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GAME SCHEDULE , WOMEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Charlotte, 7 p.m. Tuesday rage 11 , MEN’S BASKETBALL vs. App. State, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday Monday, November 29, 2004 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Clemson, 7 p.m. Friday f ' USC football program goes through 48-hour makeover KATIE KIRKLAND/THE GAMECOCK Steve Spurrier speaks to the media after being named as the new head football coach at USC during a news conference Tuesday. BY STEPHEN DEMEDIS STAFF WRITER In a news conference on Tuesday, USC President Andrew Sorensen said that this was the first time in his career he had ever spoken at three football related press conferences in 48 hours. It would probably be a first for most university officials as few schools have retired a coaching legend, hired another coach with six conference championships and a national championship and turned down a bowl game invitation, all within a 28-hour span. On the previous day, Sorensen and Athletic Director Mike McGee gathered with media from across the nation to accept the retirement of USC head coach Lou Holtz. The 67-year-old legend compiled 249 career victories and one national championship in his 33-year career. Holtz addressed the media at the press conference, expressing his love for his devoted wife, Beth, and the teams he has coached at USC. The coach answered questions about his past with responses both comical and sentimental. But his most stirring comment came regarding the immediate future of USC football. “I know I shouldn’t say anything about this, and whatever the university does, but it is my hope that the university will go to a bowl and have the new coach coach in it,” Holtz said. That was the very issue addressed in the second press conference held that same day. Six hours after bidding farewell to Holtz, McGee and Sorensen announced that they would decline the bowl invitation that Holtz had worked so hard for because of the sideline-clearing brawl in the fourth quarter of the Clemson game. President Sorensen announced that USC worked in collaboration with Clemson in coming to a consensus action. After citing sections of the Carolina Creed, Sorensen said, “I want every member of the Gamecock family to understand that we will not support hooliganism at any point or any time.” After the media was briefed on the school’s decisions, the team was assembled so that they could be told of the news. By declining the invitation, the school will forfeit a month of practice time under their new coach and nearly $2 million in profits. On Tuesday, Sorensen and McGee started a new chapter in the Carolina football saga by announcing Steve Spurrier as Holtz’s replacement. The Ol’ Ball Coach will bring his resume, including 142 wins and six SEC Championships, to a school that has never won their conference. McGee said that Spurrier was the school’s first choice to fill the coaching void. USC signed Spurrier to a seven-year deal worth $ 1.25 million in guaranteed compensation per season. The contract could include more than $2 million dollars in incentives. While he could not offer a reason why the program had not achieved vast success in recent years, Spurrier seemed confident that he could build on the foundation that Holtz had laid in his tenure with the Gamecocks. “We’re close. We certainly needed a spark. If we do, we have a chance to take it to the next level,” Spurrier said. Spurrier hinted that he would assemble a staff of personnel currently v^brking at the pro and collegiate levels. That means that a complete staff might not be assembled until January. A day later, Spurrier announced that he would be retaining assistant coaches Rick Stockstill, Ron Cooper and David Reaves from last season’s staff. The three coaches might not have the same responsibilities as they did under Holtz. Reaves’s father was a quarterback at Florida and served under Spurrier in Gainesville. These four days before the Thanksgiving Break were a rollercoaster of emotion and changes for USC football. While the remaining months leading up to next season will not be as drastic and hectic, they should still be as exciting and captivating. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc. edu Carolina’s weeklong roller coaster Nov. 20: USC and Nov. 22: Announcement Nov. 22: USC and Clemson Nov. 22: Players notified Nov. 23: Spurrier Clemson brawl— __ef Holtz's retirement— announce plans to decline they will not participate innamed new head • 2:30 p.m 11a.m. bowl bids—5 p.m. a bowl game—5:30 coach—lp.m. Carolina boosts record to 3-0 after 2-game home winning streak PERRY BAKER/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS USC forward Renaldo Balkman dunks in Carolina’s win. ■ Powell guides USC to wins over Winthrop, Temple BY ALEX RILEY THE GAMECOCK The men’s basketball squad stayed at work during the holiday break and it paid off, as USC took care of in-state rival Winthrop 62 52 and basketball powerhouse Temple 60-46. USC struggled with a scrappy Winthrop team that last season missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years. Carolina fell behind 0-5 early and stayed behind the Eagles until the 8:24 mark of the first half when they tied things up at 19. The Gamecocks went into the locker room with a 34-25 lead at the break. Carlos Powell was already in double digits at halftime with 12 points on five-of-seven shooting. Winthrop would not go quietly into the night, as the Eagles rallied with 10:07 left in the second period and trailed Carolina by one at 44 43- Powell connected on two baskets during an almost four minute stretch starting at 10:07 to keep Carolina ahead by the slimmest of margins. Winthrop pulled the game within one three more times in the half (46-45, 48-47, 50-49), before a Tarence Kinsey three and a Brandon Wallace rebound and dunk put USC on a 12-1 run to close out the game. “It was a lot more difficult than it might have been,” USC head coach Dave Odom said. “They played with a lot of confidence. They certainly didn’t disappoint us.” “Our guys got a little tired, they lost their focus,” added senior Carlos Powell, who finished with 20 points. “We’re a tough, hard nosed team.” That toughness would be tested the following game, as the Temple Owls rolled into Columbia. “Absolute quality win. I can’t say enough about our team when they give their all. It was a good win. “ DAVE ODOM USC HEAD BASKETBALL COACH Legendary coach John Chaney led the Owls into the Colonial Center, fresh off a huge win against Georgetown. Chaney, who has 709 career wins, 16 th on the all time list, has not had a team miss a postseason tournament in 21 seasons. ♦ Please see MEN, page 12 THE HOLTZ ERA ■ HOLTZ Continued from page 1 season with a loss to archrival Clemson when a win would have meant bowl eligibility. As much as the back-to-back bowl wins counted toward Holtz legacy, his record in big games detracted from it. Holtz was just 2-16 against SEC East foes Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee in his tenure. Against Clemson, Holtz was 1-5. This past season, the 67-year-old saw his team become bowl eligible for the first time in three years with a win over Arkansas. What happened following that game might be the lasting memory many have of Holtz. The Gamecocks dropped their final two games to Florida and Clemson by a combined score of 77-21 and ended the season with a late game brawl with the Tigers. The fight cost both teams their bowl games, a decision made by the presidents of both schools. No matter how Holtz is remembered at USC, his coaching record speaks for itself. During an 11 year stint at Notre Dame, iHoltz led the Irish to nine bowl games and a national championship in 1988. Notre Dame finished in the top 10 five times during Holtz’s tenure and finished in the top 20 nine times. One of Holtz’s infamous traits is his ceaseless wit. During his time away from coaching before Holtz took the USC job, he traveled the country as a motivational speaker. Holtz has also published a book full of motivational material. Among Holtz s famous one liners, his last stood out among the rest. In wrapping up the news conference announcing his retirement as USC head coach, Holtz made reference to longtime mentor Woody Hayes, who was fired as head coach at Ohio State following his punching of a Clemson player. “Isn’t it a heck of a note,” Holtz said. HOLTZ’S RESUME *33 years as head coach *Led 4 different programs to top 20 finishes *249 career wins *23 bowl games *1 national championship *1 national coach of the year award *8th alf-time winningest coach in Div. I-A * *33-37 record at USC “Lou Holtz is going to be remembered along with Woody Hayes for having a fight at the Clemson game.” Among Holtz’s other memorable quotes was one he delivered after his team started 5-0 in 2001. “What you try to do is get into a rhythm,” Holtz said. “Win on Saturday. Celebrate Sunday night ... moderately. Enjoy it Sunday. Teach on Monday. Practice Tuesday. Execute Wednesday. Perfect Thursday. Get right mentally on Friday. Win on Saturday.” Holtz never closed the door on a return to coaching saying only that he was just fit to “carry the cord.” Few would put it past Holtz to make a comeback, after wearing out sidelines with his relentless pacing for the past 33 years. For now, though, Holtz is content to spend more time with his family. Holtz’s wife, Beth, was once diagnosed with cancer but is now in remission. “I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Holtz said. “But when my wife puts me on suicide watch, then watch out for a challenge.” Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc.edu flflj KATIE KIRKLAND B /THE GAMECOCK flp Former USC head football W coach Lou Holtz W before the Clemson game pr on Nov. 20.