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THE GAMECOCK ♦ Wednesday, July 30, 2003 CONTACT ns ZWAfelTVYnmCl FIGURE OF THE WEEK GiUIN I l\\i I UO I—JI I L/ I 30: bays left until the Gamecock football team kicks off the E-mailusalgamecocksports@hotmail.com I \ f I 1 I L"} season against Lousiana-Lafeyette at Williams-Brice. Offseason dedication HOLLI ARMSTRONG THE GAMECOCK The typical college student spends summer sitting through an easy course, earning some cash, vacationing, hanging out with friends, and generally doing as little as possible. The average student-athlete’s summer plays out a bit different ly Try waking up at the crack of dawn to lift weights. Instead of soaking up the rays, try spending a day cheering up a family cop ing with cancer. Instead of pack ing for a trip, try getting ready to race against some of the fastest athletes in the world. For the student-athlete, sum mer marks a vacation of a differ ent sort. USC volleyball player Lynae Vanden Hull’s summer began well enough. The Omaha, Neb., native headed home and went on Father’s Day with her dad to Rosenblatt Stadium to^^^ cheer on the Gamecock baseball team in the College World Series. “I didn’t home be cause I had to come back and work out,” rVanden Hull said. “I also took a class, and I’ve been PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK Aleen Bailey has used her summer for training without the stress of academics. working on getting ready for the season.” Instead of sleeping in, the red shirt freshman has been partici pating in early morning work outs, since getting in shape for the season is top priority. The summer months also provide ath letes time to work on the little things, and Vanden Hull has been refining her serve and improving her passing skills. For some USC athletes, as much as they would like a vaca tion, it is just not possible. “I would get away if I could, but I’m stuck here working 40 hours a week to fulfill my practicum, and I’m seeing a train er every morning,” senior pitch er, Stacey Johnson said. “I don’t feel like I’ve had a summer.” When not working at the USC Sports Information Office, the Newtown, Pa., native has been trying to strengthen her legs and back, while improving her overall conditioning and endurance. At one point nine members of USC’s softball team were in Columbia, participating in morn ing workouts. That kind of dedi L cation will not only improve the I Gamecock’s general fitness but ■ also serve to enhance team uni H ty. an important competitive ■ component. The summer months also ™ provide athletes a chance to give back to the community. As part of USC’s continuing efforts with Team Gamecocks...Athletes Who Care, the USC men’s basketball team spent a day at Camp Kemo, a camp for children and their fam ilies and friends dealing with cancer. The team talked a little basketball, signed autographs and shot hoops with the campers. Members of the Gamecock football team also helped their neighbors by reading to children at Richland County Public Library’s sixth annual Pigskin Poets Day. Over 200 chil- j, dren were on hand to meet and cheer for their fa- JK vorite Gamecocks. The real treat came when wide receiver Taqiy A Muhammad and de- J9 fensive end Fran Person read to the young fans in at- | tendance. Two members |: on the Gamecock track and field MS squad notched im pressive summer^^ performances. USC senior Aleen Bailey, who was re cently named SEC * Female Outdoor Athlete of the Year, picked up a pair of national titles competing in the 100 and 200-meter events at the NCAA Outdoor Track Championships. For Bailey, the summer months lesson the stress of hav ing to balance academics and ath letics and allow her to work on training and competing. “In the summer I focus on stay ing fit and not trying to get hurt. and if I have a national meet I just focus on that,” Bailey said. Right now she is training with help from USC head track coach Curtis Frye for the World Championships in August. After the World Championships, Bailey has her eye on the 2004 Olympic Games. As a freshman, Kenneth Ferguson has had a breakout year for Carolina. Ferguson, who was recently named SEC Freshman Outdoor Athlete of the Year, took the 400-meter hurdle title at the SEC Championships posting the fastest time since 1979 in 48.79 seconds. Then at the USA Junior Championships, the Detroit native captured the 110 and 400-meter hurdle titles. PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK Stacey Johnson has spent her summer In an office and in morning workouts to prepare for next season. ^ Ferguson re ■ cently posted a ■ record setting ■ time of 13.60 in W the 110-meter hurdles at the I Junior Pan American k Games in. L Bridgetown, ■ Bai'bados. I Even with a l nagging groin I injury, Ferguson ¥ walked away f with three gold medals. * My p goal go ing into the race was just to place be cause of the ! pain I was expe riencing,” I Ferguson said. “My adrenaline went up and with my teammates cheering me on I forgot about the pain. It was exciting to win my first gold medal.” He also captured the gold in the 400-meter hurdles and as a member for the 4x400-meter re lay team. Whether it’s hitting a baseball, pounding the pavement, spend ing time with others, or focusing on the upcoming season, one thing is for certain: Student-ath letes may get a break from being a student but being an athlete is inescapable. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@hotmail.com Lots to learn in summer sports BRAD SENKTW GAMECOCKSPORTS9HOTMAIL.COM With summer school coming to a close, I thought it would be fit ting to write about what I’ve learned over the heated season. Unfortunately, my classes were uneventful and useless. So, I guess I can only talk about the thing I know best: sports. It came to be over the past sev eral months that a few happenings in the sports world added to my overall knowledge. First, I figured out that betting on college sports is wrong, especially if you are a head football coach. Rick Neuheisel taught me this lesson when he was fired for betting on the Men’s NCAA Tournament. It doesn’t make sense that a man who bet in a neighborhood pool the past two years, and was al lowed to by his school, would lose his job over something you and I play every year. To us, an NCAA pool is just a great way to keep up with the latest bracket busters come March. Then again, you and I probably don’t drop $5,000 on a number one seed. I realized another very impor tant lesson: Never, ever, ever be lieve an athlete is above wrongdo ings. Obviously I’m speaking of a certain Los Angeles role model ac cused of sexual assault. Instead of spending time on the allegations of this certain player, I’ll just say ♦ SUMMER, SEE PAGE 11