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Players, pride, golf top Spurrier's list If you visit uscsports.com, they have a countdown to kickoff, ticking off the remaining time until new coacn Steve Spurrier takes the field against Central Florida. At the time this column was written, the ticker read 37 days, two hours, 56 minutes and 37 seconds. To those eagerly awaiting uic new Dan coacns ucdui, mis amount of time no doubt seems like an eternity. But for Spurrier, it’s 37 days, two hours, 56 minutes and 37 seconds he has to implement his offensive scheme and ensure that his team is in pristine condition. Among the things Spurrier can do with this remaining time: Make a decision on Cory Boyd — The junior tailback, one of the more versatile players at Spurrier’s disposal, was suspended indefinitely by Spurrier for an unspecified violation of team rules. Whether Boyd lines up in the backfietd Sept. 1 will be critical in how the offense runs. rind a quarterback he can trust — Spurrier’s predecessor, Lou Holtz, was always quick to point out that having three or four quarterbacks on a team capable of starting any given game meant the team had three or four mediocre signal callers. While Spurrier has a history of coaching great quarterbacks, one has yet to emerge in the “fun n’ • gun” mold for the Gamecocks. As of now, Blake Mitchell is the expected starter. Convince his players to forget about the past — Holtz stepped down with a sour taste in his mouth following three consecutive mediocre seasons with no bowl appearances. If ever there was a man to instill a winning attitude in a program, it would be Spurrier, winner of six SEC championships and a national title at Florida. Numerous off season arrests and other team problems have left the Gamecocks with a black eye that Spurrier would like to quickly do away with. Play 222.75 rounds of golf — Hey, with a passion for the game as strong as Spurriers and the headaches of revamping a program on the downside, this is a viable option for Spurrier. While Spurrier might love golf, it’s safe to say the majority of his attention these days is focused towards his football program. New Athletics Director Eric Hyman appears to be excited about sharing his “freshman” season with a living legend. With many intriguing questions, the 2005 football season promises not to be dull. If only there wasn’t a 37-day, 2-hour, 30 minute and 15-second-wait for some answers. STEPHEN FASTENAU Second-year print journalism student ■ GREATS Continued from page 9 most natural athlete was Harold Green. Harold came in and was capable of busting runs against anybody at any time when he was a freshman and was just an incredible athlete. The work ethic of Sterling and Robert is what made them great players, and we fit in perfectly. I respect those players today more for their work ethic than their overall skills.” WbUe tills was surrounded by some of the finest names to play at Carolina, his accolades don’t lie. In 1986, Ellis earned a spot on The Sporting News’s All-America Second Team and Freshmen First Team, followed by an AP All America honorable mention in 1987. He also managed a strong run at the Heisman Trophy, while shattering numerous NCAA records. Ellis also guided USC back to national glory, taking the Gamecocks to back-to-back bowl berths in the 1987 Gator Bowl and 1988 Liberty Bowl, while rising as high as the top five in the national polls. “It was a thrill to be a part of that and get some national exposure at times,” Ellis said. “At certain times we were ranked in the top five and consistently stayed around the top 25. That’s what its all about. You don’t come here to be mediocre, you want to go to bowl games, and you want to win.” After finishing his college career, Ellis was selected by the Denver Broncos in the ninth round of the NFL draft. But being behind two 10-year league veterans, one being Hall of Famer John Elway, put the Broncos in a tight spot, dropping Ellis from the roster before the season opener. After a short stint in the World League, Ellis returned to Columbia with his wife to attend law school. He has become a successful attorney in the Columbia area. Ellis has not lost his love for the game and team that made him a hero. While he wears a suit to court Monday through Fridafr* Saturdays are reserved for a more garnet-and-black look, as Ellis serves as radio announcer for Gamecock football. “I love the feel of being around the program,” Ellis said. “I got the best seat in the house now. It is a great thrill for me to come back to call the games at Williams-Brice. And to go see the best football in the country and to try to convey to the listeners how good it is to be a Gamecock, there’s nothing else like it.” Comments an this story? E-mail gamecocksports®gwm.sc. edu -t:-1 Undergraduate Research Opportunity Professor Ron Prinz in the Psychology Department (in collaboration with Parenting and Family Research Center) is offering a two part undergraduate research opportunity for course credit and pay ($$). Rising sophomores and juniors are invited to apply to enroll in Psychology 589, Intensive Observational Methodology, for ‘ the Fall 2005 semester. Students in the class that demonstrate proficient observational coding of parents interacting with their children will be invited to be a part of an NIH research team as paid observers.