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GAME SCHEDULE pom, t * MEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Arkansas, 7:30 p.m. ^ „ WOMEN’S TENNIS vs. Michigan, 2:30 p.m. Friday Wednesday, February 2, 2005 MEN’S GOLF at Florida, Friday Rosters hinge on signing day results By JONATHAN HILLYARD SPORTS EDITOR Today is the beginning of the 2005 college football season. Nobody will strap on pads, throw touchdowns or dump Gatorade on their coaches. However, America’s college coaches will hold their breath as high-school seniors and junior college prospects simply give them autographs. That’s right — it is finally national signing day. For most coaches, this has been a long, tumultuous process that started in early February 2004, or even earlier. The majority of the 117 coaches in Division I-A have had their eyes set on a select number of recruits since then and have been doing their best convincing ever since. For USC coach Steve Spurrier, the situation is quite different. Instead of a full year to assemble a top-notch class, Spurrier was given just more than two months — not exactly an ideal situation for a coach who has to recruit against the Tennessees, Floridas, Georgias and Clemsons of the world on an everyday basis. But Columbia’s newest superstar accepted the challenge in full stride and pulled the first rabbit out of what Gamecock fans hope is a rabbit-plentiful hat. Going into today, Spurrier probably expects the signature of 26 recruits on his desk by about 3 p.m. The most recent additions may have been the most important to the ol’ ball coach’s first class at Carolina. Spurrier and the Gamecocks were able to accomplish something Monday that Carolina has had trouble with in the past — getting a big-time recruit from Columbia. Running back Mike Davis, from Glen Forest School in West Columbia, is rated as one of the top 25 running backs in the nation by both Rivals.com and Scout.com. At about 9:30 a.m. Monday, Davis decided to stay in his hometown and attend USC, spurning the likes of Florida, Auburn, Maryland and, most notably, Clemson. “I think South Carolina is the best fit for me academic wise and football wise. I hope to show y’a. a good time at the games,” Davis aid in his news conference. Davis is the to^ rated running back in South Carolina aii stands at about 5 feet-10-inches and !09 pounds. He runs a 4.48 40-yarc. dash and bench presses 30C pounds. Tuesday brought more gooc news for Caroline as outside linebacker Dakota Walker announced DAVIS that he will sign with USC over Virgiia Tech today. “My main goali; to help the team win and do aryhing I can to contribute,” Wder said on Gamecockcentral.coi. “From an individual standpoin I’d love to earn a starting spot and bi named freshman All-SEC and freshmn All-American. I know it will take a loof hard work, but that’s exactly what blan to do. Work hard, keep my grad< up and just play ball.” Walker, a native of Mays Landing, N.J., stands at 6-feet-4-inches and weighs 225 pounds. Don’t let the size confuse you — Walker runs a 4.5 second 40-yard-dash. He will not have to worry about qualifying as he has a 3.0 GPA and a 1020 on his SAT. With Walker being the 26th commitment of Spurrier’s initial class, not many prospects are leaving the Gamecocks waiting. Offensive lineman Quinton Brown opted to attend North Carolina State on Tuesday. However, Penn State commitment Knowledge Timmons is rumored to be wavering and considering Carolina as an alternative. Timmons is a cornerback listed as a three-star prospect by Rivals.com. Other schools in the Southeast will be holding their breath today. In Knoxville, the Volunteers are hoping to hold on to what most people feel is the nation’s top recruiting class, while in the Swamp new head man Urban Meyer is trying to rebound from a slow start to finish with a top-15 class. T'mi * gg; KATIE KIRKLAND/THE GAMECOCK USC coach Steve Spurrier has put together a top-25 recruiting class even though he has only been coach for two months. Feelings in the Upstate are mixed as a blazing start in Clemson recruiting has cooled off. However, the Tigers should finish with a nationally ranked, top-25 class. So as the day rolls on, no tackles will be made, no flags will be thrown, but maybe for one college coach, a championship will be in the making. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc. edu KAE KIRKLAND/THE GAMECOCK USC forward Renaldo Balkman drives to the hoop in last week’s win over the Vanerbilt Commodores. Balkman has scored 15 points in each of Carolina’s last two games, his only start of the season. Gamecocks return home to take on Razorbacks □ STAFF WRITER USC freshman Dwayne Day sent a loud-and-clear message to Florida last Saturday after almost becoming the impromptu hero — scouting reports and stats on paper do not guarantee anything. Playing in only his fifth game of the season, Day scored 14 consecutive team points to bring the Gamecocks back into the game. Just as the Florida staff was ill-prepared for Day’s presence because of what they perceived on paper, the Gamecocks need to ignore the favorable odds they see as they play host to Arkansas (14-6, 2-5 SEC) in a critical game tonight. Carolina is 6-0 this season following a loss, with four of those victories decided by only five points or less. After beginning the season with a 6-2 record, USC has alternated consecutive wins and losses, refusing to go on either a winning or a losing streak. The Colonial Center’s friendly confines have also treated the home team well, as the Gamecocks are 10-1 at home with the lone loss coming from a buzzer-beater by Clemson’s Cheyenne Moore. With the uncertainty regarding the status of Josh Gonner and Antoine Tisby, Carolina’s intensity level will have to match the second halves of the Vanderbilt and Florida games to protect that record. “We’ve got to play with all out effort,” USC coach Dave Odom said. “We have to pick up our commitment and determination on the inside. Those areas the level of play must be raised. Arkansas is very much like Florida — they have talent at all five positions.” The Razorbacks boast a two-prong threat in senior Michael Jones and sophomore Ronnie Brewer. Jones is Arkansas’ lone senior and scored 17 points against the Gamecocks in the SEC Tournament last season. However, the starting forward will be in street clothes after suffering a groin injury in the first minute of Arkansas’ 68-67 loss to Kentucky last Saturday. Brewer, who emerged as a premier player this season, suffered a twisted ankle in the game but expects to play tonight. He has scored in double-digits in all but one of Arkansas’ games this season and averages 16.3 points per game to go with his league-leading 3.11 steals. “Ronnie is fine. He might have some soreness, but he will be fine,” Arkansas coach Stan Heath said. “He won’t have any ill effects and will play in the game on Wednesday. “Mike is out. He could be out for 10 days up to* two weeks. I know he is disappointed. We will have to have guys step up.” Beginning the season with a 12-1 overall record, the Razorbacks have slipped after the start of conference play. Gaining confidence with a weaker non-conference schedule, Arkansas has yet to win an SEC road game. The Gamecocks, like the majority of the conference, have also struggled on the road, a fact that Odom said is the difference between the upper echelon teams and the bubble busters. "(Kentucky has) done a better job than the other teams in our league in being a total program,” Odom said. “The commitment that the rest of us need to make is that championships are won on the road, not at home. The rest of us look at it as we are almost whipped before we go on the road. We’ve got to change our mentality in this league.” Regarding the conference midseason conference race, Heath’s squad sits in the western division’s fourth spot, two games behind Mississippi State and LSU and a half game ahead of Ole Miss. The Gamecocks are perched in the same position as last season, tied for third in the eastern division. The tiebreaker lies in Carolina’s favor with home victories over Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Leader Kentucky stands undefeated with the possibility of winning out and finishing 16-0. “I think both teams are looking at this as a pivotal game to put us back in race,” Heath said. “Dave has done a nice job of getting that program going. We are anxious to get back on the court again. We are playing good basketball, and I think our record is deceiving to how we are playing.” USC’s Renaldo Balkman, Tarence Kinsey and Carlos Powell have been the consistent hands in the past week and will need to bring energy and a scoring touch. More importandy, with the Razorbacks missing Jones and the crop of talent around the SEC, the Gamecocks will need to be sure that they too are not surprised by an opposing Dwayne Day. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc. edu Big game isn Hjust halftime, TV ads Do people still realize that the Super Bowl involves football? I have the joy of hearing many conversations each day. During class, on ___the shuttle, in the Russell House — it is basically non stop. Normally I zone out and go into my daydreams, which usually involve at least . _ one or more of the following BROOM people: Jessica Simpson, Steve SECOND-YEAR c . . , . . POLITICAL SPumer (th,s 15 a SCIENCE joke, I promise), STUDENT or Mary-Kate and/or Ashley Olsen, but occasionally I’ll catch a few words and decide the conversation might be worth participating in. AMV5ANCETTA/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid tals with reporters at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville on Tuesday. Thi is his first Super Bowl. I was riding the shuttle back from another day of mind-numbing education when I heard a group of girls talking in front of me. As I began to slip into my normal late-afternoon haze, 1 heard one of those attention-catching phrases: “You know, Paris Hilton isn’t really that hot." Huh? Who are you? Stop the bus. We just took a vote, and Joan Rivers here got voted off 1-0.1 voted yes. Anyway, as I listened to the rest of their conversation, I learned that they were actually talking about the Super Bowl and the three things they were looking forward to: the parties, the halftime show and the commercials. The parties I can understand. It’s college, and apparently people our age (well, at least those a year older than me, mom) don’t feel right unless they are with at lea;t 30 people and consuming some sort ocold beverage. The Super Bowl is just pother reason for that to happen. Te halftime show is a totally different thinj If you are actually watching the Sup< Bowl only to see the halftime show, plea-* stop reading right now. Just the thoght of people that dumb reading wofs that are in any way associated with meis making my brain cells commit sui‘de. I would discuss the halftime show at reater length, but instead I think I’ll ju; excerpt a few entries from “Jake’s Top 5(Things He’d Rather Do Than Watch th Super Bowl Halftime Show”: 8) Transfer to The Citadel — you kow, to meet my future wife. 19) Have my cable package reduced t only the Lifetime channel. 24) Dress up as Curtis Chow and ♦ Please see BLOOM, page 14 Odom answers rumors; Gonner, Tisby could play By BRIAN DAVIS THE GAMECOCK USC men’s basketball coach Dave Odom announced Tuesday that senior guard Josh Gonner and junior forward Antoine Tisby will remain on the team, assuming their commitment and care is to the team first. Odom said both players should be available in tonight’s home game against the formidable Arkansas Razorbacks. “They both — assuming practice goes well today, and there’s no other problem — they both will dress and be available tomorrow night,” Odom said. “And as I told you, I’m not going to make any promises about anything beyond that." Odom would not reveal the details of the two incidents but referred to them as a “team matter.” “It’s a team matter, and it will remain that,” Odom said. “It will remain that. And it makes me proud to tell you that my team has kept their mouth shut.” Odom continually made the media aware that his decision and intention is to always make the choice that is correct for the team. It is assumed that if Gonner and Tisby continue with the commitment they expressed to Odom in ♦ Please seeiODOM, page 14 Junior forward Antoine Tisby, left, prepares to dunk against Tennessee earlier this season. Tisby and guard Josh Gonner could play against Arkansas. CHARLIE DAVENPORT/ THE GAMJCOCK