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January 8, 2014 • Volume 36 • Issue 1

2 • Spurs & Feathers

January 8, 2014

Gamecocks capture third straight 11-win season by brian hand bhand@spursandfeathers.com ORLANDO - Eighth-ranked South Carolina collected its third straight 11-win season by besting 19th-ranked Wisconsin, 34-24, in the Capital One Bowl before a crowd of 56,629 at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium.

The South Carolina (11-2) bowl win over Wisconsin (9-4) gives the Gamecocks three straight New Year’s Day bowl victories. The Gamecocks bested Nebraska, 30-13, in the 2012 Capital One Bowl and Michigan, 33-28, in the 2013 Outback Bowl.

South Carolina has now claimed a programbest 42 wins over the course of the last four seasons.

“Wonderful win for us,” South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier noted. “If someone said you’re going to win by 10 and give up a kickoff return at halftime when it looked like it would go either way, you’d say, how is that going to happen? He (Connor Shaw) was sensational.

Bruce Ellington made some catches. Shaq (Roland) made some good ones and our defense came alive in the fourth quarter. We were very good defensively in the fourth quarter. It was a fourth-quarter game, so it was really neat to get us another bowl championship down here.

Two in a row to Capital One. Three in a row to Florida. So it feels pretty good.”

Spurrier coached his 300th career game in the Capital One Bowl win over Wisconsin.

“Everything in all my life, in all the Gamecock life, we’ve never had three years identical,” Spurrier said. “I mean, think about it: 6-2 in the conference, 11-2, win a bowl game, beat Clemson in all three. They’re identical years, almost.

Won 18 in a row at home. That’s something that is amazing to me, too.

“We lead the nation right now in consecutive home victories … 18 in a row, we’ve won at home and they have not been blowouts. They have not been like some of the games when I was coaching in the Swamp, there were a lot of blowouts there, but these were just games that could have gone either way and somehow or another, these guys make plays to win the game, so it’s been amazing. It’s been a wonderful time for all of us,” Spurrier continued.

South Carolina received the opening kickoff of the game. On the inaugural offensive play of the contest, the Gamecocks connected on a 20-yard pass completion from Shaw to Eillington. The Gamecocks would not be able to take advantage of getting the ball into Wisconsin territory on their opening drive with South Carolina having to punt the football to the Badgers.

Wisconsin looked as if they would take advantage of the Gamecocks being unable to score on their first offensive drive as they marched the football into Gamecock territory on strong running. The strong Badger running in the early

portion of the drive included a 32-yard run by Corey Clement. The Badger offense would stall on the drive though shortly thereafter and after a botched fake field goal attempt the Gamecocks received the ball back at their own 30-yard line.

The Gamecocks could not score on their second offensive drive of the game either, but on Wisconsin’s second time with the football on offense, Badger starting quarterback Joel Stave was intercepted by Skai Moore who then returned the football to Wisconsin’s 39-yard line.

The Gamecocks wasted no time from there as Shaw found a streaking Bruce Ellington for a 39-yard touchdown to give South Carolina the 7-0 advantage.

The first quarter would conclude with the Gamecocks owning that 7-0 lead, but Wisconsin commenced the second quarter by scoring on a one-yard pass from Stave to Sam Arneson.

The touchdown that tied the game at 7-7 concluded a six-play, 71-yard drive for Wisconsin that encompassed 2:49. The play of the drive was a 36-yard pass from Stave to Jacob Pedersen that placed the football at the one-yard line for the eventual Badger touchdown.

Shaw and Ellington did a little bit of everything to give the Gamecocks back the lead on their next offensive possession. Ellington put the Gamecocks in scoring position when he made a 32-yard circus catch where had to turn around in full stride and catch the football just before it hit the ground. The acrobatic catch put the Gamecocks at the Wisconsin nine-yard line.

The ball at the nine-yard line, the Gamecocks then used some trickeration to score. The touchdown happened on a jet sweep double reverse where Shaw handed the ball off to Pharoh Cooper who tossed to Ellington who then eventually found Shaw in the end zone for a nine-yard touchdown and his first career touchdown catch. The Gamecocks could not convert the extra point attempt to set the score at 13-7 South Carolina with 6:48 remaining in the first half.

The touchdown was part of a 12-play, 86-yard scoring drive that took 5:57 off the clock.

Wisconsin would take the lead just before halftime when Stave completed a three-yard sideline pass to the right side to Jeff Duckworth with 13 seconds left in the first half of action.

The ensuing extra point garnered Wisconsin a 14-13 lead at intermission. The touchdown capped a 16-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 6:35.

The Badgers finished with 223 yards of total offense on 34 total plays in the first half. The Gamecocks obtained 183 yards of total offense on 28 plays in the first half of play.

Wisconsin received the kickoff to start the second half and looked as if they would open things up in the half with a touchdown. The Gamecock defense stood tall in the red zone and after a sack on third down the Gamecocks held Wisconsin to a field goal that made it 17-13 in their favor with 11:19 to play in the third quarter.

photo by allen sharpe

The 35-yard field goal by Jack Russell was the culmination of a seven-play, 47-yard drive that lasted 3:41 for the Badgers.

The Gamecocks would fumble the football on their first offensive possession of the second half, but Wisconsin would not make the Gamecocks pay with Russell missing his field goal attempt.

South Carolina would make Wisconsin pay for their missed field goal next on the back of Ellington who on fourth and seven at Wisconsin’s 44-yard line made another acrobatic catch on an out route to the left side. The 22-yard pass from Shaw to Ellington gave the Gamecocks the football at the Wisconsin 22-yard line. Two plays later, Shaw connected with Ellington again for a 22-yard touchdown reception. Ellington’s second touchdown of the game gave the Gamecocks a 20-17 advantage and concluded a nine-play, 75-yard drive for South Carolina. The Gamecock scoring drive took 4:55 off the clock.

The Gamecocks would extend their lead to 10 points at 27-17 shortly thereafter on a 3:09 scoring drive that was six plays and 74 yards.

The big play of the drive was a 49-yard leaping catch made by Roland off a pass from Shaw.

Jerell Adams picked up his second touchdown reception of the year quickly after the stellar catch from Roland as he caught a three-yard pass from Shaw.

The 10-point advantage would not last long for the Gamecocks with Wisconsin’s Kenzel Doe returning the kickoff after the Gamecock touchdown. Doe’s 91-yard return was the fourthlongest in Capital One Bowl history. It pulled the Badgers back to within three points at 27-24 with 10:54 to play in the contest.

The Gamecocks would respond to the kickoff return touchdown by taking another 10-point lead at 34-24. A Shaw keeper up the middle into the end zone from one-yard out concluded a nine-play, 88-yard scoring drive for South Carolina. The drive took 5:06.

Turnover prone Wisconsin could not get any closer down the stretch with the Gamecocks holding on for the 10-point win.

South Carolina closed out its win over Wisconsin with 438 yards of total offense on 60 plays. Wisconsin finished with 410 yards of total offense on 69 plays.

The Gamecocks threw for 321 yards in the game, while Wisconsin passed for 117 yards.

Wisconsin rushed for 293 yards as a team in the game, while South Carolina accumulated 117 yards on the ground as a team.

Gamecock quarterback Connor Shaw was named the Most Valuable Player of the Capital One Bowl. He finished his final game in a Gamecock uniform with 312 yards passing, 47 yards rushing, three passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown and a touchdown catch.

Shaw was 22-for-25 passing in the Gamecock win.

Wisconsin head coach Gary Andersen was very impressed with what Shaw brought to the table in the Gamecock win.

“We knew that coming in,” Andersen mused.

“I saw it on tape. I heard about him from afar.

He lived up to his billing. Just as impressive … his ability to understand pressure, even when we got him tricked, running free hitters at him.

He’s hard to get on the ground. He makes good decisions.”

Two Gamecocks finished with over 100 yards receiving with Ellington obtaining a career-best 140 yards receiving on six catches to go along with his two touchdown receptions. He also had the touchdown pass to Shaw.

Roland concluded his day for the Gamecocks with six catches for 112 yards receiving.

The Badgers were led by the running back tandem of Melvin Gordon and James White.

Gordon picked up 143 yards rushing on 25 rushes, while White rushed the football 12 times for 107 yards.

Kaiwan Lewis led the Gamecocks in tackles in the contest with nine. He also had one fumble recovery and one interception. Jimmy Legree finished with eight tackles, including seven solo stops.

Chris Borland led the Badgers in tackles with nine. He had eight solo tackles.

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January 8, 2014

Spurs & Feathers Published by Aiken Communications, Inc.

What’s Inside? - Table of Contents Gamecock fans enjoy Bowl Week......................... 5-9 Postgame notes............................................................10 Lasting gift from 2013................................................11 Air attack comes up big.............................................12

Contact Us: 218 Richland Ave. W. Aiken, SC 29801 (803) 335-1399 To subscribe: Please call 800-559-2311; annual subscription price is $50 Ellen Priest Publisher Aiken Communications, Inc. Tim O’Briant General Manager tobriant@spursandfeathers.com (803) 335-1400 Ext. 500 Brian Hand Executive Editor bhand@spursandfeathers.com (803) 335-1399 Ext. 506 Mike Kucharski Reporter mike@spursandfeathers.com (803) 335-1399 Ext. 507 Ed Girardeau Contributing Editor ed@spursandfeathers.com (803) 335-1399 Ext. 501 Dee Taylor Advertising Director (803) 644-2371 Kathy Boyette Advertising Sales Manager (803) 644-2349 kboyette@spursandfeathers.com Matt Socha Graphic Designer Postal Information: Spurs & Feathers (ISSN 074454368) is published weekly by Aiken Communications, 326 Rutland Drive, Aiken, South Carolina 29801. Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Prices is pending at Aiken, SC. POSTMASTER: please send address changes to Spurs & Feathers, 326 Rutland Drive, Aiken, SC 29801.

Men’s basketball Legends Weekend......................13 Gamecock defense finishes strong........................14 Connor Shaw caps impressive career...................15 Excerpt from Steve Wadiak biography.................16 Recruiting Roundup....................................................17 Fun-filled Gamecock Club Renewal Day planned for January 31..............................................18 Gamecocks in the NFL................................................20 Men’s basketball tops SC State................................21 Capital One Bowl postgame quotes............... 22-24 Women’s basketball vs. Vanderbilt.........................25

Something to crow about!

Gamecock women’s soccer earns NSCAA Team Ethics Award The South Carolina women’s soccer team was awarded by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America as one of 254 teams to receive the organization’s Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award for 2013. The Gamecocks were one of 72 teams to receive the Bronze version after receiving no more than 10 yellow cards this season and no red cards.

Gamecocks earn four spots in spring ITA Rankings South Carolina men’s tennis opens spring season ranked No. 18 in the nation with three singles and one doubles rankings as well.

It is the highest the Gamecocks have been ranked to start the spring season since coming in at No. 12 in 2006. South Carolina also has three entries in the singles rankings in All-American Tsvetan Mihov, No. 41, freshman Andrew Schafer at No. 91 and junior Kyle Koch at No. 103. Koch and senior Chip Cox will open the spring ranked No. 24 in doubles.

South Carolina’s season begins on Sun., Jan. 19 with a doubleheader against Furman (10 a.m.) and The Citadel (4 p.m.) at the USC Fieldhouse.

Gamecocks Ranked 33rd, Folland Ranked No. 113 in Singles The South Carolina women’s tennis team will begin the year ranked No. 33 when they host a doubleheader Jan. 18 at the USC Field House. The Gamecocks face East Tennessee State at 10 a.m. followed by College of Charleston at 4 p.m.

Freshman Brigit Folland also earned a singles ranking to kick off the season, coming in at No. 113.

(All courtesy of South Carolina Athletics Media Relations)

“Inside the Chart” with Andy Demetra.................26 Gamecock Club: Upcoming Events........................28 “The View from Ed”......................................................30

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Houston Griffin on winning the signed Steve Spurrier football. Houston is leaving soon for Fort Jackson and the Griffin family will be spending the time before her departure cheering on the Gamecocks around the holiday season.

Pictured is Houston with the signed Steve Spurrier football she won in the contest. Gamecock Nation wishes her and all who serve the nation a Happy New Year!

More chances to win signed material and other prizes will be available in the future. Tell all your friends to like Spurs & Feathers on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SpursFeathers to obtain future opportunities. Go Gamecocks!

4 • Spurs & Feathers

January 8, 2014

Spurs & Feathers • 5

January 8, 2014

ALL photoS on pages 5, 6 and 7 by brian hand

Gamecock fans enjoy Bowl Week in Orlando by mike kucharski mike@spursandfeathers.com

petition” that consisted of games based off the “Minute to Win It” television show. The quarterbacks also threw autographed footThe Capital One Bowl hosted a week of balls to lucky raffle winners attending the fun for fans in Orlando, Fla. leading up to luncheon. the game on Jan. 1 with a parade, events and Once the competition finished, the teams tailgating fun right up until the main event. exited to go continue final preparations for The Gamecock and Badger football teams the game and attend the pep rallies to be held had the chance to visit many of Orlando’s later in the day. theme parks around practice times. The That evening, Gamecock and Badger fans Gamecocks were able to visit Walt Disney flooded Pointe Orlando to celebrate New World, Universal Studios and Sea World in Year’s Eve with fellow fans before the Capithe lead up to the game. tal One Bowl.

South Carolina’s players also made a visit Wisconsin and South Carolina each held to DisneyQuest on Dec. 29 to interact with pep rallies with the Badgers going first. In disadvantaged youth from across central attendance for Wisconsin were the band, Florida. They made friends with the children cheer squad, head coach Gary Andersen, and competed in video games and other fun three senior players and Badger legends Ron activities available.

Dayne and Barry Alvarez (current Athletics The next day featured the Florida Citrus Parade with many floats and the South Carolina and Wisconsin marching bands and cheer squads. Later in the day, each team’s offensive and defensive coordinator and select players were made available for statements to the media. Seniors Chaz Sutton and Ronald Patrick were available for the Gamecocks.

On Dec. 31, the head coaches Steve Spurrier and Wisconsin’s Gary Andersen spoke at the Capital One Bowl Kickoff Luncheon Press Conference. Each coach addressed the media before heading to the luncheon to speak again with ESPN’s Dave Pasch, who called the game on ABC, before assembled fans of each team. Both coaches expressed their excitement and the probability of a close, physical game.

After eating, three players from each team participated in a “Minute Challenge Com-

Director).

After the Wisconsin portion, thousands of Gamecock fans flooded the area as Chase Mizzell, the band, cheer squad, Cocky and head coach Steve Spurrier riled up the South Carolina faithful. The band and cheer squad led the fans in traditional Gamecock cheers and got them hyped into a frenzy.

Just before the pep rally ended, Spurrier took the stage to raucous cheers. He said that he came straight from the team walk-through at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium and that the Gamecocks were ready for a battle against Wisconsin.

“We’ve practiced well and I think we’re ready to go play. These guys are ready to go out and get a win for the Gamecocks to take back to South Carolina,” Spurrier exclaimed.

The Head Ball Coach also recognized the

Gamecock faithful for their contributions to the program.

“Everywhere we go, the first thing I start bragging about is winning 18 straight at home and that comes from you fans. We’ve got the best fans in the nation and you’re a big part of that win streak,” Spurrier addressed the gathered fans. “We’re ready to go play tomorrow and we’ll need you to help us get a big win.”

After the pep rally many Gamecock fans went to Adobe Gila’s, the Orlando headquarters for the Gamecock Club. Executive director of the Gamecock Club Patrick McFarland said he was happy to see such a great turnout and recognized Adobe Gila’s for giving Gamecock fans a place to gather while in Orlando.

Gamecock fans came from South Carolina and across the nation to support the team in the Capital One Bowl with many saying that they would not skip coming to a bowl game.

“I go to all the bowl games, all the games no matter where they are. I love the Gamecocks and I would follow them anywhere.

I love coming to Orlando - came a couple years ago too - because it’s a fun place to go and a good bowl game,” Becky Johnson of South Carolina said.

Gamecock fan Kirk Hollingsworth from South Carolina echoed Johnson’s thoughts, saying he loved making the trip to Orlando.

“I haven’t missed a home game, away game or bowl game since 1992, so I love making the trip down. This is a great place to come for a game and this is the place to be,” Hollingsworth said.

Stephen Bryant made the trip from North Please see Fans, Page 6

6 • Spurs & Feathers

fans, continued from page 5 Carolina with some friends to support the Gamecocks.

“I didn’t make it a couple years ago when we were down here and everyone said it was a great time. I had to come down and see what they were talking about,” Bryant said. “It has been as much fun as they told me and we just can’t wait until kickoff tomorrow.”

Jessica Horn said she made the trip to ring

January 8, 2014

in the New Year with the Gamecocks.

“I love the Gamecocks and I am so happy to be able to come support the team. It’s a great way to come and spend the New Year.

Have some fun, cheer on the Gamecocks and hopefully go home with another big win,” Horn commented.

Gamecock fans had another chance to get together before the game at the Official Tailgate Party beginning at 9 a.m. at McCracken Field at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium on Jan. 1. My Carolina Alumni Asso-

ciation and the Gamecock Club sponsored a tailgate tent where fans in Garnet and Black got some food and fun before the game.

South Carolina fans at the tent were entertained by the Mighty Sound of the Southeast Gamecock marching band and cheer squads in the Gamecock Club tailgate tent as well. Cocky also made a special appearance to meet fans and pose for photos before the game.

Hunter Hayes performed at McCracken Field before the game and also during half-

time of the Capital One Bowl, treating fans to some of his hits performed live. Then the Gamecocks and Badgers showed up about two and a half hours before the game and walked in past fans to prepare for the game.

Overall, The Gamecock Club, South Carolina Athletics, the Capital One Bowl and Florida Citrus Sports provided fans with a great experience leading up to the game.

Gamecock fans also got to immensely enjoy watching their team prevail to cap off a successful bowl week in Orlando.

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January 8, 2014

Here come the gamecocks!

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ALL photoS on pages 8 and 9 by allen sharpe and jenny dilworth

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South Carolina Capital One Bowl postgame notes South carolina athletics media relations

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South Carolina defeated Wisconsin, 34-24, in the 2014 Capital One Bowl.

South Carolina concludes the season with an 11-2 record. It marks the third consecutive season that South Carolina has won 11 games. It ties the school record set in 2011 and also matched in 2012 for victories.

The victory is the 42nd Gamecock win in the last four years, extending the school record for most wins by a senior class. The four-year win total of 42 (911-11-11) surpassed the previous mark of 38 set by last year’s senior class.

The victory extended the Gamecocks’ winning streak against non-conference opponents to 16 games. The Gamecocks have not lost a non-conference game since the 2010 Chick-fil-A-Bowl, a 26-17 loss to Florida State.

It is the third straight New Year’s Day Bowl victory for the Gamecocks.

South Carolina defeated Nebraska, 3013, in the 2012 Capital One Bowl and defeated Michigan, 33-28, in the 2013 Outback Bowl.

South Carolina is now 7-12 all-time in bowl games. Head coach Steve Spurrier is now 4-4 in bowl games as head coach at South Carolina.

Captains for South Carolina were senior quarterback No. 14 Connor Shaw, junior offensive guard No. 50 A.J. Cann, senior defensive end No. 90 Chaz Sutton and junior defensive tackle No. 99 Kelcy Quarles.

The 2014 Capital One Bowl was the 300th career game for Steve Spurrier as a collegiate head coach. Coach Spurrier is 219-79-2 as a college head coach.

Attendance for the 2014 Capital One Bowl was 56,629.

Six players started every game this season for the Gamecocks, three on offense and three on defense: junior offensive guard A.J. Cann, junior offensive tackle Corey Robinson, junior offensive tackle Brandon Shell, senior cornerback Jimmy Legree, junior defensive tackle J.T. Surratt and senior defensive end Chaz Sutton.

Senior quarterback Connor Shaw was named the MVP of the 204 Capital One Bowl.

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South Carolina set a school record on offense for the most total offensive

photo by Jenny dilworth

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yards in a single season with 5,880. It bested the previous mark of 5,499 total offensive yards set in 2010.

Senior quarterback Connor Shaw closed out his career completing 22-of25 passes in the air for a season-high 312 passing yards as well as three touchdowns. It was his first 300-yard passing game of the season. Shaw carried 16 times for 47 yards and rushed for a touchdown. He also caught a 9-yard pass in the second quarter for his first career touchdown reception.

He factored in all five Gamecock touchdowns in the game. Shaw finished his career with 27 wins as a starting quarterback as the victory extended a school record he set earlier this season. Shaw became the fourth player in school history to surpass the 6,000-yard career total for passing yards. He finished his career with 6,074 passing yards, fourth-highest in school history.

Junior wide receiver Bruce Ellington caught six passes for 140 yards, a career-high in yards. His previous high was 136 at Missouri on Oct. 26, 2013.

Ellington moved past Philip Logan (1974-77) into eighth place on the alltime receiving touchdown list at South Carolina with a pair of receiving touchdowns. Ellington caught a 39-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter and had a 22-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter.

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Bruce Ellington’s 9-yard pass to Connor Shaw in the second quarter was Ellington’s first career touchdown pass.

Sophomore wide receiver Shaq Roland caught a career-high six passes and hauled in a career-high 112 receiving yards in the victory. His previous highs were four receptions vs. Coastal Carolina on Nov. 23, 2013 and 75 yards vs.

North Carolina on Aug. 29, 2013.

The fumble by Connor Shaw in the third quarter was the Gamecocks’ first turnover since Oct. 26 at Missouri.

Jerell Adams’ 3-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter was his second touchdown reception of the season. His previous touchdown was a 4-yard reception vs. Mississippi State on Nov. 2, 2013.

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South Carolina’s defense created four turnovers in the victory with three interceptions. The Gamecocks finished the season with 18 interceptions.

The defense allowed just 117 passing yards by Wisconsin for the contest. It is the second lowest total by an opponent in a game this season.

South Carolina’s leading tackler was sophomore linebacker Kaiwan Lewis, who finished with nine tackles in the contest.

Freshman linebacker Skai Moore tallied two interceptions in the game and finishes the season leading the

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team with four on the year. He had an interception in the first quarter and an interception in the fourth quarter. His previous interceptions were vs. Mississippi State (Nov. 2) and vs. Clemson (Nov. 30).

Sophomore linebacker Kawian Lewis tallied his second interception of the season in the fourth quarter. His previous interception was at Missouri on Oct. 26.

Junior defensive end Jadeveon Clowney was credited with five tackles, including a tackle for loss as well as two breakups and a quarterback hurry.

His five tackles tied a season-high.

Senior cornerback Jimmy Legree had a career-best eight tackles in his final game in the Garnet & Black.

Freshman spur Jordan Diggs tallied a career-high six tackles. His previous high was four vs. Florida on Nov. 16, 2013.

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Junior punter Tyler Hull punted three times for 101 yards. His longest punt was 36 yards and he averaged 33.7 yards per punt.

Wisconsin’s Kenzel Doe’s 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown was the first kickoff return allowed by the Gamecocks since Nov. 5, 2011 at Arkansas when Dennis Johnson returned a kickoff return 98 yards for a touchdown.

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January 8, 2014

Lasting gift from 2013 season is view from the top

At the end it felt as though, for all the wins and the accompanying pats on the back that have been due the 2013 Gamecocks football team, maybe the best aspect of Steve Spurrier’s nine years in Carolina isn’t actually seen in the all the hardware stuffing the trophy case.

Understand that winning is a byproduct of the system and without the maturity in all phases of the organization, without Bart Wright an improved approach Contributing to recruiting, without the Writer coaching staff completely buying into the philosophy, without the players’ belief in what they are doing, none of this would have happened.

It made possible an historic five consecutive wins over the in-state rival, made backto-back Jan. 1 Capital One Bowl victories a reality and it put the Carolina program on a national stage the school has never known.

But when you get past all the shiny symbols of success, what’s most enduring about Spurrier at Carolina is what is now absent from the

program – fear.

You remember what it felt like taking a beating from the rival and fearing what might happen the next year, or avoiding those postseason bowl conversations because the Gamecocks weren’t going anywhere, again.

You remember looking ahead to Signing Day and just hoping against hope that somehow a more talented collection of high school players would be making plans to come to Columbia.

Most of all, longtime fans remember what it was like in the heavy reality of not quite being good enough, to find room for some small measure of hope and optimism.

Maybe next year it will all get better, somehow.

Remember that? Sometimes the feeling of resignation to mediocrity was there when you woke up, still there when you went to bed at night.

The fear is gone now, dispelled like a fire hose blasting gutters clean after the last leaf has fallen. In this neighborhood, people don’t even think about leaves in the gutters, they will be approached at the right time and taken care of efficiently.

That’s what 33 wins in three years will do for you because you can’t do that based on a fortunate year when all the breaks go your

way. Auburn won the National Championship in 2010 with a 14-0 record that included escapes in overtime, bounces that went their way and bad breaks they managed to avoid.

But the year before that, Auburn was 8-5 and two years before the title it was 5-7, the point here being that any fanbase would take the magic of the 2010 Auburn season, but it was an anomaly. Most championships are won by programs that build to the top, involve themselves in the national conversation and finally grab one, or more titles when the time is right.

This is the level the Gamecocks have attained under Spurrier; they are living in the high rent district after 33 wins in three years.

Who else wins like that? Alabama has won 36 games in the last three years, Oregon has won 35, LSU and Stanford have each won 34.

Look around at your new neighbors, this is where the Carolina football program lives and here, there is no fear, there is only commitment and expectation for continued success.

It was a very young team in 2013 with a collection of linebackers that were virtually untested as the season opened. Those players will be leaders of the 2014 defense, which will have to replace some tremendous talent up front.

In years past, that would be cause for con-

photo by allen sharpe

cern.

In this new neighborhood, you know it’s going to work out and you savor every moment until it starts up again.

It’s how winners look at the world and that’s the lasting gift of 2013, the exciting view, filled with possibilities, from the top of the heap.

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January 8, 2014

Gamecock air attack comes up big in Capital One Bowl by mike kucharski mike@spursandfeathers.com

South Carolina was not able to rely on its ground game much against the stout Wisconsin run defense, but the arm of Connor Shaw and the hands and feet of the Gamecock receiving corps led the Gamecocks to 321 passing yards and four touchdowns.

The Gamecocks had two 100-yard receivers in the Capital One Bowl in the forms of Bruce Ellington and Shaq Roland, something that had not been done since Oct. 27, 2012 against Tennessee. Ellington was involved in that instance as well along with former tight end Justice Cunningham.

Ellington totaled six catches for 140 yards, a career high in receiving yards, and two touchdowns. Ellington is now eighth in program history in career receiving touchdowns.

Not to be outdone, Roland posted career high in receptions (six) and receiving yardage (112) in the victory.

While the numbers the receivers posted are impressive, the ability, athleticism and knack for pulling in the contested ball were what really stood out in the Gamecocks’ win.

“They made some plays. They told me before the game, just toss it up there and they’ll get the ball,” Shaw said after the game. “A couple times I just threw it up and Shaq and Bruce mad some excellent plays, so I couldn’t be more proud.”

Ellington credited the work and practice all season for leading to the ability to make these plays.

“It just took working at it all summer, all week during practice and our quarterback right here. He delivered it so I had to catch it,” Ellington said.

Two of Ellington’s athletic catches came with South Carolina trailing, 17-13, in the third quarter. Ellington caught three passes on the drive that ended up giving the Gamecocks the lead that they did not surrender the rest of the game.

The first amazing catch came on a fourth and seven play where Ellington ran a deep corner route down the left sideline. On a ball that looked to be thrown too high, Ellington was able to turn around at full speed, leap and tip the ball to himself to come down with a 22-yard gain that put the offense on the Wisconsin’s 22 yard line.

Two plays later, Ellington ran another deep corner route and caught the ball near the goal line. He was able to control his body to cut into the end zone just inside the pylon to put the Gamecocks up on the 22-yard touchdown pass from Shaw.

“The fourth and seven play was interesting.

We called the same play on third and 15 and Bruce went the wrong way … so we had that fourth and seven and we called the same corner route, same play we threw against Mis-

photo by allen sharpe

Two-sport star Bruce Ellington saved his best game for his last game as a Gamecock. souri, and when Connor threw it a little high, I said ‘ooh, it may be a little high,’” Spurrier explained. “Bruce got a hand on it, tipped it to himself and came down with it.

“The touchdown was a very similar play although it was a little different - but Bruce, somehow or another, he broke wide open. He hit him perfectly … well, there were so many big plays in the game, but those were very important obviously,” Spurrier continued.

Roland had his own big drive highlighted by an acrobatic catch in traffic to set up another South Carolina touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Roland caught two passes for 61 yards on a six-play, 74-yard drive. Roland made a leaping catch down the middle of the field between two Badger defenders and around the hands of one to set up first and goal from the 10 yard line. The drive was capped with Shaw’s third touchdown pass of the day, this one to Adams.

Ellington’s first score came on a 39-yard touchdown catch on a post pattern over the middle following a Gamecock interception for a quick strike and the Gamecocks first touchdown of the day. Ellington also threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Shaw on a trick play in the second quarter.

Spurrier lauded Ellington’s play after the

game, including his touchdown pass.

“Bruce had a heck of a game. Makes more big plays as receiver I think than almost any other receiver I’ve coached out of 25 years or so. But he came down with a big catch when we need it … and Bruce threw a good ball too … pretty good day for Bruce also, an excellent day,” Spurrier commented.

The contributions of Ellington, Roland and the other Gamecock receivers were especially welcomed because Damiere Byrd missed the Capital One Bowl with a knee injury.

“We’ve got guys that work hard every week and they’ve been working hard over the summer. So Damiere not being there, we’ve got guys that can step up and make plays,” Ellington noted.

Shaw confirmed Ellington’s thoughts on the players rising to the occasion.

“Ever since I’ve been here, we’ve battled a lot of adversity and had a lot of key players go down and a lot of guys step up and it was no different today,” Shaw said.

The Gamecocks were able to compile 438 total yards in the Capital One Bowl which set a school record for the most total offensive yards in a single season with 5,880 yards. It bested the previous mark of 5,499 total offensive yards set in 2010.

The Gamecocks put together four touchdown drives of at least 70 yards, two of which were over 80 yards (86 and 88 yards).

Wisconsin head coach Gary Andersen talked about the challenges of facing South Carolina’s offensive combination of Shaw and the receivers after the game.

“I heard about him (Connor Shaw) from afar. He lived up to his billing. Just as impressive, I’ll get to the receivers … he’s hard to get on the ground. He makes good decisions,” Andersen said. “It’s a veteran quarterback move. You guys don’t just wake up one day and decide we’re going to do this.

“The receivers made contested catches and they’re fast. They can run. They run good routes. We knew all that coming in, but the defining moment is when you have to make plays on contested footballs … who’s going to get it? Today South Carolina won that many times,” Andersen continued.

After the win Ellington expressed his love for South Carolina.

“It’s been great. I’ve had a great time here.

Ever since I made a decision to go play football, I think it’s been the right decision. I haven’t had any regrets playing both sports.

These guys telling me go out there and do what you’ve got to do. Play as a team, that’s what it’s all about,” Ellington said.

Roland’s strong showing in the second half of the season and the Capital One Bowl should have him positioned for a strong junior season next fall.

Overall, the players and Spurrier were pleased with the way the team came together to have a strong showing in their final performance of the season leading to the 33rd victory in the past three campaigns.

“The guys, we came together as a team today. Connor did a great job of leading us.

We just came as a team today, just built on what we did all week and just came out and played,” Ellington said.

Spurrier said that he was not surprised by leaders Shaw and Ellington stepping up to make big plays on a big stage.

“Connor likes the big games and so does Bruce. Sometimes we have a few guys that get a little shaky in big games or whatever, but not these guys,” Spurrier said. “So when your key players like the tough situation, like close games, fourth quarter, the way these two especially do, then you have a chance for good things to happen.

“We’ve won 11 this year and there’s been six or seven that could have gone either way.

And fourth quarter, we really turned them into our favor. We lost one of them in Knoxville, but other than that, this has been a wonderful season with the team we have and the way it could have gone the other way, but it went our way so often this year. So we have a lot to be thankful for. We have been a blessed team this year,” Spurrier mused.

January 8, 2014

South Carolina Athletics to hold Legends Weekend by mike kucharski mike@spursandfeathers.com

rent men’s basketball coach Frank Martin, Athletics Director Ray Tanner, Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, other government officials and former players from the South Carolina Athletics will be holding its annual McGuire era. Greene street running from Assembly to men’s basketball Legends Weekend on Friday Jan. 17 Gadsden streets will be topped Frank McGuire Way. and Saturday Jan. 18 to commemorate former Gamecock The next morning the Columbia Tip-Off Club will hold coaching great Frank McGuire. a meeting and host a breakfast at 10 a.m. in the Frank The weekend’s festivities will begin with a streetMcGuire Room of the Colonial Life Arena. Martin and topping ceremony in front of the Colonial Life Arena. a South Carolina legend are slated to speak during the Greene street in front of the arena will be topped Frank Columbia Tip-Off Club meeting.

McGuire Way and the ceremony will be open to the pubThe fun does not stop there as Gamecock legends from lic. the McGuire era will be available for an autograph ses“The men’s basketball program has a Legends Weeksion before the game in the Colonial Life Arena from end each year and this year the program is commemo3:15-4 p.m. At approximately 4:15 p.m., 15 minutes berating the Frank McGuire era here at Carolina,” Senior fore tip-off, the legends and McGuire will be recognized Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs Charles on the court before the game.

Bloom noted. “The high point is on Friday, Jan. 17 at To cap the weekend, the Gamecocks will take on Ole 5:30 p.m. with the unveiling during the street topping Miss in an SEC clash starting at 4:30 p.m. The game will ceremony honoring Frank McGuire.” be the the fourth conference matchup for South Carolina Attending the street-topping ceremony will be curin the 2013-14 season.

Spurs & Feathers • 13

14 • Spurs & Feathers

January 8, 2014

Gamecock defense finishes strong in Capital One Bowl victory by mike kucharski mike@spursandfeathers.com

down,” Moore said. “Just getting lined up The Badger offense got the ball in Carolina right, getting the help where it was supposed territory after a fumble recovery, but the to be and relying on other people to come in. drive stalled at the Gamecocks 25 yard line After a tough first half the South Carolina We had help from the DBs to come in and as Moore made another big play with a stop defense stood up to the Wisconsin offense make some stops in the run game.” for a yard on Wisconsin running back White and was able to get stops and force turnovers On the first drive of the second half, the to force a 42-yard field goal attempt that to guide the Gamecocks to their 11th victory Gamecocks allowed Wisconsin to go 47 went wide right. for a third straight season in the 34-24 win. yards in seven plays, but a sack by senior de- The next Badger possession began with While it wasn’t a great statistical day for fensive end Chaz Sutton limited the damage a big hit from cornerback Victor Hampton the Gamecock defense, head coach Steve to a field goal. The next two opportunities that caused Stave to leave the game a few Spurrier pointed out that the most important the Gamecock defense had led to zero points plays later. As the fourth quarter began, defensive statistic is points allowed. from the Badgers.

Wisconsin was driving and facing third and “Scoring is the big defensive stat, as we “We try to build on taking pride that when one from the Gamecocks’ 26 yard line. The all know. We held them to 17 points, kickoff we turn the ball over or something happens, Badgers tried two rushes but did not gain return on one. A good day for our defense, that we hold them to at least a field goal. For a yard on tackles by Kadetrix Marcus and even though Wisconsin is a good running them after a turnover to not get any points Sharrod Golightly to force a turnover on team, as we know,” Spurrier said. was big. It gave us confidence that we knew downs.

The Gamecock defense struggled against we could play with them,” Ward noted.

“That was a big, big, big play. As y’all the run in the opening half as Wisconsin was able to gain 159 yards on the ground.

South Carolina averaged giving up 142 rushing yards a game coming in, but Wisconsin was successfully able to move the line of scrimmage and the one-two punch of running backs Melvin Gordon and James White were able to benefit from that.

Also benefitting was the Badgers’ play action passing game. Wisconsin was 7-of-11 for 64 yards in the first half. Other than a 36-yard completion, the Gamecocks did a good job against the Wisconsin passing attack.

Freshman linebacker Skai Moore made an interception on a screen that deflected off a Badger lineman’s foot that led to the Gamecocks first touchdown. Wisconsin head coach Gary Andersen said that quarterback Joel Stave was “absolutely trying to throw the ball away on the screen, but it didn’t work out.”

South Carolina was able to pressure the ball as Jadeveon Clowney had a big first half with four tackles, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry.

The Gamecock defense stiffened after the half, allowing only a field goal to Wisconsin defensively - the other touchdown came on the 91-yard kickoff return - to put the clamps down and secure the win.

“We went into the game with the game plan to use a lot of zone pressure and they did a good job of formations and watching the D-line. So we came back out in the second half and just played base defense and let the guys get lined up. Other than the first drive I thought they did well,” Defensive Coordinator Lorenzo Ward said. “I just felt like if we could get lined up with them we would be fine.”

Moore echoed Ward saying that the defense played with more confidence in the second half which led to better play following the adjustments. photo by allen sharpe “Once we went to halftime, coach Ward Chaz Sutton and the Gamecock defense limited Wisconsin to 17 points in the bowl win. drew up the adjustments and we shut them

know, they’ve got two 1,000 yards rushers. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them being stopped on a fourth and one like that. Actually they had two plays for one yard and so we had to stop them right there. We played solid football. That was a big key for us to stop those two plays,” Hampton said.

Ward said that he was proud of the way that Hampton and Golightly responded after not starting the game due to missing curfew by 10 minutes during the week.

“I think it was motivation. You know Sharrod didn’t play a lot in the first half, but he came out at halftime and played. So it was good to see him to make plays the way that he did. That was a big stop he made.”

After that series, South Carolina forced three turnovers - an interception and fumble recovery by Kaiwan Lewis and a second interception by Moore - to seal the victory.

Ward was complimentary of the play of the young linebackers, particularly Moore and Lewis (who led the team with nine tackles).

“I said before the season started, once this young group of linebackers knows what we’re doing, they’ll be the best group to play here since I’ve been here. There is nothing that they have done here lately to make me think any different,” Ward commented. “I’m very, very proud of the entire group of guys.

“Skai is going to be a great player. He’s got a tremendous amount of ability. He’s big, strong - only going to get stronger - and he can run. He’s got really great hands. So the sky is the limit for Skai,” Ward added.

Moore said that it was great for him to return to Florida (his home state) and have a good performance like he did.

“It means a lot to have the two picks. Anything I can do to help my team. It meant a lot to me,” Moore said. “I’m going to celebrate and I’m looking forward to having a few more years here. It’s a great program, the fans are great. I made the right choice in my recruiting process, so I’m really excited for the next few years.”

The Gamecocks were proud to pull out the victory and knew that if they just persevered, they would have the chance to win the game in the fourth quarter. While they had trouble with the run throughout the game, the defense held the Badgers to 117 passing yards and made three interceptions.

“That’s how it is in football, one play can always make the difference. We knew, coach always preaches that when things go bad, it’s about how you respond,” Hampton explained. “He always tells us before the game that things might not go our way, so we’re always prepared that things might not go our way. That’s what happened in the first half.

“It was a hard fought win. The guys came out. It wasn’t given to us. We earned it.

Hopefully we gained some respect out of this game,” Hampton concluded.

Spurs & Feathers • 15

January 8, 2014

Connor Shaw caps impressive career

photos by allen sharpe

by mike kucharski mike@spursandfeathers.com

performances Along with completing 22-of-25 passes for 312 yards, Shaw also accounted for five South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw touchdowns in the game by passing for will go down in Gamecock lore as one of three, running for one and making his first the best quarterbacks to ever don the Garnet career catch on a nine-yard touchdown pass and Black after posting a program-best 27-5 from Bruce Ellington. Shaw accounted for career record as a starter.

368 total yards yards in the win (312 passHead coach Steve Spurrier said that of all ing, 47 rushing, nine receiving). the stellar quarterbacks that he has coached Following the game, Shaw became the in his career, Shaw, Spurs & Feathers’ sea- fourth player in program history to surpass son MVP, ranks near the top of the list. the 6,000-yard career total for passing “I’ve had a lot of good ones and Connor yards. Shaw ended his career with 6,074 is right there amongst the best. No question passing yards, the fourth-highest in school about it. We’ve won a bunch of games - 33- history. Shaw also totaled 74 total touch6 now in the last three years - and to finish downs in his career (56 passing, 17 rushing, like this, even all my years at Florida we one receiving). never finished like this,” Spurrier said.

Spurrier and Shaw both talked about the As icing on the cake, Shaw was named play that led to Shaw’s touchdown catch Most Valuable Player of the Gamecocks after the game.

34-24 victory in the the Capital One Bowl “We’ve had that play in for about three to finish South Carolina’s third-straight 11-2 years, but we don’t put it in every game. But season. this week, we were at breakfast today and I “Connor can take care of the ball and told Connor we were going to throw the one make plays when the game’s on the line and back to you,” Spurrier explained. “I said the game was on the line a whole bunch of let’s throw one back to the quarterback. It’s plays today,” Spurrier said. “But yeah, I just probably only going to be good once anynow noticed that Connor hit 22-of-25 today. way when you have that same motion.

I didn’t realize it was quite that good, but a “Connor had a good little acting job. He lot of guys can’t hit that in warm-ups. That hands it off and acts like he’s not going kind of completions, that really is someanywhere. The guy hesitated just a moment thing … how about that? Pretty good. and we were able to break behind him …

“He was 20-of-21 against Missouri, so Connor played wide receiver you know that was pretty good a couple years ago and there in high school until, what, junior year? fourth quarter against Missouri was very So he’s pretty good out there also,” Spurrier good again this year. Yeah, today, he had continued. to play toady,” Spurrier said on Shaw’s best Shaw said that play was absolutely one

that he wanted to run.

“I wanted a receiving touchdown. What better way, in my last game to get one. He told me that at breakfast and I had it in the back of my mind, so I’m glad we called it,” Shaw commented.

Shaw threw two touchdown passes to Ellington and one to tight end Jerell Adams while not throwing an interception. Shaw has only throw one interception - at Tennessee on Oct. 19 - the entire season while tossing 24 touchdown passes and tallying 2,447 passing yards this season.

Shaw’s sixth rushing touchdown of the year put the Gamecocks ahead by 10 points and mostly sealed the victory with just under six minutes remaining in the game. His ability to run and pass was something that the Wisconsin defense scouted for but was still unable to stop.

“We knew that coming in. He’s kind of their engine and he does a great job of extending plays. He doesn’t necessarily look to scramble, but to make a throw and he hurt us on that a couple of times later in the game,” Wisconsin standout linebacker Chris Borland said after the game. “He played well. We were kind of disappointed without being able to contain him better.

“You kind of walk a fine line between being aggressive, getting after the quarterback and containing him. Our plan was to be aggressive and at times we didn’t get the pressure we should have and at times he was able to extend plays. That’s very frustrating … I’ve got to give him a lot of credit. He’s a great player,” Borland continued.

Shaw’s teammate Jadeveon Clowney agreed with Borland that defending Shaw is a challenge that he is glad that he never had to face.

“That guy’s a great athlete as you can tell.

He makes a lot of plays with his feet and he can pass it too, so he’s kind of a dual quarterback,” Clowney said of Shaw’s skills.

“He’s a pretty good quarterback, he makes good decisions with the ball, gets rid of the ball when he has to, runs with it. He’s just a pure athlete man. I’m glad he’s a Gamecock so I don’t have to chase him around in the backfield all day.”

16 • Spurs & Feathers

January 8, 2014

Tryout - an excerpt from a biography of the life of former Gamecock great Steve Wadiak The following is an excerpt from a biography of the life of former Gamecock great Steve Wadiak. The biography is being written by Mike Chibbaro and is scheduled for publication in the summer of 2014. This excerpt highlights the initial meeting of Pat Vella with Steve Wadiak in February of 1948.

Steve Wadiak began his journey to Columbia, South Carolina aboard a train southern travelers affectionately referred to as “The Carolina Creeper.” The train earned its nickname because it stopped in every town, big and small, along the thousand-mile path from Chicago to Charleston, South Carolina.

After spending nearly two days aboard the slow-moving locomotive, Wadiak stepped onto the platform of Columbia’s Gervais Street train Station in early February, 1948. He had left Chicago in the middle of winter, wearing his heavy overcoat. He arrived in South Carolina’s capital city on a mild February afternoon and quickly realized that he was significantly overdressed.

In the athletic office on the campus of the University of South Carolina, Head Coach Rex Enright enlisted the services of Pat Vella, one of his most dependable players, to pick up Steve at the train station.

Vella came to USC from Enright’s hometown of Rockford, Illinois. He was an undersized quarterback with a big heart and deep sense of appreciation for the opportunity that had been given to him by Coach Enright. Vella was a walking poster boy for the University.

Whenever Enright needed someone to make a good impression on a recruit, he enlisted the likeable Vella to serve as host. Conveniently, Vella was also one of the few ballplayers on Enright’s squad that owned a car—a rickety $300 Hudson Terraplane he purchased after being discharged from the Navy.

Vella spotted Wadiak standing on the train platform holding a small gym bag. He approached Steve, introduced himself, and offered a welcoming handshake. Nearly sixtyfive years later, Vella recalled that handshake and his initial impression of Steve with exacting detail.

“He looked me square in the eye and shook my hand firmly,” Vella remembered. “He had a look about him. I knew I was going to like this guy.”

Vella and Wadiak had much in common: They were from the same area of the country, their parents were both of European ancestry, and both men had served in the U.S. Navy.

Vella spent the better part of World War II aboard the U.S.S. North Carolina, seeing significant maritime battlefield action in the Pacific Theatre. Their meeting on the train platform that day would mark the beginning of a close friendship.

Vella delivered Steve to the Carolina Field-

house on the corner of Sumter and Green Streets. He took Wadiak into a room known as the “blue room”—a cramped 10 X 12 room adjacent to the Fieldhouse’s athletic locker rooms. The room served as a meeting space for coaches, its meager furnishings consisting of a couple of tables, some folding chairs, and a chalkboard. Coach Enright stood waiting in the room along with his line coach, Hank Bartos.

“So my good friend Bill Milner says the boys in the Chicago sandlots can’t stop you,” Enright said as welcomed his new potential recruit. His compliment brought a smile to Steve’s face.

“What do you say we let you put on some cleats and take you over to the field and let you stretch your legs a little,” Enright continued.

After his marathon train ride, Wadiak was ready for some outdoor physical activity. Vella escorted Steve down the hallway into the football locker room on the ground floor of the Fieldhouse. Steve noticed lockers filled with equipment—shoulder pads, jerseys, cleats, and helmets. He had never seen so much athletic equipment in one place. The teams Steve had played for in the past struggled to find enough useable equipment to outfit eleven players.

Steve also noted an equipment room containing a bin full of leather footballs. He realized he was a long way from the prairie behind his Chicago home, where a lone football was shared among dozens of neighborhood kids.

Steve was given a pair of gym shorts, football cleats, and a sweatshirt with embroidered lettering—Property of USC Athletics. As Vella and Wadiak dressed, Red Wilson, a veteran end from Macon, Georgia, joined them. Once dressed, the three men walked across the street and onto Davis Field, the school’s baseball field, where a handful of baseball players were playing catch in the outfield grass. Vella, who knew everyone on campus, stopped for a moment to chat, then the three men continued walking across Davis Field and through a gate onto Melton Field—the Gamecocks’ practice football field.

The Gamecock football team was coming off a respectable 6-2-1 1947 football season in which they defeated their archrival Clemson, surprised the University of Miami on the road, and upset a strong Wake Forest team 6-0 on Thanksgiving Day in Charlotte. The Garnet and Black yearbook referred to the 1947 campaign as the “greatest season in Carolina’s history.”

Enright’s team was returning a talented offensive backfield led by junior quarterback Bo Hagan and sophomore running sensation Bishop Strickland. Standout fullback Bobby Giles had graduated from the 1947 squad, a void that sent Enright in search of a capable replacement.

Coach Enright and Coach Bartos sat a few rows up in the wooden stands of Melton Field and observed as Vella and Wilson put Wadiak through a series of light drills in order to gauge his football instincts and physical attributes.

Vella gave Steve a few handoffs and instructed him to pretend he was exploding through an open hole in the line. Wilson feigned an effort to tackle Wadiak in order to disrupt his running surge. Vella then tossed Wadiak a few passes to test the receptivity of his hands to the pigskin.

Wadiak moved gracefully through the drills; he showed no signs of rustiness from sitting aboard the cramped Carolina Creeper for the past couple days. Vella, a former sprinter in high school, raced Wadiak in some forty-yard sprints. When Vella accelerated his stride, he found the stockier Wadiak close by his side, keeping step all the way. Vella knew his coach was looking for a new fullback--a single glimpse at Wadiak’s stocky build would lead one to think that fullback was his natural position. But Wadiak’s speed reminded Vella more of a breakaway runner than a short-yardage guy.

After about forty-five minutes, Enright blew a whistle and told Vella, Wilson, and Wadiak that he had seen enough and instructed them to head back to the Fieldhouse and shower. As the men were walking across Davis Field, Enright pulled Vella aside and questioned him about the tryout.

“Do you think he can help us out?” Enright asked as Wadiak and Wilson walked on ahead.

“I do,” Vella said with assurance. “I think he’s a good, tough kid who can play here.”

Vella liked the guy. He thought Steve would fit in well with the rest of his teammates. Fitting in with the rest of the guys, many of whom hailed from various regions of the Deep South, would require that the Chicago-born Wadiak be confident in his abilities yet humble in disposition. Loudmouth prima donnas were not welcome among the veteran Gamecock players. Vella sized up Wadiak as a guy who would not disrupt the team’s chemistry.

Back in the locker room, the three men dressed and showered, and it was here that Vella caught his first glimpse of a shirtless Steve Wadiak. Vella was impressed with the physique of the 22-year old Wadiak—it was a physique chiseled from several years in the gymnasium behind Steve’s Chicago home, and one refined even further through the disciplined physical training of the Navy.

“I thought I was looking at Charles Atlas,” Vella recalled. “He had this muscular barrel chest and a massive neck. Not an ounce of fat on him. Just pure muscle.”

After Wadiak showered and dressed, Vella escorted him across the street to the back of the Physical Education building and into Coach Enright’s office, where Wadiak would learn of his fate.

Enright wasted no time in telling Steve that he planned to offer him a chance to play for the Gamecocks. The coach then explained how the athletic scholarship program worked.

“We’ll pay for your education, your housing, your meals and give you a little spending mon-

submitted photo by mike chibbaro

On warm days, Pat Vella (In Memoriam on page 28) and his good friend Steve Wadiak often visited Columbia’s Sesquicentennial State Park, known among locals as Sesqui.

ey every month, “ Enright explained. “What we ask in return is that you go to class, stay out of trouble, and give us everything you got out there on the football field.”

Enright also shared that he had a stable of excellent running backs returning to the team and that he couldn’t promise Steve any more than a fair shake at cracking the lineup.

Enright was offering Steve the greatest opportunity of his life—a paid education, free meals, and a chance to join a group of guys who, like himself, loved playing football.

Steve thanked Coach Enright for the offer and told him he should probably square it with his parents, but that he fully intended to accept the opportunity put before him.

Enright stood up out of his chair and moved around from his desk to shake the hand of his newest Gamecock. Their handshake marked the beginning of what would become a unique player-coach relationship. As Wadiak started to walk out the door, he turned to his new coach and appeared slightly embarrassed as he asked Coach Enright a question: “Coach, I wasn’t sure how long I would be here, so I didn’t really pack very many clothes…”

Before he could get any further, Enright smiled and cut him off. “Don’t worry my boy.

We may be a little short on big All-American lineman around here, but we got plenty of clothes. We can cover you until you get your things shipped down here.”

Spurs & Feathers • 17

January 8, 2014

South Carolina Gamecocks

Recruiting roundup by phil kornblut

DE Darrius Caldwell of Pearl River JC, MS got the word from USC but it wasn’t what he was hoping for. Caldwell had hoped his transcripts to this point would be good enough to land an offer from the Gamecocks, after which he would commit. He’s going to have to wait Phil Kornblut a little longer. “It’s all depending on Contributing my GPA after the Writer spring,” Caldwell said. “South Carolina is where I want to be, that’s where I want to go. If I get the grade, I’ll get the offer.” And with that in mind, Caldwell said he will wait until after the spring semester to sign. He plans to set official visits to Cincinnati and Memphis. He said he’s not yet discussed an official visit with USC. The only thing standing between DL Arthur Williams of Fayetteville, NC and an offer from USC is a positive review of his transcripts by the Gamecocks. That’s the word Williams got recently from Gamecock recruiter Joe Robinson. “He said he wants to get me down to campus and go over the transcripts and hopefully I’ll have a scholarship,” Williams said. “My transcripts look decent.” Williams is a Florida

State commitment, calling the pledge “pretty strong” and said an offer from USC would put them #2 on his list. He plans to visit USC in January, but the date hasn’t been set. He will go to Florida State January 17th and he also plans to visit Miami.

Williams played in the Shrine Bowl and had 104 tackles and 6 sacks on the season.

OL Derrick Kelly, Jr. of Havana, FL is getting a strong push from USC and plans to take an official visit to Columbia. Kelly has four remaining visits after his official trip to Florida recently. Though he has not set the date for the USC visit it could be January 17th. Kelly has scheduled his LSU trip for January 25th. “I am looking for a school with a good program and strong academics,” Kelly said. “I am very interested in South Carolina and the legendary coach, Steve Spurrier.” Kelly is a former Kentucky commitment. Other schools showing strong interest are Florida State and South Florida.

“I plan on taking all of my official visits,” he said. “I don’t know where I’ll go for the other two.” Kelly does not have any favorites and did not indicate a decision date.

DE Andrew Williams will visit Clemson or Auburn January 17th. The one he doesn’t visit that date he will visit January 31st. He has set a visit to Ole Miss for January 24th.

He’s also been considering USC and LSU. DE Kevin Bronson of Delray Beach, FL has taken an official visit to Rutgers.

He is scheduled to visit USC January 17th, Virginia Tech on the 24th and Florida on

DB Tarvarus McFadden of Plantation, FL has a top eight of Clemson, USC, Florida State, LSU, Georgia, Notre Dame, West Virginia and Central Florida.

WR Michael Bowman of Havelock, NC says nothing has changed at the top of his list with USC and NC State wedged up there together. Bowman said he likes USC’s offense and he had an uncle attend NC State and has always liked the Wolf-

pack. Those two have offered along with North Carolina, East Carolina and Penn State. And he said Clemson recently got involved and is a possible factor. “They want me to come to a junior day and a camp,” Bowman said. He went to USC, North Carolina and NC State for games this season. Bowman said he likely won’t make his decision until after his senior season. This season he had 46 catches for 907 yards and 7 touchdowns.

DB Rashard Causey of Fort Lauderdale plans to be at USC’s major recruiting weekend of January 17th to hang out with the 2014 recruits as well as his close friend and Gamecock linebacker Skai Moore.

Causey has had USC and Miami tied at the top of his list for weeks and that remains the case. “I have mixed feelings about both teams,” Causey said. “Some days I go with South Carolina and some days I go with Miami.” Clemson recently offered Causey, but right now he doesn’t view the Tigers as much of a factor with him. “I’m interested in Clemson but I couldn’t do that to South Carolina,” Causey said. “Skai has kind of brainwashed me into not liking Clemson.”

USC recruiter Grady Brown saw Causey last month as did recruiters from Vanderbilt, Miami, Arkansas, Auburn and West Virginia. Along with the visit to USC, Causey also plans to visit UCLA and Southern Cal this summer. He would like to make his decision before the start of his season or on his birthday of September 20th.

that,” Spurrier explained. “So I think he’s got an excellent chance.

“He’s going to the NFL Combine also.

Did you know that? … they said don’t tell him until after the game. He’s invited to the combines,” Spurrier revealed during the postgame press conference.

Count Clowney as one who believes that Shaw will be able to make the transition to the next level although he said he does not relish the idea of facing him in the NFL. “Yeah, it’ll be tough if I have to to go chase him around in the NFL. I said ‘I’ll get you though,’” Clowney joked.

Shaw said that he was hopeful that he would get a chance to pursue a career in

the NFL and discussed his plans following the season during the press conference as well.

“Obviously, I hope I get the opportunity and guys like Russell Wilson, they give me hope. Shorter guys that can move around the pocket. I’ll go back to Atlanta and train. I’m going to soak this victory in and have fun with the teammates, but I plan on going to Atlanta and training there.”

Shaw commented that after the game he felt tremendous pride and emotion at being able to run off the field as a winner one final time in his Gamecock career.

For the immediate future, Shaw plans on savoring his last victory in Garnet and

Black.

“It was definitely difficult to hold it back once I got in the locker room. My brothers came up and hugged me, the coaches did too and it was a very emotional moment. I couldn’t imagine a better way to go out,” Shaw said. “It hit me a little bit after the game in the locker room, but I’m sure it’ll hit me more once this all ends and just the hype ends. But, like I said, I’m just proud of our team and we’re establishing a winning tradition around here.”

Hopefully Gamecock fans have enjoyed watching Shaw’s exploits on the field because there may never be another player like him at South Carolina.

the 31st.

QB Bo Baldwin of South Aiken was a recruiting mystery in his high school career. A physically imposing quarterback (6-6 231) with a big arm, Baldwin was set back by injuries and never became the hot recruiting target many expected. USC offered him a grayshirt opportunity last summer but Baldwin did not accept that right away. And with the Gamecocks taking a quarterback for the 2014 class well after making the grayshirt offer to Baldwin it opens up speculation as to just how much the Gamecocks want Baldwin and vice versa. Now, Clemson has entered the picture a little bit. Baldwin’s brother will be a senior at Clemson in 2014 and a source said Clemson has offered him a preferred walkon spot, something Baldwin is considering if he decides he wants to continue his football career. This season Baldwin passed for 1,285 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Junior News:

Shaw, continued from page 15 There were multiple times during the game that fierce competitors Shaw and Borland took a moment to help one another up or give recognition for hard play with a slap on the rear. This kind of sportsmanship was just another example of the leadership and class that Shaw has displayed during his Gamecock career.

After the game, Spurrier asserted that he felt that Shaw has a great future in football and said he should get a shot in the NFL. “Connor will play a lot more football.

I’m sure the NFL guys were watching today. They’re looking for quarterbacks that can avoid the rush, move around a little bit and throw and Connor can do all

18 • Spurs & Feathers

January 8, 2014

photo by jenny dilworth

Fun-filled Gamecock Club Renewal Day planned for January 31

by Brian hand bhand@spursandfeathers.com

come in to the Rice Athletics Center, renew their membership. We’ll have senior staff, coaches here throughout the day and we The Gamecock Club does not feel that want them to meet the people that support they can thank their members enough for all their programs and support the athletics dethat they do to support Gamecock studentpartment. athletes and coaches.

“That’s a pretty neat thing for us. Obvi“I don’t think you can do enough of that ously, when they are here we say thank you, … we do ask them to support us and I don’t but I think it’s great for Gamecock Club think you can thank Gamecock Club mem- members to be thanked by the programs that bers enough,” Gamecock Club Executive they actually affect. That’s one of our bigDirector Patrick McFarland remarked. “I gest goals,” McFarland continued. think everybody in this building (Rice AthGamecock Club staff and others from letics Center) would agree that there is no throughout the South Carolina athletics way we could do it without their support. It department will show members around the doesn’t matter if it’s $55 all the way to our Gamecock facilities over the course of the highest levels. Every little bit helps and alday and 107.5 The Game will be live broadlows us to be successful so we want to thank casting. Firehouse Subs will also be there. them as much as possible.”

“We encourage people to get their memTo help show their appreciation, Gamecock berships in and we just overall appreciate Club Renewal Day on Friday, Jan. 31 is gotheir support,” McFarland said. “That’s what ing to be an all-day, fun-filled affair. The that day (Renewal Day) is all about.”

Gamecock Club will be open on Renewal McFarland pointed out Renewal Day is an Day from 8:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. that evening. important cog of what the Gamecock Club Gamecock coaches and staff will be on is doing because despite record-breaking hand in 30-minute increments starting at ap- numbers for the Gamecock Club over the proximately 11 a.m. A full schedule will be past couple of years they still want to grow released by the Gamecock Club as the event even more. draws closer.

“One of the important messages we want “We want people to come here on renewal to get across is that we’ve talked about how day and we want to celebrate their support,” much we’ve grown and set records over the McFarland noted. “They’re welcome to past couple of years, but we still want to con-

tinue to grow,” McFarland elaborated. “Even if you don’t want season tickets, you can join the Gamecock Club. A lot of people think ‘hey, I want season tickets, I need to join the Gamecock Club.’ While that may be true and getting season tickets is a benefit of being a member, the purpose of the Gamecock Club is to support our student-athletes and provide scholarships. If you are a Gamecock fan, I think it’s important for you to be a member of the Gamecock Club to say you support our student-athletes.”

McFarland did note that if you do want season tickets for football it is almost an absolute must to get a Gamecock Club membership because it is only becoming more difficult to obtain season tickets. If you don’t want season tickets to football, but would like them for other sports, McFarland said that you can claim season tickets at the lowest level.

“You can get those season tickets at our lowest level,” McFarland remarked. “So you really don’t have to break the bank to get into the stadium. You can make it affordable and we want to help you do that. People are just excited to be a Gamecock. We say it all the time, but I don’t think you can say it enough. There’s never been a better time to be a Gamecock. All of our sports are seeing success. There’s more to it than football. All of our programs deserve support. Get out

there and do it because they all are fun to watch and are having success.”

Gamecock Club members at the Century Club level or above also receive Spurs & Feathers and McFarland touted the publication as an added bonus for Gamecock Club members.

“I think it is a true benefit (to Gamecock Club members) to have the publication that we have now,” McFarland commented. “It’s a lot of great information and I think it is a really good communication piece for the Gamecock Club to see what our coaches and student-athletes are doing. It’s a true benefit to receive Spurs & Feathers and now you even have access to it online and on social media. I think people are still getting used to that. It is not just what comes to your mailbox. You can log in online as being a member at Century and above at any time and there is new stuff every day.”

To learn more about the Gamecock Club, please visit www.gamecocksonline.com/ gamecockclub.

You can follow the Gamecock Club on Twitter @TheGamecockClub. You can also like the Gamecock Club on Facebook.

You can follow Spurs & Feathers on Twitter @SpursFeathers. You can also like Spurs & Feathers on Facebook. Spurs & Feathers is available online at www.spursandfeathers. com

January 8, 2014

Spurs & Feathers • 19

20 • Spurs & Feathers

January 8, 2014

Gamecocks in the NFL (final regular season) Arizona Cardinals John Abraham - DE Abraham started 13 games and played in all 16 for the Cardinals this season, compiling 37 tackles (31 solo). He has still been a force off the edge making 11.5 sacks, including one for a safety, while forcing four fumbles and deflecting three passes. Selected to the Pro Bowl.

Jasper Brinkley - LB Brinkley made three starts and played in 15 games for the Cardinals this year. Brinkley totaled 27 tackles (23 solo) and deflected a pass.

two games this year with over 200 receiving yards (Week 5 vs. Saints, 218, and Week 13 at Vikings, 249).

Cincinnati Bengals - NFL Playoffs, AFC North Division Champions TJ Johnson - C Johnson was a member of the Bengals’ practice squad for the season and played in all four preseason games.

ers made 51 catches for 484 yards, a 9.5-yard average, and one touchdown. Sanders returned three kicks for 75 yards and 25 punts for 140 yards, but the highlight of Sanders’ season came on a Thursday night game against Houston when he threw a 21-yard touchdown pass on a trick play.

Kansas City Chiefs - NFL Playoffs, AFC Wild Card Dunta Robinson - CB Cleveland Browns Robinson played in eight games and made Tori Gurley - WR two starts for the Chiefs this year. He totaled Gurley played in three games for the Browns 13 tackles (all solo), four pass deflections and and made one catch for 15 yards. Gurley was one fumble recovery on the year.

Atlanta Falcons then signed to the practice squad and has Ryan Succop - K Patrick DiMarco - FB served that role throughout the season.

Succop served as the placekicker and kickoff DiMarco appeared in 14 games and made Spencer Lanning - P specialist for the Chiefs in all 16 games this seven starts for the Falcons. He made eight Lanning punted in all 16 games for the year. Succop went 22-for-28 on field goal atcatches for 49 yards on the year.

Browns this year for a total of 84 punts with tempts while booting a long of 51 yards this Cliff Matthews - DE an average of 43.8 yards per punt. Lanning year and posted a perfect 52-for-52 on extra Matthews played in 15 games for the Falcons punted for a net of 3,222 yards with 28 punts point attempts. He had 91 kickoffs with 47 and made 13 tackles (seven solo) this year. downed inside the 20 yard line and booted touchbacks and an average opponent starting Travian Robertson - DT 59 yards as his season-long punt. Lanning field position at the 24.4 yard line.

Robertson appeared in five games for the also completed his only passing attempt on Rokevious Watkins - OL Falcons this year totaling two tackles. the season for an 11-yard touchdown and Watkins played in three games and made made an extra point in his only attempt this one start for the Chiefs after spending time Buffalo Bills season. on the practice squad this season.

Stephon Giilmore - CB After returning from a wrist injury Gilmore Dallas Cowboys New York Jets made nine starts and appeared in 11 games DeVonte Holloman - LB Antonio Allen - S for the Bills. Gilmore made 35 tackles (30 Holloman played in nine games for the Allen played in all 16 games for the Jets, solo) and deflected 10 passes. He also made Cowboys and started two while compiling making nine starts. Allen has amassed 61 two interceptions and recovered a fumble 26 tackles (14 solo), two sacks and a fumble tackles (40 solo), one sack and one intercepthis season. recovery. tion on the year. Allen has also blocked two punts, recovering one for a touchdown and Carolina Panthers - NFL Playoffs, NFC Detroit Lions returned the interception for a touchdown as South Division Champions Devin Taylor - DE well, totaling two for the season.

Captain Munnerlyn - CB Taylor saw action in 14 games and made two Munnerlyn started all 16 games this season starts for the Lions. Taylor made 14 tackles Philadelphia Eagles - NFL Playoffs, NFC for the Panthers while totaling 73 tackles (48 (nine solo) and 2.5 sacks this year. He also East Divison Champions solo), three sacks and 12 passes deflected forced two fumbles and deflected a pass.

Clifton Geathers - DE this year. He has also made two intercepGeathers saw action in all 16 games for the tions, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble Houston Texans Eagles and made 13 tackles (nine solo) on and scored two touchdowns this season.

Johnathan Joseph - CB the year.

Travelle Wharton - G Joseph started and played in 15 games for Wharton made 12 starts and played in all 16 the Texans before suffering a torn ligament San Diego Chargers - NFL Playoffs, AFC games on the Panthers’ offensive line this in a toe that ended his season a game early.

Wild Card season.

Joseph made 47 tackles (44 solo), deflected Melvin Ingram - LB 16 passes and made three interceptions beAfter spending much of the year on the inChicago Bears fore finishing the year on the injured reserve. jured reserve, Ingram played in four games Alshon Jeffery - WR D.J. Swearinger - S making one start for the Chargers. Ingram Jeffery came on strong in his second year, Swearinger saw action in all 16 games and made eight tackles (four solo), one sack and making 14 starts while appearing in all 16 made 10 starts for the Texans as a rookie. He forced a fumble this season. games for the Bears this seasons. Jeffery totaled 71 tackles (54 solo), deflected four Byron Jerideau - DT finished in the top-10 in the NFL in both passes, made an interception and forced a Jerideau spent the season on the injured rereceptions and receiving yards, with 89 and fumble on the year. serve for the Chargers and did not see action.

1,421 respectively. He averaged 16.0 yards per catch and 88.8 yards per game while Jacksonville Jaguars San Francisco 49ers - NFL Playoffs, NFC catching seven touchdowns, several of which Ace Sanders - WR/PR wild card were of the highlight variety. Jeffery also Sanders appeared in 15 games and made Chris Culliver - CB rushed for 105 yards on 16 carries and had four starts for the Jaguars as a rookie. Sand- Culliver spent the season on injured reserve

with a torn ACL for the 49ers.

Marcus Lattimore - RB Lattimore was on the reserve/non-football injury list from the knee injury he suffered at South Carolina against Tennessee in 2012.

Although he did not play, Lattimore recovered enough to return to the practice field for the 49ers late in the season.

Seattle Seahawks - NFL Playoffs, NFC West Division Champions Lemuel Jeanpierre - G/C Jeanpierre played in all 16 games and started three on the Seahawks’ offensive line this season.

Sidney Rice - WR Rice saw action in eight games and started six for the Seahawks before tearing his ACL in Week 8’s Monday Night Football game.

Rice had 15 catches for 231 yards and three touchdowns before going down for the year.

St. Louis Rams Jared Cook - TE Cook played in all 16 games and made 13 starts for the Rams this year. Cook made 51 catches for 671 yards, 13.2 yards per catch, and hauled in five touchdown passes this season.

Darian Stewart - S Stewart played in 13 games and started six this season for the Rams. Stewart totaled 36 tackles (30 solo) and deflected five passes this year. Stewart also forced one fumble and recovered one fumble.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jamon Meredith - OT Meredith played in all 16 games and made eight starts on the offensive line for the Buccaneers this season.

Spurs & Feathers • 21

January 8, 2014

photo by allen sharpe

Gamecocks top South Carolina State, 82-75 south carolina athletics media relations

COLUMBIA, S.C. – After a furious second-half rally from the visitors, South Carolina (7-6) grinded out an 82-75 win over South Carolina State (4-9) at Colonial Life Arena as the Gamecocks shot 50 percent from the field for the second straight game.

Four Gamecocks ended the night in double figures as senior Brenton Williams led all scorers with 19 points on an efficient 6-7 from the field and 2-3 from 3-point range.

Freshman Demetrius Henry recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Senior forward Matthew Hezekiah led the Bulldogs with 18 points and five rebounds, while fellow senior Theron Stephens added 15 points.

South Carolina second-year head coach Frank Martin was not thrilled with the play of his team in their final non-conference game of the season.

“We got totally outplayed and I was caught completely off guard,” Martin said. “We have had good practices that last couple of days (before game) and the enthusiasm was good and for whatever reason that didn’t transfer over to today. We had no business winning today and I think that the only reason that we won today is because we played well coming into this game so we felt that we should win. If we were coming off of a loss we probably don’t figure out a way to win today and it is disappointing. I thought we had taken some steps in the right direc-

tion and obviously we regressed today. Hats off to the South Carolina State staff.”

Junior guard Tyrone Johnson pointed out that despite the Gamecocks not playing up to their potential against SC State they are learning how to win close games.

“We have been in this situation with USC Upstate so we put a fight up for this one and we know that we can’t lose on our home court,” Johnson mused. “We need to defend our home court and come out and play like we know we can play, help each other and talk and score baskets. And that’s what we did.”

Carolina opened the game on a 5-0 run after a jumper from Williams and three points from Duane Notice. The Bulldogs were able to pull within two at 6-4 after Devin Joint tipped in a missed jumper from Hezekiah, but Notice responded for the Gamecocks with his sixth point in the first four minutes.

Palmer answered for SC State with a 3 of his own, but Williams connected from 3 on the other end for the Gamecocks as they took a 12-7 lead. That 3-pointer started a 9-1 run for home team that Williams capped off with his 43rd and 44th consecutive made free throws as he pushed South Carolina’s lead to 18-8 with just over 12 minutes to play.

Following Johnson’s first 3 of the game just under two minutes later, Laimonas Chatkevicius began to impose himself inside as he scored on three-straight possessions as Notice earned three of his career-high eight assists during the stretch.

With 1:31 left in the half, a quick 5-0 run after a jumper from Notice and Williams’ second three of the game, the Gamecocks held their largest lead of the half of 15.

The Bulldogs though turned up the pressure on the final possession after getting two points back. Darrion Eastmon picked off a pass attempt from Notice in the backcourt and dished it to Darryl Palmer for the lay-up on the break.

South Carolina held a 44-33 lead at the break after shooting 15-29 (51.7 percent) from the field and going 6-12 from behind the arc.

SC State continued its late first-half run into the second as Stephens hit back-to-back 3s in the first minute and a half to cut the deficit to 44-39. After a pair of free throws from Sindarius Thornwell three minutes in, the Bulldogs went on a 6-0 run, punctuated

by Joint dunking a missed shot to cut to the game to two at 50-48 with 15:23 on the clock.

Despite seeing the game cut to one a minute later, the Gamecocks were able to maintain the lead until the Bulldogs came up with another 6-0 run to tie-up the game at 60-60 with 7:02 to play. On the ensuing possession though, Notice found Thornwell open on the right side where he drained his lone 3-pointer on the night.

With SC State trying to get momentum back with the score at 70-65 with under four minutes remaining, Johnson found an opening in the lane and split two defenders as he drove to the basket for a left-handed lay-in

as he was fouled. The junior converted the free throw to push the lead to eight. He finished the night with 17 points.

The Gamecocks sealed their fourthstraight win as they hit 9-12 from the free throw line during the final minutes.

South Carolina went 25-50 (50 percent) from the field and 7-15 (46.7 percent) from the 3-point line, while SC State shot 29-65 (44.6 percent) from the field and 5-20 (25 percent) from 3.

The Gamecocks next head to No. 12/13 Florida on Jan. 8 as they open the SEC season. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Comcast Sports Southeast.

22 • Spurs & Feathers

January 8, 2014

What South Carolina had to say after Capital One Bowl win

capital one bowl staff

and I told Connor we were going to throw the one back to you. We had another one with Bruce COACH STEVE SPURRIER: Wonderful coming around and the tight end sneaking out in win for us. If someone said you’re going to win the corner or something like that. I said, there’s by ten and give up a kickoff return at halftime throw the one back to the quarterbacks. It’s when it looked like it would go either way, you’d probably only going to be good once anyway say, how is that going to happen? He (Shaw) was when you have the same motion. In fact, Coach sensational. Bruce Ellington made some catches. Elliot wanted the other one. I said, you know Shaq made some good ones, and our defense what? I told him we were going to throw it to came alive in the fourth quarter. We were very Connor first. So we are going to throw it to Congood defensively in the fourth quarter. It was a nor. I don’t listen to Coach Elliott all the time. fourth-quarter game, so it was really neat to get Some of his run suggestions, I have to - but, anyus another bowl championship down here. Two way, we finally made a few little rushing yards in a row to Capital One, three in a row in Florida, in there. so it feels pretty good.

Yeah. But Bruce threw a good ball. Connor Q: Steve, can you talk about the adjustments had a good little acting job. He hands it off and that the defense made at halftime? It seems like acts like he’s not going anywhere. The guy hesithey kind of locked down that running game and tated just a moment, and we were able to break really started hitting those guys a lot better. behind him, and Bruce got it in there. He (Shaw) SPURRIER: I’m glad the team that rushed played wide receiver, you know, in there in high the most yards didn’t win today. I didn’t realize school until, what, junior year? So he’s pretty they had quite that many, but I knew they had a good out there, also. lot of big runs. Even though we gave up a lot of Q: Connor, what did you think that he told you rushing yards in the middle of the field, our guys that? Is that a play that you wanted to get in, that were pretty tough down in there and they made catch? some key third downs which enabled those SHAW: Oh, absolutely. I wanted that receiving drives in the first half to keep going. Yeah, scor- touchdown. What better way, in my last game, to ing is the big defensive stat, as we all know. We get one. He told me that at breakfast and I had it held them to 17 points, kickoff return on one. A in the back of my mind, so I’m glad we called it. good day for our defense, even though WisconQ: Steve, have you ever seen Connor as good sin is a good running team, as we know. as he was today? I know you’ve seen a lot of Q: Obviously, Connor was on point today, good performances from him. very accurate. Could you address the job done SPURRIER: He was 20-of-21 against Misby both Shaq and Bruce as far as catching the souri, so that was pretty good a couple years ago ball in traffic and going up and making some big and fourth quarter against Missouri was very circus catches while covering today? good again this year. Yeah, today - he had to play CONNOR SHAW: Yeah, they made some today. We had to play offensively today. We can’t plays. They told me before the game, just toss it go out there and run 3 and punt. We had to stay up there and they’ll get the ball. Offensive line in the field. It was that type of game. played well, as well, you know. A couple times I So Connor, he had that one - I told the defense, just threw it up, and Shaq and Bruce made some we had that one fumble that Connor had where excellent plays, so I couldn’t be more proud. the guy stripped him, but they got nothing out SPURRIER: The fourth and five play was of it. And that was huge and didn’t hurt us at all interesting. We called the same play on third and and I think we got the next drive and went and 15, and Bruce went the wrong way. He didn’t scored. But I think maybe after three quarters, get the second one or something, but Connor we only had six possessions, I think. Yeah, scrambled around, I think Brandon Wilds for fourth quarter, there was some turnovers in there about 10 or 12. So we had that at 4th and 7th, and we couldn’t run the clock out worth a flip, and we called the same corner route, same play but our defense played super and got two or three we threw against Missouri. And when Connor turnovers there at the end. threw it a little high, I said ‘ooh, it may be a little Q: Coach, looks like today you were able to high.’ Bruce got a hand on it, tipped it to himself get your Gortex on, and the guys said that they and came down with it. And the touchdown were going to hit you with a Gatorade bath in the was a very similar play; although, it was a little shoulder. How did that go today? different. But Bruce, somehow or another, he SPURRIER: Yeah, it was a very convenient, broke wide open. He hit him perfectly. So those comfortable one today. I got the jacket on. I said were three-play scenarios. Well, there were so ‘now, just please try to hit me in the shoulders,’ many big plays in the game, but those were very and they almost hit me in my hips. So there was important, obviously. no pain today. Maybe that’s the way they ought Q: Can you talk a little bit about Connor acto orchestrate the Gatorade or ice water dumpcounting for five touchdowns there and the reing. Jadeveon finally got a piece of it. I had to ceiving play that he got the touchdown on? tell him, ‘get the bucket and hit me. I’m ready.’

SPURRIER: Yeah, we’ve had that play in for Sometimes you have to tell these guys what to about three years, but we don’t put it in every do, you know. game. But this week, we were at breakfast today Bruce had a heck of a game. Makes more big

plays as receiver, I think, than almost any other receiver I’ve coached out of 25 years or so, but he came down with a big catch when we needed it.

Was that your first throw today, first touchdown pass?

BRUCE ELLINGTON: Yes, sir.

SPURRIER: Pretty good day for Bruce also.

Excellent day.

Q: Coach, right here in front, there’s obviously a lot of bells and whistles and festivities going on during a bowl week. How do you balance that with trying to get your team ready and trying to win a game?

SPURRIER: You trust your older guys because there’s a lot of free time and we don’t see them after practice until 11 o’clock curfew. So we trust that they know what to do and have good, wholesome, clean fun and, pretty much, our guys know how to do that. Guys like Connor and Bruce, older guys, Chaz Sutton and so forth, our senior captains, do an excellent job of telling the guys ‘here’s how we’re going to act.’

Q: What about your approach?

SPURRIER: My approach has been the same almost all the years. What would you say? It felt like the regular season, Connor?

SHAW: Yeah.

SPURRIER: This week is about like regular season, as far as practices and attitude. Back in Columbia, we bump around a little bit. We don’t try to get anybody hurt. We don’t get fired up in Columbia. We try to build your momentum and enthusiasm as it gets up to game time, is what we try to do. That’s what everybody tries to do, I guess. Ask Bruce. He had a heck of a game.

Q: Steve, this one’s for you and for both players to address. How much did this one feel like the 33 from the last three years and it’s nip and tuck for a while and then there’s a series of plays where you guys are able to make them and win?

ELLINGTON: The guys, we came together as a team today. Connor did a great job of leading us. We just came as a team today and just built on what we did all week and just came out and played.

SHAW: I told the team before the game that we faced every scenario we could possibly face this season and Wisconsin would be no different.

So glad the way we battled throughout the game and our defense came to play. We just battled throughout the game, and I couldn’t be more proud.

SPURRIER: Connor likes the big games and so does Bruce. Sometimes we have a few guys that get a little shaky in big games or whatever but not these guys. So when your key players like the tough situation, like close games, fourth quarter, the way these two especially, then you have a chance for good things to happen. We’ve won 11 this year. There’s been six or seven that could have gone either way and fourth quarter, we really turned them into our favor. We lost one of them in Knoxville. But other than that, this has been a wonderful season with maybe the team we have and the way it could have gone the

other way, but it went our way so often this year.

So we have a lot to be thankful for. We have been a blessed team this year.

Q: Coach, you’ve had plenty of impressive quarterbacks in your coaching career. How special has that guy been sitting to your left?

SPURRIER: I’ve had a lot of good ones and Connor is right there amongst the best. No question about it. We’ve won a bunch of games, 33 and six now in the last three years, and to finish like this, even all my years at Florida, we never finished like this. Of course, we had to play FSU last game every year in the bowl games. But to win the last six in a row I guess the last two years and in other years maybe four or five in a row has been special. I mean, not to lose in December, maybe haven’t lost in November much the last three years either, but, yeah, it’s because of guys like Connor. Connor can take care of the ball and make plays when the game’s on the line.

And the game was on the line a whole bunch of plays today.

Q: Connor, can you define your emotions as you put the uniform on one last time today and run off the field as a winner?

SHAW: Yeah, it was definitely difficult to hold it back once I got in the locker room. My brothers came up and hugged me, the coaches, and it was a very emotional moment, but I couldn’t imagine a better way to go out.

Q: Has it hit you yet that this was your last game, and just what does it mean to go out the way you did today?

SHAW: It hit me a little bit after the game in the locker room, but I’m sure it’ll hit me more once this all ends and just the hype ends. But, like I said, I’m just proud of our team and we’re establishing a winning tradition around here.

SPURRIER: Connor will play a lot more football. I’m sure the NFL guys were watching today. They’re looking for quarterbacks that can avoid the rush, move around a little bit and throw and Connor can do all that. So I think he’s got an excellent chance and, obviously, I think Bruce [Ellington] has got a chance to play in the NFL, if that’s the direction he wants to go. You don’t want to go to Europe and play basketball, do you? He might want to go over to Russia and play. I don’t know, but, yeah, he’s kind of thinking a career in football, but that, obviously, would be his decision.

Q: Bruce, can you talk about what it took to come down with some of those contested balls that you were able to pull in today?

ELLINGTON: It just took working at it all summer, all week during practice and our quarterback right here. He delivered it so, I had to catch it.

Q: For Connor and Bruce, with Damiere [Byrd] not being available today, how difficult was it for the receivers to come up with the big plays that they did?

ELLINGTON: We’ve got guys that work hard every week and they’ve been working hard over the summer. So Damiere not being there ...

January 8, 2014

Spurs & Feathers • 23

What Wisconsin had to say after Capital One Bowl loss Capital one bowl staff

end of the day, it was execution. It was a lot of different things. It wasn’t one thing over and over again. It’s simple. You’ve got to COACH GARY ANDERSEN: First of all, it was a tremenplay better to win than we did today. dous bowl game, something that we’ll all remember for the rest Q: Can you talk about just the plays that Shaw was able to our lives. I know that everybody associated with this football make as a thrower, running, receiver? team will have some great memories, unfortunately, we didn’t BORLAND: We knew that coming in. He’s kind of their win. It’s done the right way, in my opinion. The football game, engine and he does a great job of extending plays, he doesn’t you know in a nutshell, I’m very proud of this group of seniors, necessarily look to scramble, but to make a throw and he hurt which I have been about them since the third day I got to know us on that and a couple times later in the game. He played well. them. It was a long way ago. I’m very proud of those guys.

We were kind of disappointed without being able to contain him There’s no quit. You can’t faze them. It’s shown its head again better. and again. They just kept on fighting. So I’ll forever be indebted Q: Gary, you had some chances early in the second half. You to those kids. As far as this game goes, it’s a difficult game. get a field goal and then the quick turn over on the fumble, not Football becomes really hard when you get yourself into a positaking full advantage of those, is that where the game turned? tion where you can’t throw it on offense and you can’t cover them ANDERSEN: Those are huge factors when you need points on defense. We were going to be aggressive all day long. That out there and you end up on the wrong side of the scoreboard, was our plan. We were going to be aggressive by nature, we were you can always say that’s where the game turned, but I don’t and I would not change that. But obviously, we can do a better think there is a momentum shift where we’re not playing hard. job of coaching them and we’ve got to make some plays, have That’s where the game shifts. Quite simply, they made some some kids make some special plays, and special moments. They plays down the field in the late game and again the credit goes to won nine games. They played their tails off every single week.

South Carolina. It’s a contested ball in the middle of the field, he The University of Wisconsin is unbelievably important to them. makes a play, so I never felt like it was a shift of momentum like And, again, I’m proud of them. we were hanging on heads at all. So I would not say that.

Q: Chris, as you look back on is this game, the missed opporQ: Can you talk about the fake field goal and did you think you tunities, whether it’s forcing a turnover or not scoring, missing had it there in that situation or what did you see? things on offense, is that what we’ll probably most from that preANDERSEN: Well, you know, it’s a long field again, 47 yards, vented you from winning today?

I believe. Not the best hash for us right now. That’s why we drew CHRIS BORLAND: I can only speak for the defense, but I it up. The yardage was very good in favor of where we like to be thought we had great preparation and played hard. I played hard in that situation, so from a coaching standpoint, we absolutely enough to win but didn’t play well enough, gave up some deep liked it. It was drawn up well and it was executed. South Carolina balls and at times got beat by the runs. We played well but at the covered that down. They made a play again and we didn’t, so we

had an opportunity there but I would not take that one back. I would do the exact same thing in that scenario.

Q: How much did the injury to Joel change what you wanted to do in the fourth quarter and did you have any update on Stave?

ANDERSEN: No update on Joel [Stave]. I haven’t seen him.

Our offense didn’t change. We expected the backup quarterback to come back and Curt [Phillips] has been in that atmosphere before in big-time games. I’m sure he wanted to play better. He didn’t want to throw a pick, especially with the ball security that we got. We got into scoring position a couple times and obviously didn’t convert, so Curt handled it reasonably well, in my opinion and proud of that kid also.

Q: Can you address the job done on South Carolina’s wide receivers?

ANDERSEN: We knew that coming in. I saw it on tape. I heard about him [Connor Shaw] from afar. He lived up to his billing. Just as impressive, I’ll get to the receivers. His ability to understand pressure, even when we got him tricked, running free hitters at him. He’s hard to get on the ground. He makes good decisions. He breaks out of pressures, coming from the field, the last one we scrambled and did a nice job getting down the field to get that first down. It’s a veteran quarterback move. You guys don’t wake up one day and decide we’re going to do this. The receivers made contested catches and they’re fast. They can run.

They run good routes. We knew all that coming in, but the defining moment is you have to make is on contested footballs and that’s really the identification of a talented defensive back. They should all be able to run, change direction, but when that ball is in the air and it’s contested, who’s going to get it? Today South Carolina won that many times and it’s a defining moment for us and we need to understand it and get better .

24 • Spurs & Feathers

MORE FROM CAROLINA ... we’ve got guys that can step up and make plays. Even though he wasn’t there, he was still on the sideline cheering us on, being a teammate.

SHAW: Ever since I’ve been here, we’ve battled a lot of adversity and had a lot of key players go down and a lot of guys step up, and it was no differewnt today.

Q: Coach, how does it feel to have this bowl game mark your 300th game?

SPURRIER: What’s the question?

Q: This marked your 300th game. How did it feel to have this win?

SPURRIER: Somebody told me that right before the game. It was my 300th game as a college head coach and yeah, I hadn’t thought about it until right before the game. But everything in all my life, in all the Gamecock life, we’ve never had three years identical. I mean, think about it: 6-2 in the conference, 11-2, win a bowl game, beat Clemson in all three. They’re identical years, almost. Won 18 in a row at home. That’s something that is amazing to me too. We lead the nation right now in consecutive home victories, for all of you that are not Gamecocks, 18 in a row, we’ve won at home. And they have not been blowouts. They have not been like some of the games when I was coaching in the Swamp, there were a lot of blowouts there. But these were just games that could have gone either way and somehow or another, these guys

January 8, 2014

make plays to win the game. So it’s been amazing. It’s been a wonderful time for all of us.

Q: Bruce, if this is indeed your last game here, can you just talk about how awesome it was for you guys to go out the way you did today and how much the university means to you for letting you be a two-sport athlete?

ELLINGTON: It’s been great. I’ve had a great time here. Ever since I made a decision to go play football, I think it’s been the right decision. I haven’t had any regrets playing both sports. These guys telling me go out there and do what you’ve got to do. Playing as a team, that’s what it’s all about.

Q: Connor, talk about your mindset with the next level. The coach thinks you’re going to play a lot more football, I do too, with the NFL transition. Talk about your mindset in the off season coming up.

SHAW: Obviously, you hope I get the opportunity, and guys like Russell Wilson, they give me hope. Shorter guys that can move around the pocket. I’ll go back to Atlanta and train. I’m going to soak this victory in and have fun with the teammates, but I plan on going to Atlanta and training there.

SPURRIER: He’s going to the combine also.

Did you know that? They told me not to tell you until after the game. They said ‘don’t tell him until after the game.’ He’s invited to the combines. Several of our players are.

You have to be a senior to be invited, though, Bruce. Juniors are not invited.

MORE FROM WISCONSIN ...

Q: Chris, you knew what Connor Shaw could do. How frustrating to know it was coming but not be able to stop it?

BORLAND: Very much. You kind of walk a fine line between being aggressive, getting after the quarterback, and containing him.

Our plan was to be aggressive and at times, we didn’t get the pressure we should have and at times he was able to extend plays. That’s very frustrating. We’ve seen it before, but we didn’t play well enough to win today. I’ve got to give him a lot of credit. He’s a great player.

Q: When it comes to throwing the ball, what went into not throwing enough and it what was same as most of the season?

ANDERSEN: I agree. There was a couple throws we did early. We had 150 yards, 149 yards at half time. That closed off a little bit, but in just overall general speaking terms, again, they did a nice job on Jared [Abbrederis]. He was taken out of the pass game.

Unless you want to throw, you’re not going to get over the top on these guys, and they made that very clear very early. They were physical on the line of scrimmage. We got a couple of them, but in the end, I don’t have all the answers. If we had all the answers, we would have done it differently and thrown the ball better all year long, but we have to if we’re going to take the next step as a program. I know that, and that’s all that’s involved, from the offensive line all the way to me and ev-

erybody in between.

Q: Gary, what play did Joel get hurt on? Also, on the interception was Joel just trying to throw the ball away?

ANDERSEN: As far as when he got hurt, I do not know for sure. I’m assuming it was when he got hit and then it just kind of went downhill from there. He did look over to the side lines and didn’t feel like he could throw the ball anymore and that’s when we obviously made the move there. As far as trying to throw the ball away on the screen, it was absolutely trying to throw the ball away on the screen and didn’t work out.

Q: Is that an unblocked guy or was that a missed assignment?

ANDERSEN: There was a blocking scheme and he should have been blocked on that play, from what I understood on the headsets. I’m not the offensive guru, but I did hear it on the headsets that we probably had a missed assignment there and away way go.

Q: What does this program have to do to get over this hump and start winning some bowl games against good teams?

BORLAND: I don’t know if it’s one thing.

We’ve played well in our bowl losses. I don’t think today was a great performance, but it’s not due to a lack of preparation or effort. We played hard. We prepared well. I’m not sure.

I’d like to send the seniors out a better way but I can’t put my finger on exactly what we need to do better other than execute generally.

January 8, 2014

Spurs & Feathers • 25

Coates, Mitchell lead Gamecocks past ‘Dores by mike kucharski mike@spursandfeathers.com The 13th-ranked South Carolina (14-1, 2-0 SEC) women’s basketball team earned a hardfought victory over Vanderbilt, 76-66, to claim its SEC home opener.

South Carolina freshman Alaina Coates led all scorers and tallied a new career high with 24 points. Coates secured a double-double by grabbing 10 rebounds and also blocked three shots. Coates shot 11-of-16 from the floor in totaling her third-straight double-double.

“We knew they were going to be physical, so we had to be prepared to hit first and be ready at all times and stay alert. It worked well for us,” Coates commented.

Staley said the game plan coming in was to pound the ball inside to Coates and Elem Ibiam.

“That’s exactly what we wanted to do. Just watching Vandy on film and seeing what they had to offer, we just felt like our bigs would be able to get great looks in the paint,” Staley said.

“So we wanted to just pound it in there as much as possible and let them do their thing and they came through for us.

“Alaina has got to perform for us at a high level because she is capable … she’s been practicing better and when you practice better, you’re going to get this kind of performance in a game,” Staley added.

Two other Gamecocks posted double-digit scoring totals led by Tiffany Mitchell with 19 points and Ibiam with 11 points. Mitchell also had four rebounds, four assists and a block and Ibiam had eight rebounds and two blocked shots. Welch chipped in with nine points for the Gamecocks as well.

After Vanderbilt scored the inaugural bucket of the game, the Gamecocks were able to go on an 8-0 run in about 30 seconds courtesy of back-to-back 3-pointers from Mitchell and Dozier followed by a pair of free throws by Dozier. The back-to-back 3-pointers came after a Vanderbilt foul giving South Carolina a sixpoint possession.

A few seconds later, Staley was called for a technical foul that sparked a 6-0 Vanderbilt run that tied things up at 8-all heading into the first media timeout of the opening half. The game was nip-and-tuck for the next few minutes and was tied again at 15-15, just after the second media timeout.

After trading baskets with the score 17-all with just under the 11-minute mark of the first half, the Gamecocks were able to go on a short burst behind another 3-pointer from Mitchell, a pair of free throws and a layup both from Ibiam to take a seven-point lead, 24-17, at the 7:38 mark. A pair of travels by the Commodores sandwiched between the Gamecock baskets helped extend the run.

The Gamecocks also connected on 8-of-10 (80 percent) free throws.

The Commodores shot 36.7 percent (11-of-30) from the field in the first half, but hit 4-of-8 (50 percent) from 3-point range to keep it close.

Vanderbilt hit 4-of-4 (100 percent) from the foul line.

The Gamecocks played to their strength inside in the opening stanza to enjoy a 24-12 scoring advantage in the paint. The opening half was tightly played for the majority and saw three ties and five lead changes early on.

The second half began with a flurry of action in the first two and a half minutes as a pair of layups by Mitchell and one each from Aleighsa Wlech and Ibiam stretched the Gamecock lead to 14 points, 49-35, and forced a Vanderbilt timeout. The game was back-and-fourth over the next five minutes as South Carolina took a 56-45 lead into the second media timeout of the second half.

Vanderbilt refused to go away and fought back to cut the lead to 10 points with just under nine minutes left in the game on a three-point play. The Gamecocks answered that with a 3-pointer from Tina Roy, but Vanderbilt hit a 3-pointer of its own the next time down to make the score 63-53 with about eight minutes left.

Vanderbilt cut the lead below 10 points on a pair of free throws following the under-eight minute media timeout, but back-to-back layups

by Coates pushed the lead back to 12 points, 6755, with just under six minutes left. The second basket tallied Coates’ career-high 24th point of the game.

South Carolina took a 13-point lead into the final media timeout, 71-58, with 3:48 left in the game and the Commodores would not get closer than nine points the rest of the game. South Carolina was able to make enough free throws down the stretch to secure the home win.

The Gamecocks ended the game shooting 54.3 percent (25-of-46) from the field and 57.1 percent (4-of-7) from 3-point range. South Carolina hit 81.5 percent (22-of-27) of its attempts from the charity stripe.

South Carolina’s defense held Vanderbilt to photo by jenny dilworth 37.7 percent (23-of-61) shooting form the floor, Coates finished with a career-high 24 points to go along with 10 rebounds and three blocks. including 50 percent (6-of-12) from behind the arc. The Commodores made 93.3 percent (14of-15) of their shots from the foul line.

South Carolina went inside for its next seven South Carolina had two double-digit scorThe Gamecocks held a 42-30 advantage in points with a free throw and layup by Ibiam ers in the opening half with Coates tallying 14 and a pair of layups from Coates, but Vanderpoints on 7-of-8 shooting from the floor to lead points in the paint and assisted on 19 of their 25 field goals in the game. South Carolina also bilt kept things close with a pair of 3-pointers to all scorers. Mitchell added 11 points on 4-of-6 make the score 31-27 at the final media timeout shooting, including 2-of-2 from downtown, and held an advantage in blocked shots at eight to three. of the opening period.

Ibiam added nine points.

The Gamecocks closed the half on a 10-3 run Vanderbilt (12-3, 1-1 SEC) was led by Jasmine Christina Foggie led four Commodores in double figures with 16 points for the game. behind six points from Coates and layups by Lister’s eight points in the opening half.

South Carolina is next in action on ThursMitchell and Ibiam. Coates scored a putback at South Carolina shot 62.5 percent (15-of-24) day, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. as sixth-ranked Kentucky the buzzer to give the Gamecocks a 41-30 lead from the field in the opening half, including at the break. hitting 3-of-5 (60 percent) from behind the arc. comes to the Colonial Life Arena.

26 • Spurs & Feathers

He remembers the play as if it had just been signaled from the sidelines.

“Slot Right Liz, Steamer S,” Connor Shaw said.

Shaw was asked to recall his first touchdown pass as a Gamecock.

Then a freshman, he connected with D.L. Moore on a 15-yard strike in the Gamecocks’ 41-13 win over Southern Miss in the 2010 season Andy Demetra opener.

“We motioned Contributing Writer our back out to the left and it was a little post by D.L.,” Shaw said, breaking down the play as if it whirred on a projector screen in front of him.

Twenty-seven wins and 74 touchdowns later, Shaw’s career finally came to an end last Wednesday. The senior from Flowery Branch, Ga., saved his most virtuoso performance for last: 22-of-25 completions, three passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown and one receiving touchdown in a 34-24 Capital One Bowl victory over Wisconsin.

“Pretty good player, isn’t he?” head coach Steve Spurrier said in his postgame press conference.

In a way, it was fitting that Shaw’s career ended in Orlando. Three months earlier, in a game against UCF at Bright House Net-

January 8, 2014

works Stadium, Shaw lurched off the field with a badly bruised shoulder. Not long after, a curious strain of criticism rose up from some Gamecock fans, wondering whether he was the best quarterback to lead South Carolina. For most of his career, it seemed those questions hung around him stubbornly. Was he durable enough? Could he win a big road game? Did he make enough right decisions on running versus throwing? Was he a game manager more than a game changer?

By season’s end, Shaw answered every last question. He rode into the sunset – or what passed for it in rainy Orlando – with his legacy at South Carolina secure. His 6,074 passing yards rank fourth all-time and his 1,683 rushing yards rank first among quarterbacks. He directed an offense that shattered the school record for total yards in a season. His 24 touchdowns and one interception was the highest touchdown-tointerception ratio in the last 10 years of college football.

Shaw may not have led the Gamecocks to the promised land of a BCS berth or an SEC title, but he still took South Carolina football to unprecedented heights.

Earlier this year, I wondered why Shaw felt so underappreciated, even from his own fanbase. In a sense, it was understandable.

Shaw’s greatest strengths often weren’t appreciated in real time. He checked in to the smart play. He rigorously avoided the turnover. He didn’t play hero ball. A high efficiency rating won’t grab someone’s attention like 400 passing yards or a bunch of high-wire, Manziel-ian escapes will. Shaw “vultured” first downs with his feet, rather

than fire a rocket through a two-inch window. None of that produces eye candy for fans, much less builds a legend.

Also, in a Twitterfueled world where fans and writers fall hard for the quirky, quotable athlete, Shaw stayed guarded in his comments to the media. Forget low-profile – Shaw was no-profile (seriously. He didn’t keep a Twitter account). Like his quarterbacking style, he preferred to check down the praise to his teammates. Winning the press conference was never a priority.

Winning games was. And the more Shaw won, the more he won over those last remaining skeptics. Not surprisingly, those skills - the efficiency, the understated winning - were appreciated most at the end, when a new career record fell nearly every week. When taken in full, few quarterbacks had more ability than Connor Shaw. And ironically, the thing that invited the most criticism during his career – his durability – also became the starting point for his greatest attribute. Shaw’s toughness in rallying from injuries, highlighted by the “Miracle at Mizzou,” will be talked about for years to come.

It isn’t easy to get Shaw to speak selfishly, but I asked him to name his favorite pass as a Gamecock. Even that answer might catch

photo by allen sharpe

fans off-guard.

“The deep ball to Bruce [Ellington] my sophomore year against Clemson. It was a deep post route and I think that was probably one of the best passes I had. That’s the one that sticks out,” he said.

It was one of several moments that now knit together Connor Shaw’s career at South Carolina. The final moment came last Wednesday at the Citrus Bowl, when Shaw, Capital One Bowl MVP trophy in hand, saluted Gamecock fans on the winner’s stage.

Before he left for Orlando, I asked Shaw how he’d like to write his legacy at South Carolina. “I’d like to be remembered as a great teammate and a guy that always found a way to compete. Just one tough guy. And I think I’ve lived up to that,” he said.

Gamecock fans would agree. And it all began with Slot Right Liz, Steamer S.

Spurs & Feathers • 27

January 8, 2014

Four Gamecock juniors depart for the NFL south carolina athletics media relations Four University of South Carolina juniors have declared for the NFL Draft. Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles, cornerback Victor Hampton and wide receiver Bruce Ellington will forego their final year of college eligibility and take their talents to the next level.

Clowney, a 6-6, 274-pounder from Rock Hill, S.C., joins Warren Muir and George Rogers as the only Gamecocks to earn firstteam All-America honors in two seasons.

Clowney finished his Gamecock career with 47.0 tackles for loss, second in Carolina history, and 24.0 sacks, the school’s third-best mark. He set the school’s single-season records with 13.0 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss while earning unanimous first-team AllAmerica accolades and the Hendricks Award as the nation’s top defensive end during the 2012 season.

Quarles, a 6-4, 298-pounder from Hodges, S.C., was the most decorated Gamecock in 2013, earning first-team All-America honors according to Sporting News and second-team

All-America accolades by the Associated Press, CBSSports.com and Athlon. Quarles was a unanimous first-team All-SEC selection after leading the team with 9.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. He finished his career with 13.0 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss.

Hampton, a 5-10, 202-pounder from Darlington, S.C., earned a spot on the Associated Press’s All-SEC second team in his final season in the Garnet & Black. The hard-hitting lockdown corner picked off three passes in 2013 while breaking up an additional nine passes. He logged 51 tackles, including 43 solo stops. Hampton collected five career interceptions and 18 pass breakups in his threeyear stint.

Ellington, a 5-9, 196-pounder from Moncks Corner, S.C., led the Gamecocks with 49 receptions for 775 yards and eight touchdowns during the 2013 campaign. He saved his best performance for his last game, when he registered six catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns and threw a nine-yard TD pass to Connor Shaw in Carolina’s 34-24 Capital One Bowl win over Wisconsin. A two-sport standout, Ellington finished his football career with 106 receptions for 1,586 yards and 16 touch-

photo by allen sharpe

downs, seventh on the all-time list. Ellington, who graduated in December, will begin preparing for the draft and will not complete his final season with the men’s basketball team.

“I would like to thank Coach Spurrier, Coach Horn and Coach Martin for giving me

the opportunity to play both football and basketball at South Carolina,” Ellington said. “I also want to thank all the Gamecock fans and my teammates for the past four years in Columbia. It’s been a great experience and I’ve been truly blessed.”

28 • Spurs & Feathers

January 8, 2014

January South Carolina Athletic Events zz January 8 Men’s Basketball at Florida..........................................................................7 p.m. zz January 9 Women’s Basketball vs. Kentucky...........................................7 p.m. zz January 11 Men’s Basketball vs. LSU..................................................... 1:30 p.m.

Swimming & Diving vs. Duke...................................................2 p.m.

Track and Field Gamecock Indoor Open 1............................ All Day

Reminder from the Gamecock Club: Please remember that the Gamecock Club renewal deadline in Jan. 31, 2014.

zz January 12 Women’s Basketball at Auburn.............................................................2:30 p.m.

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

zz January 16 Women’s Basketball at Texas A&M............................................................8 p.m.

Gamecock Club Upcoming Events

zz January 17 Track and Field at Virginia Tech Invitational (Indoor)....................... All Day

Charleston Gamecock Club Oyster Roast When: Saturday, January 11; 4-8 p.m.

Where: The Lighthouse Waterfront Pavilion at Dolphin Cove Marina. 2079 Austin Avenue, Charleston, SC 29405 Hosted by the Charleston Gamecock Club and My Carolina Alumni Association.

Tickets are only $25 for all-you-can-eat oysters, BBQ, beer, live music and maybe a surprise guest with other drink specials at the bar.

Kids 12 & under only $10.

Purchase Your Tickets soon at EventBrite.com, 2014 Gamecock Oyster Roast.

zz January 18 Gamecock Club Renewal Day Women’s Tennis vs. East Tennessee St. ................................10 a.m.

When: Friday, January 31, 2014; 8:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. vs. College of Charleston..........................................................3 p.m.

Where: Rice Athletics Center Men’s Basketball vs. Mississippi........................................ 4:30 p.m.

Come out to the Rice Athletics Center to renew your Track and Field at Virginia Tech Invitational (Indoor)...................... All Day Gamecock Club membership as Gamecock Club and South Carolina Athletics staff help with memzz January 19 bership renewals.

Men’s Tennis vs. Furman.........................................................10 a.m.

South Carolina coaches will be present in 30-minute vs. The Citadel............................................................................4 p.m. increments starting at approximately 11 a.m.

Women’s Basketball vs. Alabama............................................3 p.m.

Also in attendance will be 107.5 The Game broadcasting live and Firehouse Subs will be present as zz January 22 well.

Men’s Basketball at Georgia.........................................................................8 p.m.

Come out and celebrate the Gamecocks and the Track and Field Gamecock Indoor Open 2............................ All Day Gamecock Club with South Carolina Athletics!

In Memoriam The Gamecock Club remembers the following members of Gamecock Nation who have recently passed away ...

Roy Chatman - Mr. Chatman was from the Upstate in South Carolina and was a member of the USC Association of Lettermen, playing football for South Carolina from 1959-1963.

He was recruited by coach Warren Giese and played under coach Marvin Bass.

Mr. Chatman went to high school in Johnson City, Tenn. at Science Hill High School where he was a teammate of Gamecocks’ head coach Steve Spurrier.

Mr. Chatman was an avid Gamecock fan and a 35-year member of the Gamecock Club. He is survived by his wife Mary Chatman.

Pat Vella - Born in Rockford, Ill., he was a son of the late Gaspare Vella and Maria Antoinette Mira Vella. Pat excelled in all sports from grammar school to high school. Mr. Vella received football scholarship offers from the University of Illinois, University of Notre Dame, Purdue University, University of Wisconsin and the University of South Carolina. He served dur-

zz January 15 Men’s Basketball at Texas A&M...................................................................8 p.m.

ing World War II on the USS North Carolina/ BB55 for four years, fighting campaigns in the Pacific from Guadalcanal to Tokyo Bay. When he returned in 1946, he attended the University of South Carolina on a football scholarship and played for the Gamecocks for four years, earning a bachelor’s degree. For the past 67 years Pat has not missed a home football game at USC. He was recently honored as being USC’s “Greatest Football Fan,” donating a full scholarship to USC each year. Pat believed faith, family and friends were the most important and joyous facets of his life. He was an integral part of the Cayce community by first opening Vella’s Open Air Market on Knox Abbott Drive, followed

by Vella’s Shopping Center, Vella’s Deli, now the popular Vella’s Restaurant and Tavern. Mr. Vella’s legacy as a Carolina Gamecock fan and Cayce businessman will serve as an inspiration to future generations. He was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, faithfully and proudly serving as head usher for the past 30 years. Among his other loves were playing golf, his bird dogs, quail hunting and the USC Lettermen’s Association of which he was a past president.

zz January 24 Swimming & Diving vs. Queens/Wingate...............................5 p.m.

Track and Field at Cherry & Silver Invitational (Indoor)................... All Day Track and Field at Hokie Invitational (indoor)..................................... All Day zz January 25 Swimming & Diving vs. Queens/Wingate.............................10 a.m.

Men’s Tennis vs. Memphis......................................................10 a.m.

Men’s Basketball at Missouri........................................................................4 p.m.

Track and Field at Cherry & Silver Invitational (Indoor)................... All Day Track and Field at Hokie Invitational (indoor)..................................... All Day zz January 26 Men’s Tennis at Mississippi State/vs. Harvard........................................... TBA Women’s Basketball at Vanderbilt.............................................................2 p.m. zz January 28 Women’s Tennis vs. Furman.....................................................4 p.m. zz January 29 Men’s Basketball vs. Texas A&M..............................................7 p.m. zz January 30 Women’s Basketball vs. Mississippi........................................7 p.m. zz January 31 Men’s Tennis at Georgia Tech......................................................................5 p.m.

Track and Field at Hilton Garden Invitational (Indoor).................... All Day Home events are................................................................................................. Bold

January 8, 2014

Spurs & Feathers • 29

30 • Spurs & Feathers

January 8, 2014

2013 season puts a smile on all Gamecocks!

What a football season!

It began, at least for me, at Media Day at Williams-Brice Stadium. The team came out in their full uniforms and I walked around taking video of different players and coaches. The highlight occurred when I asked Jadeveon Clowney to do the Heisman pose.

He tucked the ball, as if to follow through, but thought better of giving me the stiff Ed Girardeau arm and instead gave me the Contributing Editor million dollar smile.

The Gamecocks finished 2013 on New Year’s Day 2014 with a big win over Wisconsin, 34-24. When all was said and done, I was by the buses, shooting video of JD, signing autographs, taking pictures and hugging fans. He is not only, arguably, the greatest football player to put on pads at USC, he is a rockstar in every sense of the word. The scene had a barricade separating the fans from the buses with security guards. Once completing interviews with the media, Clowney walked toward the waiting crowd and the screaming began! I, of course showing my age, thought it was like The Beatles had arrived. To make it a little more 2014, maybe Justin Bieber. Pick your star, Clowney is right up there with them.

In a year where JD was the story going in, Clowney may not have knocked anymore helmets off, made thousands of sacks, nor did he run any balls in for touchdowns, but he is still the story going out. Not that he did not have help along the way. Connor Shaw closed out a career that is unlike any quarterback in the history of Carolina. Coach Spurrier was asked if his QB had played any better game than this final start. The HBC paused and said, “well, the Missouri game was a pretty good one (speaking of last year’s, much less the one back in October) … but, yeah, this was right up there.” You think back and there have been some great ones over Clemson, SEC teams, bowl games. 27 wins in starts. 18 home wins in a row at home. 42 wins over the four years that he was at USC, by far the best four year run in the history of Gamecock Football.

Shaw was for the last time, just Shawesome!

Over 300 yards passing, led the team in rushing, caught a touchdown pass, ran for one, and threw three others, while earning the MVP of the Capital One Bowl. While doing that, he surpassed 6,000 yards for his career, joining Ellis, Tanneyhill and Garcia as the only quarterbacks to do that. He has rushed for more than 1,600 yards in his career, the most ever by a quarterback. And, of course, he has the most wins ever as the starting QB for the Gamecocks. He is just a winner! Thompson and the other returning quarterbacks have a hard act to

follow.

During the week, word came out that Bruce Ellington would consider going into the NFL draft should his rating be high enough. That raised a few eyebrows and some wondered if that would be the case (we now know it to be true). Well, like Ace Sanders did last year, Bruce may have saved his best for last. Six catches, one of the circus variety and an ESPN top-10 for the day, 140 yards, two touchdowns, and one pass completed for a touchdown. If you were going to make a statement for the NFL, that was it. What a career he had. Not just in football, but in basketball too. And if you think that’s impressive, the ol’ “wait, there’s more,” he already has his degree. That’s pretty impressive with what it takes to be fulltime football player, much less a full-time basketball player. He is a remarkable young man!

And those are just three of the guys to highlight at this time. Time and space limits going on about the other seniors and early draftees.

Sutton. Legree, Patrick, Quarles and Hampton are all remarkable in their own rights and there is a possibility that others may find the allure of the NFL too much to pass up at this time.

But I will say this for all these young men. Our lives as Gamecocks are much better for having crossed paths. It is really hard to believe that we have accomplished so much this season with only five seniors. As mentioned earlier in the year, that’s an ingredient to what could have been a long season, but the team came of age in Columbia, Missouri, pulled one out of the hat and proceeded to get better each week. Would we like to have Georgia and Tennessee back?

Yes, of course, but we can look back fondly on another very good season.

And when I look back, I’ll remember the kids more than anything. I can tell you that when I walked out to the parking lot after the press conferences on Saturdays after games, I would always comment on how impressed I was with our young men. They represent us extraordinarily well. They are articulate, wellspoken, humble, polite, humorous and overall, great kids. Upperclassmen, or lower, it doesn’t matter. Across the board, they took their time and gave well thought out answers. And when dealing with 20 +/- year olds, that’s saying something.

And as much as anything there will be that million dollar smile! From the very beginning to the parking lot on New Year’s Day, the smile could light up the room. And for every Gamecock, when we look back at the 2013 football season, we can all have a million dollar smile too! Thanks for the memories!

Basketball

The men went to Hawaii and won two of three, returned home to blast Akron, rip Mar-

shall and hold off SC State and run their record to 7-6. Next up, #12 Florida on the road and the SEC schedule begins. With the tough opening schedule, the Gamecocks are ready for the conference schedule. At least as ready as a team as young as this one can be. There will be ups and downs. Guys will have great games and turn around and struggle and that is to be expected as the guys figure it out.

Brenton Williams broke a 40+ year old record when he made his 42nd free throw in a row, breaking a record set by the great John Roche of 41 back in 1970. Williams extended that against SC State with five more to give him 47 in a row going back to last year. His scoring is certainly important for USC’s continued success. Williams is one of two returning players who were counted on for this year that started slow. The other, Michael Carrerra, started terribly slow as well and despite a subpar performance against SC State, he appears to have turned the corner in Hawaii and has scored in double figures and added support on the boards. These two have to play well as Carolina is a much better team offensively with these two on the court. Of the new players, Ty Johnson is settling in at point guard. Duane Notice is a very good looking freshman guard who I expect great things from. Sindarius Thornwell is going to be the go to guy before all is said and done. He is just too good not to be great! The big guys are coming around, but will face some bigger, more experienced men in the SEC and this is going to be the toughest area for USC in the weeks ahead. But the possibility of being the surprise team in the SEC still exists and I for one look forward to conference play.

The women on the other hand won’t be a surprise. They are just that good and will compete for the SEC title. The loss to North Carolina was a good learning experience. The Tar Heels have the players to be as good as it gets in the country and The Carolina held their own and very well could have pulled it out against the Tar Heels. In SEC play, Tennessee, Kentucky, LSU and Vandy will be big time opponents and the experience in Myrtle Beach with North Carolina will be good to fall back on for when the going gets tough. It appeared to help out in the first SEC matchup on the road at Arkansas as the USC women won a hard fought, 55-51, victory. A great start to the conference season!

Both teams will depend on the home court advantage. As I wrote on the Spurs & Feathers website over the holidays, in order to have a home court advantage, it is of the upmost importance to have a crowd on hand. If you have tickets to Carolina games, use them. Come out and cheer the teams on. If you can’t make it, give someone the chance to use them. The bigger the crowd, the better our teams will play. It

photo by jenny dilworth

There is no doubt South Carolina fans make a huge difference for the Gamecocks.

can make a huge difference and not only in the game. There are some big time recruits coming down the road. We can really help coach Staley and coach Martin get more of the kind of players that will put us in the top-10 of teams in the country. These kind of players want to play in front of big crowds. They can be told that the crowds will come, but its much easier to tell a young man or woman wouldn’t you like to play every night in front of a crowd like this?

Come out and do your part! Have a good time, enjoy some good basketball and help get the next line of players. Who knows? The next JD Clowney of basketball may be waiting to be a Gamecock! Let’s show them what we are made of! Go Cocks!

January 8, 2014

Spurs & Feathers • 31

32 • Spurs & Feathers

January 8, 2014