The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, August 28, 2000, Page 11, Image 11
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Scrimmage shows team is improving I
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by Kyle Almond
The Gamecock
One week before their season opener against
New Mexico State, the South Carolina football
team went through a dress-rehearsal scrimmage at
Williams-Brice Stadium.
Head Coach Lou Holtz had positive things to
say after the Friday night scrimmage, but admitted
that there was much work to be done.
“I didn’t keep a list of all of the errors because
I only had two pens,” said Holtz. “We didn’t kick
the ball particularly well, and our return game was
disappointing.”
However, Holtz had good things to say about
the offense, which is coming off a lackluster sea
son in which they only scored an average of 7.9
points per game - last in the SEC.
’ “The longer we played, the better rhythm
we showed on offense,” Holtz said. “Our offense
started to show some continuity.”
Sophomore running backs Andrew Pinnock
and Derek Witson had impressive outings for the
Gamecock offense. Pinnock rushed for two touch
downs during the scrimmage, while Witson had a
long run of 17 yards and made a key downfield
block on a Ryan Brewer touchdown scamper.
Starting quarterback Phil Petty threw a 20
yard touchdown pass to junior college transfer
James Adkisson, who Holtz says has made progress.
“James has come along nicely,” he said. “He
is very talented. He doesn’t have a clue on how
good he can really be.”
Holtz was also optimistic on the rest of the re
ceiving corps, including senior wide out Jermale
Kelly.
“The receivers made some plays,” he said.
“They have improved since the beginning of
two-a-days and are much better against the bump
and run than they were when we first started camp
Jermale Kelly has really come on. He is not the
same receiver he was a year ago.”
Defensive standouts on the evening included
linebacker Shannon Whdley, who recorded a sack,
free safety Antoine Nesmith and comerback An
dre Goodman.
Goodman, who is battling for a starting posi
tion, had an interception in the scrimmage, and Ne
smith, who was converted into a safety after
playing fullback his first two seasons, made a tack
le for a loss.
‘Linebacker Kenny Harney did not participate
in the scrimmage because of a minor shoulder in
jury he received during pre-game warm-ups. Of
fensive lineman Cedric Williams and fullback Travis
Lewis bruised their thumb and knee, respectively,
while running back Trevin Smith strained his hip
during the game.
Holtz and the coaching staff also used the scrim
mage to prepare themselves for Saturday’s show
down against the Agues.
“We had our coaches in the press box and ran
everything like a real game,” said Holtz, who for
the first time in his head-coaching career is using
a cordless headset on the sidelines. “The com
munication was pretty good on the sidelines.”
USC watched game film from the scrim
mage the following Saturday morning and spent
time correcting their mistakes during a light,
non-contact practice.
After viewing the game film, Holtz was pleased
with his team’s focus.
“Their focus was pretty good,” he said. “We
had some missed techniques, but we worked to
correct those in the morning.”
Holtz was able to come up with a tentative
depth chart for the much-maligned kicking
game. At present time,
according to Holtz, the
Gamecocks’ placekicker
will be punter Tyeler Dean,
but Jason Corse would han
dle kickoff duties.
Holtz also concluded that
he will make more changes
defensively this season.
“Last year, our team
began to tire in the fourth
quarter,” Holtz said. “We
will rotate more people on
defense than we have in the
past.”
Holtz had no luck de
ciding on a back-up for start
ing quarterback Phil Petty.
“I can’t tell you much
more about the back-up
quarterback situation,” he
said. “Wfe’ll just have to take
it as it comes.”
Sophomores Mikal
Goodman apd Erik Kimrey
are competing for the po
sition, along with freshman
Rodriques Wrlson.
The Gamecocks had
Sunday off and will return
to the practice field this af
temoon in preparation for
their season opener Saturday evening at Williams
Brice Stadium.
Injury Notes
Linebacker Andre Offing, who was nursing a
pulled hamstring for much of the preseason, saw
action in Friday night’s scrimmage. Defensive tack
le Cecil Caldwell also played Friday night. He was
sidelined with an ankle sprain. Offensive lineman
Chad Whlker, who was taken to the hospital after
becoming ill during Thursday’s practice, has been '
diagnosed with a condition that does not allow
his body to maintain adequate blood pressure dur
ing physical exercise. It can be treated with med
ication, however, and coaches are optimistic that
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the freshman can return to the playing fiejc
soon. i»
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The sports desk can be reached at
gamecocksports @hotmail.com.
'■
— -
Sean Rayford The Gamecock*"
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Head Coach Lou Holtz changes his players around at practice. The Gamecocks spent their week- J
end tying up loose ends to prepare for Saturday evening’s kickoff, set to begin at 7 p.m.
USC coaches eager to begin seasons
by David Cloninger
The Gamecock
Although the buzz around the USC campus is
mostly centered on the upcoming football Satur
days, four other fall sports started the new season
Thursday with the official end of two-a-day prac
tices and the beginning of their own quests for SEC
and NCAA championships.
Coaches Andrew Allden (cross country), Mark
Berson (men’s soccer), Sue Kelly (women’s soc
cer) and Kim Christopher (volleyball) each spoke
about their respective teams at Thursday’s Media
Day, covering questions about the past season, new
faces and the tough schedules looming on the hori
zon.
However, one common theme was found
among all the coaches - optimism.
All the coaches expressed their excitememt
for the new seasons but also addressed the con
cerns for their primarily young squads.
The Gamecock cross country team is com
ing off a fifth-place finish in the SEC, which is the
best finish yet for a USC team. The team placed
two members on the All-SEC team but also lost
two members to graduation.
Despite this, Allden said his team is ready.
“We had a very, very successful year last year,”
Allden said. “That puts the bar at a higher height.”
Allden, who guided USC to the state meet
championship and was named S.C. Women’s Coach
of the Year in 1999, lost three of his most pro
ductive players in seniors - Joyce Peebles, Karen
Padula and Sarah Hadwin - but replaced them with
a strong recruiting class.
“That’s good and bad news,” Allden said. “The
good news is this is by far the strongest recruiting
class we’ve had since I got here and possibly in the
history of the program. But, we lost our No.
1 and No. 2 runners to graduation, but we return
our No. 3, No.4 andffo. 5 runners.”
Allden is one of several USC coaches with a
youthful team, with seven freshmen on his 13
member squad.
Allden says he thinks the recruits will im
mediately produce and become a force in the SEC.
Returning to the 2000 team are senior Sarah
Davis, and juniors Katie Orr and Rachel Smith.
Although bothered by an injury in 1999, Smith
is healthy again and will lead the team along with
Davis and Orr.
“Our schedule is by far the toughest since I’ve
come to South Carolina,” Allden said. “I think
these meets will be excellent preparation for the
SEC schedule and for the regionals.”
Allden and the cross country team open up
with a meet at Appalachian State, facing the host
team, Florida State, South Florida and Navy.
The season begins Friday.
Beginning his 23rd year at USC, Berson has
the men’s soccer team primed for a shot at the Col
lege Cup (soccer’s equivalent to the Final Four),
which will be held this year in Charlotte, N.C.
As Berson pointed out, it would be'an excel
lent opportunity to travel and hour for the NCAA
title.
The squad was left on the NCAA Tournament
bubble last year after a 10-7-2 record, although
they had a 2-2-2 record against NCAA Tournament
teams.
Also, two of the squad’s most productive play
ers, John Harr and Ryan O’Neill, are graduated.
“We have a very young team,” Berson said.
“We have 19 freshmen or sophomores on a 24
man team.
“Our schedule doesn’t help matters,” Berson
added. “Only three of our first 12 matches are at
home, one-third of our schedule was in the NCAA
Tournament last year, and three of the top eight
seeds in the tournament are on the schedule, none
of which are at home. We certainly have a very
difficult schedule, but that’s good.”
With such a hard slate of games and such a
young team, it would seem hard for Berson to seem
so upbeat.
However, Berson has led the Gamecocks to
13 NCAA appearances, including to the champi
onship match in 1993, and has placed dozens of
his players in the professional soccer ranks or on
the All-American lists, all while playing in an in
dependent conference.
Returning to the team will be goalkeepeer Hen
ry Ring, who will go down in Carolina history as
one of its greatest at that position.
Also, 1999 leading scorer Joey Worthen is back
with sophomore Tim Glowienka, both leaders, as
well as players, who make tilings happen.
“You don’t know what’s going to happen in
terms of leadership, you don’t know what’s go
ing to happen when the game’s on the line,” Berson
said of his young team. “That’s going to be an
important part of this team’s growth. We really
will not have a starting lineup until well into the
season.”
The team got off to a good start this weekend,
as they beat fellow 1999 bubble team Notre Dame
2-0 at the Soccer Showcase in Fort Wayne, fnd.
USC returns home Friday at 7 p.m. at Eu
BANQUET see page 2
Sean Rayford The Gamecock
All-SEC sophomore Berna Dwyer
returns to help the 2000 volleyball
squad in the upcoming season which
will kick off Sept 1.
Coach confident
in 2000 men’s
soccer lineup
BY SHANNON ROOKE
The Gamecock
Most coaches would be slightly nervous if their
starting lineup consisted of seven freshman and
sophomores.
Not Mark Berson.
The South Carolina men’s soccer head coach
watched happily, as His youthful team not only took
over half of the spots in his starting eleven, but
also took it upon themselves to finish the job.
Joined by No. 1 Indiana, No. 7 Duke, No. 9 St.
Louis, No. 20 Rutgers, Akron, Notre Dame and
host school Indiana-Purdue University at Fort Wiyne
(IPFW), the South Carolina 2000 squad took part
in their first soccer showcase of the season.
Although the wins, losses and statistics will not
count towards the 2000 season statistics, beginning
their tough scedule with two or more wins would
bring the Gamecocks into their next matchup with
a little more experience.
Showing off its youth in Saturday’s season open
er, the Gamecocks went on to deafeat Notre Dame
2-0.
Wasting no time, USC got on the board early
in the first half.
With only 1:33 gone from the first-half
clock, sophomore Jordan Quinn recorded the first
goal of the season with a header that reached the
back of the net off an assist from freshman Jack
Cummings.
The tough Notre Dame squad would then hold
Carolina to a 1 -0 lead and would head into the sec
ond half, looking for a chance to tie the game.
Freshman Ryan Daley silenced that chance with
a goal of his own in the 58th minute. Daley re
ceived the ball off an assist from Quinn and placed
his team up 2-0.
The USC defense was also on top of their game,
with starting goalkeeper Henry Ring recording 5
saves. Ring was relieved in the second half by team
mate Mike Bachmeyer.
South Carolina begins their regular season Sept.
1 against UMass at 7 p.m. The contest will take
place on USC’s home field, Eugene E. Stone III
Stadium.
The sports desk can be reached at gamecock
sports@hotmail.com.
USC, Clemson face off 41
times in Baseball season]
by Kyle Almond
The Gamecock
A home series versus national champions
Louisiana State and four games against Clemson
are just a few of the highlights in the South Car
olina baseball team’s schedule for 2001, which
was released Friday.
The Gamecocks, SEC regular season cham
pions in 2000, start their season February 3, when
they take on the Wofford Terriers for the first
of a two-game series.
Also in February, USC travels to Charleston
to Lake part in The Citadel Tournament.
This is the first season that South Carolina
and Clemson will play each other four times in
the regular season. In seasons past, the archrivals
competed only twice, playing once on their home
field and once on the opponent’s field.
The first meeting of the two teams will
happen March 3, when the Gamecocks will trav
el to Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The next day,
Clemson will visit Saige Frye Field.
The teams will also face off in Columbia April
18 and in Clemson April 25.
Arkansas kicks off SEC competition for USG.
The Razorbacks roll into Columbia March 9
for a three-game series.
LSU, who won both the SEC Tournament
and the College World Series in 2000, will play
the Gamecocks in Columbia April 6-8.
Carolina will also host an SEC series
against Vanderbilt (March 23-25), Auburn (April
27-29), and Kentucky (May 4-6).
This year’s SEC Tournament will be heldjin
Birmingham, Ala. May 16-20.
The sports desk can be reached at
gamecocksports@hotmail. com
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2001 Baseball Schedule
1
FEBRUARY
3 Wofford 1:30 p.m.
4 Wofford 1:30 p.m.
6 Coastal Carolina 3:00 p.m.
9-11 at The Citadel Tournament
(Charleston, S.C.)
9 VCU 10:00 a.m.
10 Richmond 1:30 p.m.
11 Old Dominion 1:30 p.m.
16 Delaware State 3:00 p.m.
17 Delaware State 1:30 p.m.
18 Delaware State 1:30 p.m.
23 George Mason 3:00 p.m.
24 George Mason 1:30 p.m.
25 George Mason 1:30 p.m.
MARCH
3 at Clemson 2:00 p.m.
4 Clemson 1:30 p.m.
7 Furman 7:00 p.m.
9 Arkansas 7:00 D.m.
10 Arkansas 4:00 p.m.
11 Arkansas 1:30 p.m.
13 Davidson 7:00 p.m.
14 Butler 7:00 p.m.
16 at Tennessee 7:00 p.m.
17 at Tennessee 2:00 p.m.
18 at Tennessee 2:00 p.m.
21 at Wofford 7:00 p.m.
23 Vanderbilt 7:00 p.m.
24 Vanderbilt 4:00 p.m.
25 Vanderbilt 1:30 p.m.
27 at C. of Charleston 7:00 p.m.
28 Elon 7:00 p.m.
30 at Alabama t 7:00 p.m.
31 at Alabama 4:00 p.m.
I
APRIL
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I at Alabama 1:30 p.m.
3 at Furman 7:00 p.m.
6 Louisiana State 7:00 p.m.
7 Louisiana State 4:00 p.m.
8 Louisiana State 1:30 p.m. [
10 at The Citadel 7:00 p.m.
II The Citadel 7:00 p.m.
13 at Mississippi State TEA
14 at Mississippi State TEA
15 at Mississippi State TEA
18 Clemson 7:00 p.m. !
20 at Georgia 6:30 p.m. »
21 at Georgia 2:00 p.m. j
22 at Georgia 1:30 p.m. |
25 at Clemson 7:15 p.m.
27 Aubum 7:00 p.m. j
28 Aubum 4:00 p.m.
29 Aubum 1:30 p.m. ,
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MAY
2 Charleston Southern 7:00 p.m. [
4 Kentucky 7:00 p.m.
5 Kentucky 4:00 p.m. j
6 Kentucky 1:30 p.m. |
11 at Florida TEA
12 at Florida TEA
13 at Florida TBA
16-20 at SEC Tournament
(Birmingham, Ala.)
25-27 NCAA Regionals
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JUNE
1 -3 NCAA Super Regionals
8-16 College World Series
(Omaha, Neb.) _1