November 12, 2014 • Volume 36 • Issue 21 • $1.50
Basketball
is back!
Men’s, women’s basketball open regular-seasons this week
2 • Spurs & Feathers
Spurs & Feathers
November 12, 2014
What’s Inside? - Table of Contents
Published by Aiken Communications, Inc.
Contact Us: 301 Greystone Blvd. Columbia, SC 29210 (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 Ed Girardeau Contributing Editor/ Advertising Account Executive ed@spursandfeathers.com (803) 646-9807 Dee Taylor Advertising Director (803) 644-2371 Kathy Boyette Advertising Sales Manager (803) 295-3654 kboyette@spursandfeathers.com Brooks Rogers Advertising Representative (803) 446-4022 brooks@spursandfeathers.com Reporters Kyle Heck and Collyn Taylor Photographers Allen Sharpe and Jenny Dilworth Mary Watson Graphic Designer Cover Design: Mary Watson (photos by Allen Sharpe and Jenny Dilworth) Postal Information: SPURS & FEATHERS (USPS 12779) (ISSN 7454368X) is published 26 times annually. The frequency is monthly from December to July and weekly from the third Wednesday in August to the fourth Wednesday in November. SPURS & FEATHERS also publishes three slick-paper magazine issues — one in January, one in July and one in August. The annual subscription price is $50 for non Gamecock Club members. Members of the Gamecock Club receive a discounted subscription as a member benefit. Spurs & Feathers is published by Aiken Communications, Inc., 326 Rutland Drive NW, Aiken, SC, 29801-4010. Periodicals postage paid at Columbia, SC Postmaster: Send changes to SPURS & FEATHERS, PO Box 456, Aiken, SC, 29802.
Submitted photo
New York City Gamecock Club officers and Mason Jar owners (pictured with Patrick McFarland) were on hand for the South Carolina-Tennessee game. They visited with their sponsored team, sand volleyball, and shared in their delight of their pledges to the Gamecock cause.
Lattimore made everyone better.........................................3 Profile on Pharoh Cooper........................................................4 Dodie Anderson happy to be a Gamecock.......................5 South Carolina fans among nation’s best..........................6 Previewing Florida.....................................................................7 Schedule/Standings..................................................................8 Holbrook pleased with fall......................................................9 Honors last thing on Mitchell’s mind...............................10 Compliance Corner.................................................................11 Remembering Ed Pitts...........................................................12 2015 South Carolina softball schedule............................13 Men’s basketball ready for 2014-15 season...................14 Catching up with Bill Bradshaw.........................................15 South Carolina football roster.............................................16 Florida football roster............................................................17 Depth Charts.............................................................................18 Radio/television information..............................................19 Women’s basketball embraces high expecations........20 Inside Look with Glenn Snyder...........................................21 Gamecock Club upcoming events....................................22 The Florida game.....................................................................22 Memorials..................................................................................22 South Carolina upcoming athletic events......................22 Henry out to prove people wrong....................................23 Profile on Sindarius Thornwell............................................24 Purchase your brick................................................................24 Recruiting Roundup...............................................................25 A’ja Wilson excited to be a Gamecock.............................26 Langston Moore column......................................................27 Inside the Chart.................................................................28-29 Burnett wants to be one of best in the world...............30 Unique views with Ed Girardeau.......................................31
Submitted photo
2-year-old Hannah Rogers at her tailgate birthday party. She had a great time despite the cold weather and the loss to Tennessee. Pictured are Brooks Rogers, Grace Rogers, Elizabeth Rogers, Lily Rogers and the birthday girl Hannah Rogers.
Spurs & Feathers • 3
November 12, 2014
Lattimore ‘made everyone around him better’ by kyle heck Reporter
Following the football practice on Wednesday, Nov. 5, the talk was not focused on South Carolina and its preparation for the Florida Gators. The big news was about one of the best players to ever wear a Gamecock uniform and his decision to end his football career. Former tailback Marcus Lattimore announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 18 months after he was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round. Lattimore suffered devastating knee injuries that ended both his sophomore and junior years at South Carolina. Before those injuries, the Byrnes High School product was a consensus first-round NFL draft pick and even with missing considerable playing time he established himself as a Gamecock legend, becoming the school’s alltime leader for most rushing touchdowns (38) and total touchdowns (41). The 49ers took a chance on him and Lattimore spent all of 2013 rehabbing his knee. However, after he was cleared to practice with the team in October, he began experiencing soreness in his surgically repaired knee. Lattimore then announced his retirement in a letter posted on Twitter. “After prayer and careful consideration, I have decided it’s time to end my professional football career,” Lattimore said. “I have given my heart and soul to the game that I love and it’s time for me to move on to the next chapter of my life and help others. I have given every ounce of my energy toward making a full recovery from my knee injury and I have made a lot of progress. Unfortunately, getting my knee fully back to the level the NFL demands has proven to be insurmountable.” Wide receiver Nick Jones, a good friend and former teammate of Lattimore at Byrnes, said he talked to Marcus a couple of weeks ago and said that he was already leaning toward retirement. Jones said that it takes a special kind of person to go through what Lattimore has had to go through over the last couple of years. “He has a very (mentally) tough mindset,” Jones said. “This guy hasn’t played football in two or three years and he’s been rehabbing. That can mentally break down a person and he didn’t break down. That’s a strong person.” On the field, it was Lattimore’s physically tough style of play that separated him from so many players. In his first SEC game, a home game against rival Georgia, Lattimore literally carried the Gamecocks to the win over the Bulldogs. He rushed 37 times for 182 yards and two touchdowns. That set the tone for the rest of his
photo by allen sharpe
freshman season and he was one of the main reasons for South Carolina winning its firstever SEC East division title in 2010. In the division-clinching game at Florida, Lattimore carried the ball a school-record 40 times for 212 yards and three touchdowns. “He could take over the game,” head coach Steve Spurrier recalled. “He wasn’t afraid to carry it every time you called his number. Tremendous effort every play.” Spurrier said he talked to Lattimore on Tuesday, Nov. 4 and told him that he had a home in Columbia and at the University when he comes back. Lattimore said in his letter that he plans on returning to the University to complete his degree. For everyone who spoke on Wednesday, Nov. 5 it would be a great thing to bring Lattimore back in some capacity to the athletic program. “He helped everybody whether he was in your meeting room or not,” quarterbacks coach G.A. Mangus said. “He made everyone around him better and he’s going to make a bunch of people around him better no matter
what he chooses to do in life now that he is done. Hopefully, he’ll be around here for a long time because we could use him in many ways.” With there being so many people that were excited for the opportunity to watch Lattimore play in the NFL it was a bittersweet moment for Gamecocks everywhere. Lattimore’s professional career may have been cut short because of the injuries, but he’ll soon be back home, once again making an impact on the school he helped put on the football map. “Obviously, the big success we had here between 2010 and ’13 started when we signed Marcus Lattimore and then all the really top players that followed after he came with us,” Spurrier said. “Maybe he can add a lot of inspiration to the University of South Carolina like he did when he was a player here.” “Whatever Marcus Lattimore does in his lifetime, he’s going to be successful at it,” cooffensive coordinator Shawn Elliot said. “I know it’s a tough day for him, but such great respect for a great young man that (with) everything in his life he’s put every ounce of
energy into it. I know he loves the game of football and that’s what is tough. When you love something so much and you can’t do it anymore.”
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November 12, 2014
Cooper: ‘It’s a blessing to be in the position to make plays’
by collyn taylor Reporter
Pharoh Cooper is having a season made for a king. He was expected to be a prince among kings this year in the SEC, but after numerous breakout performances against Vanderbilt and Auburn and another one last week against Tennessee he has seen his name raised into the class of Gamecock royalty. “It’s a blessing to be a part of this team and to be in the position to make plays,” Cooper said. “It’s about going out there in practice 100 percent, listening to your coaches, do your job and they’re going to put you in the position to make plays. Everything has just worked out so far.” Cooper has been involved in almost every facet of the Gamecock offense. Against Tennessee he rushed for, passed for and caught a touchdown. He’s only the third player this season in the nation to achieve such a feat. Cooper’s 233 yards receiving shattered the single-game school record previously held by Troy Williamson. After his performance he said he was so distracted by the loss that he didn’t realize what he’d done until he woke up Sunday with his phone “blowing up.” Cooper blazed past the Commodore, Tiger and Volunteer defenses as if they were just mere commoners. In those three games he’s combined for 611 yards and six touchdowns. Unfortunately, the Gamecocks are 1-2 in those games even though Cooper has had kingly performances. “Despite the numbers we have — we have a lot of offensive numbers in the top categories — we still can’t win games,” Cooper said. “All of that goes out the window when you lose.” The Gamecocks are healing their wounds this weekend since they have no game, but will travel to “The Swamp” to play Florida Nov. 15. Cooper said that he’s ready to head down after resting this week. “That’s what you got to do. You got to learn to move on and that’s what we’re going to do,” Cooper said. “We have a bye week this week so we’re going to come back and get ready for Florida. Everybody’s getting a little break, getting their body’s right and then we get a gameplan for Florida and we’re going to go and try to come out with a win.”
photo by allen sharpe
Even after his performances that put him on the map nationally he said his role with the team as just the same it has been in weeks past. When asked if he was going to be throwing any more deep balls downfield to wide out Shaq Roland, Cooper slyly smiled and responded with “not sure.” For now, Cooper’s happy with his role on the team.
“[My role’s] probably doing the same thing,” he said. “We’re going to get a gameplan for them, see their spots where we can hit them at and the coaches are going to put us in the right position. We just have to go out and do your job. That’s what it comes down to.” On Nov. 3, Cooper was named to the Paul Hornug Award Honor Roll. But, if you ask Cooper, he didn’t see people building pyramids in his honor at the begin-
ning of the season, but he is handling the excitement surrounding him well. “I expected to catch a few balls, make a few plays. That comes with having confidence in yourself to go out and make plays,” Cooper said. “Having the amount of yards and catches I have now, I didn’t expect any of this. It’s a blessing and I give glory to God for everything he’s done. I’m just going to keep working hard to get better.”
Spurs & Feathers • 5
November 12, 2014
Dodie Anderson: ‘I’m so happy I picked South Carolina’ by brian hand Executive Editor
ceremonies in Spartanburg, S.C. on May 6, 2014. A few months before USC Upstate also presented Anderson with the Dr. G.B. A native of Chicago, Dodie Anderson Hodge Lifetime Achievement Award durmoved to South Carolina in 1950. ing the University’s Founders’ Day celLike so many others when she moved ebration in February of 2014. to the Palmetto State she knew she had to Anderson is extremely humbled by all of pick a side. To her, it was an easy choice to the recognition, noting “it’s just unbelievpick the Gamecocks. able. I can’t imagine it.” “I moved down here from Chicago, so The namesake of the Dodie Anderson you come to Carolina and you’ve got to Academic Enrichment Center, nicknamed pick a school and I went back to school “The Dodie,” thinks she was “in the right (to USC Upstate),” Anderson said. “I got a place at the right time” when it came to Carolina diploma from Upstate and I felt helping to build the pivotal academic like it made me legal anyway and I joined building. She considers it “pretty surreal” the Gamecock Club to be a card-carrying to have her name on the building that fosmember years ago and I just picked a team ters a sense of community among studentand said I’ve always loved the Gameathletes as well as promotes excellence in cocks.” academics. Anderson was honored for her passion for “When I wanted to do something to help the Gamecocks when she was tabbed as the the Gamecocks, I said to (former athletic “Legendary Fan of the Game” prior to the director) Eric (Hyman) and (head football South Carolina-Tennessee game. coach) Steve (Spurrier) what do we need Anderson considered the Legendary Fan and they both said an academic building,” honoring “wonderful.” Anderson remarked. A strong supporter of both South CaroliAnderson is extremely grateful for the na and USC Upstate, Anderson earlier this opportunity to give back to the University year received an honorary doctorate from she loves so much. USC Upstate during their commencement “It’s been nothing but a pleasure getting
photo by allen sharpe
to know the people in our organization,” Anderson remarked. “They are all just as fine as they can be.” The Chicago native and current Greer, S.C. resident is thrilled she made the right
decision on which school to root for when she came to the Palmetto State. “I’m so happy I picked South Carolina,” Anderson commented. “There was no chance I was going to pick Clemson.”
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November 12, 2014
South Carolina fans rank among nation’s best by brad muller South Carolina Director of Content
very supportive of the university in general,” said women’s soccer coach Shelley Smith. “We put a good product on the field, and it’s South Carolina coaches often say that a good opportunity to see top level athletes Gamecock fans are the best in the country, perform. I also think all of the teams do and statistics continue to back that up. South a good job to get out into the community, Carolina ranks in the top 10 nationally in and some of that support comes back to us total attendance in football, men’s soccer and during the season. We’ve also marketed the women’s soccer, while volleyball ranks 25th events better than in the past, and the stunationally for the fall of 2014. dent rewards program has been a big benefit “We have a tremendous fan base,” said too. The student-athletes have a lot of pride Athletics Director Ray Tanner. “Our prodwhen they play here. They want to perform uct is as good as it has ever been across the for their fans and their school. I know other board. Our fans are engaged. This is my 19th teams don’t like to come here because it’s a academic year at this university. We have tough place to play. It’s definitely an advanevolved into a different intercollegiate athlet- tage for us.” ics program than what existed many years Some other marketing factors helped as ago. There are expectations. There is a mind- well including the promotion of the World set and culture that didn’t exist many years Cup over the summer to bring sports such as ago that we enjoy today across the entire soccer to the front of fans’ attention, but Josh athletics department.” Waters, director of marketing, noted that fans South Carolina football games in 2014 have are not buying up tickets simply for marketbeen filled to 102% of capacity, which leads ing materials and prizes. the SEC. Men’s soccer leads conference USA “I think fans are coming for the fun of the and ranks sixth nationally in average attensport,” Waters said. “We’re family friendly, dance with 2,602 fans per home game, while which is always one of our goals. I keep women’s soccer is second nationally in aver- preaching our goal of wanting to create the age attendance with more than 2,900 fans per best home court or home field advantage for game. Gamecock volleyball currently ranks all of our student-athletes. I don’t know a betfourth in the SEC in average attendance with ter way to do that than to have a lot of fans in nearly 1,300 fans per home match. In addithe stands.” tion to having winning programs across the Gamecock fans are also ready to pour board, affordable ticket prices for families through the turn styles at the Colonial Life and community involvement are among the Arena as basketball season tips off this factors leading to the increase in season tick- month. More than 10,000 fans showed up et sales for the second straight year for men for the men’s basketball exhibition game last and women’s soccer and volleyball. week. Season ticket sales are also exceeding “We have a lot of great fans here who are last year’s pace with nearly 6,800 season tick-
ets sold for men’s basketball. “There is an increased excitement around the men’s and women’s basketball programs that I haven’t experienced in the six years that I have been here,” said Kamryn Hollar, assistant director of ticket operations. “Coach Dawn Staley and Coach Frank Martin have done a great job of immersing themselves in the Columbia community and because of that, our numbers of supporters continue to grow. Both programs continually provide low cost, high energy family entertainment and that is reflected in our season ticket numbers.” Coming off last year’s SEC Championship season, the women’s basketball team has increased its season ticket numbers by 50 percent with a school-record 6,437 season tickets having already been sold for the upcoming season. Staley acknowledges several reasons for the growth in support. “A big part has to do with winning, but I think another part has to do with us recruiting and securing in-state prospects,” Staley said. “Part of it is that our fans like our team. They can identify with them working hard. They see a certain chemistry that our team has. I think the games are enjoyable. All of our fans who come see us play, they just feel very much a part of our team. That’s the whole objective behind the `One’ theme for our season. Each one of us helps make this program grow and everybody is doing their part.” “You have to give Coach Staley and Coach Martin credit for being immersed in the community,” Tanner added. “They are residents of the city of the Columbia, and they have
ownership in this community. It’s exciting because it is not as if we have 21 sports with only two or three good teams. We have a lot of good ones that compete at a high level, not only in the SEC, but nationally. We’re in a good place. It’s our job as a staff to continually invest in this wonderful product that we have and try to sustain it for a long time.” With the continued success of the teams, season ticket sales and overall attendance, Gamecock Country continues to grow. “As a department under Coach Tanner’s leadership, we market all sports,” Waters said. “These attendance figures are a great way to show that. We have the greatest fans in the world; there is no doubt about that. They support any team we have.”
Spurs & Feathers • 7
November 12, 2014
photo by allen sharpe
Previewing the Florida Gators football team
by Kyle heck Reporter
With head coach Will Muschamp’s job on the line, the Florida Gators spanked the Georgia Bulldogs, 38-20, earlier this month. That has been the bright spot in an otherwise uneventful season for the Gators. It wasn’t expected to be that way. After a disastrous 2013 season where Florida went 4-8, lost to Georgia Southern and had an anemic offense, the Gators brought in new offensive coordinator Kurt Roper from Duke to correct the problems. It hasn’t gotten off to a very good start so far. Quarterback Jeff Driskel struggled to start the season and has since been replaced by freshman Treon Harris, who has no doubt recharged the offense, judging by the big win over Georgia. When South Carolina (4-5, 2-5 SEC) travels to Gainesville, it will be hoping to snap a four-game conference losing streak and keep alive its hope of becoming bowl eligible. Unfortunately, Harris is yet another dualthreat quarterback that the Gamecocks will have to deal with. Harris had 88 rushing yards and a touchdown in his first four games played. Harris has an experienced group of wide receivers to rely on, particularly fifth-year senior Quinton Dunbar. Senior tight end Clay Burton has also proved to be a trustworthy option. Bursting onto the scene this year has been sophomore Demarcus Robinson, who is the Gators’ leading receiver with 34 catches, 524 yards and four touchdowns seven games into the 2014 season. But it’s not the receivers that the Gamecocks will have to focus most of their atten-
tion on. After registering 418 rushing yards against the Bulldogs it’s the duo at tailback that South Carolina will have its eye on. Sophomore Kelvin Taylor and junior Matt Jones both had at least 190 yards against Georgia. They also both weigh over 210 pounds, meaning the Gamecock defense will have their hands full. As is seems to be every year, the Gators defense can never be overlooked. They returned seven starters from last year’s squad that was overshadowed by the offensive catastrophe. Juniors Jon Bullard and Dante Fowler anchor the talented Florida defensive line. They combined for 83 tackles a year ago and have kept up the progress so far this season, particularly Fowler, who had 3.5 sacks and a whopping 11 quarterback hits going into the game against the Commodores. But perhaps the best player on the Florida defense is defensive back Vernon Hargreaves III. The sophomore was one of the most highly-touted defensive players in recent memory coming out of high school and lived up to the billing, making 38 tackles and intercepting three passes as a freshman. His likely matchup with the Gamecocks’ Pharoh Cooper will be one to watch. Junior linebacker Antonio Morrison has been busy this season trying to make people forget some of his past transgressions. He’s done a good job so far through seven games, leading the Gators with 67 tackles while also racking up 4.5 sacks. South Carolina will hope this trip to Gainesville will be better than two years ago, when a slew of mistakes on offense led to a 44-11 defeat for the Gamecocks. Overall, however, South Carolina has won three of its last four against Florida.
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November 12, 2014
South Carolina Gamecocks
2014
football Schedule 08/28/14 ..........vs. #21 Texas A&M # ........... Columbia, S.C. ..................... L, 52-28 09/06/14 ..........vs. East Carolina .................. Columbia, S.C. ....................W, 33-23
Standings SEC East
W-L PF
PA W-L PF PA
Missouri
4-1 107
91 7-2 259 174 W3
STRK
Georgia
5-2 276 188 7-2 387 209 W1
Florida
4-3 179 183 5-3 244 183 W2
09/13/14 ..........vs. #6 Georgia # ................... Columbia, S.C. ....................W, 38-35
Kentucky
2-5 167 250 5-5 294 281 L4
09/20/14 ..........at Vanderbilt # ...................... Nashville, Tenn. ..................W, 48-34
South Carolina
2-5 249 274 4-5 323 307 L2
Tennessee
1-4 109 155 4-5 236 225 W1
Vanderbilt
0-6 85
208 3-7 189 324 L1
SEC West
W-L PF
PA W-L PF PA
Mississippi State
5-0 182 124 9-0 358 177 W9
Alabama
5-1 186
90 8-1 312 125 W4
Ole Miss
4-2 171
88 8-2 334 119 W1
Auburn
4-2 224 173 7-2 348 217 L1
Texas A&M
3-3 179 236 7-3 369 271 W2
LSU
3-3 130 132 7-3 308 163 L1
Arkansas
0-5 104 156 4-5 323 222 L1
09/27/14 ..........vs. Missouri # ......................... Columbia, S.C. ..................... L, 21-20 10/04/14 ..........at Kentucky # ........................ Lexington, Ky. ...................... L, 45-38 10/18/14 ..........vs. Furman ............................. Columbia, S.C. ....................W, 41-10 10/25/14 ..........at Auburn # ........................... Auburn, Ala. ......................... L, 42-35 11/01/14 ..........vs. Tennessee # ..................... Columbia, S.C. ............L, 45-42 (OT) 11/15/14 ..........at Florida # ............................. Gainesville, Fla. ............ 12 p.m. EST 11/22/14 ..........vs. South Alabama .............. Columbia, S.C. .............................TBA 11/29/14 ..........at Clemson ............................ Clemson, S.C. ...............................TBA
STRK
November 12, 2014
Spurs & Feathers • 9
Holbrook pleased, but he knows Gamecocks have a lot of work ahead by Kyle heck Reporter
Even with a couple of months to see his team scrimmage, South Carolina baseball head coach Chad Holbrook still has a lot of difficult decisions to make regarding his team. Perhaps the toughest one will be seeing who makes the final roster for the season that starts next spring. The Gamecocks also have to find a third weekend starter, a closer and figure out who will start at every infield spot, excluding first base. The infield situation was further complicated by the fact that a lot of players performed exceptionally well during the fall. Jordan Gore and D.C. Arendas were a couple of players that really stood out and freshman Madison Stokes also showed he could swing the bat and play defense. “The thing that kind of stood out to me was our infield defense,” Holbrook said. “We’re deep in the infield and I think they’re all very gifted defensively. They all bring different strengths and weaknesses from an offensive standpoint, but I have a good group of infielders that I think is going to bode well for our pitching staff.” Holbrook said that if the Gamecocks played tomorrow, Arendas would start at third base, one of the positions that is still open. The junior led the team in batting average during the fall, photo by allen sharpe hitting .391. “He’s just so quiet, he kind of goes unnoticed Holbrook said the thing that stood out to him the most this fall was the infield defense. with his performance,” Holbrook said. “But he had a great fall for us and continues to get bet- got a big upside, he’s got the right demeanor; he after his performance in the finale of the Garter and stronger.” is a tough kid.” net and Black World Series, but Holbrook said In addition, sophomore Jordan Gore has imMuch like the situation in the infield there pressed his coach this fall. Holbrook called him will be a lot of talented players vying for a the MVP of the fall season a few weeks ago. limited amount of spots in the pitching rotation Holbrook also said that he would feel comfort- and bullpen. Junior Jack Wynkoop and sophoable playing Gore at any position in the infield. more Wil Crowe are a given at the top of the Another position that is up for grabs is catch- weekend rotation as of right now, but that is the er. With the loss of three-year starter Grayson only thing certain. Greiner, there is a void at one of the most The fall gave Holbrook an opportunity to important positions on the field. Logan Koch watch some of his younger pitchers showis currently in the lead to take over that spot, case their skills and they impressed. Clarke given his experience, but Schmidt, Brandon Murray Holbrook has also liked the and Tyler Johnson were three way that freshman Hunter freshmen that stood out to Taylor burst onto the scene Holbrook. during the fall. “They’re going to pitch some “I think Hunter Taylor has for us this spring, there’s no a bright future here,” Holdoubt about that,” Holbrook brook said. “He’s improved said. All Gamecock baseball probably the most behind Sophomore Taylor Widener coverage sponsored by the plate from the start of is making a strong case to be DiPrato’s fall practice to today. He’s the Gamecocks’ new closer
he is also considering him for the third starter spot. Even with three experienced players returning to the outfield in Connor Bright, Elliot Caldwell and Gene Cone, Holbrook is not ready to call them the starters for the upcoming season. However, the third-year coach has been impressed with the way Cone has played in center field and has a “strong hold” on that position going into the winter. Making a push for playing time in the outfield is fifth-year senior Patrick Harrington, one of the most respected guys on the team. He came into the program as a catcher, but wound up playing behind Brady Thomas, Dante Rosenburg, Robert Beary and then Grayson Greiner and has since moved to the outfield. He had a great fall, hitting well over .300 and Holbrook called him one of the emotional leaders on the team. With so many infielders and not enough places to put them, Holbrook says that he may move one or more of them to the outfield in order them to get the at-bats he feels they deserve. Now that the organized team activities are over for the remainder of the year, the focus is now on each player improving individually. The team changed up its conditioning schedule this year, working even harder and getting off to earlier starts to the day more often than in the past. Holbrook liked the way his team responded, but says the important part starts right now and continues until team activities begin again in January. “We’re going to push them even harder between now and when the semester is over,” Holbrook said.
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November 12, 2014
Honors keep coming, but they are the last thing on Mitchell’s mind by kyle heck Reporter
The one goal that Mitchell speaks of is a national championship. The team’s motto this season is “one” which focuses on the ultimate The accolades just keep coming for junior goal of the South Carolina players. guard Tiffany Mitchell. After being named “I think we have the pieces to do it, so it’s just the SEC preseason player of the year, Mitchell now working together and meshing that is gowas named to the AP preseason All-American ing to get us to that point,” Mitchell said. team, becoming the first Gamecock to ever With one of the best recruiting classes in the earn that honor. nation joining the Gamecocks this year, there “I feel honored to be named to this team and will be a lot more talent on the team. Some to be the first Gamecock to accomplish this players would be concerned about not getting makes it that much better,” Mitchell said. “I’m as much playing time as they did in the past. glad I can represent South Carolina at such a With only 40 minutes to play with, head high level and be part of a great team. Withcoach Dawn Staley will have to make a lot of out the players and coaches that make up this tough decisions throughout the year as to who team, an accomplishment like this would be and who not to play. hard to come by. So, I am just really thankful However, there doesn’t seem to be any selfish and humbled by this recognition.” players on this year’s team, evident by the fact She was named the SEC player of the year that Staley said at South Carolina’s media day last year after averaging 15.5 points per game, that she’s already had one starter come to her 5.6 rebounds per game, 3.5 assists per game and say she would be willing to give up her and 1.8 assists per game last year. She also starting spot if it would make the team better. made the third-team All-American team, “It says a lot because that’s what we need,” becoming the third South Carolina player to Mitchell said. “We know everybody can’t avmake one of the postseason All-American erage 35 minutes a game so having people on teams. the team that are willing to sacrifice the time It’s just the latest public exposure for a team for the betterment of our team is great. Cause that has had plenty of that so far this year. The we need those types of players on the team to No. 2 Gamecocks are counting down the days get to the next level.” to their season opener and they are expected to Mitchell is in the same boat. She would give contended for a national title up playing time in a heartbeat if this year. Mitchell is a big it meant reaching a Final Four reason for that, but she’s not and winning a national chamfocused on herself. pionship. “I’m just going into the “I feel like this team is the season with an open mind, most versatile that I’ve been with one goal; I’m not really a part of,” Mitchell said. “We worrying about awards,” have positions that are two or Mitchell said at SEC media three deep and that’s to our adAll Gamecock basketball vantage because we do have so days. “At the end of the day, coverage sponsored by if we do what we need to do many people that can come into Yesterdays the awards will come.” a game.”
photo by allen sharpe
November 12, 2014
Spurs & Feathers • 11
12 • Spurs & Feathers
November 12, 2014
Remembering Gamecock legend Ed Pitts The University of South Carolina lost a truly great Gamecock this past week when former student, football star, assistant coach, Gamecock Club Director and long-time employee Ed Pitts passed away. In May of 2011 Pitts, who had been named to the USC Hall of Fame in 2002, was inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame. At that time Spurs & Feathers editor Dexter Hudson talked with Pitts about the honor and his life and he feels that sharing that article once again with Carolina’s fans would be a great way to recall what all he did for the Gamecocks and to pay a final tribute to him. From Clinton, S.C., Pitts arrived at the University of South Carolina in 1956 and he has never left. As he puts it, “I’m still on scholarship as I will have worked here for 49 years this July.” Pitts played tackle for USC from 1957-59 and had a reputation for being a hard-nosed physical player who asked for no quarters and gave none. He earned First Team AllACC honors in both 1958 and 1959 and after his senior season, when he served as a co-captain, he attained a spot on the Paul Williamson All-America team. He was picked to play in the North/South Shrine Game and was named a co-captain for the South Team. Looking back at his Gamecock career, Pitts noted that one of the most amazing things is that he came to USC. “Everyone from Clinton who ever went to college went to Clemson and everyone in my family who had ever gone to college went to Clemson. I had an older brother, Mark, who enrolled up there in 1948 and I went up there all my life with my family. We’d go up there for Parade Day, as it was military-oriented at that time.” In his acceptance speech, Pitts noted that his brother hadn’t always loved Clemson. “Mark came home after a year and a half and said, ‘I think I’d rather go and work in a filling station than go back to Clemson.’ My mom said OK. Your room will cost this much, your food will cost this much and your laundry will cost this much.’ He said, ‘I think I’ll go back and finish Clemson.’ He got a degree in engineering and worked at the Savannah River Plant until he retired.” Pitts’ father died in 1939 when he was just one year old. His mom’s rule was that her children would go to college but she let him decide where. “When it came time for recruiting and making a decision, Carolina started recruiting me and I started looking
there and decided I’d rather go there than Clemson. “Coach Rex Enright started recruiting me but he moved up to athletics director and Coach Warren Giese came in. So my coach my first year was Coach Giese. Coach Hank Bartos probably had more to do with my decision than anybody. He was an easygoing, laid-back type guy and I was kind of a shy guy that didn’t like to be pushed. He played a big role in my coming to South Carolina.” In Pitts’ day, players saw action on both offense and defense. “Everyone played both ways. We had two units and would alternate back and forth but you had to be immediately ready to go from offense to defense if there was a fumble or something. You had to line up and play.” When told about his reputation for being tough and physical, Pitts said, “I never thought that I was that way. I always played afraid and scared. When you are scared, you play harder, I guess. So I played hard.” The Clinton standout competed on the freshman team his first year and then helped the Gamecocks post a 5-5 mark in 1957, 7-3 in 1958 and 6-4 in 1959. “I’m very proud of what we accomplished,” Pitts said. “We were lucky. We never had a losing season. Everyone knows
Pitts came back to Carolina and worked as a student assistant for a couple of years and then Coach Marvin Bass hired him in 1962 as a full-time recruiter. “I ended up coaching the freshmen that year also. They were a separate team at the time and we played a five-game schedule,” he recalled. “Before that year was out, the Gamecock Club Director (Harvey White) took another job and I was asked to come in and help with the Gamecock Club and I stayed in that position for 24 years. “For four or five years I handled the Gamecock Club, coached the freshmen and was a full-time recruiter. Signing Day was December 12. Your fund raising started the first of the year and your players didn’t report until the first of September, so it worked out well. Of course, there wasn’t nearly as much to do then as it is now.” Times have changed a lot at Carolina and Pitts played a key role in that progress. When he started with the Gamecock Club, the goal was to raise $70,000. “Because of Coach Bass and his good nature and willingness to travel the state, we went out and brought in $90,000. We were all of a sudden the saviors. Having $20,000 extra was great, good money. I guess that is how I got the full-time job. I always had south carolina athletics media relations a lot of fun traveling the state and meeting people. I was proud to represent South that in 1957 we beat a highly-ranked Texas Carolina.” When Pitts stepped down, the Gamecock team at Texas and in 1958 we beat GeorClub was bringing in $3 million annually. gia and Clemson and they both had good “The first year that we reached $1 million teams. We were ranked 13th in the final poll that year. And in 1959 we beat Georgia was 1976. At that time to my knowledge, no other fund-raising club in the country had up here and they had a nationally-ranked ever reached a million. So we were very team. We had some good memories.” proud of that. As for special individual moments, Pitts “The best thing was that I made so many said, “I don’t remember it, but evidently great friends throughout the state of South the Georgia game in 1959 was a good one. Carolina. I made friends and contacts that I From the many comments I heard, I had a really good game. I must have been in what will never forget. “When I look back at my playing days, they called the zone. I do remember Jake it is also the people that I most remember. Bodkin blocking a punt and some things I’m very close to a lot of them. You not only like that. But I don’t remember the things remember the players you played with but a lot of people have commented to me on also many of the players you played against. since then.” We had a Big Thursday reunion for both Pitts got a shot at pro ball but an injury ended his professional career before it ever schools in 2009 and it was great to be able started. “I went up with the Patriots and in to renew acquaintances and get to know them a little better. That was a real highpreseason I hurt a knee. I came back and light for me.” had it operated on and never had a chance to go back and try it again. I could never get As for the honor of being named to the state’s Hall of Fame, Pitts said, “Just beit rehabilitated. I felt I had a good chance to play with the Patriots and just looking at ing a native South Carolinian, never really who played and who made it, I feel I could having done anything outside this state, to have played up there for a while and would be in the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame it is a top honor for me. It’s all I could have enjoyed it very much. “You can’t control injuries and mine was dream of. I’m extremely appreciative and grateful for this opportunity. It really puts a freak accident, but there was nothing I you in an elite company.” could do about it.”
Spurs & Feathers • 13
November 12, 2014
South Carolina Gamecocks
2015 Softball Schedule
Date
Opponent / Event Location PIRATE CLASSIC
02/06/15 02/07/15 02/08/15 02/11/15
vs. Longwood vs. Delaware State at East Carolina vs. Longwood at East Carolina vs. UCF
Greenville, N.C. Greenville, N.C. Greenville, N.C. Greenville, N.C. Greenville, N.C. Columbia, S.C.
Time / Result 12:30 PM ET 2:00 PM ET 4:30 PM ET 2:00 PM ET 4:30 PM ET 4:00 PM ET
GAMECOCK INVITATIONAL 02/13/15 02/14/15 02/15/15
vs. Presbyterian vs. North Carolina vs. Appalachian State vs. College of Charleston
02/19/15 02/20/15 02/21/15 02/22/15 02/25/15
vs. LIU Brooklyn vs. Florida State vs. Stanford vs. California vs. Northwestern vs. Coppin State
Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C.
3:00 PM ET 3:00 PM ET 12:30 PM ET 3:00 PM ET
MARY NUTTER COLLEGIATE CLASSIC Cathedral City, Calif. Cathedral City, Calif. Cathedral City, Calif. Cathedral City, Calif. Cathedral City, Calif. Columbia, S.C.
1:30 PM ET 6:00 PM ET 11:00 PM ET 8:00 PM ET 12:00 PM ET 6:00 PM ET
Carolina Classic 02/27/15 02/28/15 03/01/15
vs. Charleston Southern vs. Marshall vs. South Alabama vs. Tennessee State
Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C.
03/03/15
vs. Charlotte
Columbia, S.C.
5:30 PM ET 3:00 PM ET 12:30 PM ET 3:00 PM ET
Date
03/05/15 03/07/15 03/08/15 03/09/15 03/11/15 03/13/15 03/14/15 03/15/15 03/18/15 03/20/15 03/21/15 03/22/15 03/25/15 03/26/15 03/31/15 04/01/15 04/03/15 04/04/15 04/07/15 04/10/15 04/11/15 04/12/15 04/14/15 04/17/15 04/18/15 04/19/15 04/21/15 04/24/15 04/25/15 04/26/15 05/01/15 05/02/15 05/03/15
Opponent / Event
vs. Liberty vs. Missouri * vs. Missouri * vs. Missouri * vs. Western Kentucky vs. Tennessee * vs. Tennessee * vs. Tennessee * at Winthrop at Texas A&M * at Texas A&M * at Texas A&M * vs. Furman vs. North Florida vs. North Florida at UNC Wilmington vs. College of Charleston at Florida * at Florida * at Florida * vs. USC Upstate vs. Arkansas * vs. Arkansas * vs. Arkansas * at Coastal Carolina at Kentucky * at Kentucky * at Kentucky * vs. Georgia Southern at Mississippi * at Mississippi * at Mississippi * vs. Mississippi State* vs. Mississippi State* vs. Mississippi State*
6:00 PM ET * Denotes Conference event. All home games are bold.
Location
Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C. Rock Hill, S.C. College Station, Texas College Station, Texas College Station, Texas Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C. Wilmington, N.C. Columbia, S.C. Gainesville, Fla. Gainesville, Fla. Gainesville, Fla. Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C. Conway. S.C. Lexington, Ky. Lexington, Ky. Lexington, Ky. Columbia, S.C. Oxford, Miss. Oxford, Miss. Oxford, Miss. Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C.
Time / Result 6:00 PM ET 2:00 PM ET 1:30 PM ET 7:00 PM ET 6:00 PM ET 6:00 PM ET 2:00 PM ET 1:00 PM ET 6:00 PM ET 7:30 PM ET 4:00 PM ET 1:30 PM ET 6:00 PM ET 5:00 PM ET 7:30 PM ET 3:00 PM ET 6:00 PM ET 6:00 PM ET 12:00 PM ET 2:30 PM ET 6:00 PM ET 6:00 PM ET 1:00 PM ET 1:00 PM ET 5:00 PM ET 7:00 PM ET 4:00 PM ET 1:00 PM ET 6:00 PM ET 7:00 PM ET 4:00 PM ET 2:00 PM ET 7:00 PM ET 4:00 PM ET 1:00 PM ET
14 • Spurs & Feathers
November 12, 2014
Martin, Gamecocks enter final days of preseason preparations for 2014-15 season by brian hand Executive Editor Frank Martin is a competitor. Spend five minutes with Martin talking basketball or really anything sports-related and that will become readily apparent. The 2014-15 regular-season is just days away for Martin and the Gamecocks and he is currently preparing his team for the opportunity to relish each and every game in the upcoming year. The Gamecocks open the regular-season at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14 against North Florida. “I could probably gameplan for North Florida for three straight weeks and then go out and North Florida does a bunch of different stuff than they’ve done in the past so all my gameplanning kind of went out the window,” Martin noted at his weekly press conference on Monday, Nov. 3. “How am I teaching guys to prepare for a game for the next 29, 32 games when you only get one, two, three days max in-between games? “I’m all into preparing for what’s coming. Would I like to be 1-0 after one game? Absolutely. Would I like to win our second game regardless of what our first game does? Absolutely. I’m into preparing guys to understand how to win every game, not just the first game of the year. We don’t put less emphasis on one, or more emphasis on Decisions is something that we’re trying another. Every game is equally important to clean up and you don’t clean decisions to us … I love to compete and I love to win up by putting guys on the line and making and when you only get 30 chances a year to them run. You clean decisions up by showdo it, I don’t understand how you can put ing them film and trying to educate them. more value on one than the other,” Martin “I don’t want to put the cart before the continued. horse’s here, but effort and discipline, I The Gamecocks have one exhibition undon’t see that being a problem going forder their belt in a dominating 92-47 win ward. I really see guys that are connected over Benedict at the Colonial Life Arena and they’re playing with an aggression and on Sunday, Oct. 26. The win over the Tia passion that is what I’ve been pushing for gers wasn’t as important to Martin as it two years to have. We’ve got to continue was to just working on his team. to help them to make better decisions. Nevertheless, Martin and his coaching That’s our jobs right now and their job is to staff have some gamefilm maintain the focus and the that they can share with energy that they’re bringing their team to show different every day,” Martin elaboaspects of what they are tryrated. ing to teach them heading After spending the first into the year. couple of weeks of the pre“We’ve watched a lot from season focusing on offense, that game … lack of efMartin and his coaching fort is not the problem. It’s staff just started incorporatAll Gamecock basketball ing their defensive schemes a matter of trying to help coverage sponsored by guys make better decisions into practice the week of the Yesterdays when they’re in the moment. Benedict exhibiton.
photo by jenny dilworth
Martin is pleased with where that stands compared to in year’s past. “The thing I’m happiest with is what we spent a lot of time trying to teach them last year because we were so young that they didn’t understand our concepts or the kind of aggression that you have to play with to be successful within our concepts, it was good to see that nucleus of guys understands and they’ve been able to carry that over into this preseason,” Martin commented. “I’m not trying to pass judgment as comparing us to other teams, but if you go back two years in our exhibition our team defense was not very good. If you go back to last year our team defense was just okay. “Our team defense in this year’s exhibition was pretty good. We didn’t foul a hundred times. We for the most part until the game got late we kept them off the foul line. We didn’t give up uncontested shots and that’s a credit to those kids, that they grown up, they’ve gotten stronger and that they buy into what we’re doing and they’re more comfortable playing within that
structure. Will we be able to sustain that? I don’t know, we’ll see, but we’re in a better place from an understanding and an execution standpoint than what we’ve been in the previous two years,” Martin expounded.
Spurs & Feathers • 15
November 12, 2014
Catching up with Bill Bradshaw by Glenn Snyder Contributing Writer
This year marks the 30th anniversary of South Carolina’s 1984 “Black Magic” season, and one of the major contributors to that first 10-win campaign in school history was flanker Bill Bradshaw. The Spartanburg, S.C., native (where coincidentally the head coach at Spartanburg High School was former Carolina and now Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson) spent his first two seasons at USC at quarterback, but when Coach Joe Morrison took over the program in 1983 and installed the veer offense, Bradshaw moved to receiver. His memories of the remarkable year begins with his teammates. “I think about the guys, the good times in the locker room celebrating after winning another close game. Coming back against Notre Dame (36-32) is a real vivid memory. The back and forth at N.C. State (35-28), and beating Florida State (38-26) in Williams-Brice, all those games where we refused to lose were just a great experience.”
Like Gamecock fans, Bradshaw and his teammates never saw this season coming. “Not at all. If you remember we almost lost to The Citadel in the opener. They almost ran a kickoff back with a minute left that would have tied the game. Only a saving tackle by Chris Major and terrific stand by the defense got us through that one. “We all believe we wouldn’t have had the great season by a longshot if we had lost that one. The thing that was so neat is that we had 24 seniors, one of the last recruiting classes of Coach (Jim) Carlen. We had gone through the transition from Coach (Richard) Bell to Coach Morrison the previous two years. We were a bunch of guys who had worked our butts off to get stronger and better, and who had a great desire to do something special in our final season.” With each victory, the team’s confidence increased. “The confidence level grew, the expectations to win grew,” Bradshaw said. “I can’t remember one time standing on the sideline thinking we weren’t going to win. It didn’t matter what the score was, it just felt like we were going to win. Somebody was going to
South Carolina Athletics Media Relations
make a play, something good was going to happen. An undefeated season and a chance for a National Championship ended with an improbable loss to Navy in game 10. “I will never forget the Sunday meeting
after that game,” Bradshaw said. “Coach Morrison wrote on the backboard five things, a couple of them not suitable for print, that we lost that day. We were heartbroken, but we came back the next week and did another one of our patented comebacks against Clemson. We were down 21-3 early, but we just kept playing, kept believing we could win. We had lost four in a row to the Tigers, and the way we won was especially sweet. We scored late to tie the game at 21, but Scott Hagler missed the extra point. However Clemson got a penalty on the play and Scott made the do-over.” Bradshaw was signed by the New England Patriots, but was one of the final players cut during camp. He coached one season at Wofford College and then he and his wife, Sherry, moved back to Columbia and opened a 1-Hour photography store. After he sold that business he was in the retail business with Ace Hardware for three years, spent 12 years in the financial management field, and for the past 12 years he has marketed nutritional supplements, and developed a number of real estate projects in the Columbia area.
16 • Spurs & Feathers
November 12, 2014
South Carolina Football Roster # Name Pos. 1 Damiere Byrd WR 1 Rico McWilliams CB 3 Nick Jones WR 3 Chris Lammons CB 4 Bryson Allen-Williams LB 4 Shaq Roland WR 5 Darius English DE 5 Brendan Nosovitch QB 6 Connor Mitch QB 6 Chris Moody SS 7 Shon Carson TB 7 Wesley Green CB 8 Shamier Jeffery WR 8 Kaiwan Lewis LB 9 Deebo Samuel WR 9 Sharrod Golightly SPR 10 Skai Moore LB 10 Perry Orth QB 11 T.J. Holloman LB 11 Pharoh Cooper WR 12 Michael Scarnecchia QB 12 Brison Williams SS 13 Tyler Hull P 13 Grant Davitte QB 14 Shaq Davidson WR 14 Ali Groves CB 15 Austin Hails QB 16 Zack Cimaglia K/P 17 Chaz Elder FS 17 Dylan Thompson QB 18 Cedrick Cooper DE 18 Patrick Fish P 19 Terry Googer WR 19 Landon Ard PK 20 T.J. Gurley SS 21 Marcquis Roberts LB 21 Andrew Bunch WR 22 Brandon Wilds TB 22 Jamari Smith CB 23 Larenz Bryant SPR 24 D.J. Smith DB 25 Kadetrix Marcus FS 26 Jasper Sasser FS 28 Mike Davis TB 28 Jonathan Walton LB 29 Elliott Fry PK 29 Matrick Belton WR 30 Darius Paulk FB 30 Sidney Rhodes CB 31 Al Harris Jr. CB 31 Jordan Diaz FB 32 Rod Talley TB 33 David Williams TB 34 Jonas Price K/P 34 Mason Harris DE
Hgt. 5-9 5-11 5-7 5-10 6-1 6-1 6-6 6-1 6-3 6-1 5-8 5-10 6-1 6-0 6-0 5-10 6-2 6-1 6-2 5-11 6-4 5-11 6-2 6-3 5-11 5-10 6-2 6-1 6-2 6-3 6-2 6-0 6-4 5-9 5-10 6-1 5-11 6-2 5-10 6-0 5-11 6-1 6-0 5-9 6-0 6-0 6-4 5-8 5-10 5-11 6-1 5-10 6-1 6-2 6-3
Wgt. 170 184 168 172 231 176 241 221 211 210 201 176 198 228 192 187 213 204 234 201 189 208 207 180 170 187 220 170 195 218 225 194 210 178 194 216 173 222 197 220 189 194 203 223 228 165 215 199 182 162 236 201 214 165 235
Cl. SR RS SO RS SR FR FR JR RS SO RS SO RS FR RS SO RS JR FR RS JR JR FR RS SR SO RS SO RS SO SO FR SR RS SR RS FR FR RS FR RS JR RS SO RS SO RS SR RS JR RS SR FR RS JR JR RS SO RS SO RS JR SO SO FR SR RS FR JR SO SO RS SO RS SO RS SR FR RS SR RS SO RS FR RS FR RS JR
Hometown/High School/Last College Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek Hampton, Ga./Lovejoy Moore, S.C./Byrnes Sunrise, Fla./Plantation Ellenwood, Ga./Ceder Grove Lexington, S.C./Lexington Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern Allentown, Pa./Central Catholic Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield McDonough, Ga./Henry County Scranton, S.C./Lake City Lithonia, Ga./Martin Luther King St. Matthews, S.C./Calhoun County Pleasantville, N.J./St. Joseph Inman, S.C./Chapman Decatur, Ga./Southwest DeKalb Cooper City, Fla./University Ponde Verda, Fla./Ponte Verda/Florida State College Stone Mountain, Ga./St. Pius X Havelock, NC./Havelock Fleming Island, Fla./Fleming Island Warner Robins, Ga./Northside/Fork Union Military Mount Airy, N.C./Mount Airy/Guilford College Columbia, S.C./Irmo Gaffney, S.C./Gaffney Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson Collinsville, Ill./Collinsville Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park/North Carolina A&T Union City, Ga./Banneker Boiling Springs, S.C./Boiling Springs Lithonia, Ga./Lithonia Shelby, N.C./Burns Atlanta, Ga./Woodward Academy Rock Hill, S.C./South Pointe Cairo, Ga./Cairo Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern Mt. Pleasant, S.C./Bishop England/Presbyterian Blythewood, S.C./Blythewood Jacksonville, Fla./Fletcher Charlotte, NC./Vance Marietta, Ga./Walton Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson Jacksonville, Fla./Wolfson Atlanta, Ga./Stephenson Daphne, Ala./Bayside Academy Frisco, Tx./Prince of Peace Christian Columbia, S.C./Keenan/Hampton Columbia, S.C./Richland Northeast/North Greenville Easley, S.C./Wren/Western Carolina Fort Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West Laurens, S.C./Laurens/Gardner-Webb Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter Cockeysville, Md./St. Paul’s Fort Oglethorpe, Ga./Ridgeland
Coaches Steve Spurrier - Head Coach Deke Adams - Defensive Line Kirk Botkin - Linebackers/Spurs Grady Brown - Secondary/Assistant Special Teams Coordinator Shawn Elliott - Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive LIne G.A. Mangus - Quarterbacks/Tight Ends Joe Robinson - Special Teams Coordinator Everette Sands - Running Backs Jamie Speronis - Associate AD/Football Operations Steve Spurrier Jr. - Co-Offensive Coord/Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coordinator Lorenzo Ward - Defensive Coordinator Joey Blake - Director of Football Nutrition Robbie Liles - Director - Recruiting Operations Patrick Shine - Administrative Coordinator - Recruiting Scott Spurrier - Quality Control Coordinator (Offense) Shaq Wilson - Quality Control Coordinator (Defense)
# Name Pos. 35 Shannon James DB 39 Demetrius Smalls DB 40 Jacob August TE 41 Kyle Morini LB 41 Connor McLaurin FB 42 Jordan Diggs SPR 43 Benjamin Russell DB 43 Garrison Gist FB 44 Gerald Turner FB 44 Gerald Dixon DE 45 Brandon Sturdivant FB 46 Cedrick Malone SPR 47 Drew Williams LS 48 Nick McGriff TE 49 Garrett Shank SS 49 Devin Potter TB 50 A.J. Cann OG 51 Cody Waldrop OC 51 Devin Washington DE 52 Phillip Dukes DT 53 Corey Robinson OT 54 Clayton Stadnik OC 55 David Johnson DE 55 Na’Ty Rodgers OT 58 Ryland Culbertson LS 59 Coleman Harley LS 65 Brock Stadnik OG 69 D.J. Park OT 70 Alan Knott OC 71 Brandon Shell OT 72 Donell Stanley OL 74 Mason Zandi OT 75 Will Sport OG 76 Mike Matulis OT 77 Malik Young OL 80 K.J. Brent WR 81 Rory Anderson TE 82 Caleb Hines WR 83 Carlton Heard WR 84 Matthew Harvey WR 85 Kane Whitehurst WR 86 Kevin Crosby TE 87 Sean Odom WR 88 Drew Owens TE 89 Jerell Adams TE 90 Cody Gibson TE 90 Taylor Stallworth DT 91 Blake McClain DE 92 Gerald Dixon, Jr. DT 93 Deon Green DT 94 Kelsey Griffin DT 95 Michael Washington DE 97 J.T. Surratt DT 99 Abu Lamin DT
Hgt. 5-7 5-11 6-6 5-10 6-0 6-0 6-0 5-10 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-0 6-2 6-0 6-0 5-10 6-4 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-8 6-3 6-1 6-5 6-4 6-1 6-5 6-4 6-4 6-6 6-4 6-9 6-5 6-5 6-3 6-4 6-5 5-11 6-0 6-8 5-11 6-1 6-0 6-6 6-6 6-7 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-4 6-2 6-3 6-2 6-4
Wgt. 153 170 247 221 243 217 175 260 250 274 218 201 201 220 203 203 311 309 221 323 344 273 275 280 267 246 287 328 280 333 346 301 291 307 318 192 227 160 188 22 8 169 230 190 238 242 278 293 265 323 289 310 237 310 302
Cl. RS SO RS FR FR RS SR RS SR RS SO RS FR RS JR RS FR RS SO RS SO RS SO SO FR RS SO RS SO RS SR RS SO RS FR RS JR RS SR RS SO RS FR RS FR RS SR RS JR RS SO RS FR RS FR RS JR FR RS SO RS JR RS JR FR RS JR SR FR RS JR RS JR RS JR FR SO RS JR JR RS SR FR FR RS JR RS SO SO RS JR RS SR RS SO
Hometown/High School/Last College Florence, S.C./South Florence Bluffton, S.C./Bluffton Columbia, S.C./Cardinal Newman/Fork Union Warner Robins, Ga./White Knoll/Gray Military Raleigh, N.C./Garner Fort Myers, Fla./Island Coast Atlanta, Ga./Woodward Academy Rock Hill, S.C./Northwesterm Goose Creek, S.C./Goose Creek Rock Hill, S.C./South Pointe Fort Mill, S.C./Nation Ford/York Tech Camden, S.C./Camden/Coastal Carolina Irmo, S.C/Dutch Fork Gainesville, Fla./Gainesville Marietta, Ga./Lassiter Granite Falls, N.C./South Caldwell Bamberg, S.C./Bamberg-Ehrhardt Seffner, Fla./Armwood Orlando, Fla./Jones Manning, S.C./Manning Havelock, N.C./Havelock Greensboro, N.C./Western Guilford Lithonia, Ga./Lithonia Waldorf, Md./McDonough Laurens, S.C./Laurens Academy Aiken, S.C./South Aiken Greensboro, N.C./Western Guilford Dillon, S.C./Dillon Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek Goose Creek, S.C./Goose Creek Floydale, S.C./Latta Irmo, S.C./Chapin Milton, Fla./Pace Boynton Beach, Fla./Park Vista Pelzer, S.C./Woodmont Waxhaw, N.C./Marvin Ridge Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern Cornelius, N.C./Hough Athens, Ga./Clarke Central/Gardner-Webb Rock Hill, S.C./Rock Hill Duluth, Ga./Chattahoochee/Arkansas Bamberg, S.C./Bamberg-Ehrhardt Orangeburg, S.C./Orangeburg Prep Charlotte, N.C./Ardrey Kell Pinewood, S.C./Scott’s Branch Tallahassee, Fla./Lincoln Mobile, Ala./Murphy Jacksonville, Fla./Sandalwood Rock Hill, S.C./Northwestern Windermere, Fla./Olympia Buford, Ga./Mill Creek Allendale, S.C./Allendale-Fairfax/S.C. State Winston-Salem, N.C./Parkland Fayetteville, N.C./Trinity Christian/Fort Scott C.C.
Spurs & Feathers • 17
November 12, 2014
Florida Football Roster # Name Pos. 1 Quinton Dunbar WR 1 Vernon Hargreaves, III DB 2 Jabari Gorman DB 2 Ryan Sousa WR 3 Treon Harris QB 3 Antonio Morrison LB 4 Kyle Christy P 4 Andre Debose WR 5 Ahmad Fulwood WR 5 Jalen Tabor DB 6 Jeff Driskel QB 6 Dante Fowler, Jr. DL 7 Duke Dawson DB 7 Will Grier QB 8 Skyler Mornhinweg QB 8 Leon Orr DL 9 Jacob Guy QB 9 Latroy Pittman, Jr. WR 9 Matt Rolin LB 10 Valdez Showers WR 11 Neiron Ball LB 11 Demarcus Robinson 12 Quincy Wilson DB 13 Daniel McMillian LB 13 Christian Provancha 14 Alex McCalister DL 14 C.J. Worton WR 15 Ryan Parrish WR 15 Brandon Powell RB 16 Austin Hardin K 17 Jordan Sherit DL 18 Roger Dixon WR 18 Justus Reed DL 19 Ryan McGriff QB 19 Johnny Townsend P 20 Darius Masline RB 20 Marcus Maye DB 21 Deiondre Porter DB 21 Kelvin Taylor RB 22 Adam Lane RB 22 Nick Washington DB 23 J.C. Jackson DB 24 Matt Jones RB 24 Brian Poole DB 25 Gideon Ajagbe TE 25 Garrett Stephens DB 26 Marcell Harris DB 27 Ben Peacock DB 28 Jeremi Powell LB 29 Evan Schroeder DB 30 DeAndre Goolsby TE 31 Michael McNeely WR 32 D.L. Powell WR 33 Mack Brown RB 34 Alex Anzalone LB 35 Michael Iorio DB
Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown/Previous School 6’ 2” 200 RSR Miami/Booker T. Washington 5’ 11” 195 SO Tampa/Wharton 5’ 10” 185 SR Miami/Monsignor Pace 6’ 0” 189 FR Orlando/Lake Nona 5’ 11” 190 FR Miami/Booker T. Washington 6’ 1” 225 JR Bellwood, Ill./Bolingbrook 6’ 3” 198 SR Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg 6’ 0” 195 RSR Sanford/Seminole 6’ 4” 200 SO Jacksonville/Bishop Kenny 6’ 1” 195 FR Washington, D.C./Friendship Collegiate Acad. 6’ 4” 230 RJR Oviedo/Hagerty 6’ 3” 260 JR St. Petersburg/Lakewood Senior 5’ 10” 195 FR Cross City/Dixie County 6’ 2” 200 FR Davidson, N.C./Davidson Day 6’ 3” 212 RSO Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph’s Prep 6’ 5” 305 RSR New Port Richey/Gulf 6’ 5” 209 RSO Dade City/Pasco 6’ 0” 210 JR Citra/North Marion 6’ 3” 223 RFR Ashburn, Va./Briar Woods 6’ 0” 195 RJR Detroit, Mich./Madison 6’ 3” 235 RSR Jackson, Ga./Jackson WR 6’ 2” 200 Fort Valley, Ga./Peach County 6’ 1” 200 FR Fort Lauderdale/University School 6’ 1” 220 SO Jacksonville/First Coast QB 6’ 6” 219 Cocoa/Cocoa Beach 6’ 6” 245 RSO Clemmons, N.C./West Forsyth 6’ 0” 190 FR Homestead/South Dade 6’ 2” 205 RSR Lakeland/Lakeland Christian 5’ 9” 177 FR Deerfield Beach/Deerfield Beach 5’ 10” 208 RSO Atlanta, Ga./Marist 6’ 4” 247 RFR Tampa/Hillsborough 5’ 10” 185 JR Sanford/Seminole 6’ 3” 213 FR Clearwater/Clearwater Central Catholic 6’ 0” 190 RJR Gainesville/Gainesville 6’ 1” 191 SO Orlando/Boone 5’ 8” 176 RSO Jacksonville/Raines 6’ 0” 200 RSO Melbourne/Holy Trinity Episcopal School 6’ 0” 165 FR Tampa/Jefferson 5’ 10” 210 SO Belle Glade/Glades Day 5’ 7” 222 RFR Winter Haven/Winter Haven 6’ 1” 195 RFR Jacksonville/Trinity Christian Academy 5’ 11” 195 FR Immokalee/Immokalee 6’ 2” 235 JR Seffner/Armwood 5’ 10” 205 JR Bradenton/Southeast 6’ 2” 240 RSR Coconut Grove/Ransom Everglades 5’ 9” 188 RFR Louisville, Ky./Saint Xavier 6’ 2” 210 RFR Orlando/Dr. Phillips 5’ 8” 160 RJR Bradenton/Braden River 6’ 0” 215 RSO Largo/Pinellas Park 5’ 11” 184 RJR New Smyrna Beach/New Smyrna Beach 6’ 4” 230 FR Derby, Kan./Derby 5’ 8” 176 RSR Clearwater/Palm Harbor University 6’ 0” 183 RFR Alachua/Sante Fe 5’ 11” 215 RSR Lithonia, Ga./King 6’ 3” 230 SO Wyomissing, Pa./Wyomissing Area 5’ 10” 179 RFR Nokomis/Venice
Coaches Will Muschamp - Head Coach D.J. Durkin - Defensive Coordinator Coleman Hutzler - Special Teams Coordinator Brad Lawing - Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Derek Lewis - Tight Ends Chris Leak - Wide Receivers Travaris Robinson - Defensive Backs Kurt Roper - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Mike Summers - Offensive Line Brian White - Running Backs
# Name Pos. 37 Mark Herndon RB 38 Kerollin Francois DB 39 Ryan Ferguson TE 40 Jarrad Davis LB 41 Hunter Joyer TE 42 Keanu Neal DB 43 Kyle Crofoot LS 45 R.J. Raymond LB 46 Drew Ferris LS 46 LeAndre Rembert LB 49 A.J. Mobley FB 51 Antonio Riles OL 51 Michael Taylor LB 52 Travaris Dorsey OL 52 Steven Stipe LB 53 Kavaris Harkless OL 54 Khairi Clark DL 54 Cameron Dillard OL 55 Darious Cummings DL 55 Roderick Johnson OL 56 Thomas Holley DL 56 Andre Palmer LB 57 Caleb Brantley DL 59 Dakota Wilson DL 60 Zach Shinn OL 63 Trip Thurman OL 69 Nick Davis OL 70 D.J. Humphries OL 71 Nolan Kelleher OL 72 Drew Sarvary OL 73 Tyler Moore OL 74 Trenton Brown OL 75 Chaz Green OL 76 Max Garcia OL 77 Andrew Mike OL 78 David Sharpe OL 79 Matthew Fuchs OL 80 C’yontai Lewis TE 81 Case Harrison WR 82 Bair Diamond TE 82 Moral Stephens TE 83 Jake McGee TE 85 Chris Thompson WR 86 Raphael Andrades WR 87 Tevin Westbrook TE 88 Clay Burton TE 89 Alvin Bailey WR 90 Jonathan Bullard DL 91 Joey Ivie DL 92 Gerald Willis DL 93 Taven Bryan DL 94 Bryan Cox, Jr. DL 95 Francisco Velez K 97 Brooks Abbott K 98 Jorge Powell K 99 Jay-nard Bostwick DL
Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown/Previous School 5’ 9” 195 JR Ocala/Forest 5’ 11” 192 RFR Lake Worth/Forest Hill 6’ 3” 210 FR Largo/Indian Rocks 6’ 2” 225 SO Kingsland, Ga./Camden County 5’ 11” 230 SR Wesley Chapel/Tampa Catholic 6’ 1” 205 SO Bushnell/South Sumter 6’ 4” 220 RJR Windemere/The First Academy 6’ 2” 215 FR Atlantic Beach/Fletcher 6’ 0” 205 RSR Carlsbad, Calif./San Diego Jewish Academy 5’ 8” 236 RFR Alachua/Santa Fe 5’ 11” 235 RSR Fayetteville, Ga./Starr’s Mill/Sante Fe 6’ 4” 295 RFR Lawrenceville, Ga./Archer 6’ 0” 230 RSR Atlanta, Ga./Westlake 6’ 2” 333 FR Jacksonville/Raines 5’ 11” 210 RFR Waycross, Ga./Pierce County 6’ 5” 282 FR Jacksonville/Trinity Christian Academy 6’ 2” 308 FR Hollywood/Chaminade-Madonna 6’ 4” 297 RFR Canton, Mich./Plymouth Canton 6’ 1” 305 SR Titusville/Astronaut/FSU/East Mississippi 6’ 6” 310 RFR Delray Beach/American Heritage 312 FR Brooklyn, N.Y./Lincoln 6’ 3” 5’ 11” 206 RFR Ocala/Lake Weir 6’ 2” 295 RFR Crescent City/Crescent City 6’ 0” 260 RJR Bradenton/Braden River 6’ 2” 283 FR Plant City/Kathleen Senior 6’ 5” 310 RJR Dover, Del./Dover 6’ 3” 251 RFR Salt Lake City, Utah/Buchholz (Gainesville) 6’ 5” 295 JR Union, N.C./Mallard Creek 6’ 5” 311 FR Mount Pleasant, S.C./Wando 6’ 6” 305 JR Tallahassee/N. Florida Christian/FAMU 6’ 5” 325 RJR Clearwater/Countryside/Nebraska 6’ 8” 360 SR Albany, Ga./Westover/Georgia Military 6’ 5” 300 RSR Tampa/Tampa Catholic 6’ 4” 310 RSR Norcross, Ga./Norcross/Maryland 6’ 6” 276 FR Tucson, Ariz./Sabino 6’ 6” 330 FR Jacksonville/Fletcher 6’ 2” 248 RSO Gainesville/Buchholz 6’ 4” 224 FR Alabaster, Ala./Kingwood Christian 6’ 0” 191 RFR Gainesville/Gainesville 6’ 4” 228 RSO Fort Myers/Bishop Verot 6’ 3” 247 FR Perry/Taylor County 6’ 6” 245 RSR Richmond, Va./Collegiate School/Virginia 6’ 0” 170 SO Gainesville/Gainesville 6’ 0” 198 JR Tallahassee/Lincoln 6’ 5” 257 SR Coconut Creek/North Broward Prep 6’ 4” 250 SR Venice/Venice Senior 5’ 11” 185 RFR Seffner/Armwood 6’ 3” 270 JR Shelby, N.C./Crest Senior 6’ 3” 285 SO Dade City/Pasco 6’ 2” 255 FR New Orleans, La./Edna Karr 6’ 5” 260 FR Casper, Wyo./Natrona County 6’ 3” 260 RSO Ft. Lauderdale/St. Thomas Aquinas 5’ 9” 182 RSR Ocala/Trinity Catholic 6’ 1” 180 RSO Jacksonville/Bolles/Virginia Tech 5’ 10” 150 FR Coral Gables/Belen Jesuit Prep 6’ 3” 305 RFR Port Saint Lucie/West Centennial
18 • Spurs & Feathers
November 12, 2014
Depth Charts for November 15 OFFENSE WR: 4 Shaq Roland 1 Damiere Byrd WR: 11 Pharoh Cooper 80 K.J. Brent 85 Kane Whitehurst WR: 3 Nick Jones 8 Shamier Jeffery 83 Carlton Heard LT: 53 Corey Robinson 74 Mason Zandi LG: 50 A.J. Cann 65 Brock Stadnik C: 70 Alan Knott 54 Clayton Stadnik RG: 75 Will Sport -OR- 76 Mike Matulis RT: 71 Brandon Shell 69 D.J. Park TE: 89 Jerell Adams 90 Cody Gibson QB: 17 Dylan Thompson 10 Perry Orth -OR- 6 Connor Mitch FB: 41 Connor McLaurin 31 Jordan Diaz TB: 28 Mike Davis 22 Brandon Wilds 33 David Williams
6-1, 176, Jr. 5-9, 170, Sr. 5-11, 201, So. 6-4, 192, Jr. 5-11, 169, Jr. 5-7, 168, Sr. 6-1, 198, Jr. 6-0, 188, Jr. 6-8, 344, Sr. 6-9, 301, So. 6-4, 311, Sr. 6-5, 287, So. 6-4, 280, RFr. 6-3, 273, So. 6-5, 291, Jr. 6-5, 307, Jr. 6-6, 333, Jr. 6-4, 328, Fr. 6-6, 242, Jr. 6-7, 278, Sr. 6-3, 218, Sr. 6-1, 204, So. 6-3, 211, RFr. 6-0, 243, Sr. 6-1, 236, Sr. 5-9, 223, Jr. 6-2, 230, Jr. 6-1, 222, RFr.
OFFENSE QB: 3 Treon Harris 5-11, 190, Fr. 6 Jeff Driskel 6-4, 230, Jr. RB: 24 Matt Jones 6-2, 235, Jr. 21 Kelvin Taylor 5-10, 210, So. -OR15 Brandon Powell 5-9, 175, Fr. 33 Mack Brown 5-11, 215, Sr. WR: 11 Demarcus Robinson 6-2, 200, So. 4 Andre Debose 6-0, 195, Sr. WR: 5 Ahmad Fulwood 6-5, 200, So. 1 Quinton Dunbar 6-2, 200, Sr. WR: 14 C.J. Worton 6-0, 190, Fr. -OR- 9 Latroy Pittman 6-0, 210, Jr. 10 Valdez Showers 6-0, 195, Jr. TE: 88 Clay Burton 6-4, 250, Sr. 87 Tevin Westbrook 6-5, 257, Sr. 30 DeAndre Goolsby 6-4, 230, Fr. F/B: 41 Hunter Joyer 5-11, 230, Sr. 25 Gideon Ajagbe 6-2, 240, Sr. LT: 70 D.J Humphries 6-5, 295, Jr. 78 David Sharpe 6-6, 330, Fr. LG: 63 Trip Thurman 6-5, 310, Jr. 73 Tyler Moore 6-5, 325, Jr. C: 76 Max Garcia 6-4, 310, Sr. 72 Drew Sarvary 6-6, 305, Jr. RG: 74 Trenton Brown 6-8, 360, Sr. 73 Tyler Moore 6-5, 325, Jr. RT: 75 Chaz Green 6-5, 300, Sr. 55 Rod Johnson 6-6, 310, Fr.
Lexington, S.C. Sicklerville, N.J. Havelock, N.C. Waxhaw, N.C. Duluth, Ga. Moore, S.C. St. Matthews, S.C. Athens, Ga. Havelock, N.C. Irmo, S.C. Bamberg, S.C. Greensboro, N.C. Tyrone, Ga. Greensboro, N.C. Milton, Fla. Boynton Beach, Fla. Goose Creek, S.C. Dillon, S.C. Pinewood, S.C. Tallahassee, Fla. BoilingSprings,S.C. Ponte Vedra, Fla. Raleigh, N.C. Raleigh, N.C. Hamilton, N.J. Atlanta, Ga. Blythewood, S.C. Philadelphia, Pa.
-OR-
South Carolina
7 Shon Carson
5-8, 201, Jr.
DEFENSE DE: 44 Gerald Dixon 6-2, 274, So. 4 Bryson Allen-Williams 6-1, 231, Fr. 34 Mason Harris 6-3, 235, Jr. DT: 97 J.T. Surratt 6-2, 310, Sr. 93 Deon Green 6-4, 289, So. 90 Taylor Stallworth 6-2, 293, Fr. 94 Kelsey Griffin 6-2, 310, So. DT: 92 Gerald Dixon, Jr. 6-3, 323, Jr. 52 Phillip Dukes 6-3, 323, Jr. 99 Abu Lamin 6-4, 302, So. DE: 55 David Johnson 6-1, 275, RFr. 5 Darius English 6-6, 241, So. 95 Michael Washington 6-3, 237, Jr. MLB: 21 Marcquis Roberts 6-1, 216, So. 11 T.J. Holloman 6-2, 234, So. 8 Kaiwan Lewis 6-0, 228, Jr. WLB: 10 Skai Moore 6-2, 213, So. 28 Jonathan Walton 6-0, 228, So. SPUR: 9 Sharrod Golightly 5-10, 187, Sr. 42 Jordan Diggs 6-0, 217, So. 23 Larenz Bryant 6-0, 220, So. CB: 3 Chris Lammons 5-10, 172, Fr. 1 Rico McWilliams 5-11, 184, So. SS: 20 T.J. Gurley 5-10, 194, Jr. 25 Kadetrix Marcus 6-1, 194, Sr. FS: 6 Chris Moody 6-1, 210, So.
Scranton, S.C.
Rock Hill, S.C. Ellenwood, Ga. FortOglethorpe,Ga. Winston-Salem,N.C. Windermere, Fla. Mobile, Ala. Buford, Ga. Rock Hill, S.C. Manning, S.C. Fayetteville, N.C. Lithonia, Ga. Powder Springs, Ga. Allendale, S.C. PowderSprings,Ga. StoneMountain, Ga. Mays Landing, N.J. Cooper City, Fla. Daphne, Ala. Decatur, Ga. Fort Myers, Fla. Charlotte, N.C. Sunrise, Fla. Hampton, Ga. Cairo, Ga. StoneMountain,Ga. McDonough, Ga.
Florida
Miami, Fla. Oviedo, Fla. Seffner, Fla. Belle Glade, Fla. DeerfieldBeach,Fla. Lithonia, Ga. Fort Valley, Ga. Sanford, Fla. Jacksonville, Fla. Miami, Fla. Homestead, Fla. Citra, Fla. Detroit, Mich. Venice, Fla. Coconut Creek, Fla. Derby, Kan. Wesley Chapel, Fla. Coconut Grove, Fla. Union, N.C. Jacksonville, Fla. Dover, Del. Clearwater, Fla. Norcross, Ga. Tallahassee, Fla. Albany, Ga. Clearwater, Fla. Tampa, Fla. Delray Beach, Fla.
DEFENSE DE: 94 Bryan Cox Jr. 6-3, 260, So. 92 Gerald Willis 6-3, 270, Fr. DT: 90 Jon Bullard 6-3, 270, Jr. 8 Leon Orr 6-5, 305, Sr. 91 Joey Ivie 6-3, 285, So. N: 55 Darious Cummings 6-1, 305, Sr. 57 Caleb Brantley 6-3, 313, RFr. 99 Jay-nard Bostwick 6-3, 305, RFr. Buck: 6 Dante Fowler Jr. 6-3, 260, Jr. 14 Alex McCalister 6-6, 245, So. SAM: 11 Neiron Ball 6-3, 235, Sr. 34 Alex Anzalone 6-3, 230, So. MIKE: 51 Michael Taylor 6-0, 230, Sr. -OR- 40 Jarrad Davis 6-2, 225, So. WILL: 3 Antonio Morrison 6-1, 225, Jr. 13 Daniel McMillian 6-1, 220, So. CB: 1 Vernon Hargreaves III 5-11, 195, So. 12 Quincy Wilson 6-1, 200, Fr. S: 42 Keanu Neal 6-1, 205, So. 22 Nick Washington 6-1, 195, RFr. -OR- 26 Marcell Harris 6-2, 210, RFr. S: 2 Jabari Gorman 5-10, 185, Sr. -OR- 20 Marcus Maye 6-0, 200, So. 7 Duke Dawson 5-10, 195, Fr. CB: 5 Jalen Tabor 6-1, 195, Fr. -OR- 24 Brian Poole 5-10, 205, Jr.
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. New Orleans, La. Shelby, N.C. NewPortRichey,Fla. Dade City, Fla. Titusville, Fla. Crescent City, Fla. Port Saint Lucie, Fla. St. Petersburg, Fla. Clemmons, N.C. Jackson, Ga. Wyomissing, Pa. Atlanta, Ga. Kingsland, Ga. Bellwood, Ill. Jacksonville, Fla. Tampa, Fla. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Bushnell, Fla. Jacksonville, Fla. Orlando, Fla. Miami, Fla. Melbourne, Fla. Cross City, Fla. Washington, D.C. Bradenton, Fla.
CB:
17 Chaz Elder 24 D.J. Smith 12 Brison Williams 31 Al Harris Jr. 30 Sidney Rhodes
SPECIALISTS KO: 19 Landon Ard 16 Zach Cimaglia PK: 29 Elliott Fry 19 Landon Ard P: 13 Tyler Hull 18 Patrick Fish KR: 7 Shon Carson 11 Pharoh Cooper PR: 11 Pharoh Cooper 3 Nick Jones SSN: 58 Ryland Culbertson LSN: 47 Drew Williams H: 18 Patrick Fish 13 Tyler Hull
6-2, 195, So. 5-11, 189, Fr. 5-11, 208, Sr. 5-11, 162, Fr. 5-10, 182, Sr.
Union City, Ga. Marietta, Ga. Warner Robins, Ga. FortLauderdale,Fla. Easley, S.C.
5-9, 178, Jr. 6-1, 170, So. 6-0, 165, So. 5-9, 178, Jr. 6-2, 207, Sr. 6-0, 194, Sr. 5-8, 201, Jr. 5-11, 201, So. 5-11, 201, So. 5-7, 168, Sr. 6-4, 267, Sr. 6-2, 201, So. 6-0, 194, Sr. 6-2, 207, Sr.
Rock Hill, S.C. Charlotte, N.C. Frisco, Texas Rock Hill, S.C. Mount Airy, N.C. Shelby, N.C. Scranton, S.C. Havelock, N.C. Havelock, N.C. Moore, S.C. Laurens, S.C. Irmo, S.C. Shelby, N.C. Mount Airy, N.C.
SPECIALISTS K: 16 Austin Hardin 5-10, 208, So. -OR95 Frankie Velez 5-9, 182, Sr. P: 4 Kyle Christy 6-3, 198, Sr. 19 Johnny Townsend 6-1, 191, So. KOR: 4 Andre Debose 6-0, 195, Sr. 1 Quinton Dunbar 6-2, 200, Sr. 85 Chris Thompson 6-0, 170, So. PR: 4 Andre Debose 6-0, 195, Sr. -OR- 11 Demarcus Robinson 6-2, 200, So. -OR- 1 Vernon Hargreaves III 5-11, 195, So. LS: 46 Drew Ferris 6-0, 205, Sr. 43 Kyle Crofoot 6-4, 220, Sr. H: 43 Kyle Crofoot 6-4, 220, Sr. 6 Jeff Driskel 6-4, 230, Jr.
Atlanta, Ga. Ocala, Fla. Brownsburg, Ind. Orlando, Fla. Sanford, Fla. Miami, Fla. Gainesville, Fla. Sanford, Fla. Fort Valley, Ga. Tampa, Fla. Carlsbad, Calif. Windemere, Fla. Windemere, Fla. Oviedo, Fla.
Spurs & Feathers • 19
November 12, 2014
Gamecock Radio/Television Information
The Gamecock Sports Network from IMG College counts 23 affiliate stations for the 2014-15 season. For Sirius/XM subscribers, follow the Gamecock Radio Twitter (@GamecockRadio) page for weekly updates on channel information for Gamecock broadcasts. The weekly Carolina Calls show will air from 7-8 p.m. on the flagship station of the Gamecocks, WNKT-FM (107.5 FM), and over the Internet at www. GamecocksOnline.com. The show takes place each week at Wild Wing Café, located at 729 Lady Street in the Vista.
Inside the Roost South Carolina Athletics Director Ray Tanner and Derek Scott from the Gamecock Sports Network from IMG College host an hour long radio show every Monday night at 7 p.m. from Hilton Columbia Center in the Vista. The show is broadcast on 107.5 FM and features discussions on current issues with Ray Tanner and interviews with coaches and athletics department staff. In-Stadium Frequency For those traveling to Florida, you can listen to the Gamecock IMG Sports Network inside “The Swamp” on 87.9 (primary) and 89.7 (secondary). South Carolina-Florida television The South Carolina-Florida game will be televised by the SEC Network. Please check local listings.
2014-15 Radio Affiliates
City Call Letters Frequency Football Abbeville WZLA-FM 92.9 X Johnston/Aiken WKSX-FM 92.7 X Allendale WDOG-FM 93.5 X Anderson WRIX-FM 103.1 X Camden WPUB-FM 102.7 X Camden WCAM-AM 1590 X Charleston WWIK-FM 98.9 X Chesterfield WVSZ-FM 107.3 X Columbia WNKT-FM 107.5 X Florence WHYM-AM 1260 X Florence WFRK-FM 95.3 X Gaffney WZZQ-FM 104.3 X Gaffney WZZQ-AM 1500 X Greenville/Spartanburg WROO-FM 104.9 X Hilton Head WVGB-AM 1490 X Hilton Head WVGB-FM 94.5 X Myrtle Beach WSYN-FM 103.1 X Newberry WKDK-AM 1240 X Rock Hill WRHM-FM 107.1 X Seneca WSNW-AM 1150 X Seneca WSNW-FM 94.1 X
20 • Spurs & Feathers
November 12, 2014
photo by allen sharpe
Staley, Gamecocks embrace pressures of high expectations by collyn taylor Reporter
play every team that we’ll face. They’ll be gunning for us. For us, we are going to take the same approach: we’ll be gunning for evSouth Carolina women’s basketball head erybody that we play.” coach Dawn Staley knows that the road to a Along with returning all five starters, national championship is a long one. forward Alaina Coates is returning for her But, after thrashing the Coker Cobras, 100- sophomore season. Coates dropped 16 points 25, in an exhibition on Sunday, Nov. 2, the and raked in seven rebounds against Coker Gamecocks seem to be on the highway and and says that the team is handling the mountin the fast lane to the Final Four in Tampa ing pressure surrounding the title talk swirlBay, Fla. ing around them. They are returning all five starters from last With a list of awards as tall as she is, the season and are ranked second overall in the reigning SEC Freshman of the Year is ready country, behind Connecticut, in the race for a to help out the incoming freshman get up to national title. speed on how the team plays. But, Staley said that she knows that every “It’s a lot of pressure, but we’re handling team that comes into Colonial Life Arena it day by day,” Coates said. “Doing what we will be looking to wreck the Gamecocks title need to do, executing plays and making sure run. That’s where, she said, we do what we’re on top of the experience will come our game and that we have into play. each other, making sure the “I think we have a group freshmen know what they’re of core players that really doing, making sure we know understand what this is all what we’re doing and we’re about,” she said. “No player really just trying to make sure in our locker room has expeeveryone’s okay with everyrienced being the No. 2 team thing.” All Gamecock basketball in the country. We’re not goJoining Coates and the other coverage sponsored by ing to get ahead of ourselves. starters is a class of freshmen Yesterdays We know that we’ll have to that ranked second in the
country. That class included four five-star prospects and the top-overall recruit in A’ja Wilson. That kind of recruiting class is one thing that got the car started in the direction of a national championship, but Staley said that she’s talking to her freshman about more of the upperclassmen taking more of the minutes. She said after the exhibition that it’d be impossible to play everybody during every game. “We knew coming in that we had everybody coming back and we brought in a pretty good recruiting class,” Staley said. “We knew expectations would be high and there isn’t anything higher than winning a national championship, so we’re just starting off saying that that’s what we’re going to do. Hopefully that takes the focus off the minutes being distributed.” With many news outlets like ESPN putting the Gamecocks in the shotgun seat for the Final Four, Coates said that easy to get too cocky about it. After the exhibition against Coker, she said while the team was able to tame the cobras, they still have a ways to go before pulling into Tampa. She said that they need to still practice as
hard as they have been before they can end their road with a national championship. “It’s easy for anyone to have a chip on their shoulder, but we know it’s going to take a lot of hard work,” Coates said. “We can’t just go out there and think we’re going to beat everybody without putting in the time and the effort. We’re pretty determined there, but we still have a lot more work to do.”
Spurs & Feathers • 21
November 12, 2014
It’s still a great time to be a Gamecock
If you are among those who consider yourself NFL Draft a true-blue South Carolina fan who are advoAll these accomplishments considered, would cating that Steve Spurrier retire at the end of you really want him to walk away because this the season – stop it – you’re only hurting USC’s season has not turned out the way we expected? program. First and foremost, if you think the To me, that notion borders on insanity. HBC is going to walk away from the disapLet me tell you when I believe Coach Spurrier pointments and frustrations of this 2014 camwill think it’s time for him to leave the sidelines. paign you don’t know the man like I do. The Gamecock offense is scoring at a recordLet’s review, for those who apparently have breaking pace, and who calls the plays? short memories, what the Coach has done for As I’ve said, Coach called the plays to put the Gamecock program. enough points on board to win four of the five *Most wins as a head coach in school history losses. His play calling in the Auburn game was *Three-straight 11-win seasons brilliant, certainly good enough for the Game*Three-straight national Top-10 finishes cocks to beat the No. 5 team in the country at *Highest national finish in school history their place. *Senior class with the most wins in school What he will not be is a Bobby Bowden or a history Joe Paterno, whose only decisions at the end of *Longest streak in the Top 25 their careers was whether or not in school history to go for it on fourth down. As *Highest team GPA on record long as Coach Spurrier believes *Featured a first-team Allhe is on top of his game with his American in five straight seaplay calling he will continue to sons call them. *Three-straight New Year’s There are issues with his proDay Bowl wins gram that need to be addressed, *Longest home winning streak and I have complete faith that he in school history will do what needs to be done Glenn Snyder *APR in the top 10 percent of after the end of the season. He Inside Division I FBS schools has even second-guessed some Look *No 1 player selected in the of the calls he made in certain
photo by jenny dilworth
situations, but losing 13 and 14-point leads in the fourth quarter was not entirely a product of bad play calling. I will remind you that Mark Richt’s decision to attempt a screen pass inside the five-yard line when Todd Gurley was running all over the Gamecock defense, eventually cost Georgia the chance to tie the score and send the game into overtime. Let’s look at the last game with Tennessee. Coach Spurrier has been criticized for running the ball on first play of the overtime. If however, you look at the video, you will see that is exactly what the UT defense expected and they were loaded up to stop it. The problem was not the play call. One of the linemen didn’t lay a
hand on the guy he was supposed to block, and Dylan Thompson was sacked. Now forced to throw on second down to get the ball in field goal range, the same lineman and another one completely whiffed their blocks. The Vol defense knew the Cocks would have to throw on third down and they dropped in coverage. This is just one of the things that have bitten the Gamecocks in the butt this season, but rather than call the Coach to step down we should continue to praise him for the things he has done for the University of South Carolina on and off the field and have faith that he will get the program on track going forward. It’s still a great time to be a Gamecock!
22 • Spurs & Feathers
November 12, 2014
Upcoming Events: Gamecock Club Florida Parking Information General Public Parking: • Public parking lots are very limited around the Stadium. All lots that are not reserved are available on a first-come, first-served basis (see map). As always, parking on the grass and sidewalks is NOT permitted and any vehicles doing so are at risk of being towed. • Game Day Shuttle Information Utilize the RTS Shuttle service to avoid the limited parking on campus on game days. Park at one of five convenient locations around Gainesville for a quick ride to the game: The Oaks Mall, Hilton University of Florida Conference Center, The Village Center in Haile Plantation, Tioga Town Center, and Downtown Parking Garage. The RTS Shuttle service costs $10/game or $40/ season; which includes Gator Growl. Service is offered from 3 hours before the game until kickoff, with return shuttles beginning in the 4th quarter. For more information, call 352334-2600 or visit go-rts.com. Handicap Parking: • Disabled Parking for Visitors is located at Garage IX, which is located on the south side of Archer Road on Gale Lemerand Dr. • From Garage IX there are ADA shuttles. The shuttles begin running 4 hours prior to kickoff and drop off at Gate 18 of the Football stadium. The Shuttles from Garage IX are running continuously until kickoff and then pick back up at the start of the fourth quarter. • Golf carts are available at Gate 18 to assist patrons who need further assistance to their gate. RV Parking: • Free first-come, first-serve RV parking is located on Hull Road west of SW 34th Street behind the Hilton Hotel and Conference Center. Once you enter the parking area the road will fork and the free RV parking is to the left (south portion of the lot). • The lot opens at 6pm on Friday night and is open until Sunday at 12:00pm (Noon). The only exception is the Homecoming weekend when the lot opens on Thursday at 6pm. NYC Gamecocks Game Watching Party When: Every time the Gamecocks play football this season Where: The NYC Gamecock Club home, The Mason Jar, at the intersection of 30th St. and Park Ave. Come out and enjoy Gamecock Football with the best NYC Gamecock fans you will ever meet. Enjoy drink specials, giveaway items, cool raffle items, great food and dozens of TV’s with only Gamecock Football! Wear your gameday gear, take a photo with our inflatable Cocky mascot and be proud to be a Gamecock in NYC! If you are not at Williams-Brice, you want to be here! Charlotte Gamecock Club Watch Party When: Every time the Gamecocks play
football this season Where: Icehouse in Southend; 2100 South Blvd., Charlotte, N.C. 28203
South Carolina Athletic Events: This Week
Friday, Nov. 14 ** Cross Country at NCAA Southeast Regional.......................................................1 p.m. ** Men’s basketball vs. North Florida.................................................................. 7 p.m. ** Volleyball at Arkansas..........................................................................................8 p.m.
Guaranteed to watch the game, listen to the audio with free parking, free entry and right off the light rail. Come watch the game with plenty of Gamecocks with Gamecock trivia, specials and a revenue share to help the University!
Saturday, Nov. 15 ** Football at Florida..................................................................................................................12 p.m. ** Women’s basketball vs. Southern Cal...................................................... 7 p.m.
DC Gamecocks Game Watch Party When: Every time the Gamecock play football this season Where: Greene Turtle Ballston: 900 N Glebe Rd., Arlington, Va. or Redline DC: 707 G Street, NW Washington, D.C.
Tuesday, Nov. 18 ** Men’s basketball vs. Baylor...................................................................... 12 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 16 ** Volleyball vs. Auburn.............................................................................1:30 p.m.
All Week (Nov. 12-16) ** Men’s soccer at Conference USA Tournament................................................................. TBA
Bold................................................................................................................. Home game **For more South Carolina schedule information, visit: www.gamecocksonline. com/calendar/events/ for a complete master calendar.**
Join your fellow Gamecocks at Greene Turtle Ballston for “2001,” “Sandstorm,” the GameCocks chant and the other great traditions you miss so much from Columbia. As always, we will host a raffle, provide free Gamecock swag, and offer great food and drink specials. Site: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Food: $5.00 Chicken Quesadillas, Hog Hammers, Chicken Tenders, Sweet Potato Time: 12 p.m. EST Fries, and Fried Pickles. Drinks:$3.00 for 16 oz. Coors Light, Bud Light, Miller Lite Yuengling, Budweiser, Bloody Mary, and Mi- TV: SEC Network mosas; $5.00 for Firefly, Fireball, and Jager Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. We look forward to seeing you all there or at our D.C. game watch location, Redline DC.
The Florida Game
Fairfield County November Meeting When: Tuesday, Nov. 18; 6 p.m. Where: Fairfield Cove Restaurant, 1418 US Hwy. 321, S. Winnsboro, S.C. There will be door prizes and drawing for prizes at the meeting. All Gamecock Club members and fans are invited. For more information call Gene Schofield - 803-3378850 or Chris Blackwelder - 803-718-3276. The Gamecock Club remembers a member of Gamecock Nation who has recently passed away... Addison Bostain, Jr. - Addison was born January 19, 1914 in Whiteside, TN, son of the late Addison Bostain, Sr. and Bertha Sexton Bostain. Addison moved with his parents to the Dutch Fork area of South Carolina in 1925 and graduated from Chapin High School in 1930 and the University of South Carolina in 1934, where he received a BS in Geology. Addison taught science and coached baseball and basketball at Chapin, Mullins, and Eau Claire High Schools for 10 years. He served in the Army during WWII and was honorably discharged with the rank of First Lieutenant. Addison was a great Gamecock fan and a loyal supporter of the Gamecock Club.
(check local listings)
Radio: Gamecock IMG Sports Network Series: Florida leads, 24-7-3
Spurs & Feathers • 23
November 12, 2014
Henry out to ‘prove people wrong’ by collyn taylor Reporter
to Frank [Martin] and even he was confident in me. I think that’s a big thing and I’m definitely performing to the level I need to this year.” The ball bounced off the backboard and hung Touted as a four-star recruit coming out of in the air before being ripped out of the air by high school, Henry said that he was mentally forward Demetrius Henry and slammed back prepared to go through the college season, but down for the bucket. when the lights came on he was star struck. That offensive rebound dunk came during He said going through all he did during his the first week of practice for the South Carolina freshman season taught him how to play during men’s basketball team and for head coach Frank a college season. Martin it was encouraging to see. “I knew [what it’s like], but there is a differ“I haven’t jumped in about 10 years and I left ence between knowing and doing.” Henry said. the ground when he dunked that ball,” Martin “When those lights come on and you have to said. “It was awesome to watch.” go do it, it’s like, ‘dang it’s here.’ In high school That dunk epitomizes the work that Henry I couldn’t wait to get here and it hits you right has done in the offseason in the face. It was definitely a to get better. After only avlearning experience.” eraging four points and 3.4 For Martin, he’s ready to see rebounds per game he said what the hybrid forward and that he’s ready to rebound this center can do with his regained year and play a bigger role on confidence. He said that he the team. understands what Henry went “At some point I lost my conthrough during his first season fidence last season and when and it’s a common occurrence. All Gamecock basketball you lose your confidence “He’s removed from the prescoverage sponsored by everything goes bad,” Henry sures,” Martin said. “We all sit Yesterdays said. “I sat down and talked there with freshmen and we
may think it’s a lot easier than it is for freshmen. When you’re a freshman and you have a bad day it gets exposed real badly and you’ve never really been through that before.” After being removed from the pressures surrounding him last year he was able to work some in the offseason with his teammates during offseason workouts and the SC Pro-Am to help get him ready for the season. “I still have some more work to do, but for the work I did, I’m happy and I’m confident I was able to progress as much as I did,” he said. Henry is gearing up for his second go round in the SEC, a conference that sent two teams to the Final Four last year. He said that the conference doesn’t get as much notoriety as it should. The Gamecocks play five games this year against teams that made the NCAA Tournament last year and Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee all made at least the Sweet Sixteen last year. Henry, who chose South Carolina over the University of Miami, said that playing in the SEC wouldn’t be much different than playing in the perennial powerhouse that is the ACC. “At the end of the day we deserve a little bit more respect,” he said. “People are starting to
photo by allen sharpe
Henry wants to prove people wrong and show he can consistently perform in the SEC. notice that the SEC is a big conference.” And just like the SEC, Henry is entering the season with a chip on his shoulder. He said that people have been doubting him dating all the way back to high school. He hopes that his second season will help him prove that he is able to play in a powerhouse conference like the SEC. “That’s what I live for: to prove people wrong,” Henry said. “When I was in high school, a lot of people said I couldn’t play in the SEC, so at the end of the day I just want to perform.”
24 • Spurs & Feathers
November 12, 2014
Thornwell: ‘We want to win and we want to be better’ by collyn taylor Reporter
year. To Thornwell, the sense of family is a major factor in drawing prospects to come play at South The men’s basketball team likes to keep it light Carolina. He said the cohesiveness helps bring off the court. guys in the locker room together and brings On the court there are five guys fighting to try attention to high-school prospects looking at to win every game, but off the Columbia. court they say it’s a family. “That’s a big thing,” Thorn“We have a personality this well said. “You don’t want to year,” Thornwell said. “Everycome into a school where no one’s outgoing and we’re all one knows each other.” close. We do things together and And just like being the class we all get along really well. We clown off the court, Thornwell all look out for each other and embraces the leadership role on we want the best. That’s what a the court. All Gamecock basketball good team has: personality.” “All I know is to win more coverage sponsored by He said the team likes to stick games,” he said. “[I want to] do Yesterdays together and that they are bondwhatever it takes to win more ing closer than they were last games, help lead and help the
younger guys out.” Last season, Thornwell averaged 13.5 points per game on his way to being selected to the SEC All-Freshman team. He was also three-time SEC Freshman of the Week and led all freshmen in points per game in the SEC with 15.6 and assists with four per game. But, those accolades didn’t slow him down. He spent his offseason working out and getting in even better shape. Along with other teammates, he participated in the South Carolina ProAm and worked throughout the offseason to get ready for his second season. “I think I’m in the best shape,” he said. “I’ve been in every drill the whole time. I think that I’m in the best shape I’ve been in since being here. I’ve gained like 10 pounds so I think I’m doing a lot better and I’m more ready.” The Gamecocks are ready for success this year.
Coach Frank Martin is entering his third season with the team and has instilled the confidence that Thornwell believes will help the team during the season. He said the entire team is ready to win and win now. “Everybody believes now,” he said. “Coach [Martin] was big on finding guys that want to help win and care and I think this whole team cares. We want to win and we want to be better.”
Order your brick today! By placing your order by November 25th, you can ensure that your keepsake certificate arrives prior to the holiday season! Payment plan options are now available. For more information please visit GamecocksOnline.com/bricks or call 1-844-GCBRIKS Brick (Gamecock Club member): $200* Brick (non-member): $255 (includes 2015 Roost Gamecock Club membership!)
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Replica Brick: $100 Display Case: $50 *Call the Gamecock Club at 803-777-4276 to receive your promo code! SPECIAL HOLIDAY PAYMENT PROMOTION For a limited time, you may pay for your brick in two easy payments! To take advantage of this holiday payment special, please call toll-free at 1-844-GC-BRIKS to process your order with a customer service representative. There are two payment plan options for your
photo by allen sharpe
Spurs & Feathers • 25
November 12, 2014
South Carolina Gamecocks
Recruiting Round-up By Phil Kornblut
OL Austin Clark of Lexington, VA announced Sunday night he has changed his commitment from USC to Virginia Tech. Clark committed to the Gamecocks in June picking them over the Hokies and Tennessee. But after giving it more thought and visiting Blacksburg Saturday, Clark decided he would be better off closer to home. “It was a really hard decision for me to make,” Clark said. “South Carolina really is a great school and great football program. I just felt like I had to decommit and go to Virginia Tech for personal reasons. Since I made my decision some of my thought processes have changed so I feel like Virginia Tech is the best fit for me now.” And Clark makes it clear this decision has nothing to do with the Gamecocks’ struggles this season. “It definitely does not have anything to do with how the Gamecocks have been doing this year, the school and the football program.” Clark said this commitment to Virginia Tech is his final decision. His defection leaves the Gamecocks with 27 commitments for the 2015 class including carryovers from the 2014 class. Florida State commitment DL DJ Jones of Wren and East Mississippi JC made an official visit to Auburn for the USC game. And though the Gamecocks also are recruiting him, Jones’ focus was on the Tigers. He talked a lot with defensive line coach Phil Kornblut Rodney Garner. “Just Contributing about the need for me,” Writer Jones said. “They are going to be weak next year at my position.” Of course, Jones couldn’t help but notice the play of the Gamecock defense against the Tigers. It was another night of struggle for the USC defenders. “South Carolina is a young team,” Jones said. “They have a bright future. The defensive line is just young. I’m not criticizing them but they’re just not where they need to be right now.” Jones has now taken official visits to Florida State, USC and Auburn. He is also considering Ole Miss and hopes to get there before making his decision in early December. “I’m still committed and it’s pretty firm,” he said. “I’m just going out and looking and weighing my options.” Jones said he will be home when USC plays at Clemson and he might go, but just as a fan. After getting a close look at Auburn, Jones said he now has the Tigers second on his list behind Florida State. USC will be in need of a punter after this season and the Gamecocks could be close to filling that void. Former Florida Atlantic punter Sean
Kelly (5-10 180) could hear from USC admissions soon regarding his application to the university his father said last week. “He met with the compliance people at South Carolina when he was on his Furman trip to make sure he was in compliance,” Kelly’s father said Thursday night adding that he thinks that where his son want to go. “The academic people have his transcript and are working with him and coach Robinson to verify his eligibility. I think he’s going to decide as soon as he knows if he’s going to be academically eligible at South Carolina. He connected well with coach Robinson.” Kelly also visited USC for the Georgia game. Florida State also has been talking with Kelly who is in a program at Tallahassee JC which will automatically enroll him at FSU once he gets his AA degree in December. Kelly played his first two seasons in college at Florida Atlantic. In 2013 he averaged 42.7 yards per punt with 19 of them traveling 50 yards or more. 26 of his punts were downed inside the 20. He went to FAU as a walk-on and earned a scholarship. He is not playing football this season leaving him three years to play two. Kelly also played quarterback in high school in Winter Garden, FL and drew interest from Catawba College as a quarterback in his senior season. USC commitments DE Arden Key and DB Antoine Wilder of Atlanta visited Louisville last week for the Florida State game and went to Alabama last Tuesday. Both say they remain committed but will take other official visits. Key will visit LSU January 23 and Georgia January 30th. He also plans to set dates with USC and Miami and either Ole Miss or Oregon. He is going to LSU this weekend. Both players plan to be at USC for the South Alabama game. Juniors: DE Javon Kinlaw of Goose Creek has a new favorite. USC was his first offer and had long been #1 with Kinlaw but new offer Florida now is his favorite with USC second on his list and Clemson third. “I like Florida a lot,” Kinlaw said. “I’d been waiting on their offer a long time. It’s just the intensity of their school. I can’t wait to get down there to see what it’s like. Coach Lawing really and truly believes I can be a defensive end.” And that’s big to Kinlaw. Some schools he says, like Clemson, like him as an offensive tackle, a position he’s never played. “I’m not an offensive tackle,” he bluntly said. “I don’t play nothing else but defensive end. I don’t even play that (offensive tackle).” Though no longer the favorite, USC is still in a good position with Kinlaw. “It’s 60-40 between Florida and USC,” he said. “South Carolina is just a good atmosphere, lots of friendly people and a good coaching staff.”
Kinlaw is in no hurry to make a decision saying he’ll likely wait until Signing Day 2016. Lower Richland WR Larry Collins Jr. planned to be at USC for the Tennessee game. He also visited for the Georgia game. He went to Tennessee for the Alabama game. Collins said right now Tennessee and North Carolina are recruiting him the hardest. He does not have a favorite. Collins has offers from USC, Clemson, Tennessee. Auburn, Florida State, Virginia, Appalachian State and North Carolina. Lake Marion DB James Valdez has been to several USC games in Columbia this season. He also has been to Tennessee, for the Florida game, and is going to NC State November 8th and Florida November 15th. Florida recruiter Brad Lawing was by the school last week to check in on Valdez. The Gators have not yet offered but are interested. USC was the first to offer Valdez and he said he hears every day thru social media from recruiter Everette Sands. “South Carolina is a great school and was the first to offer me,” Valdez said. “It’s a good option but I’m not calling any school my favorite right now because I haven’t been to enough schools.” He added he’s also getting a lot of interest from Clemson, North Carolina and NC State. He plans to make his decision near the end of next season. Valdez has offers from USC, Tennessee, North Carolina, NC State, Wake Forest and SC State. WR Samuel Denmark of Hanahan received an offer from Wake Forest while visiting Winston-Salem two weeks ago. He was scheduled to visit Virginia Tech this weekend. The Hokies were the first to offer. USC also is showing interest in Denmark. Basketball News: North Carolina coach Roy Williams and Georgetown’s John Thompson III were in Columbia Wednesday night to meet with 6-7 PJ Dozier of Spring Valley. They followed John Beilein of Michigan in making a final pitch for Dozier’s signature on a letter-of-intent next week. USC’s Frank Martin visited with Dozier this past Thursday. Louisville’s Rick Pitino, the final coach in the mix, is not expected to visit since Dozier just made an official visit there last weekend. So, that will give Martin the chance to make the final argument. Dozier hopes to make his decision this weekend and announce it next week before the early signing period commences Wednesday. At times, Dozier says, he feels like he knows where he wants to go, and then that feeling vanishes leaving him confused again. “Every day I start to have a better understanding of these schools individually and where I could see myself at each program. It’s still a very tough decision to make.
Still kind of wishing I’ll wake up one day and know where I want to go.” And Dozier says that ultimately will be where he has the greatest feeling of comfort. “Making the decision I know is right and not having any regrets,” he said. “All of them say I’m a good fit at their school and their program. If I didn’t feel like I would fit good with their program and the guys there then I highly doubt they’d be in the top five right now.” Dozier has the way the easy decision for him, which is USC, against going away from home but joining one of the nation’s elite programs, which each of the other four is. His family has strong ties to USC including having his sister on the women’s team. But it’s a program without the national acclaim of the other four. “Throughout the whole process my family has been my biggest supporters,” Dozier said. “Although most of my family went to the University of South Carolina, they always tell me go where you fit most. This decision is all about me. So, those factors don’t really come into play in the final choice. But it would be real easy to go to South Carolina and have support here at home and be at home, which is always a good thing to have. But when it all comes down to it, I just want to pick the right program for me. Frank Martin and his staff have come in and are doing great things to the program in trying to turn it around as much as possible. They really been doing a good job. That really caught my attention early on in the process which is why they are still in the top five.” Dozier knows he has a difficult choice to make. He admits it will be hard to tell four coaches no because he’s built a strong relationship with each staff. “After every official visit I went on, whichever visit I just visited, they were always in first simply because I got to see it first hand and felt really good about he program,” Dozier said. How Dozier will make his announcement remains undetermined. His father has talked about doing it over one of the ESPN outlets but PJ wants his teammates to be a part of the announcement at the school. However it’s done, both father and son would like to get this done so he can focus on his senior season. 6-5 Tevin Mack of Dreher had talked of making his decision not too long after his official visit to USC. That was two weeks ago and still Mack has not made his decision. And Mack has no timetable for a decision. Last week coaches from Georgia, VCU and Connecticut met with Mack. Clemson’s Brad Brownell visited on Tuesday and USC’s Frank Martin is expected to meet with him Thursday. USC last week offered sophomore 6-9 Aussie Daniel Mading who attends school in Gainesville, FL.
26 • Spurs & Feathers
November 12, 2014
A’ja Wilson excited to be a Gamecock by collyn taylor Reporter
ingly gone. Wilson joins seniors Elem Ibiam and sophomore Alaina Coates in the post. Ibiam, SEC Sandstorm pumps in the arena as the lanky, All-Defensive Team, and Coates, SEC Freshsix-foot five-inch guard/forward stood in the man Player of the Year, were two important center of the court. pieces to the team’s Sweet Sixteen run last year. She smiled and shook her shoulders, shaking Not after their elimination from the tournaaway the anticipation that she had been feelment did those two magic words start floating ing since she committed to South Carolina in around the team: national championship. April. And now, with the presence of Wilson in the She had been to Colonial Life Arena before, low block on offense and defending the threebut never like this. Never in uniform. Never in point line on defense it gives the Gamecocks the starting lineup. just one more threat — out of many — on the She continued to talk to her teammates as the court. clocked seemingly inched forward, counting For a season that has just started, the team down until tipoff. is itching for a chance to prove themselves. The ref blew the whistle and threw the ball Coates said that the team took the exhibition in the air. A’ja Wilson jumped, smacked it out against Coker seriously, saying they were ready of thin air to her teammates and her career had to just play and see what they could do. begun in Columbia. “We were very excited,” Coates said. “From “I was vey nervous. I’m nervous for any being in the locker room to shoot-around to game,” Wilson said. “Really, once you get out getting out there, we’re very excited. We’ve there and see your teammates excited it goes been ready for the season to start since last year away once the tip is off. You can ask any of when it ended. We’re just ready get back out my teammates, I was nervous. It’s my first col- there and get this Final Four and the national legiate game, my first one in the colonial Life championship.” Arena not as a recruit. I was excited and nerBut, for now, Wilson is still a freshman on vous at the same time.” the team experiencing college life and college Her reputation was built almost to the size basketball for the first time. The waiting is over. of the goal before staying in Columbia to play. It started over a year ago with her visiting colThe top-ranked prospect coming out of high leges and sitting behind the bench as a recruit. school, Wilson was a McDonald’s All AmeriNow, sitting on the bench, Wilson is a part can and played for Team USA in the Under-18 of the team and just as much a character as Americas Championship alongside head coach the rest her teammates. When her teammates Dawn Staley. are laughing and joking, Wilson’s right in the But, speculation and anticipation of her first middle doing the same. game as a Gamecock was put to rest (for the The star prospect is living her star-like dream, most part) Sunday, Nov. 2 when Wilson and getting to be a part of a team and playing colthe Gamecocks trounced the lege basketball. She knew that Coker Cobras, 100-25. Wilas soon as she donned the garson dominated in the game, net and black jersey for the first scoring 18 points and coming time against Coker. down with 10 rebounds. “It was so surreal just getting On one play, she was able my jersey on,” she said. “I was to out muscle every defender just like, ‘wow, I’m playing in the block, snag a rebound this time and not sitting behind and put up the shot for an easy the bench as a recruit.’ It was All Gamecock basketball a great feeling. I love being basket. As she ran down the coverage sponsored by court, a smile broke on her around these girls, it was a lot Yesterdays face, the nervousness seemof fun today.”
photo by allen sharpe
November 12, 2014
Spurs & Feathers • 27
Play every play like it’s your last
On October 27, 2012 Gamecock captain Marcus Lattimore would address his teamates about the upcoming Tennessee game, using the old coaching cliché’ “play every play like it’s your last” not knowing his speech would be prophetic in what seemed to be a bright football future. That game would be his last and despite the best doctors, rehab facilities, and iron-will there was no coming back from that day, so last Wednesday Marcus announced his retirement. The simple Instagram post was followed by an outpour of tweets, text and Facebook posts, a majority of which had the sentiment of a “funeral” when in fact it should be one of celebration! Matter of fact let me say it in print now “Congratulations Marcus!,” not for being the Gamecock leader in touchdowns or a and gifted leader of some of the best Gamecock teams in history, but for having the guts to say “ENOUGH.” Amidst all of the expecations and dreams and NFL money, Marcus had the courage to be honest with himself. Having the chance to go through the experience myself, I made a promise that I would not do it anymore if it wasn’t fun or if I was worried about getting injured and when the time came, I still struggled to call it quits. Going from being the man in the arena to being a fan is probably one of the hardest adjustments that we all have to make. When I say we all, I mean Photo by allen sharpe ALL of us, whether its going from the “jock” in high school to cheering at the Brice, or being Lattimore’s final touchdown run as a Gamecock in South Carolina’s victory over Tennessee at Williams-Brice Stadium on Oct. 27, 2012. at the head of the table in the boardroom. What I’ve come to learn in my personal ERYTHING is impermanent, meaning every- the ones we coin “good.” With Lattimore retir- been given a bad break, but I’ve got an awtransition from player to “civilian” is that the thing is fleeting, changing and whether we like ing we tag that as a “bad” or “sad” day for him ful lot to live for” - Lou Gehrig more honest one can be with him or herself to believe it or not eventually the day (gradua- and all those who stood behind him in support. Most of us (especially athletes) always think about letting go of what “was” the easier it is tion, retirement, death) will come for us all. We labeled that October day against Tennessee we’ll have that Lou Gehrig type moment to step into something new with out looking Don’t view impermanence as an ugly scary in 2012 as a “bad” day when Marcus took that where you address the crowd at a sold out back. It’s like trying to drive a car forward, word. It carries great relief and comfort with it. blow to his knee, knocking him down physistadium your last game and go out and hit four while looking in the rearview mirror. It may Think about being in pain or in a bad situation, cally, but preparing him for his “next play” home runs to win the pennant. Just isn’t going work for a while, but eventually your going to impermanence is a fantastic notion, but when in life. None of that would be possible if Latto happen, whether we like to admit it or not crash. I applaud Marcus for his talent and sprit, we have a great win, or a once in a lifetime timore wasn’t ready to let go of what he was the big “D” word is everyone’s fate, just like but mostly for being mature enough to move player we tend to want to hold on to that with and move into what he could be after going retiring will be everyone’s fate as well. Doesn’t on. Marcus Lattimore has forever impacted all of our might. That same impermanence can through phase of his journey. matter if you’re Marcus, coach Spurrier, or Gamecock Nation and if there is one lesson feel very scary and fearful in one sense and As athletes we (see I still identify as athlete the guy on the team that never suits up it will we can learn from his example is the lesson of when applied to another situation it can come even though I haven’t played in years) never end at some point. So here’s the invitation for “Impermanence.” as a relief. can throw in the towel, be down and out for too everyone, especially to our young team of “You can never step in the “Good, bad, who knows....” long because it’s just not supposed to be who Gamecocks: “you only get so many chances, same river twice” - Hera- Tao of Spurrier we are. We’re supposed to represent strength you only get each play once.” Learn from our clitus And now here comes the Ol’ and power at all times and never show any Gamecock brothers to value it all, the hard/ I love football because it ball Coach’s words of wisdom signs of being mortal, but it takes the upmost tough times as much as you value winning and helps me understand life. In again because impermanence courage and power to admit when it’s over, to celebrating because it all works together in an many ways football and life isn’t a bad thing, it’s not a good not be that guy to try and hold on to long. Mar- amazing way and whether good, bad, or other are synonyms in my mind. thing either. It’s just a fact, like cus did what I expect any other leader to do: be “this too shall pass”... Just like football, life is in gravity and taxes. Our society honest and accountable. Sure Marcus probably constant flux, always changcelebrates and holds up our could’ve held on for another season or two **Former Gamecock Preston Thorne ing. A play can work one week heroes in such high esteem that “taking” from the team that signed him or one contributed to the writing of this article** for a touchdown and the next when they decide to end one of the other 32 NFL squads, but he didn’t. He week with the same exact career (retire) we treat this like stepped to the side to allow the team to move Follow Langston Moore on Twitter at: players performing it ends up someone is dying or has died, forward even if that meant he wouldn’t be with @reMovetheChains Langston Moore in a sack. It’s never the same. but this speaks to our insatiable them. More importantly, he freed himself up to #justachicken Contributing We forget the most important desire to prolong all our momove forward as well. #eat2win Writer lesson in all of this is that EVments in life again, especially “So I close in saying that I might have #yoby
28 • Spurs & Feathers
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November 12, 2014
ention the name Antonio Grant, changed much from that February day. As and one moment comes to mind. long as there’s time, he’s still playing. That would be the day of Febru*** ixteen years after that iconic shot, ary 1, 1998, when #13 South Carolina played Grant, 38, is still playing the game #18 Cincinnati in a nationally-televised conhe loves. In September, the North test at Carolina Coliseum. The Gamecocks Augusta, S.C., native suited up for Brissactrailed by as many 23 points in the second Aubance Basket, a team in the French fourth half, only to roar back within one with four seconds remaining. On the game’s final play, division, to begin his 14th professional USC guard BJ McKie took the inbounds pass season. It continues a globetrotting career for the 2001 USC graduate, who has also near midcourt, but stumbled along the sideplayed in Russia, Croatia, Ukraine, Lithuline. He staggered haphazardly toward the ania, Lebanon, China, Taiwan, Mexico, and perimeter, trying to keep his dribble around Jordan. Grant, who turns 39 in February, a tripwire of Bearcat defenders. Just as he remains one of the oldest Americans playing fell down, he tipped the ball to Grant, a redshirt freshman forward, at the top of the key. overseas. “I had an agent call me and say ‘Hey, are Grant caught it, pivoted, and lofted a perfect you still interested in playing?’” Grant said parabola of a three-pointer over Cincinnati of his latest job offer. “I was like, ‘No, man, I guard Michael Horton as time expired. retired last year.’” Swish. Gamecocks 67, Bearcats 65. But basketball still tugged at him. So he The Carolina Coliseum crowd poured onto the floor, mobbing Grant and his teammates grabbed his passport and headed back, ready for another season boxing out Father Time. as they celebrated near press row. It was Hearing that Antonio Grant Grant’s second clutch basket is still professional basketball of the week – four days prior, playing may elicit a pair of he had a game-winning tip-in reactions. with less than a second reWow. maining in South Carolina’s And why? 74-72 win over Florida. Why is Grant still chasing “My strongest recollection is buckets for a fourth-division looking back at the referee for French pro team, long after his the go-ahead that the basket peers have hung up their sneakwas good. After that, someers? He had a solid four years thing inside of me erupted. at USC, averaging 6.9 points I was just swarmed by the and 4.7 rebounds per game, but other players. And then the nothing to suggest a long pro next thing I know I was like, career. He’s old enough that ‘Whatever you do, don’t fall.’ BJ McKie’s son, Justin, is now I didn’t want to fall on the a sophomore on the Gamefloor, because I didn’t want to cocks. What compels Grant be at the bottom of the pack,” Andy Demetra to keep uprooting himself for Grant said. Contributing nine months out of the year? Grant’s mindset hasn’t Writer
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Why does he keep subjecting himself to the sketchy travel, bandbox gyms, and other hazards, cultural and financial, common to international basketball? It’s a good question. So I caught up with Antonio on Skype to find out. “God continues to open the doors for me. I would always tell myself, okay, if God opens the door, then there it is,” Grant said from France. “And then alongside that, I still enjoy playing the game. I’m still competitive. I still have something in my tank to say, let’s go.” Start with the fact that he’s in terrific shape. In 14 years of pro ball, Grant has never suffered a serious injury. His worst setbacks – a broken foot playing pickup ball in 2003, a pulled hamstring he first hurt in a flag football game in 2007 – happened during the offseason. That’s in contrast to his USC career, when Grant never made it through a full season healthy. “My college career was plagued by injuries. Each year I was hurt. So now, for me to have such a long career is a little surprising to myself as well,” he said. He also chalks up his longevity to good habits. A former devotee of pregame cheeseburgers, USC head coach Eddie Fogler once threatened to have his cholesterol checked. Grant had never heard the term before. Curious, he read up on cholesterol and its side effects. That was 1998. Grant hasn’t eaten red meat or pork since. As of January 17, 2013, he’s gone pescatarian, forswearing everything but fish. He’s leaner now than he was during his playing days at South Carolina. That diet has allowed him to maintain his athleticism. At six feet, four inches – the USC media guide listed him at 6’5” - Grant says he can still dunk flat-footed. “That’s what a lot of people have been
submitted photo
Grant playing professionally in 2011-12.
saying throughout my career. I tell them how old I am and they say, ‘[38]? No way,” Grant said. On Skype, Grant doesn’t look demonstrably older than his USC days; not even a fleck of salt and pepper intrudes on his goatee. For most Americans, playing overseas means leaving their families. For Grant, it’s the opposite. His wife, Edese, is from France. They met while Grant played for the French side Cholet in 2006. They split time between an apartment in Paris and a home in North Augusta, though they only spend their summers there (“We ‘visit’ the States,” Grant said). Their three daughters – Eliora, 5, Kiani, 3, and Ela, 2 months– were all born in France. When he received his offer from Brissac-Aubance, three hours southwest of Paris, Edese was approaching her due date. “I said, okay, I’m going to have to be in France anyway, so why not?” Grant said. He reported to Brissac-Aubance August 11. Ela was born September 6. His new job, for all
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practical purposes, was a homecoming. He understands the perception of the journeyman basketball player, still eking out a living in low-rent leagues overseas. Grant isn’t that person. At the peak of his career, he earned $25,000 a month. He’s stable financially. His earnings from basketball allowed him to invest in real estate in North Augusta and Augusta, Ga. He runs summer basketball camps and operates a nonprofit, D.R.I.L.L. Team CSRA (“Developing Responsible Intellectuals Loving Life”), which mentors underprivileged children in his hometown. He’s not clinging to the last scraps of a playing career because he didn’t invest his money wisely. He’s not chasing paychecks because he lacks a plan beyond basketball. He plays because he wants to, not because he has to. The French fourth division may not pay a mint, but it gives Grant the living situation he craves. “It’s a stable situation for my family. My kids, they get a chance to stay in school and continue to All Gamecock basketball practice on coverage sponsored by their lanYesterdays guage. And
the health care here is phenomenal,” he said. He also enjoys the worldliness of his job. Some Americans grow tired of playing overseas, worn down by the language barriers or strange customs. Grant embraces them. A self-described introvert at first, he’s come to appreciate the experiences he’s had in other cultures. “Don’t get me wrong – initially, I was the same way. Most American players, when they come to Europe, they stay confined to their apartments. They don’t do anything on the outside. But for me, I began to talk to different players and I was like, wait a minute. This is interesting. You start developing a different perspective other than the American way,” Grant said. As a result, he’s accumulated a trunk full of memories. He lived near the Mediterranean Sea while playing in Lebanon. He’s had conversations with teammates about the relative freedoms of their societies. He proudly recounts giving his first live TV interview in French last month, even though he’s far short of fluent. He’s only had one bad experience with paychecks arriving late, with the club KK Split in Croatia. But for the most part, Grant has no regrets. “There’s going to always be something to complain about. But I guarantee you, at the end of the day, when you look back over your career, you appreciate more those bus rides. Going and playing inside of a bad gym - you
south carolina athletics media relations
appreciate that. I savor those experiences,” he said. *** dd it up, and the reaction to Antonio Grant still playing pro basketball shouldn’t be “Why?” It should be “Why not?” He has his health, his family, and his financial security. He grew up in a single-parent household in one of North Augusta’s roughest neighborhoods. Basketball has given him a life that continues to fulfill him, even as he
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approaches middle age. The competition in France’s fourth division isn’t comparable to what he experienced earlier in his career, but he still finds it challenging. Practices are more relaxed. He doesn’t feel an intense scoring burden like other American imports. His head coach at Brissac-Aubance lets him take practices off if he’s feeling tired. In fact, the start of his 14th professional season has made the 38 year-old contemplate. “If it’s going to be like this,” Grant said, “I probably could play another five years.”
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photo by tristan jones
Burnett wants to be ‘one of the best in the world’ by collyn taylor Reporter
looking for more sponsors, particularly from those with ties to the University of South Carolina as she loves pumping up the For former Gamecock golfer and current Gamecock cause. professional golfer Katie Burnett her birthThe former Gamecock golfer has traveled day came with an added surprise this year. all over the world playing golf. After enterBurnett has played on some of women’s ing the professional playing field two years golf’s biggest tours, the LPGA, the Ladies ago she said it’s been nonstop. European Tour and the Symetra Tour and She had the option of playing in Japan around her birthday she received one of her later in November, but took the chance to first big sponsorships from a good friend stay home and relax for two weeks. with strong Gamecock ties. After that, she’s off to her hometown of Andrew Gautreaux of Legacy ExploraBrunswick, Ga. to host a golf clinic before tion, an oil company in Dallas, decided to zipping back out halfway across the world help fund Burnett’s goals. for a tournament in Dubai. “His sister, Adrienne (a former Dinah “I needed a break more emotionally than Shore Trophy award winner) played for physically,” she said in an interview on HalCarolina. He’s a good friend of mine and a loween. “It’s been a really grueling last two good friend of [former Gamecock golfer] years because I really never took a break. Meredith [Taylor],” Burnett said. “It’s really This will be the longest break I’ve ever cool to have people that are supportive and taken and it’s approaching two weeks. For want to partner with me and achieve my me, it’s a huge break, but I just needed a professional aspirations.” break from the travel and the golf to settle The sponsorship with Legacy is the first in again.” of hopefully many for Burnett as it takes The golf clinic hosted by Burnett was held a great deal of money to maintain status in her hometown of Brunswick, Ga. The and travel in the LPGA. Burnett is always special clinic held on Nov. 8 at the Coastal
Pines Golf Course was a meet and greet for fans to get autographs and pictures. Burnett was excited about giving back to the community where it all started for her. Out of her last seven events, Burnett has made the cut six times, finishing tied for 12th in the Meijer LPGA Classic. Her highest finish came in April of this year when she finished tied for ninth at the LPGA Lotte Championship. She is continuing to work on her game, saying that as a golfer you have to be good at every facet of your game, not just one part like baseball players can be. “It’s hard with golf to measure yourself because everybody is so different that there’s no specific number or specific way to go about things that says you’re really good at this,” Burnett said. “If a person bats .300 in the major league everybody sees that as good, but you can’t say that with golf. You can be the number one putter in the world, but you may be 25th on the ranking.” She also says golf is a much different sport than the likes of soccer or softball. She said that while those sports you can have a
50-percent average and do well, but in golf it’s totally different. You have to bring your top game every week to be competitive. “You have a 50-percent average in your sport you are the best at what you do, but if you have a 50-percent average in golf you’re not even in the pros,” she said. “It has to be 70 or 80 percent all the time.” Burnett is still working on getting her foothold in the LPGA and is doing well at it presently. She says that she sets goals for every tournament and for every year that she plays. She said her highest goal is to win the U.S. Open. Reaching the LPGA is not enough to her. She wants to be the best. “I’m the type of person that doesn’t go out there just to say, ‘I played in the LPGA.’ I want to be one of the best in the world,” Burnett said. “It’s a process that could be three years from now, could be five years, could be 10 years. You never really know. I always have goals that could be statistical goals or result-oriented goals. I don’t care when it happens, but I want to win the U.S. Open. If it happens this year or 10 years from now, I don’t really mind. Just once.”
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Last week, I opened Spurs & Feathers and and saw the headline. The South Carolina women’s basketball team was ranked No. 2 in the preseason AP poll. I took my time admiring it for a while. UConn was ranked first, but there it was in print: South Carolina behind at No. 2. You know, that never gets old. It was not unexpected. Dawn Staley’s team was ranked in several polls in the preseason as two or three. The team finished No. 8 in the final AP poll last year, up from finishing 17th the year before and 25th the year before that. The team returns SEC Player of the Year, Tiffany Mitchell, who was named first-team All-American earlier in the week. Also, second-team All-SEC player Aleighsa Welch, and Freshman of the Year, SEC Sixth Woman of the Year and Honorable Mention All-SEC player Alaina Coates, just to name three. Not to mention the newcomers headlined by Columbia’s own and the number one recruit in the nation Aja Wilson. This team appears to be loaded. No Ed Girardeau wonder they are Contributing ranked so high. Editor It took me back to my early days when I developed a love affair with the South Carolina basketball team. In 1969-70, Frank McGuire returned a team, which was loaded as well. The team returned the ACC player of the year, John Roche. It also returned his high school teammate Tom Owens and point guard Bobby Cremins. The newcomer was a guy named Tom Riker. The team had finished second to North Carolina in the ACC the year before and had risen as high as No. 8 in the polls before losing in the ACC tournament and finishing No. 13 for the year. Bigger things were expected in 1969-70. The preseason AP poll had the Gamecocks ranked No. 1 in the country, which was pretty heady stuff at the time. This was the era of UCLA (the UConn of women’s basketball today). I can remember being so excited I thought I would bust and would just stare at the paper soaking it all in. The team lost its home opener to of all schools Tennessee (I knew I didn’t like them for other reasons). That dropped
photo by allen sharpe
Carolina from the top spot, but they would rise back to the No. 2 position (behind … you guessed it: UCLA) winning 17 straight games at one point and finishing the season 14-0 in ACC conference play.
The Gamecocks entered the ACC Tournament as a heavy favorite, but John Roche sprained his ankle in the second round and was limited in the finals. This was in the era of no shot clock and no 3-point line. I don’t think you could dunk
at that time either (can you imagine that?). NC State played a slow down game holding the ball to keep the game close. USC lost, 42-39, in 2OT. It was heartbreaking. There was no NCAA tournament as only the conference champion was allowed to go back then. Heck, we couldn’t even go to the NIT as we were hosting the first round of the NCAA and there was rule, which said that you couldn’t go to the NIT if you were hosting the tournament as it might hurt attendance. The Gamecocks finished 25-3 on the season, but finished sixth in the final poll. In fact, South Carolina would go on the next season and win the ACC Tournament and go to the NCAA tournament for the first time. The Gamecocks finished sixth in the nation in the final AP in each of the next two years, 1970-71 and 1971-72. Will the Carolina women better that with a trip to the Final Four? Perhaps win the national championship? It is sometimes considered taboo to discuss such things in public with the idea that it puts too much pressure on the team. However, Coach Staley has talked openly about winning the national championship as the goal. I tell you, I can’t listen to her without getting excited about the possibility and the upcoming season. On the men’s side, Frank Martin has assembled a better team. The three guards of Thornwell, Johnson and Notice are bringing back memories of McKie, Watson and Davis. Now that’s saying something. Those three led USC to the only SEC regular-season championship in 1997. McKie is the all-time leading scorer in USC history, Davis arguably the best 3-point shooter in our history and Watson one of the best point guards ever, so that’s a threesome that will be hard to live up to, but that 1997 team really came out of nowhere. Before the SEC slate began, the team was 8-5 with losses to Charleston Southern and UNC Asheville. No one in their right mind thought the Gamecocks would go 15-1 in the regular SEC season, but they did. I’m not saying that this group will beat Kentucky and Florida in the upcoming season, as both are ranked in the top-10 preseason with the Wildcats the consensus pick for winning the national championship. Stranger things have happened though. Whatever happens, it’s an exciting time for Gamecock basketball in 2014-15. Both teams tip off later this month and it will be interesting to see just how far they go come March Madness! See you at the Colonial Life Arena!
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