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J_ji | I / r I 1 U GAME SCHEDULE I I I I \ I i SOFTBALL vs. North Carolina, 4 p.m. Tuesday r-agcxu ■ 1 / I I 111 BASEBALL vs. Brown, 7 p.m. Tuesday Monday, March 28, 2005 —1— —1— V- —MEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Maryland, 9 p.m. Tuesday STEVE SPURRIER STATS Compiled a 122-27-1 record at Florida from 1990-2001, the most wins for a Gator coach in school a history and a win percentage m (.817) that ranked among the SL top three in SEC history. ^k The only coach in SEC history’, V and one of only two coaches in V major college history, to lead a B squad to six straight seasons of | 10 or more wins (1993-1998). The only coach in the nation to lead his team to at least nine fl wins in each of his 12 years I^^B (1990-2001) at the helm. « One of only five coaches in major college history’ to have ^B his team ranked in the final B Top 15 Poll in each of 12 consecutive seasons (1990- ,/iasB 2001). jgBM UNDER the VISOR I recently sat down fora one-on-one interview with new USC football coach Steve Spurrier. We spoke about a new era of Gamecock football, his coaching career and, most importantly, who the coach behind the visor is. In part three of a three-part series, I spoke with him about the coach away from the sideline. w* Jonathan Hillyard: Which is your favorite team that you’ve coached so far in your career? Steve Spurrier; There’s really too many to say. The 1989 Duke team was really special. We won six games in a row and won the ACC championship. We had a running back named Randy Cuthbert who gained over 1,100 yards and only started six games. We had a wide receiver, Clarkston Hines, who was the ACC Player of the Year. Really, all the Florida teams were very special. I guess the 1996 national championship team achieved the most, but they’ve all been special. But of course the ones that win championships are the most special. I’ve never really thought about ranking them. I just put them all right ‘ there together. JH: At this point in your career, is this your last coaching job? k SS: Yeah. Definitely. Even though k I’m going to be 60 in about a month ^k or so, I don’t quite feel that way. I’ve ^k studied people, we all have, and ^k those of us who are 50, 60, 70, we realize how quickly time goes. I“ve seen some people that are old at 40 or 50 and some people that young at 50, 60 or even 70. A friend of mine who's 72 still hits his golf ball like he always did. He really hasn’t changed much in the 25 years that I’ve know him. So, I feel like a young 60-year-old. 1 certainly feel good health-wise, and I’ve been able to work out four or five days a week for the last 35 years or so, and I feel really good so hopefully I’m considered as one of those young 60s instead of an old 60. JH: What point did you realize you wanted to come back to coaching in college football? SS: Probably after observing last year and taking my son Scotty to a few games and watching it on TV. And. I looked at it as Pm fortunate, health-wise, to be in good shape, and the doctor tells me, unless something unforeseen happens, I can live to 90 or more. So, Pve only gone through about two-thirds of my life, and Pve got a lot of life left. I feel like Pve got a lot of years to coach left, also. I was disappointed and embarrassed at the way the last two years went as a coach, and I'm excited to have a team, a group of assistant coaches, a group of players, a support staff who are all on the same team together. That’s one of the reasons I’m so excited to he here at Carolina is because l ♦ Please see SPURRIER, page 11 KATIE KIRKLAND/THE GAMECOCK The USC softball team dropped two games to Auburn during the weekend, while the third game of the series was canceled. Auburn sweeps USC with balanced attack By BRIAN DAVIS FOR THE GAMECOCK The USC softball team fell in its first two games on a trip to Auburn this weekend, losing the contests by a combined 11 runs by scores of 10-8 and 11-2 before having the third suspended and then cancelled because of inclement weather. In Saturday’s game matching USC freshman pitcher Kate Pouliot and Auburn starter sophomore Beth DiPietro, the experienced pitcher came out on top. Pouliot allowed eight hits and two runs against Carolina in a game that was shortened to five innings. In contrast, Pouliot was trounced with 11 runs on 12 hits Saturday, evening her young career record to 5-5. After tallying the game’s first two runs in the first inning, USC was held scoreless for the remainder of the contest. After freshman Lisa Longo, senior Meghan Cornett and sophomore McKenna Hughes reached base, USC designated hitter freshman Stefanie Norman singled to the shortstop to score the first run of the game. Two batters later, sophomore center fielder Chrissy Schoonmaker hit a single to score Cornett, as USC took a 2-0 lead. After only one hit in the first, the Tigers quickly rebounded and destroyed. In the second and third, the Tigers tallied 10 of their 11 runs on 10 hits. In the second, the Tigers killed USC with small ball play and the long ball. After both reached base, sophomore third basemen Kristina McCain and sophomore left fielder Lauren Walton advanced on stolen bases. Two- and three-run home runs were then belted by senior second basemen Lolani Alvarez and sophomore designated hitter Holly Currie, respectively. In the series opener early Saturday, Auburn began the scoring, with a five-run first inning, a lead they would not abandon. This game had similar results, as McCain scored one run and Currie, batting 3-for-4, tallied two RBIs. In addition, senior designated hitter Anne Norton went l-for-3 with a first-inning home run, earning her three RBIs. Currier’s lone hit was a two-run home run. In the second, junior catcher Ashley Smith walked with the bases loaded to bring in USC’s first run. Despite a three-run second inning by Carolina, the Tigers were not to be beaten. On an errant play that inning, USC slid in two more runs as a single to the outfield by senior second ♦ Please see SOFTBALL, page 11 Baseball drops second SEC series By MIQUEL JACOBS STAFF WRITER For the second straight weekend, the No. 6 USC baseball team (19-5, 2-4 SEC) dropped a conference series on the final day. Traveling to play the No. 11 Florida Gators in Gainesville, the Gamecocks took the first game of the series 2-0 before struggling to find an offensive rhythm in back to-back losses this past weekend. The series win is the first for the Gators (19-7, 3-3 SEC) against the Gamecocks since the 1999 season. Similar to previous Carolina games this season, the Friday night opener turned into a true pitchers’ duel. USC senior starter Aaron Rawl (5-2) hurled seven innings, allowing only five hits and two walks while striking out a season higtanine batters. Both walks came in Rawi’s last inning, after which senior Jason Fletcher mopped up the final two innings to earn his second save of the season. He retired all batters in order except for one hit with two outs in the ninth. Rawl and Fletcher combined to give up only six hits in the Gamecocks’ third season shutout. It was the first time Florida was shut out at home since April 16, 1999. “We didn’t do a lot offensively,” USC coach Ray Tanner said. “Fortunately, Aaron had one of his best games of the year.” Junior Bryan Ball pitched a near flawless six innings for the Gators before the hit barrage in the seventh, allowing two runs driven in by sophomore Tommy King and junior Davy Gregg. He was able to slow Carolina’s main offensive forces, striking out junior Steven Tolleson and senior Brendan Winn twice ^ich. The work wasn’t ♦ Please see BASEBALL, page 11 |-|-a—H-Tni,::rn ■ ■ --I-'\-.r ri.i TfaJ CHARLIE DAVENPORT/THE GAMECOCK Coach Ra^Tanner and the Gamecocks look on during a gatne earlier this season. USC lost 2 of 3 to Florida this weekend. KATIE KIRKLAND/THE GAMECOCK Sophomore forward Renaldo Balkman goes up for a layup in USC's Thursday win against Georgetown in the Colonial Center. ■ RIVALRY Continued from page 1 Wake Forest schools. But we knew each other prior to taking those jobs.” Carolina is riding the hot shot of senior Carlos Powell all the way to the Big Apple. After setting a new career high on Senior Day with 30 points, Powell has been on a torrid pace, totaling 95 points during the last five games, moving him into seventh place for the Gamecocks’ all-time career scoring record with only 13 points needed to move past Jim Slaughter for sixth place. “Carlos Powell is playing right now like he wants people to see him play,” Odom said. “He wants to play again someplace next year. It’s not selfish; he’s just playing very well. He is really into it.” While Powell is providing the offensive spark, sophomore Tre’ Kelley is quickly becoming one of the best guards still playing postseason basketball. After dishing out nine assists against UNLV, Kelley had an additional seven assists against Georgetown to go along with 11 points, making it one of the rare occasions this season when Kelley has hit double-digits for a Gamecock win. The defense will be tested by the high-powered offense of junior forward Nik Caner-Medley. Caner-Medley is the Terps’ leading scorer, averaging 16.1 points per game on the season, but has more than 20 points in 10 games this season. Those numbers helped him garner All-ACC Third Team honors fhis season. “Maryland has a lot of depth. They are long and lean and athletic," Odom said. “They can be torture to play against when they are playing great defense. Offensively, they are inside orientated and can shoot the 3. I think from what 1 have seen of Maryland this year, which is very limited, they look to be very much like a Gary Williams-type team.” Odom said he knows the task ahead is not easy but hopes his o players will be up to it and use it to grow as Gamecocks. “We want to make this a fun but purposeful trip. We need to remember the basketball is what brings us to New York,” he said. “John (Chappell), Jon (Land) and Carlos (Powell) have been there, and know the real fun lies in winning and playing your best in Madison Square Garden. That is the attitude we want to embrace in New York.” --;-' Comments tm this story? E-mail gamecocksports@girm.sc. edu