University of South Carolina Libraries
USC Schedule ■ Women’s soccer at Florida, 7 p.m. ■ Volleyball vs. Florida, Sunday USC tries to scale Rocky Top Sean Rayford photo editor Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin calls the signals during last year's 49-14 victory over the Gamecocks. Marlin and the defending national champion Volunteers are looking to Improve their No. 4 ranking. ** by David Cloninger Assistant Sports Editor The South Carolina football team put forth its best effort of the season last week against Vandeibilt, but came away with an 11-10 loss. As the clock ticked away, many won dered if the Gamecocks’ chance for a 1999 victory were leaving, also. USC travels to Knoxville on Saturday to take on the No. 4-ranked defending national champion Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols, riding high after a win over then-No. 10 ranked Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., last week, are 5-1 over all. USC (0-8) is just trying to keep above water. Quarterbacks Tennessee’s Tee Martin has accounted for every touchdown in his team s past two games, rushing for five and throw ing for two. He averages 213 yards pass ing per game and has a 61.5 completion percentage. With a 270-yard performance, Martin could move into fifth place on UT’s career passing chart on Saturday. USC will start Mikal Goodman, con tinuing its revolving door of quarteibacks. Goodman has shown flashes of brilliance this season, but still lacks the ability to put the ball in the end zone. However, Goodman was sidelined because of an in jury to his throwing hand last week, so if he can’t start, the honor goes to Kevin Sides or Kyle Crabb. In either case, Mar tin will win the battle. Advantage to Tennessee. Running Backs The Vols’ Jamal Lewis is one of the most punishing running backs in the na tion, but has lost some of his sharpness since sitting out almost the entire 1998 season with a knee injury. He’s still av eraging just under five yards per carry and has 2,000 for his career. He’ll be backed up by Travis Henry, who is called on for mostly goal-line situations, but is still a reliable back. USC is still deciding between An tione Nesmith and Andrew Pinnock, who had good performances against the Com modores but couldn’t score. Nesmith has turned into a promising runner with good cutting skills, while Pinnock’s presence as a fullback makes him a threat. Rush ing against the UT defense might be an insurmountable task, though. Advantage to Tennessee. Wide receivers David Martin and Cedrick Wilson are two of Tee Martin’s favorite taigets, with David Martin averaging 15.3 yards per catch but only one touchdown. Wilson, on the other hand, accounts for 99 yards a game and three touchdowns this season. He will be the main go-to guy from Tee Martin, but takes a back seat in coach Phillip Fulmer’s run-based offense. USC has a great corps of receivers, but they all have one thing in common: They can’t catch without a quarterback to throw to them. Kelly is one of the most dangerous receivers in the Southeastern Conference, but is held back by a weak passing offense. Joining Kelly are Kerry Hood and tight end Trey Pennington, which makes for a blasting cap of an of fense — if they can get a pass. Advantage to Tennessee. Offensive Line Tennessee’s line averages about 300 pounds per man and can give Martin all day to throw, if necessary. Guard Fred Weary and tackle Josh Tucker are two of the best in the league and show it on numerous occasions. USC will start the same line for the third consecutive week, with one ex ception. Kevin Rivers will actually be re turning from an injury, instead of receiving one. The Gamecock line, riddled all sea son with injuries, features starters who were on the third-string defense a month ago. Advantage to Tennessee. Defensive Line The Tennessee defense is hard on the run, giving up only 71 yards per game, but it does allow 194 passing. However, the defense doesn’t give up many points, allowing only 43 in the past four games. Also, the Vols are the only team in the nation not to have given up a rushing touchdown this season. USC’s defense has been its bright spot, accounting for several goal-line stands and stuffing opposing runners. Tack le Cleveland Pinkney is a highlight of the line, blasting through to sack Windy QB Greg Zolman once last week. However, the defense has a tendency to get tired when the offense can’t score. Advantage to Tennessee. Linebackers The \bls’ Raynoch Thompson prides himself on knocking opposing QBs around, and should have no trouble get ting through USC’s weakened line. Thompson is also a Butkus Award can didate. USC’s defensive force all season has been John Abraham, Corey Atkins and Kenneth Harney, but Abraham was hurt last week and won’t play against Ten nessee. Atkins and Harney have big shoes to fill and will probably be helped by Mar co Hutchinson. It remains to be seen if the Gamecocks can pull together in SEC tackle leader Abraham’s absence. Advantage to Tennessee. Secondary Free safety Deon Grant leads the NCAA with six interceptions this year, including nine in his past 10 games. The rest of the secondary combined for 11 in terceptions in the Vols’ first four games. However, it has none in its last two. USC’s Ray Green had a key inter ception last week, but the rest have been few and far between. Arturo Freeman has been strong, but still hasn’t managed to pick a pass yet this season. Advantage to Tennessee. Special Teams Alex Walls is a freshman placekick er who hasn’t been bothered by inexpe rience. He’s near perfect in all categories of kicking and doesn’t let the Vols down after a touchdown. USC’s Steve Florio is a virtual lock inside the 40-yard line, but getting to that point is a prob lem. Florio has the talent to be a good kicker, but back problems have limited him. Advantage to Tennessee. Gamecocks blast College of Charleston, 5-0 Soccer Roundup THE GAMECOCK The USC men’s soccer team re bounded from a tough 1-0 loss to Clem son last week with a strong offensive show ing against the College of Charleston on Tuesday night at Stone Stadium. USC (9-4-2) needed just three min utes to take a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Joey Worthen scored the first of his two goals on the night with a double assist from Mike Kozak and Chris Morman. The goal was his team-leading ninth of the season. Worthen drove the ball in the right back corner of the net at the 20:50 mark to give USC a 2-0 lead, booting the ball from six yards out on an assist from fellow sophomore Ryan Stocking. Senior midfielder Ryan O’Neill made it 3-0 with only six seconds remaining in the half, taking an assist from freshman Jordan Quinn. O’Neill has six goals this season. Early in the second half, USC’s Alex Balasco took a Jukka Sundquist pass and drilled a shot from the left side of the field. John Harr added a late goal to give Car olina a 5-0 lead and cement the victory. The Gamecocks’ strong showing was at least partly due to its defensive effort. USC outshot the Cougars 22-1 and had seven comer kicks to COC’s none. The Gamecocks will follow the Cougars back to Charleston this week end for the NIKE/Town of Mt. Pleasant Invitational. USC will face No. 5 Penn State on Saturday and then No. 16 Old Dominion on Sunday. Women’s Soccer The USC women’s soccer team will face defending national champion Flori da tonight in Gainesville, Fla. Last sea son, USC scored more goals against the Gators than any other Southeastern Con ference team in a 4-2 loss. The team is 14-4 and 6-2 in the SEC after two wins in the past week. Sean Rayford photo editor Tim Glowlenka, right, tries to get control of a loose ball In Tuesday’s match against the College of Charleston. The Gamecocks won, 5-0. The Greai Pumpkin (24-16) I__ Gozer 1 Audrey II (22-18) l (28-12) II I USC-Tennessee Clam son-Wake Forest Georgia-Florida Stanford- \Absh*ngton Duke-Maryland lennessee Qemson Florida Washingtor Maryland tennessee Clemson Florida Stanford Maryland lenneasee Clenwon Florida Washington Maryland Wake Forest Georgia Stanford Duke _____________ icnmiMe Clemson Florida Stanford Duke lenneasee Clemson Florida Stanford Duke NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE East Division W L Home Road Div Str Dallas 3 1 2-0 1-1 2-1 L-l Washington 3 1 1-1 2-0 1-1 W-3 New York Giants 2 3 1-1 1-2 1-2 L-l Arizona 2 3 1-1 1-2 2-1 W-l Philadelphia 2 4 1-2 1-2 1-2 W-2 Central Division Green Bay 3 2 3-0 0-2 2-1 L-l Chicago 3 3 2-2 1-1 1-0 L-l Detroit 3 2 2-1 1-1 2-0 W-l Minnesota 2 4 1-2 1-2 1-3 L-2 Tampa Bay 2 3 1-1 1-2 0-2 L-l West Division St. Louis 5 0 3-0 2-0 3-0 W-5 San Francisco 3 3 2-1 1-2 1-2 L-2 New Orleans 14 1-2 0-2 1-2 L-4 Carolina 2 3 1-1 1-2 1-1 W-l Atlanta 1 5 0-3 1-2 1-2 L-l ) . American Football Conference East Division W L Home Road Div Str Buffalo 4 2 3-1 1-1 2-1 L-l New England 4 2 2-1 4-1 2-1 L-2 Miami 4 1 1-1 3-0 2-1 W-2 Indianapolis 3 2 2-1 1-1 2-2 W-l New York Jets 1 5 0-3 1-2 0-3 L-2 Central Division Tennessee 5 1 3-0 2-1 4-0 W-2 Jacksonville 5 1 2-1 3-0 2-1 W-3 Baltimore 2 3 1-1 1-2 1-2 L-2 Pittsbuigh 3 3 0-2 3-1 3-1 W-l Cincinnati 1 5 0-3 1-2 1-2 L-l Cleveland 0 6 0-3 0-3 0-5 L-6 West Division Seattle 3 2 1-1 2-1 1-1 L-l San Diego 4 1 2-1 2-0 2-0 W-3 Kansas City 3 2 3-0 0-2 1-1 W-l Oakland 3 3 1-1 2-2 0-2 W-l Denver 2 4 1-2 1-2 1-1 W-2 1 Thursday’s Top News • Yankees sweep Braves to win 25th World Series tide; Mariano Rivera named MVP • Cincinnati Reds manag er Jack McKeon accepts one-year contract exten sion • Former USC standout Sterling Sharpe nominat ed for NFL Hall of Fame along with Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, Leonard Marshall and Karl Mecklenburg • Charles Barkley announces retirement after 1999-2000 season Jared Kelowrtz At Least I’m Not From Jersey Sad week for sports Two deaths occurred this week in the sports world, making for the saddest period in this field in a long time. The first was of a remarkable man and class act in Payne Stewart The second was the death of ethics in sports media, as il lustrated by Jim Gray on Sunday evening. Stewart was 42, the defending U.S. Open champion and a member of the team that returned the Ryder Cup to the coun try it belongs to. He was known mostly for his unique style of dress and his effortless swing. He was always a leader and col orful individual in the world of golf, and he might have had one of the most com petitive spirits ever in the game, but you’d never know it, watching his kind demeanor and smiling face. Stewart was often recognized as “the guy who wears the baggy pants and the goofy haL” The pants are knickers and the hat is a tam-o’-shanter, but they are only a tiny fraction of what made up Payne Stew art Life wasn’t always easy for Stewart. In the early ‘80s, he struggled to make a living on the PGA tour after his 1979 de but. When he finally did win his first tour nament at Bay Hill in 1987, he donated his entire winner’s check to an area hospital for cancer research. It was the same hos pital where his father had fallen to can cer just two years earlier. What makes Stewart’s donation even more amazing is that it was exactly half of his earnings for that entire year. How many people do you know who do nate half of a year’s salary to charity? Combining trend-setting fashion sense, old-fashioned values and an unprecedent ed spirit of competition, Stewart gave fens not fortunate enough to watch Hogan, Sneed and Jones a glance back into the yes teryears of golf. For that, I would like to take the time to thank him and give his family and friends my deepest sympathies. We’re all gonna miss you, Payne. Good luck on the big links in the sky, and rest in peace. As for the second death, I don’t think I could’ve been any more sick to my stom ach than I was after witnessing the display on NBC Sunday night, not even if I inad vertently drank a bottle of Ryan Klesko’s chew spit. On a night in which baseball hon ored the team of the century, Jim Gray followed a developing trend and dishon ored the industry, an action that seems to be his livelihood. After the ceremonies, the NBC baseball anal-yst basically per secuted Pete Rose in front of millions. While Rose was supposed to be doing an interview about how honored he was to be named to the All-Century Team, he was trying to avoid a barrage of nasty ques tions and disparaging remarks by Gray. Rose handled himself with great class, con sidering he was being tried in front of a na tional TV audience. i nere is a urae ana place tor accusa tions, and on live television at a com memorative ceremony is not one of them. Rose was never proved guilty, and Gray is guilty of slander, in my estimation. But this is just one of many ugly in cidents occurring in the past few years in sports media. This incident reminded me of anoth er black mark on the face of sports jour nalism a few years ago. TV talk-show host Jim Rome was responsible for this one. This guy should’ve been writing for Mad, not hosting his own sports show. Who did Rome think he was? What made him think he could keep calling Jim Everett “Chris” and get away with it? I was glad Everett attacked him, and he should’ve beaten him into submission. I would’ve paid a helluva lot more money to see that than the latest Tyson debacle. Eventually, ESPN2 came to its senses and canceled Rome’s show. What the hell is wrong with these guys? When they were in college, were they skip ping class to smoke doobies the day their professors taught ethics? What other ex planation could there be? Maybe they’ve sold out and just forgotten what it’s all about They are all in search of the almighty buck, and they want “the scoop” at whatever price it might be. Wfell, to Gray, Rome and the rest of you out there following the trend, I have something to say to you. The next time you think it is a good idea to try and em barrass or destroy the reputation of a pub lic icon, follow the advice ofWWF wrestler The Rock and just “know your role and shut your mouth.”