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tip-off tailgate draws thousands

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Shaw me state! nicked up qb comes in to save the day with 4th-quarter, double ot heroics

COVER SHOT: Connor Shaw kisses the Mayor’s Cup, a trophy exchanged between the cities of Columbia, S.C. and Columbia, Mo. after the annual league showdown

October 30, 2013 • Volume 35 • Issue 31

2 • Spurs & Feathers

October 30, 2013

photo by allen sharpe

Elliott Fry’s 40-yard field goal in the second overtime proved to be the winning points in South Carolina’s thrilling 27-24 come-from-behind victory over No. 25 Missouri.

Gamecocks win thriller to remain in hunt for SEC East crown by mike kucharski mike@spursandfeathers.com

end the game. Each team was able to score a touchdown in the first overtime period to extend the game. COLUMBIA, MO. - The 20th-ranked “We’re very happy of course. It was a Gamecocks were able to overcome a game that I thought we were dead, for three 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter to quarters of the game anyway, but we made force overtime and eventually earn a 27-24 some points there in the fourth quarter. victory over the previously unbeaten and Connor Shaw brought us back, guys made fifth-ranked Missouri Tigers in front of a some catches, defense stopped them and sellout crowd of 67,124. somehow or other our guy Elliott Fry made The win was the first overtime victory the field goal and their guy missed,” Spurin South Carolina (6-2, 4-2 SEC) program rier said. “We’re very fortunate and very history and it puts the Gamecocks back in appreciative. Hopefully we can learn from the mix for the SEC East title. The 17-point it and move on.” comeback was the largest for the GameConnor Shaw entered the game with 6:46 cocks since a 17-point comeback against left in the third quarter and engineered the East Carolina in 2011. comeback, going 20-of-29 for 201 yards The Gamecocks were able to hit a 40-yard and three touchdowns. Shaw hit Bruce Elfield goal in the second overtime period off lington for their second touchdown connecthe leg of Elliott Fry and then Missouri’s tion of the game on a fourth and goal from Andrew Baggett hit the left upright on a the 15-yard line in the first overtime to 24-yard attempt that bounced no good to push the game to a second overtime.

“I went over and asked him (Shaw) ‘can you play?’ and he said ‘sure.’ I said ‘we’ve got to make the move now’ … it was do-ordie. We had no chance in the division unless we win this one,” Spurrier commented. Defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles, who had six tackles (three for loss and two sacks) echoed Spurrier, saying that Shaw is a special player. Quarles also said that he never lost confidence in the team and knew that they could win, but it was great to have everyone believe and come together for the comeback. “First of all, Connor wasn’t even supposed to be out there playing … so for him to come out and do what he did, that’s amazing. I love that man to death. I wouldn’t take any NFL, Hall of Famer or other quarterback over him,” Quarles said. The Gamecocks were able to pass for 423 yards between Shaw and Dylan Thompson. Thompson started the game and was

15-of-27 for 222 yards, but the offense was unable to put up any points through three quarters. Ellington led the receiving corps with 10 catches for 136 yards and the two touchdowns. Mike Davis also caught 10 passes for 99 yards while rushing for 51 yards. Davis has compiled over 100 total yards in every game this season. South Carolina registered 498 total yards and gave up 404 to Missouri (7-1, 3-1 SEC), but the biggest defensive accomplishment was holding the Tigers to 24 points after they came in averaging 44.3 points per game. “Hopefully we can get on a little bit of a roll. It was really good to see our defense play so well … we’re coming home and we’ve got a chance to win 15 straight at home next week,” Spurrier said. “It just worked out tonight. That’s all you can say is that it was meant to be.”

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October 30, 2013

Spurs & Feathers Published by Aiken Communications, Inc.

Contact Us: 218 Richland Ave. W. Aiken, SC 29801 (803) 335-1399 To subscribe: Please call 800-559-2311; annual subscription price is $50 Scott B. Hunter Publisher & President Aiken Communications, Inc.

What’s Inside? - Table of Contents Postgame notes/quotes................................................4 The Mississippi State game..........................................5 Bart Wright column........................................................6 SEC standings...................................................................7 Tip-Off Tailgate Party a success..................................8 Starting Five......................................................................9 South Carolina Ahtletics holds Gamecock Club Donor Appreciation Day...........10 Where are they now? - Kristy McPherson............11 Recruiting Roundup....................................................12

Tim O’Briant General Manager tobriant@spursandfeathers.com (803) 335-1400 Ext. 500

Depth Charts..................................................................14

Brian Hand Executive Editor bhand@spursandfeathers.com (803) 335-1399 Ext. 506

South Carolina football roster..................................16

Mike Kucharski Reporter mike@spursandfeathers.com (803) 335-1399 Ext. 507

Checking in with men’s basektball.........................18

Ed Girardeau Contributing Editor ed@spursandfeathers.com (803) 335-1399 Ext. 501

Gamecock Radio/TV information...........................20

Dee Taylor Advertising Director (803) 644-2371

Inside the Chart.............................................................22

Kathy Boyette Advertising Sales Manager (803) 644-2349 kboyette@spursandfeathers.com Matt Socha Graphic Designer Postal Information: Postage paid at 2001 Dixiana Rd., West Columbia, SC 29172. Periodical application pending. Spurs & Feathers is published 22 times a year, coming out weekly from Aug. 21 through Dec. 4 and bi-monthly from Jan. 29 through June 25. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Spurs & Feathers, P.O. Box 456, Aiken, SC 29801 (ISSN 07454368)

Something to crow about!

What Missouri has to say...........................................15

Mississippi State football roster..............................17

Women’s basketball’s frontcourt.............................19

Gamecock IMG Sports Network FAQs...................21

Compliance Corner......................................................23 From the Outback to Carolina.................................24 DiPrato’s...........................................................................26

South Caroina Athletics Media Relations

The South Carolina men’s swimming and diving team is ranked No. 25 in the first College Swimming Coaches Association of America Division I Team Rankings, the CSCAA announced last Wednesday. The Gamecocks earned their ranking after several stellar performances from some of its youngest swimmers at No. 8 Tennessee on Oct. 18. Kevin Leithold posted the nation’s 12th ranked time in the 100 freestyle as he won the event at 44.61. The redshirt freshman also claimed the win in the 100 breaststroke with the 23rd ranked time of 56.27. Freshman Sam Lynch posted the 18th best time in the 100 butterfly as he won the event in 48.98. The Gamecocks improved to 2-1 on the season this past weekend with a convincing 191-107 win on the road at Minges Natatorium against East Carolina. The 25th-ranked men’s team claimed 13 events, led by senior Michael Flach and Leithold who each grabbed three individual wins. The two also teamed up with junior Michael Covert and senior Gerard Rodriguez to win the 400 freestyle relay at 3:06.78. Also producing a multi-win day for the men was sophomore Marwan El Kamash who won the 200 freestyle in 1:39.70 as well as the 500 freestyle in 4:37.28. The Gamecocks will next host their only meet of the fall on Nov. 9 as they welcome LSU to the Blatt P.E. Center/Carolina Natatorium. The meet is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. (Courtesy of South Carolina Athletics Media Relations)

Sand volleyball update...............................................27 Upcoming Events: Gamecock Club........................28 Hand Writing..................................................................29 Junior Gamecock Club...............................................30 Ed Girardeau column..................................................31

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South Carolina-Missouri Postgame Notes/Quotes South carolina athletics media relations General Notes • Captains for South Carolina were senior quarterback No. 14 Connor Shaw, senior cornerback No. 15 Jimmy Legree, senior offensive guard No. 67 Ronald Patrick and senior defensive end No. 90 Chaz Sutton. • Attendance was a sellout crowd of 67,124 at Faurot Field. • South Carolina defeated Missouri 27-24 in the second overtime period. This is South Carolina’s first overtime win in school history. South Carolina is now 1-2 in overtime games. South Carolina rallied from a 17-point deficit. It was the largest comeback by the Gamecocks since rallying from a 17-point deficit vs. East Carolina on Sept. 3, 2011. • South Carolina is now 2-2 in the alltime series with Missouri. The Gamecocks have won two straight against the Tigers with a win last year as well on Sept. 22, 2012, a 31-10 victory in Columbia, S.C. • The win vs. No. 5 Missouri was the highest-ranked team the Gamecocks have defeated on the road since defeating No. 3 North Carolina on Oct. 24, 1981. • South Carolina is now 6-2 on the year and 4-2 in the SEC. This gives the Gamecocks their sixth win of the season making the team bowl-eligible for the 11th-straight year. • Eight players have started all eight games this year: Junior offensive guard A.J. Cann, junior spur Sharrod Golightly, senior cornerback Jimmy Legree, sophomore linebacker Marcquis Roberts, junior offensive tackle Corey Robinson, sophomore offensive tackle Brandon Shell, junior defensive tackle J.T. Surratt and senior defensive end Chaz Sutton. Offensive Notes • South Carolina totaled 498 yards of offense. South Carolina has tallied 400 or more yards of offense in seven of eight games this year. The Gamecocks are 7-1 on the year when totaling 400 or more yards of offense. • Senior quarterback Connor Shaw entered in the third quarter and finished 20-for-29 in the air for 201 passing yards and three touchdowns. He tied his season-high with three touchdown passes, the third time this season he reached the mark. He also had three touchdown passes at Arkansas on

•

Oct. 12, 2013 and vs. Vanderbilt on Sept. 14, 2013. His 20 completions were second-highest in a game this year, just one short of the season-high 21 set vs. Vanderbilt on Sept. 14, 2013. It is the fifth time this season he has thrown for 200 or more yards as well. Junior quarterback Dylan Thompson went 15-for-27 for 222 yards in the air. His 222 passing yards was second highest of the season only behind the 261 he passed for at UCF on Sept. 28, 2013. Shaw and Thompson combined for 35-for-56 in the air for 423 passing yards. It is the most passing yards, completions and attempts by a Gamecock team under head coach Steve Spurrier. It is also the most passing yards since the Gamecocks completed 40 of 46 passes for 490 yards at Mississippi State on Oct. 14, 1995. Junior wide receiver Bruce Ellington produced his fourth career 100-yard receiving game and second of the season. He finished with 10 receptions for 136 receiving yards, both careerhighs. His previous best was eight catches for 111 yards vs. Vanderbilt on Sept. 14, 2013. He also caught two touchdown passes, tying a careerhigh as well. It was the most yards by a wide receiver since 148 receiving yards by Alshon Jeffery vs. Nebraska on January 2, 2012 at the 2012 Capital One Bowl. Ellington now has 13 career touchdown receptions, tied for ninth best in school history for career touchdown receptions. Sophomore tailback Mike Davis caught 10 passes for 99 yards, a career-high for receptions and yards. Davis’ previous-high was four receptions at Georgia on Sept. 7, 2013 and 67 receiving yards at Vanderbilt on Sept. 14, 2013. It was the most receiving yards by a running back for the Gamecocks since Marcus Lattimore had 133 receiving yards vs. Kentucky on Oct. 16, 2010. The 10 receptions by both Ellington and Davis were the most receptions by a Gamecock since Tori Gurley’s 14 receptions on Oct. 23, 2010 at Vanderbilt. Sophomore tight end Jerell Adams caught a career-high three passes for 48 yards, his second highest receiving yard total in his career. Junior tight end Rory Anderson caught three passes for 38 yards. His 38 receiving yards was a season-high and his three receptions matched a

season-high set vs. Vanderbilt on Sept. 14, 2013. • Junior wide receiver Nick Jones tallied his fourth career touchdown reception of the season with his 2-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. It was his first touchdown reception since the Vanderbilt game on Sept. 14, 2013. Defensive Notes • Sophomore linebacker Kaiwan Lewis tallied his first career interception in the first quarter and increases Carolina’s team total to six for the season. • Junior defensive end Kelcy Quarles finished with six tackles including a career-high three tackles for loss. Two of the three tackles for loss were sacks as he had a sack in the second quarter as well as one in the third quarter. He leads the team with seven on the year. The two-sack evening marked the first game of Quarles’ career that he has more than one sack in a contest. • Junior defensive end Jadeveon Clowney registered a tackle for loss in the third quarter. He now has 42.0 for his career and is 12.5 shy of the school record of 54.5 set by Eric Norwood (2006-09). Special Teams Notes • Junior punter Tyler Hull’s 46-yard punt in the first quarter was his second longest punt of the season. Hull had three punts for 134 yards, an average of 44.7 yards per punt, and his second highest average in a game this season. • Freshman placekicker Elliott Fry connected for a 20-yard field goal in the fourth quarter and a 40-yard field goal in overtime. He is now 8-for-10 on the year in field goal attempts. The 40-yard field goal is the second longest of his career.

up top. We’re very fortunate and we’re ready to move on and get ready for Mississippi State.” On putting Shaw in the game: “I went over and asked him if he could play and he said sure. I said we had to make the move now. Dylan was just a little off here and there. I thought he had a few guys open and he zinged them out, but he threw some good balls. It just wasn’t his night and Connor gave us a little sharpness in there.” On the team’s outlook the rest of the season: “We’re happy to get a win and who knows what can happen down the road. I know Missouri is a very good team. They’ve got four more conference games and we’ve got two more so who knows what can happen.” South Carolina Players Freshman PK Elliott Fry On the emotion of overtime: “It was pretty crazy. You know everybody is yelling and screaming. You have the crowd and everyone going crazy but you have to find a way to stay calm and do what you do.” On staying calm under pressure: “It is really just about focus. You have to just practice what you do. A big part of the kicking game is mental and being able to focus when the time comes. You just block everybody out and focus.” Senior QB Connor Shaw On the emotions entering into the game with your team down 17-0: “Just to stay calm. We are not going to win a game in one series.”

On the comfort of taking that first hit and not getting injured: “Yes, it was. I was grateful. I wasn’t even South Carolina Head Coach Steve Spur- supposed to be playing in this game. They rier Opening statement: said I was supposed to be out 2-3 weeks. I “We’re very happy of course. It was a am thankful to be able to play in this game.” game that I thought we were dead. About three quarters of the game anyway, but we Sophomore TB Mike Davis got some points there in the fourth quarter. On the turnaround from the fumbles to Connor Shaw brought us back, guys made the successful screen passes: some catches, the defense stopped them “It was just my teammates picking me up. and somehow Elliot Fry made the field goal They were telling me to forget about it, and and their guy missed. We’re very fortunate to have a positive attitude.” and we’re very appreciative. Hopefully we can learn from it, and move on. I’m happy On a point in the game of the team posmyself, as it’s my first overtime win as a sibly losing hope: college coach. I was 0-3 prior to this one. I “No, I didn’t lose hope at all. I tell you thought for many seconds there I was going what, our guys today came together and we to be 0-4, but we hit Bruce Ellington on that all played for each other and we never gave corner route after getting a good call from up.”

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The Mississippi State Game by ed girardeau ed@spursandfeathers.com

four-yard pass from Connor Shaw to Alshon Jeffrey with 3:50 left in the game to claim the win.

Mississippi State Bulldogs (4-3, 1-2 SEC) Last time in Columbia: South Carolina won in The Bulldogs beat Kentucky at home, 28-22, last 2007 (9/29/07), 38-21 Thursday night for their first conference win South Carolina, ranked 16th in the nation, trailed Site: at Columbia, South Carolina, Williams-Brice 21-17 early in the third quarter. Kenny McKinley Stadium caught a 27-yard pass from Chris Smelley to take the lead, 24-21, and Mike Davis added two touchTime: 12:21 pm downs in the fourth quarter to put the game away. TV: SEC TV (check local listings) Series: South Carolina leads series all-time, 8-6. USC has won the last six in the series Last game: Oct. 15, 2011; In Starksville, Gamecocks won, 14-12. Marcus Lattimore suffered a season-ending injury while blocking in the fourth quarter with the Gamecocks trailing, 10-7. The Gamecocks scored on a

Most memorable play in series: Eric Kimrey comes off the bench for the injured Phil Petty in 2000 (9/23/00) and throws one pass, a fade into the south end zone caught by Jermale Kelly to give the Gamecocks the lead, 20-19, with 4:41 remaining. Reid Bethea then added his third field goal of the day to make the final over the 25th-ranked Bulldogs, 23-19. Spurrier record vs Mississippi State at USC: 3-0; All-time: 7-2.

photo by allen sharpe

6 • Spurs & Feathers

October 30, 2013

photo by allen sharpe

Bruce Ellington produced his fourth career 100-yard receiving game and second of the season. He finished with 10 receptions for 136 receiving yards. Both were career-highs.

How about a trip to Atlanta and a BCS bowl game? Those twists and turns inside a three-game road schedule look slightly less treacherous in the rearview mirror, don’t they? A short field goal with no time left on the clock in Knoxville is all that kept the Gamecocks from a sweep of those three conference games after another short field goal banged off the upright in Columbia, Mo. Saturday night to restore the feeling that had been all but extinguished. “Who knows what can happen down the road?,” said Bart Wright Steve Spurrier minutes after the overtime victory against Contributing the fifth-ranked Tigers. “ Writer Missouri has four more conference games. We’ve got two more. Who knows what can happen?” None of us knows, coach, but surveying the field and the possibilities out there, we like what we see. First things first: the last third of the regular season includes no trips away from home, starting Saturday against Mississippi State, a

team coming off a victory, but packing a large load of baggage on the collective backs of the squad and coach Dan Mullen. Most commonly associated as the Pancho figure to current Ohio State Coach Urban Meyer’s Cisco the Kid, Mullen is the former offensive coordinator for Meyer at Florida who branched out for his first head coaching job at Starkville. Meyer and Mullen were pals as offensive assistants at Notre Dame when they first became fascinated with the spread offense and began to concoct ways to call it their own, which they did at Bowling Green and Utah before moving to Florida. Just now, State fans are not completely enthralled with the job Mullen has done, a reminder of how soon fans can forget how bad things were once they get a little taste of the good life. The Bulldogs are 14-21 in the conference since 2009, not what the fan base had hoped for, yet Mississippi State is 33-25 since Mullen was hired and at this point of his tenure, he is the first head coach at the school with a winning record since a guy named Darrell Royal who left after the 1954 season (bonus college

football knowledge to you if you knew Royal The view looks much clearer than it did a went to Washington for a year after MSU and week ago, which is what senior leadership can then took the Texas job). do for a team. Mullen has unquestionably raised the floor Who knows what can happen, coach? of expectations at Mississippi State, meaning How about a trip to Atlanta and a BCS bowl those three- and four-win seasons are no longame? ger acceptable, but he has so far been unable to nudge the ceiling of hope. State has lost 17 consecutive games to ranked teams, with opponent No. 18 waiting for the game Saturday. With a two-quarterback effort that hasn’t always paid off, the Bulldogs haven’t been able to sustain their offense this year as evidenced most dramatically by the 28 fourth quarter points LSU put up on them. Mississippi State has averaged seven points in the second half this season. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks’ stunning fourth-quarter resurgence on the road Saturday night indicated they are heading in the right direction when senior Connor Shaw is on the field running the offense. Missouri still has to negotiate road games at Mississippi and Texas A&M to cling to first place in the SEC East while Carolina can win the division with home wins over State and Florida.

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South Carolina Gamecocks

2013

football Schedule

Standings Team

SEC

Pct. Overall

Pct. Home Away Neutral Streak

3 - 1

.750

7 - 1

.875

4-1

3-0

0-0

South Carolina 4 - 2

.667

6 - 2

.750

3-0

3-2

0-0

Florida

3 - 2

.600

4 - 3

.571

3-0

1-3

0-0

09/28/13 .... at UCF..............................Orlando, Fla. ................W, 28-25

Georgia

3 - 2

.600

4 - 3

.571

3-1

1-2

0-0

10/05/13 .... vs. Kentucky.....................Columbia, S.C. ............W, 35-28

Tennessee

1 - 3

.250

4 - 4

.500

4-1

0-3

0-0

Vanderbilt

1 - 4

.200

4 - 4

.500

3-2

1-2

0-0

Kentucky

0 - 4

.000

1 - 6

.143

1-3

0-2

0-1

08/29/13..... vs. North Carolina ............Columbia, S.C. ............W, 27-10

Eastern

09/07/13 .... at #11 Georgia..................Athens, Ga. ..................L, 41-30

Missouri

09/14/13 .... vs. Vanderbilt....................Columbia, S.C. ............W, 35-25

10/12/13 .... at Arkansas.......................Fayetteville, Ark. ............W, 52-7 10/19/13 .... at Tennessee....................Knoxville, Tenn. ............L, 23-21

Western

10/26/13 .... at Missouri........................Columbia, Mo. .. W, 27-24 (2OT)

Alabama

5 - 0

1.000

8 - 0

1.000

5-0

2-0

1-0

Auburn

3 - 1

.750

7 - 1

.875

6-0

1-1

0-0

LSU

3 - 2

.600

7 - 2

.778

5-0

1-2

1-0

11/16/13 ..... vs. Florida.........................Columbia, S.C. ................... TBA

Texas A&M

3 - 2

.600

6 - 2

.750

4-2

2-0

0-0

11/23/13 ..... vs. Coastal Carolina..........Columbia, S.C. ................ 1 p.m.

Ole Miss

2 - 3

.400

5 - 3

.625

3-1

2-2

0-0

Mississippi St.

1 - 2

.333

4 - 3

.571

4-1

0-1

Arkansas

0 - 4

.000

3 - 5

.375

3-2

0-3

0-0

11/02/13 ..... vs. Mississippi State.........Columbia, S.C. ......... 12:21 p.m.

11/30/13 ..... vs. Clemson......................Columbia, S.C. ................... TBA

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October 30, 2013

photos by brian hand

Tip-off Tailgate Party a success for Gamecock basketball family by Brian hand bhand@spursandfeathers.com

My Carolina Alumni Association on Saturday at the Colonial Life Arena, had a crowd of more than 3,200 fans. The Gamecock basketball teams huddled The good crowd at the Tip-Off Tailgate up prior to the start of the first-ever Tip-Off Party has Staley excited as the Gamecocks Tailgate Party and yelled out “on the count of prepare to take the hardwood for the 2013-14 three: 1,2,3 … family!” season. The idea of both the South Carolina men’s Staley said big crowds are “extremely imand women’s basketball teams being a united portant because anywhere that we go in our Gamecock basketball family is something league … Tennessee, you watch UConn on that excites both Dawn Staley and Frank TV, they’re always sold out. They’re always Martin. giving their team an extra edge.” “I think basketball is basketball no matter “Yes, they’re talented, but also they get a how you look at it,” Staley noted. “I know push from their fans and people that show both Frank and I are trying to get our teams up and support them. We want to create that to a point where it is something people want kind of environment in here because we feel to see … I think there is a buzz around the like can challenge and compete with some city that people want to see us play. We just of the best teams in the country. If we’re not have to get people in the stands and continue competing with the amount of people in the to put a product on the floor that they can stands, we’re fighting a losing battle,” Staley spend their money and also feel good about explained. cheering us on.” Martin continued by pointing out that good Martin echoed Staley’s thoughts, noting crowds, particularly among the students “is that it’s “awesome” to bring the two prowhat’s it’s all about.” grams together for Gamecock Nation. “This (the Tip-Off Tailgate Party) is for “Dawn’s a championship player, coach … the fans tonight … allows the fans, our playI love being around people that are like that. ers to kind of enjoy the moment. We’re on We learn from each other. I go to her pracour players hard to do things a certain way, tices, she comes to our practices. It’s great to compete and take ownership. They’re trying. be able to share this moment with her and her They gotta enjoy the moment. When we get team,” Martin remarked. in front of our fans you gotta have fun and The Tip-Off Tailgate Party, which was held that’s what it’s all about,” Martin continued. in conjunction with the Gamecock Club and The event gave the over 3,200 fans in at-

tendance the chance to get their first glimpse at the 2013-14 Gamecock basketball teams with the evening featuring team introductions, scrimmages from both teams as well as shooting contests. In the 3-point shooting contest with three players from each of the Gamecock basketball teams shooting, women’s basketball redshirt sophomore Tina Roy edged men’s basketball senior Brenton Williams, 18-17, for the overall championship. The special event also featured fun and games with Staley playing “Let’s Make a Deal” with a chance for Gamecock students to win different prizes, including an iPad Mini. Many students tried, but nobody was able to secure a prize, but the contest will continue throughout the course of the upcoming season. There was also a hot dog eating contest with the winner taking home an Under Armour apparel gift pack. In the 10-minute women’s scrimmage, the Gamecock women’s basketball team was able to best their male practice players, 20-10. Staley then took time after the scrimmage to thank the crowd for their support of Gamecock basketball. She also asked fans to make Colonial Life Arena an intimidating place to play in the coming year. In the 15-minute men’s basketball scrimmage, the black team led by Michael Carrera picked up the win over the white team,

40-30. Martin also thanked the fans after the men’s basketball scrimmage. He then went on to offer the 2,225 students that attended the Tip-Off Tailgate Party the chance to win a ticket and a bus ride to the men’s basketball road game at Tennessee on Feb. 8. The students have to attend 10 of the Gamecocks’ first 13 appearances of the season (including the Tip-Off Tailgate Party). After Martin’s comments, the Gamecock basketball teams signed autographs for the fans in attendance with the South CarolinaMissouri game playing on the Colonial Life Arena jumbotron. At the end of the first quarter of the football game, South Carolina student Dave Hardy of Aiken, S.C. could not connect on a halfcourt shot for $10,000. Both the Gamecock men and women will open their 2013-14 schedules with exhibitions against in-state NCAA Division II competition. The South Carolina women’s basketball team will welcome North Greenville to Colonial Life Arena for a 7 p.m. exhibition on Friday, Nov. 1. The Gamecock men’s basketball team will welcome USC Aiken for an exhibition at the Colonial Life Arena on Sunday, Nov. 3. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. Admission to both of the exhibitions is free. Fans can purchase tickets for both men’s and women’s basketball by visiting www. GamecocksOnline.com/Tickets or by calling 1-800-4SC-FANS.

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October 30, 2013

Starting Five with Demetrius Henry south carolina athletics media relations 1. Having played your high school basketball in South Florida, what made you decide to sign with the Gamecocks? To help rebuild the program and because I believe in what coach Martin is building at South Carolina. Also because it is a great school. 2. You have noted that Kevin Garnett is your favorite player and you wear 21 for that reason. Is that who you model your game after the most? Yes, I have been watching Kevin Garnett since I was younger and I model my game after his. Ever since I started watching him play that is how I wanted to play because of his tenacity and his skill set. 3. You obviously bring size to the post, but how do you see yourself as a basketball player? What can Gamecock fans expect to see from you on

the court? Besides my offensive game, my defensive game; blocking shots, challenging shots at the rim and my tenacity. 4. You averaged 18 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks per game last year for Faith Baptist Christian. Looks like you value every part of the game. Do you feel you are an asset to the team both offensively and defensively? My coaches have always pushed me on both sides of the court so I always work to be good on both ends of the f loor. I feel some of my best assets on the court are my post presence and defensive presence. 5. What aspect of your game are you working on the most as you prepare for your freshman season to get underway? Definitely my strength; that is number one. The SEC is a physical league and college basketball is physical, so that is what I have been working on the most.

photo by allen sharpe

10 • Spurs & Feathers

October 30, 2013

photos by brian hand

Clockwise from top left: Michael Carrera signs thank you cards; Cocky took time to thank the donors; Taylor Josserand (bottom right) and Ty Johnson (bottom left) film thank you videos.

Athletics Department holds Gamecock Club Donor Appreciation Day by brian hand bhand@spursandfeathers.com

on Twitter with South Carolina coaches and student-athletes going out of their way to thank Gamecock Club donors for everything Paige Wheeler of the inaugural South Car- that they do on the social media platform. olina sand volleyball team walked up to evThe coach or student-athlete would thank the erybody standing around draped Gamecock members and then use the specific hashtags, Club tables at the Dodie Anderson Academic #ThankYouGamecockClub and #16Kstrong Enrichment Center and politely asked “are (in reference to the record-breaking number y’all the Gamecock Club?” of current Gamecock Club members). After a quick yes from everyone standing The special Twitter messaging on the day around the tables, the junior from Virginia originated when an email was sent to each of Beach, Va. emphatically responded, “well, the South Carolina coaches explaining what thank you for all you do.” the special Gamecock Club Donor AppreciaThat mindset from Wheeler seemed to per- tion Day was all about. meate among all the South Carolina student“We included some sample tweets if they athletes who came by “The Dodie” as part of wanted to participate,” Belk said. “We Gamecock Club Donor Appreciation Day on encouraged them to also share with their Wednesday, Oct. 23. student-athletes. We’ve been working with “The University has two days each year Erica Nelson (South Carolina Coordina- one in March and one in the fall here in tor, Life Skills and Community Outreach) October - where they thank donors. Students to communicate those tweets to studentacross campus sign thank you cards for athletes as well. She has been very helpful in specific departments … so athletics wanted getting that out.” to take part and make sure and thank our Belk used volleyball as an example of a Gamecock Club donors,” South Carolina Co- program at South Carolina that really underordinator of Stewardship and Development stood the importance of thanking the GameCommunications Kendall Belk explained. cock Club members on the special day. The all-day event started early in the day “I talked to volleyball this morning (Oct.

23) and they asked ‘what can we do?’ They have their student-athlete, their sport and their coaches’ Twitter accounts tweeting all day,” Belk remarked. The social media part of Donor Appreciation Day was just one aspect as from 4-7 p.m. at “The Dodie” the tables were set up right when you walk in so that current Gamecock student-athletes could come by and sign special thank you cards for donors. The South Carolina Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) was heavily involved in helping to make this happen with members working with the Gamecock Club throughout the time frame to make sure student-athletes in the area would stop by and sign the thank you cards. South Carolina SAAC president Taylor Josserand of the swimming and diving team got things going on the afternoon at “The Dodie.” The senior sprint free specialist from Jacksonville, Fla. was not the first to sign a thank you note though. That honor belonged to sophomore men’s basketball student-athlete Michael Carrera. The 2012-13 freshman All-SEC team member from Anzoátegui, Venezuela kicked off things by signing multiple cards to send to

donors. Josserand was the first to be filmed by Gamecock Productions though for special video tributes that they were also filming to thank Gamecock Club members on the day. Allison Parrish and Madison Kellough filmed different aspects of the studentathletes signing the cards as well as special thank you’s from select student-athletes from all of the Gamecock athletic programs. Along with the numerous student-athletes who stopped by to sign the cards, South Carolina Athletics Director Ray Tanner and Cocky made special appearances. The special thank you cards will be sent out to donors over the course of the coming weeks. Gamecock Club Executive Director Patrick McFarland takes great pride in this endeavor as at the end of the day it is a truly cyclical experience. “This gives us a chance for our student-athletes to thank our Gamecock Club members. That is essentially where their donations go: to provide scholarships for our studentathletes. The recipients (student-athletes) of their generosity are now able to say thank you.”

Spurs & Feathers • 11

October 30, 2013

south carolina athletics media relations

Kristy McPherson has been in the LPGA for the last seven years. During her time at South Carolina, McPherson won seven times overall. She claimed two SEC individual titles.

Where are they now? - Kristy McPherson by mike kucharski mike@spursandfeathers.com

course on off-weeks along with three to four days of strength and conditioning workouts at the gym according to McPherson. She said One of the most decorated Gamecock she works a lot on her short game and every women’s golfers in program history has now other aspect of her game as well to get ready taken her talents to the LPGA. for the tournaments. Kristy McPherson won two individual SEC “People see on Thursday through Sunday Championships and was also twice named when it’s on TV, but the hard work comes a first-team All-American. McPherson said before you get to go play on the golf course. that she loved her time playing at South Car- I try to spend a lot of time working on the olina and her time playing in college helped game before on weeks off … you try to do her to get to where she is now. the work here so that when you get out to the “While I was at South Carolina I played tournament, then you know that you’re prefour years there and loved it. It’s something pared and you can just go play,” McPherson that I always tell people that if I could play said. four more I would. College golf is the best The travel and outside work are some of the time of your life. Being in college and gethardest parts of playing on the LPGA Tour ting to play at a level like that in such a good and she credited her time at South Carolina conference with all your teammates there is for helping her to learn to manage her scheda lot of fun,” McPherson said. “Then when ule and handle the demands off the course. I got done playing my four years there I McPherson said that there is a lot of work wasn’t ready to quit playing, so I went to try that people do not see that goes into preparit professionally and I’ve been doing it ever ing to play on the Tour in the 13 or 14 counsince. It has been 10 years; the last seven on tries that are on the schedule such as travel the LPGA. reservations, work visa applications and “It’s pretty cool to get to play a game that I contact with agents and sponsors. love for a living; they’re paying me to play a That hard work has paid off for the cast game. It is a lot of work, a lot more work than member of 2006’s Big Break VI: Trump Naa lot of people think. It’s a lot of work but I’m tional Show as McPherson has tallied over $2 still very lucky, very fortunate. There is a lot million in career earnings. of travel, which is part of the whole gig, but The 2009 US Solheim Cup team member I get to travel around and play a game that I said that she is happy to play on all of the love and they pay me to do it,” McPherson excellent courses on Tour, but her favorite explained. events are the ones played in the United At least six days a week are spent at the golf States, especially the US Open.

“Every US Open is always one of my favorite events because they always change the venue each year. Outside of the country I enjoy playing in Singapore. It’s a pretty cool country to go to and play. We do get to play in the Bahamas, Hawaii, Singapore and Australia. We play some nice places, but nothing is nicer than playing in the US,” McPherson commented. Her favorite memory from her time as a Gamecock dates back to the 2001-02 season when she won her second straight individual SEC Championship, but even better for her was that the team earned its first SEC title. “I had the chance to win two SEC individual titles, but the most exciting tournament of my college career was the second time that I won because our team won the SEC Championship as a team. That was cool to have that experience and share it with my team. It was the only event that we won as a team when I was there, but it was a good time to do it. Winning conference and getting to share it with the coaches, the team and the whole school was really cool,” McPherson said. McPherson said that she loves her job of getting to play a game that she loves for a living even though it is different now than it was in college. She said the motivation is basically the same and she enjoys the competition. “Now that I play professionally it’s all individualized, but you still have a team behind you. You still have sponsors, agents, family, friends and people that you want to make

proud,” McPherson noted. “Major championships are your biggest stage and it’s kind of like your conference championship in school. Those are your biggest tournaments and the ones that you really want to excel at. “They’re the ones you think about when you’re working hard. You’re working to make that putt to win the US Open. It’s the same thing when you’re in college; you’re working hard to make the putt to win the SEC Championship or the National Championship. That’s what we work hard for and that’s what you’re playing for each week,” McPherson said.

12 • Spurs & Feathers

October 30, 2013

South Carolina Gamecocks

Recruiting roundup by phil kornblut

QB Michael Scarnecchia (6-4 192) of Orange Park, FL committed to USC last Sunday night becoming the quarterback for the Gamecocks’ 2014 class. Scarnecchia also had an offer from UAB and was drawing interest from Syracuse, Arkansas State and some Ivy League schools. Scarnecchia attended one of Steve Spurrier’s Phil Kornblut camps this past summer and that’s where Contributing the interest in ScarWriter necchia began to grow. “Coach Spurrier saw me in camp and really liked me,” Scarnecchia said. “I was at the Kentucky game and after the game I sat down with him and he said he was thinking about an offer and he liked my film. He came through with the offer the week after the Arkansas game.” Scarnecchia said he wasn’t that familiar with USC as a school but he’s liked what he’s been told by family and friends. As for the football, he is familiar with what the Gamecocks like to do on offense. “They run a pro spread and coach Spurrier is one of the best quarterback coaches you’re going to get,” he said. This season Scarnecchia said he’s around 1,000 yards passing with 18 touchdowns and 1 interceptions, and he’s completing 65% of his attempts. As a junior he passed for 1,500 yards and 19 touchdowns with 3 interceptions. “They say I’m coachable and throw the ball well with a strong arm,” Scarnecchia said. “Coach Spurrier said I haven’t reached my potential and he really wants to work with me.” Scarnecchia said Spurrier did nearly all of the recruiting with him though he talked some with area recruiter Steve Spurrier Jr. He is USC’s 14th commitment for the 2014 class. USC DL commitment Abu Lamin of Fort Scott JC, KS insists he’s 100% with his commitment to USC calling the strength of the pledge a 10 on a scale of 10. But Tennessee, Alabama and Auburn continue to recruit him. Lamin has one official visit opportunity left and said he’ll decide in a week or two if he’ll take it. Right now he said that visit likely would go to Tennessee. Lamin said he’s in weekly contact with USC talking with Steve Spurrier and Deke Adams. “They’re

telling me they can’t wait till I come in and work and get in the system,” said Lamin who is playing the nose and three technique this season. “It’s a strong, firm commitment.” Lamin has not been to USC this season. He said he may try to get there over the Thanksgiving weekend when he’s home in Fayetteville, NC. DE Andrew Williams of McDonough, GA was at Clemson for the Florida State game for an unofficial visit. Clemson is one of his final six schools. The others are USC, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Ole Miss and Auburn. Shrine Bowl WR Tyshun Samuel of Chapman has no new offers to add to his list of Vanderbilt, North Carolina, NC State, Maryland, Charlotte, East Carolina, Old Dominion and Appalachian State. The only game he’s been to this season was the Vanderbilt at USC contest where he talked some with his Gamecock recruiter Shawn Elliott. “He said don’t rush to commit, just see what happens,” Samuel said. That’s the last time he’s heard from USC. He does not have any plans set for other visits right now. Vanderbilt and North Carolina remain his two favorites.

Juniors:

OL Zack Bailey of Summerville made his second trip of the season to Clemson for the Florida State game. He also was on hand for the Georgia game. He’s not been to any other games this season but plans to be at Florida-USC, Clemson-USC, and he hopes to get to Oregon and Georgia Tech. Bailey said his top five schools right now are USC, Clemson, Georgia, Oregon and Florida State with no order, and he’s still considering others. “Oregon has been coming on strong of late,” Bailey said. He hears regularly from USC and Clemson saying the Gamecocks, in particular, are working him hard along with Clemson and Florida State. “I talk to coach Sands and coach Elliott (of USC) pretty much every day,” Bailey said while adding that he gets regular mail from Clemson has talks with recruiters Tony Elliott and Robbie Caldwell about every other week. Bailey won’t make a decision until his senior season. “I’m still looking at a lot of schools,” he said. “I don’t want to rush anything.” USC is in an early battle with Penn State for junior OL Ryan Bates of Warminster, PA. Bates has nine offers in all and has the Gamecocks and Nittany Lions at the top of his list. He visited over the summer and wants to make it back down to Columbia.

Bates has taken just one visit this season when he was at Penn State for the Eastern Michigan game. His offers are from USC, Penn State, Virginia, Rutgers, Temple, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Pitt and Boston College. Other schools are showing a lot of interest. “I’ve heard a lot from Notre Dame, Stanford and Syracuse,” Bates said. He is taking his time in making a decision and does not have any other visits scheduled. DB Rashard Causey of Fort Lauderdale has an impressive offer list right now made up of USC, Notre Dame, Florida, Florida State, Miami, UCLA, Mississippi State, Rutgers, Central Florida, West Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and NC State. And he’s expecting offers soon from Louisville and Wisconsin. He has not formulated a top five but when he does, he knows one school that will be on it. “South Carolina will always be in my top five,” Causey said. “I really like South Carolina. Their playing style is amazing and I love their defense. One of my closest friends Skai Moore plays for them and he’s pushing me hard to go there.” Causey saw the Gamecocks in action when they played at Central Florida earlier in the season. “They are somewhat similar (on defense) to what we do,” he said. “I feel like I could have a big impact as a freshman there. As soon as I step on the campus, I’m going to have an impact on that defense. That’s how I feel about it.” He added that USC, Miami, Arkansas, Notre Dame and UCLA are recruiting him the hardest at this point. He has also been to Miami for a game. He won’t make it to USC for a game but plans to visit in the off season. A decision will come in his senior season, maybe on his birthday of September 20th. WR Michael Bowman of Havelock, NC plans to be at the USC for the Florida and Clemson games. Bowman is considered one of the top prospects in North Carolina’s 2015 class and has USC and NC State as his top two with no current leader. “I camped down there (USC) this summer and I liked the atmosphere,” he said. “It was the Black Magic camp and I learned a lot. I work on the things I learned there every day. It seems like it would be a pretty cool place to play.” He speaks with USC coaches regularly and says the Gamecocks are showing a lot of interest. “They just like how I get open and think I can make plays,” Bowman said. His other visits this season have been to NC State and North Carolina. The Florida and Clemson

games in Columbia are the only two games he plans to attend the rest of this season. OL Brian Chaffin of Charlotte got a chance to see USC play for the first time when he attended the Vanderbilt game in Columbia. Chaffin took the visit with his parents and all three enjoyed the atmosphere of WilliamsBrice Stadium. Chaffin met with USC assistant Shawn Elliott during the visit. “He just asked me how things were going and told me they will continue to evaluate me,” he said. Chaffin has visited NC State, Wake Forest and Duke as well and has plans to take several more visits this season. He has offers from Mississippi State and Charlotte with interest from USC, Clemson, North Carolina, NC State, Wake Forest, Duke and East Carolina among others. Chaffin does not have any favorites. Duke is the early leader for QB Will Brunson of Carolina Forest. He is hearing from USC, Clemson, Duke, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia Tech, East Carolina and North Carolina. Duke, however, appears to be courting Brunson the hardest. Brunson has visited several schools including USC and Clemson and was in Columbia for the Kentucky game. He plans to attend the Tennessee-Vanderbilt game as well as UNCDuke. Through seven games Brunson had thrown for 2,061 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Basketball News:

6-8 Dante Buford of Jacksonville, FL is taking is first two official visits this week. He went to Miami Wednesday and will go to Oklahoma for the weekend. “He’s got his scores so he’s qualified and we’re just waiting to see what he does,” Buford’s coach Rex Morgan said. USC coach Frank Martin and his staff are staying in regular contact with Buford who will make his official visit to USC October 31st. “They’re looking forward to having him on campus officially after he sees the other two and I think he’ll have a better feel for it,” said Morgan who is expecting USC coaches to visit next week. Buford, who is a Simpsonville native, has been unofficially to USC. Morgan says these visits will be the final determining factor for Buford. “I think it’s the same. It doesn’t surprise me that he knows and is just keeping it close to the vest right now. I think he’ll have a clear picture since he visits. Once you get back you’ve got to sort out what’s real and what’s fiction.” Buford is expected to announce his decision soon after his visit to USC.

October 30, 2013

Spurs & Feathers â&#x20AC;˘ 13

14 • Spurs & Feathers

October 30, 2013

Depth Charts for November 2, 12:21 p.m. South Carolina OFFENSE WR: 1 Damiere Byrd 4 Shaq Roland 8 Shamier Jeffery WR: 23 Bruce Ellington 11 Pharoh Cooper 80 K.J. Brent WR: 3 Nick Jones 85 Kane Whitehurst 82 Kwinton Smith LT: 53 Corey Robinson 74 Mason Zandi LG: 50 A.J. Cann 65 Brock Stadnik C: 51 Cody Waldrop -OR- 54 Clayton Stadnik RG: 67 Ronald Patrick -OR- 75 Will Sport 55 Na’ Ty Rodgers RT: 71 Brandon Shell 78 Cody Gibson TE: 81 Rory Anderson 89 Jerell Adams 83 Mason Zandi QB: 14 Connor Shaw -OR- 17 Dylan Thompson 5 Brendan Nosovitch FB: 41 Connor McLaurin 31 Jordan Diaz TB: 28 Mike Davis 7 Shon Carson 26 Jamari Smith

5-9, 166, Jr. 6-1, 190, So. 6-1, 207, So. 5-9, 196, Jr. 5-11, 184, Fr. 6-4, 188, So. 5-7, 174, Jr. 5-11, 179, So. 6-4, 212, RFr. 6-8, 341, Jr. 6-9, 293, RFr. 6-4, 314, Jr. 6-5, 286, RFr. 6-2, 319, RFr. 6-3, 281, RFr. 6-2, 315, Sr. 6-5, 294, So. 6-5, 296, Fr. 6-6, 323, So. 6-7, 286, Jr. 6-5, 242, Jr. 6-6, 237, So. 6-9, 293, RFr. 6-1, 209, Sr. 6-3, 218, Jr. 6-1, 220, RFr. 6-0, 237, Jr. 6-1, 233, Jr. 5-9, 215, So. 5-8, 219, So. 5-10, 183, Fr.

Sicklerville, N.J. Lexington, S.C. St. Matthews, S.C. Moncks Corner, S.C. Havelock, N.C. Waxhaw, N.C. Moore, S.C. Duluth, Ga. Hamer, S.C. Havelock, N.C. Irmo, S.C. Bamberg, S.C. Greensboro, N.C. Seffner, Fla. Greensboro, N.C. Cocoa, Fla. Milton, Fla. Waldorf, Md. Goose Creek, S.C. Tallahassee, Fla. Powder Springs, Ga. Pinewood, S.C. Irmo, S.C. Flowery Branch, Ga. Boiling Springs, S.C. Allentown, Pa. Raleigh, N.C. Hamilton, N.J. Lithonia, Ga. Scranton, S.C. Jacksonville, Fla.

DEFENSE DE: 90 Chaz Sutton 44 Gerald Dixon 34 Mason Harris DT: 97 J.T. Surratt 92 Gerald Dixon Jr. 93 Deon Green DT: 99 Kelcy Quarles -OR- 52 Phillip Dukes 94 Kelsey Griffin DE: 7 Jadeveon Clowney 5 Darius English MLB: 11 T.J. Holloman 8 Kaiwan Lewis 28 Jonathan Walton WLB: 21 Marcquis Roberts 10 Skai Moore 18 Cedrick Cooper SPR: 9 Sharrod Golightly 42 Jordan Diggs 32 Larenz Bryant CB: 27 Victor Hampton 4 Ahmad Christian SS: 12 Brison Williams 25 Kadetrix Marcus FS: 17 Chaz Elder 20 T.J. Gurley CB: 15 Jimmy Legree 1 Rico McWilliams

6-5, 263, Sr. 6-2, 268, So. 6-3, 218, So. 6-2, 307, Jr. 6-3, 318, So. 6-4, 287, So. 6-4, 298, Jr. 6-3, 315, So. 6-2, 292, Fr. 6-6, 274, Jr. 6-6, 226, RFr. 6-2, 228, RFr. 6-0, 221, So. 6-0, 234, Fr. 6-1, 225, So. 6-2, 205, Fr. 6-2, 213, So. 5-10, 195, Jr. 6-0, 214, RFr. 6-0, 215, Fr. 5-10, 202, Jr. 5-10, 189, So. 5-11, 218, Jr. 6-1, 195, Jr. 6-2, 199, RFr. 5-10, 196, So. 6-0, 187, Sr. 5-11, 187, RFr.

Savannah, Ga. Rock Hill, S.C. Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. Winston-Salem, N.C. Rock Hill, S.C. Windermere, Fla. Hodges, S.C. Manning, S.C. Buford, Ga. Rock Hill, S.C. Powder Springs, Ga. Stone Mountain, Ga. Mays Landing, N.J. Daphne, Ala. Powder Springs, Ga. Cooper City, Fla. Lithonia, Ga. Decatur, Ga. Fort Myers, Fla. Charlotte, N.C. Darlington, S.C. Jacksonville, Fla. Warner Robins, Ga. Stone Mountain, Ga. Union City, Ga. Cairo, Ga. Beaufort, S.C. Hampton, Ga.

SPECIALISTS KO: 19 Landon Ard 29 Elliott Fry PK: 29 Elliott Fry 19 Landon Ard P: 13 Tyler Hull 18 Patrick Fish KR: 11 Pharoh Cooper 23 Bruce Ellington PR: 11 Pharoh Cooper 27 Victor Hampton SSN: 58 Ryland Culbertson LSN: 47 Drew Williams H: 18 Patrick Fish 5 Brendan Nosovitch

5-9, 172, So. Rock Hill, S.C. 6-0, 150, Fr. Frisco, Texas 6-0, 150, Fr. Frisco, Texas 5-9, 172, So. Rock Hill, S.C. 6-2, 206, Jr. Mount Airy, N.C. 6-0, 195, Jr. Shelby, N.C. 5-11, 184, Fr. Havelock, N.C. 5-9, 196, Jr. Moncks Corner, S.C. 5-11, 184, Fr. Havelock, N.C. 5-10, 202, Jr. Darlington, S.C. 6-4, 265, Jr. Laurens, S.C. 6-2, 190, Fr. Irmo, S.C. 6-0, 195, Jr. Shelby, N.C. 6-1, 220, RFr. Allentown, Pa.

*These depth charts are taken from the listings from each team’s previous game. Spurs & Feathers goes to print shortly after each football game. Please visit www.spursandfeathers.com over the course of the week for updated depth charts.

Mississippi State OFFENSE WR: 16 Joe Morrow 81 De’Runnya Wilson WR: 4 Jameon Lewis 10 Brandon Holloway WR: 12 Robert Johnson 84 Jeremey Chappelle LT: 75 Blaine Clausell 58 Justin Senior LG: 61 Gabe Jackson 59 Archie Muniz C: 63 Dillon Day 55 Dylan Holley RG: 66 Ben Beckwith 78 Damien Robinson RT: 77 Charles Siddoway 71 Cole Carter TE: 6 Malcolm Johnson 18 Brandon Hill RB: 27 LaDarius Perkins 34 Josh Robinson -OR- 7 Nick Griffin QB: 15 Dak Prescott 17 Tyler Russell

6-4, 210, So. 6-5, 215, Fr. 5-9, 195, Jr. 5-8, 165, RFr. 6-1, 225, Jr. 6-3, 210, Jr. 6-7, 310, Jr. 6-5, 300, RFr. 6-4, 340, Sr. 6-5, 295, Jr. 6-4, 300, Jr. 6-3, 290, Sr. 6-3, 305, Jr. 6-8, 335, Jr. 6-7, 305, Sr. 6-6, 290, RFr. 6-2, 235, Jr. 6-2, 240, Jr. 5-10, 195, Sr. 5-9, 225, So. 6-0, 225, Jr. 6-2, 230, So. 6-4, 220, Sr.

Ocean Springs, Miss. Birmingham, Ala. Tylertown, Miss. Tampa, Fla. Hattiesburg, Miss. Tyler, Texas Mobile, Ala. Montereal, Quebec Liberty, Miss. Houston, Texas West Monroe, La. D’lberville, Miss. Benton, Miss. Olive Branch, Miss. Eugene, Ore. Calendonia, Miss. Tuscaloosa, Ala. Columbus, Miss. Greenville, Miss. Franklinton, La. New Augusta, Miss. Haughton, La. Meridian, Miss.

DEFENSE DE: 91 Preston Smith 48 Ryan Brown DT: 93 P.J. Jones 96 Chris Jones DT: 92 Kaleb Eulls 95 Jordan Washington DE: 90 Denico Autry 47 A.J. Jefferson LB: 22 Matt Wells 14 Zach Jackson LB: 50 Benardrick McKinney 39 Richie Brown LB: 11 Deontae Skinner 42 Beniquez Brown CB: 5 Jamerson Love 13 Cedric Jiles SS: 26 Kendrick Market 29 Quadry Antoine FS: 1 Nickoe Whitley 38 Dee Arrington CB: 23 Taveze Calhoun 9 Justin Cox

6-6, 255, Jr. 6-6, 260, So. 6-3, 295, Jr. 6-5, 305, Fr. 6-4, 290, Jr. 6-2, 290, RFr. 6-5, 265, Sr. 6-3, 260, Fr. 6-2, 215, Jr. 6-2, 215, So. 6-5, 235, So. 6-0, 225, RFr. 6-2, 250, Sr. 6-1, 225, RFr. 5-10, 175, Jr. 5-10, 180, RFr. 5-10, 190, So. 5-10, 215, RFr. 6-1, 205, Sr. 6-1, 220, Jr. 6-1, 180, So. 6-3, 195, Jr.

Stone Mountain, Ga. New Orleans, La. Tupelo, Miss. Houston, Miss. Yazoo City, Miss. Sugar Hill, Ga. Albemarle, N.C. Summit, Miss. Monticello, Miss. Heidelberg, Miss. Tunica, Miss. Long Beach, Miss. Macon, Miss. Florence, Ala. Aberdeen, Miss. Clinton, Miss. Batesville, Miss. Belle Chasse, La. Jackson, Miss. Wiggins Miss. Morton, Miss. West Point, Miss.

SPECIALISTS PK: 40 Devon Bell 64 Evan Sobiesk P: 41 Baker Swedenberg 39 Mike Mordecai SN: 72 Winston Chapman KR: 4 Jameon Lewis 12 Robert Johnson PR: 4 Jameon Lewis

6-2, 195, So. 5-8, 180, RFr. 6-0, 205, Sr. 6-3, 195, RFr. 6-2, 235, So. 5-9, 195, Jr. 6-1, 225, Jr. 5-9, 195, Jr.

Vicksburg, Miss. Hattiesburg, Miss. Columbus, Miss. Madison, Miss. Fairhope, Ala. Tylertown, Miss. Hattiesburg, Miss. Tylertown, Miss.

Spurs & Feathers • 15

October 30, 2013

What Missouri has to say

Head Coach Gary Pinkel said after the Missouri Tigers first loss of the year that it does not boil down to one play or one player. “A game this close, it gets down to the end, a play here, a play there. There wasn’t a play or a call that a coach could have made throughout the entire game. That did not come down to just one player or one kick or one throw or one catch. Our guys are certainly frustrated and disappointed and they should be. They are competitors and we will have to bounce back from this.” “We had the one drive with the missed field goal, but they are good. You are going to struggle a bit; you have to give them credit. We always want to move the ball a bit better, but we had our struggle. We will have to bounce back from this today, but we would certainly like to move the ball better. I think you always think you can (run the ball), but when you get out there, they are good up front. They have some really good players. We had our struggles a little bit and obviously did not do as well

as we wanted to.” Andrew Baggett missed the field goal that led to the Gamecocks win, but Pinkel was not blaming his kicker. “He’s a competitor. It is his job, it is his responsibility. Last week he made five and so that’s what comes with it. There are other plays; there are plays you can look back and get a first down here, a third-down completion here, that type of thing through the entire game. So its not one guy here. We all could have done something different today too to help win that football game.” Connor Shaw came off the bench to lead USC to the win and Pinkel gave him credit. “I thought he came in and did a good job. He threw some completions; obviously did some good things. I thought it was a very courageous effort on his part” On his own quarterback, Maty Mauck, “I thought he did a lot of good things. He is a young guy. It is his second time starting a football game in his (college) life. I think he did some really, really good things and a lot of little things he needs to do to get

better. Overall he battled and we will improve and I think he will be a really good player.” Pinkel was also asked about the offense play calling. “You get in the fourth quarter and you try to conserve and run the clock out the best you can; force them to use time outs.” On the fourth and 15 by USC in the first overtime, the Mizzou head coach said, “It was just a man coverage route, a corner route. But again there are other plays; you go through a lot of plays in different situations. But certainly it was a big play.” Missouri DE Kony Ealy said that Shaw was an inspiration for South Carolina. “It was an emotional lift from my view as a defensive player. “Our goal now is Tennessee, we cannot worry about South Carolina.” And on his feelings on winning the SEC going forward: “it’s one game at a time from here on out.” (compiled by Ed Girardeau off Mizzou Strategic Communications reports)

photo by allen sharpe

16 â&#x20AC;˘ Spurs & Feathers

October 30, 2013

TRAVIS BELL/SIDELINE CAROLINA

South Carolina Gamecocks Football Roster # Name Pos. 1 Damiere Byrd WR 1 Rico McWilliams CB 3 Nick Jones WR 3 Jamari Smith CB 4 Ahmad Christian CB 4 Shaq Roland WR 5 Brendan Nosovitch QB 5 Darius English DE 6 Chris Moody FS 6 Connor Mitch QB 7 Jadeveon Clowney DE 7 Shon Carson TB 8 Kaiwan Lewis LB 8 Shamier Jeffery WR 9 Sharrod Golightly SPR 10 Skai Moore LB 10 Perry Orth QB 11 Pharoh Cooper WR 11 T.J. Holloman LB 12 Brison Williams SS 13 Grant Davitte QB 13 Tyler Hull P 14 Ali Groves CB 14 Connor Shaw QB 15 Austin Hails QB 15 Jimmy Legree CB 16 Kelvin Rainey TE 16 Nick St. Germain PK 17 Chaz Elder SS 17 Dylan Thompson QB 18 Patrick Fish P 18 Cedrick Cooper LB 19 Landon Ard PK 19 Jody Fuller WR 20 T.J. Gurley FS 21 Marcquis Roberts LB 21 Andrew Bunch WR 22 Brandon Wilds TB 23 Bruce Ellington WR 24 Ronnie Martin CB 24 Kendric Salley TB 25 Kadetrix Marcus FS 26 Jasper Sasser S 27 Victor Hampton CB 28 Jonathan Walton LB 28 Mike Davis TB 29 Elliott Fry P/K 30 Sidney Rhodes CB 31 Jordan Diaz FB 31 Mohamed Camara SPR 32 Larenz Bryant LB 33 Gerald Turner DE 33 David Williams TB 34 Mason Harris DE

Hgt. 5-9 5-11 5-7 5-10 5-10 6-1 6-1 6-6 6-1 6-3 6-6 5-8 6-0 6-1 5-10 6-2 6-1 5-11 6-2 5-11 6-3 6-2 5-10 6-1 6-2 6-0 6-3 5-9 6-2 6-3 6-0 6-2 5-9 5-11 5-10 6-1 5-11 6-2 5-9 5-11 5-9 6-1 6-0 5-10 6-0 5-9 6-0 5-10 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-2 6-1 6-3

Wgt. 166 187 174 183 189 190 220 226 212 227 274 219 221 207 195 205 212 184 228 218 190 206 184 209 214 187 233 175 199 218 195 213 172 217 196 225 185 223 196 179 183 195 192 202 234 215 150 167 233 181 215 256 200 218

Cl. JR RS FR RS JR FR RS SO SO RS FR RS FR RS FR FR JR RS SO SO RS SO RS JR FR RS FR FR RS FR JR FR RS JR FR SR RS SO RS SR RS FR RS FR RS FR RS JR RS JR RS SO SO RS FR SO RS SO RS FR SO JR JR RS FR JR FR RS JR FR SO FR JR RS JR FR FR FR FR RS SO

Hometown/High School/Last College Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek Hampton, Ga./Lovejoy Moore, S.C./Byrnes Jacksonville, Fla./Fletcher Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian Lexington, S.C./Lexington Allentown, Pa./Central Catholic Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern McDonough, Ga./Henry County Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield Rock Hill, S.C./South Pointe Scranton, S.C./Lake City Mays Landing, N.J./St. Joseph St. Matthews, S.C./Calhoun County Decatur, Ga./Southwest DeKalb Cooper City, Fla./University Ponde Verda, Fla./Ponte Verda/Fla. State College Havelock, NC./Havelock Stone Mountain, Ga./St. Pius X Warner Robins, Ga./Northside/Fork Union Columbia, S.C./Irmo Mount Airy, N.C./Mount Airy/Guilford College Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson Flowery Branch, Ga./Flowery Branch Collinsville, Ill./Collinsville Beaufort, S.C./Beaufort Yulee, Fla./Yulee Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern Union City, Ga./Banneker Boiling Springs, S.C./Boiling Springs Shelby, N.C./Burns Lithonia, Ga./Lithonia Rock Hill, S.C./South Pointe Charlotte, N.C./Sun Valley Cairo, Ga./Cairo Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern Mt. Pleasant, S.C./Bishop England/Presbyterian Blythewood, S.C./Blythewood Moncks Corner, S.C./Berkeley Spartanburg, S.C./Spartanburg/Georgia Military Williston, S.C./Williston-Elko Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson Jacksonville, Fla./Wolfson Darlington, S.C./Darlington Daphne, Ala./Bayside Academy Lithonia, Ga./Stephenson Frisco, Tx./Prince of Peace Christian Easley, S.C./Wren/Western Carolina Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West Cumming, Ga./Forsyth Charlotte, NC./Vance Goose Creek, S.C./Goose Creek Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter Fort Oglethorpe, Ga./Ridgeland

# Name Pos. 35 Jeff Homad TE 36 Kyle Fleetwood SS 39 Max Huggins P/K 40 Andrew Komornik P 41 Kyle Morini LB 41 Connor McLaurin FB 42 Jordan Diggs SPR 43 James King LB 43 Garrison Gist FB 44 Gerald Dixon DE 45 Brandon Sturdivant FB 47 Drew Williams LS 48 Caleb Kelly PK 49 Garrett Shank S 49 Devin Potter TB 50 A.J. Cann OG 51 Cody Waldrop OC 51 Devin Washington DE 52 Phillip Dukes DT 52 Bryce King OG 53 Corey Robinson OT 54 Clayton Stadnik OC 55 Na'Ty Rodgers OT 55 David Johnson LB 57 Cedrick Malone SPR 58 Ryland Culbertson LS 59 Coleman Harley LS 65 Brock Stadnik OG 67 Ronald Patrick OG 69 D.J. Park OT 70 Alan Knott OC 71 Brandon Shell OT 73 J.P. Vonashek OT 74 Mason Zandi OT 75 Will Sport OG 76 Mike Matulis OT 78 Cody Gibson OT 80 K.J. Brent WR 81 Rory Anderson TE 82 Kwinton Smith WR 83 Carlton Heard WR 84 Matthew Harvey WR 85 Kane Whitehurst WR 86 David Wilkins WR 87 Drake Thomason WR 88 Drew Owens TE 89 Jerell Adams TE 90 Chaz Sutton DE 92 Gerald Dixon, Jr. DT 93 Deon Green DT 94 Kelsey Griffin DT 95 Michael Washington DE 97 J.T. Surratt DT 99 Kelcy Quarles DT

Hgt. 6-2 5-11 6-1 6-5 5-10 6-0 6-0 6-0 5-10 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-0 6-0 5-10 6-4 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-8 6-3 6-5 6-1 6-0 6-4 6-1 6-5 6-2 6-4 6-4 6-6 6-6 6-9 6-5 6-5 6-7 6-4 6-5 6-4 6-0 6-8 5-11 6-1 6-1 6-6 6-6 6-5 6-3 6-4 6-2 6-3 6-2 6-4

Wgt. 220 216 185 225 212 237 214 235 255 268 212 190 184 171 200 314 319 225 315 281 341 281 296 268 201 265 264 286 315 334 272 323 283 293 294 266 286 188 242 212 178 225 179 182 205 244 237 263 318 287 292 243 307 298

Cl. RS JR RS FR FR FR JR RS JR RS FR SO RS SO RS SO RS FR FR RS FR FR FR RS JR RS FR FR RS SO FR RS JR RS FR FR FR RS FR RS JR RS SO RS FR SR FR FR RS SO FR RS FR RS SO JR RS JR RS SO JR RS FR SO SO RS SO SR RS JR RS SO SO SR RS SO RS SO FR SO RS JR JR

Hometown/High School/Last College Hilton Head Island, S.C./Hilton Head/UNCP Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson Myrtle Beach, S.C./Myrtle Beach Fort Mill, S.C./Nations Ford Lexington, S.C./White Knoll/Gray Military Raleigh, N.C./Garner Fort Myers, Fla./Island Coast Goose Creek, S.C./Goose Creek/Benedict Rock Hill, S.C./Northwesterm Rock Hill, S.C./South Pointe Fort Mill, S.C./Nation Ford/York Tech Irmo, S.C/Dutch Fork Cayce, S.C./Brookland-Cayce Marietta, Ga./Lassiter Granite Falls, N.C./South Caldwell Bamberg, S.C./Bamberg-Ehrhardt Seffner, Fla./Armwood Orlando, Fla./Jones Manning, S.C./Manning Dillon, S.C./Dillon Havelock, N.C./Havelock Greensboro, N.C./Western Guilford Waldorf, Md./McDonough Lithonia, Ga./Lithonia Camden, S.C./Camden/Coastal Carolina Laurens, S.C./Laurens Academy Aiken, S.C./South Aiken Greensboro, N.C./Western Guilford Cocoa, Fla./Cocoa Dillon, S.C./Dillon Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek Goose Creek, S.C./Goose Creek Saint Marys, Ga./Camden County Irmo, S.C./Chapin Milton, Fla./Pace Boynton Beach, Fla./Park Vista Tallahassee, Fla./Lincoln Waxhaw, N.C./Marvin Ridge Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern Hamer, S.C./Dillon Athens, Ga./Clarke Central/Garner-Webb Rock Hill, S.C./Rock Hill Duluth, Ga./Chattahoochee/Arkansas Cowpens, S.C./Broome Greenville, S.C./Eastside Charlotte, N.C./Ardrey Kell Pinewood, S.C./Scott's Branch Savannah, Ga./Jenkins/Fork Union Military Rock Hill, S.C./Northwestern Windermere, Fla./Olympia Buford, Ga./Mill Creek Allendale, S.C./Allendale-Fairfax/S.C. State Winston-Salem, N.C./Parkland Hodges, S.C./Greenwood/Fork Union

Spurs & Feathers • 17

October 30, 2013

Mississippi State Football Roster # Name Pos. Hgt. Wgt. Cl. 1 Nickoe Whitley DB 6-1 205 Sr. 2 Will Redmond DB 6-0 190 So. 3 Jay Hughes DB 5-11 195 Jr. 4 Jameon Lewis WR 5-9 195 Jr. 5 Jamerson Love DB 5-10 175 Jr. 6 Malcolm Johnson TE 6-2 235 Jr. 7 Nick Griffin RB 6-0 225 Jr. 8 Fred Ross WR 6-2 205 Fr. 9 Justin Cox DB 6-3 195 Jr. 10 Sam Cowart ATH 6-1 210 Jr. 10 Brandon Holloway ATH 5-8 165 Fr. 11 Deontae Skinner LB 6-2 250 Sr. 12 Robert Johnson WR 6-1 225 Jr. 13 Joshua Hand QB 6-1 215 Fr. 13 Cedric Jiles DB 5-10 180 Fr. 14 Zach Jackson LB 6-2 215 So. 14 Damian Williams QB 6-1 230 Fr. 15 Dak Prescott QB 6-2 230 So. 16 Joe Morrow WR 6-4 210 So. 17 Tyler Russell QB 6-4 220 Sr. 18 Brandon Hill TE 6-2 240 Jr. 19 Gus Walley TE 6-4 245 Fr. 20 Bennie Braswell RB 5-9 170 Fr. 20 Tyrell Miller DB 5-9 175 So. 22 Josh Creekmore RB 5-6 185 Fr. 22 Matthew Wells LB 6-2 215 Jr. 23 Taveze Calhoun DB 6-1 180 So. 24 Deontay Evans DB 5-10 210 Fr. 25 Jahmere Irvin-Sills DB 5-10 175 Fr. 26 Kendrick Market DB 5-10 190 So. 27 LaDarius Perkins RB 5-10 195 Sr. 28 Derrick Milton RB 6-0 210 So. 29 Quadry Antoine DB 5-10 215 Fr. 30 Taylor Henry WR 5-9 185 RFr. 30 Brandon Wells ATH 6-2 180 Fr. 31 Tolando Cleveland DB 6-0 170 Fr. 31 Kareem Vance WR 6-4 195 Fr. 32 Ashton Shumpert RB 6-2 210 Fr. 33 Kivon Coman DB 6-3 195 Fr. 34 Brandon Davis DB 5-9 175 Fr. 34 Josh Robinson RB 5-9 225 So. 35 Gabe Myles ATH 6-0 185 Fr. 37 James Baldwin DB 5-10 195 So. 37 Javous Nicks WR 6-0 165 Fr. 38 Dee Arrington DB 6-1 220 Jr. 39 Richie Brown LB 6-2 235 Fr. 40 Devon Bell K 6-2 195 So. 40 Taylor Earhart K 6-1 180 Sr. 41 Rishunn McCaleb DB 6-3 200 Sr. 41 Baker Swedenburg P 6-0 205 Sr. 42 Beniquez Brown LB 6-1 225 Fr. 43 Ivan Muniz LB 6-1 220 Jr. 43 DeAndre Ward LB 6-0 205 Fr. 44 Christian Holmes TE 6-1 220 Jr.

Hometown (Previous School) Jackson, MS (Provine HS) Memphis, TN (East HS) Hattiesburg, MS (Oak Grove HS) Tylertown, MS (Tylertown HS) Aberdeen, MS (Aberdeen HS) Tuscaloosa, AL (Northridge HS) New Augusta, MS (Perry Central HS) Tyler, TX (John Tyler HS) West Point, MS (East Mississippi CC) McGee, MS (Mississippi College) Tampa, FL (Alonso HS) Macon, MS (Noxubee County HS) Hattiesburg, MS (Oak Grove HS) Cumming, GA (South Forsyth HS) Clinton, MS (Clinton HS) Heidelberg, MS (Heidelberg HS) Metairie, LA (Archbishop Rummel HS) Haughton, LA (Haughton HS) Ocean Springs, MS (Ocean Springs HS) Meridian, MS (Meridian HS) Columbus, MS (West Lowndes HS) Richton, MS (Greene County HS) Olive Branch, MS (Olive Branch HS) Hampton, VA (Hampton HS) New Albany, MS (New Albany HS) Monticello, MS (Lawrence County HS) Morton, MS (Morton HS) McComb, MS (McComb HS) Elkton, MD (Tri-State Christian Academy) Batesville, MS (South Panola HS) Greenville, MS (St. Joseph HS) Pineville, LA (Hargrave Military Academy) Belle Chasse, LA (Belle Chasse HS) Stone Mountain, GA (Stephenson HS) Bogue Chitto, MS (Bogue Chitto HS) Powder Springs, GA (Hillgrove HS) Olive Branch, MS (Olive Branch HS) Fulton, MS (Itawamba AHS) Sheffield, AL (Hargrave Military Academy) Memphis, TN (Whitehaven HS) Franklinton, LA (Franklinton HS) Starkville, MS (Starkville HS) Birmingham, AL (Vestavia Hills HS) Brandon, MS (University Christian) Wiggins, MS (Stone County HS) Long Beach, MS (Long Beach HS) Vicksburg, MS (Warren Central HS) Olive Branch, MS (Northeast [MS] CC) Indianola, MS (Coahoma [MS] CC) Columbus, MS (Heritage Academy) Florence, AL (Florence HS) Houston, TX (Cypress Creek HS) Wetumpka, AL (Wetumpka HS) Puckett, MS (Puckett HS)

# Name Pos. Hgt. Wgt. Cl. 46 Dezmond Harris LB 6-4 220 Fr. 47 A.J. Jefferson DL 6-3 260 Fr. 48 Ryan Brown DL 6-6 260 So. 49 Torrey Dale DL 6-6 250 Fr. 50 Benardrick McKinney LB 6-5 235 So. 51 Kelan Chairs LB 5-11 215 Fr. 52 Ferlando Bohanna LB 6-0 220 Jr. 53 Mannie Lowery LB 6-3 220 Fr. 54 Quay Evans DL 6-3 310 So. 55 Dylan Holley OL 6-3 290 Sr. 56 Corvell-Gay Harrison DL 6-3 265 Sr. 57 Bailey West SN 6-1 205 Jr. 58 Justin Senior OL 6-5 300 Fr. 59 Archie Muniz OL 6-5 295 Jr. 60 Jamaal Clayborn OL 6-4 320 Fr. 61 Gabe Jackson OL 6-4 340 Sr. 62 Devon Desper OL 6-3 300 Fr. 63 Dillon Day OL 6-4 300 Jr. 64 Evan Sobiesk K 5-8 180 Fr. 65 Mike Mordecai P 6-3 195 Fr. 66 Ben Beckwith OL 6-3 305 Jr. 67 Rodney Lacy DL 5-11 290 Fr. 67 Tobias Smith OL 6-3 305 Sr. 68 Andre Barber OL 6-2 280 Fr. 70 Justin Malone OL 6-7 320 So. 71 Cole Carter OL 6-6 290 Fr. 72 Winston Chapman SN 6-2 235 So. 73 Paul Thompson OL 6-3 275 Jr. 74 Kent Flowers OL 6-5 300 Fr. 75 Blaine Clausell OL 6-7 310 Jr. 76 Jake Thomas OL 6-5 300 Fr. 77 Charles Siddoway OL 6-7 300 Sr. 78 Damien Robinson OL 6-8 335 Jr. 79 Hunter Cunningham OL 6-4 320 So. 80 Shelby Christy WR 6-3 200 Fr. 81 De’Runnya Wilson WR 6-5 215 Fr. 82 Rufus Warren TE 6-7 265 So. 83 Michael Hodges WR 5-10 195 Fr. 84 Jeremey Chappelle WR 6-3 210 Jr. 85 Artimas Samuel TE 6-2 260 Fr. 86 Fred Brown WR 6-1 185 Fr. 87 B.J. Hammond WR 6-4 215 Fr. 88 Hunter Bradley TE 6-3 235 Fr. 88 Nick James DL 6-5 345 So. 90 Denico Autry DL 6-6 265 Sr. 91 Preston Smith DL 6-6 255 Jr. 92 Kaleb Eulls DL 6-4 290 Jr. 93 P.J. Jones DL 6-3 295 Jr. 94 Nelson Adams DL 6-3 295 Fr. 95 Jordan Washington DL 6-2 290 Fr. 96 Chris Jones DL 6-5 305 Fr. 97 Trent Simpson DL 6-4 255 Fr. 98 Curtis Virges DL 6-3 315 Jr. 99 John Harris DL 6-5 235 So.

Hometown (Previous School) McCalla, AL (McAdory HS) Summit, MS (North Pike HS) New Orleans, LA (Archbishop Shaw HS) Kenner, LA (John Curtis Christian HS) Tunica, MS (Rosa Fort HS) Harvey, LA (St. Augustine HS) Memphis, TN (Whitehaven HS) Hampton, GA (Luella HS) Morton, MS (Morton HS) D’lberville, MS (Miss. Gulf Coast CC) Laurel, MS (Northeast Jones HS) Hollandale, MS (Deer Creek HS) Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Hargrave Military) Houston, TX (Cypress Creek HS) Jackson, MS (Jackson Academy) Liberty, MS (Amite County HS) Madison, MS (Madison Central HS) West Monroe, LA (West Monroe HS) Hattiesburg, MS (Oak Grove HS) Madison, MS (Jackson Academy) Benton, MS (Benton Academy) Birmingham, AL (Minor HS) Columbus, MS (Columbus HS) Leland, MS (Leland HS) Madison, MS (Madison-Ridgeland Academy) Caledonia, MS (Caledonia HS) Fairhope, AL (Fairhope HS) Madison, NJ (Hargrave Military Academy) Hollandale, MS (Simmons HS) Mobile, AL (Baker HS) Columbus, MS (Columbus HS) Eugene, OR (Butte College) Olive Branch, MS (Olive Branch HS) Maben, MS (East Webster HS) Geismar, LA (Dutchtown HS) Birmingham, AL (Wenonah HS) Indianola, MS (Gentry HS) Aberdeen, MS (Aberdeen HS) Tyler, TX (Tyler JC) Columbus, GA (Hargrave Military Academy) Jackson, MS (Jim Hill HS) Gadsden, AL (Gadsden City HS) Collierville, TN (Collierville) Long Beach, MS (Long Beach HS) Albemarle, NC (East Mississippi CC) Stone Mountain, GA (Stephenson HS) Yazoo City, MS (Yazoo County HS) Tupelo, MS (Tupelo HS) Brandon, MS (Brandon HS) Sugar Hill, GA (North Gwinnett HS) Houston, MS (Houston HS) Oxford, AL (Oxford HS) West Point, MS (West Point HS) Boynton Beach, FL (Boynton Beach Community HS)

RSVP for My Carolina Homecoming presented by Lowe’s All University of South Caro- Check out all of these great lina alumni and their families events! are invited to come back to campus for My Carolina • Groundbreaking for Alumni Association Homethe Alumni Center - 10 coming presented by Lowe’s a.m. Corner of Senon November 1-2, 2013. Join us ate Street and Lincoln for great events and watch the Street. Homecoming parade from the • Homecoming Parade site of the new Alumni Center! Watch from the Alumni Center site - 3 p.m. CorMy Carolina Homecoming ner of Senate Street and 2013 Presented by Lowe’s: Lincoln Street. Friday, November 1 • Young Alumni Celebra-

•

tion at Tin Roof in the Vista, 7 - 10:30 p.m. Enjoy live music, food, beverages, giveaways and fun. The Great Gamecocks, 8:30 p.m. - Alumni Party hosted by the

Black Alumni Council. Capital City Club, 1201 Main Street. Saturday, November 2 Pre-Game Tailgate Party at Gamecock Park (formerly the Farmer’s Market on

Bluff Road next to Williams-Brice Stadium.)

•

• The party starts three hours before kick-off with a full tailgate menu, beverages, a live DJ, giveaways and more! • Lowe’s VIP Lounge Pop-up Rig with Direct TV and Viewing Deck • Lowe’s Build & Grow Kid’s Clinic Station

• •

Lowe’s $10 off $50 “Project Starter” giveaway Interactive Photo Opportunity Appearance by Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers

Find more information, check out events hosted by schools and colleges and RSVP online at MyCarolina. org/homecoming

18 • Spurs & Feathers

October 30, 2013

Carrera’s role continues to grow for Gamecocks by mike kucharski mike@spursandfeathers.com Sophomore Michael Carrera will be counted on to continue to make an impact on and off the court for the Gamecocks following his SEC All-Freshman campaign last season. This year, as one of the few players who has been in head coach Frank Martin’s system for two years, Carrera will be called upon as a team leader. He will have help from some of the other returners, particularly transfer Tyrone Johnson. Carrera said that the connection between he and Johnson is getting better every day and will be formidable once the season begins. “You know me and Tyrone have been playing together and known each other for like a few years. We won a National Championship together in high school so I think it’s going to be a really good connection, a really good partnership,” Carrera explained. Carrera said that he enjoys being an experienced player that the many newcomers can look to as they learn to play for Martin. He also said that the excitement level of the team is high and the young team is improving daily.

got a lot of stuff to remember, a lot of stuff to do, but they’re doing great. They’ve done a great job. They’re helping each other too and that is what we want,” Carrera added. Carrera sees similarities between himself and Martin in their shared drive to improve and personality traits. He said that this is one of there reasons that he loves playing for Martin. “You can see that me and Frank have the same attitude, but he’s off the court and I’m on the court. I love Frank; he’s just a great guy. Everybody says that he’s the meanest guy ever, but I don’t think so. He’s just such a great guy. He just wants to help you and wants to win. I love playing for him,” Carrera said. Carrera said that he is very enthusiastic and excited heading into the season. He feels that the Gamecocks have a good chance to compete in the SEC and he has a positive outlook for the upcoming campaign. “That feels great to have these players and photo by allen sharpe have a player next to me to help me through “We’re excited for the season. It’s going to keep getting better every day. who we won a National Championship tobe a great season. The freshmen are doing “They are really getting better every single gether. It’s just a great feeling. I just want to great. Tyrone is doing great,” Carrera said. day. They understand coach Frank’s game. help the team to win more games and make “You know, everyone is doing great. We just It’s pretty hard to understand because we’ve it to the tourney,” Carrera concluded.

Martin happy with Gamecocks’ effort and progress by mike kucharski mike@spursandfeathers.com

ment. We don’t get out of the way when we screen. Last year, we couldn’t screen, but this year, when we screen, we screen. Men’s basketball head coach Frank Mar- When there is a ball to be got, we go get it. tin sees progress in the Gamecock men’s we don’t stand and wait. So we’ve come a basketball team in its fourth week of prac- long way there,” Martin explained. tice and he feels that the team is ready for The focus for the team has been split a game atmosphere as a break from the evenly offensively and defensively, with grind of practice. Martin saying that his early focus was ofMartin said that the team has responded fense. after some recent sessions that were not “The first two weeks I didn’t even look great, but the intensity that he is looking at the defense. I could care less as long as for in the players has been consistently the coaches that were running the defense present. were happy that the guys were trying to “They’ve been fine; they care. They are compete,” Martin commented. “I was paytrying to get better and that’s all I can ask ing attention to nothing but offense. for,” Martin said. “They get along well and “Now last week and the first two days they respect each other.” of this week … my focus has been comMartin noted that the hardest thing to pletely on the other side of the ball,” Marteach the young squad has been to play tin said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do as a team and count on the other talented defensively … but they’re trying and that players on the floor. He said that they have is good.” been working hard to learn the system Martin said that he is still unsure of who that he has put in place and they are mak- will play point guard until Tyrone Johnson ing progress. Martin continued by saying and Bruce Ellington become eligible later that the players have shown the effort and in the season. He said that he likes his opphysicality that he has been hoping to see. tions and many players have filled the role “We’re not scared of the physical mowell in practice.

photo by allen sharpe

Spurs & Feathers • 19

October 30, 2013

Talent, size give Gamecocks advantage in paint this year by mike kucharski mike@spursandfeathers.com The Gamecock women’s basketball team will bring a mix of youth and experience to its frontcourt this season with a wealth of talent. There is only one starter returning from last year’s squad, but two letterwinners are back with a highly touted freshman. Aleighsa Welch is the lone returning starter, but she has a resumé that shows that she can compete with the best in the conference. Welch averaged 12.0 points, which led the team and 7.7 rebounds per game last season. She was also selected as an All-SEC performer on the second-team and as one of the captains by her teammates for the season. Welch knows what it takes to compete in one of the top conferences in the nation and has stepped into a leadership role with a less-experienced team. “I definitely have tried to lead. You know just having a young group experience-wise, we don’t have the most experienced team with having only two starters from last years team, so I kind of felt the need to just take them under my wing just to let them know the challenges that are going to be faced,” Welch explained. “I’ve been trying to uplift in practice and just let them know that we’re all in this together. “At the end of the day, experience can be overcome. That’s one thing I’ve learned and I’m just trying to let them know that we’re all in this together,” Welch said. Rebounding ability is a point of pride for Welch and has been a strength since high school, but she noted that she has worked hard on her offense as well. She added that she has tried to become more versatile offensively to become harder to defend. “I pride myself on being efficient scoring and I don’t take a lot of shots. I like to take good shots, so just picking my spots … just being able to kind of pick and choose and see where where it goes from there, but I definitely have worked on the scoring part a little bit more,” Welch said. Returning letterwinner Elem Ibiam came on strong late in the season last year and has tried to carry that performance forward to the new season. Ibiam said she has been continuing the things that made her better later in the year such as taking extra shots, watching lots of film and frequently communicating with her coaches. Ibiam also was selected by her teammates as one of the captains for the team

and said that she is honored by their faith in her. She continued to say that her experience last year prepared her to take a leadership role this season. “Going into the captain role, I feel like it’s easier to explain it versus having not played. Then you’re trying to explain it but you don’t really understand it. So understanding the concepts and having that playing experience will really help me this year,” Ibiam said. “I think it will help me to be more vocal and just do a lot of things that I wasn’t doing before. I feel like it will help me in that aspect.” Head coach Dawn Staley confirmed this and said that Ibiam will be an important part of the team’s success. “Elem has gotten much, much better. She is much improved; she’s picking up where she left off. There probably won’t be a drop off as far as being able to put the ball down there on the block with her and Alaina,” Staley noted. photo by Allen Sharpe The Gamecock frontcourt will also include the lone senior on the team in Wilka All-SEC performer Aleighsa Welch will play a big role in the Gamecocks’ success this year. Montout and freshman center Alaina Coates. Montout played in all but four games last year and Coates is a highlytalented, highly-touted recruit. The big frontcourt is something that Staley looks forward to throwing at the opposition this season, a weapon that she has not had in her arsenal before. “We really haven’t had a big front line to put in the game in my five years at South Carolina, so really it’s good to be able to kind of go big for a change,” Staley explained. The Gamecocks are psyched for the season to get underway and have another chance to compete in the competitive SEC. “We’re all competitors here and we want to play against the best competition. I love playing in the SEC,” Welch said. This drive was echoed by Ibiam and she said she is working hard to help prepare the team for the SEC grind. “SEC play is always hard. It’s like you know what to expect, but you can never really prepare for it. I’ve just been telling them that the intensity level will go up and bring that intensity level to practice so that we are prepared and have a taste of what it will be like when we get out there,” Ibiam said. The South Carolina frontline will bring talent and size to the floor to help them push for another strong year in the SEC under Staley’s watch and she is excited to see how far this group can go.

20 • Spurs & Feathers

October 30, 2013

Gamecock Radio/Television Information The Gamecock Sports Network from IMG College counts 34 affiliate stations for the 2013-14 season. For Sirius/XM subscribers, follow the Gamecock Radio Twitter page for weekly updates on channel information for Gamecock broadcasts. The weekly Carolina Calls show will air from 7-8 p.m. on the flagship station of the Gamecocks, WNKT-FM (107.5 FM), and over the Internet at www.GamecocksOnline.com. The show takes place each week at Wild Wing Café, located at 729 Lady Street in the Vista. Wild Wing Café, which is South Carolina’s home for the best wings south of Buffalo, has 12 locations in the Palmetto State. Visit www. wildwingcafe.com for more information.

Inside the Roost

South Carolina Athletics Director Ray Tanner and Derek Scott from the Gamecock Sports Network from IMG College host an hour long radio show every Monday night at 7 p.m. from Hilton Columbia Center in the Vista. The show is broadcast on 107.5 FM and features discussions on current issues with Ray Tanner and interviews with coaches and athletics department staff.

South Carolina-Mississippi State television

The game will be the SEC TV game. Please check local listings for your area.

2013-14 Radio Affiliates City Abbeville Johnston/Aiken Allendale Anderson Camden Camden Charleston Charleston Chesterfield Clinton Columbia Columbia Florence Florence Florence Florence/Lamar Gaffney Gaffney Greenville Greenville Hilton Head Kingstree Myrtle Beach Myrtle Beach Newberry Rock Hill/Lancaster Rock Hill/Lancaster Seneca Seneca Spartanburg Sumter Sumter Union Woodruff

Call Letters

Frequency

WZLA-FM WKSX-FM WDOG-FM WRIX-FM WPUB-FM WCAM-AM WWIK-FM WTMZ-AM WVSZ-FM WPCC-AM WISW-AM WNKT-FM WHYM-AM WOLH-AM WOLH-FM WFRK-FM WZZQ-FM WZZQ-AM WROO-FM WGVL-AM WGZO-FM WDKD-AM WSYN-FM WHSC-AM WKDK-AM WRHM-FM WVSZ-FM WSNW-AM WSNW-FM WSPG-AM WIBZ-FM WDXY-AM WBCU-AM WQUL-AM

92.9 92.7 93.5 103.1 102.7 1590 98.9 910 107.3 1410 1320 107.5 1260 1230 98.9 95.3 104.3 1500 96.7 1440 103.1 1310 103.1 1050 1240 107.1 107.3 1150 103.5 1400 95.5 1240 1460 1510

Football Basketball Coaches Shows Baseball X X X X X X X X X X Women’s Basketball X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

X X X X X X X X X

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Spurs & Feathers • 21

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Gamecock IMG Sports Network FAQ’s by Andy demetra Contributing Writer 1.) Where can I listen to the game in [my town here]? We keep our affiliate list for all sports in Spurs & Feathers. You can also access it anytime on www.gamecocksonline.com/radio. 2.) What if I live in an area that doesn’t carry Gamecock athletics? Can I listen to games on my computer? Yes - by subscribing to Gamecock AllAccess. A Gamecock All-Access subscription allows you to listen to every Gamecock IMG Sports Network radio broadcast and “Carolina Calls” coaches’ show. You can also watch all South Carolina home baseball games that aren’t televised, with the Gamecock IMG Sports Network’s radio feed underneath.

CBS Interactive, Inc. The Gamecock IMG Sports Network does not have control over the availability, reliability, or sound quality of these streams. If you’re experiencing technical problems, we appreciate you bringing them to our attention. However, only CBS Interactive has the ability to fix them. As much as we’d like to help, we can’t do anything from the booth. 5.) How can I sync up my radio with the TV? Because of differences in satellite transmission times, as well as our own FCC-required 7-second delay, our radio call will not always match up to your TV feed. There are devices you can buy online that will even out the delay. Other than that, your option is to fix it is by trial-and-error.

6.) Why do certain stations carry all 3.) Can I listen on my local station’s online Gamecock games, while some only carry stream? What if I have a TuneIn, IHeartRa- SEC and postseason games? dio, or other radio listening app? Some stations don’t have the ability to run No. Our affiliates only own the terrestrial a full broadcast schedule. This may be due to radio rights. IMG College owns the streamscheduling conflicts, staffing concerns, or loing radio rights. As part of their contract with cal programming restrictions. To still maintain us, all stations must disable their live streama Gamecock presence in its market, a station ing devices during football, basketball, and may elect to run a limited number of games. baseball broadcasts. That covers any TuneIn, We’ll always take some broadcasts over none. IHeartRadio, or other apps. In 2012, the Gamecock IMG Sports Network made all of our baseball broadcasts available 4.) Can I listen to games on my tablet or “network-wide” when they don’t conflict with mobile phone? basketball games. Our stations now have a Yes. Gamecocks Online also has an official greater opportunity than ever to pick and app in the iTunes store and Android Marketchoose their baseball schedules. If you have a place that allows you to stream every radio question about whether a particular game will broadcast over your phone or tablet. The app air, it’s always best to check with your local itself is free to download, but the live content station. requires a premium subscription ($4.95/month If you live in an area that doesn’t carry for Android, $19.95/year for iPhone, e.g.). Gamecock football, basketball, or baseball – or Though it costs less than an All-Access if your local station doesn’t carry a full schedsubscription, the Gamecocks Online app does ule -- you can always approach them. Communot give you access to video. Also, depending nity groundswell tends to make things happen, on your cell phone’s bandwidth and reception, especially if there are local businesses that may your audio stream may be more sensitive to be interested in sponsoring our coverage. buffering. If you have an All-Access subscription, you still must purchase the Gamecocks 7.) Why don’t you have a station in my Online app separately. hometown? Also important: Gamecock All-Access and Let’s say you live in Raleigh, North Carolina. the GamecocksOnline app are managed by Why doesn’t a station there carry Gamecock football? Simply put, there aren’t enough Gamecock fans in Raleigh, and enough advertisers who want to target them, to justify a station carrying our games. Each year, the IMG College Affiliate Relations team travels to every market in South Carolina, trying to line up new affiliates and renew existing ones. We always strive for 100% coverage. However, for the same reasons

south carolina athletics media relations

listed above – scheduling conflicts, staffing concerns, or other programming restrictions – in certain markets, no radio station may be willing to take the plunge.

ence game. Wins and losses do not factor into this decision. It’s about staying consistent with our affiliates and our sponsors’ expectations. Please note: this does not shut you out of listening to your desired game! You can always 8.) I live in an area that has a station listed, subscribe to Gamecock All-Access or buy the but I can’t hear the game on that frequency. Gamecocks Online iTunes or Android listenWhy? ing app. You may have an affiliate station that’s designated for your market, but its signal doesn’t 10.) Can I listen to the baseball games on reach your home. A station’s signal is someXM? times stronger in one direction than another. For selected conference games only. XM has Also, AM radio stations have different signal three dedicated SEC channels, which makes strengths in the daytime and nighttime. By it impossible to carry every South Carolina law, they have to “power down” their signal at game. After all, we have the share space with night. Thus, you may be able to hear a Game- 13 other SEC schools). Each week, XM selects cock baseball broadcast during the day, but the games that it carries (they usually make can’t pick it up after sunset. a decision early in the week). You can check their programming schedule on siriusxm.com. 9.) If a Gamecock basketball game or Happy listening. coaches’ show airs at the same time as a Gamecock baseball game, why do stations have to carry the basketball game/coaches’ show? Inevitably, conflicts arise during the fall (when football and basketball season overlap) and early spring (when basketball and baseball season overlap). As part of our radio agreement, the sport with more affiliates statewide always takes priority on our satellite channel. Currently, we have more basketball affiliates (23) than baseball affiliates (20). In fairness to our affiliates, and the sponsors who count on our coverage, we have to offer the sport that’s carried by more of our stations. It’s a common industry protocol, and from an ethical and business standpoint, it’s the right thing to do. We also defer to the “ongoing” sport. A lateseason conference game should and will, take precedence over an early-season non-confer-

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Last weekend, the South Carolina baseball team played its annual Garnet & Black World Series, the culmination of a monthlong fall practice schedule. But here’s a secret. The real action happened three days earlier, behind closed doors, in a crowded media room at Carolina Stadium. There, on an overcast afternoon practice, Andy Demetra before the Gamecocks Contributing Writer gathered for their second annual Garnet & Black World Series draft party. It may be the best show no one sees, a place where the barbs fly, the competitive juices flow and friendships get flattened with little to no regard. Players get picked and picked on, in equal parts. And though by nature it divides them, the draft is actually one of the bigger bonding rituals of the Gamecocks’ preseason. The phrase “team building” carries a dual meaning. “I think it creates some excitement. The trash talking kind of heats up in one room. It’s something that breaks up the monotony of fall practice,” head coach Chad Holbrook said. I had to see if this draft was as entertaining as advertised. And so, in the tradition of the great embedded journalists of our time, I traveled to the front lines, hoping to capture

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all the hilarity, hostility and high jinks that make this a favorite event in the Gamecocks clubhouse. It did not disappoint. First, the ground rules: in accordance with tradition, the oldest players serve as captains and make the picks (reliever Hunter Privette led the Garnet team, while first baseman/ designated hitter Brison Celek led the Black team). On a riser at the front of the room, a whiteboard sat atop an easel which listed every player. The Gamecocks were paired off according to position; when one player was taken, his counterpart went to the other team to ensure a balanced roster. Holbrook, seated next to the whiteboard, gave his opening remarks. “The Commissioner – which is me – reserves the right to make any post-draft day trades,” he said, citing a Goodell-ian need for competitive balance. In addition to Commissioner, Holbrook serves as part moderator, part Roastmaster, quick to dish out tweaks and jabs at his players’ choices. His opening remarks finished, Holbrook gave the draft his formal blessing: “Now, let’s see who gets picked last.” Privette, who was seated on one side of the riser, picked catcher Grayson Greiner first. The junior gave a muted fist pump (which for him counts as a wild celebration). Freshman catcher Logan Koch, his counterpart on the draft board, went to the Black squad. Celek, his feet propped on a chair, picked next. “I’m going to go with…” he said, pausing for suspense. “…Pankake.” “You should’ve asked the Commissioner in regards to what Pankake can do in regards to

Black team captain Brison Celek studies his next pick. throwing yet,” Holbrook remarked. Infielder/ pitcher Joey Pankake missed most of fall practice with an elbow strain. “He can do everything,” Celek replied. “I’m the manager.” It wasn’t the last time the fifth-year senior courted controversy. With his third pick, Celek took seldom-used utility man Patrick Harrington, perhaps as a show of solidarity with the veteran. Harrington beamed. “Wow,” Holbrook said, drawing out the word, suggesting he was stunned, impressed, or both. One pick later, Celek studied his roster sheet with a pained look. “Sorry Mooney, I’m going with Arendas,” he said.

photo by Andy Demetra

The room erupted. Celek had just snubbed his roommate, sophomore Marcus Mooney, in favor of fellow shortstop DC Arendas. “That is roommate beef right there!” Harrington yelled with an instigator’s glee. Loyalty to his captain evidently hadn’t set in yet. “Handy with the glove, a little more pop. Plus, he’s a lefty bat,” Celek explained afterwards. In the serious business of an intrasquad series, even a roommate can’t spare room for sympathy. Once the position players were sorted out, the draft moved to the pitchers, where Privette, perhaps as a pitcher himself, faced Please see Inside the Chart, Page 29

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From the Outback to Carolina by mike kucharski mike@spursandfeathers.com

said that he got as far as Texas before deciding to take a bus back to the University. “Then I spent one summer in South CarSouth Carolina Athletics Hall of Famer olina and that is the fittest that I ever got. I Bob Crombie traveled from the “Land was running in that heat. Training in that Down Under” to come pursue his educaheat was really tough, but by far that was tion and athletic career for the Gamecocks the fittest that I have ever been,” Crombie in the 1960s. noted. Crombie was inducted into the Hall of When Crombie came to South Carolina Fame in 2006 and said that getting the he knew that he would be away from home acceptance letter after the nomination profor all four years because air travel was cess was the biggest thrill of his life. exorbitantly expensive at that point. This “It was a magnificent night and the bigwas still the case after graduation and gest thrill of all was on the Saturday night Crombie said that he took a cargo ship out being presented at halftime of the football of Savannah, Ga. for six weeks to get back game. That was just a lifetime thrill,” to Australia. Crombie recalled. Crombie said his life changed when The Gamecocks were members of the returned to Australia, but he loved the ACC when Crombie competed and he was way that it turned out. He added that he able to claim the 880-yard and 1000-yard continued running, but not at the same indoor and outdoor ACC individual titles. level because he had different aims for his Crombie also owns the sixth-fastest inlife back in Australia, including a physical door 1000-meter run in school history at education teaching position at both high 2:29.80. school and university levels. “I came over as a 440-yard runner and “I had a college degree, I got a teaching Weems Baskin (head track coach at the position, I met a girl, got married, built time) needed someone in the 880, so I a house and my life changed. I had been stepped up to the 880 and found it more rewarded for my running … I never would suitable than the 440,” Crombie said. “I have gotten into that teaching position won the ACC cross country championship, without the qualification from Carolina. so I could run cross country as well. So I was being rewarded for running and “In Australia just before I left, I was rungreatly rewarded by the qualification that ning against Olympians … then when I got got me a terrific job; a job I had wanted all to South Carolina I felt that I was running my life,” Crombie said. against boys, so I really enjoyed that asCrombie said that he gets to visit South pect,” Crombie commented. Carolina from his home in Melbourne Crombie was never beaten in any ACC about every 10 years with his last trip in competition; the only race he lost came in 2006 for the Hall of Fame Induction. He the National Championship. He said that brought his family to South Carolina for his consistency and effort were points of a year in 1979 while working a position pride of his athletic legacy. in South Carolina’s physical education Crombie also remembers some of his batdepartment. Crombie added that he is able tles with Clemson in dual meets after beto keep up with the Gamecocks even from ing told ‘you hate Clemson’ when he first Australia by watching football games on met his teammates. He said that the optelevision whenever he can, usually about posing fans and rivalry helped him realize four or five times a year. why he should hate Clemson. He recalled Crombie has been retired for a few years one specific race at Clemson which helped and is loving the experience. He said this is SOUTH CAROLINA ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS because he has retired friends of the same him understand the rivalry even more. Bob Crombie was inducted into the South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006. “In the 880-yard race, I was winning it age with whom he is able to spend a great easily and spur of the the moment I started amount of time. He explained that this is running backward and blowing kisses to decided that the odds weren’t quite as good times. the secret to a happy retirement, but he the crowd,” Crombie said. “That caused as when the odds were 30-to-1 on a middle He explained that he had some interestalso said that recalling his times at South mayhem to the point where I finished the distance runner. When the odds were 30ing summer adventures while he was in Carolina always makes him happy as well. race, walked to the infield and next thing to-3, they didn’t like those odds so they America. He said the summer after his “It was the greatest time of my life; the I knew I was surrounded by Clemson stu- dissipated,” Crombie remembered. freshman year, he and four friends drove best four years of my life. I think of my dents. Due to an NCAA rule at the time that across the country to Oregon to work 12 days at Carolina as my Shangri-La. Every“I thought ‘oh I’m in big trouble here,’ but allowed foreign athletes to compete at the hours a day, six days a week harvesting thing just went perfectly … I lived on the my savior was J.R. Wilburn, who is in the varsity level for only two years, Crombie’s peas and making excellent money. His sec- Horseshoe and you couldn’t think of a betHall of Fame and Walt Christensen who collegiate running career was cut short. He ond summer after running in the National ter, more beautiful place than living on the was a shot putter … then they appeared said that he felt if he had gotten a senior Championships in Oregon, he decided to Horseshoe,” Crombie said. “South Caroon the scene and the Clemson students year he would have clocked even better hitchhike back to South Carolina. Crombie lina. I just think of it in glowing terms.”

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Submitted photos

DiPrato’s provides a charming atmosphere right next to campus. DiPrato’s combines a New York-style deli with a touch of Southern flair to bring a unique taste to Columbia.

DiPrato’s dishes out lifetime relationships by mike kucharski mike@spursandfeathers.com

spot right off campus on Pickens Street. She said that they chose their location, formerly the Purple Cow grocery store, because of its proximity to campus and the fun hisA touch of Southern flair combined with a New Yorktory of the location. She added that they are happy to do style delicatessen brings a unique dining experience to anything that they can to support the University, which is Columbia and the University of South Carolina community one of the best things about having the location they have. at DiPrato’s. Light recalled that the store had a big purple cow outDianne Light and Bill Prato opened DiPrato’s in May of side of the front window that would be taken many times 2004 and have been serving the students and Gamecock throughout the year as a prank, but it was usually returned, community for about 10 years now. They worked together sometimes with the assistance of local media announceat Dianne’s on Devine where Prato was the executive chef. ments. Light still has a sign in her office that says ‘rememThey are now partners in running DiPrato’s. ber to bring in the cow’ as a tribute to the Purple Cow. “The ‘Di’ is Dianne, and Prato is his last name, so that’s Florence Dallas, or Miss Flo, and her son Rusty used to the combination. He’s from New York. He’s a Culinary own the store and she still works a few days a week at DiPInstitute of America graduate and I’m from Columbia and rato’s as well. have been here all my life. That’s the north and the south, “When they decided to close, that’s when we figured that so that is kind of how that happened,” Light explained. this would be a great location … and we completely redid Light said that they have had a focus on the University it. Everything that you see here was not here before,” Light because the student body, parents, employees and other explained. “We added the patio … the landscaping we did. Gamecock fans are many of their customers. Light has We just wanted a little, charming place where people can been in the restaurant business in Columbia for 45 years come enjoy themselves.” and said that in every restaurant she has had, the GameDiPrato’s also does catering every day, many times for cocks have always been a big deal, especially during foot- different events around the University and they are always ball season. busy on football weekends between tailgaters and feed“We have a great relationship with the University. Some ing the Gamecock fans who come in. The caterers come of the biggest weekends are the Parents’ Weekends. That’s to work every day between 6:30 and 7 a.m. to prepare and huge because all the parents are here with the kids and they often serve University functions. like to find out where the kids are eating … everything that Light also made special mention of the relationship with goes on at the University really helps us,” Light said. the students of South Carolina. Many of whom help keep Light and Prato decided to open their new venture in a the business going not only through their patronage, but

also through working as employees of DiPrato’s. “Most of them are here for four years and the parents come back all the time through the years. We become friends with them and sometimes they will call and check on them to see how they’re are doing, whether to send gift certificates or just see how they’re doing since we hire a lot of students. Most of our staff is made up of students,” Light said. DiPrato’s also has ties with South Carolina Athletics not only for football games, but also when other student-athletes and teams frequent the unique deli. Light said that the swimming team, equestrian team and women’s basketball team will come in as groups fairly often along with others associated with Gamecock athletics as well. One of the biggest benefits to Light in being in such close proximity to campus is that relationships they make with the students and parents, many of whom will continue to come back after they have graduated to keep Light up to date on their lives. This special relationship with the University is a reason that DiPrato’s became a member of the Garnet Market. Light said it was just another way to help support South Carolina, all the teams they support and all the students and parents they have served. “This is a special place and we just want to do whatever we can to help support the University and the great community that has helped to support us,” Light added. DiPrato’s is located at 342 Pickens Street and can be reached at (803) 779-0606. For more information you can visit www.dipratos.com as well.

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photo by brian hand

The Gamecock sand volleyball facility is nearing completion. The facility features five courts, lights and a scoreboard. It will undoubtedly be considered one of the tops in the nation.

Communication and technique serve as keys for Gamecocks by mike kucharski mike@spursandfeathers.com The Gamecock sand volleyball team continues to prepare for its fall competition date on Nov. 9 in Tallahassee, Fla. in its inaugural season as video and technical breakdowns become more involved. Head coach Moritz Moritz said that it is good for the team to watch players who are above their level, mainly professional players, to see what it takes to compete at the highest level. He said that they will also watch some video of their upcoming opponents from last year. “We’re constantly encouraging them that if they want to get better they have to watch better people than them at this point like the Misty Mays, the Kerri Walshs and the girls that are competing professionally right now. We are really trying to pick up keys, ‘what are they doing? How can that help me?’ and making them more self-aware of what they’re doing right now,” Moritz explained. Moritz said that he will try to get the team to pick up on the things that those top players do well to see what they need to emulate and work toward to get to that level. He added that they can watch the video for multiple reasons, to get a bigger sense of competition and the small technical specifics needed to be successful in the sand.

“Obviously they have a good sense for the game and now you add this technical aspect of it. One of the huge things in beach volleyball is obviously you have to be very efficient because you lose a lot of speed in the sand,” Moritz noted. “If you’re wasting a lot of movement and footwork, then you’re making yourself more exhausted and you’re just not going to be as efficient as a player as you need to be. “With great footwork and great eye work you can be a really great volleyball player without even being as athletic as some other people … that’s one of the big things is making sure that you put yourself into the position and being stopped and being balanced so that you can be athletic to run balls down. Really that’s it,” Moritz continued. Moritz added that unlike indoor volleyball, the hard-driven spike is not used frequently because it is not needed often. He said that vision and court awareness are more important than the highlight-reel kill in the sand. The team is still rotating partners and working on communication between everyone, but Moritz said that with the progression the players have made since training started, he is beginning to think about pairings. “I’m at the point where I’m starting to think ‘I wonder what this would look like with these two. This would be an interesting

pairing, just to see how they mesh, communicate and how they bounce things off of each other,’” Moritz said. “Really that relationship once you set that tandem is crucial because of communication. “I think we have some fun combinations that we could play with, but there is nothing even remotely near set in stone that ‘this is our three team’ or anything like that. I think there are a lot of different versions that we can play with,” Moritz added. Moritz said that he continues to see improvement from the team both on the courts and in the training with the strength and conditioning staff. He has been working to make sure to keep them from overdoing it in their training and keeping the fundamentals in spite of fatigue. “It’s always an interesting thing, the girls are working really, really hard in the weight room right now and you can see how that has an impact in how they’re training in the sand as well. You can see how bad they want it,” Moritz commented. “When they get out on the sand they want to play, play, play, but when they’re a little bit sore and have been working as hard as they have in the weight room, that takes a bit of a toll on them too. “So you want to make sure, even as hungry as you are, you want to make sure that you’re taking care of yourself and you are allowing yourself to stay technical in you movements

and eye work. You have to put yourself into that position rather than allowing yourself to get a little bit sloppy because you are maybe a little bit more exhausted,” Moritz said. Overall, Moritz said that he is pleased with the team’s progress through training thus far and he is looking forward to letting them play against competition other than their own teammates. “We’re getting better. We’re getting better eyes, putting ourselves into better positions and starting to get a little more crisp … you can definitely see that they’re getting better … it’s going to be fun to see when you put them together and put them against somebody they haven’t competed against, to see how they actually compete,” Moritz said. “You know even though they have this great sense of competition right now where they’re playing and they want to win, it’s still their teammates across the court. “When it’s somebody that they don’t know as well, I think that will be the real test for them to figure out how that communication is working. To see when it’s tested and pushed, we will see how competitive are you and how bad do you really want it … you have that pride of wanting to win, playing as hard as you can, wanting to be a great teammate and really show Florida State and Georgia State at this point that we’re coming for real,” Mortiz explained.

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Don’t forget to check the calendar on www. spursandfeathers.com for all upcoming events.

Reminder from Gamecock Club: Please remember that the Gamecock Club renewal deadline is January 31, 2014. Calhoun County Gamecock Club Invites you to enter to win a chance to see the Gamecocks play One of two drawings will be held 10/29/13 Drawing 1: Two tickets to USC-Mississippi State Drawing 2: Two tickets to USC-Mississippi State and two “2001” pregame side line/on the field passes You are eligible for either drawing for a minimal donation of $25 to the Calhoun County Gamecock Club You may mail your check/money order payable to Calhoun County Gamecock Club (be sure to include your name and correcet phone number) to: Calhoun County Gamecock Club 371 True Blue Road St. Matthews, SC 29135 or you can visit Sub Station II 929 Bridge Street, St. Matthews, SC Winners will be notified by phone. Questions: call 803-655-7350 New York City Gamecock Club Weekly Football Game-Watching Event Saturdays at The Mason Jar. The best place to watch Gamecock football if you can’t be at Williams-Brice! Located at 43 E 30th Street in Manhattan, with a Gamecock-inspired menu and discounts for Gamecock fans. Call them at: (212) 213-3587. For more information, check out the website at: www.nycgamecocks.com or email chapter president JR Buzzelli at gamecockclubofgny@gmail.com. Darlington County Gamecock Club Election Monday, November 4, 2013, at 6:00 p.m. Heritage Community Bank 206 South Fifth Street in Hartsville, S.C. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served. All Gamecock fans are invited to attend! Fairfield County Gamecock Club Meeting Tuesday, November 19th at 7:00pm All Gamecock Club members and fans are invited to the Fairfield Cove Res-

taurant (1418 Hwy 321 Bypass South, Winnsboro, S.C. 29180) for the Fairfield County Gamecock Club business meeting. The meal will be a Dutch treat and there will be great door prizes. Additionally, a 2012 Outback Bowl autographed Steve Spurrier football will be raffled. Tickets will only be sold at the meeting and you must be present to win. Guest speaker will be Jay Brown, Assistant Director of the Gamecock Club. A special thanks to Carolina Wings (Blythewood), Frank’s Carwash, Jewelry Warehouse Garnet and Black Traditions, and Scotties’ Café and Grill (Blythewood) for their generous donations to the Fairfield County Gamecock Club. Savannah Gamecock Club Social Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 5:30 p.m. B&D Burgers - 209 W. Congress St. Savannah, Ga. Get to know other fellow Gamecocks, hear from some of the Gamecock Club staff members and talk about future events. Don’t forget to bring your business card for the raffle; prize is a signed Steve Spurrier football. RSVP by Nov. 13 to Reeves Skeen at reeves.skeen@gmail.com. Colleton County Gamecock Club - Pep Rally Monday, Nov. 25 from 6-8 p.m. Walterboro Elks Lodge at 236 Milestone Ln. in Walterboro, S.C. 29488. Fun for all ages! DJ and Cocky will be present with raffle ticket for awesome prizes. For more information contact Lori Beard at lori@docheno.com or (843) 909-1919.

Upcoming South Carolina Athletics Events zz October 30 Volleyball vs. Coastal Carolina...................................6 p.m. Men’s Soccer at Florida International...............................6:30 p.m. zz October 31 Women’s Soccer vs. Kentucky ...................................7 p.m. zz November 1 Cross Country at SEC Championship....................................10 a.m. Women’s Basketball vs. North Greenville (exh).......7 p.m. zz November 2 Football vs. Mississippi State............................. 12:21 p.m. zz November 3 Men’s Golf at Wendy’s Kiawah Classic.................................. All Day Men’s Basketball vs. USC Aiken (exh)........................2 p.m. Men’s Soccer at UAB......................................................................3 p.m.

submitted photo

Former University of South Carolina President, Dr. John Palms (left) and Jennifer Holbrook (wife of South Carolina baseball head coach Chad Holbrook) joined JR Buzzelli (right) and the NYC Gamecocks at The Mason Jar this past Saturday to watch the thrilling football win over Missouri.

zz November 4 Men’s Golf at Wendy’s Kiawah Classic.................................. All Day zz November 5 Men’s Golf at Wendy’s Kiawah Classic.................................. All Day Home events listed in Bold

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Hand Writing

It is now easier than ever for Gamecock fans to keep up with everything going on within Gamecock Nation. Gamecock fans can now follow their favorite writer, blogger, celebrity and even coach on Twitter (except the HBC). This obviously has changed how we as media communicate with our stakeholders, which is why at Spurs & Feathers we have a large Facebook and Twitter presence where we touch base with Gamecock Club members/publication subscribers and even just Gamecock fans constantly throughout the course of any given day. Due to social media, there really are no off days anymore. If you want to keep up with everything going on, Twitter is the No. 1 place to garner up-to-the-minute information. On Twitter, Player of the Week winners, gametimes, etc. will be known well before they reach websites and message boards. The reality is that social media has changed how everyone, particularly younger generations take in news and information. In fact, according to a study released September of last year by the Pew Research Center for the People & The Press it was found that onethird of adults under 30 get all of their news on social networks. This in no way means that print and digital publications, or even television are not important. It especially does not mean that print will be gone. It just means that we as members of this type of media just had to change with the times. And change with the times we have. Right now, Spurs & Feathers has over 3,700 likes on Facebook and over 1,300 followers on Twitter. We consider ourselves a valuable part of Gamecock Nation in that we promote information from all of South Carolina athletics from football to swimming and diving. It is important to us to relay what is going on in every Gamecock athletic program to our readers. Spurs & Feathers has undertaken an exhaustive social media strategy that has us following all of the Gamecock athletic teams as well as every coach that has a Twitter account. We are also following a bevy of different media outlets. Obviously, we retweet all their great information and hard work that they provide, but we also provide our own information and tweet out various stories that we have done as well as our daily report of everything going on in Game-

cock Nation that links to other media websites. We do the same exact thing on Facebook and even provide some extra things on there since obviously pictures look better on the social media platform. Everything we do will be passed along on each social media platform and every Sunday after we go to print at 4 p.m. we even give a sneak peek of the cover for the upcoming Spurs & Feathers on Facebook and Twitter. We also, as all Gamecocks involved in social media should, incorporate different hashtags with the main one being #Gamecocks. The #Gamecocks hashtag allows you to look through what all those using this particular hashtag from around Gamecock Nation on Twitter and Facebook are saying about the Gamecocks. Obviously, none of this is said to take away from wanting you to visit our official website at www.spursandfeathers.com. We hope you do all of the above since our website is updated daily with new stories, blogs and much more. For Gamecock Club members and publication subscribers the website even allows you to look back on old issues and stories. That is something that is only available to our subscribers and Gamecock Club members. It is free to look at the current week’s information. If you have never delved into the world of social media and have a computer, give it a shot. Following @SpursFeathers on Twitter and liking Spurs & Feathers on Facebook is a great place to start. If you are already utilizing one of these social media avenues and have not followed or liked us yet, please give us a chance. We promise we will provide you valuable information. Many of the great Gamecock Club chapters even have their own social media avenues on Facebook and Twitter. We follow and like all the ones we are aware of and we will share their information as well. In the end, to us we are all one big happy, Gamecock family! Thanks for your tremendous support of Spurs & Feathers. The website, the social media avenues and other things may be new to Spurs & Feathers, but we can assure you that this is just the tip of the iceberg. We are cooking up more and more things every single day with some of our ideas set to be unveiled in the coming weeks. It’s great to be a #Gamecock!

photo by Andy Demetra

With Adrian Morales (left) looking on, head coach Chad Holbrook (right) presides over the draft board. In addition to serving as Commissioner, Holbrook is the draft’s unofficial Roastmaster.

inside the Chart, cont. from page 22 Buscher, his close hunting buddy? his round of critics. “Big mistake,” student assistant Adrian Morales said when Privette took Jack Wynkoop with his first pick (it should surprise no one that Morales had an opinion on most picks). Privette faced further skepticism when he chose righty Joel Seddon, who was paired with junior Evan Beal. The pick drew a scoff – playful, we think – from Beal. “You can’t play a position,” Privette told him. He had a point: Seddon played a half-inning of second base against Kentucky two years ago. Privette then chose ace Jordan Montgomery with his third-to-last pick. Laughs rippled around the room. Montgomery had only thrown bullpen sessions in the fall and it was known beforehand that he would not pitch in the World Series (hence his pairing with Forrest Koumas, who will miss the 2014 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery). “Don’t feel bad, healthy guys,” Holbrook joked. On it went, until all 45 players had their teams. Who was picked last is irrelevant – South Carolina has Omaha-caliber talent. Besides, Holbrook said that in multiple World Series drafts he’s attended, the last person picked ended up reaching the majors. But the draft doesn’t stop at the players. Everyone, from the student managers down to the bullpen catchers, gets divvied up. That includes the “advisors,” or assistant coaches who help with the on-field managing. The honors this year went to Morales and volunteer assistant Brian Buscher, a pair of fierce competitors themselves. Celek held the first pick. Would he go with Morales, his teammate for two seasons, or

He finally broke his silence. “I’m going with Morales,” he declared. The players howled. Buscher gave a glowering shake of his head. “You’re going to need Doc after you’re done,” Buscher warned him, a reference to team sports psychologist Dr. Ronald Kasper. Their next get-together in a deer blind might be uncomfortable. Holbrook eventually called the room to order and in one sentence traded his Commissioner’s cap for his coach’s cap. “Let’s go practice,” he said, bringing the 2013 Garnet & Black World Series draft to a close. As he walked out, I asked for his assessment – not of the rosters, but of the onelining, two-timing and everything else that makes the draft so highly anticipated in the Gamecocks clubhouse. Holbrook smiled. “That was pretty tame.”

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October 30, 2013

Spurs & Feathers • 31

October 30, 2013

Lack of seniors: No problem In early August, I had the pleasure of attending Media Day at Williams-Brice Stadium. It had been the early 80’s since I had attended Media Day, so I was soaking it all in. I took a video camera along and recorded some of the scenes (http://www.spursandfeathers. com/news/2013-06-26/Front_Page/Clowney_ clowning_at_Media_Day.html). It was a carefree, loosey, goosey kind of day. At some point the call was made for seniors to join Coach Spurrier. The first two to join were Chaz Sutton and Jadeveon Clowney. Of course, JD is not a senior, but since he is projected to be the number one pick in the NFL draft, might as well include him. Connor Shaw Ed Girardeau wandered over, along with Contributing seniors David Wilkins and Editor Ronald Patrick. There was a search which consisted of everyone yelling for Jimmy Legree. While waiting for Legree to get there Coach Spurrier asked Victor Hampton to sit in. After all, with a good year, he may very well jump to the NFL, ala Clowney. And that was it. I remember thinking to myself, that’s not a lot of seniors. I have always been taught that you don’t win without a strong senior class. Five seniors? This went against all the preseason hype. Ranked as a perennial top-10 team, maybe this would go against the grain. After all, we had Connor Shaw returning with his 17-3 record at quarterback, and all-everything, helmet removing, fumble grabbing, sacking maniac JD Clowney and talent galore. Surely we would defy the odds and win them all! We had lost the three linebackers, but we had some new talent that would learn quickly. Replacing Swearinger, Hollomon and Taylor would be tough, but again, with Clowney, Sutton, Quarles, Legree, Hampton, among others, the feeling in Gamecock land was we would be alright. Besides, the offense was going to be great! So were my thoughts going into Saturday afternoon as Brian Hand and I went to Columbia for the Tailgate Tip-off. A very nice crowd, estimated at 3,200, showed up and the two basketball teams scrimmaged before the football game. This being my first opportunity to see both teams this year, I looked forward to seeing what I had been hearing about. I was not disappointed. The women have quite a group of talented players. They are extremely fast and can play inside and outside and prospects are good, perhaps extremely good.

photo by allen sharpe

Jadeveon Clowney now has 42 tackles for loss in his South Carolina career. The men are a completely different team from last year as there are eight newcomers. Defense was not the order of the day as the relaxed defense made for some very nice dunks, some with passes off the backboard, had the look of spectacular. And speaking of spectacular, Michael Carrera was fantastic hitting threes from the outside and dunking inside. He is quite a player and will be worth the admission to come see and this year he will have a cast of players to go with him. This year will be fun as both teams are extremely talented. Once basketball was complete, the big screen was turned over to the football game in Missouri. The first half was forgettable. In fact, I started writing my column at halftime and by the end of the third quarter I was completed and the news was not going to be good. Then came the fourth quarter. Admittedly, the majority of the 3,200 had long gone, but a few of us diehards had hung in. What came next will be remembered as fondly as the comeback at Clemson in 1984 and the win over No. 1 Alabama in 2010. Shaw, gimpy leg and all, entered the game, trailing 17-0. In less than 12 minutes, Shaw led the team to two touchdown passes and a field goal to tie

the game with less than a minute remaining and send the game into overtime. The Tigers scored a touchdown quickly. An opening pass to Bruce Ellington, set the Gamecocks inside the 10. But after a loss and two incomplete passes, USC faced fourth and goal from the 15. Shaw took his time and found Ellington open in the end zone for his 10th catch and final 15 yards in a 139 yard performance to send it to the second overtime. This time the Gamecocks started first from the 25. Unable to sustain any offense, USC turned to Elliott Fry who kicked a 40-yard field goal right down the middle. This time it was Mizzou’s turn to get inside the 10 on the first play, but the Tigers stalled at the five and their field goal unit came on. My relief was we would go to another overtime, but that was not going to happen as the kick hit the upright and a wild celebration was set off at the Colonial Life Arena (okay, it wasn’t a huge crowd at the time, but the noise we made, it seemed as though it was full). What Shaw accomplished will be the stuff of legend. We will talk about this one for a long time, particularly if we can hold serve through these last four games. As quarter-

backs go, he is right up there with the best, whether Suggs, Grantz, Ellis, Tanneyhill, all had great careers and many memories and Shaw is right up there with them. Spurs & Feathers had a cover a couple of weeks ago with Shaw on the cover and the headline of “Shawesome!” That certainly describes this incredible come-from-behind victory. The Gamecocks had beaten the No. 5 Missouri Tigers, leaving the memories and disappointment of the loss at Tennessee a distant memory in the rearview memory. South Carolina is back in the SEC East title hunt and now returns home for the rest of the season. We will still need some help for someone to beat Mizzou. They play Tennessee and Kentucky at home the next two weeks, then at Ole Miss and end the season at home against Texas A&M. We will need at least one of those teams to beat the Tigers. In the meantime, we come home to take on Mississippi State. That will be followed by Florida, Coastal Carolina and Clemson; all at home. Rather than talk about the rest, let’s just take it one at a time and get a big SEC win over the Bulldogs next Saturday and see how this all plays out. So we haven’t won them all, but the five seniors continue to hang in there and the goal of winning the East is still alive. And keep in mind, there are 22 juniors on this year’s team and with two thirds of the season complete, these juniors are starting to play like seniors and our chances are increasing to play this out and finish with a flurry. On Saturday night, this team came of age and it has its signature win of the season. Here’s hoping a few more signatures can be picked up before we are through.

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October 30, 2013