The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 03, 1999, Page 8, Image 8
USC Schedule
■ Men’s soccer vs. Davidson, 7 p.m. Saturday
■ Football vs. N.C. State, 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Sean Rayford photo editor
Joey Worthen, left, battles with a Bulldog defender in Wednesday’s home opener. The Gamecocks
defeated The Citadel, 8-2, with Worthen and two other Gamecocks scoring two goals apiece.
First one’s easy for Gamecocks
Men’s soccer
smashes Citadel
in home opener
by Kyle Almond
Staff writer
After losing two of their top four scor
ers from last year’s team, the men’s soc
cer team’s primaiy concern going into this
season was offensive production. After
Wednesday night’s season opener, it cer
tainly didn’t seem as if they had much to
worry about.
The Gamecocks destroyed The
Citadel, 8-2, answering any questions one
might have had about their attacking skills
and scoring prowess.
USC also outshot the Bulldogs, and
five different players scored.
Three Gamecocks, including senior
forward John Harr, sophomore forward
Joey Worthen and senior defender Scott
Campagna, had two goals apiece.
Once the game was underway, it did
n’t take long for the goals to start piling
up.
Worthen scored the first goal of the
game in the third minute of play, deflecting
a cross by Harr past the Citadel goalkeeper.
Then at the 7:03 mark, Worthen
showed his appreciation by assisting Harr’s
first goal, a rocket hard and low, deep from
the box.
Harr and Wbrthen would go on to cre
ate many more scoring chances in the first
half.
“Playing up top, we just click,”
Wbrthen said. Our styles complement each
other, and we just work well together.”
Harr added another goal at 19:15,
putting South Carolina up 3-0, and things
were going smoothly for USC until The
Citadel’s Corey Martin scored before half
time to cut the lead to two.
WTten the whistle blew to begin the
second half, USC started right where it
left off, swarming the Bulldog defense and
keeping the ball primarily on its oppo
nent’s side of the field
Campagna buried his two goals with
in three minutes of each other, Wbrthen
added his second and the rout was on.
David Testo, a freshman from Arden, N.C.,
added agoal of his own to go with his three
assists.
Soccer see page 9
Matching up with N.C. State no easy task
by David Cloninger
Senior Writer
The Gamecocks will travel to Raleigh,
N.C., Saturday to start their season against
the N.C. State Wolfpack.
The Gamecocks will be facing a tough
‘Pack team that’s coming off of a stellar
1998 campaign and a victory last Satur
day over then No. 17-ranked Texas.
1998 recap: The Wolfpack had one
of their better seasons in recent years, fin
ishing up with a 74 regular season record
and a 5-3 ACC mark.
The season was marked by a Heisman
Trophy campaign from wide receiver Tor
ry Holt, who set several receiving records
and left as a top NFL draft pick.
'* Head coach Mike O’Cain was given
a contract extension for his outstanding
work.
The ‘Pack was invited to the Micron
PC Bowl, but were defeated by the Mi
ami Hurricanes, 46-23.
South Carolina is coming off its worst
football season ever, going 1-10 and 0-8
in the Southeastern Conference.
After an opening-day win over low
ly Ball State, the Gamecocks dropped the
remaining'games.
Head coach Brad Scott was fired
immediately after the season and was
replaced by Lou Holtz.
The Matchups:
Head Coach
O’Cain is a solid, dependable coach
who has built his team around a high-fly
ing aerial attack.
His defense has improved from last
year, when NCSU gave up almost as many
points as they scored in every contest.
No one has any idea what Holtz is go
ing to pull, considering that his most re
cent game tape is two years old.
Also, USC’s new offensive and de
fensive coordinators, Skip Holtz and Char
lie Strong, are mysteries in terms of their
game plans. Edge to USC
Quarterback
The ‘Pack’s Jamie Barnette was the
ACC leader in total offense last year, and
could break the 10,000-yard career pass
ing mark for the first time in the confer
ence. Barnette only completed nine pass
es for 65 yards last week, but he should
still be a major threat.
Holtz is handing the reins to red
shirt sophomore Phil Petty, who saw ac
tion in every game last year.
Petty has shown himself as a reliable,
solid leader, but has yet to excel in any
one facet of the game. His lack of big
game experience will be enough to give
Barnette the edge. Edge to NCSU.
Running back
The Wrlfpack will have to emphasize
their running game. 1998 ACC Rookie of
the Year Ray Robinson was the only
running back who produced against the
Longhorns last week.
NCSU can also look to senior Rashon
Spikes to carry the ball. Boo Williams will
be looked on to produce for USC right
away, and freshman Derek Watson has al
ready been chosen for extensive playing
time. Edge to NCSU.
Wide Receiver
Barnette still has Chris Coleman to
throw to, but Texas did a good job of cov
ering him last week. If Coleman can find
an open spot, he can score.
USC’s Jermale Kelly returns, along
with Ben Fleming, Brian Scott and Ker
ry Hood. Petty can get the ball to any of
them, and all have proved worthy of a
pass-happy offense. Edge to USC
Linebackers
State’s linebacking corps might be
young, but it has already been called the
best in the league.
USC has preseason All-American John
Abraham on the outside, along with se
nior Corey Atkins waiting to take part
in Carolina’s new pass rush defense. Etjge
to USC
Secondary
State is led by All-American team
captain Lloyd Harrison, who has anchored
the comerbapk position for the ‘Pack since
last year. USC’s best defensive back, Ar
turo Freeman, will miss some of his se
nior year because of an injury to his spleen.
EdgetoNCSU.
Kickers
State is led by Bobby Moore, who has
been known to make long field goals.
USC will have to rely either on Court
ney Leavitt, who was a miserable 4-14 in
field goals last year, or rookie Reid Bethea,
until proven kicker Steve Florio can get
and stay healthy. Edge to NCSU.
Sean Rayford photo editor
Head coach Lou Holtz shouts instructions and encouragement during
spring practice. USC’s game on Saturday will be televised on ESPN.
The Slate (late games not included)
National League
Eastern Division W L Pet GB L10 Str
Atlanta 85 50 .630 - 9-1 W-2
New York 81 53 .609 3.5 5-5 W-l
Philadelphia 67 65 .508 16.5 2-8 L-6
Montreal 57 76 .429 27 7-3 W-2
Florida 53 80 .398 31 3-7 1^2
Central Division
Houston 7S 56 .585 - 6-4 L-l
Cincinnati 76 56 .576 1.5 3-7 L-2
Pittsburgh 67 67 .500 11.5 6-4 W-3
St. Louis 65 69 .485 13.5 3-7 W-2
Milwaukee 58 74 .439 19.5 3-7 W-l
Chicago 55 77 .417 22.5 3-7 W-l
West Division
Arizona 79 55 .590 - 7-3 W-6
San Francisco 72 61 .541 6.5 8-2 W-5
Los Angeles 62 71 .466 16.5 7-3 L-l
San Diego 61 73 .455 18 6-4 W-l
Colorado 60 75 .444 19.5 5-5 L-3
Wild Card Race
American League W L Pet GB L10 Str
Boston 75 58 .564 - 8-2 W-6
Oakland 73 60 .549 2 6-4 W-2
Toronto 71 64 .526 5 5-5 W-l
Seattle 67 66 .504 8 7-3 W-4
National League
New York 81 53 .609 - 5-5 W-l
Cincinnati 76 56 .576 4 3-7 L-2
San Francisco 72 61 .541 8.5 8-2 W-5
Philadelphia 67 65 .508 13 2-8 L-6
American League
Eastern Division W L Pet GB L10 Str
New York 81 51 .614 - 7-3 L-2
Boston 75 58 .564 6.5 8-2 W-6
Toronto 71 64 .526 11.5 5-5 W-l
Baltimore 59 73 .447 22 5-5 W-l
Tampa Bay 59 74 .444 22.5 5-5 L-l
Central Division
Cleveland 82 50 .621 - 7-3 W-3
Chicago 62 67 .463 21 2-8 L-4
Minnesota 56 75 .427 25.5 5-5 L-l
Detroit 53 79 .402 29 5-5 L-l
Kansas City 51 82 .383 31.5 3-7 L-6
West Division
Texas 80 54 .597 - 6-4 W-l
Oakland 73 60 .549 6.5 6-4 W-2
Seattle 67 66 .504 12.5 7-3 W-4
Anaheim 51 81 .386 28 1-9 L-8
Thursdays Top News
• Andre Agassi pounds
his way onward at 1999
U.S. Open
• Colorado Rockies
manager Jim Leyland
considering retirement
• Baseball umps unable
to save 22 jobs in labor
settlement
• New York Liberty &
Houston Comets to face
off tonight in WNBA
Finals
• NHL brass OKs sale of
Pittsburgh Penguins to
Mario Lemieux
USC-N.C. State
Marshall-Clemson
Houston-Rice
UNC-Virginia
Mich.-Notre Dame
Calvin
(0-0)
N.C. State
Marshall
Rice
UNC
Michigan
Dick
Tracy
(0-0)
N.C. State
Marshall
Rice
Virginia
Michigan
Vixen
(0*0)
N.C. State
Marshall
Houston
Virginia
Michigan
Jeffy
(0-0)
use
Marshall
Rice
UNC
Notre Dame
Pigpen
(0-0)
use
Marshall
Rice
UNC
Notre Dame
Wonder
Woman
(0-0)
use
Marshall
Houston
Virginia
Michigan
I_I
Todd Money
Money in the Bank
So who’s a
dreamer?
After Carolina’s spine-tingling,
come-hom-behind, 23-21 win last night
over Tennessee for the national cham
pionship, Gamecock reporters were
allowed into the USC locker room for
several nunutes. We have taken great
care to preserve just a few of the ex
cerpts that followed, just before the
presentation of the Bowl Championship ■,
Series trophy.
Gamecock reporter. “So, Courtney, I
guess we can say redemption is yours
now. What was going through your
mind on that last kick?”
USC placekicker Courtney Leavitt
“Wow. I’m pretty sure all those fans
who wanted me off the team in August
were going through my mind. I mean,
kicking a 53-yarder to win the nation
al title? For this team? Nineteen of 21
from 30-plus yards for the season? I
think I proved myself, yeah.”
GR: “By the way, did that ‘fat’ tag ever
bother you?”
Leavitt “What? Yeah, whatever. Hey,
are you from the paper that put out
that ‘Worst Athlete’ poll last year?”
GR “Next question. Andrew—good
game, man.”
USC fullback Andrew Pinnock: “Yeah,
I guess a Sugar Bowl MVP’s good to
have. Heck, nobody thought I’d even
play this year. But it feels good. They
said the only way we could beat Ten
nessee was to run over them. And 322
yards? I guess we did.”
(31 “Good point. Must be a good feel
ing to beat that team twice in a season,
right, Phil? What do you think the odds
of that were?”
Gamecock quarterback Phil Petty:
“Hey, I said over and over our fans were
the best in the country. What was it,
30,000 who came to Knoxville? And
that game wasn’t nearly as close as this
one.
(St “And then the SEC Championship
— I swear that whole Georgia Dome
was garnet and black.”
Carolina linebacker Corey Atkins:
“That’s very perceptive. I thought about
that myself. The biggest thing, though,
was the noise. I didn’t think our fans
had ever been in a dome before, but
they sure helped us out there.”
GR: “Whoa — somebody’s a sight
for sore eyes. What’d you think of the
game, Mr. Dixon?”
Former USC athletics director King
Dixon: “Hey, now — I said the ‘90s
would be the decade of the Gamecocks,
didn’t I? So I wasn’t totally off. Any of
you boys remember that?”
GR: “Uh, no. Coach Scott, is that
you back there?”
Qemson assistant coach Brad Scott: “I
couldn’t stay away, I admit it. This is
my team, and everybody knows that.
Come on, you guys, give me some cred
it.”
GR: “We didn’t give it to Sparky, we’re
not doing it for you. Live with it. Hey,
Eddie, what’d you think of Derek 'Wht
son?”
USC basketball coach bdcne roglen
“You ’re not supposed to interview me
anymore, remember? Get the hell out
of here. And he’s a damn good running
back. From South Carolina, I might
add.”
GR “Right, right, right. Hey, Lou, I
mean, ‘Sir Lou the Great,’ get over
here. Did you honestly expect... ”
Gamecock head coach Lou Holtz: “Yes,
I did. I certainly did. I predicted it, all
the way. It was all in the back of my
head all along.”
(3L “What? Coach, are you serious?”
Holtz: “I am. All that crap about us be
ing a fundamentally bad football team,
how we couldn’t tackle, didn’t make
good decisions, you remember that
Noah’s ark comment, right?”
GR “Well, yeah. We all do.”
Holtz: ‘Total smoke screen, son. Some
body didn’t do his homework, huh?
Ask people in South Bend, people in
Minnesota, people in Raleigh, for cry
ing out loud. I always, always pull that
stuff. That way, I never disappoint, you
know?”
GR “Yeah, I guess, but...
Holtz: “It’s all in my videotapes. Check
‘em out sometime. I always say a
pessimist is just a realist with experi
ence, and as long as you put yourself
at the bottom of the ladder, you can’t
fall any farther, right?”
GR “Right. You’re the man, Lou. You
are so the man.”
Holtz: “Thanks. Would you like an au
tographed book?”