November 9, 2016 • Volume 38 • Issue 13 • $1.50
Battle of the Columbias goes to the Gamecocks Postmaster: Time sensitive material. Please expedite
South Carolina men’s and women’s basketball set to open regular-seasons Publication mailed from Columbia on Monday, November 7
2 • Spurs & Feathers
Spurs & Feathers Published by Aiken Communications, Inc.
Contact Us: 326 Rutland Drive N.W. PO Box 456 Aiken, SC, 29801 To subscribe/questions: Please call 800-559-2311; annual subscription price is $50 Brian Hand Executive Editor bhand@spursandfeathers.com (803) 335-1399 Ext. 506
November 9, 2016
Florida parking information General Public Parking: • Public parking lots are very limited around the stadium. All lots that are not reserved are available on a first-come, first-served basis (see map). As always, parking on the grass and sidewalks is NOT permitted and any vehicles doing so are at risk of being towed. • In an effort to tighten security around the stadium, starting 2.5 hours prior to kickoff, no vehicular traffic will be allowed on Lemerand Drive between University Avenue and Stadium Road. The closure will remain in effect until the end of the game. Game Day Shuttle Information: Utilize the RTS Shuttle service to avoid the limited parking on campus on game days. Park at one of five convenient locations around Gainesville for a quick ride to the game: The Oaks Mall, Hilton University of Florida Conference Center, The Village Center in Haile Plantation, Tioga Town Center, and Downtown Parking Garage. The RTS Shuttle service costs $10/game or $50/season. Service is offered from 3 hours before the game until kickoff, with return shuttles beginning in the 4th quarter. For more information, call 352-334-2600 or visit go-rts.com. Handicap Parking: • Disabled Parking for Visitors is located at Garage IX, which is located on the south side of Archer Road on Gale Lemerand Dr.
• From Garage IX there are ADA shuttles. The shuttles begin running 4 hours prior to kickoff and drop off at Gate 18 of the Football stadium. The Shuttles from Garage IX are running continuously until kickoff and then pick back up at the start of the fourth quarter. • Golf carts are available at Gate 18 to assist patrons who need further assistance to their gate. Parking Maps: http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/gatorzone.com/documents/2015/8/24/parking-map-fb-2015.pdf RV Parking: • Visiting team first-come, first-serve RV parking is located on Hull Road west of SW 34th Street behind the Hilton Hotel and Conference Center. Once you enter the parking area the road will fork and the free RV parking is to the left (south portion of the lot). • For more information please contact UF Transportation and Parking at (352) 392-8048 • The lot opens at 6:30pm on Friday night and is open until Sunday at 12:00pm (Noon). Special thanks to Mike McManus and the Gamecock Cruisers, who provide us with this parking information to pass along. For more information on Gamecock Cruisers, visit their website at GamecockCruisers.com
Please note that we are weekly for the rest of the football season. Please also make sure to email bhand@spursandfeathers.com whenever you have a meeting for inclusion in our editions and on SpursandFeathers.com. Per our contract with the Gamecock Club, below are our remaining edition dates for the 2016 year.
Kyle Heck Reporter kheck@spursandfeathers.com (803) 335-1399 Ext. 506 Kathy Boyette Advertising Sales Manager (803) 295-3654 kboyette@spursandfeathers.com Brooks Rogers Advertising Representative (803) 446-4022 brooks@spursandfeathers.com Ed Girardeau Contributing Editor/ Advertising Account Executive ed@spursandfeathers.com (803) 646-9807
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Photographers Allen Sharpe and Jenny Dilworth Cover Design Brian Hand (Photo by Jenny Dilworth) Postal Information: SPURS & FEATHERS (USPS 12779) (ISSN 7454368X) is published 20 times annually. The frequency is monthly in January, April and July. The publication is weekly from September-November. SPURS & FEATHERS also publishes two slick-paper magazine issues — one in August and one in December. The annual subscription price is $50 for non Gamecock Club members. Members of the Gamecock Club receive a discounted subscription as a member benefit. Spurs & Feathers is published by Aiken Communications, Inc., 326 Rutland Drive NW, Aiken, SC, 29801-4010. Periodicals postage paid at Columbia, SC
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4 • Spurs & Feathers
November 9, 2016
Gamecocks win third straight BY BRIAN HAND Executive Editor
COLUMBIA - Many believed South Carolina should start preparing for the upcoming years instead of this season after a 2-4 start to the year, but none of those people were involved with the Gamecock football team. In fact, it’s obvious that the current grouping of Gamecocks (5-4, 3-4 SEC) wanted nothing more than to make this season as much of a success as it could be, and after a 31-21 win over Missouri (2-7, 0-5 SEC) before a Homecoming crowd of 73,817 at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 5, the Gamecocks are just one win away from bowl eligibility. “I’ve got to credit our staff and our players,” South Carolina first-year head football coach Will Muschamp said of his team working hard to put itself in a position where it could be winners of three straight. “If you have a group of bad eggs in that locker room you will not survive that type of situation. Not nowadays. And you’ll have guys as the water starts getting in the boat, you’ll have rats start getting in the boat. Well, we didn’t have that. We had a bunch of guys that continued to work, that would continue to go after it, continue to try and improve. We’re very technical in our approach as a staff with our players and our players have responded. It’s 100 percent our players in my opinion as far as how they’ve responded to hard coaching, confrontation, a lot, and we’re not going to back off of it. (We’re) just going to continue to do the things we’re doing and continue to improve. We’re by no means where we need to be, but we certainly have improved, and I think everyone can see that. I think everybody can see the belief and the confidence the players have in some of the things we’re doing and we still have a long ways to go. Let’s be realistic.” South Carolina could not get anything going in its first two offensive possessions in its win over Missouri, but on Missouri’s second drive of the game, Gamecock defensive back Steven Montac forced a Tiger fumble that was recovered by Chris Lammons at the 20-yard line. The Gamecocks would take advantage of the opportune field position with Deebo Samuel scoring on a jet sweep to the right side from six yards out. The six-yard touchdown finished off a four-play, 20-yard drive for the Gamecocks that took just 1:30 off the clock and garnered South Carolina a 7-0 lead with 7:25 to play in the opening quarter of action. Missouri would even things up at 7-7 in
PHOTO BY JENNY DILWORTH
the game with 12:55 left in the first half on a 29-yard touchdown run by Damarea Crockett. The touchdown run finished off a seven-play, 90-yard drive that took 1:56 off the clock. It would not take long for the Gamecocks to get the lead back with Rico Dowdle scoring from 17 yards out on a pass from quarterback Jake Bentley. The 17-yard touchdown reception by Dowdle actually bounced off the back of the Missouri defender before landing in his hands for the acrobatic touchdown that set the score at 14-7 in South Carolina’s favor and was the culmination of an 11-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 4:16. In connecting on his second extra-point attempt of the day, South Carolina senior kicker Elliott Fry became the all-time leading scorer in Gamecock football his-
tory with 331 points at that point in time. Fry’s 331st career point passed Collin Mackie (1987-90), who ended his illustrious career with the Gamecocks with 330 career points. Missouri would once again even things up in the game with 6:01 left in the inaugural half when Ish Witter rushed in from 25 yards out to end an eight-play, 70-yard drive that tied the game at 14-14. The Missouri scoring drive encompassed 2:38. South Carolina would respond to Missouri’s touchdown by going 65 yards in eight plays to take a 21-14 lead. The scoring drive that lasted 3:02 was finished off with Bentley connecting with tight end K.C. Crosby on an inside slant for a sixyard touchdown. The two teams would enter halftime at that same score. South Carolina ended
half No. 1 with 208 yards of total offense to Missouri’s 187. The Gamecocks held a dominating 19:54-10:06 advantage in terms of time of possession in the first half. The second half would commence with Missouri scoring on the opening drive of the half to tie things up at 21-all with 12:34 left in the third quarter. The scoring drive by the Tigers finished with quarterback Drew Lock connecting with tight end Kendall Blanton for a nine-yard touchdown. The touchdown reception by Blanton was the final play of an eight-play, 72-yard drive for Missouri that lasted 2:26. The Gamecocks would go back ahead at 28-21 with 3:24 remaining in the third quarter off a 20-yard run by Dowdle that included a nifty spin move. The 20-yard touchdown run by Dowdle was the culmination of a nine-play, 98-yard drive by the Gamecocks that lasted 3:39. The touchdown drive was made possible by a Rashad Fenton interception of a Lock pass at the two-yard line. After the game, Muschamp pointed out just how pivotal that scoring drive was for the Gamecocks. “That was really, probably, the sealing point of the game,” Muschamp said. South Carolina would extend its lead to 31-21 with 7:35 left in the game on a 24-yard field goal by Fry. The field goal, which moved Fry to 335 points in his career, finished off a nine-play, 68-yard drive that took 4:29 off the clock. Down the final stretch of the game, Missouri missed two field goals and with 29 seconds left in the game, South Carolina’s Chris Moody intercepted a Lock pass to secure the 10-point Gamecock win. Dowdle was the star for the Gamecocks in their win with 149 yards rushing on 27 carries. He had one touchdown receiving and one touchdown rushing to go along with his 20 yards receiving on three catches. Samuel concluded South Carolina’s victory with 125 yards receiving on nine catches. Bentley passed for 254 yards in the South Carolina win, going 22-of-28 in total. Chris Moody led the Gamecock defense with 11 total tackles and the big interception in the final minute of the contest. In its loss, Lock was 23-of-40 for Missouri with two interceptions. He threw for 302 yards and one touchdown. In total, the Gamecocks held a commanding 36:10-23:50 advantage in the game in terms of time of possession. South Carolina finished with 428 yards of total offense to Missouri’s 465.
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November 9, 2016
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November 9, 2016
Gamecocks pick up thrilling 2-1 win over No. 12 Kentucky BY BRIAN HAND Executive Editor
Entering its match with No. 12 Kentucky, South Carolina men’s soccer head coach Mark Berson along with his coaching staff made the decision that they would start sophomore defender Andre Streete. The Wolverhampton, England native had been battling injuries of late, but the decision by the Gamecocks to insert Streete into the lineup paid off huge as he picked up the game-winning goal in the 86th-minute in South Carolina’s 2-1 win over the 12th-ranked Wildcats on Senior Night at Stone Stadium on Friday, Nov. 4. “He’s (Berson) told me every day in training that’s he’s got confidence in me and he was just waiting for the right time, and I’ve had an injury and I’ve come back fit, so he just gave me a chance today and I just put it away,” Streete told Spurs & Feathers after South Carolina’s thrilling win in its regular-season
finale. The game-winner by Streete was made even sweeter in the fact that he had inadvertently allowed Kentucky its lone goal of the match on a hand ball in the 18-yard box that Jordan Wilson converted into a penalty kick goal in the 50th-minute. Streete’s validation goal in the 86th-minute came off a beautifully hit corner kick by senior Danny Deakin. “I know Danny’s just got the quality to put in a great set piece and I just took full advantage of it,” Streete said of Deakin’s sixth assist of the year that led to Streete’s first goal of the season. Berson was incredibly proud of Streete taking advantage of his opportunity. “We’ve got guys back there that can do the job, and Andre stepped up there tonight,” Berson said. “He’s been playing well, and he got his shot tonight and he really made the most of it.” South Carolina overall out-shot Kentucky,
PHOTO BY ALLEN SHARPE
14-9, in the match with sophomore Bjorn Gudjonsson collecting the Gamecocks’ first goal of the match just before halftime in the 44th-minute. Gudjonsson’s seventh goal of the regular-season came off an assist from Trygve Ellingstad. South Carolina (10-6-1, 5-2-1 C-USA) had entered its regular-season finale against Kentucky (11-4-2, 5-3-0 C-USA) knowing
that a win would most likely secure the second seed in the upcoming Conference USA Tournament, which it did. The second-seeded Gamecocks will open the league tournament in Huntington, West Virginia against seventhseeded Old Dominion at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9. Berson also knew with the Gamecocks entering the match with an RPI of 35 that a win over a team like Kentucky with an RPI of 13 right now could go a long way to South Carolina securing an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. “I feel like this was really important for us as far as the NCAA Tournament,” Berson said. “We needed to get a win over a top team. We’ve played a bunch of teams close, and I’ve felt like our guys all along have had the belief, they’ve stuck to what they’ve done, they kept fighting and tonight they got the win. It’s a big one for us. It gives us a little momentum going into the conference tournament, so we’ve just got to keep pushing.”
Advisory Board meets to help the Gamecock Club become better BY BRIAN HAND Executive Editor
Patrick McFarland knows their efforts are incredibly important. “There’s no way we could do it without them,” the Gamecock Club executive director said shortly after the Advisory Board met at the Frank McGuire Club at the Colonial Life Arena on Friday, Nov. 4. Every time the Advisory Board meets, McFarland is overwhelmed by the fact that so many individuals take of their own time to help make the Gamecock Club better. “I’m always amazed at how giving of their time they are,” McFarland said. “It’s a Friday morning, and they come in at 11 a.m. and they’re willing to give their input, advice and time to be able to help the Gamecock Club become better.” This year’s Advisory Board meetings com-
PHOTO BY BRIAN HAND
menced with breakout meetings with former Gamecock football standout and current USC Association of Lettermen president Moe Brown kicking off the Marketing Committee Breakout meeting by talking about all of the great things happening with their organization. Brown considered it extremely important
to talk with the group to further explain the importance of aligning the USC Association of Lettermen with the Gamecock Club and in general South Carolina athletics. “I would say it’s necessary for all the parts that are Gamecock athletics and academics, that we’re all on the same page spitting out the same information and the same message because when it comes to recruiting and trying to bring in parents, bring in new recruits, the more in sync you are, the more comfortable that parent is going to be sending that child here to South Carolina,” Brown said. “Coach (Ray) Tanner has been driving that message home, and coach (Will) Muschamp is so enthusiastic about the lettermen, which makes it so much easier for me and the association as well. It’s very special and necessary that we can do that.” The Gamecock Club Advisory Board was treated to lunch after the breakout meetings
with those in attendance also getting the chance to tour the Jerri and Steve Spurrier Indoor Practice Facility, but before they did they also received the unique opportunity to hear from South Carolina men’s basketball head coach Frank Martin. Martin was more than willing to talk with the group and thank them for all they do for Gamecocks everywhere. “It’s great,” Martin said of interacting with this particular grouping of great Gamecocks. “These Gamecock Clubs around the state they care. They don’t care just when you’re winning. They care all the time. They care for their athletes, they care for their school, they allow us to build facilities to do things to give our guys everything they need so they can do things the right way. Any time our teams play, they show up. They drive in from their different parts of the state to support their team and their school, and it’s fun.”
Spurs & Feathers • 7
November 9, 2016
View from the Missouri locker room BY KYLE HECK Reporter
PHOTO BY ALLEN SHARPE
downs, defensively, and (South Carolina) throws the ball up and (I) felt like they came down with every one of them,” Odom said. “That’s hard.” Missouri would answer each of South Carolina’s first three touchdowns with one of its own, but in the end the Gamecocks were able to lock it down in the fourth quarter as Missouri was held scoreless in that frame. “Credit to South Carolina,” Mizzou defensive end Charles Harris said. “It’s a game of adjustments, so they just adjusted well. We adjusted as well, but it’s just a matter of executing it.” The Tigers had high praise for the crowd at Williams-Brice Stadium as well. Missouri has already played quite a few tough road games on the year, but this one might’ve taken the cake. “That’s probably the rowdiest student section I’ve seen,” tailback Damarea Crockett said. “Probably the rowdiest stadium I’ve been in. It was a great atmosphere.” The Tigers have also played games at Florida and LSU, so was it louder than those two hostile environments? “Yes,” Crockett replied. “It was way louder on the field. That was the first game where I couldn’t hear anything Drew was saying, and I was right beside him.”
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COLUMBIA - Coming into the game against South Carolina at WilliamsBrice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 5, Missouri head coach Barry Odom knew his team needed to win the turnover battle if it was to pull off the upset. Unfortunately for the Tigers, they were not able to do that as the Gamecocks scored 14 points off three Tiger turnovers in a 3121 victory. “Our margin of error is zero,” Missouri head coach Barry Odom said of his team after the game. The Gamecocks intercepted Tigers’ quarterback Drew Lock twice, and one of those interceptions was a momentum-changer. With the game tied at 21 around midway through the third quarter, Missouri was driving into South Carolina territory looking to take the lead. However, Gamecock cornerback Rashad Fenton had other ideas. The sophomore intercepted a poorly thrown ball by Lock at the two-yard line, and the Gamecock offense turned around and drove 98 yards for a touchdown that put South Carolina ahead for good. “You look back, and there’s probably three or four plays that I would like to have back,” Lock said. “In the grand scheme of things, those are big momentum swingers and things that I could’ve easily fixed.” After the game, Odom noted just how big of a moment that was for the Gamecocks. “There’s a swing in the game there right after halftime,” Odom noted. “We did some good things, and then they drove the ball the length of the field. That was somewhat of a rollercoaster, momentum-wise.” South Carolina’s Deebo Samuel was the leading receiver of the day as he hauled in nine receptions for 125 yards. Several times the Tigers were playing good coverage against him, but Samuel was able to still come down with the ball. “Jersey No. 1 for them, he’s a good player,” Odom said of Samuel. “He muscled us around a little bit. We were not in bad shape, not in bad position (but) they came down with the ball.” Samuel wasn’t the only Gamecock receiver to make plays like that as freshmen Bryan Edwards and Chavis Dawkins also made a couple of great catches. “You get into a position in third
8 • Spurs & Feathers
November 9, 2016
Holbrook: ‘We had a good fall’ BY BRIAN HAND Executive Editor
A editor and a national writer for D1Baseball.com, Aaron Fitt remarked after the first game of the annual fall-ending Garnet & Black World Series for South Carolina baseball that he felt the Gamecocks would be in strong consideration for preseason No. 1 in the spring of 2017. South Carolina baseball head coach Chad Holbrook after the final game of the Garnet & Black World Series said he obviously appreciated the thought, but he also knows the Gamecocks have a long ways to go if they want to be one of the last ones standing in the 2017 season. “That’s neat for our fans to talk about and I’m sure it’s neat for the media folks to talk about, but we’re far and away not close to being the No. 1 team in the nation as we sit here right now,” Holbrook said. “Do we have All Gamecock baseball the talent coverage sponsored by to be talkDiPrato’s ed about as one of the nation’s best teams? Yeah, I think so, but we’ve got to continue to improve. If we’re thought about among the top 10 to 15 teams in the country that’s good enough for me. I feel like we’ve got a good chance to be one of the last teams standing, but boy you’ve got to play well and you’ve got to improve and you’ve got to be lucky, the ball has got to bounce your way. It’s nice to be thought of and it’s nice to be in the conversation, but that’s not going to help us come game one in February. We’ve got to have the mindset that we’ve got a lot to work on, a lot to improve upon, and hopefully this group will.” South Carolina’s annual Garnet & Black World Series concluded the evening of Sunday, Oct. 30, at Founders Park with the Garnet team taking the rubber game of the series with a 7-3 victory. The Black team would take an early 3-0 lead in the top of the second, but in the bottom of the inning the Garnet team would garner one of the runs back. The Garnet team would then even up the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the third on a two-run home run to left-center field by one of the stars of the fall in junior Madison Stokes. “I always knew Madison was very, very talented,” Holbrook said of Stokes’ strong fall that included him playing an elite short-
PHOTO BY ALLEN SHARPE
stop. “Finding him the right position was kind of on me to make him comfortable I think. He certainly played comfortable baseball all fall long in the way he played defense. He swung the bat, he hit for power, he hit for average, he kind of quarterbacked some things in the middle there and made every play. We hadn’t had him at short for a lot during his career here, but he certainly played it at a high level this fall.” The Garnet team would eventually take possession of the rubber game in the series in the bottom of the fifth when junior Alex Destino blasted a three-run home run to right field to give his team a commanding 6-3 lead. One inning later the Garnet team would add one more run to secure the fourrun win. “We had a good fall, and our pitchers
threw extremely well for the most part,” Holbrook said shortly after the conclusion of the Garnet & Black World Series. “I think that really stood out as you kind of look back on the fall. We had some individuals stand out as well. I thought Stokes had a great fall playing short and swinging the bat. I thought (sophomore) TJ Hopkins made some strides. I thought (sophomore) Chris Cullen was very impressive in the way that he swung the bat. We’ve still got some things to work on as a group, and there were a lot of guys that kind of had their moments. We’ve got the makings of a good team if we can play defense behind our pitching staff. We certainly have a lot to improve upon and to work on, but I think the one thing I take away from the fall is we’ve got a talented group of pitchers and we’ve got a talented
group of players, but we’ve got to continue to improve as a group so that we can play at a high level come February.” The fall scrimmage portion of the fall for the Gamecocks may be over, but Holbrook knows the next couple of months are incredibly important for South Carolina baseball. “We’ve got to continue to work hard, we’ve got to continue to improve, and hopefully our guys will have the right mindset going into this critical part of the calendar,” Holbrook said. “We need to get in the weight room, we need to put on some weight. We’ll have yoga classes to improve our flexibility. We’ve got some things to work on, and hopefully we’ll be productive here in November and December and put ourselves in a good position come February.”
Spurs & Feathers • 9
November 9, 2016
Women Empowering the Game coaches’ clinic a can’t-miss event BY KYLE HECK Reporter
coaching staff and players, they got a chance to gain a valuable life lesson. They all want to play in the WNBA. I think they see where It all started with a simple idea that South they’re not far off, but surely there are some Carolina women’s basketball head coach things they need to work on.” Dawn Staley had. She has a lot of interactions Reeve, who coached the Lynx to the WNBA with coaches all across the country who coach Finals this past season, was on the women’s in several different leagues, so her idea was to basketball coaching staff with Staley with bring some of those brilliant minds to Colum- Team USA in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. That’s bia, South Carolina, and that was the birth of where she was approached by Staley with the the Women Empowering the Game coaches’ idea for the clinic, and it was something that clinic that was held at Colonial Life Arena on she quickly made a decision on. Sunday, Oct. 30. “I just give Dawn so much credit because Three WNBA coaches made the trip, as No. 1, this is a lot of work,” Reeve said. “A lot well as WNBA President Lisa Borders. of work goes into something like this. It was The Chicago Sky’s Pokey Chatman, Seattle important on so many fronts.” Storm’s Jenny Boucek and Minnesota Lynx’s The day started with a presentation by ChatCheryl Reeve were the three man on zone offenses before head coaches that joined Staley Boucek discussed playing and Borders. outside sets and Reeve talked “To see it all come together, about loop and elbow offenses and the way it came together, and counter sets. Staley and I have to thank our staff, who her staff then did a demonworked tirelessly, especially this stration that worked on droplast week to kind of crunch it all cross-run defenses before the together,” Staley said. “Then the event concluded with a coachWNBA President, Lisa Borders, All Gamecock basketball es’ panel that was moderated Jenny Boucek, Pokey Chatman, coverage sponsored by by WIS anchor Judi Gatson. Cheryl Reeve, all of them, our Yesterdays It was an extremely impor-
chance to come back and soak in more knowledge from the basketball minds. “Several of them were coaching me before, and (others) I played against, so it was a good opportunity to come and enjoy this time with their fellowship and their knowledge of the game,” Johnson said. “This gives you an opportunity to come and learn from the best. When I heard about it, I knew I wasn’t going PHOTO BY KYLE HECK to miss it.” That was the mindset of most everyone tant event for both the city of Columbia and there, and there were a lot of high school the South Carolina women’s basketball procoaches in attendance who were trying to find gram. Staley’s players were able to work with things they could take back to their respecthe trio of WNBA coaches and learned a lot tive teams. The Gamecocks have become one over the course of the afternoon. of the centerpieces of women’s basketball in “They’re excited about it, and that’s not general, as they have led the nation in attensomething that we’ve had conversations dance for the past two years. Staley has built about,” Staley said of her players. “Just from up a powerhouse at South Carolina, and drew the few hours the WNBA coaches got to work admiration from the WNBA coaches that with them, I think they just gave them an ex- were present Sunday. Reeve keeps up with citement that they’ve never had.” Staley and her team throughout the year, and Gamecock great Shannon Johnson, the follows Staley on Twitter. She understands current head coach for Coker, was also at the how much Staley has meant to the game of clinic. A four-time All-SEC selection at South women’s basketball. Carolina, Johnson enjoyed a long career in “She’s just so much more than a coach,” the WNBA where she was a seven-time AllReeve said. “When you think about a leader, Star. Therefore, she was very familiar with (the) ability to affect so many areas in the way the WNBA coaches, and was excited for the that she does is impressive.”
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10 • Spurs & Feathers
November 9, 2016
‘Just a good dude’: Fry has made huge impact with Gamecocks BY BRIAN HAND Executive Editor
Charlie Drafts of the “Block C Blog” tweeted shortly after a just over 17-minute media availability session on Tuesday, Nov. 1, with South Carolina kicker Elliott Fry exactly what most were thinking. “Elliott Fry is just a good dude,” the tweet read. The spot-on tweet put succinctly what makes Fry special as he became South Carolina’s school-record holder for points. With his second extra point of the day in South Carolina’s win over Missouri, Fry moved to 331 career points (now 335), passing former record holder Collin Mackie (1987-90), who ended his illustrious career with the Gamecocks with 330 career points. Becoming the all-time record holder for points in Gamecock football history is not what Fry wants to be remembered for though. “I guess someone who just made a difference on and off the field,” Fry mused when asked about how he would like to be remembered. “I want to be remembered for being a good kicker, but also the impact, especially on the diabetic community.” Check and check. As he said in his own words above, his abilities on the field are even more impressive due to the fact that he has found a way to be one of the best kickers in the country, while also dealing daily with Type 1 diabetes. The 6-foot senior from Frisco, Texas has not only worked tirelessly to promote the Gamecock cause through his platform, but also the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. In fact, Fry says he receives social media posts from others thanking him for showing that anything is possible with diabetes. It’s not exactly easy as Fry has to do a lot just to be able to participate in a game. “It’s definitely something you get used to,” Fry said. “It’s part of my routine. It doesn’t necessarily make it easy. Having to take 10 shots on game day, it’s never something that’s easy, but I do get used to it, and it’s just something I kind of deal with now.” Fry admits that he is “hypersensitive about what I’m doing because it has such a big impact - or could have such a big impact - on the game.” “When I say 10 shots, I take an insulin
PHOTO BY ALLEN SHARPE
shot every time I eat food or if I have a drink of gatorade, I would have to take insulin for it,” Fry said. “On game day though, I’m very hypersensitive about my diabetes. I’ll probably test my blood sugar five times before the game from the two hours when I go on the field (for warmups) to the start of the game just to make sure my blood sugar is trending in the right direction, or actually not trending at all.” Last year, Fry’s platform allowed him to talk about the Gamecocks and the JDRF at SEC Media Days. During the SEC Media Days that year then South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier noted that he felt Fry could go down as the best kicker in Gamecock history. “It’s definitely a big honor coming from Coach Spurrier,” Fry said at the time to Spurs & Feathers. “He’s been around a lot of kickers. A lot of kickers that are now pros like (former Gamecocks) Ryan Succop and Spencer Lanning, but yeah, it’s pretty cool.”
Whether or not he is the best kicker in school history is definitely not something on Fry’s mind. In fact, either was setting the career points record mark. “In the game, it’s just next make the next kick,” Fry said. Fry does concede though when he arrived at South Carolina in 2013 he definitely was not thinking about breaking records. “When I came in, I was just focused on winning the job and trying to play freshman year. I really didn’t think too much in the future,” Fry said. Fry now admits that future includes trying to make it at the next level in the NFL. “I’m going to try and pursue that, and if it doesn’t work out, I’ll find a job,” Fry said. There is still a long way to go before that. Fry as noted right now is just focused on helping the Gamecocks win football games. And in that regard first-year South Carolina head football coach Will Muschamp has “a huge confidence level with Elliott.” “I go into pregame and I ask Elliott,
‘where do you feel good from?’ And he says, ‘going into the tunnel, I feel good at the 35, going this way, I feel good from the 38.’ So I know right then I don’t even worry about it anymore. There’s no discussion about it anymore on the headsets. Just that’s where we are. I tell (co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks) Kurt (Roper), this is where we have to get to be in field goal range. I’ll tell you if you get two downs, whatever the case may be. But it’s a luxury that you don’t always have. I’ve been in that other situation where you’re worried about whether you can get it through the uprights for an extra point.” All of this aside and before that next game that could be a record-breaking game, in typical Fry fashion his media availability ended not focused on him, but on everyone else. “You guys have a great day,” Fry told the media as he was leaving his availability. It’s hard not to when a “good dude” like Fry is around.
Spurs & Feathers • 11
November 9, 2016
South Carolina Gamecocks
2016
FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 09/01/16...........at Vanderbilt# ....................... Nashville, Tenn....................W, 13-10
STANDINGS
SEC East
SEC
W-L
HOME
ROAD
NEU PF PA STRK
09/10/16...........at Mississippi State#............ Starkville, Miss...................... L, 27-14
Florida
4-2
6-2
4-0
1-2
1-0
216
113
09/17/16........ East Carolina....................Columbia, S.C............... W, 20-15
Kentucky
L1
4-3
5-4
4-2
1-2
0-0
246
274
L1
South Carolina 3-4
5-4
4-2
1-2
0-0
173
191
W3
Georgia
3-4
5-4
1-2
3-1
1-1
213
233
W1
10/01/16........ Texas A&M#.....................Columbia, S.C................ L, 24-13
Tennessee
2-3
6-3
4-1
1-2
1-0
289
233
W1
10/09/16........ Georgia#..........................Columbia, S.C................ L, 28-14
Vanderbilt
1-4
4-5
2-2
2-3
0-0
182
194
L1
Missouri
0-5
2-7
2-3
0-4
0-0
286
274
L5
10/29/16........ Tennessee#......................Columbia, S.C............... W, 24-21
SEC West
SEC
11/05/16........ Missouri#.........................Columbia, S.C............... W, 31-21
Alabama Auburn
09/24/16...........at Kentucky#.......................... Lexington, Ky........................ L, 17-10
10/22/16........ Massachusetts.................Columbia, S.C............... W, 34-28
11/12/16...........at Florida#............................... Gainesville, Fla...................... 12 p.m. 11/19/16........ Western Carolina.............Columbia, S.C.......................TBA 11/26/16...........at Clemson.............................. Clemson, S.C.................................TBA Bold=Home Game #=SEC
W-L PF
PA W-L PF PA STRK
6-0
9-0
4-0
4-0
1-0
361
119
W9
5-1
7-2
5-2
2-0
0-0
313
144
W6
Texas A&M
4-2
7-2
4-0
2-2
1-0
335
193
L1
LSU
3-2
5-3
5-1
0-1
0-1
209
115
L1
Arkansas
2-3
6-3
5-1
1-1
0-1
278
261
W1
Mississippi State 2-3
4-5
3-2
1-3
0-0
278
268
W2
Ole Miss
4-5
4-2
0-2
0-1
325
287
W1
1-4
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12 • Spurs & Feathers
November 9, 2016
Gourmet Gents Grub of the Week Jalapeño Popper Dip
Ingredients · 1 4oz can diced jalapenos, well drained OR 4-6 fresh jalapenos, roasted and diced (include seeds if you like it really spicy) · 1 8oz package cream cheese, softened · 1 cup sour cream · 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese · ¾ cup + ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese · 1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs · 4 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted · 1 tablespoon dried parsley
Directions 1. In a mixer or by hand, combine cream cheese and sour cream. 2. Add cheddar cheese, ¾ cup parmesan cheese, and diced jalapenos, mix well. 3. Spoon into 8x8 baking dish, spreading evenly. 4. Blend bread crumbs, melted butter, ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese, and dried parsley, using a fork or your fingers, until crumbly. 5. Sprinkle the buttery crumb topping evenly over the cream cheese mixture. 6. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, or until hot and breadcrumbs are golden brown. Do not overcook. 7. Serve with bread or crackers. About the Gourmet Gents
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Spurs & Feathers • 13
November 9, 2016
Win Anyway Foundation set to unveil special plans at auction BY BRIAN HAND Executive Editor South Carolina baseball head coach Chad Holbrook knows he is a Gamecock for a reason. And it’s definitely not just on the field as his Win Anyway Foundation continues to make huge strides each and every year. In fact, this year’s Win Anyway Foundation Auction featuring music by Edwin McCain on Sunday, Nov. 13, at the My Carolina Alumni Center promises to be one of the best ones yet. “We have so many people that love the Gamecocks and love the baseball team and love our foundation, but it’s neat to grow,” Holbrook told Spurs & Feathers in his office on Thursday, Nov. 3. “We’re going to have to grow to accomplish what we want to accomplish. It’s a special thing to be a part of. The good Lord gave me this platform, there is no doubt in my mind to not only be able to coach baseball and lead college-aged kids, but also to make a difference in this fight. I’m a firm believer I’m here for a reason, and I have a great platform because I’m the baseball coach at ville. We’ve kind of met each other over the last South Carolina and I think my responsibilities couple of years at various events. He’s a very should not be limited to coaching baseball just charitable, giving musician. My wife loves like the responsibilities of our players should hearing him sing. This is our private auction not be limited to playing baseball. We’ve got where the people that are very supportive of to help each other, and I think that’s one of the us we want to be able to entertain them with a neat things that makes me so happy to be a part great musician. We’re planning on a mega conof something like this.” cert next year at the Colonial Life Arena, and This Win Anyway Foundation fight hits we’ve got a commitment from a mega group home for Holbrook and his family as their life and we’re going to announce that on Sunday. I changed forever on Sept. 7, 2004, when they can tell you it will be sold out.” were told that their then 2-year-old son, Reece, This past January, the Win Anyway Foundahad cancer. Three years and two months later, tion held a benefit concert featuring Vince Gill, Reece finished his cancer treatments and was Jenny Gill and Patrick Davis at the Township considered in remission. Auditorium. All proceeds from the concert Despite his own son “kicking cancer’s butt,” benefited the Win Anyway Foundation and Holbrook, his wife, Jennifer, and their two its projects to benefit children that are fighting sons, Reece and Cooper, through their Win pediatric cancers. Anyway Foundation have continued to fight The concert plus this year’s auction on Nov. and raise awareness. 13 is part of their continued efforts to raise On a night that will feature money to have a special place a great deal of limited edition for those children fighting a auction items, having McCain terminal illness in the future. there adds to the special eveIn fact, at this year’s auction ning. Plus, there is more big the plans for the home will be things to come in this regard in unveiled on Nov. 13. the future. “This year, we’re going to “Edwin McCain is a big release our plans for our big Gamecock fan, and a big project that we’re getting All Gamecock baseball Gamecock baseball fan,” Holready to undertake in which coverage sponsored by brook said. “He lives in Greenthe goal is to build a house for DiPrato’s
PHOTO BY BRIAN HAND
kids and their families that are fighting terminal illnesses,” Holbrook said. “What I mean by that is not a place to reside, but a vacation spot in which when they walk in this house it is their ultimate playground. Every room is suited toward them whether it is a trampoline room or a room with foam pits where they can jump in, whether it’s an arts and crafts room or the Vince Gill and Amy Grant recording studio that’s going to be state of the art with musical, audio and video equipment where they can either sing, write their own music, play and record themselves. We’re also going to have a mini concert place in this house in which famous musicians can come and play for the sick kids. It’s going to be a respite for the moms and dads too. We’re going to have an awesome kitchen where chefs can come in and teach the kids how to cook.” Holbrook knows that a place such as this can make huge a huge difference. “It’s just going to be one of the neatest places, and I don’t know if there is one out there like it,” Holbrook said. “We want the state of South Carolina and the kids that are fighting these tough diseases in this state, we want them to have something like this to be their second home because there is nothing more precious than when you’re going through something like this as a family to see your kids smile, and as a parent to see your kid - though maybe going
through hell in regards to their health - to have the time of their life. There is nothing more rewarding than that, and that’s something that we want to be able to provide.” The process for the house is very much down the line, but Holbrook knows in many ways still it is just the beginning. “We’ve got the renderings of the house,” Holbrook said. “We’ve got architects involved. We’re way down the road, and now comes the part of we have to raise some money to make this happen. We’re way down the road, but we’ve also got corporations involved and there are some big-time companies that have gotten wind of this that want to be a part of it. One of the neat things about having Vince last year at our concert is he’s kind of agreed that when it comes time to propose this to some of the major companies out there in the United States, he wants to be the spokesperson for the house. We’re going to name the recording studio (in the house) after Vince because of all he’s done for us. We’ve got a lot of neat plans, a lot of neat things to unveil.” With the growth of the auction and foundation there has also been growth in the great auction items received with this year’s auction set to have some of the most unique items yet. “That’s what is neat is seeing great personalities that are involved in sports want to donate their stuff,” Holbrook said. “It starts with the great Gamecocks out there from Michael Roth, who is going to be an auctioneer for the event, to Kip Bouknight to Jackie Bradley, Jr. We’ve had so many great people play baseball here and be a part of our great program. The fact that they want to help us is really, really neat. It’s also the coaches on campus from coach (Frank) Martin, to coach (Dawn) Staley to coach (Will) Muschamp. Our football coaches’ wives are going to be at our event because they heard about it being such a good time. Coach (Ray) Tanner has been so supportive of everything that we’ve tried to do, and if I ask him to do something for our foundation he doesn’t blink an eye. He always says, ‘let me know what I can do to help.’ It’s special to be a part of that type of team at South Carolina.” There are limited spots left for this year’s auction, but to purchase tickets, donate to the foundation or just to find out more information on the Win Anyway Foundation, please visit http://www.winanywayfoundation.org. You can also like the foundation on Facebook at Win Anyway Foundation. The foundation can also be followed on Twitter @Win_ Anyway.
14 • Spurs & Feathers
November 9, 2016
South Carolina Gamecocks
RECRUITING ROUND-UP By Phil Kornblut
WR Chad Terrell (6-3 205) of Dallas, GA last Friday night announced a commitment to USC prior to kickoff of his final home regular season game. Terrell picked the Gamecocks over Oregon. He also considered NC State before narrowing his decision to the Gamecocks and Ducks. Terrell moved the Gamecocks to the front of the list in early October. “It was pretty much everything,” Terrell said then. “The coaches, the players, the atmosphere and the area. “The school just suits my academic side. It just suits me in all those areas.” Terrell caught 51 passes for 826 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior. This season, according to stats from MaxPreps, Terrell is the second leading receiver in Phil Kornblut the state of Georgia Contributing with 1077 yards on Writer 55 catches, 15 going for touchdowns. He’s averaging nearly 20 yards per reception. Terrell gives USC 22 commitments in the 2017 class and three at wide receiver. OL K’Rojhn Calbert of McMinnville, TN picked a great time, from a USC standpoint, to take his official visit with the Gamecocks. USC had its best setting of the season last Saturday night with the win over Tennessee and it was the kind of performance and atmosphere that can open the eyes of recruits. “It went well,” said Calbert who arrived on campus early Saturday morning and met with Will Muschamp and Shawn Elliott as well as getting a tour of the school and football facilities. “There was nothing I didn’t like about it. It was a good place to be. I thought it was a hell of a game, it was cool to watch. They were ready to come and play. It was just special.” Before leaving, Calbert had a chance for a final conversation with the coaches and they made it clear to him that a spot in the program exists if he will take it. “They said what you see is what you get,” Calbert said. “They really need me. Not that they want me, they need me. I really like them, I really do. If I had a top three they would probably be up there. It would be hard to shy away from South Carolina.” Calbert also has a Tennessee offer so he got to watch his home state team as well. He said the extra distance to get to Columbia from his home, including
driving right through Knoxville, is not an issue, but the offer from the Vols is still big. Calbert has not set up any other official visits and he plans to with Tennessee, Florida and Louisville. He does not have a timeline for a decision and could carry things out all the way to Signing Day. He does not have a favorite. USC last Wednesday night offered DB Keisean Nixon of Arizona Western JC. “I think it’s big for me,” Nixon said. “It was one of the offers I wanted and hopefully I’ll set up a visit soon.” Nixon also is considering offers from Missouri, Oregon and Mississippi State at this point and he’s set an official visit to Mizzou for November 25th. “I’m looking for early playing time and the loyalty of the coaches,” Nixon said of what he’s looking for in his eventual choice. Nixon signed with Oregon State out of high school in Compton, CA but did not qualify. He’s in his second season at Arizona Western and will have three years to play to at the next level. He plans to announce his choice December 17th and sign that day as a mid-year enrollee. DE Matthew Butler of Garner, NC has taken official visits to Duke and Penn State and will take an official visit to NC State this weekend. He’s also been to USC, Tennessee and NC State unofficially for games this season and he’s also considering Texas A&M. He’s not sure about returning to USC this season for a game or for an official visit. “I’ve seen a lot of South Carolina and I’m confident on where I stand with them,” Butler said. “I’m still high on them. I just taking it step by step one step at a time. Right now I’m just focused on high school football and then I’m going to give that focus on my recruiting whenever that needs to be done.” Butler said there is no favorite. DB Johnathan Abram of Jones County JC, MS, long a target of USC, said last week he’s no longer considering the Gamecocks. “Just didn’t feel right.” Abram said he’s down to LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss and Tennessee. DE Aaron Sterling of Tucker, GA continues to measure his top four teams of USC, Tennessee, Georgia and NC State. He visited USC unofficially for the Georgia game earlier this month and is working on dates for his official visits with his four favorites. Sterling said USC and Tennessee were the two recruiting him the hardest at this point and he said he does not have a favorite. OL Jerry Drake Jr. of Palm Beach Gar-
dens, FL has taken two official visits and is not close on making his decision. He is graduating early so the decision will need to come by early December. And he’s planning more official visits before making that decision. Drake has taken official visits to USC and Tennessee and came away favorably impressed with each. “Both are great schools,” Drake said. “At South Carolina I saw everything. I didn’t see anything I thought was bad. I really like Coach (Shawn) Elliott and how enthusiastic he is, how he gets everybody hyped before the game. He’s a great dude. I think Coach Elliott is an awesome coach and knows what he’s talking about. I talk to the Gamecocks’ offensive coaches, Coach Muschamp, Coach Elliott, we talk on a regular basis. They always say how much I can affect the program. I really liked what they had to offer.” Drake said he will also set official visits with Mississippi State and Oklahoma. All four schools, he said, are on him hard and he does not have a favorite.
wants to have a good time and enjoy football. If you’re a college coach and call him up and crack a joke, he’ll love you to death. He wants to enjoy the whole process, he’s not going to rush the decision.” Other 2018 top prospects at South Pointe are LB Eli Adams, LB BJ Davis, DB Steven Gilmore Jr. and PK BT Potter. USC has offered Adams and Gilmore. DL Josh Belk of Lewisville made a return visit to USC for the Massachusetts game. Belk has made several trips to USC and the Gamecocks have done their best to show him their serious interest every time he visits there. “The coaches showed a lot of love as usual,” Belk said. “I watched the Gamecocks play pretty hard. They don’t take plays off. They just keep going to the whistle blows.” Belk has also been to Clemson this season and the Tigers remain strong him largely due to their recent history of success on the defensive line. “The fact that they’ve put ten defensive linemen in the NFL the past two years,” Belk explained. “I don’t hear as much from them as USC but I still hear from them.” Belk 2018 Prospects: said of all the schools recruiting him, USC is on him the hardest right now. He just Derion Kendrick (6-1 190) of South picked up an offer from Florida to go along Pointe will be one of the state’s most talwith other offers from Auburn, Virginia ented and most sought after recruits for Tech, Ohio State, NC State, Florida State, 2018. Kendrick is the most touted of a LSU and North Carolina. Belk does not star studded ’18 group for coach Strait claim an individual leader at this point. Herron and has played in the secondary “Clemson and USC are about tied.” as a corner and safety and on offense as WR Sam James of Richmond Hill, GA a quarterback and slot receiver. Some made an unofficial visit to USC for the schools have recruited him as a receiver Massachusetts game. It was his second but Herron said that’s a waste of time visit to USC after coming in last spring. because Kendrick is set on being a defenJames has a USC offer and the Gamecocks sive back in college. Clemson is making sit in good shape with him early in the proa strong recruiting run at Kendrick but cess. “As of now I would say I’m favorUSC also is in the mix. The Gamecocks ing South Carolina, but it’s early,” James have strong ties to the school through past said. “I just loved it there. I saw Coach recruiting and are involved with several McClendon and he said he was happy to of Kendrick’s teammates. Kendrick’s list see me. I also talked to Coach Muschamp. of offers includes Clemson, USC, North They want me back up there soon.” James Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, is a multi-position player who also works Kentucky, Penn State, Florida State, LSU at corner and safety, but the Gamecocks and Notre Dame. With those offers comes clearly want him for receiver. He also has the bright spotlight of recruiting attention, offers from Georgia Tech, Georgia Southsomething Kendrick does not crave. “He ern, Central Michigan, Southern Missiswon’t tell us, he won’t say anything,” Her- sippi and Coastal Carolina. He is hoping ron explained. “Last year he went to a lot for offers from Georgia, Wake Forest, Kenof games. He really doesn’t want to go to tucky and Duke. James also camped at games this season. It’s been kind of funny. Clemson last summer and he plans to go to I did hear that he likes Clemson, USC and Clemson for the USC game. He also plans Florida but Clemson is definitely in the a return trip to USC for another game this lead. He doesn’t like to talk to the media season. Last season James had 22 catches or college coaches about that kind of stuff. for 516 yards and 6 touchdowns. He’s a lot like (Jadeveon) Clowney. He CONTINUED ON PAGE 17
Spurs & Feathers • 15
November 9, 2016
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16 • Spurs & Feathers
November 9, 2016
South Carolina Gamecocks # Name Pos. 1 Deebo Samuel WR 3 K.C. Crosby TE 3 Chris Lammons DB 4 Jake Bentley QB 4 Bryson Allen-Williams LB 5 Darius English DL 5 Terry Googer WR 6 Chris Moody LB 7 Korey Banks WR 7 Jamarcus King DB 8 Randrecous Davis WR 8 Marquavius Lewis DL 9 Jerad Washington WR 9 Sherrod Pittman LB 10 Perry Orth QB 10 Skai Moore LB 11 Brandon McIlwain QB 11 T.J. Holloman LB 12 Michael Scarnecchia QB 13 Sean Kelly P 13 Jalen Dread LB 14 Jamari Smith WR 15 Matrick Belton WR 16 Rashad Fenton DB 16 Bailey Hart QB 17 Chaz Elder DB 18 Danny Gordon QB 18 Keir Thomas DL 19 Lorenzo Nunez WR 20 Joseph Charlton K/P 21 Antoine Wilder DB 22 Steven Montac DB 22 Montray Feaster WR 23 Rico Dowdle RB 23 Larenz Bryant LB 24 D.J. Smith DB 24 Garrett Frederick WR 25 A.J. Turner RB 26 Jasper Sasser DB 27 Ty’Son Williams RB 28 Jonathan Walton LB 29 Elliott Fry PK 30 Shannon James DB 30 Darius Paulk RB 31 Chris Smith DB 32 Brett Shore LB 32 Rod Talley RB 33 David Williams RB 34 Mon Denson RB 34 Scott Grant DB 35 Daniel Fennell DL 36 C.J. Freeman RB 36 Morgan Vest DB 39 Demetrius Smalls DB 39 Rivers Bedenbaugh TE 40 Jacob August TE 40 Jason Senn DB 41 Tyler Ragsdale LB
Coaches/Staff
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Cl. RS SO RS SO JR FR JR RS SR RS SO RS SR FR JR FR SR RS FR RS FR RS SR SR FR RS SR RS SO RS SR SO RS JR RS SR SO FR RS SR RS SO FR SO RS FR RS FR SO FR FR SR JR FR RS FR RS JR SO SR SR RS SR RS SR FR RS JR RS JR RS JR RS FR RS SO RS FR FR FR RS JR RS JR RS SO RS FR RS FR
Football Roster
Hometown/High School/Last College Inman, S.C./Chapman Bamberg, S.C./Bamberg-Ehrhardt Lauderhill, Fla./Plantation Opelika, Ala./Opelika Ellenwood, Ga./Ceder Grove Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern Atlanta, Ga./Woodward Academy McDonough, Ga./Henry County Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek Mobile, Ala./Blount Atlanta, Ga./Mays Greenwood, S.C./Greenwood/Hutchinson Jacksonville, Fla./First Coast Jacksonville, Fla./First Coast Ponte Vedra, Fla./Florida State College Cooper City, Fla./University Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North Stone Mountain, Ga./St. Pius X Fleming Island, Fla./Fleming Island Oakland, Fla./West Orange/FAU/Tallahassee Foley, Ala./Foley Jacksonville, Fla./Fletcher Columbia, S.C./Keenan/Hampton Miami, Fla./Miami Carol City Mt. Pleasant, S.C./Wando Union City, Ga./Banneker Worthington, Ohio/Miami (Ohio) Miami, Fla./Miami Central Kennesaw, Ga./Harrison Columbia, S.C./A.C. Flora Riverdale, Ga./Hapeville Charter Covington, Ga./Newton/Coffeyville C.C. Union, S.C./Union County Asheville, N.C./A.C. Reynolds Charlotte, NC./Vance Marietta, Ga./Walton Plano, Texas/Plano Clifton, Va./Centreville Jacksonville, Fla./Wolfson Sumter, S.C./Crestwood/North Carolina Daphne, Ala./Bayside Academy Frisco, Texas/Prince of Peace Christian Florence, S.C./South Florence Columbia, S.C./North Greenville Rock Hill, S.C./South Pointe Irmo, S.C./Dutch Fork/Tyler JC Laurens, S.C./Laurens/Gardner-Webb Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter LaGrange, Ga./LaGrange Laurens, S.C./Laurens Loganville, Ga./Grayson Greensboro, N.C./Northern Guilford Leander, Texas/Rouse Bluffton, S.C./Bluffton Leesville, S.C./Lexington/Georgia Southern Columbia, S.C./Fork Union Military Beaufort, S.C./Beaufort Mt. Pleasant, S.C./Wando
Will Muschamp - Head Coach Bobby Bentley - Running Backs Shawn Elliott - Offensive Line Coleman Hutzler - Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers Bryan McClendon - Co-Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers Mike Peterson - Outside Linebackers Travaris Robinson - Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs Kurt Roper - Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Lance Thompson - Asst. Head Coach - Defense/Defensive Line Pat Washington - Tight Ends Jeff Dillman - Director of Strength & Conditioning Jamie Speronis - Associate AD/Football Operations Robbie Liles - Director of Player Personnel Joey Blake - Director of Football Nutrition Andre Goodman - Director of Football Development Larry Waters - Director of Football Equipment Operations Clyde Wrenn - Director of High School Relations
# Name Pos. 42 Alexander Woznick PK 42 Jordan Diggs DB 43 Benji Russell DB 44 T.J. Brunson LB 44 Adrian McGee RB 45 Spencer Eason-Riddle LB 45 Ben Asbury LS 46 Trey Mitchell LB 46 Harrison Freeman LS 47 Drew Williams LS 48 Nick McGriff LS 48 Dexter Wideman DL 49 Boosie Whitlow DL 50 Griffin Gentry DL 50 Sadarius Hutcherson OL 51 Cory Helms OL 52 Jajuan Blankenship DL 55 Christian Pellage OL 57 Hassan Belton LB 59 Logan Crane LS 60 Chandler Farrell OL 61 Cameron Johnson OL 61 Javion Duncan DL 63 Blake Camper OL 65 Pika Leota OL 66 Will Putnam OL 67 Ryan Green OL 69 D.J. Park OL 70 Alan Knott OL 72 Donell Stanley OL 74 Mason Zandi OL 75 Darius Whitfield OL 77 Malik Young OL 78 Zack Bailey OL 79 Trey Derouen OL 80 Shemar Glenn WR 81 Hayden Hurst TE 82 Evan Hinson TE 83 Chavis Dawkins WR 84 Kyle Markway TE 85 Devin Dingle WR 85 Michael Almond K/P 86 Robert Tucker III TE 87 Kiel Pollard TE 88 Javon Charleston WR 89 Bryan Edwards WR 90 Wyman Baxley LS 90 Taylor Stallworth DL 91 Shameik Blackshear DL 92 D.J. Wonnum DL 93 Ulric Jones DL 94 Kelsey Griffin DL 95 Dante Sawyer DL 96 Aaron Thompson DL 97 Kobe Smith DL 98 Stephon Taylor DL 99 Abu Lamin DL
Hgt. 5-11 6-0 6-0 6-1 5-11 5-11 5-10 6-2 6-4 6-2 6-0 6-4 6-3 6-1 6-4 6-4 6-0 6-6 6-0 6-3 6-2 6-8 6-0 6-8 6-4 6-5 6-4 6-4 6-4 6-4 6-9 6-2 6-3 6-6 6-3 6-1 6-5 6-4 6-2 6-5 5-10 6-3 6-3 6-0 6-0 6-3 6-2 6-2 6-4 6-4 6-5 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-2 6-4 6-4
Wgt. 160 205 200 225 185 226 210 210 235 215 225 280 240 246 273 310 265 305 215 245 280 300 260 300 315 282 265 330 290 325 315 286 300 315 310 175 250 238 200 245 180 222 238 230 195 210 195 310 265 240 300 295 275 271 305 293 310
Cl. FR RS SR RS JR FR FR FR RS SO FR FR SR RS SO RS FR SO FR FR RS JR FR SO SO RS FR FR FR RS SO SO FR FR SO RS JR RS JR RS SO RS SR FR RS SO SO RS FR RS FR SO FR FR SO RS FR RS FR FR FR RS FR FR FR JR RS FR FR RS JR SR JR FR FR FR RS SR
Hometown/High School/Last College Greenville, S.C./Eastside Fort Myers, Fla./Island Coast Atlanta, Ga./Woodward Academy Columbia, S.C./Richland Northeast Greer, S.C./Greer Raleigh, N.C./Leesville Road Atlanta, Ga./Berry College Lexington, S.C./Lexington Raleigh, N.C./Leesville Road Irmo, S.C./Dutch Fork Gainesville, Fla./Gainesville Saluda, S.C./Saluda/Camden Military Opelika, Ala./Opelika Birmingham, Ala./Homewood Huntingdon,Tenn./Huntingdon Alpharetta, Ga./Milton/Wake Forest Anderson, S.C./T.L. Hanna Brooksville, Fla./Nature Coast Tech Blythewood, S.C./Western Carolina Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth Summerville, S.C./Summerville Bennettsville, S.C./Marlboro County Simpsonville, S.C./Woodmont/Citadel Virginia Beach, Va./Frank W. Cox Asheville, N.C./Asheville Harrisburg, N.C./Hickory Ridge James Island, S.C./James Island/Presbyterian Dillon, S.C./Dillon Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek Floydale, S.C./Latta Chapin, S.C./Chapin Mobile, Ala./St. Paul’s Episcopal Pelzer, S.C./Woodmont Summerville, S.C./Summerville Lilburn, Ga./Parkview Union, S.C./Union County/USC-Union Jacksonville, Fla./The Bolles School Deltona, Fla./Deltona Duncan, S.C./Byrnes St. Louis, Mo./St. John Vianney Summerville, S.C./Cane Bay North Augusta, S.C./Westminster Atlanta, Ga./B.E.S.T. Academy Moultrie, Ga./Colquitt County Gurnee, Ill./Warren Conway, S.C./Conway Athens, Ga./Athens Academy Mobile, Ala./Murphy Bluffton, S.C./Bluffton Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson Oxford, Ala./Butler (Community College Buford, Ga./Mill Creek Suwanee, Ga./East Mississippi C.C. Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Dillard Lawrenceville, Ga./Archer New Orleans, La./McDonogh 35 Fayetteville, N.C./Trinity Christian/Fort Scott
Jessica Jackson - Director of On-Campus Recruiting Kristin Sheetz - Director of External Communications Ellis Johnson - Analyst Kyle Krantz - Analyst Demarco McNeil - Analyst Scott Spurrier - Analyst Seth Strickland - Analyst Brian Turk - Assistant Director - Recruiting - Offense Shaq Wilson - Assistant Director - Recruiting - Defense Omar Young - Analyst David Feeley - Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach Corey Jenkins - Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach Roy Upchurch - Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach Cedric Williams - Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach Shuler Hayes - Assistant Director of Football Equipment Operations Kim Fields - Assistant to Head Football Coach Charity Grady - Coordinator of Offensive Operations Carina Hargreaves - Coordinator of Defensive Operations
Spurs & Feathers • 17
November 9, 2016
USC reached into Texas with an offer to WR Joshua Moore (6-1 208) of Yoakum, TX. “Yeah man, the offer was big! I’ve been in contact with USC for a long time now, so for them to pull the trigger and offer me meant a lot. My recent offers were Illinois, Nebraska, Notre Dame, and North Carolina.” He also has offers from Florida State, LSU, Oklahoma, Duke, Georgia, Texas and Texas A&M. WR Darius Rush of CE Murray has had some contact from USC and was in for the Georgia game earlier this month. He has an offer from Miami of Ohio and has also drawn interest from Vanderbilt, Wake Forest and Duke. DB Israel Mukuamu of Berkeley has an offer from USC and made an unofficial visit for the Tennessee game. “I like South Carolina’s coaching staff I can tell that they are serious in recruiting. Also the fan base there is phenomenal. They really love their team. The people there are awesome people.” Mukuamu also is hearing from Clemson but has not been offered. He also has offers from Wake Forest and Coastal Carolina. Mukuamu said USC currently leads for him but Wake Forest isn’t far behind. WR Jordyn Adams of Blythewood last week picked up an offer from Clemson. Adams also has offers from USC, Ole Miss, East Carolina, Southern Miss, North Carolina, Tulane, Maryland and Kentucky. WR Tykee Ogle-Kellogg of Alcoa, TN was offered last week by USC after making an unofficial visit for the Massachusetts game. “It’s a huge relief, first SEC offer, and it feels great. They just said that they loved my height and speed and my blocking ability. They said I fit in perfectly. My top choice is Louisville as of right now but if I keep getting SEC offers, my top choices will shift.” DB Malik Dunlap of Charlotte visited USC last month and is drawing interest from the Gamecocks. “They like me, they like my size a lot. I think they will offer at the end of the season, hopefully. “They already offered my brother Quavaris Crouch (2019 DL).” Dunlap is also hearing from North Carolina, Wake Forest, Liberty and Charlotte. LB Kyle Wright of Ben Lippen visited USC for the UMass game. “The visit was great, had an awesome time. Always love being in Williams-Brice.” Wright also has been to Clemson and Notre Dame for games. He has not been offered. Basketball News: The five official visits are in the books and all of the in home visits by the contenders are complete. Now, 6-10 Nick Claxton of Legacy Charter in Greenville is focusing on the biggest decision of his young life, one he will reveal at his school at 4:00 PM on Monday, November 14th. Claxton took official visits, in order, to Florida State, USC, Georgia, Baylor and NC State and all five schools are still in the mix. Frank Martin from USC, Mark Fox from Georgia and Mark Gottfried from NC State were in last week along with coaches from Baylor and Florida State. Martin was joined by his assistants Matt Figger and Perry Clark. “It went well,” Nick’s father Charles Claxton said of the in-home with the Gamecocks. “They’ve done an excellent job. They’ve done all they can do. Frank has always believed in Nicholas. He’s been recruiting him 2-3 years. He told him if he comes to South Carolina they’ll put in him good position to move on, and his goal is to get to the NBA. And being a South Carolina kid, his name in state will go a long way and he’ll have a lot of opportunities in South Carolina.” All the material is now in front of the Claxtons who are letting their son make his own decision. He will weigh the facts, the pros and cons, and then contact the coaches on November 13th with the decision he will reveal the next day. “It will come down to the fact all five schools are great and he’ll pick the school I think where he’s just comfortable in the system,” Mr. Claxton said. “I think he would get along well with all the coaches, and the environment with all five he’d be comfortable. Honestly, I don’t think he knows right now. We really haven’t sat down. We’ll do that this week and go over pros and cons.” 6-3 David Beatty of Philadelphia made an official visit to USC with his mom last Thursday through Saturday. “It went great, I loved it,” Beatty said. He also has taken an official visit to Georgetown and is scheduled to visit Indiana this weekend. He also has Connecticut, Maryland, Texas Tech, Michigan, Michigan State, New Mexico State, Virginia and Syracuse on his list. But he likes Frank Martin and is interested in what the Gamecocks. “I know that Frank Martin is a great coach. He’s pretty loud and pretty animated. He’s a really cool guy and always wants best for his guys. I know they have other good coaches and really care for their players, not so much about basketball but about becoming better men and being a better person. I just know it’s a great university.” Beatty averaged over 21 points per game last season and views himself as a scorer first. He sees a good fit
in Martin’s offensive scheme. “From what I’ve seen they let their guards go and make plays for the team and let them do what they have to do to make something happen,” Beatty said. “That kind of fits my game. I’m just a playmaker with the ball in my hands or when I’m on the court I’m going to make something happen.” Beatty has an aunt and cousins living in South Carolina and he also is friends with Gamecock freshman Sedee Keita. He said the Gamecocks have been recruiting him since last summer. Gamecock coaches have up to see him twice in the last month. 6-4 Clyde Trapp Jr. of Lower Richland made an official visit to USC weekend before last and according to his coach had a very good time. But the Gamecocks, and the others on his short list, apparently have some work to do to catch up with Charlotte in this recruiting race. “You know, I do think he likes Charlotte but he hasn’t solidified that,” said Lower Richland coach Caleb Gaither. “He does like them. They’ve been in the picture for a while now. They’ve been to the school pretty much every week. He’s not set in stone which school he’s going to. He’s still taking in all in. Carolina made some strides.” Martin laid out for Trapp his vision of how he would be used in the program and according to Gaither, Martin sees Trapp as a combo guard who could play the one, two or three. “They really like his vision,” he said. “He’s a nice size guard and has a frame where he can bulk up and out on some muscle. But standing 6-4, 6-5 they really like him at the point position and the shooting guard as well. They see him with the ball in his hands at certain times, kind of a facilitator making plays. I think the biggest they like about him is his vision and ability to pass the ball. He likes Coach Martin a lot. He likes that Coach Martin is straight up and always honest with him. He likes the coaching staff as a whole.” Trapp took an official visit to Charlotte over the weekend and started an official visit to Clemson this past Thursday night. He has also been to Rice. USC is in the mix with 6-10 Felipe Haase of Miami and he is scheduled to visit this weekend. He visited Pittsburgh and Purdue last week. This week he will visit Louisville before reportedly visiting USC. He has visited Missouri. Those are his five finalists. Baseball News; D1Baseball ranked USC’s 2016 recruiting class #10 nationally and Clemson #13.
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14
18 • Spurs & Feathers
November 9, 2016
Florida Gators
# Name Pos. 4 Brandon Powell WR 5 Ahmad Fulwood WR 6 Quincy Wilson DB 7 Duke Dawson DB 8 Nick Washington DB 9 Dre Massey WR 10 Josh Hammond WR 11 Vosean Joseph LB 11 Kyle Trask QB 12 Austin Appleby QB 12 C.J. McWilliams DB 13 Feleipe Franks QB 13 Daniel McMillian LB 14 Luke Del Rio QB 14 Chris Williamson DB 15 Eddy Pineiro K 16 Brian Fallace TE 16 Freddie Swain WR 17 Jordan Sherit DL 18 C.J. Worton WR 19 Johnny Townsend P 20 Marcus Maye DB 21 McArthur Burnett DB 22 Lamical Perine RB 23 Chauncey Gardner DB 24 Mark Thompson RB 25 Jordan Scarlett RB 25 Brady Walters DB 26 Marcell Harris DB 27 Quincy Lenton DB 28 Kylan Johnson LB 29 Jeawon Taylor DB 30 DeAndre Goolsby TE 30 Garrett Stephens DB 31 Anthony Gilga DB 31 Teez Tabor DB 32 Jordan Cronkrite RB 33 Tyriek Hopkins RB 33 David Reese LB 34 Alex Anzalone LB 35 Joseph Putu DB 36 Eddie Giles DB 37 Mark Herndon RB 38 Neil MacInnes K 38 Nick Oelrich DB 39 Ryan Ferguson TE 39 Michael Iorio DB 40 Jarrad Davis LB 41 Ryan Farr LS 42 Jordan Smith DL 42 Nick Sproles QB 43 Glenn Jarriel WR 43 Mark Norvelis DB 44 Rayshad Jackson LB 44 Tucker Nordman WR 45 Charles Nordman WR 45 R.J. Raymond LB
Ht. 5-9 6-4 6-1 5-10 6-0 5-9 6-1 6-1 6-4 6-4 5-11 6-6 6-1 6-1 5-11 6-0 6-4 6-0 6-4 6-0 6-1 6-0 5-9 5-11 5-11 6-2 5-10 5-11 6-1 5-11 6-1 6-0 6-4 5-9 5-11 6-0 5-11 5-8 6-0 6-3 6-2 5-9 5-9 6-4 6-2 6-3 5-10 6-2 6-0 6-5 6-2 5-8 5-10 6-0 6-1 6-1 6-2
Wt. 184 208 213 208 197 180 186 226 238 240 171 219 223 211 191 173 209 186 254 196 211 216 174 221 204 237 213 176 211 202 231 187 244 188 177 201 204 177 244 241 195 167 209 225 187 229 183 238 223 240 203 173 194 226 192 180 248
Yr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. R-Jr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Gr. Fr. Fr. Sr. R-So. So. R-So. R-So. Fr. R-Jr. Jr. R-Jr. R-Sr. Fr. Fr. Fr. R-Jr. So. Jr. R-Jr. Fr. R-Fr. Fr. Jr. R-Jr. Jr. Jr. So. R-Fr. Fr. R-Jr. Jr. R-So. R-Sr. Sr. Fr. R-So. R-Sr. Sr. So. Fr. Fr. R-Fr. R-Sr. R-Fr. R-Fr. R-Fr. R-So.
Football Roster
Hometown/Previous School Deerfield Beach / Deerfield Beach Jacksonville / Bishop Kenny Fort Lauderdale / University School Cross City / Dixie County Jacksonville / Trinity Christian Academy Greenville, S.C. / Mauldin Hallandale, Fla. / Hallandale Miami, Fla. / Norland Manvel, Texas / Manvel North Canton, Ohio / North Canton Hoover Miami, Fla. / Southwest Crawfordville, Fla. / Wakulla Jacksonville / First Coast Santa Rosa Beach / Valor Christian HS Gainesville, Ga. / Gainesville Miami, Fla. / Sunset Satellite Beach / Palm Bay Ocala, Fla. / North Marion Tampa / Hillsborough Homestead / South Dade Orlando / Boone Melbourne / Holy Trinity Episcopal School Pahokee, Fla. / Pahokee Theodore, Ala. / Theodore Cocoa, Fla. / Cocoa La Mott, Pa. / Cheltenham Fort Lauderdale / St. Thomas Aquinas Clermont / South Lake Orlando / Dr. Phillips Meridian, Miss. / Meridian Dallas, Texas / Skyline Montgomery, Ala. / Park Crossing Derby, Kan. / Derby Louisville, Ky. / Saint Xavier Clermont / South Lake Washington, D.C. / Friendship Collegiate Miami / Westminster Christian St. Petersburg / Lakewood Farmington, Mich. / Farmington Wyomissing, Pa. / Wyomissing Area Providence, R.I. / Mount Pleasant Jupiter / Dwyer Ocala / Forest Tampa / Chamberlain Newberry / Newberry Largo / Indian Rocks Nokomis / Venice Kingsland, Ga. / Camden County Henderson, Nev. / Coronado Lithonia, Ga. / Lithonia Winter Park / Winter Park Okeechobee, Fla. / Glades Day Palm Bay / Palm Bay Miami / Miami Norland Deland / Deland Deland / Deland Atlantic Beach / Fletcher
Coaches Jim McElwain Head Coach Doug Nussmeier Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Geoff Collins Defensive Coordinator Kerry Dixon II Assistant Coach, Wide Receivers Torrian Gray Assistant Coach, Defensive Backs Greg Nord Special Teams Coordinator / Tight Ends Chris Rumph Assistant Coach, Defensive Line Randy Shannon Associate Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Tim Skipper Assistant Coach, Running Backs Mike Summers Assistant Coach, Offensive Line Mike Kent Director of Strength & Conditioning
# Name Pos. 46 Harry Gornto V TE 46 Will Thomas LB 47 Jonathan Haney LS 48 Brett DioGuardi LS 48 Edwitch Merisier DB 49 Jacob Tilghman LS 50 Jeremiah Moon LB 51 Antonio Riles OL 52 Steven Stipe LB 53 Kavaris Harkless OL 54 Khairi Clark DL 54 Cameron Dillard OL 56 Cristian Garcia LB 57 Caleb Brantley DL 58 Jahim Lawrence LB 59 T.J. McCoy OL 59 Danny Weldon LB 60 Zach Shinn OL 61 Brett Heggie OL 63 Tyler McVay OL 64 Tyler Jordan OL 65 Jawaan Taylor OL 66 Nick Buchanan OL 67 Brandon Sandifer OL 68 Richerd Desir-Jones OL 69 Marcus Givens OL 71 Nick Villano OL 72 Stone Forsythe OL 73 Martez Ivey OL 74 Fred Johnson OL 75 Tanner Rowell DL 77 Andrew Mike OL 78 David Sharpe OL 79 Dallas Bruch OL 79 Daniel Justino K 80 C’yontai Lewis TE 81 Antonio Callaway WR 82 Moral Stephens TE 83 Rick Wells WR 84 Camrin Knight TE 85 Chris Thompson WR 86 Jacob Finn P 87 Kalif Jackson WR 88 Tommy Townsend P 89 Tyrie Cleveland WR 90 Antonneous Clayton DL 91 Joey Ivie DL 92 Jabari Zuniga DL 93 Taven Bryan DL 94 Bryan Cox DL 95 Keivonnis Davis DL 96 Cece Jefferson DL 97 Jon Gould P 97 Justus Reed DL 98 Luke Ancrum DL 98 Jorge Powell K 99 Jachai Polite DL
Ht. 6-2 5-9 6-2 6-3 5-9 6-1 6-4 6-4 5-11 6-5 6-2 6-4 6-1 6-2 5-11 6-1 6-1 6-2 6-3 6-2 6-4 6-5 6-2 6-3 6-4 6-0 6-2 6-7 6-5 6-6 6-2 6-6 6-6 6-3 5-8 6-4 5-11 6-3 6-0 6-3 6-0 6-2 6-4 6-1 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-5 6-3 6-4 6-1 6-0 6-3 6-5 5-10 6-2
Wt. 203 233 230 242 171 208 218 313 216 310 319 313 231 297 223 308 223 296 317 275 309 340 301 323 292 275 301 329 305 311 275 301 357 275 160 231 197 249 206 246 170 180 217 195 196 220 301 245 293 269 241 261 181 241 262 177 271
Yr. R-Fr. Fr. R-Sr. Fr. Fr. R-Fr. Fr. R-Jr. R-Jr. R-So. R-So. R-Jr. R-Jr. R-Jr. R-Fr. R-Fr. Fr. R-So. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. R-Fr. R-Fr. R-Fr. R-Fr. R-Fr. Fr. So. So. Fr. R-So. Jr. Fr. Fr. R-So. So. R-So. Fr. So. Sr. Fr. R-Fr. R-Fr. Fr. Fr. Sr. R-Fr. R-So. R-Sr. So. So. R-Fr. R-So. R-Fr. R-So. Fr.
Hometown/Previous School Fort Walton Beach / Choctawhatchee Dunnellon / Dunnellon Tampa / Plant Windermere / Windermere Prep Lehigh Acres / Fort Myers Daytona Beach / Mainland Hoover, Ala. / Hoover Lawrenceville, Ga. / Archer Waycross, Ga. / Pierce County Jacksonville / Trinity Christian Academy Hollywood / Chaminade-Madonna Canton, Mich. / Plymouth Canton Miami / Belen Jesuit Prep Crescent City / Crescent City Hollywood / Miami Norland Clermont / South Lake Tampa / Tampa Catholic Plant City / Kathleen Senior Mount Dora, Fla. / Mount Dora Miami / Southwest Jacksonville / Bishop Kenny Cocoa, Fla. / Cocoa Dunwoody, Ga. / Dunwoody Warner Robins, Ga. / Northside Fort Lauderdale / St. Thomas Aquinas St. Augustine / Nease Wellington / American Heritage Winter Garden, Fla. / West Orange Apopka / Apopka West Palm Beach / Royal Palm Beach Melbourne / Melbourne Tucson, Ariz. / Sabino Jacksonville / Fletcher Clearwater / Clearwater Central Catholic Green Cove Springs / Middleburg Eutaw, Ala. / Kingwood Christian Miami / Booker T. Washington Perry / Taylor County Jacksonville, Fla. / Raines Tallahassee / Lincoln Gainesville / Gainesville Jacksonville / Paxon School Neptune Beach / Fletcher Orlando / Boone Houston, Texas / Westfield Vienna, Ga. / Dooly County Dade City / Pasco Marietta, Ga. / Sprayberry Casper, Wyo. / Natrona County Ft. Lauderdale / St. Thomas Aquinas Miami / Miami Central Glen St. Mary / Baker County Elkridge, Md. / Howard Clearwater / Clearwater Central Catholic Sebring / Sebring Coral Gables / Belen Jesuit Prep Daytona Beach, Fla. / Mainland
Spurs & Feathers • 19
November 9, 2016
Gamecock Radio/Television Information
The Gamecock Sports Network from IMG College counts 25 affiliate stations for the 2016 football 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. 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-Florida television The South Carolina-Florida game will be televised by CBS. Please check local listings. In-Stadium Frequency To listen to the Gamecock Radio broadcast at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, please tune to (Primary) 91.1 FM or (Secondary) 95.9 FM.
CITY
2016-17 RADIO AFFILIATES CALL LETTERS
FREQUENCY
FOOTBALL
ABBEVILLE WZLA-FM 92.9 JOHNSTON/AIKEN WKSX-FM 92.7 ALLENDALE WDOG-FM 93.5 CAMDEN WPUB-FM 102.7 CAMDEN WCAM-AM 1590 CHARLESTON WWIK-FM 98.9 CHESTERFIELD WVDZ-FM 107.3 COLUMBIA WNKT-FM 107.5 FLORENCE WFRK-FM 93.5 FLORENCE WHYM-AM 1260 GAFFNEY WZZQ-FM 104.3 GAFFNEY WZZQ-AM 1500 GREENVILLE WROO-FM 104.9 HILTON HEAD WVSC-FM 106.5 HILTON HEAD WVSC-FM 99.1 LAKE CITY WHYM-AM 1260 MYRTLE BEACH WJXY-FM 93.9 MYRTLE BEACH WJXY-FM 93.7 NEWBERRY WKDK-AM 1240 ROCK HILL WRHM-FM 107.1 SENECA WSNW-AM 1150 SENECA WSNW-FM 94.1 SPARTANBURG WSPG-AM 1240 SUMTER WIBZ-FM 95.5 UNION WBCU-AM 1460
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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20 • Spurs & Feathers
November 9, 2016
Depth Charts for November 12 WR: WR: WR: -OR- LT: LG: OC: RG: RT: TE: QB: -OR- -OR- RB: -OR-
Offense
1 Deebo Samuel 83 Chavis Dawkins 14 Jamari Smith 7 Korey Banks 89 Bryan Edwards 5 Terry Googer 8 Randrecous Davis 74 Mason Zandi 77 Malik Young 78 Zack Bailey 70 Alan Knott 51 Cory Helms 70 Alan Knott 72 Donell Stanley 69 D.J. Park 69 D.J. Park 63 Blake Camper 81 Hayden Hurst 3 K.C. Crosby 4 Jake Bentley 11 Brandon McIlwain 10 Perry Orth 25 A.J. Turner 33 David Williams 32 Rod Talley
6-0, 205, So. 6-2, 200, Fr. 5-10, 210, Jr. 5-11, 180, Fr. 6-3, 210, Fr. 6-4, 220, So. 5-10, 181, Fr. 6-9, 315, Sr. 6-3, 300, So. 6-6, 315, So. 6-4, 290, Jr. 6-4, 310, Jr. 6-4, 290, Jr. 6-4, 325, So. 6-4, 330, Jr. 6-4, 330, Jr. 6-8, 300, So. 6-5, 250, So. 6-1, 227, So. 6-3, 223, Fr. 6-0, 205, Fr. 6-1, 200, Sr. 5-10, 195, RFr. 6-1, 220, Jr. 5-10, 205, Jr.
South Carolina Inman, S.C. Duncan, S.C. Jacksonville, Fla. Tyrone, Ga. Conway, S.C. Atlanta, Ga. Atlanta, Ga. Chapin, S.C. Pelzer, S.C. Summerville, S.C. Tyrone, Ga. Alpharetta, Ga. Tyrone, Ga. Floydale, S.C. Dillon, S.C. Dillon, S.C. Virginia Beach, Va. Jacksonville, Fla. Bamberg, S.C. Opelika, Ala. Newtown, Pa. Ponte Verda, Fla. Clifton, Va. Philadelphia, Pa. Laurens, S.C.
81 Antonio Callaway 5-11, 197, So. 18 C.J. Worton 6-0, 196, Jr. 85 Chris Thompson 6-0, 170, Sr. 78 David Sharpe 6-6, 357, Jr. 53 Kavaris Harkless 6-5, 310, So. 73 Martez Ivey 6-5, 305, So. 66 Nick Buchanan 6-2, 301, RFr. 67 Brandon Sandifer 6-3, 323, RFr. 54 Cam Dillard 6-4, 313, Jr. 59 T.J. McCoy 6-1, 308, RFr. 64 Tyler Jordan 6-4, 309, So. 74 Fred Johnson 6-6, 311, So. 68 Richerd Desir-Jones 6-4, 292, RFr. 65 Jawaan Taylor 6-5, 340, Fr. 74 Fred Johnson 6-6, 311, So. 89 Tyrie Cleveland 6-2, 196, Fr. 4 Brandon Powell 5-9, 184, Jr. 5 Ahmad Fulwood 6-4, 208, Sr. 4 Brandon Powell 5-9, 184, Jr. 10 Josh Hammond 6-1, 186, Fr. 16 Freddie Swain 6-0, 186, Fr. 25 Jordan Scarlett 5-10, 213, So. 22 Lamical Perine 5-11, 220, Fr. 24 Mark Thompson 6-2, 237, Jr. 32 Jordan Cronkrite 5-11, 204, So.
6-3, 270, Sr. 6-4, 240, Fr. 6-4, 265, RFr. 6-2, 310, Jr. 6-2, 265, Fr. 6-2, 295, Sr. 6-5, 300, Jr. 6-3, 275, Jr. 6-6, 245, Sr. 6-2, 230, Sr. 6-1, 220, Sr. 6-0, 230, Sr. 6-2, 230, Sr. 6-0, 230, Jr. 6-2, 230, Sr. 5-10, 190, So. 5-11, 190, So. 5-11, 195, Jr. 6-0, 205, Sr. 6-2, 200, Sr. 5-11, 190, So. 5-10, 190, Jr. 6-2, 180, Jr. 6-0, 205, Sr. 5-10, 190, So.
Greenwood, S.C. Stone Mountain, Ga. Bluffton, S.C. Mobile, Ala. Miami, Fla. Buford, Ga. Oxford, Ala. Suwanee, Ga. Powder Springs, Ga. Stone Mountain, Ga. McDonough, Ga. Daphne, Ala. Stone Mountain, Ga. Ellenwood, Ga. Stone Mountain, Ga. Miami, Fla. Covington, Ga. Marietta, Ga. Fort Myers, Fla. Union City, Ga. Covington, Ga. Lauderhill, Fla. Mobile, Ala. Fort Myers, Fla. Miami, Fla.
K: P: LS: KOR: PR: H:
Specialists
29 Elliott Fry 20 Joseph Charlton 13 Sean Kelly 20 Joseph Charlton 47 Drew Williams 48 Nick McGriff 25 A.J. Turner 16 Rashad Fenton 16 Rashad Fenton 3 Chris Lammons 13 Sean Kelly
6-0, 170, Sr. 6-5, 185, RFr. 5-10, 190, Sr. 6-5, 185, RFr. 6-2, 215, Sr. 6-0, 225, So. 5-10, 195, RFr. 5-10, 190, So. 5-10, 190, So. 5-10, 190, Jr. 5-10, 189, Jr.
Frisco, Texas Columbia, S.C. Oakland, Fla. Columbia, S.C. Irmo, S.C. Gainesville, Fla. Clifton, Va. Miami, Fla. Miami, Fla. Lauderhill, Fla. Oakland, Fla.
Florida
Offense WR: LT: LG: -OR- C: RG: RT: WR: WR: RB: -OR -OR-
Defense
DE: 8 Marquavius Lewis 92 D.J. Wonnum -OR- 91 Shameik Blackshear DT: 90 Taylor Stallworth 18 Keir Thomas DT: 94 Kelsey Griffin 93 Ulric Jones DE: 95 Dante Sawyer 5 Darius English SLB: 11 T.J. Holloman -OR- 6 Chris Moody MLB: 28 Jonathan Walton -OR- 11 T.J. Holloman WLB: 4 B. Allen-Williams -OR- 11 T.J. Holloman CB: 16 Rashad Fenton 22 Steven Montac S: 24 D.J. Smith 42 Jordan Diggs S: 17 Chaz Elder 22 Steven Montac CB: 3 Chris Lammons 7 Jamarcus King N: 42 Jordan Diggs 16 Rashad Fenton
Miami, Fla. Homestead, Fla. Gainesville, Fla. Jacksonville, Fla. Jacksonville, Fla. Apopka, Fla. Dunwoody, Ga. Warner Robins, Ga. Canton, Mich. Clermont, Fla. Jacksonville, Fla. West Palm Beach, Fla. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Cocoa, Fla. West Palm Beach, Fla. Houston, Texas Deerfield Beach, Fla. Jacksonville, Fla. Deerfield Beach, Fla. Hallandale, Fla. Ocala, Fla. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Theodore, Ala. La Mott, Pa. Miami, Fla.
QB: -OR- TE: -OR- -OR-
37 Mark Herndon 14 Luke Del Rio 12 Austin Appleby 13 Feleipe Franks 11 Kyle Trask 30 DeAndre Goolsby 80 C’yontai Lewis 82 Moral Stephens 84 Camrin Knight
5-9, 209, Sr. 6-1, 211, So. 6-4, 240, Gr. 6-6, 219, Fr. 6-4, 238, Fr. 6-4, 244, Jr. 6-4, 231, So. 6-3, 249, So. 6-3, 246, So.
Ocala, Fla. Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. North Canton, Ohio Crawfordville, Fla. Manvel, Texas Derby, Kan. Eutaw, Ala. Perry, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla.
Defense CB: DE: -OR- NT: -OR- DT: DE: -OR-
6 Quincy Wilson 6-1, 213, Jr. 23 Chauncey Gardner 5-11, 204, Fr. 95 Keivonnis Davis 6-4, 241, So. 94 Bryan Cox Jr. 6-3, 269, Sr. 90 Antonneous Clayton 6-3, 220, Fr. 54 Khairi Clark 6-2, 319, So. 91 Joey Ivie 6-3, 301, Sr. 96 Cece Jefferson 6-1, 261, So. 57 Caleb Brantley 6-2, 297, Jr. 93 Taven Bryan 6-5, 293, So. 96 Cece Jefferson 6-1, 261, So. 96 Cece Jefferson 6-1, 261, So. 92 Jabari Zuniga 6-3, 245, RFr. 17 Jordan Sherit 6-4, 254, Jr. 99 Jachai Polite 6-2, 271, Fr.
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Cocoa, Fla. Miami, Fla. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Vienna, Ga. Hollywood, Fla. Dade City, Fla. Glen St. Mary, Fla. Crescent City, Fla. Casper, Wyo. Glen St. Mary, Fla. Glen St. Mary, Fla. Marietta, Ga. Tampa, Fla. Daytona Beach, Fla.
CB: 31 Teez Tabor 35 Joseph Putu NICKEL: 7 Duke Dawson 14 Chris Williamson SLB: 13 Daniel McMillian 28 Kylan Johnson MLB: 40 Jarrad Davis -OR- 33 David Reese WLB: 34 Alex Anzalone 11 Vosean Joseph SAFETY: 8 Nick Washington -OR- 26 Marcell Harris SAFETY:20 Marcus Maye 29 Jeawon Taylor
6-0, 201, Jr. 6-2, 195, Jr. 5-10, 208, Jr. 5-11, 191, So. 6-1, 223, Sr. 6-1, 216, RFr. 6-2, 238, Sr. 6-0, 244, Fr. 6-3, 241, Jr. 6-1, 226, Fr. 6-0, 197, Jr. 6-1, 211, Jr. 6-0, 216, Sr. 6-0, 187, Fr.
Washington, D.C. Providence, R.I. Cross City, Fla. Gainesville, Ga. Jacksonville, Fla. Dallas, Texas Kingsland, Ga. Farmington, Mich.. Wyomissing, Pa. Miami, Fla. Jacksonville, Fla. Orlando, Fla. Melbourne, Fla. Montgomery, Ala.
Special Teams K: 15 Eddy Pineiro 6-0, 173, So. 98 Jorge Powell 5-10, 177, So. P: 19 Johnny Townsend 6-1, 211, Jr. KOR: 85 Chris Thompson 6-0, 170, Sr. 22 Lamical Perine 5-11, 220, Fr. PR: 81 Antonio Callaway 5-11, 197, So. 4 Brandon Powell 5-9, 184, Jr. LS: 41 Ryan Farr 6-0, 223, So. H: 19 Johnny Townsend 6-1, 211, Jr.
*These depth charts are taken from the listings from each team’s previous game. Spurs & Feathers goes to print shortly after the conclusion of each game. Please visit www.spursandfeathers.com over the course of the week for updated depth charts.
Miami, Fla. Coral Gables, Fla. Orlando, Fla. Gainesville, Fla. Theodore, Ala. Miami, Fla. Deerfield Beach, Fla. Henderson, Nev. Orlando, Fla.
Spurs & Feathers • 21
November 9, 2016
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22 • Spurs & Feathers
November 9, 2016
Moore: When the student is ready big things happen
I have a big “man crush” for great coaches! It’s probably bigger than your typical middleage Alabama fans’ “man crush” for Nick Saban. Football coaches, all coaches are teachers, they not only teach the “x’s” & “o’s” of the game, but the really good ones teach you how to navigate life. Langston Moore You’ve probContributing ably heard me “gush” over my Writer coaches plenty, from Martin Williams down at James Island High, to Charlie Strong, to Rod Marinelli. These coaches were so impactful in my life, I forget at times they also had a big hand in my football success. Not because they didn’t teach me the physical tools to be successful on the field, but instilling a mindset and philosophies that helped me navigate life were far more relevant. Lessons that still serve me long after I stopped playing and away from the field. One coach in particular Rod Marinelli or “Yoda” as I like to call him was my sensei, my guru, my Jedi master. Mostly because this small, wrinkly, bald headed man reminded me so much of the Star Wars icon. The smallest and least intimidating character in the movie, but commanded the most respect, and yielded the greatest wisdom, power and calm. An icon in the coaching world himself, Marinelli has led many to the HOF at the D-Line position. He never raised the “X-Wing” out of the swamp like Yoda, but he “raised” plenty of average players and put them on a direction to be “great ones.” His coaching tree and player tree of success stories is vast and the roots run deep. Minus the green skin, Marinelli has a way of making the complex simple with his teaching style, delivery and philosophy like Yoda. Always knowing the right thing to say to get you focused and motivated in the most chaotic moments. Now I’m not saying I was Luke Skywalker, but being in this man’s coaching circumference made me feel like I was and my play improved. (Sidenote - I sometimes see Marinelli’s bald wrinkled head in some sort of Star Wars hologram saying things like “hey tubby, get off the rock will ya…”) “Obi-Wan is a great mentor; as wise as Master Yoda…”Anakin Skywalker “Long, long ago in a far off galaxy….before Twitter and Wifi existed:” I crossed paths with another great teacher… I meet a much younger Jedi Master by the name of Lance
PHOTO BY ALLEN SHARPE
Thompson. I was still in high school and begged my parents to spend their hard earned money to send me to Georgia Tech’s football camp. This is where I met “Obi-Wan” aka Coach Lance Thompson. The encounter was brief, but memorable nonetheless. I always followed his journey years after our encounter, mostly because his ability to teach and charisma was magnetic. Years before I knew who Rod Marinelli was or knew anything about his philosophy, I was hooked by this similar coaching master. At the time I was a nobody on the recruiting radar, but the short few days spent with coach Lance gave me a peek into the type of attitude I needed to play in the trenches. It also revealed what type of coach was needed to get me there. It was the same feeling I had when I would later cross paths with Marinelli in the NFL. That feeling of amazement, inspiration and wanting to “come play for this guy.” Coach Thompson would continue on his path, but the encounter always placed coach Thompson on that list of “great teachers.” When the student is ready…
Much has been said of the talent level here at South Carolina the last two seasons. Much of what’s been said hasn’t been positive regarding our defensive line. When you think of the years Carolina has had most of its success, it was married with having good lineman in the trenches. Names like Taylor, Ingram, Robinson and Clowney were just as responsible for USC’s 11-win runs as the names Shaw, Ellington and Lattimore. The ability to get these players to go from being big slobs with “potential” to gamechangers who factor into winning all starts with coaching/teaching. There are plenty of students in the defensive line room ready to be taught by a great teacher. Players who couldn’t find a “position” on this team last year are flourishing this season. Players who came in extremely highly rated who’ve been waiting to achieve their potential are displaying that potential. Not to mention the young defensive line students who have just arrived, but are improving and contributing very quickly. This can be largely traced back to Lance “Obi-Wan” Thompson.
Zen or Football “isms”
“Hit the reset button after every play”...“Next play mentality”...“Change your mindset your body will follow.” These are the doctrines of wisdom that this Gamecock defensive line room hears constantly from their teacher. Simple yet profound advice to point you in the direction of clarity during a chaotic game. The players might think all position coaches have this type of wisdom flowing through their room and take it for granted. It would personally take me beating the odds of playing in the NFL to get this type of wisdom I received from Marinelli. The Gamecock defensive line is privy to this mindset coaching and instruction daily with Coach Thompson. The attention to detail, the ability to break down the intricacies of a certain technique, someone who can challenge you to be your best is invaluable. These players might not realize how good their teacher is right now, but the film and play on the field confirms this. Our defensive linemen aren’t valedictorians of the trenches yet, but follow the indoctrination of Coach Lance and we can be.
Spurs & Feathers • 23
November 9, 2016
PHOTO BY ALLEN SHARPE
Legendary Fan Larry Nichols happy to be heavily involved with University he loves BY KYLE HECK Reporter Larry Nichols is from Saluda County, and as a native South Carolinian, he pretty much had just two choices. Root for Clemson or root for South Carolina. Nichols chose the University of South Carolina, and for over half a century he has done everything he can to support the University he’s grown to love. After graduating from South Carolina in 1965, Nichols joined the Gamecock Club and has been a member for the last 50 years. His four passions within the University are the My Carolina Alumni Association, USC admissions office, the Darla Moore School of Business (which he graduated from) and athletics. With all of that tremendous support, it was no surprise then that Nichols was honored as the Legendary Fan of the Game prior to South Carolina’s football game against Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 29.
“Obviously very excited, very humbled (and) I was grateful and appreciative,” Nichols said of his reaction when he learned about the honor. It was a unique Legendary Fan of the Game experience in that Nichols was joined by two University of South Carolina students on the field for the special moment. Part of his role with the My Carolina Alumni Association includes recruiting excellent students from the area he now lives in, Statesville, North Carolina, to come to the University. Senior Perry Davis and freshman Austin Dagenhart were the two students he selected, and they were obviously extremely honored to be selected. Days after the game, Nichols said the two were still talking about it. “It was fitting because I love to help recruit these kids so much that come to school here,” Nichols said of why he chose students to come down on the field with him. “One was a senior, and one was a freshman and I told them it was the passing of the torch. Both of those young
men are in the Honors College and in the Darla Moore School of Business. These kids are my kids that I help recruit and follow them through their four years there.” Nichols has helped recruit students for at least the last 25 years, and he does volunteer work with all four of his passions within the University. “Always very active with the University because of my love with it and everything,” Nichols said. “I’ve always been active in the My Carolina Alumni Association and I am a club leader in this area for the University of South Carolina alumni, and have been for years and years. That’s one of my passions.” For Nichols, doing work in all those different areas of the school is a no-brainer. “It’s very important to give back,” Nichols said. “That’s what makes the world go round.” Nichols isn’t just a fan of football, he enjoys watching all of the sports. Two of his favorite ones to attend are women’s basketball and
equestrian. He’s a big fan of women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley, and with equestrian events being held in Blythewood, it’s an easy trip down for Nichols. No matter what it is, if it has something to do with the University of South Carolina, Nichols has probably been there and done that. The University is his passion, but more importantly, he enjoys the close-knit community and helping students become great members of society. “We’re one big happy family,” Nichols said of the University of South Carolina. “It’s a community. I’m interested in graduating people and even myself that certainly are good at the degrees that they’ve chosen. But also for me and for them, I want someone that’s a well-rounded student. It’s not only their field of study, but that they can fit into society and fit into the community in which they live and they can give to that community, because if you give to your community, then rewards will come back to you. It’s a two-way street.”
24 • Spurs & Feathers
November 9, 2016
Looking ahead to the Florida Gators BY KYLE HECK Reporter
Two years ago, South Carolina traveled down to “The Swamp” in Gainesville to take on the Florida football team. The Gamecocks used a touchdown run by Dylan Thompson in overtime to upset the Gators in what would prove to be Will Muschamp’s last season as coach of Florida. As the Gamecocks prepare for their next trip down to Florida on Saturday, Nov. 12, a lot of things are different. The most obvious change is that Muschamp will be pacing the opposing sidelines in The Swamp coaching the Gamecocks. If South Carolina wants to pull off another upset over the Gators on their home field in Muschamp’s return to his former school, it will need to overcome a talented Florida team, particularly on defense. Linebacker Jarrad Davis is the Gators’ leading tackler, and he and the rest of the defense have gotten some recent help with the return of several injured players on the defensive line. Jabari Zuniga, Jordan Sherit, Cece Jeflinemen in and out to keep the players fresh. ferson, Caleb Brantley, Joey Ivie and Bryan Alex Anzalone is another solid linebacker, Cox Jr. are all forces along the line, and that and as always, Florida has a talented seconddepth allows the Gators to rotate defensive ary that features Teez Tabor, Quincy Wilson,
PHOTO BY ALLEN SHARPE
Nick Washington and Marcus Maye. On offense, tailback Jordan Scarlett is the leading rusher for the team, but several other players have also contributed.
Lamical Perine, Mark Thompson and Jordan Cronkrite have all also contributed at least 25 carries. At quarterback, Luke Del Rio has been a serviceable player so far, but has had some turnover problems at times this season. His favorite target by far has been receiver Antonio Callaway, a big play threat yet again. Tight end DeAndre Goolsby and another receiver, Brandon Powell, are a couple more players that are featured in the passing game. Cronkrite and Perine are also featured out of the backfield in the passing game. On special teams, Callaway has a kick return touchdown and Perine is a threat there as well. Sophomore kicker Eddy Pineiro is a talented player who’s been fairly accurate thus far, and will bring a strong leg into the game as he’s already nailed a couple of field goals from outside of 50 yards. The Gamecocks and Gators have went back and forth over the past few years, but South Carolina holds a slight advantage with three wins in the past five meetings. Florida was able to exact some revenge on South Carolina last year with a 24-14 victory in Columbia. The South Carolina at Florida game on November 12 will be televised by CBS and will begin at noon.
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Spurs & Feathers • 25
November 9, 2016
Coates: ‘I’m just trying to go out with a bang with my teammates’ BY KYLE HECK Reporter
Despite entering her senior year and consistently being one of South Carolina’s most consistent players, Alaina Coates was able to experience her first SEC Media Days on Thursday, Oct. 20. She made the trip with teammate A’ja Wilson and head coach Dawn Staley, and as is their style, they made the most of the moment. “They got the two biggest goof balls to represent our team,” Coates said of her and Wilson. “We should be leaving on a good, light note.” While the Gamecocks had some fun at SEC Media Days, they are serious when it comes to what they want to do this season. Coming off a year where it was upset in the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen, South Carolina’s focus is to not be disappointed this season. “We’re just going to continue to be that team that takes it one day at a time, one game at a time (and) one practice at a time,” Coates said. “We just take moments to reflect on what we’re doing and what we can do and what we need to be doing.” Coates has been an All-SEC performer for South Carolina her first three years with the program, and it’s hard for her to believe that her last season is about to begin. It’s a surreal moment, but it also makes her realize that time is running out to do what she wants to do. “It really feels like I was just a freshman last week,” Coates said. “When they told me these four years will go by quick, icans on the same team. I didn’t think it was going to go by this “It’s really important because this is quick, but it did. I’ve had a lot of experi- my last year and I didn’t want to have to ences, and I’m grateful to even have an stress over something like that,” Coates opportunity to be here. I’m just trying to said. “I’ve been grateful to have her with go out with a bang with my teammates.” me for the past two years going into Coates’ partner on the SEC my third year. We play Media Days trip, Wilson, together, we understand is the other part of the Alleach other, we know what American duo the Gamecocks the other one wants. We’ve have. For both players, having built this rapport where we the other one around makes don’t even need to make things much easier since opeye contact to know what posing teams can’t focus in on the other person wants.” just one player during games. So far in practice, Coates South Carolina is just one of All Gamecock basketball said the coaching staff has three teams in the country to coverage sponsored by made it a point to try and have two returning All-AmerYesterdays get the team to play as fast
PHOTO BY ALLEN SHARPE
as possible. Staley wants all her teams to play with an uptempo pace so that they can allow their athleticism and conditioning to take over. “We’re working at going with a faster pace than what we’ve normally been going at,” Coates said. “For the most part, we’ve been doing alright. We have our moments where we have to pick up the pieces, but as a whole we’re looking pretty good.” Over the summer, Coates stated that she wanted to become more aggressive during her senior year. No matter the opponent the Gamecocks are playing, Coates wants to go all-in on every play, and there’s been a noticeable difference this year.
“She has a different mentality,” Staley said of Coates. “A mentality of, as she calls it, wanting to get a ring. And getting the ring starts in practice every day. It doesn’t happen at the end of the season.” With the different mindset, Coates expects to become a more consistent performer, which is scary for opponents because of the stats she’s already put up her first three seasons. “I feel like I’ve definitely taken that mindset because whether it’s playing against my girls or playing against one of the practice players, everyone gets the same thing,” Coates said. “Everyone is going to get the hardest that I can give someone.”
26 • Spurs & Feathers
November 9, 2016
Determined Sindarius Thornwell knows it’s all or nothing this year BY KYLE HECK Reporter
NASHVILLE - On Wednesday, Oct. 19, at SEC Media Days, Florida point guard Kasey Hill was asked what player on another team everyone else in the league should be worried about. His answer? South Carolina guard Sindarius Thornwell. Hill’s answer goes to show the amount of respect Thornwell now has in the SEC after three years of giving it his all game in All Gamecock basketball and game out. coverage sponsored by Thornwell said Yesterdays he’s never gotten a compliment from another player in the league like that, and frankly, he likes playing the underdog role. “When you’re the hunted, it’s harder,” Thornwell said. “The one that’s doing the hunting, it’s kind of easier for them.” However, Thornwell appreciates the respect from Hill, who he talks to quite a bit. During the year, the two go back and forth playfully, and Thornwell said his last high school game was against Hill in a tournament. “He’s almost like a point guard at 6-5, plays tough, plays both ends of the floor,” Hill said of what makes Thornwell a good player. “I just like his overall game. He’s a great player and I have a lot of respect for him.” Thornwell has started every game at South Carolina over his three years, and that feat is made even more impressive when you throw in the fact that he’s battled injuries nearly every year. In fact, head coach Frank Martin said that Thornwell probably shouldn’t have played during his sophomore year because of knee problems, but it was impossible to keep the Lancaster native off the court. Things are much easier now for the seasoned veteran, who gets regular rest during practice to help keep his legs fresh. “I’m old, so everything is kind of easier for me now,” Thornwell said. “Especially in practice, everything we do I’ve already done for three years. I coach everyone else and help everyone else.”
PHOTO BY ALLEN SHARPE
There’s an old saying that states you get wiser with age, but in Thornwell’s case, it also means his time is running out in a Gamecock uniform. He’s about to begin his senior year, and with the Gamecocks still searching for an NCAA Tournament appearance under Martin, Thornwell doesn’t want to leave empty-handed. “I don’t have any more tries after this
year,” Thornwell said. “That’s the thing that gets me and Duane (Notice) going the most is that we have run out of chances and years. It would be sick to go four years and not make the tournament, and the whole time that was our goal, so that’s what gets us going the most.” The Gamecocks were picked eighth in the SEC preseason poll, and while the team
doesn’t pay much attention to that, Thornwell and his teammates know they are better than that. Last season South Carolina was predicted to finish seventh, and instead finished No. 3 in the conference. “I guess everyone has their opinions, and it’s preseason picks, so we’ll see at the end of the season,” Thornwell said. “The ball still has to be played.”
Spurs & Feathers • 27
November 9, 2016
Upcoming Gamecock Club events/watch parties Current listing of known upcoming Gamecock Club events: Please contact Brian Hand (bhand@spursandfeathers. com) if your upcoming event is not listed. Atlanta Gamecocks Viewing Party • When: Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016 • Where: Buffalo Wild Wings, 1636 Cumberland Mall SE Atlanta, GA 30399 Augusta Gamecocks Viewing Party • When: Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016 • Where: Tin Lizzy’s, 2821 Washington
• When: Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016 • Where: Mason Jar NYC, 43 E 30th St, New York, NY 10016
Rd Augusta, GA Charleston Gamecocks Viewing Party • When: Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016 • Where: 1179 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Charleston, SC 29407
Charlotte Gamecocks Viewing Party • When: Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016 • Where: Flight, 314 N College St, Charlotte, NC 28202 New York Gamecocks Viewing Party
Colleton County Annual Pep Rally Party When: Tuesday, November 22 Time: 6 PM - 8 PM Where: Walterboro Elks Lodge #1988 PO Box 202; 236 Milestone Ln, Walterboro, South Carolina 29488 Come out and bring a tailgate dish to share. There will be music and a special guest!!!
28 • Spurs & Feathers
November 9, 2016
South Carolina/Missouri postgame notes and quotes SOUTH CAROLINA ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
GENERAL NOTES • Attendance: 73,817 (Updated season total: 461,791; 76,965 average per game) • South Carolina’s captains: #81 Hayden Hurst, #7 Jamarcus King, #90 Taylor Stallworth and #47 Drew Williams • With the win, the Columbia Cup is now back in the hands of the Gamecocks for the first time since 2013. It was also Carolina’s third straight victory, the program’s first such streak since Sept. 6-20, 2014. The Gamecocks are now within one game of becoming bowl-eligible. OFFENSIVE NOTES • Carolina had a quarterback, running back and wide receiver all post career bests statistically on Saturday. Freshman signalcaller Jake Bentley completed 22 of 28 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns, while freshman running back Rico Dowdle boasted 27 carries for 149 yards. Sophomore receiver Deebo Samuel made nine catches for 125 yards. It was the third straight game that Samuel has brought in eight-plus catches. • The Gamecocks took advantage of a Missouri turnover 6:05 into the first quarter, scoring one minute and 30 seconds later on a Samuel 6-yard rush. The touchdown was the sophomore wideout’s third on the ground this season. The score gave Carolina an early 7-0 lead. • South Carolina took a 14-7 edge courtesy of a 17-yard touchdown reception by Rico Dowdle with 12:55 remaining in the second quarter. The score was the freshman’s first career touchdown grab through the air, and his fourth overall. He has now reached the end zone in each of the last four games. • With 2:59 left in the opening half, the Gamecocks struck again when K.C. Crosby hauled in his team-leading fourth touchdown catch of the season. It marked the third straight game Crosby has caught a pass for a score. His 35-yard touchdown grab last week at Tennessee turned out to be the game-winner. • Bentley finished the first half with 159 yards and two touchdowns via the air, completing 14 of his 19 attempts. He also spread the ball around, completing passes to six different receivers. • Carolina earned its longest scoring drive of the season when it went 98 yards on nine plays in a span of 3:38. The touchdown, a 20-yard rush by Dowdle, gave the Gamecocks a 28-21 lead. • For the first time since Oct. 17, 2015, the Gamecocks boasted a player with over 100 yards receiving, as well as a player with 100 or more yards rushing. • Carolina eclipsed over 400 total yards of offense for the first time this season. DEFENSIVE NOTES • Near the midpoint of the opening quarter, sophomore defensive back Steven Montac forced his first career fumble, a play that proved costly for Missouri as Carolina would find the end zone four plays later on a 6-yard run by wide receiver Deebo Samuel. • With defensive back Rashad Fenton’s interception of Missouri quarterback Drew Lock in the third quarter, it marked the sixth time this season the Gamecock defense has forced two or more turnovers. • The South Carolina defense extended its season-long streak of not allowing opponents to score more than 30 points. SPECIAL TEAM NOTES • Placekicker Elliot Fry tied the school record for total points
you’re 2nd-and-6. We’re not going to make a big run every time against the folks we’re playing against. We’ve got to be able to take four yards and be second and six and play the next down. It wasn’t on Rico [Dowdle], I’m not saying that, but there were some times I felt like we didn’t hit the hole as crisp as we could.”
PHOTO BY ALLEN SHARPE
scored (330) with a successful extra point try after Carolina’s opening touchdown. • Following Rico Dowdle’s 17-yard touchdown grab, Fry would break the school record for all-time points scored with a PAT that gave the Gamecocks a 14-7 lead. • Fry added some insurance at the midway point of the fourth quarter as he knocked through a 24-yard field goal, extending Carolina’s advantage to 31-21. The kick inched Fry to within three field goals of cracking the SEC’s career top-10 list. • Senior punter Sean Kelly was solid for the Gamecocks on Saturday, booting six punts for an average of 43.8 yards. He placed two punts inside the Tigers’ 20 yard line. South Carolina head football coach Will Muschamp Opening Statement: “I’m really proud of our football team. Going through the week - Tuesday and Wednesday practice - I thought the effort was really good. The mental intensity and the focus was dialed in. I thought we had a great Thursday and Friday. Then we came out here and came out of the gates pretty good offensively. It was probably by far our most complete game, making some plays when we needed to make plays. We were really successful in staying balanced and doing a good job in our run game. I thought Kurt [Roper] called a great game, as far as some shots down the field and Deebo Samuel goes and makes some 50-50 ball plays only a few of us can make on this earth. Really proud of (the offense) moving the ball down the field. They got a little tackle over set that gave some issues defensively and fit some runs pretty well. That was disappointing. The two runs on splits in the first half; their splits create space in your defense we honored it too much. We needed to stay in more to the box and that’s on me as a coach. We’ll get those things corrected. The tackle over in the second half was really the drive they had and fortunately their guy missed two field goals. But our guys kept fighting and kept hanging in there. Really proud of (our players). You know you’re 2-4 and going into the open week and the negativity is amazing and the guys just keep believing and having confidence in what we’re doing. That’s what’s happening here. Our work ethic and our preparation has been key. This staff has done a fantastic job. I’m really proud of them. Our young guys continue to mature and continue to get better. Dennis Wonnum, Keir Thomas and there’s some guys on defense too that have continued to come on. A.J. Turner is the only injury we have. We think it’s just a knee sprain. He’ll probably be day-to-day. I think we’re pretty healthy going into our next game.” On the run game… “I felt like we weren’t hitting the hole. I felt like there were some things there. You have to be careful, especially a young back, is always trying to make the big run. Four yards is good,
On the offense in the second half… “I thought [Coach Kurt] Roper did a good job going to some speed sweeps and misdirections to give some eye candy to the defense. We got some displacement in there. Our offensive linemen ran the power play extremely well in the second half. We really got a lot of movement there. I really thought their backside safety made a fantastic play on the one he was going to spin out and the game was going to be over and they wouldn’t have got the ball back. Their player made a really good play.” On quarterback performance… “I think part of it is having pocket awareness. When the rush is closing in, when you need to get rid of the ball. There are some coaching tips we can give with that. I thought there was a couple of times where he [Jake Bentley] probably held the ball a little long and he probably couldn’t have gotten away with it. They played some good man coverage at times in the game. I’ll take our guys in man coverage a lot.” On Deebo Samuel… “Depending where he [Deebo Samuels] is on the defender we have a couple of back shoulder situations we hit. It was well thrown and well contested on their part. Deebo [Samuel] made a play on it. There (are) some times when he’s on top of the DB we’re going to lay the ball on top which we did a couple of times and made plays. There (are) a lot of reps involved in that.” Category UM SC 1st Downs 24 22 Total Yards 465 428 Passing 302 254 Rushing 163 174 Penalties-Yards 5-45 6-45 3rd Down Conversions 8-18 8-17 4th Down Conversions 2-3 1-1 Turnovers 3 0 Time of Possession 23:50 36:10 Passing Leaders Mizzou COM Lock 23 South Carolina COM Bentley 22
ATT 40 ATT 28
YDS 302 YDS 254
TD 1 TD 2
INT 2 INT 0
Rushing Leaders Mizzou CAR YDS AVG TD LG Crockett 13 82 6.3 1 29 Witter 11 80 7.3 1 25 South Carolina CAR YDS AVG TD LG Dowdle 27 149 5.5 1 23 Williams 4 24 6.0 0 12 Receiving Leaders Mizzou REC YDS AVG TD LG Mason 8 88 11.0 0 27 Moore 6 54 9.0 0 12 South Carolina REC YDS AVG TD LG Samuel 9 125 13.9 0 28 Edwards 4 47 11.8 0 29
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November 9, 2016
Reenergized A’ja Wilson ready for a special season with Gamecocks BY KYLE HECK Reporter South Carolina junior A’ja Wilson is a player that likes to set goals out for herself. A couple of years ago, she stated that she wanted to become the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year. Well, after last season, Wilson received that award to go along with the esteemed SEC Player of the Year honor. Wilson enters this year as the preseason SEC Player of the Year, and All Gamecock basketball with the seacoverage sponsored by son about to Yesterdays start, Wilson is hearing rumors about her being a preseason candidate for the National Player of the Year as well. However, even though she has goals for herself, there’s one team goal that stands above the rest. “I just really want to win a National Championship,” Wilson said. “I want to bring something back to the state of South Carolina. That’s my biggest goal right now.” As for the personal goal, Wilson’s head coach, Dawn Staley, believes that she has the potential to win the award. “You have to be productive and consistent night in and night out for that to take place,” Staley said. “Surely, our program is at a place where we have a platform for that to happen.” South Carolina enters this year expected to do big things once again. The Gamecocks bring several fresh faces into the fold this season, including two transfers in Allisha Gray and Kaela Davis. While that brings excitement, the new faces have also made this preseason tough trying to get everyone acclimated to each other. In addition, Wilson was told to rest this summer rather than playing with USA Basketball, so that was a new experience for her as well. “This preseason, I had to rest a lot and that caused me to think a lot and see things from a different view,” Wilson said. “It was a tough preseason going from the doctors
PHOTO BY ALLEN SHARPE
saying, ‘You have to rest up and chill this summer’ to now (going) full-and-out blow in the weight room and getting into it.” The rest may have caused Wilson to go a little stir-crazy, but it’s also allowed her to be refreshed entering her junior season. “USA, I love the experience, but it does take a lot out of you,” Wilson said. “You miss a lot of the summer, so just to have this summer to myself I do feel a lot better and a lot more energized.” With National Champion Connecticut losing a lot of star power from last year’s team, this year’s NCAA field could be
much more wide open. The Gamecocks hope to fill that void and have a special season. “It’s time to rename yourself and rebrand yourself,” Wilson said. “I think coming off the season we had last year, it’s not the season that we expected. I think we’re wiping the slate clean and starting from the beginning.” The Gamecocks were knocked out of the NCAA Tournament last season in the round of 16, but they still won their thirdstraight SEC regular-season championship and second-straight SEC Tournament title.
However, don’t worry about South Carolina becoming complacent in the league because of how much success they’ve had recently. The Gamecocks want to become a dynasty in the SEC. “I think South Carolina women’s basketball is starting to form a standard and a brand about themselves when it comes to the SEC, period,” Wilson said. “So a lot of people don’t have to speak about it. Coach knows, we know, the people that she brought in know, the recruits that are looking at South Carolina, they know the standard that we hold for the SEC.”
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Gunter: Dozier should thrive this year Basketball season officially kicks off this coming week when Frank Martin and South Carolina host Louisiana Tech at 6:30 p.m. Friday night at Colonial Life Arena. In this spot last week, I talked about my anticipation for seeing sophomore Chris Silva and his development for Martin’s team this year and how he could make an Bill Gunter impact. Contributing As excited as Writer I am to see the progress of Silva and what type of highlight reel dunks he can bring to the team this year, it is my belief that the team will revolve around another sophomore in Perry Dozier Jr. At times, we get caught up in the recruiting hype of certain players and when they do not perform the way they are expected to their freshman year they can be labeled a “bust” without ever being given an opportunity. I don’t think that Dozier Jr was ever labeled a “bust,” however I know there were some grum- been through a season of college basketball, bling among fans that felt he could have been gotten a feel for how the game is played, but more of a piece to the Gamecocks success last more importantly he is both mentally and physseason. ically ready to be an elite player in the SEC. Personally, I thought Dozier Jr was a steady, Martin talked about the two biggest reasons solid player in his freshman year. recently as to why he expects I tried to warn fans that he was Dozier Jr to make a step fornot going to come in and average ward this year. 20 points a game with 10 assists “Just mentality he is in a and be some type of instant promuch better place. He is strongram-changing player. Instead, I ger. When he reported for his thought Dozier would be a solid freshman year he was barely a addition along with veterans such year removed from ACL suras Michael Carrera, Duane Nogery,” Martin said before the tice and Sindarius Thornwell. All Gamecock basketball team’s exhibition against NewThis year, however, should be coverage sponsored by berry. “He (Dozier Jr.) couldn’t a little different as Dozier Jr has Yesterdays play his whole senior season so
everything I do, focusing on making shots, free throws, everything that I did not do last year.” That kind of work ethic along with a year in the system is what has prepared Dozier Jr for practice each day. While fans may never see a minute of a Martin run practice, being able to succeed in that environment helps build for game competition and Dozier is much more prepared for practice which should lead to success in games according to Martin. “He was like every single freshman,” Martin said. “They realize that college practice is much harder than most people prepared them for. Now he comprehends how hard it is when he has Sindarius on him in every drill, in every practice. He understands that and he is better prepared to approach it that way. With Dozier Jr. now healthy, more mentally prepared and having experienced a season of practice to help him understand what college basketball is all about, Martin believes the former McDonald’s All-American is ready to impact the team. “I expect him to have a very, very good basketball season,” he said. “I expect him to do a lot of things for our basketball team.” I completely agree with Martin’s assessment PHOTO BY JENNY DILWORTH that Dozier is ready to make a big leap forward in his sophomore season. At times last year I he was coming off ACL surgery. He never was thought Dozier’s confidence may have been a as healthy as he needed to be entering his fresh- little rattled but in speaking with people that man year. He is in a better place physically and have watched practices and seen how Dozier a better place physically.” is carrying himself, it appears he has put that Having covered Dozier for several seasons behind him. as he progressed playing under his father at Martin has built a solid team that will feaSpring Valley High School, I have always ture as much athletic ability as any team I can believed Dozier Jr had the work ethic to be suc- remember in the last 10 years. Coupled with cessful. This off-season he put that solid work veterans like Notice and Thornwell, Dozier Jr ethic to use in trying to improve himself into a should be able to thrive this coming season and more complete player. challenge for breakout star of the SEC. “I have just tried to improve upon everyWhile Chris Silva may be the most interestthing,” Dozier said recently. “I don’t feel that I ing player to keep an eye on because of his had a very good year personally but we had a development, I don’t think there is any player successful year as a team and that is what it is that holds as much importance as Dozier Jr all about. Coming into the off-season, I came as to just how good this Gamecock basketball in with a chip on my shoulder to get better at team could be.
BY SHERYL MCALISTER
our own foundation would allow us to do just that. “My husband said it best when he described the Ray Tanner Foundation as an organization that would not be successful without the partnership and support of this community, its sponsors and its volunteers. With that kind of teamwork, nobody can pull against you.” Proceeds from all Ray Tanner Foundation events are contributed to many non-profit organizations in the Midlands’ area. To check out the list, please visit the Ray Tanner Foundation website. To learn more about Resale
Ray Tanner Foundation launches new website Midlands communities. Other events include the Ray Tanner Slam Dunk, the Ray Tanner COLUMBIA – The Ray Tanner Foundation Home Run and the Ray Tanner Miracle Field. launched its new website Wednesday, Nov. 2, “We are so proud of the work the Ray Tan2016. In addition, Karen Tanner announced ner Foundation is able to do, thanks to the the foundation’s new spring event, which tremendous support we receive from our rounds out the four-pronged approach to sponsors, donors and volunteers,” said Tanserving the economically and medically chal- ner, co-founder of The Ray Tanner Foundalenged communities in South Carolina. tion, along with husband, Coach Ray Tanner. The Ray Tanner Foundation, established “When we started the Ray Tanner Foundain 2005, has added the Resale for Ray event tion in 2005, Ray and I wanted to do as much as part of its overall strategy to serve an unas we could to help those in our community derserved segment of the South Carolina and who needed our help, and we felt establishing
for Ray, please visit the foundation’s website. The Ray Tanner Foundation: Founded in 2005 by then University of South Carolina baseball coach Ray Tanner and his wife Karen Tanner, the Foundation is a 501c(3) organization focused on serving the needs of the medically and economically disadvantaged in South Carolina communities. For more information on all of the great things happening with the Ray Tanner Foundation, please visit www.raytannerfoundation.org. You can follow the Ray Tanner Foundation on Twitter at @raytannergives.
November 9, 2016
Spurs & Feathers • 31
Girardeau: ‘Don’t get caught up in the math, just enjoy the ride’ “I’m not very good at math.” That was Will Muschamp’s response to a question of would he talk to the team about the fact that it was still mathematically possible for USC to win the SEC East. “We need to focus on our next ball game.” When we started this journey 10 weeks ago, I suggested it would be best to take this season one week at a time. Looking ahead would result in disappointment as the “newness” of this team would lead to inconsistency. Ed Girardeau It was pretty easy Contributing to not look ahead Editor early in the season. Basically, it did not look too good going forward based on the most recent performance. Growing pains will do that. What a difference a month makes. Four weeks ago Hurricane Matthew had blown through, moving the Georgia game to a Sunday and a lackluster performance resulted in a loss. Standing at 2-4 and not playing well it was hard to imagine winning four games, one more than last year, based on how things were going. Some open dates are better than others. Sometimes open dates will ruin momentum and send teams into a spiral downward. Not this team. The week off gave the Gamecocks some time to regroup. Insert Jake Bentley as the quarterback and things started turning around. It’s not that Jake Bentley is the greatest quarterback ever known (right now, he’s still young). He’s clutch, but suddenly other players picked up their game. Before the season Coach Muschamp told us that we could not afford injuries, most particularly at wide receiver and Deebo Samuel. It didn’t take long to find out as Samuel was injured in the very first game. Since Samuel had not played that much, you had to wonder just how good this young man could be. He seemed a little injury prone, so who knew if we’d ever find out what he could do. Here’s a news flash: Deebo Samuel is good. This past Saturday he had nine catch-
yard gains are nine or ten yards. It’s very Lattimore. It is no coincidence that the three wins in the last three games (the first three-game winning streak since 2014) show Dowdle with 363 yards rushing and it would be an oversight not to compliment the offensive line that has started coming together and playing much better as a unit, both pass and run blocking. On the defensive side, progress continues to be made. Turnovers are key to their success and two more interceptions, one by Chris Moody and another by Rashad Fenton, made the difference this past Saturday. More players are making plays and contributing. Coach Muschamp is fond of saying, “we know what good looks like and we’re not there yet.” That is exactly right. No need to pat yourselves on the back and start thinking we have arrived, but the progress is undeniable. So looking ahead to next week comes the latest, greatest big game of the year. Who would have dreamed a few weeks ago that we would even have a chance in this one? Now it’s not so implausible. Florida is not a juggernaut by any means as the loss to Arkansas this past week, 31-10, indicates. It’s a chance to finish 4-4 in conference. That would be quite a feat if that was accomplished. There’s a lot going on in this one. Coach Muschamp’s return to the Swamp is one. You have to believe that beating Florida would be quite satisfying to the ex-head coach of the Gators. I know he PHOTO BY ALLEN SHARPE won’t dwell on it and probably will not comment on it, but it’s there and I’m sure the es for 125 yards. He brings back memories it takes some precision by both quarterback team would love to give him this win. of Sterling Sharpe. If you don’t remember or and receiver. So far, so good. Speaking of ex-coaches, it will be a reunitif it was before your time, Sterling was the Enter Rico Dowdle as well. Hurt for the ing of sorts with Coach Spurrier. I’m also master of catching a pass behind the line of first few weeks, the rumors of how good sure his ex-players would love to show him scrimmage and making a big play out of it. this young man could be have turned out to in person just how much better they’ve gotSamuel’s biggest gain of the night was 28 be true. Supposedly, Marcus Lattimore has ten since last year. I’m sure Coach Spurrier yards and many of his catches came on the said that Dowdle would make everyone for- will be low key this week and perhaps keep quick out pass with one blocker and Deebo get about him. I don’t know if that will ever out of sight, but you know he’ll be watching left to his own devices. come to pass, but suffice it to say, this kid is from the field that bears his name. I’m sure The others all seemed to be what Coach special. he’ll have mixed emotions. Muschamp calls 50/50 balls. In other words, This past Saturday it was 27 rushes for All of this makes it that much more inthe defender is there and it’s up to the re149 yards and a touchdown. Throw in three triguing. Bottom line, it’s another chance ceiver to win the battle between the two. receptions for 20 more yards and another to win a ball game and get better. A season Over the last three weeks, Samuel has won touchdown and, yes, he’s making an impact. that was struggling along, has now gotten quite a few of those. It’s not luck or despera- He’s one of those backs who pounds it inside very interesting. Don’t get caught up in the tion. It’s only through practice and repetiand the defense gets tired of hitting him or math, just enjoy the ride. tion that the art of this play is mastered and him hitting them. Before long, two or three It’s a great time to be a Gamecock!
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