■ GREATS
Continued from page 9
of the better defensive backs, even
in the NFL. A self-made player, I
would say.”
Billy Gambrell had arguably the
most successful career under Bass,
including being named the 1962
ACC Player of the Year. Though
not selected in the draft, Gambrell
played with the Detroit Lions from
1963-69.
“Billy Gambrell was one of the
finest athletes I’ve ever been
around,” Bass said. “Billy was a very
likable person. He loved to play the
game. He had exceptional abilities.
He was just a natural athlete.”
“I loved the guy, I really do. In
fact he named the dog after me. He
named it Coach Bass. Which I
accepted as a complement.”
But the most famous of his
recruits is former NFL head coach
Dan Reeves. Reeves became one of
Carolina’s all-time great
quarterbacks, known for his
accuracy and his running abilities.
Reeves finished his career in 1964
as the passing leader with 2,579
yards and 16 touchdowns. Over 40
years later, Reeves is still in 12th
place on the all-time list.
After a seven-year stint as a
running back in the NFL, Reeves
became one of the most respected
coaches in the league. Reeves
guided the Denver Broncos and
Atlanta Falcons to a total of four
division championships. All the
while, Bass was by his side.
Everywhere Reeves went, except
his a short period with the Giants,
Bass was his special assistant.
“Dan was such an intellectual
piayer, ne nas sucn a great rootDaii
mind,” Bass said. “The finest I’ve
ever experienced in football.”
After leaving Carolina, Bass
spent his coaching career all across
the United States and Canada,
coaching in several leagues on
different levels, finally ending up
with Reeves at Denver and Atlanta
to finish out his storied career.
While his career led him
throughout the country, Bass
remembers a distinct moment
during a match-up with his former
employer North Carolina.
“I coached at North Carolina
for one year, then I went back to
William and Mary where I came
from,” Bass said. “We were playing
North Carolina that year in Chapel
Hill. So, we go down there and
play them in a 7-6 ball game. They
won the game. After the game, the
Carolina players came across the
field and took me off the field on
their shoulders. That was one of
the greatest feelings I’ve ever had.”
That kind of recognition earned
him a spot in the South Carolina
Athletic Hall of Fame and most
recentlv made him a recinienr of the
Silver Crescent, South Carolina’s
highest honor for civil service.
“The thing that still gets me is the
recognition I still get from former
players,” Bass said. “That’s the thing
that kept me into coaching. I’ve
never seen a group of players, they
were such a great group.”
“When they had the thing at the
State House for me, there was
about 40-something players that
came in tribute. It was just like you
were a part of each other. That was
the thing that thrilled me most
about it,” Bass said.
Comments on this story? E-mail
gamecocksports@gwm.sc.edu
■ BRAVES
Continued from page 10
six innings in the second win of
Adanta’s three-game sweep of
Baltimore.
So as the young talent for the
Braves blossoms, the “veterans”
on the squad have also picked
their game up a notch. Catcher
Johnny Estrada, who just turned
29, is hitting around the .270
mark and is starting to heat up.
AQam Larocne, a z?-year-oia
first baseman is flourishing in
just his second season, with 50
RBIs and 11 home runs as less
than a full-time player.
Finally, we may be witnessing
the real Andruw Jones appear in
centerfield for Atlanta. After such
high expectations had not been
met by this 28-year-old all-star,
Jones seems to be coming into his
prime, leading the major leagues
with 26 home runs on the season
and carrying a team without
another true superstar at the
plate.
And don’t forget Smoltz, who
after a 7-run outing on opening
day has lowered his earned run
average to 2.68 and improved his
record to 9-5, earning him a spot
on the NL All-star squad.
“I said it in spring training
after the first game: I want to gkt
back to where when I’m on the
field, they feel we’re going to
win,” Smoltz said. “That takes
re-earning. That doesn’t just
come back because I was a decent
closer.”
Now here’s the scary part.
Atlanta has won 14 of their last 20
games entering Tuesday night’s
contest with Chicago. They are
four and a half games out of first
place behind the Washington
Nationals. Remember, this run
was without the help of Chipper
Jones, who before going on the
DL was hitting around the .300
mark with an on-base percentage
of over .400. This run has been
without Tim Hudson, a foriafr
Cy Young winner. This run has
been without Mike Hampton,
who before injury had a 1.83 , ,
earned run average with a 4-1
record.
Comments on this story? E-mail
gamecocksports@gwrn.sc.edu
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Step Step Step Step Step
(Blatt) (Blatt) (Blatt) (Blatt) (Blatt)
12:00-1:00 Yoga (BA) Yoga (BA)
Faculty/Staff Faculty/Staff Faculty/Staff Faculty/Staff
(Blatt) (Blatt) (Blatt) (Blatt)
» , Pilates Pilates
^ (WFd25) (WFC 125)
5:15-600 H20 (Blatt) H20 (Blatt)
5 30-630 St8p St8P S,6P St6P
dju-oju (WFC 125) (WFC 125) (WFC 125) (WFC125)
Body Sculpting Body Sculpting
5 30-6:30 (Blatt) (Blatt)
, Absolution Absolution
(WFC 125) (WFC 125)
NOW HIRING LIFEGUARDS.__
Campus Recreation is looking to hire several lifeguards for Fall 2005. To be eligible, you
must be certified and a current USC Columbia Student. For more information, Contact the
aquatics director, Gary Pogharian @ 777-4694 or pogharia@gwm.sc.edu
Sutot&BR '2
Group Fitness
Schedule
Start Date: July 6,2005 “•
End Date: August 5,2005
Cost: $20.00 and can be paid at the
business office of the PE Center or
Wellness & Fitness Center M-F from
8:00am -5:00pm.
*Summer 1 passes are still good.
Classes offered:
Step H20
Yoga Body Sculpting
Pilates Absolution
"Please bring your USC ID with you to each session. **
For more information or class descriptions
please visit our website at
http://campusrec.sc.edu/fitness/group.asp
Contact the fitness director, Charles Anderson
at cnanders@gwm.sc.edu or (803) 576-9375
•gg!& l \ I V I R S I 1_ v O I
jp. SOUTH(AROLINA,
CAMPUS RECREATION