The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, August 21, 2003, Page C3, Image 23

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Tough as Irons Hard work prepares Kenny Irons for sophomore season BY BRAD SENKIW THE GAMECOCK With all the hoopla surround ing USC football’s 2003 recruiting class and the addition of one of the nation’s top high school run ning backs to the team, sopho more Kenny Irons decided it was time to get seri ous. ^ “My sopho ^ more season is go ing to be my biggest season,” Irons said. “(The coaching staff) got freshmen guys |rons coming in trying to take over your position. I know that I have to step it up if I want to start.” With names like Demetris Summers and Corey Boyd, USC fans are looking to the future while Irons is fixed on the pre sent. With the departure of Andrew Pinnock, a new era at running, back begins for the Gamecocks with little experience to rely on. Fortunately, a tough offensive I line made up of All-SEC tackle [ Travelle Wharton and Jabari Levey is prepared to make holes for whomever carries the ball, and possibly the entire team, this season. Irons is the only returning run ning back from the 2002 season, when he ran the ball 47 times for 201 yards. His only touchdown came on a reception against Mississippi State, which was also his best performance. Although these numbers won’t astound any one, Irons thinks he’s the most qualified for the starting job and is proving this to the coaching staff. “I’m working a lot harder,” he said. “My mental strength is there. Last year I would let a lot of the bad side of me take over. Now if I feel like I don’t want to do some thing, I will push harder and do it anvAxrav ” After a' solid Spring Game where Irons put up 99 yards on 19 carries and be came the front runner for the starting nod, the native of Dacula, flu VtooHorl home in the summer to work with his father. His dad, a former football play er at North Carolina A&T, de signed a three-month program that would prepare Irons for suc cess. He was up by 7 a.m. every morning hitting the weight room with power-lifter Ryan Golden. By the afternoon Irons was on the field performing various drills with a 40-pound weight vest at tached to his chest. The drills ranged from running steps in a stadium with a weight vest and a medicine ball to practicing foot work and blocking with linemen. “I don’t have to have praises from the coaches. I just want to help the team out.” KENNY IRONS use RUNNING BACK Irons was also able to pick up some advice to go along with his work ethic. “The older players came to me and said ‘Kenny, this is the next level and you got to prepare for it.’ Me sitting down and thinking about that helped me mature to get ready for my sophomore season,” he said. Irons thinks the time spent at home and the hard work has made him a better player in practice. “I see a real big difference,” Trnnc caiH “I’m breaking a lot more tackles and making a lot of people miss.” Irons can also see a change in the way his body foolo after fair. mg hits. Last season, Irons said he had to fight through several in juries. This year he’s been pre pared for the tough summer prac tices and said, “I’m barely getting a scratch on me.” Holtz has been very impressed with the sophomore’s improve ment in blocking, a technique Irons worked on relentlessly dur ing the off-season. Irons has also showed out in summer scrim mages with an unofficial perfor mance of six carries, 82-yards rushing and one touchdown on Aug. 17. Although Irons is confident PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK Kenny Irons hopes his maturity and work ethic land him the starting running back position despite a solid incoming running back class. that his hard work and dedica tion are getting him somewhere, he’s hesitant to get too comfort able. “I feel comfortable, but not too comfortable because that’s when you relax and start to mess up. That’s something I don’t want to do.” Irons said that this year, he’s focused on doing whatever the coaches tell him to do, even if that means blocking and not hearing positives from the coach ing staff. “I know the coaches are not praising me a lot of times and that’s OK,” Irons said. “I don’t have to have praises from the coaches. I just want to help the team out.” Comments on this story?E-mail gamecocksports@hotmail.com Jones CONTINUED FROM PAGE Cl have on occasion been guilty of blind faith when it conies to sports, and now is one of those times. Lou? Dondrial? Demetris? Are you lis tening? I’m talking about you guys here. For some reason, maybe it’s the Cirrhosis rotting out my liver or SARS that I got in Beijing over the summer, but I have a funny feeling that if we can just get the confidence back from 2000 and 2001, then things can happen. Our demise last year was not bad play calling or a linebacker playing quarterback; it was that we lost confidence in ourselves after the turnover debacle in Virginia and the fumble at the goal line against Georgia. Which brings me to my point: How do you restore lost confi dence? There is but one and only one way, and that is faith. So as the season starts and the smells of the barbecue mingle with the bug spray and sunscreen, remember that those weight room zombies out there in the garnet jerseys are trying just as hard as you to be lieve that this will be greatest year of South Carolina football. With that said, I bid you adieu until next time when things will get re markably less nostalgic. Jones is a graduate student in the school of mass communication and information studies. Tanner CONTINUED FROM PAGE Cl most likely get in for a triple. But the Cuban fielder “found an other gear” to catch up with it, Tanner said, extending himself for the catch, then did a double somersault — all with glove holding on to th&hall — and righted himself. The Cubans, all professionals, eventually tagged Weaver on the way to the 3-1 victory. Tanner says he’ll remember the personal moments the best. The bus rides talking baseball with young stars sure to make the major leagues. The Dominican children pointing at him and calling, “Man-ee-ger, man-ee-ger.” “It was so remarkable,” he said. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecocksports@hotmail.com THE GAMECOCK Nobody covers USC better ™ FOOTBALL ™ Student Ticket Distribution <* Season starts early, so get yourself ready Student Distribution Schedule Louisiana - Lafayette Virginia Alabama - Birmingham Kentucky LSU Vanderbilt Florida Aug. 21,22,25,26,27 - Aug. 25,26,27 \ Sept. 2,3,4 \ i Sept. 2,3,4,15,16,17 \ j Sept. 15,16,17 \ i Oct. 6, 7,8 \ | Oct. 6, 7,8,15,16 ** Oct. 15,16,20,21,22 Oct. 20,21,22 , Nov. 10,11,12 f Sign up for Clemson Lottery Nov. 10,11,12 Clemson Lottery Pick Up Nov. 17,18,19 JJ Students must have your I.D. Card with you y to get into the Stadium with a Student Ticket. The Student Section is located in the North Section of the Stadium Sections 23 - 34. I I For more complete information about student tickets, pick up a copy of the Student Football Information Book at the Russell House lobby information Desk. Student Tickets will be distributed at the Russell House, room 205 9am - 4pm Students are not guaranteed a student ticket to each game, only the right to a ticket as long as student tickets are available. 1 Wm mm MR Ml HH mm Mi Mi Mi Mi I - Handicapped or disabled students can get assistance by calling 777-6742.