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January 16, 2001 S . . .. _ _ ____ 24 fA dream come true’ » --- ■ Outback Bowl win > caps off landmark season for Gamecock football team by Brock Vergakis The Gamecock Before the Outback Bowl, Ryan Brewer scribbled two things on his wristbands. He wrote “No regrets” on one wrist and “To the End” on the other before rushing for 109 yards, scoring all of USC’s touch downs and catching three passes for 1 INSIDE ■ USC's defense stymies the Buckeyes — Section B 92 yards on the way to a 24-7 thumping of Ohio State. “I wanted to play with no regrets and go all the way to the end,” Brewer said. “It’s something I did in high school. I want » ed to get myself a little pumped up for this game.” Brewer had extra incentive to play well against the Buck eyes. A native of Troy, Ohio, he had grown up an OSU fan and wanted to wear the Scarlet and Gray in his collegiate career. But even though he was named Mr. Football in the state of Ohio, the Buckeyes didn’t offer him a scholarship. They said he was too small. But in the New Year’s Day game, he showed them how large he could play. “He played an outstanding game,” OSU defensive tackle Ryan Pickett said. “Hats off to the man. He played his heart out. I have to give him all the credit in the world. He’s a little man, but he played like a giant.” With the suspension of Derek V&tson, Brewer became USC’s go-to guy for big plays. And big plays are exactly what he pro vided. Outback see page as Turnaround season Tbe Gamecocks rebounded from it disaarous ti ll camptagain 1999 to past on 8-4 record this season, h am am of Use biggest smglosenon turnarounds in college football history. 9/2 New Mexico State W, 31-0 9/9 Georgia W, 21-10 9/16 Easton Michigan W.41-6 9/23 Mississippi State W, 23-19 | 9/30 at Alabama L, 17-27 10/7 at Kentucky W, 20-17 10/14 Arkansas W. 27-7 I 10/21 at Vanderbilt W, 30-14 10/28 Tennessee L, 14-17 9/23 at Florida L, 21-41 9/30 atClemson L, 14-16 10/7 Ohio State* W, 24-7 ■Note: Neutral site Sean Rayford/The Gamecock USC’s Ryan Brewer celebrates his third touchdown of the Outback Bowl en route to the Gamecocks’ 24-7 victory over Ohio State. Brewer, a native of Ohio, was a big playmaker In the game In the absence of leading rusher Derek Watson. Brewer, who was passed over by Ohio State, was voted the most valuable player of the Outback Bowl. Student critically injured on Pickens Street ■ 1 olice, family search for information as student remains unconscious by Meredith Key Tiie Gamecock Columbia police are looking for in formation about a 22-year-old USC stu dent found Dec. 15 lying unconscious in he road on the 600 block of Pickens Street. Marine science major Daniel Duke was found lying in the street a few min utes after 3 a.m. by a passeiby, according to Columbia police. Duke was uncon scious and bleeding profusely from the head. He was transported to Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital. Duke remains unconscious and has been moved to an out-of-slate health fa cility. After sending copies of the vic tim’s x-rays and photographs to an ex _ pert, police believe r\..i—_ — L/UI\V TMU lUt V/ll UIV right side of the head with a flat sur face. The blow was extremely hard, likely delivered by a moving object, such as a car mir Duke ror or something projecting from the window of an automobile, police say. Po lice think the victim was walking near the yellow line. The victim’s family spent the hdli ‘I want everyone I possibly can to know about this incident so no other family will have to go through this.’ Heather West Student who found Daniel Duke unconscious days in the hospital in hopes of getting information about the incident. Chris Duke, the victim’s brother, said his fam ily is trying to find out who is responsi ble. “We are trying very diligently to find the person or persons who did this to my brother,” he said. The victim’s family also wants to get • help from students, alumni and faculty members, he said. “Alumni, students and faculty sup port USC. through sports and education; my brother was no exception,” Chris Duke said. “I went to a football game, and the support was immense. Now my brother needs help, and I hope the sup INJURY see page A4 USC kicks off bicentennial celebration ■ Palms highlights accomplishments, looks to the future | by Brandon Larrabee r.- The Gamecock py1 Stressing themes of community and education, government leaders and uni versity officials gathered Wednesday on the Horseshoe to kick off USC’s bicen tennial celebration. “As we celebrate our beginning 200 voarc atrn u/a lnnlr INSIDE ■ Budget battle looms over Bicentennial — Page A4 J V ' with great faith and hope, greater faith and hope than ever — especially in light of our recent collective accom plishments — to tho h«nnninp( (till to come,” USC President John Palms said. “In this bicentennial year, we join together, as our first students did on this very Horse shoe, and remember the ideals that have, like Carolina, endured. Today, we renew our determination to face the challenges of our time and to live up to the enduring principles of this place we call our own.” Bicentennial see page m Michael Ronquillo/The Gamecock Media arts professor Randy Herald and his daughter, Bonnie, talk to Cocky on Wednesday at the barbecue after use’s bicen tennial kickoff. The kickoff was the first event of the yearlong celebration of the 200-year anniversary of USC’s founding. Hodges’ budget proposes to slash university funding ■ Officials say the planned 15 percent cuts could lead to heavy tuition hike by Brandon Larrabee The Gamecock USC officials say a proposed cut in state funding of 15 percent could be “catastrophic” to the university and could trigger tuition hikes or the loss of programs. The proposed cuts are part of a plan by Gov. Jim Hodges to slash the state budget by 15 percent across the board. The state is attempting to avoid a potential shortfall of $500 million. In a Jan. 5 letter to Donald Hottel, Jr., chief of staff of the House Ways and Means Committee, Palms said cuts to the university’s budget could en danger the institution’s financial stability and have long-lasting effects. “We already confront serious financial con straints, and to cut our appropriations further will, undermine the financial stability we have so dili gently pursued and threaten the status of our bond rating,” Palms wrote. “...Simply pul, the effects of such budget cuts would be felt by this institu tion and our state for decades.” A cut of 15 percent would force USC to raise tuition 32 percent, according to a letter written by Palms. USC’s regional campuses might raise tu ition anywhere from 20 to 40 percent, Palms wrote. BuDOET set page M Proposed budget At a glance ■ ■ PROPOSED CUTS; 15 percent across the board, including all colleges and universities ■ TUITION HIKE: USC leaders have proposed offsetting the cut by hiking tuition up to 32 percent ■ OTHER PROPOSALS: Cutting programs and limiting enrollment aren’t out of the question to offset the shortfall, according to USC president John Palms HhMlliMniMMl Weather IODAY 57 42 Wednesday 48 46 Coming Up An interview with Playboy’s Miss February, Lauren Hill. Friday Quote of the Day ■ "Success requires no explanations; failure permits no alibis.” — Napoleon Hill Online Poll Did you attend the bicentennial celebration? Vote at www.dailygamecock.com. Results will be published Friday. <