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Cht CBamccock Around the SEC SEC basketball coaches signing contract extensions by Kyle Almond The Gamecock While USC has been fumbling to try to find a men’s basketball coach, several SEC schools have signed or have agreed to sign their current coaches to contract extensions. Kentucky, Alabama and Ole Miss have all rewarded their men’s basketball coaches this past week for a job well done and hope that by signing them to longer deals, they are also ensuring their programs’ stability. Tubby Smith was reportedly offered $2 million to leave Kentucky and coach the Gamecocks, but USC’s former assistant reaffirmed his commitment to the Bluegrass State last Wednesday, agreeing to a four-year extension. The terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed. “We’ve agreed, it’s a done deal, and now we just have to get it on paper,” Kentucky athletics director Larry Ivy said. “We looked at several of the top institutions in the country, and I think,, once our figures are released, you’ll see that we’re right there with those institutions. “It’s a figure that Tubby was very satisfied with, and something that I feel is deserved for him for the job he’s done.” Smith led the Wildcats to their second straight SEC Championship this season and to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. In his four years at Kentucky, he has taken his team to the Sweet 16 three times. Ivy said Smith never brought the USC job up to him, and that it had no impact on contract negotiations. “Tubby never mentioned South Carolina to me,” Ivy said. “I gave (USC Athletics Director) Mike McGee my permission to speak to hint, and I don’t know what their conversations were. “Anytime any of our coaches in any sport have the chance to look at another opportunity, we want them to do that. Obviously, this was not something that Tubby wanted to consider seriously.” Like Smith, Ole Miss’ Rod Barnes led his team to the NCAA Sweet 16 this past season. It was the first Sweet 16 appearance in the school’s history. For his efforts, Barnes was named the winner of the 2001 Naismith Award for National Coach of the Year. He’ll have a chance to do it again next season — he signed a four-year deal last Wednesday. “In three short years, Rod Bames has taken our men’s basketball program to a higher level,” Mississippi Athletics Director John Shafer said. “Coach Bames and his family have made a major commitment to this university and the state of Mississippi. We felt it was the appropriate time to extend his contract back to the maximum four years allowed by the state of Mississippi. “We are proud to have Coach Bames at Ole Miss, and we hope he will be here for his entire coaching career.” Bames, who led the Rebels to their second SEC West title in three years, was pleased with the extension and the future that lie ahead for his team. “I look forward to the challenges and opportunities as we prepare to compete on a national level,” Barnes said. “Good things are happening at Ole Miss, and I am excited about the future of our program.” Mike Gottfried’s Alabama team barely missed out on the NCAA Tournament, but it made waves in the NIT, advancing all the way to the championship game. After agreeing last Tuesday to a contract extension, he will be able to continue leading a rebuilt program that returns all five starters for next season. Details of Gottfried’s deal have not been announced, but the head coach is ready to bring the Crimson Tide to the top of the SEC. * “I’m excited about our future, and I’m appreciative of the University of Alabama for allowing me to be its • basketball coach,” Gottfried said. “I’m also appreciative of the interest and growing support of our program from our fans.” Before agreeing to an extension, Gojtfried was believed to be a candidate for the USC vacancy. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The sports desk am be reached at gamecocksports@hotmail.com Special to The Gamecock USC’s Guillaume Legat is coming off a big win over Arkansas’ Oskar Johansson, the nation’s No. 1 men’s tennis player. i Legat from page 8 said. If Legat can keep up the pace he’s on, that shouldn’t be a problem. “I can’t ever remember having a player play this good,” said DeMars, who has been coaching tennis for 28 years. “He doesn’t just beat people. He demolishes them. “I always knew he was good. He’s always had a good record here. But never like this. ... He should be seeded at the NCAA (Championships) for sure.” Legat played in the NCAAs his first two years and knows it’s a wide-open tournament. “Everybody there (at the NCAAs) is good,” Legat said. “There, you can lose in the first round; everybody has a chance to win the tournament.” With the confidence with which he’s playing, it will be tough to stop Legat from advancing. “It’s ridiculous. He’s playing with so much confidence,” DeMars said. “He thinks he can’t get beat, and consequently, every shot he feels he can make. “[Legat] doesn’t just beat people. He demolishes them.”' Kent DeMars USC men’s tennis head coach “He’s very quick, so if you hit the ball away from him, he chases it down. He makes hardly any mistakes ever. If you come to net, he lobs over your head. He passes you, he - stays in a rally forever, and you just feel like, ‘What do I need to do to beat this guy’? “You really have to go through him to beat him, and right now, he’s playing with too much confidence to do that.” Legat will play his final home match Wednesday when the Gamecocks (11-8) take on Duke. Carolina will then close out regular season play with away matches at Tennessee on Friday and Vanderbilt on Sunday. The sports desk can be reached at gamecocksports@hotiTiail.com I Sports Briefs * ■ Two USC athletes honored for their academic excellence Twenty-four student-athletes, including USC’s Leigh Echelberger and Lars Cederquist, have been chosen by their respective schools as recipients of an SEC post-graduate scholarship and are finalists for the 2000-2001 H. Boyd McWhorter SEC Scholar- Athlete of the Year Award Commissioner Roy Kramer announced today. Leigh EichelbergSr ranks among USC’s all-time best doubles players. She has played an integral role in the success of the women’s tennis program during her career, helping lead the Lady Gamecocks to four consecutive Top 20 national rankings and four straight NCAA Tournament appearances. A native of Center Valley, Pa., Echelberger lias compiled an impressive 3.725 GPA while majoring in Business Administration. The male recipient for USC is Lars Eederqvist of the men’s golf team. K four-year letter winner. Cederqvist vas a 2000 first-team Academic All America selection. He has been a regular >n USC's nationally ranked golf team uid has compiled a stroke average of aider 75 during his career. t Cederqvist recorded a perfect .4.0 stimulative GPA at Carolina, earning lis bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. He also has a 4.0 GPA in iraduate school. Cederqvist is a lative of Skoevde, Sweden. Each finalist will receive a 55,000 scholarship for post-graduate studies. The SEC Faculty Athletics Representatives Boyd McWhorter selection Committee will choose the autstanding male mid female student ithletes, who will receive a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship provided by the Alltel Corporation. The award will be presented to the iwo winners in June at the SEC Spring Meetings in Destin, Fla. -1 Representatives from: Bent Tree Apts. Broad River Trace CopperfieldApts. Country Walk Apts. > Meredith Squaw Townhomes Morgan Properties RcdntweApts. RiverbendApts. Stone Ridge Apts. The Arbors at Windsor Lake i net airways The Paddock Club 1 Whaley’s Mill Apts. The Waterford St Andrew’s Commons Rivergate Apartments Hampton Greene Apartments Forest Brook Apartments Gable Hill Apartments Cornell Anns Apartment Finder Blue Book Wednesday April 11 11am - 2pm Greene St. (Rain location: Russell House Ballroom C) *Free Snacks ' .I BUT HE DIES IN THE MIDDLE. During his crucifixion, nol even Jesus' closest followers would have called him a hero. When Jesus was arrested, they all deserted him, fearing for their lives. Two of his disciples, Peter and John, eventually went to w atch Jesus' interrogation and trial from a distance. Even then, w hen questioned by someone, Peter denied even knowing Jesus. Obviously, "hero" w asn't their view of Jesus at the time. All they knew is that Jesus, w hom they hoped was the Messiah, was now being crucified. End of dream. End of hopes. But obviously something changed. Three days later, Jesus left his burial tomb. Nol an easy feat. Jesus had been severely whipped, had two-inch long tnoms pressed into his head as a “crown," w as beaten to a pulp and then nailed at his wrists and feel onto a cross, lie eventually died from suffocation and loss.of blood. A spear was thrust into his side to confirm his death. Yet, three days later, just as Jesus had said it would happen, he left the tomb Again, not an easy feat. An entire guard of Homan soldiers had been stationed at Jesus’ tomb with a two-ton boulder and a Roman insignia sealing its entrance. Yet, three days later, the boulder was found up the slope away from the tomb, the guards had fled, and the tomb was empty, except for the burial cloths which once encased his body, now lying there like an abandoned cocoon. Then several tunes, Jesus physicdlly (not spiritually) appeared to the disciples. He even ate breakfast with them. Jesus also explained to them all the prophecies from the Scriptures that showed the Messiah must suffer for the sins of the world, then rise from the dead. Thomas, one of the disciples who wasn’t around during one time that Jesus appeared to the rest, said he wouldn't believe until he personally fell the nail marks in Jesus' wrists. A week later, Jesus appeared to them again and invited Thomas to feel the nail marks. Thomas' reaction? He worshipped Jesus, exclaiming, "my lord arid my God!" Jesus responded, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed arc those who have not seen and yet have believed." What difference does it make whether you believe in Jesus or not? Jesus Christ isn’t your average hero. He's the only one who died for the forgiveness of your sins, who conquered death, and who offers you eternal life. He says, "Behold, I stand at the door (of your heart] and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, 1 will coine into him.” Are you open? If so, you can invite him into your life right now through prayer. Prayer is simply talking to God. Tell Jesus you would like him to come into your life, to forgive your sins and help you to be the person God created you to be. Just like a marriage that begins with a simple “I do," you can say ”1 do" right now and begin the greatest relationship you ever dreamed of—with the God of the Universe. Still skeptical? Want to investigate more? Read the section called “John” in the Bible, and see the feature article BEYOND BLIND FAITH at www.EveryStudenl.com. Or get a free copy of the article by calling I-KOO-236-925K or emailing Articles(s»EveryStudent.com. www.EveryStudent.com 4