The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, August 03, 2005, Page 6, Image 6
0 THE GAMECOCK • Wednesday, Aug. 3,2005
| I' |'\ COMING UP IN SPORTS
L | I \ W I 111 We continue profiling the greats of Gamecock football.
K J B X. J _ B K. J Next issue: George Rogers.
f
PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE SAFRAN
Ryan Brewer extends the football after scoring one of his three touchdowns in the 2001 Outback
Bowl. Brewer, an Ohio native, had a career high of 109 yards rushing against Ohio State.
■ Alex Riley gives us a look
back on the men who helped
shape the USCprogram
Tom Price, Gamecock
historian, wrote in his book “Tales
from the Gamecock Roost”:
“Gamecocks are known for their
courage in battle and willingness
to fight to the death.”
If that statement holds true,
Ryan Brewer was destined to wear
-the garnet and black.
Brewer, a native of Troy, Ohio,
arrived at Carolina with a list of
credentials that included being
tabbed as Mr. Football for the state
of Ohio. But his 5-foot-10-inch,
210-pound frame didn’t impress
me numc siaic, iiur uiu u unpicks
his favorite school, Notre Dame.
“It was all about coach Holtz,”
Brewer said. “I was a big Notre
Dame fan. When I heard he was
coming here, I didn’t know much
about South Carolina living in
Ohio. I decided to go somewhere
where someone wants me.”
After failing to win a single
contest his first year, came 2000
and the biggest turnaround in SEC
history.
The running game of Derek
Watson and Andrew Pinnock
dominated the ground, while
Brian Scott and Jermale Kelly
took hold of the air attack. Brewer
had nice games of more than 50
yards on the ground and through
the air but nothing for the
“highlight reel.”
That was until Tennessee came
calling. With the game tied at 7-7,
quarterback Phil Petty hit Brewer
for a 78-yard touchdown pass that
would give USC the lead late in
the third period.
Despite the heroics of the 15th
longest passing play in USC
history, the Gamecocks fell to the
Vols and ended with a 7-4 record
and trip to the Outback Bowl to
face Ohio State.
Things looked bleak for the
Gamecocks, as Watson was
suspended from the game for
team policy violations.
Holtz had to implement-a new
running back alongside Pinnock’s
bruising power. Brewer stepped up
for the job, not only to run the
ball, but to prove to his home state
they had missed an opportunity.
Brewer took hold of the ground
game, rushing for 109 yards and
two scores, while catching three
passes for 92 yards and another
score, as USC cruised past the
Buckeyes, 24-7.
l ne game meant a lot to me
playing Ohio State,” Brewer said.
“It also gave me a chance to play
running back. I got a bunch of
touches on the ball, and I could
actually show what I could do. I
figured I might as well take
advantage of it. It was exciting
being in that limelight for a little
bit, against a team I knew I had to
prove something to.”
Not only did he outplay the
Buckeyes, but after being grabbed
by the facemask in the fourth
period, Brewer proceeded to flip a
Buckeye player over his head after
reaching the end zone.
A 106-yard, receiving effort
against Georgia in 2002 made
him one of only three players in
Gamecock history to have 100
yard receiving and rushing games.
Brewer left Carolina as the No.
8 receiver of all-time, totaling
1,136 yards and five touchdowns
on 107 receptions. He came close
to tying the legendary Sterling
Sharpe for consecutive games with
a reception, finishing three shy of
the record with 31.
1 just like the ract that you can
put me anywhere on the field,”
Brewer said. “The fact that I can go
out and help the team in any way
possible is what I wanted to do.”
Brewer earned Verizon
Academic All-America honors and
♦ GREATS, page 7
Messiah?
I’ve heard
this crock
once before
The dog days of summer are
slowly coming
to a sweaty end
— and so is the
honeymoon
period for Steve
Spurrier.
As much as I
would love to
believe all the ALEX RILEY
hype around First-year
Spurrier being print
the “savior” of journalism
~ , student
bamecock
football, I recall
a time when a certain other man
was called Columbia’s messiah.
Anyone remember Lou Holtz?
You know, two bowl victories Lou
Holtz? National Coach of the Year
Lou Holtz? Yeah, that guy.
A great friend of mine once told
me the difference between a good
coach and great coach: Good
coaches do whatever it takes to
win. Great coaches don’t get caught
doing it.
After Holtz finally got “caught,”
everyone latched onto Spurrier for
reassurance that all would be right
in the Gamecock nation.
out neres tne tning: ine orate
newspaper is running a poll on
who the best USC coach of all
time is. Guess who’s on the list?
Skeevy Stevie.
The man hasn’t even coached a
single game for us yet, and we act
like he’s won a national title. What
scares me is that he just might win
the poll.
To anyone who might have
voted or is considering voting for
Spurrier, here’s some food for
thought: You can’t be the best
unless you beat the best. And right
now the only people the
♦ RILEY,page 7