The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, August 18, 2005, Page C7, Image 27
Gamecock Greats: Ryan Brewer
\Storied USC running
back’s legacy
exemplified by
Outback Bowl wins
Rlex Riley
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
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
»-Ltthe death.”
$7 If that statement holds true,
Ryan Brewer was destined to wear
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
the home state, nor did it impress
his favorite school, Notre Dame.
Brewer didn’t get a shot with the
Fighting Ifish; instead he got a
chance to play with one of their
legendary leaders.
“It was all about coach Holtz,”
Brewer said. “I was a big Notre
-Dame fan. When I heard he was
Clc
"'coming here, I didn’t know much
about South Carolina living in
Ohio. I decided to go somewhere
where someone wants me.”
Brewers first season was less
than sparkling, as USC failed to
win a single contest in the
infamous 21 -loss stretch.
Then came 2000 — and the
biggest turnaround in SEC history.
The Gamecocks got back on
track while Brewer quietly helped
USC along. The running game of
Derek Watson and Andrew
Pinnock dominated the ground,
v, while Brian Scott and Jermale
~velly 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.”
Then Tennessee came calling.
With the game tied 7-7,
quarterback Phil Petty hit Brewer
for a 78-yard touchdown pass that
would give USC the lead late in
the third.
Despite the heroics of the 15 th
longest passing play in USC
history, the Gamecocks fell to the
Vols and ended the season 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, leaving the
running game without an
experienced back.
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.
The rest might as well be legend
in USC football lore.
Brewer took hold of the ground
game, rushing for 106 yards and
two scores, while catching three
passes for 92 yards and another
score, as USC cruised past the
Buckeyes, 24-7.
“The 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.”
The man considered
“undersized” by his home state
scampered his way to 219 yards
and Outback Bowl MVP honors.
Not only did he outplay the
Buckeyes, but after being grabbed
by the facemask in the fourth J
quarter, Brewer proceeded to flip /
a Buckeye player over his head /
after reaching the end zone. jj
Brewer shined once again in jJJ
2002, as he made an acrobatic SB
snag from Georgia defensive II
back Bruce Thorton. Thorton H
had been beaten the year H
before in Athens, when Scott Mr
grabbed a 16-yard m
touchdown pass from Petty /
to upset the Bulldogs at wSjjgm
home, 14-9. /
This time around,
Brewer latched on to a / 7 £ ,?
23-yard pass from Corey rK:
Jenkins to pull Carolina
within striking !■
distance, 13-7. A late
game fumble ended a would-be
comeback but left Brewer with 106
yards receiving.
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LutheranXamfgis Ministry
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