Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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FOOTBALL NEWS AND NOTES Watson’s reinstatement raises some eyebrows BY CHRIS FOY THE GAMECOCK USC tailback Derek Watson, suspended from the team in early May for allegedly assaulting a fe male student, was reinstated to the football team earlier this month. “Every decision we make as a staff, we do it with the intention of giving that individual every op portunity to be successful in life,” USC head coach Lou Holtz said. “That’s what we’ve tried to do in Derek’s case. He’s made progress this summer and hopefully he will continue to make progress.” This is the second time Wat son has been reinstated to the foot ball team this year. He was rein stated in March after being sus Draft Former Gamecocks already in minors CONTINUED FROM PAGE B5 Michael transferred to USC from Virginia last season and earned a starting spot in the Car olina outfield. He hit a team-high .350 and was also drafted by the Phillies, in the 22nd round. Gavin is regarded as one of the brightest pitching prospects in America. The 6-foot-6 right-han der went 8-2 with a 1.11 ERA in his senior season at Mount St. Joseph High School in Baltimore. His fastball has been clocked at 97 miles per hour. If Gavin needs any advice, he can turn to current USC shortstop Drew Meyer, who was in the same situation two years ago. Meyer was drafted out of high school in the second round by the Los An geles Dodgers, but chose to be come a Gamecock instead. While the Floyds play hard to get, Bouknight and the rest of the former Gamecocks are back on the diamond, trying to work their way to the majors. Bouknight has had the most success thus far, throwing six in nings of a perfect game for the Class-A Tri-City Dust Devils. The Dust Devils are an affiliate of the Colorado Rockies; who chose the right-hander in round 13. Jeffcoat, a second baseman, is also getting some action in Class A Koll im tL r\ 1 A ><Ann^ by the Atlanta Braves, Jeffcoat is currently hitting .238 for the Jamestown Jammers of the N.Y. Penn. League. “There’s no words to express yourself on being drafted,” Jeff coat said. “My goal is to keep mov ing up, but you have to produce to play.” McBeth, a centerfielder, and Price, a left-handed pitcher, were both selected by the Oakland Ath letics in rounds 4 and 13, respec tively. Whittaker was taken by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 38th round. All three have signed con tracts. Lisk and Campbell, like the Floyds, have not signed a contract and are expected to attend class at USC today. Lisk, a catcher from Fort Mill, was taken by the Chica go White Sox in the 24th round, while Campbell, a left-hander from Simpsonville, was chosen by the Braves in the 39th round. Former Gamecocks Tripp Kel ly and Lee Gronkiewicz were not drafted but signed free-agent deals following their senior seasons. Kelly, a first baseman, is playing for an Oakland affiliate in the Ari zona Rookie League and is hitting .302. Gronkiewicz, a right-handed pitcher, is seeing action with the Burlington Indians, a Cleveland affiliate in the Appalachian Rook ie League. He has a team-high eight saves on the season. pended for dri ving on a sus pended li cense. The sus pension for that violation resulted in him missing ... . the Outback Watson bowi Watson’s reinstatement was not taken lightly by some of those outside the program, including former Carolina men’s basketball coach Eddie Fogler. Fogler lashed out at USC athletics director Mike McGee in the Greenville News, in sinuating that a double standard exists between football and bas ketball. Men’s basketball player Rolan do Howell was suspended for sev en regular season games after cashing fake money orders, and Fogler said that unlike Holtz, he had little say in the punishment of his player. “It’s very unfortunate that the director of athletics let a person ality conflict with a head coach , factor into the severity of his sus pension of a student-athlete,” Fogler said. “This reasoning is un professional.” Fogler went on to say that McGee told him “very arrogant ly” that “he was judge and jury” and would have the final say on Howell’s situation. Fogler re signed earlier this year and was replaced by Dave Odom. Wadley out for season After originally saying he would attempt to play this season with a torn ACL in his left knee, senior linebacker Shannon Wadley has decided to undergo surgery, effectively ending his ca reer. The 6-foot-l, 235-pound Geor gia native started nine games last year and was the team’s fifth lead ing tackier with 64 stops, includ ing 11 tackles for losses. Wadley’s loss only further de pletes USC’s linebacking corps. Backup Pat Fleming was kicked off the team earlier this year while redshirt freshman Jeremiah Gar rison has been suspended for one or two games, pending a court hearing on a misdemeanor shoplifting charge. Rod Thomas has emerged as the likely starter in place of Wadley and will line up with Kalimba Edwards and Kevin Har ney. Jenkins turning heads Ever since Corey Jenkins came into training camp, Holtz has been impressed with the play er’s athletic ability, and he has been singing his praises since pre season practice began. Jenkins at first had the coach ing staff perplexed as to what po sition he should play. Holtz seems to have set him at quarterback, the position he played in junior col lege. “When he gets into the huddle, good things happen,” Holtz said. “There’s something about him. He makes some nice runs and is throwing the ball well and [is] amazingly picking up [the system] very well.” Kicking game still uncertain As of now, USC’s starting placekicker will be Daniel Weaver. However, Weaver has re cently developed tendinitis in the same hip he dislocated a year ago, and his starting position is any thing but a sure thing. ♦ NOTES, SEE PAGE B9 Hang out. Luck up uith REE#] with Voice Mail and long distance It's neu, it's hot and it's only at I A| n 1^ included. It's all li FRONT] so you Verizon Wireless. Slick phones and J " IRE1P1 uhen you uant. IFREEIJP1 so hip stuff like Spk 'n Txt, you can keep up.