Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

I H Gamecock Sports Schedule ■ Women’s soccer vs. Auburn, Fri., 7:00 pun. ■ Volleyball vs. Ole Miss, Fri., 7 p.m. ■ Men’s soccer vs. Bucknell, Sat., 5 p.m. ■ Football at Vanderbilt, Sat., 2 p.m. 1 ■ ' .....I— .I . ."I I ——— . ■ Ithe (gamecock Wednesday^ October IB * ----— South Carolina football qualifies for bowl for first time since 1094 by Jared Kelovvitz The Gamecock After their astonishing turn-around from last year’s 0-11 season, the University of South Carolina football team is eligible for a bowl game. The Gamecocks assured them selves of a post-season berth with a 27-7 victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks this past Saturday. This latest victory, possibly USC’s most convincing victory this season, has made believers out of the pollsters, and has earned South Carolina a no, 18 national ranking. The win also made the Gamecocks 6-1 over all and 4-1 in Southeastern Conference play. Carolina has never ended the season with a winning record in the SEC, but they could erase that statistic if they were to defeat Vanderbilt this weekend. The Gamecocks are sitting atop the SEC eastern division alongside the Florida Gators. The Gators, also 4-1 in SEC play, will host USC on No vember 11th in “The Swamp.” What accounts for the dramatic turn around this season? “I don’t think we were as bad a year ago as people would believe. Now, we looked terrible, I will grant you, but we never had a chance on offense,” head coach Lou Holtz said. “I can’t tell you exactly where it was, but somewhere along the line (the play ers) developed a trust in us (the coaching staff), and then allowed us to make them better.” r One reason South Carolina is where they are today is the maturation of their offense. This now-potent scoring unit is led by tail back Derek Watson and quarterback Phil Petty, both of whom had outstanding games against Arkansas. This past Saturday, Watson rushed for 136 yards on 17 carries, averaging 8.0 yards per carry, and one Gamecock score. Petty gave USC an added air attack, going 12 for 21 for 170 yards and two touchdowns. So far this season, Watson has gained 748 yards on 120 attempts, averaging 6.2 yards per carry, and a team-leading nine touchdowns. This is a huge step from last season’s total of 394 yards and zero touch downs. “Derek Watson reminds me a lot of Bar ry Sanders when he breaks off those big runs. He is never afraid to reverse his field. Sometimes he turns a 2-yard gain into a 2 yard loss when he does it, but a lot of times he turns a 2-yard gain into a 62-yard gain,” Holtz said. So far this season, Petty is 102 for 147 in passing, with six touchdowns and a pass ing efficiency rating of 120.82. Compare this to his performance last year, when he was 65 for 146 in passing, with one touchdown and a pass effeciency rating of 83.39. Every receiver on the team has had at least one big play this season. But Petty's primary targets this year have been senior Jermale Kelly and junior Brian Scott. Last season, Kelly and Scott had 366 and 188 recieving yards, respectively. Kelly caught 24 passes for one TD, and Scott caught nine passes for no scores. So far this year, Kel ly has 26 receptions for 374 yards and 4 touchdowns, and Scott has caught 21 pass es for 389 yards and two tounchdowns. Besides the coming of age of the Car olina offense, the Gamecocks’ success is also tied to their defense, which has re mained unflappable again this season. Af ter John Abraham, Arturo Freeman and Ray Green left to go to the NFL, many people did not think the defense would be able to recover. But as early as theseason opener against New Mexico State, they assured those doubters that they hadn’t lost a step. The secondary has come up big for the Gamecocks this season, as the team has ac cumulated 14 interceptions so far. Leading the team in interceptions is junior defen sive back Sheldon Brown with four. The Gamecocks will travel to Nashville, Tennessee this weekend to take on the Van derbilt Commodores, and try to continue their “Cinderella Season.” i The sports desk can be reached at gamecocksports@hotmail.com. |:• ’jlffllllllBlllMi Sean Rayford The Gamecock Carolina’s Kalimba Edwards puts pressure on Arkansas quarterback Robby Hampton. USC knocked all three Razorback quarterbacks out of game in Saturday’s victory. Cornerback Sheldon Brown leads football team in interceptions, sportsmanship'humility by Andrew Festa The Gamecock Sheldon Brown was scared to death before his first Pop Warner foot ball game, but on his very first play he proved that he could hang with the big boys. Brown’s first play as a Lewisville Tiger Mite was a 60 yard scamper, after which he quickly outgrew his fear and inexperience. Today, as a starting cornerback for the Game cocks, he is one of the premiere de fensive backs in the Southeastern Conference. He grew up in Lewisville, SC and his father, Donald Brown, was his biggest inspiration. The elder Brown even gave up a basketball scholarship to USC-Lan . caster so he could send his son to school at Carolina. Now, Brown is fulfilling his fa ther’s dream of playing sports at a collegiate level. In order to play football at USC, Brown had to complete an ad ditional class after he finished his se nior year of high school. He says this obstacle was the biggest adversity he has had to face so far in his life. • The advice Brown offers to any one who wants to play collegiate sports is, “Be patient and wait (for a chance to step in). Everything C will work out.” Brown hopes to be an All-SEC player and an All-American candi date going into his next season. Success for both himself and his team is always in the back of his mind. Even his big game against Ken tucky was quickly forgotten. His mindset is to play every down the same, ahd he refuses to dwell on past success, knowing there are still games to be played. “We have had some close games, but we have pulled together, and we know how to fight back and feed off one another,” Brown said of his team’s play so far this year. Coach Holtz said Brown doesn’t even need a playbook. They just tell him to cover the receiver and it’s done. Brown started every game last year and finished with 71 tackles and two interceptions, ranked third and tied for first on the team, respective ly. So far this season. Brown has 38 tackles and four interceptions. Brown has helped the Gamecock defense hold opponents to 173.7 pass ing yards a game, which ranks third in the SEC. USC’s defense is ranked second in the SEC and ninth overall nationally. Brown’s average day consists of rising early for class at eight, then going to the gym to lift weights. Af terwards, he goes home for about an hour and a half, then to a 12:30 class. When class is ovtjr, it’s back to the practice facility where he dresses for practice. Practice is followed by din ner, and then finally he goes home for the night. During his free time, he enjoys relaxing and watching television, and unlike most guys, he doesn’t like stay ing up very late. He doesn’t go to clubs often and prefers going to sleep early. Brown feels that professional football players are too concerned with money and not focused enough on playing the game. If the future doesn't hold an NFL career in store for him, he plans to go home to Lewisville and talk with his high school coach, Bennie McMurray, about coaching high school students. Sheldon Brown won’t puff his chest out over his accomplishments, no matter what happens this sea son. He is modest, an extreme rari ty in athletes today. That shows that, for as much tal ent and skill Sheldon Brown has, he has just as much humility and class. The s[)urls desk can be reached at ■ gamecocksports@hotmail.com. Sean Rayford The Gamecock Sheldon Brown, Carolina’s team leader in interceptions, lines up against an Arkansas flanker at the line of scrimmage during Saturday’s 27-7 USC victory. Brown ranks second in the SEC in interceptions. Game Frames