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j.jhi /-Ni USC Schedule ■ Women’s soccer vs. Furman, 7 p.m. Thursday ■ Men’s soccer vs. Rutgers, Friday, Piscataway, N.J. Volleyball loses Plummer for year by David Cloninger Assistant Sports Editor The South Carolina volleyball team re ceived dev astating news this week when All-South PLUMMER_ eastern Conference performer Cally Plummer was lost for the season with a shoulder injury. The sophomore from Cheboygan, Mich., sat out USC’s first seven match es this season because of a shoulder in jury. She returned to the team in time for the match against Michigan on Sept. 17, but aggravated the injury again and was lost for the season. Plummer has a sutgery date set for later in the fall and is planning to redshirt the 1999 season, giving her an extra year of athletic eligibility. Plummer, who was named co-captain for the 1999 season as a sophomore, took the nation and conference by storm last season with her signature jump serve and physical play. She was named first-team All-SEC as a freshman, the only freshman on the team. She might have also garnered Freshman of the Year honors, but the SEC decided to do away with the award last year. Plummer led the nation in service aces for most of the 1998 season, and ul timately finished second with 86 overall. She was instrumental in helping the Game cocks begin their 1998 season with a 14-1 record and ultimately finish 21-11. USC finished tied for second place in the SEC Eastern division that season, advancing to the NCAA tournament for the third time in the past four years. Although the team lost in the first round, hopes for the 1999 season were high with a talented group of veterans re turning and a strong recruiting class com ing in. Although Plummer won’t return to the team this season, the team has played well in her absence. USC won matches against defend ing Atlantic Coast Conference champion Florida State and conference foes Ken tucky and Tennessee this season and stayed close before falling in five games Tuesday night against nationally ranked Clemson. Gamecocks peak early, fall at Clemson Volleyball Roundup Gamecock Sports After easily winning the first game, the USC volleyball team was worn down by No. 13 Clemson on Tltesday night, 3-2. With the win, the Tigers improve to 13-0 on the season. The Gamecocks drop to 8-5. The match scores were: 4-16,15 9,15-8,10-15,15-11. Senior Crystal Moore led the Gamecocks with 19 kills in the match. Senior Danika "Iky lor also flourished, hitting .481 with eight block assists and five digs. The Gamecocks might have taken solace in holding Clemson’s Cindy Stem, who went into the game leading the nation in hitting percentage, to a .267 percentage in the match. Prankster Abraham a real hoot for opposing quarterbacks by Bryan Della Volpe Staff Writer John Abraham lay motionless on the ground A shock went down the defensive end’s neck and spine, paralyzing the rest of his body. His first thoughts were of whether he could play the rest of the game. Then, as he began to realize what was happening, thoughts of never playing again, or never walking or even living a normal of life began to fill his head. Luckily for Abraham and uamecocK ians, uiai necr. injury against Kentucky in 1998 had no long-term effects. No. 95 is now fully recovered and once again ready to strike fear into the hearts of opposing quarterbacks. Before this football season, he was looking to make 1999, his senior year, the fourth in a row he has led USC in sacks. But this is a goal he calls "miniature.” “My big goal is to win as many games as possible this year," he said. The self-proclaimed practi cal jokester of the team, Abra ham likes to stay relaxed before games by kidding around with teammates. "I joke around before the game to keep myself relaxed, but around 10 minutes before the game, I start to get serious,” he said. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Abraham said he’s ready to get serious and contribute more to the team on the field this year as well. “I think I’ve been a little too individually minded the past two i r r* rr -_T haven’t been playing too well,” he said If Abraham can improved on the two sea sons that he believes weren’t up to par, he should be a strong candidate for the All-Southeastern Conference team. As a true freshman in 19%, he saw action in all 11 games and recorded four sacks. “I was surprised to be playing as a fresh man,” he said, “but there were a lot of injuries so I had to step up and play.” That freshman year included one game that particularly stuck out in his memory. “My most memorable game was when we played Clemson,” he said. “That was the only time we’ve beaten Clemson since I’ve been here.” Abraham only improved his sophomore year. As a regular starter in 1997, he led the team in sacks, with 61-2, quarterback pressures, with 14, and tackles behind the line of scrimmage, with 11 1-2. Abraham’s junior campaign in 1998 was by no means a disappointment. Once again, he led the team in three major defensive categories. He also recorded a career high in sacks, with seven, and led the Gamecocks in tackles for a loss (5) and quarterback hurries (13). He even established a new career high in tackles, with 61,28 of which were solo hits. This guy accomplished all that despite play ing only one year of oiganized football before coming to Carolina. His first experience play ing football wasn’t until his senior year at tiny Lamar High School in Lamar, S.C. “My graduating class had, like, 63 people in it and we only hpd 23 on the football team,” he said. A two-sport athlete back then, Abraham always wanted to move on to the next level. “I wanted to be a college athlete, whether it was football or basketball,” the former bas IzotKoll nrm/or fnnuorrl coirl Now that he’s moved on to the college ranks, Abraham is definitely making a name for himself. The Sporting News rat ed him the seventh best defen sive end in the nation before this season. He didn’t think too much of that, though. “If I had played better, then I should have been ranked high er,” he said. “I’m striving to be better this year.” As a senior, Abraham is hoping to graduate in May with a degree in African-American studies. What does he plan to take with him when he leaves? “I’ll take a lot of friendships with my teammates, coaches, people I’ve met and hopefully when I graduate, a diploma,” he said. He also has some goals for after the season. With his size, Abraham is a needed com modity in the NFL. Being able to run a 40-yard dash in around 4.5 seconds helps his chances, too, and that high rating among defensive ends probably assures him of being drafted in 2000. But Abraham isn’t taking anv thing for granted “I’m hoping to be drafted” he said “but if I don’t, hopefully I could go back home and teach or maybe coach.” For some reason, it’s doubtful Lamar High will keep that job open for him. The people over at the NFL just might have a position avail able, though. Special to The Gamecock Coach Lou Holtz, left, presents the Joe Morrison Memorial Award given to USC’s top players in spring practice, to John Abraham. Holtz says team must move on by Michael Haney Staff Writer After last Saturday’s 17-0 defeat at the hands of Missis sippi State, South Carolina’s football team was left to wonder when this season’s never-ending nightmare would stop. Carolina has lost - its past 14 games, ‘There is no reason we giving it the dubious couldn’t play with any team in distinction of the na- the country if we could just tion’s longest losing overcome a few errors.’ streak. Coach Lou Holtz shook off i ico. , USC football coach questions about the latest USC record Monday. “What can you say? It’s our turn, we’re it. We’ve just got to move on, “ Holtz said. Despite his team’s 04 start this season, Holtz remained up beat. i ms would ne realty nara on me u 1 aian i see some ongra ness in our team,” he said. “Once we get over the hump and gain some confidence and build on it, we’ll be fine. “The most encouraging thing is the way we’ve gotten bet ter and closer, and really caring each about each other more now than ever before,” Holtz said. The hump that Holtz speaks of is a total offense that ranks 101st in the nation and a scoring offense that ranks dead last. The Gamecocks are averaging a mere three points per game. This Saturday’s game will test the inexperience of the Car olina offense. To begin, freshman Mikal Goodman will fill the shoes of the injured Phil Petty at quarterback. Petty injured his knee against Mississippi State, and Goodman played the better part of the last quarter and a half of the game. “Goodman showed a great presence in there, he really did some good things,” Holtz said. With the addition of Goodman, USC will start two fresh men and one sophomore in the backfield. Derek Witson will get the call at tailback, and Antione Nesmith gets the nod at fullback. The Gamecock defense has performed nearly the opposite of the offense. The defensive unit, headed by coordinator Char lie Strong, is ranked 12th in the nation. “I don’t think there is anyone in the country right now play ing better than Corey Atkins or John Abraham,” Holtz said. The Slate (late games not included) National League Eastern Division W L Pet GB L10 Str x-Atlanta 99 57 .635 - 8-2 W-7 New York 92 64 .590 7 3-7 L-6 Philadelphia 74 82 .474 25 5-5 W-3 Montreal 65 92 .414 34.5 3-7 W-l Florida 62 95 .395 37.5 4-6 L-2 Central Division Houston 94 63 .599 - 3-7 L-2 Cincinnati 94 63 .599 - 7-3 L-3 Pittsburgh 76 79 .490 17 5-5 W-l St. Louis 72 84 .462 21.5 4-6 L-5 Milwaukee 71 84 .458 22 2-8 L-l Chicago 64 92 .410 29.5 6-4 L-l West Division x-Arizona 96 60 -.615 - 8-2 W-6 San Francisco 83' 73 .532 13 2-8 L-4 Los Angeles 74 82 .474 22 7-3 W-l San Diego 73 83 .468 19 5-5 L-l Colorado 70 87 .446 26.5 4-6 L-l x-clinched division title Note: Houston/Cincinnati are 1 1-2 games ahead of New York in the wild-card race. American League Eastern Division W L Pet GB L10 Str New York 94 62 .603 - 6-4 L-3 Boston 90 66 .577 4 6-4 W-l Toronto 79 77 .506 15 2-8 L-3 Baltimore 77 79 .452 17 7-3 L-l Tampa Bay 68 89 .445 21 5-5 W-3 Central Division x-Cleveland 95 61 .609 - 6-4 W-3 Chicago 71 85 .455 24 6-4 W-3 Detroit 65 91 .389 30 5-5 W-3 Kansas City 63 92 .406 32 3-7 L-l Minnesota 62 95 .395 24.5 4-6 L-l West Division x-Texas 93 63 .596 - 6-4 W-4 Oakland 84 72 .538 9 5-5 L-4 Seattle 77 63 .506 16 5-5 L-l Anaheim 65 91 .417 28 4-6 L-l x-clinched division title Note: Boston is six games ahead of Oakland in the wild-card race* > Tuesday’s Top News • Los Angeles Dodgers fire Bob Graziano as President/CEO • Dolphins’ Dimitrious Underwood out for season after sustaining self-inflicted stab wounds to the neck • Europeans threaten to skip future Ryder Cups on U.S. soil because of Americans’ poor sportsmanship • Mariners chairman puts new deal for Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez bn the table David Cloninger Who Else? USC fans at fault, not team '-j- was talking to a friend of mine I during my hiatus from column -Lwriting, and we started to discuss the fortunes of USC’s football team. We have a habit of doing this when we have nothing better to accom plish, like earning money to feed ourselves or scheming how to reduce Howard’s Rock at Clem Tech Col lege to a smoking hole in the ground. During this discussion, I realized that the problem lies not in the teams we play, not in the athletics department, not even in the fact that we can’t seem to complete a pass. No, the problem lies in us, the fans. That’s right, we are to blame for USC’s gridiron woes. I figure I might as well come forth with this knowledge, since nobody else around here will. I admit, I did think, which Car olina fans should never, ever do, that the Gamecocks would finally be pulled out of the deep hole they were in after 1998’s 1-10 season. With the acquisition of Lou Holtz and the departure of Anthony “The Accused” Wright, I figured we were well on our way to the mythical land ofTitletown. That’s what started the ball rolling: high expectations. I can’t re call a year where I didn’t start the season with high expectations. Every year, I think, “There’s no way we’ll go any less than 8-3,74 at the worst.” Every year, my dreams of finally being right when I say, “We’re No. 1!” come crashing down like the Hindenbuig and the Titanic rolled into one. The only finger I can raise to the sky is the one that is typically reserved for road rage. I am not without proof for these accusations, however. It all started Dec. 4,1999, the day that will live in infamy, not only because it began Loti’s tenure as head coach, but be cause it also signaled the end of Car olina football as we know it. It was on that day that a certain person who holds a very high posi tion at USC and whose name bears a strong resemblance to a South Car olina state symbol, said the phrase that plunged USC into the deepest depths of football impotence. “Goodbye, chicken curse, hello Lou Holtz!” So much for that winning season. It wasn’t just this person who said an inspiring phrase, oh no. Holtz got into the act, too, with his famous “My goal is to win the national championship” statement. Don’t you know this gives fans a false sense of hope? Don’t you real ize this automatically sets us up for a downfall? Think of the other coach es who said something like that. Joe Morrison - dead. Paul Dietzel - scandal. Brad Scott - at Clemson. These high expectations and eventual pitfalls have manifested themselves on the field, too. Look at all our injuries this year. When I walk through the Coliseum every day on my way to class, I see several of these players. I’m reminded of the third day of Gettysbuig quite fre quently. Come on, people, how often does a guy get kicked in the spleen? Holtz said he’d never seen it before, and if you can’t believe him, who can you believe? Coincidentally, comerback Arturo Freeman has ap peared as an “All-American Candi date” for the past two years on the football pocket schedules. For the last two years, he’s received exten sive injuries in practice. Also, our supposed savior, Phil “The Thrill” Petty looked like a kindergartner in his first three games. He finally starts to play as if he wants to win against Mississippi State, and what happens? He sprains his knee, giving us an untested freshman for a quarterback. There is a solution to this prob lem. Stop thinking we’re going to win. Go into every game knowing we’re going to get our butts handed