The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, July 27, 2005, Page 9, Image 9
THE GAMECOCK • Wednesday July 27, 2005 0
SsPl I ITSs COMING UP IN SPORTS
k J I \ m I 111 We continue profiling the greats of Gamecock football.
r—' Next issue will feature Ryan Brewer.
EATS
O ALEX RILEY
o GIVES US A LOOK
qj BACK ON THE
EMEN who helped
SHAPE the USC
SjPROGRAM
>xodd ellis
In an age of pocket passers and
high-flying offensive strategy,
former Gamecock quarterback
Todd Ellis still shines above all other
USC passers as the career leader
with the numbers to back it up.
When Ellis graduated from USC
in 1989, he left behind a legacy of
almost every record a quarterback
could have. His 9,953 career yards
are still good enough for the career
best by a Gamecock passer. His
.553 completion percentage is still
third best, while his 49 career
touchdowns places him at the
second all-time of any position..
He holds numerous spots in the
single-game passing, attempts and
completions records, while his
3,206 yards in 1987 is the best ever
by a Carolina quarterback in a
single season. Twenty-five games
with more than 200 yards passing,
including a 425-yard performance
against East Carolina in 1987,
highlight Ellis’ numbers sprinkled
throughout the USC record book.
“We were on the cutting edge
with the ‘run and shoot,’” Ellis
said. “I just got the opportunities
to make the throws.”
But there was more to the success
of the Greensboro, N.C., native
than just his numbers. Ellis took on
a system under the late coach Joe
Morrison that allowed him to shine
in Columbia and nationally.
After the Black Magic season of
1984, the USC faithful were
looking for a leader to guide them
back to national prominence, and
they got just that with Ellis.
“There were a couple of reasons
(I chose USC): Number one, it was
the time Carolina was coming off
its 10-2 season, the Black Magic
season and the national exposure
had never been higher down here,”
Ellis said. “The fan base was (at its
best here), and support was not
going to be a problem. We played a
great independent schedule back
then. We got to play the Georgias,
Nebraskas and Miamis, and even
though we weren’t in a conference,
we got to play on a national level.”
Back-to-back 8-4 seasons were
the best two-year run by any
Gamecock teams until the 2000
and 2001 campaigns, and Ellis’ 23
victories under center leave him as
the winningest field general in
USC history.
“The number of victories, no one
has ever won more games in their
career than I have. That’s probably
what I’m most proud of,” Ellis said.
Two of the biggest wins with
Ellis at the helm came during that
two-year run. In 1987, USC and
Clemson both arrived in Columbia
as top-20 teams, but the
Gamecocks dominated in a 20-7
win against the Tigers.
“Danny Ford would call that
game the one time his team was
intimidated,” Ellis said.
The following season, Ellis
brought sixth-ranked Georgia to
their knees, as Robert Brooks
corralled a one-handed, over-the
shoulder touchdown from Ellis to
highlight a 23-10 win against the
Bulldogs.
One of the biggest influences
on Ellis’ success came from the
man who brought him to
Carolina, coach Morrison.
“He was a man’s man,” Ellis said.
“He expected you to act like a man,
he told you what needed to be
done, and if didn’t get it done, it
was partly your problem. He was a
tough competitor and a man you
wanted to play for.”
Along with Morrison’s
guidance, Ellis lined up with three
of the biggest offensive stars to ri$s_
out of the Carolina program. Wide
receivers Sterling Sharpe and
Robert Brooks, along with running
back Harold Green, allowed Ellis
to run multifaceted and deadly
offense.
“There was nobody better than
those guys,” Ellis said. “Sterling
Sharpe built himself like Robert
Brooks did, through hard work
into being great players. I think the
♦ GREATS, page Ik
PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE SAFRAN
Todd Ellis (9) runs along side teammate Harold Green (22). Ellis, USC quarterback from 1986-1989,
earned All-American honors while guiding USC to two bowl appearances.