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IP fiamp rlf k/IAJLUV VLV by Brock Vergakis Assistant Sports Kdilor Making the decision to come to USC from another state is a difficult one for most. Even harder is making the 'decision to transfer mid-way through a colleg.e career. USC shortstop Brian Roberts made both decisions when he decided to transfer here. When most athletes transfer to another school, they do so because they don't feel they're getting enough playing time, have conflicts with the coach or just don't feel at home at the school they are attending. What makes Roberts an unusual case is that none of these scenarios apply to him. Roberts became an Ail-American, ACC player of the year and who many consider the best shortstop in the country while attending the University of North Carolina. However, at the end of the 1998 season, something happened that lead to Roberts' decision to transfer and bless USC with his talents. UNC's coach decided to retire after 21 years of leading the Tar Heels. While most UNC players decided to remain at school and adjust to the new coach, it was a tougher decision for Roberts; the new coach was his father. "I could have stayed in Chapel Hill, but all I know is my father being there," Roberts said. Luckily for USC, he made the arduous choice of transferring. "I was away all summer and made the decision on my own," Roberts said. He decided to take the fall semester off and relax with his friends while living in Chapel Hill. "I don't know if I was mentally or physically prepared to come to USC yet," Roberts said. "It was fun enjoying being with my friends. I also got to spend time with my family outside of baseball. It had been four years without a break until that point." On Jan. 3, eager with anticipation, Roberts finally arrived in Columbia. What he would find was completely different than anything he'd known before. "It's a different atmosphere," Roberts said. "The excitement in Co- j lumbia is a notch above here than in the ACC." Aside from the differences in baseball, he has had to learn to cope with cultural ones as well. "Ti.? Kill O iL 1 its a utile mure ouutuern uere. Probably not quite as ritzy as it is in Chapel Hill. But the people here are very sincere so it hasn't been a bad adjustment," he said. "I'm a Southern boy deep down so it's good. Nothing bad has stuck out." The hardest part about coming here, according to Roberts, has been the same challenges that everyone moving to a new town must face. 'termina ^rir^r -^P:V ':? : '' ' ' " ^ 1 m if p - -oX mmm p itihk4L - *' I I "* " % * Rr * ^ x5# . =* t , * ?*, < * .*? 5* *_ . /, - -;, ,fE *' > ifciili iinf,:-jiii, fcl4> . 't#r?l , *** - ^ J >* 4;^| p| s *. ^ SS&i^ic sf*?f', V^Ci'lL i8:%il,,'' <s*ws<; \-J- . * ^ ^ Slrt ' ^ 11iHCI^nL^A1*^ * ap^2^* v fr< " ? v "V'? ' , ? < M&s&y&gisra?;- * * %*W*- ? . ' f-:^^-ir-> -,j? > .g^rf'i Lf lunior transfer Brian Roberts will play sh "The biggest adjustment is making new friends, once you're on the field bi it's the same game," he said. "The team h is close-knit so that helps. Adjusting to classes and the campus is the biggest t\ problem." w While the baseball team has been quick to accept Roberts into their group, aj they won't soon forget what he helped fr do while he wore the baby blue uni- fr form of North Carolina. UNC eliminated USC in the At- fr lantic Regional of the NCAA Tburna- 2 ment last year. tc Gamecock gports ?xtra tion, di H jHHH| JB iWli?- 1 ortstop for the Gamecocks. Robe "I've been heckled a lot about il at it's been fun to be a part of the tear ere now," Roberts said. If a rematch happened between th vn f!arnlin?s this vpar hp thinks i ould definitely be worth watching "It'd be pretty fierce to play ther gain, but who knows. I'm still gooi iends with a lot of them, so it woul e exciting," Roberts said. Being an Ail-American and a men: er of Team USA might give som 1-year-olds a big head and cause ther > lose sight of what's truly importan fFprpn i n .jljrl^/jl vajlv ~ ^ ^ ^ -~ ~~ ~~~ \s..ry'" 4 .^^0^ '' ~ ; || ||P?P$ m^^MII^1 wpF^ * / rts transferred to USC from North Carolina. t, in their lives. Once again, Roberts does- I n n't fit the mold. b "I'm a real strong Christian, it's b e what I trust in," he said. "I haven't ex- r it perienced that much here yet. I'm just f. looking forward to making some new I n friends. t d "I heard F.C.A. is real strong here t d so I'm excited about that." wnne millions proDaDiy await r l- Roberts playing professionally in the g e future, he has the same concerns and n fears as everybody else. t it Genuinely kind, and eager about i all the opportunities Columbia and t Friday, February 5,1999 arolina if M :v gg&ap MBf MMF/ * $iP^s j ^felSL. . j?fc^. : *& v: - - ill *> .. ?;.,. < '> *> '^1 ^ ^ ^ ill JSC has to offer, he will undoubtedly >e a great contribution to the USC >aseball team and the Carolina comnunity. Now donning the garnet and black, toberts will join a nationally ranked earn with every intention of going afer a conference and national title. After six months off, Roberts is eady and able to become one of the greats in USC history. 1 m excited to be nere and want to ake the team to Omaha," he said. "[Beng out for so long], it kind of rekindled he fire to be out there."