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SEC better get ready for wild ride in 2005 As reporters, my colleagues and I love nothing more than a good story. It doesn’t matter if it’s good or bad, scandalous or inspirational. A good story is a good ’ story. Needless to say, J0NATHAN reporters all over HILLYARD the country are Second-year drooling over electronic journalism what will be ^ent SEC football in 2005. The buzz in Columbia is louder than ever before. With the return of coaching legend Steve Spurrier to the college game to coach USC, almost every weekend will provide a great story. Week one is no exception as a national television audience will watch the ol’ ball coach and Carolina play host to Notre Dame reject George O’Leary and the Central Florida Knights. All eyes will be on Columbia to see if Spurrier’s cock ’n’ fire offense is indeed firing on all cylinders. Week two provides even more drama as Spurrier and the boys travel to Athens to take on the Georgia. In his only game as coach for Florida in Sanford Stadium, the fun ’n’ gun offense embarrassed the home team to the tune of 54-17. 1 /•« pi i ii* r 1VIIIVC JIUUd dllU llld utw uum Tuscaloosa, Ala., will invade Columbia in week three, as the son of a coaching legend will meet a living legend. Both coaches recruited well and both teams have high expectations for the season. After a week off from the national spotlight, the Gamecocks will go down to the plains of Auburn, Ala., for a showdown with Tommy Tubberville’s Tigers, who coincidently went 13-0 in 2004. The last time Spurrier was in Auburn, the Tigers defeated the then third-ranked Gators, possibly costing them a shot at the 2001 national championship. After home contests with Vanderbilt and Kentucky, teams Spurrier never lost to at Florida, Carolina will travel to face its toughest test of the season, the Tennessee Volunteers. Besides his famous quote of “You can’t spell Citrus without UT,” there is definitely no love lost between the ol’ ball coach and UT head man Phillip Fulmer. In addition, the game could set a record for most players facing criminal charges on one field in the history of college football. On Nov. 12, again all eyes will turn to Columbia. ESPN GameDay, no need to look for any other games. Sportscenter, go ahead and mark this one on your calendar. For the first time in his 1 • C r. -ill .1 i U1V) upuuivi Will L/V tliv- t-UdUl Ull the opposite side of the field from his beloved Florida Gators. And if that wasn’t enough of a story, you can throw in Urban Meyer, Florida’s new coach who Gator fans are calling the “next Steve Spurrier.” Add Chris Leak, who could be a Heisman candidate, and you’ve got a media juggernaut of a college football game. Finally, the one USC fans have been waiting for since Nov. 20, 2004 — Clemson will travel to Columbia to wrap up the regular season. It’s the same Clemson team that cost them a trip to a bowl game last season. It’s the same Clemson team led by a Bowden, archrival of Spurrier. Whew. I’m getting worked up just thinking about it. Whether it’s good or bad for the folks wearing garnet and black, you can’t say it won’t be interesting. I can see the writers licking their chops as we speak. ■ GREATS Continued from page 9 freshman year on. Our goal was to go to a bowl game. We had just missed that my sophomore year at 7-4. Our senior year with a new coach, we didn’t really have any idea what would happen with that. But everything fell into place. It was just a great culmination to my career.” USC was matched up with a Miami of Ohio team that featured a handful of players that would later play in the NFL. The RedHawks won the game 20-7, ending Grantz’s football career as a Gamecock. t t : - _ _ _ ^.1__ _ 11_ ± 1IO JUVWVOO V/ll U1V WllV^V gridiron didn’t go unnoticed, as Grantz was selected a Second Team All-American in 1975, and earned spots on the East West Shrine Game, Japan Bowl and Hula Bowl rosters. The NFL seemed not to take notice of Grantz’s abilities, as the Miami Dolphins drafted him in the 17th round. After rookie mini camp, he returned to Columbia where he became a graduate assistant for coach Jim Carlen for two years before getting into the business. “At that time when I was drafted as an athlete, Bob Griese was (the Dolphins) starter, Earl Morall was their backup and Don Strock was their number three,” Grantz said. “When I went to the three day rookie camp, I was put in as a receiver some and really didn’t feel comfortable. “ While his success was unlike any other at USC, Grantz received one of the most prestigious awards ever given out, being named to the USC All-Century team as the quarterback in 1992 when Carolina celebrated its 100th football anniversary. Grantz will be imortalized as a quarterback, but also had a successful run as a shortstop for the baseball team, making a trip to the championship game of the College World Series. Still living in the Columbia, Grantz works for Capital Wine as one of the best known salesmen in the Southeast. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gum.sc. edu Briefs USC football team to join with Reebok „ USC and Reebok have agreed to a multi-year contract in which the company will be the exclusive provider of the Gamecock football team’s footwear. Based out of Canton, Mass^, • Reebok is the official outfitter of the NFL, making all the league’s products from jerseys to baseball caps. Brown to serve SEC as SAAC delegate Offensive lineman William Brown has been selected to represent the SEC in the NCAA’s National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Brown with serve a two-year post with 12 other student-athletes, one representing each Division 1-A conference. “It is an honor and a privilege to serve on this committee,” Brown said. “I hope to learn more about how college athletics works. “ TH#§SAMECOCK COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: {501 % DAYS Solving Problems Including: DUI, Criminal Defense, Auto Accidents 2910 Devine Street 254-7900 CROMER LAW OFFICES A General Practice of Law J.L. "Bubba" Cromer, Jr. Former S. C. 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