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tChc CBamccocft Around the SEC Berlin’s big spring might be the start ♦ of QB controversy for SEC champs by Kyle Almond The Gamecock Steve Spurrier has proven throughout his career that he isn’t afraid of quarterback controversies. If a player is having trouble getting the job done, Spurrier doesn’t hesitate in replacing him to keep the Gators’ high-powered offense running smoothly. This year might be more of the same. Rex Grossman returns as the Gators’ starting ^ quarterback, but heralded sophomore Brock Berlin has Spurrier keeping his BERLIN options open. Berlin threw for two touchdowns in the offense’s 35-34 win over the defense in a scrimmage Saturday, and finished 12-of-18 for 149 yards. “Brock had a very good scrimmage,” Spurrier told the Gainesville Sun. “Obviously; he is a lot further along than he was as a true freshman last year. He’s right there, ready to play. “We pretty much know what Rex Grossman can do. It looks like Brock is right there ready to compete. So, they’re right in there together.” While Berlin excelled in Saturday’s scrimmage, Grossman struggled, throwing two interceptions and failing to get the Gator offense in the end zone. The redshirt sophomore says he’s up to the challenge. “I love competing,” Grossman said. “It’s a long haul, and I really don’t have a comment on how I feel day-to-day. I know what I can do. I don’t feel any pressure at all.” Elsewhere around the SEC: Ole Miss: Taking the Rebels to a 27-7 regular season record, and winning the SEC Wfest title earned men’s basketball head coach, Rod Barnes, the 2001 Naismith National Men’s Coach of the Year award last week from the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Barnes was one of three coaches from the SEC up for the award. Florida’s Billy Donovan and Alabama’s Mark Gottfried were the others. Barnes also beat out 17 other finalists from around the country for the honor. “I would like to thank God for the opportunity to coach this great game and to coach these fine young men at Ole Miss,” said Barnes, who was also named SEC Coach of the Year by the league’s coaches and The Associated Press. “This is a tremendous honor,” he said. “Across the country, there are many outstanding coaches who are doing incredible jobs with their teams and pregrams, and for me to receive this award is truly humbling,” he added. “This award also reflects on everybody associated with the Ole Miss basketball program — the players, assistant coaches and staff. I would like to thank them, because without all of their hard work and dedication, we would not have had the successful season we have enjoyed.” Tennessee: Ole Miss and Kentucky weren’t the only schools to have basketball teams lose in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Tennessee’s women’s basketball team, the top-ranked team in the nation going into the tournament, was upset by Xavier, the fourth seed in the Mideast region, 80 65 on Saturday. The loss was the Lady Vols’ earliest defeat in the NCAA Tournament in seven years. “I am upset with this team and disappointed in this team,” Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt said. “This team did not deserve anything other than the outcome they got.” ——— i — conference] Summitt and the Lady Vols agreed that the problem was on the defensive end of the court. Xavier had five players score in double figures. “When you play a team like that, you can’t have breakdowns on defense,” Summitt said. “They made us pay every time we had a mental breakdown.” Tennessee’s Ashley Robinson agreed. “You can score, but if you don’t stop your opponent from scoring, you won’t win,” Robinson said. “Regardless of whether we were hitting our shots, if we would have stopped them on defense, we probably would have won this game.” Tennessee had made five Final Four trips in the past six years and won three national titles. The sports desk can be reached at gamecocksports@hotmail.com Search from page 8 * questions: Who is still on McGee’s short list? Is Fogler’s replacement going to come from the NR\? Will McGee seek a high profile “big-name” coach, as he has been known to do in the past, or select a young, eneigetic Billy Donovan clone like Winthrop’s Gregg Marshall? If McGee has his way, fans will not know who will lead the Gamecocks until the new coach is introduced. McGee’s close-to-the-vest approach has produced a dizzying array of potential candidates, forcing Gamecock i fans to follow the coaching search on the Internet, where numerous rumors have been propagated. McGee’s hiring of Lou Holtz is regarded as masterful, as well as his having lured Ray Tanner away from N.C. State to rebuild Gamecock baseball. Only time will tell as to whether McGee can attract the same type of successful leader for the USC basketball team. Presently, he is not showing his hand and is not likely to until the new coach is in place. All one can say now with any certainty is that Fogler’s successor will not be Bobby Knight. McGee wouldn’t have it any other way. The sports desk can be reached at gamecocksports@hotmail.com Johnson from page 8 showing those capabilities today against the Georgia Lady Bulldogs (20-17,2-9 SEC) in the second game of a doubleheader in Athens, Ga. The teams will face off again on Thursday for the last game of a three-game set. The sports desk can be reached at gamecocksports@hotmail.com -1 . Sports Briefs ■ USC football game to'be shown on ESPN Thursday USC’s football game against Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss, has been moved to Thursday, Sept. 20, and will be nationally televised. by ESPN. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 22 in Starkville. Kickoff time is tentative ly set for 8 p.m.-ET. This will mark USC’s third appearance on ESPN’s Thursday night primetime national telecast. Carolina’s games with West Virginia (1990) and Kentucky (1993) were also Thursday night games on ESPN, with both games played in Columbia. - ■ Carolina to host spring football game, memorabilia gala USC concludes spring football practice this Saturday with the annual spring game. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Williams-Brice Stadium, and tickets are on sale at the USC Ticket Office on Rosewood Drive. Tickets are also available by calling 7774274 or 1-800 4SC-FANS. Tickets will be on sale at the stadium box office on Saturday. Tickets are $5 for adults, $2 for youth and $10 for a family. USC students, faculty and staff will be admitted free by showing their ID cards. Seating will be general admission and will be on the west side of the stadium only. The Gamecock coaching staff will divide up the squad later this week. Members of the Gamecock squad will be available for autographs prior to the game, from 11 am. to noon, underneath the west stands. In conjunction with the Spring Game and the USC Bicentennial Celebration, USC will also host a Gamecock Athletics Memorabilia Gala this Saturday at the Lettermen’s Lounge at the stadium. Doors will open at 10 a.m. The gala will feature memorabilia and trophies from virtually all Carolina sports, as well as the collection of Mike Safran, who has a large inventory of USC memorabilia. In addition, former USC standouts such as George Rogers, Harold Green, Corey Miller and Brad Edwards will be.on hand to sign autographs and visit with fans. ■ Gamecocks to take on ACC teams in volleyball tourney Taking on five teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Gamecock volleyball team will host its annual spring tournament on Saturday, March 31, at the \blleyball Competition Facility. USC will host in-state rival Clemson at 9 a.m. to kick off the tournament. Matches will run throughout the day. Clemson, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Wake Forest and Duke will also be here. Admission is free. Hitting the road for its first spring tournament of 2001, the Gamecock volleyball team competed against the Florida Gators and the South Florida Bulls last weekend. USC head coach Kim Christopher was most impressed with the play of redshirt freshman Niece Curry. “Niece was impressive in her debut against Florida,” Christopher said. “Florida has two of the best middles in the country, and it was exciting to see Niece compete with the best. As a team, we did many good things and will continue to work on controlling the unforced errors. “It was a good start for us. We had a chance to play a variety of line-ups, and that is one advantage to spring tournaments. A coach can see how various lineups look against competition and players gain experience without the stress of working to win a championship.” Apply Yourself. % Attend the Spring Scholarship Workshop series If you don't apply you won't win. Attending a Scholarship Workshop is the first step in the application process for national scholarships, grants, and fellowships. Faculty and staff will explain the merits and requirements of individual competitions. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. First year students and sophomores are encouraged to attend workshops to begin the process of becoming a scholar. Plan to attend and Apply Yourself, Literally. Truman Scholarship (attention juniors - for graduate work in public service or government) Monday, April 9,4 p.m. Harper College Conference Room, first floor *! Fulbright Scholarship (research & study abroad for graduating seniors and graduate students) Tuesday, April 17,4 p.m. Gressette Room, Harper College The Office of Fellowships and Scholar Programs Helping students apply themselves for national fellowships and scholarships Harper College, Room 101 on the USC Horseshoe (803) 777-0958 • www.sc.edu/ofsp USC Fellowships@gwm.sc.edu Career Fair 20QI Hosted by the USC College of Hospitality, Retail,"and Sport Management -- TUESDAY WED-THU FRI-SAT SUNDAY 8:30pm 8:30pm 8 & 10:30pm 8:00pm Non-Smoking Shows: Wednesday & Friday @ 8:00pm ■ _Erotic Hypnotic Revue: Friday & Saturday @ 10:30pm_I