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Ex-MVP Warner cut by St. Louis Rams rear's season opener. Coincidentally, that game vas against the New York 3iants, the team likely to sign Warner to ease Eli Manning's ransition to the NFL. Warner las not started and won a regu ar-season game since 2001, go ng 0-6 in 2002 and losing that me game last season. Bulger, who is 18-4 as the lams regular-season starter, signed a four-year, $19.1 million sontract in April as the first ma or sign that Warner would not >e batjj^. The team also signed >ackup Chris Chandler to a free igent deal, and excused Warner rom a three-day minicamp last nonth, all of which made ruesday's news less than a )lockbuster event. Mark Bartelstein, Warner s agent, said that Jay Zygmunt, the Rams' president of football operations, told him that the team had filed the necessary pa pers with the NFL office. “I think there's a lot of mixed emotions,” Bartelstein said. ‘‘He's had so much success and such a great relationship with everyone in St. Louis.” Bartelstein said four or five teams remained in the running for Warner's services, although most signs point to him signing with New York. He expected Warner, likely the biggest name to enter the second phase of free agency, would sign by the end of the week. “Teams are calling all the time,” Bartelstein said. “Kurt and I kind of have a preference, where we think is the best fit, and we’re going to see if we can get that worked out.” By signing less than two months from the start of training camp, Warner is unlikely to get any guarantees of playing time. From that standpoint, the Giants might be the best fit right now. “In June you're never going to find a place where someone says ‘Our quarterback situation is wide open,’” Bartelstein said. “Kurt is going to be the guy." Warner, wno turns 66 on June 22, led the Rams to Super Bowls in 1999 and 2001, but has been plagued by injuries since. By waiting until now to cut Warner, the Rams will spread their salary cap hit over two years instead of one. He'll cost them $4.6 million this year and $6.7 million in 2005. His contract called for a $9.5 million salary this year. Warner, Undrafted out of Northern Iowa but an Arena League star, got the Rams’ start ing quarterback job in 1999 after Trent Green had a season-end ing knee injury in the presea son. The Rams had endured a decade of losing seasons before Warner led the NFL with 41 touchdown passes, helping the team finish 13-3. Warner also was the Super Bowl MVP after a 23-16 victory over the Tennessee Titans. In 2001, Warner led the Rams to a 14-2 record, although St. Louis lost to the underdog New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. Nothing much has gone right for Warner since then. He missed half of the 2002 season with hand injuries, throwing only three touchdown passes with 11 interceptions. That gave Bulger his first chance to shine with victories in his first six ca reer starts. Baseball CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 Conference Tournament to knock off Western Carolina 8-1 in the final. The Gamecocks won both meetings against the Bulldogs this year, including a 6-1 tenth inning win May 12. But Carolina isn’t overlooking its first matchup. “The Citadel’s a good team,” USC pitcher Matt Campbell said. “We’ve both thrown our mid week guys against them, not that we’re looking past them. It’s go ing to take a good game all around to beat them.” Coastal Carolina (40-21) is the only team in the regional the Gamecocks have not faced this season. The Chanticleers got to the NCAAs by beating Birmingham-Southern College 9 2 to win their fourth straight Big South Conference Tournament championship. The UNC Tar Heels (41-19) are a familiar foe for Carolina as the two teams have locked horns over the past two postseasons and once this year. The Gamecocks beat UNC 9-5 at Fort Mill three weeks ago in the Battle of the Border. North Carolina is coming off an ACC Tournament run that got them to the semifinals. The Tar Heels sent Clemson home before falling to eventual ACC champi on Florida State. Tanner said Tuesday that the starting pitcher for Friday’s game will be either Aaron Rawl or Campbell, with Rawl holding the edge. 1_l _l_j_ _x mu11 o nau pitiuj ui icoi, Rawl’s had one day less, so we’re expecting both guys to feel good,” Tanner said. The double-elimination re gional kicks off Friday at 2 p.m. when Coastal Carolina meets the Tar Heels. The first pitch between USC and The Citadel is scheduled for 7 p.m. and games will run through Sunday with the winner advancing to the Super Regional next weekend. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc.edu Briefly Pair of Gamecock golfers honored USC sophomore Eirik Johansen and junior Martin Rominger were named as mem bers of the 2004 PING All Southeast Region team, the Golf Coaches Association of America announced on Monday. Johansen earned the honor for the second-straight year, fin ishing second on the team with a 72.84 scoring average, but leading the Gamecocks with six top-10 finishes and eight top-20 placements in 13 tournaments this year. Earlier in May, Johansen was named to the All SEC first team for the second consecutive season. Rominger was named to the All-Region team for the first time in his career after posting a solid season at USC. He led the Gamecocks with a 72.54 scoring average, to go along with four top-10 finishes and seven placements in the top 20. USC athletes’ GPA highest in history USC student-athletes per formed better than ever in the classroom last semester, as the Gamecock athletics department posted a school-record 2.936 grade point average for the re cently completed spring se mester. The GPA betters the previous mark of 2.894 from spring 2002. Three Carolina teams post ed their highest GPAs on record as football compiled a 2.592, softball had a 3.332 and men's soccer posted a 3.241. Women’s golf had the high est team GPA at 3.493, followed by men's tennis at 3.438. Thirty student-athletes were named to the President's List for record ing a perfect 4.0 GPA, while 99 student-athletes made the Dean's List. Track and field stays alive in NGAAs Ten USC track and field ath letes qualified for the NCAA Championships while compet ing at the East Regional May 28 29 at the University of Florida. The top five individuals in the finals and the top three relays in the finals qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships June 9-12 in Austin, Texas. The USC women were Shevon Stoddart, Khalilah Carpenter, Chiquita Martin, Stephanie Smith, Lashinda Demus, Erica Whipple, Alexis Joyce, Chelsea Hammond, and Precious Akins. Tony Allmond qualified for the men's side. Demus and Allmond won East Regional titles. Demus quaimea tor two NCAA Championship events by setting two NCAA East Regional Outdoor Track and Field Championship records in both the 100-meter hurdles and the 400-meter hurdles. Stoddart also qualified for the NCAA Championships with a time of 56.79 in the 400-meter hurdles. Wallace CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 In the fifth inning, however, the Bears were able to capitalize on Schmidt's fatigued arm, breaking through with four runs. But Schmidt fought on, re covering to hold California scoreless in the sixth inning, hoping the Tiger offense could make up the difference. With two outs in the seventh and final inning, Schmidt could not continue. After throwing her 122nd pitch of the game and her 359th of the day, she left the field for the final time in her colle giate career, fighting off tears as the crowd rose to their feet, sending her off with an ovation fit for a hero. Yes, Kristin Schmidt fell that day. But the way she fell is what matters most. 'HE ASSOCIATED PRESS ST. LOUIS - Kurt Warner's sto rybook stay with the St. Louis tarns ended Tuesday, but he's mlikely to be out of work for ong. The release of the two-time 'JFL MVP, who led the Rams to two Super Bowls, leaves Marc Bulger as the team's No. 1 quarterback. Bulger took over as the starter for good after Warner fumbled six times in last