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KATIE KIRKLAND/THE GAMECOCK USC shortstop Steven Tolleson was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the fifth round of the Major League Baseball Draft. Tolleson, a junior, is expected to return to USC for his senior season. ■ PRAFT Continued from page 9 Campbell was expect to be taken in the top 200 players but failed to have his name called. Campbell’s outfield teammate Brendan Winn was also left out of the draft. Winn, who had his named called in 2000, 2002 and 2004, failed to be drafted after his senior season. Winn battled back problems all season but still managed double-digit home runs. The two Gamecock recruits drafted were Stratford High School first baseman Justin Smoak and pitcher Kenny « Maiques from Rio Hondo Community College. Smoak, expected to be a starter at first base next season, went in the 16th round to the Oakland As. Maiques was a 37th round pick for the St. Louis Cardinals. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc. edu Sign up Online for a chance to win a fr^e $1,0Q0 scholarship www.scstudentloan.o' SIMAIIOW. .. 800-347-2752 _ Sbbbbs ■ TANNER Continued from page 9 $500,000 and use of a vehicle. Tanners nine-year stint in Columbia has been one of unprecedented success. USC has been to seven regional appearances under Tanners leadership, six of which were consecutive. The Gamecocks have also advanced to five Super Regionals and to the College World Series three of.the past four seasons. Along with success in the NCAA field, USC has captured two SEC titles (2000, 2002), four SEC East titles (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003) and an SEC Tournament title (2004) under Tanners guidance. Tanner withdrew his name Monday from consideration for the job at Texas A&M but was allowed to speak with Oklahoma on their coaching vacancy. “It is a tremendous compliment to our program that another school would be interested,” Tanner said. “I am excited about our incoming recruiting class, the new baseball stadium on the horizon and the future of Carolina baseball.” Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc.edu Random thoughts from an uber-fan As the sports season draws to a close, it dawned on me 1 said to myself, “What the heck are you gonna write about for ALEX R,LEY the next two First.yearprint months?” Then journalism it occurred to studmt me: You have nothing to write about. Rather than go deep and try to find something of substance, I decided to just write about what’s on my mind. Well, here goes nothing. Literally. ♦ Ray Tanner is my hero. The man gets one big ol’ pay-raise after another, and he actually deserves it. ♦ All this hype around Steve Spurrier is a joke. Lou Holtz was the supposed “messiah” of Gamecock football and look how well he did. And if Spurrier can’t do it, someone else will. Trust me. ♦ Davy Gregg is an idiot. With his skin-and-bones frame he stands about as big a chance of making it in the major leagues as Britney Spears does of winning an Oscar. One career homer? Gimme a break, scrawny boy. ♦ Ko Simpson is the man. ♦ So is Carlos Powell. ♦ Aaron Rawl is a warrior. It’s a joke he didn’t go higher in the draft. Aaron, the Phillies may have just made the smartest draft pick in franchise history. ♦ Its official. I still hate Clemson. And Florida. And Tennessee. And Georgia. ♦ The brawl at Clemson was awesome. I have no shame in saying that. Just remember, when the Tiger fans say they won the game, tell 'em we won the war. ♦ Stealing “linens” has to rank up there with having a ferret for a pet as an all-time bad idea. Way to go, Moe! ♦ Yes, I ran on the court at Kentucky. Yes, I was on press row for that game. Yes, I think the little yellow rope is a bad idea. ♦ I also ran onto the field for the New Mexico State, Georgia and Alabama football games. Those are just some of the numerous random thoughts on USC athletics running through my otherwise spacious skull. Just think, it could have been worse — I could have had something to talk about. Comments on this story ? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc. edu