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USC Schedule ■ Men’s soccer vs. The Citadel, Wednesday ■ Volleyball vs. N.C. A & T, Wednesday ®ie ©amccock Monday, August 30,1999 Booster clubs hoping for more success Gamecock Club sets all-time high for annual donations Staff Reports 1 The Gamecock USC’s athletics program raised a combined $10.3 million for the 1998-99 fiscal year, the highest total of annual fund raising in school his tory. That mark breaks the school’s all time high in the categoiy, $9.187 mil lion, set last year. “This record level of annual, giving by the Gamecock Club membership is a terrific testimony to the quality of support we are fortu nate to receive from the Carolina fans and to the confidence they have placed in the direction our program is heading,” athletics director Mike McGee said. The Gamecock Club’s annual giv ing reached $8.43 million, a total that includes donations and endowment interest income. The remaining amount came from the club’s premium seating program at Williams-Brice Stadium, which gen erated around $1.9 million in con tributions. Also, the club added more than 1,000 new members over the past year, as the athletics department’s fund-raising element has moved to rank with the nation’s elite in annu. al donations, in relation to other schools of USC’s size. For the fiscal year, the athletics i department showed a total gross rev enue of $31.25 million. This is also ; an all-time record for the school and 1 shows more than a $ 13 million in- i :rease over the past five years. “Across the board, the support ind enthusiasm for our student-ath etes, coaches and sports programs s outstanding,” McGee said. Attendance not the whole picture Despite decreasing attendance for home football games, one of the athletics department’s largest revenue producers, support for the Gamecock Club continues to go up. 1997 nome attendance Auburn 79,411 Vanderbilt 79,014 Clemson 83,700 iyytj nome auenaance Bail State 78,830 cc o 5 _ ui Miss. State 70.052 I Q. < CC (3 </> cc UI y Tennessee 69,523 * o < or CO Woods stays hot, wins Firestone with 71 J by Doug Ferguson Associated Press Akron, Oho - Tiger Woods hit another bump in the road on the back nine. He also stared down another challenge with a big putt on the 17th hole. And when the NEC Invitational came to a close Sunday, he had yet another victory. Woods revived his putter just in time, holing a 20-foot birdie putt on the 17th for a two stroke cushion. That proved to be critical when he had to two putt from 60 feet for bogey on the final hole to win for the fifth time this year. It all added up to a 1-over 71 and $1 million for his one-stroke victory over Ryder Cup team mate Phil Mickelson, who put a scare into Wxxls with a 65. Woods finished at 10-under 270 on a tough Firestone Country Club that played more than three strokes harder because of deceptive winds and treacherous pin placements. At 23, he becomes the youngest player to win five times in one season since Jack Nicklaus won the Sahara Invitational in 1963 at the exact same age. He’s also the first player since Nick Price in 1994 to win five times in a year. The victory, no matter how ugly it got down the stretch, also lends credibility again to com parisons to Nicklaus. Woods has been utterly dominant this sum mer, and appears to be getting better with every week. Including his victory in Germany against a strong field, Woods has won five times in his past eight tournaments. Sunday was also the ninth straight time he has had at least a share of the 54-hole lead and gone on to win. Just like his victory in the PGA Championship two weeks ago, Woods appeared to be in total con trol until he pulled two relatively short par putts on the back nine and saw his lead shrink to a stroke. And just like at Medinah, where Woods had to make an 8-foot par save on the 17 th to main tain a one-stroke lead, he found a way to steady a sinking ship. With Mickelson in at 271, Woods had a 20 foot birdie putt on No. 17 that crept into the hole on the last turn, causing him to pump his fist four times and let out another sigh of relief. It didn’t last long, though. He had to lay up out of the rough on the 464 yard closing hole, then caught his wedge fat and left himself 60 feet to the hole. But he coaxed the par putt within 2 feet, a great putt under the circumstances, and tapped in for the victory. Mickelson, who has won a World Series of Golf at Firestone and finished second twice, earned $510,000 for the laigest paycheck of his career. But he is running out of time to extend his streak to seven years with at least one PGA Tour victory. He can blame this opportunity on two bad shots - a layup that found the rough on the par-5 16th, and a drive into the rough on the closing hole. Both led to bogeys. “I needed to put both balls in the fairway,” Mickelson said. Craig Parry (69) and Nick Price (71) tied for third at 5-under 275. dy winning me worm uou cnampionsmp event for Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup players, Woods became the first player to surpass $4 mil lion in one season. He now has played three full seasons as a pro and has won 12 times on the PGA Tour. He has earned more than $8.9 million and al ready is 12th in career money. Seigio Garcia, the 19-year-old Spaniard who nearly made up a five-stroke deficit over the final seven holes in the PGA Championship, took a quadruple-bogey 9 on the 16th and finished eight strokes back in a tie for seventh. Fred Couples, playing in the final pairing with Woods, had a 77. It was the first time in 15 worldwide victories that Woods led after the first round and went on to win. And it was the second time this year that a third-round 62 set up the victory. After his first five shots of the day, Woods looked like he could breeze to another 62 and beat the field even worse than his 12-stroke victory in the Masters two years ago. It was as simple as a wedge to 3 feet for birdie on No. 1, as powerful as a 333-yard drive and a 9 iron uphill 164 yards on the par-5 second that left him just off the green. But his 4-foot birdie putt bounced over a mine field of spike marks and lipped out of the cup for a frustrating par. Woods made up for that with a 10-foot birdie putt on the 200-yard fifth hole, but by then he knew he had a game. Mickelson birdied five of the first seven holes to get within three strokes of Woods, then closed within two with an 8-foot birdie putt on the 11th. While Mickelson stayed in the hunt with his brilliant short game - a tough par save from the bunker on No. 13 and a flop shot out of the deep rough to 2 feet on No. 15, two errant shots cost him a chance. His layup on the 625-yard 16th went too far into the rough and kept him from attacking the pin, positioned behind the water. He went over the green, chipped to 5 feet and missed the putt to take bogey. He got it back with a 4-toot birdie on No. 17, but then chopped up the 18th by hitting into the rough, hitting a tree, hitting more rough and having to make a nice up-and-down for bogey. Woods certainly could have made it easier on himself. After his first bogey in 27 holes, a three-putt from 40 feet on No. 8, he made par saves from 6 feet on the next two holes to keep a cushion. His lead didn’t unravel as quickly as it did at Medinah, but it was close. With only 76 yards into the 13th green, he went over the green into the first cut, chipped 4 feet by it and pulled it coming back. A poor chip on the par-3 15th left him 8 feet short, and he pulled that one for another bo gey Still, Woods’ short but stellar career is marked by his ability to rise to the occasion. He did that once again. Student Gamecock Club increases benefits, hopes for more popularity by David Cloninger Senior Writer USC has had an athletics program for more than 100 years and has managed to make itself known for its rabid, die-hard fans. These fans fill all of USC’s venues for games, no matter how well the team might be doing. However, one select group has managed to make it self known in the past few years by being the loudest, most spirited fans in attendance, and resorting to any kind of tactic to help their team pull out a victory. These fans all have one thing in common: They are all members of the Student Gamecock Club, the daugh ter branch of the Gamecock Club, which specializes as an athletics booster organization. The club, founded in 1992 by three students who wanted more than just a free ticket to a game, has since flourished into one of the most popular organizations on campus. It has also managed to improve its benefits each year to include priority seating at basketball and football games, gifts and the chance to meet USC athletes and coaches. ii . • • il_. C_J . * I — £__ WUl UUU VVtU UilgllUUlJ' IWUHUtAl lUgV/l llllVZllliUI.1V/il about tickets,” club president Niko Kruger said. “Since then, we have formed our own groups, like the Ballheads, the Cockpit and the Soccer Hooligans, which was just cre ated, in order to support our teams.” Kruger and other members of the club’s executive staff have already managed to put several programs into effect for the coming year, including block seating, in tramurals and new membership packets. On the advice of Gamecock Club President Jeff Barber, the SGC is plan ning to make itself the biggest student organization on campus in 1999. To join the club, a student pays $20 in yearly dues. Upon payment, the student will receive a packet con sisting of a T-shirt, license plate, window decal, bumper sticker, subscription to Spurs and Feathers magazine and a membership card. As students continue to become more involved with the club events, they are given priority, points, which determine seats for basketball and other events. They are also given points, which accumulate for a membership in the Gamecock Club after graduation. The SGC advertises itself by offering the chance for students to make themselves known as dedicated fans. The group in section U at the Carolina Coliseum and the crowd with painted chests at volleyball matches are^ just two of the many groups the SGC sponsors. Members also participate in halftime shows during football games and go with traveling caravans to away games. Kruger and his staff would like to see every student involved in some way with the club this year. He en courages everyone to sign up at the Organizational Fair from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, or at the club’s first meeting at 6 p.m. on Sept. 1 in the Golden Spur. “Our first meeting will be followed by the volleyball season opener, so everyone will have a chance to show their true colors,” Kruger said. “We look forward to hav ing a big turnout.” Women's soccer falls to Deacons Soccer Roundup The Gamecock The USC women’s soccer team opened the 1999 cam paign with a 5-0 loss to Whke Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Friday. The No. 23 Demon Deacons first got on the board at the 15:15 point in the first half, when Anne Shropshire converted on a penalty kick. Joline Charlton scored an other goal at the 29:38 mark to give the Deacs a 2-0 lead. Shropshire and Charlton continued the trend in the second half, each scoring a goal. The final goal of the game came at the hands of Sarah Kate Noftsinger, her first of the 1999 season. The Gamecocks will play their home opener Wednes day against Charleston Southern. Game time at Stone Sta dium is 8 p.m. The Slate (late games not included) National League Eastern Division W L Pet GB L10 Str Atlanta 82 49 .626 - 9-1 W-9 New York 79 51 .608 2.5 6-4 L-l Philadelphia 67 60 .528 13 4-6 L-l Montreal 54 75 .419 27 5-5 W-l Florida 52 77 .403 29 3-7 W-2 Central Division Houston 77 54 .588 - 5-5 L-2 Cincinnati 75 53 .586 .5 5-5 L-l Pittsburgh 64 66 .492 12.5 4-6 L-l St. Louis 63 67 .485 13.5 2-8 L-5 Milwaukee 57 71 .445 18.5 3-7 W-l Chicago 53 75 .414 22.5 2-8 L-2 West Division Arizona 77 53 .592 - 8-2 W-l San Francisco 68 61 .527 8.5 8-2 W-l Los Angeles 60 69 .465 16.5 7-3 W-2 San Diego 58 72 .446 19 3-7 L-l Colorado 58 72 .446 19 6-4 W-l American League Eastern Division W L Pet GB L10 Str New York 79 49 .617 - 6-4 W-2 Boston 71 58 .550 8.5 5-5 W-2 Toronto 69 62 .527 11.5 4-6 L-2 Baltimore 57 72 .442 22.5 4-6 L-4 Tampa Bay 57 73 .438 23 6-4 L-2 Central Division Cleveland 79 49 .617 - 7-3 W-3 Chicago 61 68 .473 18.5 4-6 L-3 Minnesota 54 73 .425 24.5 4-6 W-3 Detroit 51 77 .398 28 5-5 W-2 Kansas City 51 78 .395 28.5 3-7 L-2 West Division Texas 78 52 .600 - 7-3 W-3 Oakland 71 58 .550 6.5 6-4 W-2 Seattle 63 65 .492 14 5-5 L-2 Anaheim 51 77 .398 26 3-7 L-4 Sunday’s Top News • College football: No. 12 Miami surprises No. 9 Ohio State, 23-12 • Michael Johnson, Maurice Greene have Americans’ golden touch at World Track and Field Championships • Ex-Chiefs linebacker Jaime Fields killed in hit and-run accident • Jenny Thompson wins two gold medals on final day at Pan Pacific as American swimmers edge Australia • Mike Hampton wins 17th for Astros Charlie Wallace Senior Writer Gamecocks, fans ready to start over It has begun, with the start ot Sat urday's Kickoff Classic between No.3 Arizona and No.4 Penn State, the college football season is official ly under way. And with that first kick, that first cheer and that first touch down, all by Penn State, things have forever changed. At least until Janu ary. For most men in this country, the first football game signifies many things. One, the beginning of college football, the greatest team sport in America, if not the world. Two, it’s another excuse for guys to get rowdy (among other things) together around a television or outside of a stadium while eating chicken and/or barbecue and drinking assorted bever ages'. All kidding aside, there’s a dark side to the start of the football sea son. It’s a proven statistic that shop ping, golf and college football are major deterrents that lead to marriage and relationship breakups. auu» me cuumiy, wmie men die cheering their hearts out for their fa vorite teams, women are either crying theirs out or simply moving on. It’s a rare female who will tolerate a man and his son or friends or brothers act ing like 10-year-olds every Saturday (I love you, Mom). But it’s really hard to find a woman who will put up with a Carolina fan. Historically, Gamecock fans have had no excuse to get rowdy or excit ed about USC football. But they love it anyway. In less then a week, new head coach Lou Holtz will be leading a Carolina squad full of question marks to Raleigh, N.C., to play a North Carolina State team which just upset No. 16 Texas on the road. Statistically, the Longhorns dominated the game. But State blocked three punts on the way to victory. In Raleigh, people are calling this the best State team in 24 years, when, guess who? Holtz was the coach. But on the surface, it looks like the on ly thing USC needs to do to beat the ‘Pack is control its own special teams. If Carolina can get good blocking and make sure Courtney Leavitt can get the punt off quick, it has a shot. I just hope I’m not all snug on my couch Saturday night and see USC go three and out on the opening possession and the next thing I know, Leavitt is on the ground and the Wblipack are in the end £une. And who made Carolina’s sched ule, anyway? Starting off the season at N.C. State and Georgia is totally ludi crous, especially for a 1-10 team. Of course, the schedule was made years ago, but has any Carolina team been strong enough for its slate? Holtz definitely has a challenge on his hands. N.C. State is definitely out to change its image and show that it’s not just another ACC team. Anyone who saw its game Saturday noticed the team’s uniform change. The traditional white helmets have been changed to red, and the ‘Pack has changed its pants to gray. Head coach Mike O'Cain needs to just go ahead and admit, “Yes, we are trying to be just like Georgia.” Next thing you know, they’ll have a wolf who walks around and answers to the name “NCSU.” Even with all of this momentum and fanfare, though, State still could n't sell all its tickets to this home open er against USC. State’s athletics de partment returned 2,500 tickets to The Gamecock Club. So an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 Carolina fans will oc cupy Carter-Finley Stadium, which has a capacity of 51,500. i ueieiuie, une-iiim oi me biaui um will be made up of Carolina fans crazy enough to drive four hours to Raleigh while not having a clue of what kind of team they have this year. But such is the life of a Gamecock. Guys, I just hope your girlfriends un derstand. Of course, if they’re Car olina fans, too, they will. Charlie Wallace’s column appears on Mondays. He can he reached at gamecocksports@hotmail.com.