Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Almond CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 Florida State this past weekend. But his performance was amaz ing. He single-handedly kept his overmatched team in the game, and you’ve got to give it up for that gutsy scramble at the end of the game that put the Cyclones within striking distance. Florida State has a monster defense, but the senior didn’t blink. He fought until the end and deserves credit for his hard work. Toolboxes of the Week: The latest SportsCenter anchormen Volleyball CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 year. She had a team-high 339 kills and also topped the list in kills per game (3.68), service aces (50) and digs (127). Also spending time at outside hitter are Alban, Nadia Sefferovich, Yajaira Cadet and Mariana Branquinho. Setting up the hitters is Hosp, an experienced senior setter. “We return Megan Hosp as our setter, and she has been an assist leader in the SEC for the last two seasons,” Christopher said. At the middle blocker position, Dwyer and Alban are All-SEC players who have experience and Since the glory days of Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann (and even Craig Kilborn), SportsCenter has gone downhill. Don’t get me wrong: it’s still the best in the business. But the newest anchormen (I won’t name names) are dragging it down with their obnoxious commentary. I realize they’re just trying to be funny, and that’s always been the draw of the show. But there’s a fine line between funny and an noying, and these tools are cross ing it. One night this past week, I lis tened to the anchormen discuss how awful they think the new stripe is on Nebraska’s football pants. Guys, we don’t care what you think! You are not important! Just tell us about the game. And stop stuffing your awful different skills. They’re backed up by some young players with great enthusiasm and ability. Something new for volleyball fans to look for is the addition of a new position — the libero. This position is specifically a back-row defensive position, and it has been used at the interna tional level before finding its way into the collegiate game this sea son. “The libero position brings a position to the floor that special izes in serve receive passing and defense,” Christopher said. Playing this new position for USC will be sophomore Bridget White and freshman Amy Bensen. “Bridget saw considerable playing time last year and will be catch phrases into every single highlight. You’re not Kenny Mayne. Quote of the Week: “I do want to thank the person who came up with the seating ar rangement, because I’m not sitting by Coach Morriss, so he couldn’t see me eat my cake.” — Kentucky quar terback Jared Lorenzen, at UK’s annual Kickoff Luncheon on ^ Lorenzen Cartman is back and bigger than ever. Almond is a fourth-year print journalism student. instrumental in our success de fensively,” Christopher said. “Amy is a great addition, and she will impact us defensively as well.” With all this experience and excitement from the players and coaches, the team has high hopes of what is to come this year. “I believe their experience will help move us to another level competitively and also provide strong leadership for our incom ing freshmen,” Christopher said. “We will rely on their leadership to keep us playing at a high level throughout the season, no mat ter what the circumstances may be.” Comments on this story?E-mail gamecocksports@hotmail.com Girls & Sports By Justin Borus and Andrew Feinstein fWl 'BOOT A 3-DATE CONTRACT UITH AN OPTION FOR H. PLUS DINNER AND A MOVIE L SIGNING BONOS J 1^1 WANT TWO WHAT TlCOOLDNT B DOZEN ROSES HAPPENED FIT HER A THROWN IN TO THAT UNDER MY &lRL^^ALARYO^ FOOTBALL NEWS & NOTES Injuries subside for USC BY MATT ROTHENBERG THE GAMECOCK As the season opener draws near, the 22nd-ranked USC football team is starting to see some of its banged-up players getting better. Fullback Andrew Pinnock, who missed the majority of practice last week with a bruised shoulder, returned to the practice field Monday evening and also prac ticed again Tuesday. While freshman Daccus Turman could still get the starting nod, Pinnock is expected to play a key role in the game. Tailback Ryan Brewer, who is coming off ankle surgery, was able to make it through the entire prac tice on Tuesday without any prob lems. “Are we a tired team?” asked head coach Lou Holtz. “I don’t _ think so. Are we in good condi tion? I think we are, but you walk a fine line. You don’t want to take a tired team into the opener.” Defense looks strong Holtz said the Gamecock de fense has dominated during pre about that. “We’ve been working on press ing a lot and getting our eyes back when the ball is thrown. The SEC throws a lot and has a lot of deadly receivers, but if I go out and play the way I’m capable of playing, as the year progresses, not many passes will be thrown my way.” With a level of optimism and confidence higher than ever, big things could be in store for the Carolina defense in 2002. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecocksports@hotmail.com meeting in order to try out. If you have any questions, e-mail msoc cer@gwm.sc.edu. Club Corner will run every Wednesday in The Gamecock. To be included, e-mail your information, in paragraph form, to gamecocksports@hotmail.com. The deadline for each issue is Monday at 2p.m. do not want to allow big plays to happen, and we can’t give up the home run ball.” Robinson is confident that he and his teammates in the sec ondary are up to the task of shut ting down opposing quarterbacks and filling in the void left by their predecessors. “It’s tough, but all I can do is step in and do what I’m capable of doing,” Robinson said. “It’s going to be a challenge, but I think, as a whole, the guys in the back are go ing to be just as good as Andre and Sheldon were. So I’m not worried Men’s Soccer The USC Men’s Soccer Club will be holding a meeting on Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. in the Bates West Social Room. Tryouts for the club will be held Sept. 8 and 10 at 7 p.m. All prospective players must fill out a waiver at the informational . Defense CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 with the defense last year was giv ing up the big play, usually on a third-and-long situation. Despite a retooled secondary, Strong em phasized those plays should not happen this season. “We did lose two guys (Sheldon Brown and Andre Goodman) who are playing in the NFL, but we aren’t going to change our style in the secondary,” Strong said. “We Club Corner CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 to an 8-16 record and finished sec ond in the Southern Divisional playoffs, defeating Clemson twice to reach the division Championship. MMMMMMIMnifMWMTllffr i ill ¥ir ' '' i-sm-T -* g . season camp. “A lot of times, that happens, with the defense dominating dur ing camp,” Holtz said. “I think peo ple will enjoy watching our de fense play. We’ve developed more depth along the defensive line than I had anticipated. Many of the younger players are really coming on — like Ricardo Hurley, Darel Slay, Moe Thompson. It’s an exciting group to watch and coach.” Holtz also said cornerback Taqiy Muhammad, a ju nior college trans fer, has good quickness and is always around the football. “It takes a dif- Muhammad ferent meiftality to play cornerback,” Holtz said. “You’re out there on an island. Taqiy doesn’t seem to mind that • aspect of it. “I expect our corners to step out. I don’t anticipate a drop-off in play there.” Comments on this story?E-mail gamecocksports@hotmail.com ■jitagei-rf ^v*4-j ,asuizx&*2jv&rxi&i^tefi*zBBx»*.x,y >v^r»;-itraygy KTaaaty-aegyjfaiiKy looking Back. 1 Moving Forward Mi interactive facilitated discussion between panelists and audience members to reflect en the tragedy t..««•!*».. cAM* o««i of September tt, 2001. What have we TUGSOGy SGDt. uNl learned & where are we headed? 8‘OOPIH RHUU Ballroom i NgHHlearnedSL EJHEJi mice your ninin^n.f.iiiotions. Don’t miss ' lllilil I bpuTunn event that Timmunity together.