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USC Schedule ■ Women’s soccer vs. Arkansas, 7 p.m. ■ Volleyball vs. Kentucky, 7 p.m. USC seeks revenge at MSU by Kyle Almond Staff Writer South Carolina hopes to avoid its 14th straight loss Saturday when the Game cocks travel to Starkville, Miss., to take on the No. 23 Mississippi State Bulldogs. The two teams go into the game with totally different perspectives. State is un defeated in three games, while USC is still searching for that elusive first win. MSU has defeated Middle Tennessee State, Memphis and Oklahoma with relative ease. The Gamecocks are coming off an emotional home loss to East Carolina. Here’s how the two teams match up. Quaribbackb MSU quarteiback Wayne Madkin is one of only two returning offensive starters from last year’s team that went 8-3. He has all the tools to be a superstar, com bining both size and athleticism. His num bers this season (four touchdowns, four interceptions) aren’t anything special, but they are significantly better than Phil Pet ty’s. Petty has struggled mightily thus far. The redshirt sophomore has only a single touchdown throw this season, and most of his passes have either found air (40 per cent completion rate) or the opposing sec ondary (six interceptions). Advantage: MSU RUMaOBACKB Both teams are depending on talent ed freshmen to carry the running load. Derek Watson continues to flash signs of brilliance for the Gamecocks, rushing for an average of 5.1 yards per cany, and he is a star in the making. The same can be said for the Bulldogs’ Dontae Walker, who rushed fori 20 yards last week against Oklahoma. Neither Witson nor Walker is expected to start the game, but they are almost cer tain to get the majority of their team’s car ries. Senior Boo Williams will get his fourth straight start this season for USC, while senior Chris Rainey will start for MSU. Advantage: None Wee RECOVERS MSU’s Kevin Love and Matt Butler are seniors, but they are average at best. South Carolina’s tandem of Kerry Hood and Jermale Kelly are capable of big numbers, but they haven’t seen much action this year. USC tight end Trey Pen nington caught a 21 -yard pass to start the game last Saturday, but he was nowhere to be seen after that. The success of these two units will depend on their respective quarterback’s ability to get them the ball. Advantage: USC OffensveLne Mississippi State’s “Multiple I” for mation depends heavily on the perfor mance of its offensive line, and luckily for them, it is their strength. Senior tackles Kenric Fairchild and Floyd “Pork Chop” Wbmack lead a massive offensive line that averages 325 pounds per person. “I’m really concerned about us being overwhelmed and overmatched with their offensive line,” USC coach Lou Holtz said. USC’s line is the main reason the offense has scored only 12 points in three games. Injuries have depleted the group, which now starts three converted de fensive linemen. Understandably, the pass protection has been horrid. “We ought to give that guy [Petty] a purple heart,” Holtz added. “Our pro tection is totally unfair to our QB.” Advantage: MSU DbboneLie MSU’s D-line has allowed an average of only 72 rushing yards per game. Senior defensive tackles John Hilliard and Kevin Sluder combine to make a formidable group with senior defensive end Cornell Menafee. USC’s defensive line is certainly in better shape than its offensive counter parts. Cecil Caldwell and Cleveland Pinkney have been solid all season and will have to be at their best against the monsters that make up MSU’s offensive line. Advantage: None Libackbrs South Carolina’s trio of Kenneth Har ney, John Abraham, and Corey Atkins continue to, shine for the Gamecocks. They might be the best linebacking corps in the Southeastern Conference. This is probably the only weak spot in MSU’s strong defense. Senior Barrin Simpson will have to cany a questionable, inexperienced group. Advantage: USC Secondary The Bulldogs have a dependable unit. Robert Bean, Ashley Cooper and Pig Prather make up a group that has allowed only 358 passing yards in three games. USC’s defensive backs have yet to get an interception, but they haven’t been burned by any opposing QBs either. Ar turo Freeman is expected to get his first start in two years this Saturday, and he adds stability to a secondary that has over achieved. Ray Green is a force at safety. Advantage: MSU Special Teams The Gamecocks got a huge boost when senior Steve Florio returned as place kicker. He is one-for-orie since his return, easily drilling a 34-yard field goal against East Carolina. He replaced Court ney Leavitt, who can now concentrate on punting. MSU’s Scott Westerfield is an above average kicker, making seven out of nine field goals this season, including one of more than 50 yards. Punter Jeff Walker is one of the best in the country. Boo Williams is one of the best re turners in the country, but dropped a punt last week that led to an ECU touchdown. Advantage: MSU Sean Rayford photo editor Freshman running back Derek Watson will be expected to contribute heavily Saturday. The Gamecocks will travel to Starkville, Miss., to take on the No. 23 Bulldogs and try to avenge last year's 38-0 loss. William & Mary stuns Gamecocks, 4-1 Sean Rayford photo editor Tim Glowienka and Scott Campagna try to get USC’s offense started Wednesday night against William and Mary. USC lost the match, 4-1. by Shannon Rooke Staff Writer Playing on its home field for the last time before heading out on the road for three weeks, the USC men’s soccer team suffered a tough 4-1 loss to William & Mary on Wednesday night. Sophomore Caleb Stoddart got the Tribe on the board early in the game. In the seventh minute, Stoddart received a comer kick from teammate Brian Hinkey and headed it in for a 1-0 lead. Eleven minutes later, the Gamecocks answered with a goal of their own. Con trolling a cross from sophomore Joey Worthen, senior Ryan O’Neill headed it past the Tribe defense and deep into the upper comer of the net. Ten minutes before the halfway point of the match, Tribe forward Carlos Gar cia received a pass at midfield. After beat ing out the Gamecock defenders, he forced the ball past goalkeeper Henry Ring and into the lower left corner of the goal. Five minutes later, he struck again. This goal was also unassisted, as Garcia shot from the 6-yard line and increased the Tribe’s goal count to three. Although they were down by two goals heading into the locker room at half time, the Gamecock team was anything but defeated. "The attitude of the team wasn’t that bad," O’Neill said. "Wfe knew we had made some mistakes, and we were disappoint ed that we couldn’t have put in more chances, but we were ready to come back out and try again." Worthen agreed. "We knew we just needed to come back out fired up and ready to play." The USC offense dominated the sec ond half and outshot William & Mary 11 5. In one of the many chances by the Gamecocks, senior captain John Hair took on the Tribe defense and shot from out side the box. He watched as goalkeeper Adin Brown missed a diving save, only to see it deflect off the goal post and clear out. Stoddart scored the Tribe’s lone goal in the second half. In the 64th minute, he powered in a bicycle kick from the top of the goal box and put the cap on the game. The Gamecocks received a few more chances at their offensive end, but Brown came up with a couple of much needed saves and chalked up another win for the Tribe (3-2-2). Although the Gamecock team said they felt they could have put in more of the opportunities that came their way, head coach Mark Berson took it as a learn ing experience for his team. "The William & Mary guys played really well and punished us for our mis takes," Berson said. "For us, it was a les son on the suddenness of soccer. At this level, you can’t give a team any solid chances because they will bury you." Some members of his team felt the same way. "Sometimes, luck just doesn’t fall your way," O’Neill said. "We had some great opportunities, and we definitely need to work on capitalizing on every chance we get." The Slate (late games not-included) • National League Eastern Division W L Pet GB L10 Str Atlanta 96 57 .627 - 6-4 W-4 New York 92 61 .601 4 5-5 L-3 Philadelphia 71 81 .467 24 3-7 W-l Montreal 64 88 .421 31 5-5 W-3 Florida 60 92 .395 35 3-7 L-l Central Division Houston 93 61 .604 - 5-5 L-l Cincinnati 89 63 .586 3 5-5 L-l Pittsburgh 75 76 .497 16.5 5-5 W-l St. Louis 72 80 .474 20 4-6 L-l Milwaukee 68 83 .450 23.5 7-3 L-l Chicago 61 91 .401 31 5-5 W-l West Division Arizona 92 60 .605 - 7-3 W-2 San Francisco 82 69 .543 9.5 6-4 L-4 San Diego 72 80 .474 20 5-5 W-l Los Angeles 71 80 .470 20.5 5-5 W-4 Colorado 68 85 .444 24.5 3-7 L-2 Note: New York leads Cincinnati in the wild-card race by 2.5 games. San Francisco is third, at nine games back. American League Eastern Division W L Pet GB L10 Str New York 92 59 .609 - 7-3 W-3 Boston 88 63 .583 4 8-2 L-l Toronto 78 74 .513 14.5 4-6 W-l Baltimore 74 76 .493 17.5 10-0 W-l3 Tampa Bay 65 87 .428 27.5 3-7 L-2 Central Division Cleveland-x 92 60 .605 - 4-6 W-2 Chicago 68 83 .450 23.5 5-5 L-2 Minnesota 62 89 .411 29.5 3-7 W-l Detroit 61 90 .404 30.5 3-7 L-2 Kansas City 60 92 .395 32 3-7 L-l West Division Texas 89 63 .586 - 4-6 L-3 Oakland 83 68 .550 5.5 6-4 L-l Seattle 75 76 .497 13.5 5-5 W-l Anaheim 63 89 .414 26 6-4 W-2 x-clinched division title Note: Boston lead!? Oakland by five games in the wild-card' race. Toronto is third, at 10.5 games back. Thursday’s Top News • Cal Ripken Jr. to miss rest of season because of back surgery, leaving him nine hits snort of 3,000 • Georgia Tech QB Joe Hamilton ranked No. 1 in the nation in passing efficiency • New York Knicks begin training camp without Patrick Ewing, as he recovers from a tom Achilles tendon • The NHL begins life without Wayne Gretzky • The Baltimore Orioles on 13-game winning streak Kevin Langston Guest Columnist Holtz not ready for sainthood In the early weeks of the semester, I worked at a Five Points record store. One morning, as I was rub bing the sleep out of my eye, an elderly lady asked for my assistance. "Yes, do you have any Lou Holtz inspirational tapes?" she asked. I shrugged and looked to my man • ager. "Do we have any Lou Holtz in spirational tapes?" I asked. I didn’t need an answer when I saw his expression. "I wasn’t aware that there were any out there," he said. We recommended the university bookstores to the woman, and she left. Lou Holtz inspirational tapes? I can only imagine what this tape would sound like: "Everyday, try to set a goal for your self. Throughout the entire day, strive to surpass this goal. If you don’t, GIVE ME 20 PUSH-UPS! I don’t want to hear any bellyaching! Do it again! Do it again!" What has come over Columbia? Is the excitement of a coach that ac tually has the potential to turn our foot ball program around getting to our hotiHc? What would you do with Lou Holtz inspirational tapes? Is your life so bad that you need Lou Holtz to bail you out? It hasn’t worked for the football team, so if these tapes exist, and if you have purchased them, you should de mand your money back. Now, I am not vilifying Lou Holtz. As a big Notre Dame football fan, I was ecstatic when I heard that “The Lou Holtz” was coming to coach our foot ball program. I think he can do good things for this program with time. If I am vilifying anyone, it is the people of Columbia and this univer sity who automatically assumed Holtz would bring better days to Williams-Brice Stadium. Talk about counting your eggs be fore they’ve hatched. People were pre dicting a winning season before he set foot on the USC campus. Now, the football program is looking down the barrel of an possible 0-11 record. Nevertheless, a craze has hit this city. Wins are inconsequential as far as these people are concerned, just as long as Holtz hangs around. His mere pres ence is enough for these people. Keep an eye out for "Holtz for Mayor" stick ers. Speaking of stickers, I have seen these "HalleLouya!” bumper stickers that should offend any God-fearing Christian. I thought the South was more moral than that. I’m not saying these people are comparing Holtz to God because, let’s be honest, Holtz is not God. But these people are placing Holtz on a pedestal that is both unrealistic and unrealized. Give him a chance to do something with this team before we rename the stadium after him. Holtz has graced the front of many shirts, hats and stickers since he signed with this school. But what has he done tor the program, other than change the uni forms and helmets? He has simply giv en us hope for a better football pro gram, but he has yet to deliver. Why the pedestal, the shirts, the hats and the stickers? Is the hope Holtz brings to this city enough to warrant this kind of reaction? Why the God like status? In fact, given our football team’s record, I‘d say that the only individual who could resurrect (no pun intend ed) this team is God himself. As a baptized Catholic, I was raised believing God, Jesus and the Holy Spir it are one in the same. This is impor tant to remember when considering the following comparison: Jesus might have been a mediocre coach, but he had 12 hard-nosed play ers who would go the full 60 minutes for the Gipper. Yes, I am talking dbout the 12 Apos tles. From Matthew to John, they were loyal to thejr coach except for Judas, who was on the take. I AHAATAU ---