed just over the cross ;helus" bar. fo post- Minutes later the Gamecocks encountere< gthe trouble, as Crain came out of the net to stop < egular breakaway. As she cleared the ball, it was de fleeted to another UNCC player. Before the for d head ward could shoot, Carter arrived in a hurry, clear ve have ing the ball away from trouble, ughout After surviving a barrage of shots in the fi eason." nal five minutes of the first half, USC came ou Carolina stook J^18S SEAN RAYFORD Sp< I'ho u> Editor to the 49ers in the first round of the NC athinkable i e in a wide-open pass tied with Tony Georj t said. ry. ' offense looks good, it^ When asked wh ied defense outshines about the Gamecocks jld its opponents to 10 "Just everything. The ix times this season, viously they're not a ? lot of potential NFL a lot of injuries this ront seven," Scott said, been in A bunch of gai Jevon Kearse has 46 score some points." QB sacks. He is as- "They've made Ed Chester, who has downs; they've movei four QB sacks on the ny Wright's a good qi se and Chester are fi- seen him play a bunci ombardi Award. As a team, Florid Mike Peterson has its opponents 12 tim< ckles and LB Johnny The Gators rank ackled opponents 83 in several SEC cate; >t.v Tpakn Rrnwn has first in srnrincr Hpfpns ns on the year and is tal defense (278.8 yar Florida Tennessee -17 Da Gators Rocky Top ant" 32-18 eton Florida Arkansas 2t 37-13 lire USC (again) Tennessee or 31-19 ;sch Florida Tennessee Staff 35-14 cruel to confident in the final period. Mindy Sander 1 a shot that missed the left corner, almost g 3 the Gamecocks the first goal of the game, c Minutes later, a Carolina defensive lap r to a three-on-one opportunity that saw the / Maria Ciaravino score the game-winning With 20 minutes remaining in the mate 1 ward Jennie Ondo made a pass to senior ] y Greene to set up a breakaway against the I goalie. Before Greene shot, the 49ers' goalk t cut off Greene's angle, allowing her to stc l potentially equalizing goal. Five minutes later, UNCC's Carrie Hi i volleyed in another goal to seal the victor i Following the game, coach Kelly summ i the significance of the game for her team. "It was a very graceful experience for us - said. "It gives us an opportunity that we w. do again and obviously go forward. We wi i tainly provide for the South Carolina pro i everything that they're going to need to - in the SEC and NCAA tournaments." "We started the season kind of rocky, Crain. "We had some new freshman in. I as the season progressed we built on a our games. Throughout the season, we t nitely improved?each player and also as a edup USC's Jennie Ondo and Mindy Sanders, No. 16, show signs of the chilly weather, ."she temperatures dipping down in the lower 40s Wednesday night, USC was 11 cer- f?rced to go to the long-sleeve shirts for its first-ever NCAA Tournament same. gram s go on "Next year, hopefully, we'll go beyond where we are at this point," Kelly said. "We will con" said tinue-to strengthen our schedule. We will try to think move on the foundation that these seniors have lot of built. defi- "I could not say enough for our senior class. nm 1 i_ x v team. mey nave my utmost respect. lllllli N jsp^ iii i' ^i ^~' SEAN ItX^OI^ vAA Tournament. ??I n 'The Swamp' %e in that catego- ficiency (163.1) and QB sacks (32/192 yards). Florida also ranks second in at concerns him passing offense (3,206 yards), kickoff i, Spurrier stated, returns (24.2 yards average), rushing yTe not bad... ob- defense (85 yards/game) and total ofP"eSt team ? had fense (480.8 yards/game), year, but they've The Gators have also scored 30 or mes, and they can more points against SEC schools 46 times in the 1990s, a bunch of first Given all the Gators' achievements, i the ball. Antho- the Gamecocks obviously have a tough larterback. We've challenge heading into Gainesville; howh before," he said, ever, this is considered a positive to the a has intercepted team. 2S tftis year. I expect our team to continue to at or near the top make improvements, to continue to get gories, including better in practice, and we'll look for;e (118 points), to- ward to playing Saturday at ds/game), pass ef- Gainesville," Scott said. Kansas St. Virginia Syracuse Huskers Cavaliers Orangemen Kansas St. Virginia Syracuse Nebraska Virginia Va. Tech Nebraska N. 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