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*• ‘‘ ■ * '■ *' * #V.A JL A 1\|4 X r ^ k *. T^/^V ) r I 1 O GAME SCHEDULE pon.p i n I—^ I I . I BASEBALL vs. Vanderbilt, 7:30p.m. rage iu Ilf I I L 1 FOOTBALL Spring Game, 1 p.m. Saturday Friday, April 15,2005 I \^/ _ B SOFTBALL vs. Alabama, 1 p.m. Saturday GARNET AND BLACK GAME PREVIEW SPrm& LOADED, ■ Defense looks to carry strong workouts into intrasquad contest By ALEX RILEY STAFF WRITER When coach Steve Spurrier arrived in Columbia, Gamecock Nation expected to see a complete 180 degree turn around from the scheme that played out during last fall’s campaign. Spurrier was renowned for his offensive flair, setting the stage for a high powered. shooting match this spring. Instead, the Carolina defense, led by new co defensive coordinators John Thompson and Tyrone Nix, did what it has done for years — stepped up and proved to be generally the better unit. During the past five years, USC has produced numerous stud defenders, ranging fr6m All Americans to two first-round NFL draft picks. This season looks no different, as a standout group of defenders has dominated a struggling offense during the majority of spring workouts. Sophomore safety Ko Simpson remains limited J| with a broken finger. Simpson, the SEC Freshmen H of the Year last fall, broke his pinkie finger during drills early in the spring but has participated in a recent practices. With Simpson hampered by injury, the defensive secondary will have to rely on the leadership of sophomores Ty Erving and Jonathan Joseph, junior Fred Bennett and senior Tremaine Tyler to hold things down in the secondary. In the April 13 practice, Erving dominated the defensive secondary pressure, picking up a sack and forcing a fumble and an interception, while Tyler also had a pick. The defensive front took a hit in the offseason, as would-be senior Moe Thompson was charged with ♦ DEFENSE, page 11 ■ Spurriers fun n gun heating up as spring practice comes to close By MIQUEL JACOBS STAFF WRITER Steve Spurrier’s fun ‘n’ gun offense has steadily improved throughout the spring, noticeable by the steady progression leading up to Saturday’s Garnet and Black Game. Starting as a team that could not even handle the snap from center, the offense rebounded in the second scrimmage with a 28-25 victory against the defense. With the April 13 rematch yielding a 39-14 drubbing against the defense, this team of Gamecocks just might be able to have its fun on the field come September. AERIAL ASSAULT The quarterback race has been the most watched and scrutinized position this spring. Redshirt sophomore Blake Mitchell entered practice as the likely starter, given senior Mike Rathe’s ongoing appeal to the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility. However, early falters led to junior walk-on Brett Nichols and redshirt freshman Antonio Heffner gaining enough repetitions to vie for the position. Heffner’s recent performance has earned him the spot opposite Mitchell as starting quarterback for the Garnet and Black Game. “We have a long way to go,” coach Steve Spurrier said April 7 regarding the quarterback position. “Blake and Antonio have stepped ahead of Brett right now based on the scrimmage. But who knows? He may have an outstanding summer and learn where everybody is going and come out here and tear 'em up in August.” Each signal caller has impressed and slowed down throughout the spring, prompting Spurrier to refrain from jumping to conclusions regarding depth-chart matters. After Nichols’ week on top, Mitchell performed best in the April 6 scrimmage (8-for-15, 104 yards), but Heffner turned heads in Wednesday’s scrimmage (6-of-8, 147 yards, TD). Rathe, playing limited snaps, has also impressed Spurrier with his knowledge of the system, prompting the coach at one point to say Rathe could be the starter if he were eligible. With a new system and new staff in place, fans should not expect any ♦ OFFENSE, page 11 PHOTOS BY NICK ESARES & KATIE KIRKLAND,THE GAMECOCK USC coach Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks?'^ will wrap up spring practice when they play the ,.:, Garnet and Black Game on Saturday. SEFTON I POCK/THE INDEPENDENT-MAIL USC shortstop Steven Tolleson dives for a ground ball in the bottom of the second on the road against Clemson on Wednesday. Tolleson was unable to catch the ball but kept it in the infield. Carolina drops game 3 against rival Clemson By STEPHEN FASTENAU ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR CLEMSON — It was an overcast evening in Clemson, and though forecasters had called for thunderstorms, not a drop of rain fell. It was the Tigers that poured it on, defeating USC, 11-2. Gamecock freshman Andrew Cruse made his first career start, and it proved to be a quick one. The right-hander was pulled after just 1 2-3 innings after giving up three earned runs and four hits, walking two and striking out three. t He was the first of four USC pitchers to give up a home run. Clemson sophomore pitcher Stephen Faris threw a distinctly different game. Tossing his second complete game in as many outings, Faris held Gamecock hitters at bay, giving up five hits and striking out seven batters while walking just one. “We ran into a very good team tonight,” USC coach Ray Tanner said. “Faris was outstanding. He’s been pitching well. “I’m sure a guy like Faris wants to pitch on the weekend. He was wanting to make a statement, and he was very, very good.” Cruse left the game with a 2-0 deficit after a less-than-memorable bottom of the second. Tiger right fielder junior Travis Storrer led off scoring with a blast over the center-field wall to give Clemson a 1 -0 lead. Sophomore first baseman Andy D’Alessio followed with a double. An infield single and a passed ball scored D’Alessio and pushed the Tigers’ margin to 2-0. After walking freshman center fielder Brad Chalk on four pitches, Cruse ^ ♦CLEMSON, page 11 Gamecocks look to rebound at home against Vanderbilt ByAJ BEMBRY FOR THE GAMECOCK The USC baseball team will return to action this weekend, trying to rekindle the fire that sent the Gamecocks on a nine-game winning streak. Clemson broke Carolina’s streak Wednesday, and the No. 4 Gamecocks look to regain their dominating midseason form when they play host to the Vanderbilt Commodores at Sarge Frye Field this weekend. After losing the first two SEC series to Arkansas and Florida, the Gamecocks rebounded by sweeping border rival UGA and then traveling to Baton Rouge to take all three games from perennial powerhouse LSU. LSU and UGA were in the College World Series with USC last year. Through the season’s first four SEC series, the Commodores have certainly had their ups and downs. Losing their first conference series against Mississippi State, the ‘Dores rebounded to beat Alabama and Ole Miss at home in consecutive weekends. Follow that with a long trip to Fayetteville to get swept by the formidable Arkansas Razorbacks and the Commodores have found themselves traveling to the Palmetto State with a 5-7 SEC ♦ BASEBALL, page 11 KATIE KIRKLAND/THE GAMECOCK Senior pitcher Zac McCamie will try to help the Gamecocks put together another winding streak when he pitches Saturday.