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DfYDHPQ p lft I—r\ ■ |-< I GAME SCHEDULE I 1/11 | k I MEN’S SOCCER vs. Virginia, 7 p.m. Thursday Monday, August 23, 2004 _1_ V^/ \ WOMEN’S SOCCER vs. Georgia State, 7 p.m. Friday Reasons why we'll win this season ■ USC football has all the ingredients for a successful year I have no doubt that the Gamecock football team will be successful this year. We will go to a bowl game and put the past behind □ us. Here are the three signs to why we will have a winning season. ♦ DEPTH With three solid recruiting classes in a row, our team for the first time in CLARY three years has lots of depth. FOURTH-YEAR Not only that, ELECTRONIC , , , JOURNALISM we have dePth STUDENT in positions didn’t last year, which caused us to struggle. Last year by the seventh game, all of our starting front seven, except for Darrell Shropshire, had a nagging injury or was out. With our lack of depth, some of these guys played anyway and in the second half of the season we ran out of gas in the fourth quarter. • This year, we have fantastic depth on our D-line and at linebacker. Six men on the D-line have experience, and with the addition of freshman Marque Hall, redshirt freshman Stanley Doughty and junior Charles Silas, our D-line should be fresh all game. At linebacker, a healthy Lance Laury will make all the difference. Laury is a workhorse who could very well be the best second-string linebacker in the conference. A loaded and fresh front seven will give defensive coordinator Rick Minter many tools to play with. ♦ SCHEDULE Let’s face it, being in the SEC, we’re always going to have one of the toughest schedules in the country. However, this year, it’s a little easier than in years past. ♦ Please see CLARY, page 12 Freshmen ready to play LI KATIE KIRKLAND/THE GAMECOCK Redshirt freshman quarterback Blake Mitchell makes a pitch during preseason practice. Mitchell completed 5 of 11 pass attempts in Saturday’s scrimmage, passing for a total of 47 yards. ■ Newcomers look to have an impact By STEPHEN FASTENAU THE GAMECOCK As USC continues preseason camp, the coaching staff has looked to youth to add depth or to fill starting spots in key positions. Head coach Lou Holtz and the Gamecocks have had another successful recruiting year, bringing in a freshman class that looks to make an immediate impact. Newcomers have especially bolstered the defensive unit. Jonathan Joseph, out of Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, has earned a starting spot along with Fred Bennett at the cornerback position. Joseph has had a very impressive camp, including an interception of Blake Mitchell in the team’s scrimmage last week and numerous hits on receivers to break up passes. Safety Ko Simpson is another freshman making an impact in the Gamecock secondary. Simpson brings size to the position at 6 foot 2 inches and 180 nnunrlc “At safety, Ko Simpson should be one starter,” Holtz said after practice last Monday,” and don't be surprised if another starter is a freshman — Chris Hampton.” The 6 foot 1 inch, 175 pounds Hampton, from Memphis, Tenn., has continued to receive praise from coaches, although Holtz has since said that the other starting job would likely go to senior Jamacia Jackson. Hampton “is very smart, very alert,” Holtz said. “He’s not the biggest young man in this world, but he will hit you. He loves the game and has a great knowledge of the game. That’s the main thing we recruited him on. This guy is like a coach on the field.” Other freshmen looking for playing time on defense include Justin and Dusty Lindsey 'from Mobile, Alabama who were recruited as linebackers. The twins are each listed at 6 foot 4 inches, 235 pounds. “I can envision both of them being on special teams,” defensive coordinator Rick Minter said. “Right now, both are playing as third-string linebacker.” Marque Hall, a 6 foot 4 inches, 285 pound defensive lineman from Wingate, N.C., will be looking to make an impression along with fellow freshmen and linemen K.T. Mainord and Matt Raysor. Of the three, Minter said Hall should make the biggest impact. “Hall is beginning to separate himself,” Minter said. “He should have the opportunity to play. He shows up during practice and is a real load.” Offensively, the freshman to watch for has been Sidney Rice, the two-sport standout from Gaffney High School who has drawn comparisons to former Gamecock receiver Brian Scott and who has a 38- inch vertical leap. Rice caught a 39- yard touchdown pass from Syvelle Newton in Saturday’s scrimmage. At 6 foot 4 inches, 185 pounds, quarterbacks coach Skip Holtz says Rice gives the Gamecocks a convenient target in the red zone. “So far he has shown great hands,” Holtz said. “He has that body where he can position (a player) and ‘out-rebound’ them.” Lou Holtz also alluded to basketball when speaking of Rice. Once we get through with the national championship game he will be free to go over to basketball,” Holtz said. The lack of depth at offensive line has given a chance for lineman James Thompson to step up. Thompson, an All-American out of Sumter High School, has impressed Holtz. According to Holtz, however, Thompson is still not ready to play and will likely be on the second team when the Gamecocks open their season. “Thompson has been very impressive as a freshman,” Holtz said. “You can’t break him. He’s very talented and very determined.” USC opens its season one week from Saturday at Vanderbilt. From the looks of things in camp and the reactions of the coaching staff, the freshmen will be ready to contribute. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc. edu LSU begins defense of West crown By STEPHEN DEMEDIS THE GAMECOCK While the top spot in the SEC East is largely up for grabs between three teams, first place in the West is thought to be more of a sure thing. The LSU Tigers, fresh off of their National Championship, are set to repeat and have the personnel, both returning and incoming, to do just that. I LSU After defeating Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl, the NFL tried to dash any hopes LSU had of defending their national title. The Chicago Bears tried to hire head coach Nick Saban to a multi-million dollar deal and several players were tempted by the draft. More important than who left was who stayed. The offense will be anchored by sophomore Justin Vincent, who ran for just over 1,000 yards last year after replacing starter Joseph Addai. The Achilles heel of LSU could be the quarterback position where the vacancy left by Matt Mauck will be filled by either senior Marcus Randall or JaMarcus Russell. The uncertainty around quarterback can be balanced by the certainty around the team’s defense, which ranked third and 18th in the country against the rush and pass last year. Senior cornerbacks Corey Webster and Travis Daniels both returned for their senior year and will play huge roles in the defense this season. Having two of the country’s best cover corners will allow Saban to blitz just as he did last year. Also benefiting from good pass coverage will be defensive end Marcus Spears, who should lead the team in sacks this year. All together, the defense returns seven of eleven starters and should be just as potent as last year’s unit. AUBURN Auburn hopes to fulfill expectations not met in 2003 when some picked the Tigers to be SEC champs. The team will be bolstered by running backs Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown. Offensive coordinator A1 Borges is installing an offense where the star running backs can be on the field simultaneously. The running game should also benefit from experience on the offensive line as three starters return. Auburn should again be solid on defense this year. Last year, the unit finished ranked fifth in the nation. Karlos Dansby, last year’s team leader, left for the NFL. The team looks to junior Travis McNeil to fill the void left by Dansby at linebacker. The defensive line could be an issue for the team as only one starter returns, but experience is abundant in the secondary. ALABAMA For the first time in three years, fans in Tuscaloosa could have something to cheer about in December or January. With NCAA Sanctions removed, Alabama is now bowl-eligible for the first time since 2001. The team finished a disappointing 4-9 last year, but should be better in their second year under head coach Mike Shula. The Tide will field a very young team, as this was the first year that they could hand out scholarships to incoming athletes. Those recruits will compete for playing time immediately. Offensively, Alabama will be led by quarterback Brodie Croyle. The junior signal caller threw 16 touchdowns and 13 interceptions last year as his offense passed for 191 yards per game. The cast around Croyle is mediocre at best. On defense, the team has shaken up the depth chart with corners moving to safety, starters being moved to back up at linebacker, and freshman competing for starting jobs. The result is a more talented unit as a whole, but one that will rely on zone coverage and could be weak against the run. Alabama’s rise to success will be determined by how quickly the freshmen learn their position and whether or not a playmaker arises and becomes Croyle’s go-to man. ALABAMA Just as it has been three years since Alabama could go to a bowl game, it has been three years since someone with a last name other than Manning started for Ole Miss at quarterback. In April, Eli Manning was drafted first overall by the San Diego Chargers and then traded to the New York Giants. Manning seems to be adjusting to professional play and now Ole Miss will have to do just that — adjust. \a_:—_l_, fourth year junior Michael Spurlock. As a backup, Spurlock has seen minimal action, but is familiar with the playbook and has good mobility. Despite having a solid offensive line, the rest of the offense is inexperienced. Junior receiver Mike Espy could have a big impact if Spurlock gets the ball to him. Only four players return to a defensive unit that exceeded all expectations last year. The team finished 14th against the run last year, and looks to improve on that mark this season. Senior safety Eric Oliver will probably lead the team in tackles for a third straight year. ARKANSAS Arkansas went 9-4 last year and defeated Missouri in the Independence Bowl. They then graduated or lost 19 of 22 starters from that team. By all means, 2004 will be a rebuilding year for the Razorbacks. The team’s lone returning player on offense is the scrappy quarterback Matt Jones. The 6-foot-6-inch signal caller will be Arkansas’s leader on and off the field. Jones is an adequate passer who has a knack for turning broken plays into big plays. He should be aided by a running game that will feature DeCori Birmingham and De’Arrius Howard, a thunder and lightning combination. The offenses’ weakness will be the five offensive linemen who will have to be groomed for the starting role. The defense is just as inexperienced as the offense. Shutdown comerback Ahmad Carroll left for the NFL and was selected in the first round by Green Bay. Last year, Carroll had 31 tackles and three interceptions. The loss of Carroll leaves a huge hole in the secondary that most opponents will be able to exploit. MISSISSIPPI STATE Mississippi State broke down a social barrier as it became the first school in SEC history to hire a black head coach. Sylvester Croom will have his work cut for him as his Bulldogs have finished in last place the past three years. On offense, Mississippi State returns most of their starters, but will be led by sophomore quarterback Omarr Conner, who will be making his first start this season and has to learn the West Coast offense. The offense should be carried by running back Jerious Norwood, a true speed back. The defense is bolstered by a tough front seven, including nose tackle Ronald Fields. Croom will no doubt look for the defense to carry his team. 5 ^ Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc.edu THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Louisiana State quarterback Marcus Randall (12) hands off to running back Shyrone Carey, left, during theiintersquad Spring Game in Baton Rouge, La., April 24. Not many people are picking LSU, ranked No.*4 in the preseason poll, to earn another national title. Randall’s promotion is one of the reasons.