Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Holtz concerned but encouraged by Shannon Rooke The Gamecock Improvements have been sighted. Concerns are still apparent. The players are exhausted. And with the opening home game just nine days away, the USC football team has finally finished their two-a-day practices. “We’ve reached a point where we know what to do but aren’t very consistent,” head coach Lou Holtz said Wednesday. “We just need to keep a little bit stronger focus. But they’re tired; it’s been hot and grueling for them, but they’ve responded well, and I am encouraged once again.” Problems with the offensive line work ing together have resurfaced from the 1999 season. Although the reduction of the loss yardage plays has been pleasing, Holtz said Fri day the offensive line didn’t do as well as he hoped. “We didn’t run the ball like we needed to,” Holtz said after the teams first preseason scrim mage, “although Ryan Brewer and Gonzie Gray did do some nice things in the running game.” Holtz has also commented on the en couraging play of running backs Derek Wat son and Andrew Pinnock, saying they have al so performed well in preseason fall camps. The Gamecock offensive line will have to work through the loss of freshman hopeful Ja son Harris, from Greenville. Harris informed Holtz that he was leaving the team and giving up football, indicating that he no longer had a desire to play the game. “Sometimes I see us as being vastly im proved,” Holtz said. “We are better funda mentally. The offensive line is better prepared in every area, and when Phil Petty is there at quarterback, we can be a pretty good offen sive team.” Throughout the preseason, Holtz said he has been very impressed with the work ethic ~and recent play of the wide receivers, in cluding Jermale Kelly, Brian Scott, James Ad kisson, Corey Alexander, Jamie Price and Brew er. “The receivers have fought through some bumps and bruises and been there for every snap so far. Jermale and Brian have had ex cellent fall camps. Corey and Ryan have also emerged as very solid contributors,” Holtz said. Many intense practices have also been used to work on the kicking and punting side of the game. “Jason Corse may have had the best day kicking the ball,” Holtz said after a practice focusing on the kicking game. "He was two of-two from around 46 or 47 yards. Ryan Allen made three-of-five from around 35 yards and had one hit the uprights. We should get some good film from the kicking practice and be able to iron out any problems.” In secondary, Holtz has said three of the positions appear pretty solid in the secondary, with Sheldon Brown at corner, Antoine Ne smith at free safety and Rashad Faison at strong safely holding those spots down. Holtz said that the fourth position is available for any of the players such as Kevin House, Rachiem Monroe, Dunta Robinson, Deandre Eiland and Jamacia Jackson. For the remainder of the nine days, Holtz has said he would like to focus on re viewing the practice film and putting final touches on coach’s concerns. This will begin with a few days of lighter practice. “We’re going to ease up a little bit [Thurs day] and it will be the first day that we haven’t gone against each other with good, hard phys ical contact.” Holtz is very encouraged with the quality of practices thus far and is looking forward to finding a combination for his first win at use. “We work as hard as we can and then we’ve reached a point where we say ‘alright, this is where we are, now what do we have to do to win?’ That’s where we are right now.” The sports desk can be reached at gamecocksports@hotmail.com. Sean Rayford The Gamecock Mikal Goodman attempts to excape a tackle from Andre Offing during preseason two-a-day practices. Head Coach Lou Holtz Is optimistic about his team’s per formance this year. Injuries plague football team as 2000 season nears start ■ QB Phil Petty has minor injuries, but will start against New Mexico State by Shannon Rooke The Gamecock After concluding Wednesday’s afternoon practice, injuries continue to plague the South Carolina football team as they head into the upcoming season. Many of the injuries have proven to be slight and will not restrain any players from participating in the season opener, a home game against New Mexico State scheduled for Sep tember 2. Quarterback Phil Petty was limited in pass ing for Friday’s practice due to a soreness in his elbow. Head coach Lou Holtz said that restraining his play was a precautionary mea sure more than anything else. “Phil has thrown a lot of passes this week and his elbow need a little rest,” Holtz said Sunday. “It’s nothing that we are overly con cerned with at this time.” Petty also did not participate in Saturday night’s practice or in Sunday afternoon’s scrim mage due to a reported soreness in his knee. Petty was recorded to have dressed out for Monday’s practice and is expected to contin ue through next week. More and more of the Gamecock injured are returning to the practice field as preseason practices continue. Linebacker Andre OfTing has reappeared in practices after recovering from a minor ham string pull. Defensive tackle Cecil Caldwell will also return with limited capacity from his ankle sprain. After missing a couple of practices with a lower back strain, center Scott Browne was on r€ <*) ft the field Tuesday morning. However, Guard Philip Jones, recovering from foot suigery, did not practice. Coach Holtz said that for the first game, it appears that there are only three players who will definitely not play due to injuries. Defensive back Tim Yarn was the first to go down in the pre-season practices, suffering from a knee injury. After undergoing surgery, it was reported that Yarn will not play this sea son. Defensive tackle Anthony Overstreet will be recovering from testicular suigery and quar terback Dondrial Pinkins will join him on the sidelines with a knee sprain. Pinkins, a freshman from Camilla, Ga„ went down on the third play of the scrimm;\ge and is expected to be sidelined for a minimum of three weeks. “1 didn’t even see trim get hurt,” Holtz said. “I think it was on a pass play. Dondrial had been impressive and was our number two quarter back, but now he’s out indefinitely.” Despite the ups and downs of the pre-sea son camps, Holtz is pleased with the overall physical condition of the team. “Where we are now physically is really en couraging,” Holtz said Wednesday. “Overstreet was something we couldn’t control, but he’ll be back. The loss of Pikins hurt but that was freak, and losing Yarn on the first day. But, other than that, those are the on ly three players that right now probably could n’t play tomorrow.” Holtz concluded with the fact that the team is ready to play against someone other than themselves. “I think that they’re tired of practicing against one another but I drink we’ve improved and I think we’re ready.” The sports desk can be reached at gamecocksports@holmail. com. Sean Rayford The Gamecock Despite his team being plagued with Injuries, Lou Holtz says he thinks they’re ready for the season opener against New Mexico State. ? ■■■ ■ i ■ ■ i i ■— i i ■ ——whp ■ i I Bouknight turns down contract, returns to USC by Kyle Almond The Gamecock Kip Bouknight, South Carolina’s ace pitch er of a year ago, has certainly earned his share of accolades and awards. They include being named Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Year, American Baseball Collegiate Associ ation National Player of the Year, SEC Player of the Year, SEC Male Athlete of the Year and winner of the Rotary Smith Award. He’s dedicated to adding one more honor to that list. A college degree. Last Tuesday, the right-hander from Gaston, announced he would be returning for his senior season at USC after turning down a profes sional baseball contract with the Oakland Ath letics. “I will continue the quest to bring home a national title to the University of South Caroli na,” Bouknight said. Bouknight’s status was in question after he was selected in the 21 st round of Major League Baseball’s entry draft by Oakland. “The A’s made him an offer indicative of a Top 10 draft pick,” said USC head coach Ray Tanner. “But Kip had strong feelings about the University of South Carolina. I am ecstatic that Kip will be back for his senior year.” Ilfs easy to see why Tanner is so excited. Bouknight brings 35 career wins and 353 career ^trikeouts to a rotation that lost its oth er two starters, Peter Bauer and Scott Barber, to tire professional ranks. Bauer was picked 45th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays, and Barber was chosen shortly after in the third round by the Arizona Diamondbacks. “[Bouknight] can go in and help the young guys who don’t have the experience that he does,” USC pitching coach Jerry Meyers said. “With his leadership he can give the younger pitchers the intuition they need to be success ful in the SEC.” } Even Gov. Jim Hodges was overjoyed at hearing the news that Bouknight would re turn. Hodges personally wrote Bouknight a let ter, stating he “breathed a huge sigh of relief’ when he heard of the decision. Tlie governor al so said he was thrilled to hear that the pitch er’s desire to put on the garnet and black, and fulfill his promise to get his degree, was stronger than the temptation of a professional contract. As the Garfiecocks climbed to the No. 1 ranking this past season, Bouknight was one of the team’s most dominating players, if not its most consistent force. He won his first 15 de cisions and finished with a record of 17-1 in 19 total starts. His ERA was a paltry 2.81, and he whiffed 144 batters, an average of almost eight strikeouts a game. Those numbers were good enough to lead the Gamecocks as well as the SEC. Bouknight was no slouch in the postsea son either. He carried his weight in the NCAA Tournament by defeating Liberty and the team that eventually ended the Gamecocks’ season, University of,Louisiana-’ - BoUKNIQHT see page 82