RILCV • COimnUGD FROlil 13
Just because Tuberville is still
reeling because of the fact that
Auburn didn’t get into the
Orange Bowl doesn’t mean
he’s got to screw it up for the
rest of us.
So, instead of a cool,
moonlit game in the Capital
City with the sweet sound of
“2001'” echoing over the
airwaves, we have to wake up
at 8 a.m. just to find a decent
parking space and broil in the
sun for a 12:30 p.m. game that
will be broadcast on Jefferson
Pilot Sports.
But that’s OK. I mean the
Clemson game would make
up for it right?
Well, after weeks of whining
and complaining about the
early wake-up call for USC
games, we finally got our wish.
The anticipated Carolina
Clemson matchup will get a
sunset showdown, with
kickoff slated for 7 p.m.
That’s the good news.
The bad news: That 7 p.m.
start will be available for
viewing on pay-per-view. You
read * that right, pay-per
freakin’-view.
Every year since I
understood the magnitude of
the rivalry that is the
Gamecocks and Tigers, I
understood what pure hatred
is. For those raised around this
rivalry, you know waiting for
this game is like waiting for
Christmas. Once it’s here, it’s
amazing, and once it’s over,
you can’t wait until it comes
. back around.
I’ve always watched the
game on some form of
television for free. Be it ESPN,
ABC, CBS or JP, that game
was always on somewhere I
could watch it.
Even though I’ll be at the
game this year, it still irks me
that my parents and my
friends won’t be able to watch
the game.
The fact that the game isn’t
on TV annoys me, but it
doesn’t boil my blood. What
really grinds my gears is whom
we got bumped for.
CBS chose the Alabama
Auburn game. This, I can live
withj SEC West title on the
line, a heated rivalry, two
highly ranked teams. This
should be not only a good
game, but also quite possibly a
great game. We’re either
looking at an offensive
shootout or an epic defensive
struggle. Plus, if the Tide come
in undefeated, this one has
BCS controversy written all
over it. (Please see Tommy
Tuberville Cryfest ‘05).
The other game I’m willing
, to concede is the Vanderbilt
Tennessee game. Normally, I’d
go down kicking and
screaming because this one
received a nod from the JP
crew. But this year’s a little bit
different because the ‘Dores
are pretty good and the Vols
are pretty crappy. Vandy beats
Kentucky and needs to beat
Tennessee to get that sixth win
for a bowl berth. Hey,
according to columnist Jake
Broom, I’m the driver on the
Vandy bandwagon, a vehicle
I’m going to ride until they
don’t get into a postseason
game. Plus, let’s not forget
what Bobby Johnson was able
to do against Florida —
double overtime.
Then comes the game that
will leave you scratching your
head and muttering the phrase
“idiots.”
to1IN has chosen the LiU
Ole Miss game. Great game
right? I mean with Eli being
... oh wait. The Giants, right.
So, what’s the good part of
. this game? Absolutely
nothing. JaMarcus Russell,
with one leg and a 300-pound
offensive tackle as a wide
receiver could beat the Rebels
in the snow wearing
miniskirts.
In other words, this game
should be worth less than a
Clemson diploma.
The other “big game” went
to JP in the form of Kentucky
Georgia. Or as the critics are
calling it — an early Georgia
Christmas present. D.J.
Shockley could pass for 1,000
yards on a pogo stick against
the Wildcat defense.
“Slaughter” could be the
future headline for this games
recap. No offense to Rich
Brooks, but that team is
offensive.
One hundred three
meetings between the
Gamecocks and Tigers. One of
the nations’ longest-running
rivalries. Postseason position
on the line. SEC-ACC rivalry.
A civil war. Spurrier versus
Bowden. Yet somehow just not
enough.
Volleyball fighting for SEC Tournament bid
flliquel Jacobs
■STAFF WRITER
It’s been a youth movement
for USCs volleyball team as the
season has progressed, leading to
many heartbreaking losses but
increased experience. The team is
still fighting for an SEC
tournament bid. Three games
remain on the schedule,
beginning with tonight’s batde
in Knoxville against Tennessee.
“I really like the practice that
we had today,” USC coach
Nancy Somera said after
Tuesday’s afternoon practice. “It
was a very good defensive effort,
and that’s what it’s going to take.
We’ve got to pick up a couple of
wins to play our way into the
SEC Tournament.”
As it stands, Carolina (10-13)
is 3-10 in conference play, ahead
of Auburn and Ole Miss but
behind Georgias 4-10 mark for
the final tournament spot. The
Bulldogs hold the tiebreaker over
Carolina, meaning the
Gamecocks must win-out and
hope the Bulldogs lose at least
one of their final games against
Ole Miss or Mississippi State.
A five-game losing streak has
kept Carolina near the bottom of
the conference and caused the
team to fall into ninth place last
weekend. The first-year coach
stated disappointment in not
reaching the ultimate goal of the
NCAA Tournament, but she has
her team in position to make a
run at the SEC Tournament.
The tournament winner claims
an automatic berth into the
NCAA tournament.
“It’s hard, it’s never easy to
lose,” Somera said. “It’s been
very disappointing as far as goals
we’ve set for this season. As far as
getting to the NCAA .
Tournament, that’s clearly jaut.
Now were just battling to get
into the SEC Tournament.”
Beginning the season with the
entire roster returning from last
year, the Gamecocks expected
their experience to turn into
more wins, but instead they
experienced losses in more ways
than one. Junior outside hitter
Lynae Vanden Hull was lost for
the season with an ACL injury
Sept. 13. Senior middle blocker
Lauren Ford was recently
dismissed from the team, which
further limited the depth around
the net. However, freshmen
Marija Milosevic and Belita
Salters and sophomore Crystal
Johnson have stepped up in the
absence of the two starters and
contributed gready.
Its been great lor them to get
playing time,” Somera said.
“Obviously, there’s no replacing
experience, but there’s only one
way to get experience, too. That’s
to get out there and play. I’ve
seen a lot of learning going on
and a lot of growth among the
players, and that’s really
encouraging for the future.”
Milosevic has scored double
figure kills in every match but
one since Oct. 14. Her 99 kills
in that seven-match span is a
team high, and she averages 4.3
kills per game. Salters started in
Ford’s place during the past
three matches, collecting 17 of
her 22 kills on the season while
leading the team in blocks each
game.
Johnson is second on the team
in blocks during that three
match span. Along with these
three blockers, Carolina has also
started freshmen libero Dinelia
Concepcion and setter Petra
ET™
Lorenzi consistently during the
past eight matches, making the
Gamecocks one of the youngest
teams in the nation.
Unfortunately, Carolina will
take this youth into a must-win
game against Tennessee. The
Lady Vols won a 3-1 match in
Columbia on Oct. 26. Defense,
the area Somera constantly
emphasizes, will be key for the
Gamecocks to pull off the upset.
After winning only one of the
past nine games, the team
probably needs a few balls to
bounce its way to keep its
tournament hopes alive.
“There’s been tons of
improvement individually and as
’a "-am,” Somera said. “Have we
regressed at times? Sure, but
that’s part of learning how to be a
good team too ... I like the
progress our team is making, and
we’ve laid some good
foundations. We need to just go
out and play hard this weekend,
give us a shot.”
Comments on this story? E-mail
gamecocksports@gium.sc.edu
| for tie-breaking purposes, please include your store for the Florida gome. And don't forget your name!
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