The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 24, 1999, Page 8, Image 8
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 ---