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WAR OF T Carolina will suffer repeat of last season m Clemson superior athletically, academically and aesthetically, so there Well, it’s that time of year again, when the in-state rivalry game has arrived. It just seems like, yesterday when the two teams C squared off in Columbia. But come to think of it, that 63 17 whooping will always seem like yesterday. While I have savored that memorable game for almost a year now, CHASE the usual stress and Cl HDinot: anxiety that comes ELDKIDGE with this annual SPORTS EDITOR Same has hit me So THE TIGER much is always on the line when these two bitter rivals go at it. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the day of this game should be declared a state holiday. Everyone in the state who halfway cares about the outcome of this game will be at the site of the game; with or without a ticket. On that note, this rivalry does not receive nearly enough respect from people around the country. More hatred and emphasis is placed on this rivalry than any other Southern rivalry, with the exception of maybe Auburn-Alabama. While I have grown up a huge Clemson fan, and will forever be involved with the school, it is these years as a student that have really opened up my eyes to the only real school in the state. I got to hand it to you few loyal Shamecock fans; it’s got to be hard to pull for USC. Academically, aesthetically, and oh yeah, athletically - Clemson flat out dominates USC. Not to say that I am ignorant that I can’t recognize USC’s bright spots - a solid law school, Five Points, and terrific International Business and Communications programs. But man, it must just be gorgeous to spend a sunny fall or spring afternoon in that concrete jungle you call Columbia. Now on to some football. The 101-year rivalry record of 61-36-4 speaks for itself. Clemson simply owns South Carolina. It is a pretty safe assumption to say that I will never see this record brought back to even. Another aspect of this bitter rivalry that is often overlooked is that the better team generally finds a way to win. In 2000, it was a dramatic catch by former Clemson wide receiver Rod Gardner that set up an Aaron Hunt field goal that gave the Tigers a 16-14 win. in Z.UU1, a gimpy i iiu icny icu uic no. 22 Gamecocks to a 20-15 win in Columbia. This win was USC’s first over Clemson in Williams-Brice since 1986. So not only do we own the Gamecocks in our house, we own y’all on your own turf. The Centennial game in 2002 was another close one, as the Tigers prevailed with a 27-20 victory. And I won’t rub any more salt in the open wound left from last season’s shellacking. Let’s take a look at this season. Who is the better team? This year, there is not really a clear pick. The 2004 edition of the Clemson-Carolina rivalry may be more of survival, as both teams have not shown a whole lot of consistency. One thing that Tiger fans will no question hear way too much of this weekend - the Duke loss. My thoughts? Big deal. Clemson would have already been bowl eligible if we played the cupcake out-Qf conference schedule that the Shamecocks have had this season. Something that has . always baffled me about the fans from down to road is the yearly ritual of stating, “Wait ‘til next year!” All this recent Spurrier talk has only added fuel to this lire. And you know what? Bring him and his visor on. The Chicken Curse will be passed on to yet another coach. I’m sure that USC will manage to ruin yet another legendary coach’s legacy. From the way that a lot of Clemson fans reacted when Loose Bolts was hired, you would have thought someone had brought Vince Lombardi into Columbia to coach the Shamecocks. All said, a great rivalry continues tomorrow in Death Valley, S.C. at noon. May the best team win. And I think we all know who that is. mm HE WORDS Clemson has long tradition of cow tipping ■ School should stick to farming and leave the football to Carolina Hate: to feel extreme enmity toward, to have a strong aversion to, to find very distasteful. Yeah, I’d say that’s about right. I hate Clemson. Hating Clemson is nothing new to me. I’ve been doing it longer than I can remember. Why do I hate Clemson? Maybe it’s just something I’ve picked up over the years. Maybe I was born into it. Maybe BROOM <££ SECOND-YEAR c*oesn r *lave an POLITICAL official shotgun like SCIENCE they do. Who knows? STUDENT 7 . lhe real question is, why wouldn’t I hate Clemson? I started this column by trying to list negative things about Clemson, but I could only come up with something positive: I’m here and not there. Ihe airrerences between Carolina and Clemson are dear. We’ve got tall buildings and beautiful women in black dresses; they’ve got cow pastures and orange overalls. We’ve got Five Points and The Vista; they’ve got cow tipping. We’ve got one of the best business schools in the nation; if you want to learn how to grow some sweet potatoes, you know where to go. We’ve got the Gamecock Club, one of the most successful college booster clubs in the country. They’ve got IPTAY. Nobody , seems to know what IPTAY actually stands for. I Plant Taters All Year? They made a huge deal about expanding their stadium in what they call the West End Zone Project. Now they are struggling to fund it. Maybe they don’t offer accounting classes at Clemson. I don’t know. We’ve got “2001”; they rub a rock and stumble down a hill — “the most exciting 25 seconds in college football.” Right. I’ve spent 25 more exciting seconds in the waiting room at my dentist’s office. Last year a player even managed to break his leg running down the hill before a game. How do you do that? Is the concept of one foot in front of the other that complicated? How did you expect to make it through a football game if you can’t run down a hill without rendering yourself handicapped? I just don’t understand it. uui u uucsn i iiup mere. niter ucing icu down the hill by Baby Bowden, Clemson is ' led onto the field by Charlie Whitehurst. You might recognize him as being the most overrated quarterback in the nation this year. He was even on the cover of Clemson’s football preview magazine under the headline “Heisman Hype.” Well, I’ll give credit where credit is due — they got half of It right. Ten games and 16 interceptions later, the world knows he is all hype and no Heisman. Players like Whitehurst and Leroy Hill remind Clemson fans of their so-called “glory days1.” Yes, Clemson did win the national championship in 1981. Before I was born. By cheating. Not only was that 23 years ago, but due to some serious rule violations, they spent the next three years on NCAA probation. Now that’s something to be proud of. The head coach of the Tigers in those years was the infamous Danny Ford. Ford, who is still featured on second-rate radio commercials during Clemson games, I r* _ i • I II r 1 i'-*1 iJiv. miuuiv. ui ys.i diiuuiti NCAA investigation. Some legend he is — but if I am ever in Clemson and have a leaky faucet or muffler problems, I know whom t6 call thanks to his brilliant advertising. The only thing more impressive than their tradition of football greatness is the current state of their program. After destroying football powerhouses such as Wake Forest and Utah State, they suffered a tough loss in their last game against Duke. Yes, that Duke. Yes, they do have a football team. Yes, they did beat Clemson. No, I am not -kidding. Half of those kids didn’t even realize they had a game. They had to call in reinforcements to help tear down the goalpost. Not goalposts. They could only manage to get down one. For those of you making the trip up to Clemson, do those of us who can’t make it a favor. Be loud, be obnoxious and have fun. If you get lost, just remember — go west until you smell it and north until you step in it. Beat Clemson. Odom’s athletic success transfers to hard court CHARLIE DAVENPORT/THE GAMECOCK USC men’s basketball coach Dave Odom watches his team battle USC Upstate in an exhibition game in the Colonial Center on Nov. 8. USC won, 81-63. By STEPHEN FASTENAU STAFF WRITER Four-time conference coach of the year Dave Odom has always loved sports, though you would never know it from his slight build. As a senior at Goldsboro High School in North Carolina, Odom was the captain of the football, basketball and baseball teams. Odom then went on to Guilford College, where he played quarterback for three seasons and basketball for all four. In his last year, Odom, the captain of the basketball squad, was named the school’s most outstanding athlete. After graduation, Odom began a long and illustrious coaching career that brought him to USC in 2001. Last year, Odom’s team was the surprise of the SEC. Picked to finish last, the Gamecocks opened the season with eight consecutive wins and earned an NCAA berth. Odom was named SEC,Coach of the Year, an honor he received three times in the ACC while at Wake Forest. The way Odom sees it, the awards are not from anything he has done as an individual. “Any time you get a nice honor that comes your way as a coach, you quickly understand that the honor, though it might be in your name, is not for you unto yourself,” Odom said. “That’s an award that was earned not by me but by our team and our staff. “I was just really humbled by the award but certainly accepted it on behalf of the university and certainly our time.” Faced with the job of replacing last year’s team leader Mike Boynton, Odom said finding a leader on this year’s team will be one of his challenges. “The question that needs to be answered is, ‘Who’s going to be our leader?’ We’ve got to find somebody to lock into that role. It’s a more experienced team (this year), but there are some definite voids on our team right now.” One of the biggest voids will be in the paint, where Odom said he lost his leading rebounder, inside scorer and inside defender in graduated center Rolando Howell. Odom’s options for filling that void lie in sophomore Brandon Wallace and recent junior college addition Antoine Tisby. The 62-year-old coach is no stranger to coaching big men. Odom groomed NBA stars Tim Duncan and Rodney Rogers during his 12-year tenure at Wake Forest. “Those were extraordinary players, and they were very, very gifted and worked extremely hard,” Odom said. “Let’s face it — when Tim Duncan was a freshman at Wake Forest, nobody knew he was going to be the best player in the world.” Odom does not see that type of player on his current team. As a coach with a team-first philosophy, the fact that his team lacks amazing individual talent does not faze him. “As long as we’ve got a good team made up of good individuals, we’re OK,” Odom said. “I look more at the team than I do individual stardom right now.” Odom’s takes a basic approach to goal setting in his coaching style. Rather than setting his sights on an NCAA Tournament berth or conference championship, Odom takes a different perspective. “I want us to get better, and that’s the first thing I always look for,” Odom said. “As long as we’re improving then I’m generally pretty happy. In terms of this particular team, I think it’s got to find it’s own identity.” Being content to observe how his team grows rather than trying to mold a certain playing style has served Odom well. While last year’s team thrived on solid defense and half-court sets, Odom said this year’s squad should be quicker and more able to run the floor after watching his team in practice. _> .._ _i postseason play in his last 11 seasons at Wake Forest. Three of his teams finished in the top 10 nationally during that stretch. Odom’s most successful season as a head coach was most likely 1995. The Deacons reached the Elite 8 in the NCAA Tournament that year, and Odom was named National Coach of the Year. After failing to reach the NCAA Tournament in four of his final five years as Deacon head coach, Odom resigned and was hired by USC in 2001. Since then, Odom has gone 57-42 with an NIT championship game appearance and last year’s NCAA berth. For now, Odom will look ahead to the new and different challenge his current team presents to him. “Last year’s team was a team that got better as we went along,” Odom said. “We started out quick and got better. This year’s team is going to be different.” Comments on this story ? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc. edu ■ PREVIEW Continued from page 1 Dondrial Pinkins’ status is also in question. The lingering injury to his rotator cuff has coaches pondering keeping the senior out of the Clemson game with hopes of having him back 100 percent for the bowl game. “I think Dondrial will be available, but how effective, I don’t know,” Skip Holtz said. And if the Gamecocks’ top two throwers can’t go, USC might . turn to redshirt freshman Blake Mitchell or the hero of the Kentucky game, Mike Rathe. “Mike Rathe has had a good week of practice,” Skip Holtz said. “He’s thrown the ball well and certainly could play on Saturday. I’ve rolled him into more of the team situation the past couple of days.” With the Tigers, it’s a different story. Hard times have fallen on the Tigers, who now long for the halcyon days when their offense could be counted on to carry their team. Clemson ranks 109th of 117 Division I-A teams in total offense. Quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, once thought of as a Heisman Trophy contender, has thrown 16 interceptions this season against just seven touchdown passes. Whitehurst threw four touchdowns against USC alone last season. On defense, it’s another story. The Gamecocks have an anemic pass rush but have played well most of the season. The Tigers have totaled an impressive 41 sacks, but their defense has let them down at critical junctures. Last week against Duke, Clemson squandered a 13-6 lead before losing to the Blue Devils, 16-13. The game kicks off at 12:08 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Clemson. Comments cm this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc. edit BRIEFS Track members recognized in magazine Four USC track and field freshman athletes were recognized in Track & Field News as high school All Americans for the 2004 season. “We’re really proud and excited about having these athletes as a part of our program,” USC head coach Curtis Frye said. “They are all extremely talented athletes, and we’re looking for big things out of each of them.” Keith Hinnant, Jason Richardson, Natasha Hastings and Shalonda Solomon were featured in the November edition for their outstanding performances on the track last season. Hinnant, of Bay Shore, N.Y., received All-American honors in the men’s 400 meters based on his personal record of 46.54 seconds and performances at the Golden West, USATF Juniors and World Junior Championships. Richardson, of Cedar Hill, Texas, was honored for the men’s 300/400-meter hurdles. Richardson moved from the number two spot to number one last year, has a personal best of 36.05/49.49 seconds and finished first at the State, Great Southwest and. Adidas Outdoor Classic meets. Richardson was recognized earlier in the year as National Gatorade Athlete of the Year. From the women’s team, Hastings has a personal record of 52.04 seconds and top finishes at the Golden South, Adidas Outdoor Classic, USATF Juniors and the World Juniors Championships, where she received a gold medal in both the 400 meters and the 4x400 relay. Solomon holds the All-American number three spot in the 100 meters and is number one in the 200 meters with personal records of 11.41/11.32 seconds and 22.82 seconds, respectively. Both Hastings and Solomon received votes for Track & Field News’ Girls Athlete of the Year, while Solomon was also recognized as National Gatorade Athlete of the Year with Richardson. -THE TRUTH IS... WE'RE NOT ON EVERY CORNER, BUT NOBODY SAID FINDING THE TRUTH WAS EASY. iohv^. WE MIGHT NOT BE IN EVERV STRIP MALL, FOOD COURT AND GAS STATION LIKE SOME OF THE BIG GUVS. BUT 1983 BELIEVE IT. A SANDWICH WITH HONEST MEATS. CHEESES AND VEGGIES IS WORTH WALKING THE EXTRA BLOCK. .[_LET THE TRUTH BE KNOWN. www.dailygamecock.com