The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, March 28, 2001, Page 8, Image 8
Gamecock Sports Schedule
■ Baseball vs. Elon, 7 p.m. Wednesday
■ Softball at Georgia (doubleheader), 4 p.m. Wednesday
■ Softball at Georgia, 4 p.m. Thursday
■ Baseball at Alabama, 7 p.m. Friday
%\\t (BatntCOCk Wednesday, March 28, 20011
Johnson adapting well for USC
■ Gamecock
softball team to
take on Georgia
by Casey White
The Gamecock
The USC softball team, currently
ranked No. 17 in the nation, is benefiting
immensely this season from the talent
and determination of freshman pitcher
Stacey Johnson. The 5-foot- 10-inch right
hander from Newtown, Pa. is already
making a name for herself in collegiate
softball, posting an impressive 104 record
in her first season at Carolina.
Johnson says she came to USC for its
Southern hospitality and the welcoming
teammates and coaches, but she quickly
discovered the collegiate game itself is
not as friendly as she had envisioned.
“College softball is very different than
what I expected it to be. It’s a lot more
competitive than I had ever imagined,”
Johnson said. “The transition to the college
game has been really hard for me. I was
sick first semester, and all the conditioning
is a lot of hard work.
“You have to get used to it, but I
got through it. This semester has been
much more enjoyable.”
Luckily, Johnson has had a positive
role model in fellow pitcher Megan
Matthews, who has helped her adjust to
the college game. Though she admits
playing with an outstanding pitcher such
as Matthews can be intimidating, the
benefits have been worthwhile.
“Playing with Matthews is really
overwhelming sometimes,” Johnson said.
“Before I came to USC, all I had seen
were articles about her, and I couldn’t
believe I was going to play with someone
so talented.
“I look up to her, and I respect her.
She’s helped me out with a lot, and she’s
very encouraging. I couldn’t ask for a
better upperclassman to help me with my
position.”
Even while Johnson is learning the
ropes, she is bringing some of her own
strengths to the mound.
“I think for being a freshman, I think
I have very good composure on the
mound,” she said. “I don’t let things rattle
me, and I try to show that I have
confidence so that the team will believe
in me. You have to have confidence in
yourself before your team will trust you.”
Despite not having the strikeout
numbers Matthews has, Johnson has a
lower ERA then her teammate (1.23) and
has done a good job of keeping the ball
in the park, only allowing one home run
all season. In addition, she already has
four shutouts on the season.
Even with her outstanding showing
so far this year, Johnson still to wants
improve her performance as the season
continues.
“I’m actually kind of disappointed
with my performance so far this season,”
she said. “I know I should do better, and
I will with more practice and pitching
more games.
“It’s going to come with experience.
* •
6 G
■ LOCATION: Athens, Ga.
■ TIMES: Wednesday, 4
p.m. (doubleheader) and
Thursday, 4 p.m.
■ RECORDS: USC (21-12
1, 5-4 SEC), UGA (20-17,
2-9)
I’m still learning how to play college ball.
I have realized that the competition has
become sharper, and I am going to have
to get better with my game to stay
competitive. I haven’t showed anyone
my best ability yet.”
Johnson has set some lofty goals for
herself and the team for the rest of the
season.
“I’d like to help the team go to
regionals and the SEC tournament, but
personally, I’d like to follow in Matthews’
steps so we can help the team together,”
she said. “I’d like to show the team,
coaches and even myself how good I can
be because I don’t think I’ve come close
to it yet. I’d like to show them what I’m
capable of doing.”
Johnson will get a chance to start
Johnson seepages
Travis Lynn/The Gamecock
USC’s Stacey Johnson has been a steady No. 2 pitcher behind
Megan Matthews this season.
Aaron'Hark/The Gamecock
Bryon Jeffcoat and the Gamecock baseball team improved to 23-4 with their
win over the College of Charleston on Tuesday night.
USC extends winning
streak to four games
■ No. 5 Gamecocks walk over College of Charleston
by Kyle Almond
The Gamecock
Three runs scored on bases-loaded walks
catapulted the fifth-ranked USC baseball team to a
5-3 victory over the College of Charleston on Tuesday
night.
With the victory, the Gamecocks (23-4) have
now won four straight games, coming off a three
game home sweep of Vanderbilt last weekend.
Holding a slim 2-1 lead in the fifth inning, the
Gamecocks were able to load the bases with two outs.
Brennan Dees, Tripp Kelly and Bryon Jeffcoat then
drew three straight walks to give Carolina a 5-1
advantage.
The Cougars (16-13) added a pair of runs, one in
the bottom of the fifth and one in the eighth, but they
were unable to pull out the upset in front of 2,762
home fans at Patriot’s Point Field.
Blake Taylor (1-0) earned his first win as a
Gamecock, pitching two scoreless innings in relief
of starter Matt Wilson. Taylor allowed a hit and a
walk and struck out three Cougars.
David Jablonski (1 -2) took the loss, allowing four
hits and four earned runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Carolina opened the scoring early in the top of
the first when a throwing error brought in center
fielder Marcus McBeth, who had reached base on a
double.
Kelly added a solo home run in the second inning,
5
3
his sixth of the season.
Cougar Tradd Denny hit an RBI double in the
fourth to cut the lead to one, but Jablonski got wild
in the next inning, ultimately costing his team the
game.
Surprisingly, the Gamecocks were outhit 13-6
by Charleston, but the Cougars couldn’t compensate
for its sloppy fifth inning.
McBeth finished 2-for-4, and new leadoff hitter
Drew Meyer also had a pair of hits. Michael Floyd
hit a single and scored a mn.
Cougar third baseman Mitch Miggenbuig had a
game-high three hits in four at-bats. Denny added a
pair of hits.
USC will return to Columbia and take on Elon
at Saige Frye Field today. The Phoenix upset Carolina
last season 7-5 on the same field. Gametime is set for
7 p.m.
The Cougars will get back to Southern Conference
play Friday, beginning a three-game series at UNC
Greensboro.
The sports desk can be reached at
gamecocksports@hotmail.com
Will USC ever find Fogler’s replacement?
■ Search for men's
basketball coach
already entering
its third week
BY DARRAH DENSMORE
The Gamecock
As the search for Eddie Fogler’s
replacement enters its third week,
speculation has become the buzzword
for fans: USC Athletics Director
Mike McGee maintains a tight-lipped
approach in his pursuit of a high-profile
coach.
McGee doesn’t expect a new coach
to be in place before next week. That
could be an early estimate, because the
groundbreaking ceremony for the
Gamecocks’ arena has been delayed
from April 10 until April 25 so the new
$ ^
coach will be on hand.
“There probably won’t be any news
until after the Final Four,” McGee has
said.
This past week, three of the biggest
names that had been mentioned in
connection with the opening said they
had no interest in making the move to
Columbia
Missouri’s Quin Snyder, the former
Duke point guard who led the Tigers to
the second round of the NCAA
Tournament this year, said he has no
plans of leaving Columbia Mo. anytime
soon.
“I’m not interested in being
anywhere but here,” Snyder said. “I
haven’t talked to anybody, and I don’t
intend to talk to anybody.”
Oklahoma’s Kelvin Sampson, who
interviewed for the USC job wlien Fogler
was hired in 1993, also indicated his
happiness with his current position,
saying that he “has a great job at
| '
Oklahoma,” and has no interest in
leaving.
“I grew up in North Carolina, and
I think South Carolina is a good job for
somebody,” Sampson said.
“I wish (McGee) luck. I hope he
finds a great candidate, but the candidate
won’t be me.”
It is likely that the $990,000 buyout
clause in Sampson’s contract would have
prevented McGee from hiring him,
especially considering the $750,000
buyout of Fogler. Similarly, Rod Barnes
of Ole Miss has been touted as a
candidate, but he also has a $450,000
buyout.
Other high profile candidates who
have removed their names from
consideration include Tim Floyd of the
NEA’s Chicago Bulls, who said through
a spokesman that he has no interest in
USC, and Bobby Cremins, who has said
that he is “not a candidate at South
Carolina.”
£
‘There probably won’t be any news until
after the Final Four. ’
Mike McGee
USC Athletics Director
Cremins, a former USC guard and
GeoigiaTech coach who initially agreed
to coach the Gamecocks in 1993 before
reneging, said that while he is not being
actively pursued, he “would listen” if
McGee came calling.
Another high profile name —
possibly the most prominent thus far—
has expressed some interest in the USC
job, but appears to be a remote possibility.
Kentucky’s Tubby Smith said he is
looking forward to returning as the
Wildcats’ coach next season and is in
the process of negotiating a contract
extension with athletics director Larry
Ivy. However, it has been widely
reported that Smith’s agents have entered
into preliminary talks with USC and
that the coach has expressed some
interest.
“I’m really excited about the future,”
Smith said of returning to coach a
Kentucky team which will likely be one
of the favorites to win the NCAA
Championship next year. “I’m just
looking forward to sitting down with
Larry (Ivy) and getting (the new
contract) done.”
From all the uncertainty of the past
two weeks emerge a few interesting
Search see page 9
Sports Commentary
Ml
Another
candidate
out of the
running
The results are
in, the votes
have been
tallied and we have a
winner.
Even though The
Gamecock’s online
poll says I’m the
student body’s over- ^montl
whelming choice to is a second-year
replace Eddie Fogler student in the
as head coach of the College of
USC men’s basketball Journalism and
team, I must re- Mass
spectfully pull myself Communications..
out of the running and He can be reached
decline any interest in via e-mail at
the position. gamecocksports®
I still have a vision hotmail.com.
for Gamecock basket
ball, one that might
take us to the Promised Land or March
Madness, but I have an obligation to the
readers of The Gamecock that I must fulfill.
So sadly, my friends, I must do my best
Roy Williams impression and elect to keep
being your favorite sports editor, and as one
reader put it, The Gamecock’s “only hoptl
for integrity.”
But I still want to see my school succeed
on the hardwood, so I will take this
opportunity to lend some advice to Mike
McGee and the rest of the USC Athletics
Department. Hire a coach who really wants
to be here.
Rather than going after all the big names
and throwing obscene amounts of cash in
their direction to come here, choose a coach
that looks at USC as a dream job. Choose a
coach that really wants to take the challenge
of making us a national power. A coach that
has the energy, enthusiasm and patience to
make everything work.
Instead of going after a name, go after
someone who wants to make a name for
himself and our school.
Don’t get me wrong; I think rumored
candidates such as Tubby Smith and Kelvin '
Sampson are outstanding coaches and class
acts, but they’ve already found success. Let’s
get a coach that is so hungry for just a taste
of that success that he will do anything in
his power to get it — within NCAA rules,
of course. Let’s get someone who will look
at this position as an honor and an
opportunity rather than a job and a contractual
obligation.
If that leaves Winthrop’s Gregg Marshall,
so be it. Marshall has taken Wmthrop to the
NCAA tournament, but succeeding in a top
conference like the SEC is a whole new
ballgame.
A native of Greenwood, Marshall is an
up-and-coming coach who would relish the
chance to succeed in his home state and bring
pride back to its oldest university.
Another possible candidate who might f
be a good nt is tgasp;; Bobby Cremins. l ne
golden-haired Cremins accepted the USC
coaching job almost a decade ago only to
change his mind three days later and stay
at Georgia Tech. But it seems pretty obvious
he wants a second chance. True, he ticked
off a lot of Gamecock fans, and probably Mr.
McGee as well, when he turned his back on
his alma mater, but why can’t we just forgive
and forget? He’s still a Gamecock, and he
showed how well he can coach while he was
with the Yellow Jackets. Why hold agrucjge?
Perhaps it’s time to give him an opportunity
to make up for everything.
The bottom line is to get someone who
wants to be here, not someone who is settling
for the job, who wants to get out of his current
situation, or who wants more money. Lou
Holtz was successful with the football team
because he wanted to take the challenge head
on and because he wanted to be here. The
same principle should apply with basketball.
I’m not here to endorse a particular
candidate. I still have a hangover from SG
elections. But I am here to endorse a
particular type of candidate. One who is
actively pursuing the job, not one who we
are actively pursuing.
Mr. McGee, I hope you take my advice
into consideration. I’m sorry that I am
deleting myself from your “A-list,” but think
about what I’ve said. I’m sure you’ll hire
Carolina’s new coach soon, and hopefully,
that hiring will be the start of our journey
back to the Big Dance.