January 21, 2015 • Volume 37 • Issue 1 • $1.50
Basketball is booming!
Huge crowds showing up at Colonial Life Arena for men’s and women’s basketball this year
2 • Spurs & Feathers
Spurs & Feathers
January 21, 2015
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: Brian Hand (photo by Allen Sharpe) 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.
photo by brian hand
Recently featured in Family Motor Coaching Magazine, the Gamecock Cruisers showed up strongly in their support of the Gamecocks at the 2014 Duck Commander Independence Bowl. To learn more about the Gamecock Cruisers, please visit their website at www.GamecockCruisers.com. You can also like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter at @gcockcruisers.
D’Angelo drafted 21st overall..................................................................... 3 The HBC is looking forward to spring ball.............................................. 4 MVP performance concludes Cooper’s stellar year............................ 5 Check out S&F’s January digital magazine............................................. 6 Moore helped Gamecocks ‘go out with a bang’................................... 7 Gamecock December graduates honored............................................. 8 Martin’s cornerstones starting to take shape........................................ 9 Inside Look with Glenn Snyder.................................................................10 South Carolina keeps winning in the classroom................................11 Recruiting Roundup.....................................................................................14 Moore says Gamecocks ready to get back to work...........................16 Inside the Chart..............................................................................................18 2014 Gamecock football season highlights........................................19 Gamecocks inching toward selling out CLA........................................20 Freshman swimmer enjoying record-setting year............................21 Nickie Blue ready to follow up solid rookie campaign....................22 Fun for all at Duck Commander Independence Bowl......................23 A group of people that truly care about the Gamecocks...............25 Upcoming events..........................................................................................26 NYC Gamecock Club capital campaign going strong......................28 Ed Pitts Scholarship Fund established...................................................29 Former men’s basketball managers kick off campaign...................30 Unique views from Ed Girardeau.............................................................31
submitted photo
On Jan. 11, JR Buzzelli of the NYC Gamecock Club welcomed daugther, Caroline Rose, into the world. She has already joined older sister, Maddie, in the Junior Gamecock Club.
Spurs & Feathers • 3
January 21, 2015
D’Angelo drafted 21st overall by Western New York Flash in NWSL Draft South Carolina Athletics Media RElations
owns 29 career clean sheets, just three behind school record holder Mollie Patton. Allowing just 0.58 goals a game this seaPHILADELPHIA - South Carolina goal- son (14th nationally), the team captain surkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo was selected rendered more than one goal just twice in with the third pick in the third round, the 2014 (3-2 W vs. No. 5 Florida, 2-2 T at No. No. 21 overall selection, by the West6 Texas A&M). In all, just 13 goals were ern New York Flash in today’s National scored on the netminder this year, a total Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) College that topped the SEC. In the first round of Draft at the Pennsylvania Convention the NCAA Tournament, D’Angelo notched Center. a shutout vs. rival Clemson and made two D’Angelo is the first Gamecock to be pivotal saves in the penalty kick shootout drafted by the NWSL, which began play to advance the Gamecocks to the second in the spring of 2013. Prior to today, the round. The unforgettable performance last South Carolina player drafted into a would be her last in the Garnet and Black women’s soccer professional league was as injury prevented the four-time All-SEC Blakely Mattern into now defunct Womhonoree from playing in South Carolina’s en’s Professional Soccer League (WPS). final three NCAA contests. Mattern was also the 21st overall pick in The National Women’s Soccer League the 2010 collegiate draft. (NWSL) is a nine-team Division-I womAfter notching 10 shutouts this season, en’s professional soccer league featurD’Angelo became the program’s first two- ing national team players from Canada, time National Soccer Coaches Association Mexico and the U.S. The nine clubs are of America (NSCAA) First-Team Allthe Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, American. The Welland, Ontario, native FC Kansas City, Houston Dash, Portland
Thorns FC, Seattle Reign FC, Sky Blue FC, Washington Spirit and Western New York Flash. The season begins play in April and finishes in August, although some of the top players will miss part of the 20-game schedule because of obligations with their national teams participat-
ing in the Women’s World Cup. Based in Chicago, the NWSL is supported by the Canadian Soccer Association, Federation of Mexican Football and the United States Soccer Federation. For more info on the Western New York Flash, visit http://www.wnyflash.com.
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4 • Spurs & Feathers
January 21, 2015
HBC: ‘Looking forward to spring ball’ by Brian hand Executive Editor
Anytime the HBC speaks there is always a big crowd. Halftime of the South Carolina men’s basketball game with Florida was no different with Steve Spurrier taking the time to talk with the media gaggle for the first time since South Carolina’s Duck Commander Independence Bowl victory over Miami on Saturday, Dec. 27. South Carolina’s win in the Duck Commander Independence Bowl was part of a 5-0 bowl season for the SEC East. “When we have a head coaches meeting, I think we need to have a group picture of the eastern guys that went 5-0,” Spurrier joked. “Florida had an interim guy, so he won’t be there, but yeah, that was pretty neat.” Not one to normally trumpet the conference banner, Spurrier did concede “I guess we’re all supposed to pull for our conference teams,” but to him this past bowl season was all about the Gamecocks. “Someone asked me at the (Duck Commander Independence Bowl postgame) press conference ACC vs. SEC and I said that’s no big deal to us, we just want to try and win a ball game and get to 7-6 and have a pleasant offseason,” Spurrier commented. With Co-Offensive coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator Steve Spurrier, Jr. walking around the first seven of the 2015 signing class behind him, the HBC talked to the media about topics ranging from if there will be coaching staff additions or changes to recruiting to whether or not he watched Connor Shaw’s first NFL start. Sporting a Under Armour Duck Commander Independence Bowl jacket, Spurrier focused his main thoughts on South Carolina’s success down the stretch.
photo by allen sharpe
Spurrier said that he is really proud of the way his team closed out the season and that he is looking forward to the start of spring ball. “Really proud of our team,” Spurrier said. “Proud of our team for winning three of the last four … it’s always good to win a bowl game as we all know. Looking forward to spring ball and finishing up recruiting in a month.” Despite everyone inquiring about the subject, Spurrier relayed that no decision has been made on additions to the Gamecock staff. “A lot of people asking about our coaching staff, but I say the same thing: if there is a chance or an opportunity to add one or two we’ll do that, but right now there is no announcement to be made,” Spurrier noted.
Spurrier said that despite recent decommitments he is not worried about South Carolina’s 2015 signing class. “It’s been a good recruiting season,” Spurrier remarked. “On the (Feb.) fourth we’ll find out what all we’ve got. We’ve got a bunch of fired up coaches. We’re looking forward to doing some different things.” Spurrier expects that a few fifth-year players may transfer, but other than that as of right now he does not expect much change in the roster. The HBC plans on the Gamecocks being back in the thick of things in the SEC next year
and right now he is just overall excited about the offseason, which also includes some exterior things like finishing up some of the facilities updates for Gamecock football. “Within the year the new, luxurious condominium-style housing for football players should be ready,” Spurrier said. “I think in August or September. The indoor facility is about a year away and the beautification around the stadium, tearing out the concrete, putting in grass and trees and (getting) all that in, so we’re going to have a pretty place. We really are. Now we just got to play a lot better than we played last year, but we should.”
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January 21, 2015
MVP performance concludes Cooper’s stellar sophomore year by collyn taylor Reporter
That touchdown put the Gamecocks up 7-6, a lead that they wouldn’t look back from for the rest of the game. The pass also tied a school Pharoh Cooper had a dominant sophomore record for the longest play in South Carolina season and in the final game of the 2014 season bowl history. it was no different. Cooper tacked on 92 yards after his explosive It was just another day in the office for the introduction into the game and tallied eight wide receiver at the Duck Commander Indemore receptions as he earned offensive MVP pendence Bowl with him raking in 170 yards and the Gamecocks finalized their season with and a touchdown against the Miami Hurricanes a winning record. in a 24-21 Gamecock win. “I couldn’t have gotten MVP without my His presence was felt early on in the game teammates behind me. It’s great,” Cooper said. in what became a common sight this season: “We were six and six coming into this game … Dylan Thompson hitting Cooper for a long of course we wanted to end this game with a touchdown. winning season and finish with a seven-and-six With the Gamecocks down 6-0 in the first record. That’s what our goal was.” quarter, Cooper bolted past the defenders en One of his biggest grabs of the day came in the route to a 78-yard touchdown fourth quarter with the Gamethat left only dust in his wake. cocks up only three points. “When you’re that open, When Thompson floated a ball you’re just thinking about down the sideline to Cooper Pharoh Cooper catching the football,” Cooper he reached up and snagged the KeenanSuggs said. “There’s really not a way ball over a defender at the fourPlayer of the Bowl Game yard-line, setting up a Thomptoo open in college football. I hit the seam route and Dylan son rushing touchdown. hit me. We practiced that with him hitting me The MVP performance was just another right on the seam spot. I went right and KJ feather in the cap of a stellar season that Coo[Brent] made a good crack-back block and I ran per had. He finished with 69 catches and 1,146 into the endzone.” yards, which is the second-most in school his-
photo by allen sharpe
tory. “I didn’t come into the season thinking I was going to be a one thousand yard receiver,” he said. “I wanted to make plays and do things like that, but one thousand yards? No, I didn’t see that one coming.” His performance helped earn the team their fourth straight bowl-win, something that has never been done in school history. On their current streak, they have beaten topnotch competition like Michigan, Wisconsin and Nebraska, adding Miami now to their list of prominent programs that have suffered defeats at the hands of the Gamecocks. Now, they end with a winning record (7-6)
and head into the offseason ready to improve on the hot streak they ended this season with. Cooper knows now that he has to take more of a leadership role with Nick Jones and Damiere Byrd graduating and Shaq Roland no longer on the team. It’s a role that he is very excited about stepping into next season. “Since the seniors are gone, next season is coming up and I have to play more of a leadership role,” Cooper said. “Most of our starting receivers are gone, so that’s something I’m going to have to work on through the spring, through the winter. I have to be more vocal to the younger guys.”
6 • Spurs & Feathers
January 21, 2015
Check out our January digital magazine on SpursandFeathers.com
January 2015 digital magazine
Spurs & Feathers • 7
January 21, 2015
Moore helped Gamecocks ‘go out with a bang’
by Collyn Taylor Reporter
Thanksgiving and Christmas in Skai Moore’s hometown just got a little bit more fun for the sophomore linebacker. Moore and his Gamecocks beat the Miami Hurricanes in the Duck Commander Independence Bowl on Dec. 27 and for Moore that win holds a little more weight than other ones. He is from Cooper City, Fla., which is about 40 minutes outside of Miami. Moore was lightly recruited by the Canes and chose to don the “block C” instead of “the U.” And now that the Gamecocks have beaten his hometown team he said he gets to go home and do a little bragging to his friends. “I got a little bragging rights,” Moore said. “I can go home now and not have my friends in my ear. It’s going to feel good to go back home.” En route to 2014 Duck Commander Independence Bowl Defensive MVP honors, Moore helped the defense allow only 21 points as he contributed 11 total tackles with eight of them being solo. He also got into the backfield once, earning half a tackle for loss. The 21 points allowed was the fourth-lowest points allowed by this defense. They responded
photo by allen sharpe
when they were called upon, shutting Duke Johnson and the Miami offense down while they clung to a three-point lead. They looked shaky at the start of the game, letting Miami march down the field on two drives, but stood firm in the redzone, giving up only two field goals. Moore said that those two stops really helped set the defense’s tone for the rest of the game.
“When you can make stops like that and hold the team to field goals it boosts the defenses morale,” Moore said. “We rally around it and you keep preaching that we can’t let them score. Bend but don’t break. That’s what we did today.” Moore and the defense came up big against his local team, forcing a fumble with five minutes to play that would set up a touchdown to
put the game out of reach for the Canes. Throughout the game teams were pushing and shoving. During the game, a small fight broke out on the South Carolina sideline reminiscent of the 1987 brawl down in the Orange Bowl. “The U” had been apart of a brawl or two in those days and Moore, growing up around the program, knew to expect a physical game like that. “There were two prideful football teams going at it,” he said. “It’s just two teams that love the game and don’t want to lose and those types of things are going to happen in a ball game like this.” It was an impressive defensive effort that was fueled in part by Moore’s performance. He said that the defense wanted to prove that it was better than people advertised. And, in the bowl, it was. The defense was a major part in earning the team their fourthstraight bowl wins. They finish with a winning record at 7-6 and they showed that they can be a forced to be reckoned with when firing on all cylinders. “It felt great,” Moore said. “We were talking before the game that we needed to go out with a bang and show the country that we are a good defense and I think we did that today.”
8 • Spurs & Feathers
January 21, 2015
Gamecock December graduates honored by Collyn taylor Reporter The annual senior breakfast and ring ceremony for the South Carolina athletics department at the Dodie Anderson Academic Enrichment Center was held the morning of Dec. 15 to reward the graduating student-athletes for earning their degree as well as their commitment to Gamecock athletics. There were different guest speakers, including Athletics Director Ray Tanner, South Carolina Association of Lettermen President Ryan Brewer and others to help congratulate the student-athletes. The largest group of graduating studentathletes came from the football program that saw Jordan Diaz, Deon Green, Tyler Hull, Mike Matulis, JT Surratt, Corey Robinson and Brandon Shell all recognized for graduating. Defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward and their academic advisors were there to present them their rings and to help bring to an end their long journey that ends with walking across the stage. “It’s awesome,” Robinson said. “This is what we came here for. We came here to build a foundation for any career that we want to pursue and it’s amazing to graduate with the people that you went to battle with every game. It’s real, real important.” Their coaches and their academic advisors, who would speak about the graduates’ academic accomplishments over their years as a Gamecock, accompanied them all. This was also a special day for their advisors, who worked with the student-athletes almost every day, helping them out with their studies and their workload. Associate Athletic Director for Academics and Student Development Maria Hickman said that this day represents their ultimate goal of
photo by allen sharpe
having student-athletes “walk across the stage Men’s Basketball and leave with a South Carolina degree.” Brandon Wallace (graduated as part of the “It’s very special,” Hickman said. “This shows Carolina Degree Completion Program) all of the hard work they put into it. We have a great academic staff that put in a lot of time with Women’s Basketball the students. I think that it’ll be bittersweet beWilka Montout cause they grow up and mature, but they leave us.” Cheerleading The student-athletes were in high spirits, Brittaney Collins laughing and joking with each other and with Justin Crolley their advisers. They would take pictures with Ashley Dyer each other, both funny and serious ones, tryTyrie Fowler ing to hold back the excitement before walking Serena Olivi across the stage later in the afternoon. Erica Preston Robinson said that while he was getting his ring all he could think about was the people that Equestrian helped him get to that point in his life. Kelsey Hart “I’m excited,” he said. “I can’t wait to get that Rachel Roter piece of paper in my hands and celebrate with my family and friends.” Football The advisers joined in on the fun, taking picJordan Diaz tures with their student-athletes and reminiscing Deon Green on the time they spent together for the years that Tyler Hull they were there together. Mike Matulis “[There’ll be] nothing but excitement,” HickCorey Robinson man said. “They tell us not to cheer (at graduBrandon Shell ation ceremonies), but we’re going to cheer J.T. Surratt anyway.”
Men’s Soccer Robert Beebe Jason Chapman Chris Duzan Women’s Soccer Danielle Au Softball Ashlyn Masters Codee Yeske Women’s Swimming and Diving Amanda Rutqvist Men’s Tennis Tsvetan Mihov Women’s Tennis Katerina Popova Men’s Track and Field Joshua Jones Leroy Dixon (graduated as part of the Carolina Degree Completion Program) Women’s Track and Field Petra Olsen
Spurs & Feathers • 9
January 21, 2015
Martin’s cornerstones starting to take shape
Through eight years as a the perimeter by using quick head coach at the collegiate feet and a long wingspan that level, Frank Martin has bewould disrupt passing lanes lieved that the cornerstones and create tough shots. of a good basketball team Three years into his tenure, begin with rebounding and the roster more closely redefense. This philosophy sembles the ones that Martin catapulted the Gamecocks used at his previous job to out to a 9-3 record through build one of the top defensive the non-conference portion programs in the country. The Bill Gunter of the schedule and fired up Gamecocks concluded nonContributing a fanbase ready to see meanconference play ranking 23rd Writer ingful action in late February in the nation in three-point at Colonial Life Arena. field goal defense allowing During the first two months of the season, opponents to convert just 27.9 percent of their the Gamecocks have become one of the top three point attempts. defensive and rebounding teams in the counIn the big win over Iowa State on January try. Entering SEC play, Martin’s ball club was 3rd, the Gamecocks harassed the Cyclones ranked in the top 30 of three major categories who entered the game averaging nine made involving defense and top 15 of two major three point shots per game into a 1-for-18 perrebounding statistics. formance. Most impressive among the early season After the game, Martin echoed what Gamenumbers is the Gamecocks ranking fourth cock fans are learning in regards to the idennationally in defensive field goal percentage tity of the team under his coaching. allowing their opponents to shoot just 33.8 “We came out of the gate and we guarded percent from the field. Going hand in hand and we fought,” he said. “We guarded to the with not allowing the opposition to make field final buzzer and that is what we try to hang goals is keeping them from having second our hat on is our defense.” chances and the team has done a fantastic job Heading into conference play, the Gameof that, grabbing an average of 41 rebounds cocks will need to continue their strong effort per contest to place them eighth nationally. on the defensive side of the court. As of JanuIn the month of December, the Gamecocks ary 6th, the team will play 11 games against took their defense to another level. In three six opponents that are ranked in the top 100 straight games, the team held their challenger in points per game. to a shooting percentage of less than 30 perThat should create several games with cent, including big RPI victories over Oklacontrasting styles of play as Martin’s group homa State and Clemson. has limited their adversaries to average of 58 Coker would snap the streak on December points per contest placing them 28th nation21 when they made 31 percent of their shots ally in that category. in a 78-52 loss. Following the game, Cobras Along with their strong play on the defenhead coach Dan Schmotzer gave an opsive side the ball the Gamecocks will also ponents view of what the Gamecocks have need to continue their early season effort in become under Martin on the defensive side of rebounding. Not only are the Gamecocks the ball. ranked eighth in rebounds per game but also “When I look at South Carolina basketball, they are 15th nationally in rebounding marI see something that is real. I see something gin. that hasn’t happened here in a long time,” In the season opener, North Florida head Schmotzer said. “We looked at tape against coach Matthew Driscoll saw his team get outOklahoma State, Clemson, and Marshall, rebounded 42-28 by the Gamecocks and foreand that pressure that he puts on you is tough. cast the type of season Martin’s team would They held Clemson to 15 points in the second have if they continued to play like that. half and they sustain [that pressure]. If they “They are a physical team that rebounds keep that up and they score the ball and obviously they a little bit, Coach Martin is are a little bit short as far as going to be very happy by the numbers, but those guys are end of the season.” so physical and they do a Martin knew when he argreat job of rebounding the rived in Columbia that he ball,” Driscoll said. “They would need to recruit the corare going to have a very rect prospects that not only good year because those are had the right skills but also two crucial things you have All Gamecock basketball the right physical attributes to do and they are really coverage sponsored by to fit his style. Those players good at it.” Yesterdays need to be able to defend on Martin admitted in a
photo by brian hand
Martin and Iowa State’s Hoiberg talking after South Carolina’s win over the No. 9 Cyclones. recent press conference that he was pleased with his team’s performance through the opening part of the schedule. However, there is still plenty of basketball to be played but with the Gamecocks emphasizing the corner-
stones of Martin’s principles there is a good chance both the head coach and Gamecock fans will be looking forward to meaningful basketball at Colonial Life Arena in late February and early March.
10 • Spurs & Feathers
January 21, 2015
Spurrier will evaluate and take steps to get the Gamecocks back on track I have decided on a rose-colored glasses, eternally optimistic, “all’s well that ends well,” view of the 2014 football season. As I said in my last column, there were a lot of teams who would have been ecstatic to have finished .500, but by winning a bowl game to complete a decade without a losing season, the Gamecocks took a lot of the sting from the memories of a year everyone expected would be better. Ending with a 7-6 record is a testament that Steve Spurrier is one of college football’s alltime greatest coaches, There are several coaches with longer winning streaks, Bobby Bowden had 33, but Coach Spurrier’s 24 consecutive winning seasons at three different schools is truly remarkable. Duke had won just 10 games the previous three seasons when the HBC took over in 1987. The Blue Devils went 5-6, his first and only losing season, and after a 7-3-1 year, they finished 8-4, and were ACC Champions with a Florida had ho-hum 7-5 records the two sea6-1 record in ‘89, which included wins over the sons before Coach returned to his alma mater Tobacco Road teams and Clemson.
photo by allen sharpe
in 1990. The Gators went 9-2 that year, and think the defensive staff ever made the adjustnever won less than that number, with two 12-1 ments to a dramatic drop in the talent level. campaigns, and, of course, a National ChampiThe thing I admire about schools like Wofonship in ’96. ford, Furman and The Citadel, is they know Everyone from Lee Corso to Paul Finethey’re not as talented, and the players put a baum bet their collective farms that the streak premium on being in the right place at the right wouldn’t last in Columbia, after all Carolina time and tackling fundamentally. I put this had never been a consistent winner, and had year’s effort in that area among the worst in gone 5-7, 5-7, 6-5, with losses to Clemson in the decades. The good news is, the players in the incoming last three years under Lou Holtz. class have the potential to raise the talent level Of course the Gamecocks shocked the footon defense a couple of notches. ball world with 7 -5, 8-5 marks in the HBC’s I know when he said he might coach “two or first two seasons. There have been some close three” more years, it started a wave of defeccalls over the last decade with 6-6, 7-6, 7-6 tions from the commitment list. I fully believe records in ’07, ’08, ’09, years, while he was making staff changes and ramping up in-state Steve will coach at least through 2017, the recruiting. However, the bottom line is 24 years terms of his current contract, and I would remind those who are considering changing their of winning and counting. pledges to read the paragraphs above and unThe secret to Coach Spurrier’s success is derstand that whether it’s one year, two, three best described in a quote Coach Bum Phillips or more, the experience you’ll have under his made about Coach Don Shula – “he can take his’n and beat your’n and take your’n and beat tutelage will develop you as a player, and as a person. You will play winning his’n.” To the point, he has football, and have the opportubeen a mastermind at taking nity to earn an education from the talent available and putting an outstanding University. his players in a position to be One thing I learned very successful. Coaching is easier early about the HBC is that he when you have a lot of talent. is not stubborn, and he will not Real coaching is finding ways continue to do things that are to compete when you don’t. not working simply because And that’s the main critithey worked in the past. He cism I have about the coaching will evaluate this season and this past season. Obviously take the steps to get the Gamethe HBC and the offensive Glenn Snyder cocks back on track. staff had the “ball plays” to Inside It’s a great time to be a put points on the board, as the Look Gamecock! numbers will attest, but I don’t
Spurs & Feathers • 11
January 21, 2015
South Carolina continues ‘winning streak’ in the classroom South Carolina Athletics Media RElations
University of South Carolina studentathletes continued their “winning streak” in the classroom in the Fall of 2014, according to Maria Hickman, Associate Athletics Director for Academics/Student Development. The overall departmental grade point average (GPA) of 3.208 continued the streak of at least a 3.0 average for the 16th-consecutive semester. “Achieving a departmental GPA above a 3.0 for 16 consecutive semesters is remarkable,” said Hickman. “The Dodie academic staff, administration and coaches offer the best resources available. Our ultimate goal is to graduate our student-athletes,” she continued. “The time commitment and dedication shows how our students embody the term student-
athlete. They understand the importance of being a student before an athlete.” Over 350 student-athletes earned GPAs above 3.0 for the fall. Forty-five of those student-athletes earned President’s List, a 4.0 GPA, while 145 earned Dean’s List, a 3.5 or
better GPA. Women’s tennis garnered the highest GPA of all teams for the fall semester, recording a 3.542. Both men’s basketball (3.299) and women’s track & field/cross country (3.501) notched its highest GPAs to date.
Here are the individual sport GPAs for Fall 2014: Baseball 3.043 Men’s Basketball 3.299 Women’s Basketball 3.074 Sand Volleyball 3.338 Equestrian 3.459 Football 2.693 Men’s Golf 3.241 Women’s Golf 3.166 Men’s Soccer 3.126 Women’s Soccer 3.460 Softball 3.443 Men’s Swimming/Diving 3.264 Women’s Swimming/Diving 3.479 Men’s Tennis 3.372 Women’s Tennis 3.542 Men’s Track & Field 3.174 Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country 3.501 Volleyball 3.284
12 • Spurs & Feathers
January 21, 2015
Martin on Carrera: ‘We need his charisma, his enthusiasm’ by collyn taylor Reporter
High-flying acrobatics and diving around on the ground sounds like something out of a circus performance, but it’s just an average game for junior forward Michael Carrera. Carrera has chiseled out his niche on the men’s basketball team as the player willing to get his nose dirty to force turnovers and snag hard-to-reach rebounds. With the flair for the dramatic, Carrera is constantly hitting the court during games. Whether it is falling after a rebound or during a charge he is constantly playing a physical game. But, Carrera says that’s just his playing style. It’s the team’s style of play, too. They constantly practice with that physical mentality like Carrera does. “We’re used to it,” Carrera said. “We got at it every single practice. That’s how the game is and we are a physical team.” That effort showed heavily in the team’s 6866 win over Alabama Tuesday, Jan. 13. If there were a stat for annoying defensive pressures, Carrera would rank among the best nationally at it. He is constantly in the face of defenders, forcing turnovers or leaping in front of them to get a rebound. On defense, it’s just as energetic as his rebound attempts. Carrera flails his arms around, getting in player’s faces and disrupting their play. “I was just doing my job,” he said. “That’s all I do on the court: try to get my rebounds
photo by jenny dilworth
and help the team win. I wasn’t trying to get in pleased to see him fighting through contact to Alabama player’s faces. I was just trying to win stay in the play. the game.” He only accrued two fouls in a game where Carrera scored 12 points and hauled in eight fouls were as common as the dribble of the rebounds in 21 minutes of ball. Martin said the only real play. Of those 12 points, seven mistake Carrera made was came from the free-throw hand-checking an Alabama line, where he spent a lot of player in a four-point game. time. He would get fouled go“It’s what he does. I think ing up for offensive rebounds he missed one free throw,” and would head to the line. He Martin said. “All those plays made seven out of his eight athe made down the stretch tempts against the Tide. for us, the last two weeks he All Gamecock basketball He also played smothering falls down. Well he didn’t fall coverage sponsored by defense. Head coach Frank down yesterday in practice Yesterdays Martin said that he was and he definitely didn’t fall
down today.” As an emotional spark coming off the bench against the Tide it seems like Carrera will see more and more time on the court. Beginning the season as the starter, he suffered a concussion that sidelined him for close to a month. But, as hardnosed as he is, Carrera battled back and is now picking up significant minutes. Martin characterized Carrera’s high-flying playing style as “chaos,” but he knows how important that physical play is to his team’s success. “We need him,” Martin said. “We need his charisma, his enthusiasm. We need him playing like he did today to be a good basketball team.”
January 21, 2015
Spurs & Feathers • 13
Welch, Gamecocks know they must bring ‘A-game’ every night in SEC by Collyn Taylor Reporter
SEC and we know what it’s like. We’re not playing with that in the back of our minds. We’re playing to play our best basketball Not much has changed for the South Caro- every night.” lina women’s basketball team since last year: Another major difference from last year is same starting lineup, same dominance on the the bringing in of elite recruits such as forcourt and the same goals at the end of their ward A’ja Wilson and guard Bianca Cuevas. conference season. Already this year they have come in and After seeing their regular-season end with played valuable minutes to help the team to an SEC championship trophy last year, they their undefeated record. entered this year’s SEC conference play with But, SEC play is a completely different the same goal in mind: raising animal. Welch said that another championship banner. It’s as difficult as she has been talking to Of their 18 SEC games, five of the young players trying those will be against currently you make it. We to get them ready for the ranked teams, so the Gamechallenges that come along cocks know the uphill battle have a veteran-led with intense competition they face. But, they return their team, so we have night in and night out, but entire starting lineup from last they won’t know what it’s year’s championship team, a lot of people like until they play in it. including three-time captain “You can talk to them, who know what Aleighsa Welch. but they have to learn by “It’s as difficult as you make it’s like to go into experience,” Welch said. it,” Welch said. “We have a “Everything about the SEC veteran-led team, so we have this schedule. brings a different feel. A a lot of people who know what lot of these teams we’re it’s like to go into this sched- Aleighsa not playing just one time. ule. There’s no cakewalk game Welch These teams are scouting when it comes to the SEC. I us over the years and we think this is the deepest the SEC bring back the majority has been since I’ve been here. of the same team. They’re It’s a whole new level of focus, going to learn and they it’s a whole new level of prepahave to learn. You have to ration and we have to bring our have in-game experience ‘A-game’ every night.” to know what the SEC While not much has changed brings.” for the team since last year, While the Gamecocks there are a few minute differplowed through their ences, with the biggest being nonconference schedule their national ranking. like a freight train going All Gamecock basketball The Gamecocks are ranked downhill, Welch said the coverage sponsored by as the No. 1 team in the counbest from this team is yet Yesterdays try and they have been for the to come. past eight weeks. Entering the With the best yet to come, conference season at the top of the food chain this team is shaping up to be a force to be they know that they will face SEC teams that reckoned with throughout their upcoming want to knock them from that top spot. conference schedule. Welch said that they are not going to catch “We still have a lot of things we need to any team by surprise any more and that their work on. We haven’t reached our peak this opponents are going to be playing in their season,” Welch said. “I don’t think we’ve own “national championship” game with the played our best basketball. We still have a chance of toppling the conference-favorite lot to go before we get to where we want to Gamecocks. be as a team. I think that shows our potential “Coming in as the No. 1 team in the nation to be able to accomplish leading up to SEC we’re going to have a target on our back ev- [play] knowing we haven’t played our best ery single night,” she said. “We have a lot of basketball yet. We have room to improve, teams that are playing well coming into the but I think we’re getting better.”
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14 • Spurs & Feathers
January 21, 2015
South Carolina Gamecocks
Recruiting Round-up By Phil Kornblut
South Carolina filled one of the openings in its 2015 recruiting class created by two defensive back decommitments by getting a commitment Thursday from safety Toure Boyd (6-1 193) of Chaffey JC, CA. Boyd gives the Gamecocks 28 commitments in the class including the carry overs from last year, and he’s the fifth pledge for the secondary. Boyd was offered last Wednesday by USC secondary coach Grady Brown after all of his academic Phil Kornblut work passed muster Contributing with the university. He Writer was going to go to Boise State out of high school before a two year detour through junior college, first at the College of the Desert and then at Chaffey. Boyd grew up in Birmingham before moving to California at age 13 and couldn’t be happier about having the chance to play in a big time program in the SEC. “I’ve always wanted to play in an elite college system and I picture South Carolina as an elite system,” Boyd said. “It’s always been my dream to play in the SEC so when this opportunity was brought to me, I felt it was a dream come true and a blessing. Me playing behind a coach like Steve Spurrier is just as good as playing behind a coach like Nick Saban. I’m getting this once in a lifetime opportunity to make the most out of my athleticism and the most out of my talent. This is an objective to my ultimate goal. I picture this as a step closer to where I need to be and where I picture myself to be.” This past season Boyd had 80 tackles, 2 interceptions and he broke up 10 passes. He also blocked 4 kicks. He expects to play safety at USC. “I’ll bring intensity and and I’ll bring a tenacity to the defense, and an attitude to the overall defense,” he said. “I think that’s the most important thing, your mental attitude. You can bring your athleticism. Everybody can be athletic. It’s going to be the SEC. I need to come with a different type of attitude, different type of tenacity when I’m on the field. USC secondary coach Grady Brown last week offered Florida Atlantic commitment Gerald Robinson Jr. (5-10 175) of Hialeah, FL and the Gamecocks will host him for an official visit on their major weekend of January 23rd. He is scheduled to visit FAU the following weekend. “I’m actually thinking about FAU and South Carolina so I just want to wait and pick out of those two,” Robinson said. “No other schools are really talked to me so that’s the final two right there.” Robinson said Brown has been recruiting him since his junior year and came back to him after some spots in the class opened. “It ending up get-
ting too full so I had to wait till it was my time,” he said. “They had a few decommitments and he told me that they needed me to come in and play right away. He said I can play everywhere, multiple positions on their defense, and play wherever they need me. That’s what they need to bring in to their game.” Robinson said he would be ready for anything the defensive staff threw at him. “Press coverage and cover three, I’ve been playing that in high school. And man, I can adjust to that fast because that’s what I had to play all day in high school.” This season Robinson had 30 tackles with 2 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles. Robinson is expecting Brown to visit him Friday. He said his parents will join him on his visits. DB Rashad Fenton (6-0 180) of Miami is an old name in a new spot on USC’s board. Brown offered Fenton last summer but when he picked up some early commitments for his group, Brown seemed to move on from Fenton. But then, a couple of decommitments from defensive backs later, Brown reestablished the lines of communication with Fenton and will bring him in for a visit January 23rd. “We were talking a lot during the summer and we fell off during the year,” Fenton said. “After the end of the year, things started kicking back up. It’s a very strong feeling (for USC). That’s why I’m going to visit. I just wouldn’t waste a visit on any type of school. That’s one of the schools I’m really thinking about right now.” Fenton played corner in high school but said Brown sees him as a free safety. “He said I can play the ball very well and that would be a great spot for me since their type of defense allows the free safety to just kind of roam the field,” Fenton said. “The free safety spot is something I think about too going up there. It seems like the right scheme for me up there at South Carolina.” Fenton will visit Florida this weekend, USC the next weekend and Louisville January 30th. He’s also considering Auburn. He doesn’t have a favorite going into his visits. He said his mother will go with him to Gainesville and he’ll take the other visits solo. This season Fenton had 50 tackles, 5 interceptions and returned 6 punts and kicks for touchdowns. DB Jeremiah Dinson of Hialeah, FL is still considering a visit to USC but the date has not been set. Dinson remains committed to Kentucky. He will visit Florida January 16th and Auburn January 23rd. He’s choosing between USC and Louisville for the final visit January 30th. DB Maurice Smitherman of Adamsville, AL will visit Texas Tech January 16th and USC January 30th. He has been committed to Mississippi State and visited there last month. Smitherman said he’s feeling more solid with his commitment to the Bulldogs but does want to take those other two official visits. USC continues to keep up the interest in DB
Rashard Causey of Fort Lauderdale despite his long standing commitment to Florida Atlantic. Causey said Gamecock secondary coach Grady Brown was on hand for his state championship game in December. “He’s just waiting on me to make that call. They’ve been recruiting me since I was a sophomore so I’ve build a good relationship with coach Brown and some of the South Carolina coaches and some of the players. My best friend Skai (Moore) goes there so I get all the scoop about what’s going on and what it’s like there.” Causey said he’s aware the Gamecocks lost two of their defensive back commitments and now it’s up to him to push the issue with the Gamecocks. “Nothing has changed for me for South Carolina,” he said. “I’ve always loved them from the beginning because they were one of the first big schools to recruiting me. That’s on my call to make the visit because they want me. That’s my call to make on when I want to visit the school.” Causey said he hopes to set an official visit with USC after talking with his parents. He said he’s also considering Tennessee and Georgia. USC commitment DB Damon Arnette of Fort Lauderdale was offered by Michigan last week and set an official visit with the Wolverines for January 16th. He visits USC January 23rd and Ohio State January 30th. Former USC DE commitment Arden Key of Atlanta appeared last Monday night on Next Class on Fox Sports South and was asked about his decommitment from the Gamecocks and his upcoming official visits. Key has decommitted from the Gamecocks twice but recently tweeted that they are still #1 on his list. He plans to visit USC, LSU, Miami, Georgia and Auburn before making his final decision which he will announce on Next Class on February 2nd. “My decision did not have anything to do with coaches or how the season went,” Key said. “It’s just something that it’s getting closer to Signing Day and I want to make sure I make the right decision.” Key said USC remains strong with him for the same reasons he originally committed to the program. “The atmosphere on game day is crazy,” he said. “I’ve built a great relationship with coach Ward and coach Adams. Not Spurrier too much, the main people. The fans there, they have a great fan base.” Key added that Florida is also in the mix with him. And he said these upcoming official visits will be very important. “I’m not sure where I want to go right now,” he said. “I’m not 100 percent nowhere.” Key also said the departure of John Chavis from LSU won’t hurt the Tigers’ chances and he wants to play on a defense with a four man front. OL Cory Helms of Alpharetta, GA, who is transferring after two seasons as a starter at Wake Forest, was offered Wednesday by Mississippi State. That’s the fourth offer for Helms since he
announced plans to leave the Demon Deacons. Helms has scheduled an official visit to Mississippi State for this Friday and Saturday. From there he will go straight to Texas A&M for a Sunday-Monday visit. Helms also has official visits set with USC for January 23rd and Penn State for January 30th. He is not sure if he will take a fifth visit. Helms said he’s in regular contact with Gamecock offensive line coach Shawn Elliott. “We keep in touch pretty much every day. He wants me up there and he’s recruiting me pretty hard right now.” Helms said Elliott plans to visit him next week after he returns from Texas A&M and before his visit to USC. USC OL commitment Christian Pellage of Brooksville, FL picked up a Florida offer and will take his official visit to Gainesville this weekend. He will visit USC January 23rd. USC is going to be one of the teams to get a shot to land DE Tega Wanogho Jr. of Elmore, AL. The native of Nigeria recently reclassified as a senior and major programs across the country immediately got in touch with his coach Bobby Carr. Carr said Wednesday morning Wanogho is looking at USC, LSU, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Oregon. USC recruiter Kirk Botkin, who is a friend of Carr’s, was one of the first recruiters to make a big push once Wanogho decided to reclassify. Carr expected Botkin to visit last Thursday, the first day coaches can be back out on the road. Carr said he and Wanogho are still working on dates for his official visits. USC commitment DE Quandeski Whitlow of Opelika, AL took his official visit to Louisville this past weekend followed by trips to USC and Florida before signing off on a decision. Whitlow has been committed to the Gamecocks since June and he’s remains in touch with recruiter Kirk Botkin. “I talked to coach Botkin last night,” Whitlow said Monday night. “We never miss a day without talking. He’s like another family member.” As for his commitment strength, Whitlow said, “It’s still 100 percent solid. I’m still in to them.” However, he is going to take his official visits and see what Louisville and Florida have to offer. “If I feel like something gets comfortable to me, I’ll have to balance it all out,” he said. “I won’t know until I take my visits. Florida is coming after me hard. I’ve talked to the coaches and they said they need some ‘Bama boys. I take the visits and get more into the schools and see if it’s somewhere I can call home for the next three or four years.” Whitlow said he expected Botkin to visit last Thursday and Steve Spurrier has an in home scheduled for January 22nd. He will make the Louisville trip solo but will have his two brothers with him for the USC and Florida visits. Shrine Bowl WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside of RECRUITING CONT. ON PAGE 27
Spurs & Feathers • 15
January 21, 2015
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16 • Spurs & Feathers
January 21, 2015
Gamecocks ready to ‘get back to work’
“There’s always redemption!” Watching the Cowboys against the Detroit Lions on wild card weekend and hearing Chris Collinsworth yell out this phrase after DeMarcus Lawrence recovered the football version of the “triple play” (sack, caused fumble, recovered fumble in one play). When just plays earlier, Lawrence fumbled a “fumble” on a previous snap that would’ve sealed the game for the boys, displayed that everlasting truth: “there’s always redemption.” A truth the “Garnet Gang” had to learn this season after high expectations leading into the 2014 season. With the week to week inconsistencies on the field most of this left us to throwing our hands up in frustration opposed to throwing them up in praise. But much like in life, the Gamecocks proved that if you “play it to the end” (Spurs & Feathers article “big games still ahead”) you can redeem your mistakes from the past and enjoy the sweet taste of victory. In a season that was filled with highs and a good bit of lows (wildcat the formation and the Team, Mizzou, losing home winning streak, helping every freshman QB in the conference get a win, Clemson) we had a recorded-setting offense that was overshadowed by one of the worst defenses on record. However our handling of the “U” was our saving grace. By far one of the best TEAM games we’ve played all year, the Gamecock defense limited a top NFL draft prospect in Duke Johnson and their freshman sensation Brad Kaaya to just 44 yds rushing in the second half of the bowl game. Holding this team to field goals and getting stops on third down, unlike previous contests (Auburn, Tennessee, Kentucky) showed our boys could redeem themselves. Zero turnovers in the game was the most impressive stat for Dylan and the rest of the offense. Not only did we protect the football, we resurrected signs of the old Gamecock “D” by putting pressure on the out and enjoyed the experience and in turn QB and creating MULTIPLE turnovers. won the game. They took direct action to Something that was criticized the entire save them (and us fans) from the errors year (last in the SEC in sacks 12). Many of of the past season. They went out and exthose heartbreaking SEC losecuted in all three phases es came beacause we could even when they had a bevy not finish. But this time the of excuses at their disposal. boys were able to do it the old Of course, we could’ve been fashioned way by running out in more ideal settings (noththe clock and taking a knee. ing like southwest Louisiana These Gamecocks did what in the December), but in a lot of us failed to do after watching other bowl games losing games we shouldn’t how many teams wasted the have lost throughout the seaopportunity and the fans/ son. They didn’t wait until viewers time by giving lacknext year to do something luster effort in these games. Langston Moore about it. The team did not Attribute it to “they were Contributing allow circumstances to turn disappointed in location,” Writer into excuses, and they went opponent, or the bowl gifts
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and got rolled over by the opposing squad. Our boys didn’t allow what could have been or what wasn’t to hinder there last time out for the 2014 season. So what’s next? Much like the end of the Super Bowl they always ask that question to the star (AKA the QB) and the answer is pretty much the same: “get something to eat, and go back to the house, relax before getting ready for next season.” Thats it! No big secret after winning a crucial last game. “Get back to work.” That is the neverending cycle for the coaches, players, and their respective families. Sounds like drudgery when you put it like that, but this is the game. We have to continue to be grateful that the character of the players on the team didn’t allow our program to slide backwards. We must be greatful for the op-
portunity to reclaim one more victory over a quality history rich opponent, to go 4-0 in our last four bowl games, that we are still 12-3 over Florida, Georgia and Clemson in the last 15 meetings, and we don’t wear purple and orange. We know we will have one of the better athletes in the country in Pharoh Cooper next year, a stocked running back group (even with the departure of Mike Davis to the NFL), a solid offensive line, and new emerging linebacking duo stars in Jonathan Walton and Skai Moore. Pharoh and the rest of the squad can take another shot at parting the SEC competition on the way to absolving us of this season! More than enough to continue to push towards that ultimate “brass ring.” **Former Gamecock Preston Thorne contributed to this column**
January 21, 2015
Spurs & Feathers • 17
Football recognition set for Saturday, January 24 South Carolina AThletics media relations The 2014 University of South Carolina football team will be recognized at halftime of the South Carolina - Kentucky men’s basketball game on Saturday, January 24. The game will tip at noon ET at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia and will be televised nationally on ESPN. Head football coach Steve Spurrier and several players from the 2014 Duck Commander Independence Bowl championship squad are expected to be on hand with the Head Ball Coach slated to address the crowd. The Gamecocks finished the 2014 season with a 7-6 record overall, as they tied the school record with their seventh-consecutive winning season, previously set from 1928-34. They also extended their school record to 11-straight seasons with at least a .500 record. The season culminated with a 24-21 win over Miami (Fla.) in the Duck Commander Independence Bowl, the Gamecocks’ fourth-consecutive bowl victory. The 2014 senior class posted 40 wins, the second-most wins in a four-year period in school history. Carolina has won 49 games in this decade, the 11th-winningest program in Division I-A football and the third-winningest SEC program during that span behind only Alabama and LSU. Tickets for the basketball game remain on sale for members of the Gamecock Club by calling 800-4SC-FANS or online at GamecocksOnline.com. A limited number of seats are also on sale to the general public.
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18 • Spurs & Feathers
The man who broke South Carolina’s any consolation in the milestone. single-season passing record was a two“No,” he answered, still smarting from the star recruit, tagged with the scarlet letters loss, adding that he might be able to enjoy it “NR” – Not Ranked – in Scout and Rivals’ “sometime, way down the road.” Class of 2010 quarterback rankings. Dylan Hopefully that time will come soon. Some Thompson hailed from Boiling Springs, S.C., may claim that Thompson’s record is a holthe same hometown as former Gamecock low one, cheapened by a 6-6 regular season Phil Petty, and in many ways that served as a that didn’t meet fans’ lofty preseason expecmetaphor for his career: constantly measured tations. The asterisks seemed to fly almost in terms of other quarterbacks. as soon as he broke it. But just as Thompson Thompson arrived at USC in the same will appreciate his record in due time, so recruiting class, but with far less fanfare, should Gamecock fans – and not just the reas Georgia native Connor Shaw, a heralded cord, but the arc he took to achieve it. signee straight out of Steve Spurrier central Quarterbacks rarely have the patience to casting. When two quarterbacks are signed wait until their fifth year to lead a program. in the same class, it’s natural, and perhaps For four years, Thompson bided his time beinevitable, that one gets pegged as a starter hind Shaw, the guy behind “the guy,” always while the other is labeled a career backup. prepared but rarely given the opportunity. In Yet Shaw and Thompson both leave USC those brief stretches, though, he showed why with their names in the record books: Shaw Spurrier had so much confidence in him enas the Gamecocks’ all-time wins leader, tering the season. In his second career start, Thompson as its single-season passing he gashed the Clemson secondary for 310 leader. yards in a 27-17 road win over the #9 Tigers. Not a bad haul for Spurrier and quarterWhen Shaw limped off the field in the final backs coach G.A. Mangus. minutes of the 2013 Outback Playing in his final game at Bowl against Michigan, the the Duck Commander IndepenGamecocks trailing by one, dence Bowl in Shreveport, La., Thompson engineered the Thompson added to his record game-winning touchdown by throwing for 294 yards and drive. two touchdowns in a 24-21 win It was a good enough legacy over Miami. His last throw, a even before he became a fullfive-yard flip to Pharoh Cooper time starter. in the fourth quarter, gave the Yet when quarterbacks like redshirt senior a total of 3,574 Thompson get their chance, passing yards for the season. they often have to fight the His 26 touchdown passes were stigma of what took them so the second-most behind Steve long to earn that shot in the Taneyhill’s 29. first place. The implication Contrast that with the final is clear: it’s because they day of the regular season, when weren’t good enough. They Andy Demetra Thompson first set the record can’t shake the shadow of the Contributing in a 35-17 loss to Clemson. He quarterback who came before Writer was asked afterwards if he took them.
January 21, 2015
Thompson’s shadow, as we know, was larger than most. Shaw’s 24 touchdown passes as a senior were the most by a FBS quarterback with only one interception in the last 10 years. His toughness, clutch throws and cunning scrambles made him an almost mythical figure by the time his career ended. Forget Thompson: Shaw set a standard that few quarterbacks anywhere could have matched. No matter what Thompson did, though, his play was bound to be judged and filtered through fans’ memories of Shaw. Bail on a play and chuck it to the sidelines? Shaw would’ve run that for a first down. Throw an interception in opposing territory? Number 14 wouldn’t have made that pass. When you’re the guy after “the guy,” you’re often judged by what you’re not, rather than praised for who you are. Thompson wasn’t perfect in 2014. He threw some red-zone picks the Gamecocks could ill afford. He failed to escape some would-be sacks. A few clock-killing drives stalled out while the Gamecocks were sitting on a fourth-quarter lead. Yet for most of the year, Thompson led South Carolina on a school-record pace in total offense, grinding out scores in a season in which the Gamecocks needed them more than usual. Spurrier repeatedly mentioned the immense pressure Thompson felt to score a touchdown on every possession because of the Gamecocks’ porous defense. Consider: in Shaw’s three years as a starter, the Gamecocks never finished lower than 13th nationally in points allowed. In Thompson’s lone season as a starter, the Gamecock defense allowed 30.4 points per game – 93rd in the country. How many games might South Carolina have won if Thompson hadn’t thrown for 3,574 yards? Instead, he had the misfortune of playing
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in a year in which he a.) had to follow a nearperfect quarterback, and b.) had to be nearperfect himself. Makes it pretty easy for the numbers to get distorted, doesn’t it? A quarterback’s record will always supersede his stats. That’s part of the contract he signs when playing football’s most important position. But wins and losses shouldn’t invalidate those stats, either. The season may not have ended the way Gamecock fans wanted, but that shouldn’t diminish their appreciation for what Dylan Thompson accomplished at USC. He came to South Carolina with little fanfare, waited his turn behind a legend, and when given his lone chance to lead, turned in a record-setting season. He may not have had the physical gifts of Shaw, but he had the leadership and trust that all locker rooms crave. Like Petty, he finished his career a bowl winner. He deserves better than to have his legacy defined as “good, but no Shaw.” For a guy who came in with an “NR,” Dylan Thompson will also leave with an “NR” – New Record. No amount of disappointment over the season should lose sight of that.
Spurs & Feathers • 19
January 21, 2015
Gamecocks wrap up seventh-consecutive winning season South Carolina Athletics Media Relations
sixth-consecutive year in which the Gamecocks had a first-team All-American, as he joined Eric Norwood, Alshon Jeffery, Melvin The University of South Carolina football Ingram, Jadeveon Clowney and Kelcy Quarteam concluded its 121st season of intercolleles. Cann started 51 of 52 games during his giate football in 2014 with an overall record of Carolina career, second only to T.J. Johnson in 7-6, including a 3-5 mark in the SEC. It marked school history. the seventh-consecutive winning season for the • Senior offensive guard A.J. Cann and sophGamecocks, tying the school record, set from omore wide receiver Pharoh Cooper earned 1928-34, and extended their school record to first-team All-SEC accolades. Sophomore 11-straight seasons with at least a .500 record. placekicker Elliott Fry garnered second-team All-SEC recognition, while cornerback Al Other superlatives from the 2014 campaign: Harris Jr. gained a spot on the Freshman All• The Gamecocks defeated Miami (Fla.), SEC unit. 24-21, to capture the 2014 Duck Commander • Senior quarterback Dylan Thompson led the Independence Bowl. It was the Gamecocks’ SEC and shattered the school record with 3,564 fourth-straight bowl win, establishing a school passing yards. He also set school single-season record. The Gamecocks have defeated Nebras- records for pass attempts (451), pass compleka, Michigan, Wisconsin and Miami in their tions (270) and total offense (3,492), and logged last four bowl games. South Carolina and Texas the second-most touchdown passes in a season A&M are the only SEC schools to win each of with 26. He also tied Connor Shaw’s school their last four bowl games. record with 31 touchdowns responsible for in a • The 2014 senior class, which featured 17 season. players, recorded 40 victories over the past four • Dylan Thompson had two of the top-10 seasons, the second-winningest senior class in single-game passing performances with a school history, behind only the 2013 class that 402-yard effort against Auburn and a 366-yard posted 42 wins over a four-year period. game against Texas A&M. He also tied the • The Gamecocks have won 49 games in this single-game school record with five touchdown decade, the 11th-winningest program in Divipasses at Auburn. sion I-A football and the third-winningest SEC • Dylan Thompson finished his career ranked program behind only Alabama and LSU durin the Gamecocks’ all-time top-10 in passing ing that span. yards (8th-5,391), passing attempts (9th-669), • The Gamecocks have won 19 of their last 20 pass completions (8th-390), completion pergames against non-conference opponents. centage (5th-.583), passing touchdowns (5th-40) • Over the past five years, the Gamecocks and total offense (9th-5,385). are 15-5 against their top four rivals, going 4-1 • Dylan Thompson was recognized for his versus Clemson, Florida and Georgia, and 3-2 contributions off the field, as he was the recipiagainst Tennessee. ent of the Freddie Solomon Community Spirit • Since Steve Spurrier’s arrival in Columbia, Award, was a member of the SEC Community the Gamecocks are 21-19 against their top Service team, was a finalist for the Wuerffel four rivals, going 6-4 versus Clemson, and 5-5 Trophy and earned a spot on the CoSIDA Acaagainst Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. In demic All-District team. the 10 years prior to Coach Spurrier’s arrival, • Junior running back Mike Davis fell 18 the Gamecocks were a combined 5-35 against yards short of joining Gamecock great George those same four schools, going 3-7 against Rogers as the only backs in school history to Georgia, 2-8 versus Clemson, and winless in post multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Da10 tries against both Florida and Tennessee. vis logged 982 yards on 199 carries, the ninth• The Gamecocks scored 424 points in 2014, most attempts in a single season. the second-highest mark in school history, be• Mike Davis, who will forego his senior year hind only the 443 points scored in 2013. to enter the NFL Draft, finished his Gamecock • The Gamecocks set a school record with career ranked in the Gamecocks’ all-time 305 first downs in 2014, eclipsing the mark of top-10 in rushing yards (9th-2,440), rushing 291 set in 2013. touchdowns (t8th-22), rushing average (t8th-5.4 • The Gamecocks set single-season records yards/carry), touchdowns scored (t9th-24) and for both passing yards (3,661) and passing at100-yard rushing games (t2nd-11). tempts (468), surpassing the previous marks of • Sophomore wide receiver Pharoh Cooper 3,373 yards, set in 1995, and 452 attempts, set exploded on the scene, leading the team with in 2008. 69 catches (6th) for 1,136 yards (3rd) and nine • Senior offensive guard A.J. Cann earned receiving touchdowns (t6th). He was second in All-America honors. He was a first-team the SEC in receiving yards per game (87.4) and selection by Sporting News, ESPN.com and fourth in receptions per game (5.3). He set the CBSSportsline.com, and was a second-team school’s single-game record when he logged All-American by Walter Camp, Associated 233 receiving yards on 11 catches against TenPress and Sports Illustrated. It marked the nessee.
• Senior wide receiver Damiere Byrd was a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy and earned a spot on the CoSIDA Academic All-District team for the third-consecutive year. • Sophomore placekicker Elliott Fry led the team in scoring for the second-straight year, tallying 105 points, the third-highest single-season total in school history. He also ranks in the all-time top-5 for field goals made (4th-18), field goals attempted (t3rd-25), PATs made (t2nd-51) and PATs attempted (4th-51) in a season. He connected on the most extra points made without a miss in a season in school history (51), and has hit on a school-record 99 consecutive PATs. • After just two seasons, Elliott Fry ranks fourth on the Gamecocks’ career scoring list with 204 points. • Sohomore linebacker Skai Moore led the team and ranked 10th in the SEC with 7.8 tackles per game. His 93 tackles on the season was the most for a Gamecock since Jasper Brinkley logged 107 in 2006. • Senior defensive back Brison Williams led the team and was tied for fourth in the SEC with four interceptions. No Gamecock has recorded more interceptions in a season since Ko Simpson picked off six passes in 2004. • The Gamecocks will open the 2015 season
photo by allen sharpe
at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte against the North Carolina Tar Heels. The Gamecocks also opened the 2011 season in Charlotte, posting a 56-37 win over East Carolina. • The Gamecocks will play nine teams in 2015 that appeared in a bowl game this season, with six of those teams recording bowl wins. • The Gamecocks will return five starters on offense (WR Pharoh Cooper, OC Alan Knott, RG Will Sport, RT Brandon Shell and TE Jerell Adams) and eight starters on defense (DE Gerald Dixon, DT Gerald Dixon Jr., DE Darius English, LB Skai Moore, LB Jonathan Walton, SS T.J. Gurley, FS Chris Moody and CB Chris Lammons).
20 • Spurs & Feathers
January 21, 2015
Gamecocks inching toward selling out Colonial Life Arena by kyle heck Reporter If you build it, they will come. A line made famous by the movie “Field of Dreams” has become the mantra for the South Carolina women’s basketball team in their quest to sell out Colonial Life Arena. They’re getting closer and closer to accomplishing that goal. The record books are already being rewritten when it comes to attendance figures. At the Jan. 2, 2015 game against Auburn, South Carolina’s SEC opener, 16,465 fans showed up to watch the Gamecocks play, making that the secondlargest crowd to ever watch a women’s basketball game at Colonial Life Arena. Just nine days later, that mark was topped by the 17,156 who showed up to watch South Carolina knock off No. 10 Kentucky. The only attendance record left standing in the way of head coach Dawn Staley and her team is the inaugural night of Colonial Life Arena, when 17,712 people watched South Carolina face rival Clemson on Nov. 11, 2002. But Staley wants more than that; she wants to sell out the 18,000-seat arena. Nearly everyday on her Twitter account, Staley is encouraging fans to buy in and record a sellout at the next home game. It appears the fans are listening and it will only be a matter of time before South Carolina reaches that goal. To truly understand how significant and astounding selling out Colonial Life Arena would be, one must look at the not-so distant past, when selling out for a game was nothing more than a wild and improbable dream. In Staley’s first ever home game as South Carolina’s coach on Nov. 19, 2008, South Carolina faced Clemson. 2,315 fans showed up to watch the new coach and her team drop a 52-45 decision to the Tigers. That same year, the Gamecocks had just a little over 5,000 show up for a game against No. 1 Connecticut. Things got a little better the next year, with closer to 3,000 fans usually showing up for home games. Those figures stayed about the same over the next two years, as the team itself continued to get better and better. It wasn’t until last season when the Gamecocks began the season ranked No. 21 in the country that the attendance started to noticeably climb. That was when Staley and South Carolina started the “Drive for Five,” an initiative to have 5,000 fans at every home game. They accomplished that goal in the first two home games against Charleston Southern and Louisiana Tech, but were less than 200 short against the College of Charleston.
photo by allen sharpe
Still, it was a vast improvement from the previous years when less than 1,000 would show up to watch games against small schools like Charleston Southern. The end of the season, when the Gamecocks climbed inside the top-five of the AP poll, saw a significant increase. The last four home games of the season had at least 7,000 fans in attendance. In the final home game of the season, 12,458 people, which was at the time the second-largest crowd to watch a women’s basketball game, showed up to watch South Carolina defeat Georgia and clinch its first SEC regular-season championship in school history. The win also capped off a perfect 16-0 record at Colonial Life Arena and the fans played a big role in that feat. “The crowd created this home court advantage for us all year and I’m just glad we could win it on our home court,” guard Tiffany Mitchell said after the big win. Overall, the Gamecocks ranked 10th in the nation during the 2013-14 season in average attendance. It was a remarkable feat for a team that had struggled to have four-
figure attendance figures just a few years before. Fast forward to the present and Staley’s Gamecocks are up to bigger and better things. Through eight home games, South Carolina leads the nation in attendance with well over 10,000 people per game watching the Gamecocks continue their home-winning streak, which now stands at 26 games. Pssh, Drive for Five? That was so last year. “Gamecock Nation is greedy,” Staley said after her team’s win over Kentucky. “They want to be the very best and in order for you to do that, you have to get people in the stands. They’re bringing more and more people to the games and it’s a beautiful thing to see unfold, it really is, because a lot of people really didn’t think it could get done.” South Carolina is continuing to strive to prove its doubters wrong, the ones that say you can’t sell out an arena as large as Colonial Life Arena for a women’s basketball game. The Gamecocks next home game is a
Jan. 26 matchup against Texas A&M, currently ranked No. 11 in the country. That is a Monday night and the doubters say that won’t be the game for the sellout because the contest falls on a weekday night. “Gamecock Nation we still have some nonbelievers when it comes to selling (Colonial Life Arena) out. It was said (it) can’t happen on a week night. #show&prove,” Staley wrote on her Twitter account. The Gamecocks have made an art of proving people wrong over the last couple of years and Staley and her team are on the cusp of another major accomplishment that at one time seemed impossible. “I think we’re inching toward selling the place out and I hope we do it, because not very many women’s basketball teams are in the position of selling out an arena that holds 18,000, let alone 10,000,” Staley said. “It’s an incredible accomplishment and I tip my hat to all of Gamecock Nation for making this a wonderful place and creating a home court advantage that allows us to win close games.”
January 21, 2015
Spurs & Feathers • 21
Freshman swimmer enjoying record-setting year BY BRAD MULLER South Carolina Director of Content Nils Wich-Glasen has recorded three times that rank in the top-10 in South Carolina swimming history and has already posted eight first place finishes. Not bad for a freshman in his first semester of collegiate competition. Although the native of Coburg, Germany, has made an immediate impact on the team, he strives for more. “My goal was to help the team as much as possible and as soon as possible,” Wich-Glasen said. “I think I can swim a lot faster. My teammates told me when I broke the record in the breaststroke, but my actual goal is to swim a lot faster than that. Of course it’s satisfying to achieve records. I hope it’s not the only record I will hold here.” Wich-Glasen holds the school record in the 200 breaststroke, the fifth fastest time in the 100 breaststroke and the ninth fastest in the 200 individual medley. He has also been a part of two relay teams which have recorded top-10 times. South Carolina head coach McGee Moody good. A lot of the things they’re doing in their need them and everything else we need.” “There’s a lot of fast food here, which I try not isn’t surprised by Wich-Glasen’s early success. first year of college courses, they have already The freshman has come a long way in short to eat,” Wich-Glasen said. “It is very tempting “He has swam times over in Germany that done in high school. He’s doing really well in the time. He enjoys hanging out with teammates though. I’m totally happy here. I think I made should come in under our school records,” classroom as well as the pool.” and adapting to new experiences far from home. the right decision to come here.” Moody said. “We knew he would be one of the With that being said, Wich-Glasen admits top breaststrokers in the world. We knew he was there was still plenty to learn inside and outside going to score immediate points and be one of of the water. our top performers. The main thing for us is that “Before I came here, I had a lot of time to rest we want him to help the team, but we also want and focus only on swimming,” Wich-Glasen him to keep his eyes on what his goals are in said. “I had to improve my time management terms of the Olympics and the NCAAs.” here. After a few weeks I got it. The workouts The slim 6’4”rookie recorded NCAA B cut are totally different though. The coaches here fotimes in four events during the fall season. He cus a lot on intensity and a lot of technique work. also notched eight first place finishes overall, I think there are a lot of different ways to be sucwas undefeated in the 200 breaststroke, and cessful, and I wanted to try out a new way.” advanced to the finals in all four events he swam “There were things he was missing in his in at the Virginia Tech Invitational. Despite the training over in Germany that he gets here,” distance, coming to South Carolina wasn’t a Moody added. “I think those things are going to terribly difficult decision for many reasons, and help him continue to improve. He’s been workhaving a fellow countryman on the roster in ing real hard on the mental part of it and trying redshirt sophomore Kevin Leithold didn’t hurt get tougher with that aspect to push past those either. points where he doesn’t think he can go any “We knew each other from a training trip to harder or doesn’t think he can go any longer, Austria, for the junior national team,” Wichand we’re seeing some good results already. MeGlasen said. “We wrote to each other about the chanically, he’ very solid.” facilities here. He helped me a lot. South CaroWich-Glasen is studying business at South lina was the best choice. I think we have every- Carolina, and he’s taking advantage of every opthing here to be successful. The coaching staff is portunity to excel in and out of the water. very good and the facilities are great.” “In college, my goal is to win a medal at With English being taught in German schools, NCAAs,” Wich-Glasen said. “In the future, Wich-Glasen didn’t have too my goal is to qualify for the much problem fitting in as he Olympic Games and the World began speaking the language Championships. I think there in 2007. is everything here that I need “When German studentto help me do that. All the All Gamecock swimming & coaches try to make me a better athletes come over here, in diving coverage general, their first year of colswimmer. Outside of the pool, sponsored by lege is relatively easy for them,” I couldn’t ask for anything betMoody said. “His English very Aquarian pools of Columbia ter. We have tutors when we
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January 21, 2015
Nickie Blue ready to follow up record-setting rookie campaign by brad muller South Carolina Director of Content At six feet tall and the ability to throw five pitches well, sophomore Nickie Blue can strike an imposing figure in the pitching circle. She won 18 games for the Gamecocks as a rookie last year and led NCAA Division I with seven saves. “People tell me I’m intimidating,” Blue said. “Before they get a chance to talk to me they think I’m scary or mean, but it’s just the way I carry myself when I’m pitching. I’m not always intimidating. I’m pretty funny. I make myself laugh. I get joy in making other people laugh.” Whether she’s intimidating or funny, she is also humble. Despite those impressive numbers, Blue defers praise to her teammates, including fellow pitcher Julie Sarrratt with whom she split time as a starter and a closer. “I think Julie deserves a lot of the credit,” Blue said. “If she hadn’t done her job in the beginning of the game and held on to the lead, then I wouldn’t have the opportunity to get the save.” Blue was named to the SEC All-Fresh-
man Team after the 2014 season. Born in Poughkeepsie, New York, Blue grew up in Longmont, Colorado, before finding her way to South Carolina, where she led the Gamecocks with 173.1 innings pitched last spring. “I just really loved the atmosphere of everything,” Blue said. “It’s the community. Here, there is such a sense of camaraderie. There was just something different about these coaches that I couldn’t get off my
mind. They ultimately drew me to this school, and I haven’t regretted the decision since.” Neither has head coach Beverly Smith, who bucked a traditional softball trend of staying with one pitcher for the entire game each day. Numerous saves are not common in softball, but Smith successfully implemented a platoon system where either Sarratt or Blue would start, and the other would finish. “It really doesn’t matter because either situation that I am put in, I knew Julie was going to do her job, and that’s going to allow me to do my job,” Blue said. “Either way, we just supported each other. It was tough at first because in high school I was always `the one.’ I was totally fine with it though because I realized this was what was best for the team, so it was fun.” “I loved it,” Sarratt added. “Nickie and I worked really well together. We’re totally different pitchers, so it really works in a game. If I start, they see more of the offspeed, spinning stuff, and she comes in and blows them away with the power, or vice versa. It’s a totally different look for the hitters.” Regardless of when she enters a game, Blue likes to feel that she has the advantage. “It is a little different because when you go in during the fourth or fifth inning, you’ve had a chance to watch what the hitters do,” Blue said. “Either way, when you come in as a pitcher you just have to go right at them and just have that killer mindset all the time. For as much video that you can watch, you can try and guess what a pitcher is going to throw you, but it’s a lot different once you get into the (batter’s) box. It’s an advantage because the hitter is just left guessing and can be at the pitcher’s mercy since we can throw whatever we want.” “We were definitely thin in the circle last year, so I started talking to them in Janu-
ary about this plan,” Smith said. “They just complement each other so much because they are such opposites. You go from Julie, who is a spin master and can spot a pitch on a dime and change speeds, and then you come with Nickie who throws so hard and at your knees. They are both selfless players. They both want to win.” Blue notes that one of the keys to being a successful pitcher at this level is the mental game. “You can push yourself to the limit physically, but you can go further if you have a strong mental game,” Blue said. “That’s something I’ve really had to work on; to play to the best of my ability every game and not to give in when it gets hard. When I give up a hit, I just try to get back to my game plan. If a girl hits a home run off my best pitch, then she beat me, but she’s not going to do it again. I’ve worked a lot on not feeling defeated after giving up a big hit and being able to rely on my defense behind me.” While Blue is confident in her abilities, she knew it wouldn’t be easy to make the jump from being one of the best high school pitchers in her home state to competing in the SEC. “The biggest difference was knowing that you’re not the absolute best,” Blue said. “In Colorado everyone knew who I was, but coming here, everyone is the best one from their high school team. Having teammates behind you really helps you to not give up. Julie and I play the same position, but she’s my best friend on the field. We both support each other so much and want the other to succeed.” As her sophomore season approaches, Blue is ready to take on any role that is thrown her way. After batting over .500 her last three years in high school, she wouldn’t mind an opportunity to stare down an opposing pitcher as well. “I love hitting,” Blue said. “I may get more of a chance to hit, but I understand why I didn’t hit much last year because if either Julie or I got hurt then it would have really hurt the team. My pitching job was more important than my hitting role, but I’m really excited to get an opportunity to hit sometimes.” One of her goals is to help South Carolina reach the Women’s College World Series, but inspired by a supportive family back home, Blue is focused on one game at a time. “My goals are to keep the softball atmosphere very family-oriented,” Blue said. “I just want to play all-out every game and have faith in my teammates and let them know I have confidence in them.”
January 21, 2015
Spurs & Feathers • 23
Fun for all at Duck Commander Independence Bowl
24 • Spurs & Feathers
January 21, 2015
South Carolina baseball to host Leadoff Dinner
South carolina athletics media relations
South Carolina baseball will host the first-ever Leadoff Dinner on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015 at Seawell’s highlighted by a panel of former Gamecock baseball head coaches Bobby Richardson, June Raines, Ray Tanner and current Gamecock head coach Chad Holbrook. Coach Richardson, Coach Raines, Coach Tanner & Coach Holbrook have combined for 30 NCAA Regionals, 11 College World Series trips to Omaha, five national championship appearances and two national championship titles. VIP tickets that include a reception before the event are $125. Dinner tickets are $75. Fans who want to purchase a table of 8 for $1000 will receive 8 VIP tickets as well as your dinner ticket. This will be the first time that all four coaches have been together in a panel setting at the same time. Tickets can be purchased online: https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/gamecocks/EN/buy/details/BS 15FUND?camefrom=EM CL_466215_20840412 Fans may also call (803) 777-4276 to purchase tickets. All Gamecock baseball The VIP reception begins at coverage sponsored by 5 p.m. It will include the 2015 DiPrato’s
photo by allen sharpe
Gamecock coaching staff and special guests including former Gamecock players as well as all four of the keynote speakers. Doors open for the dinner and silent action at 5:45 p.m. Dinner, live auction and the panel will begin at 6:45 p.m.
Gamecock radio announcers Andy Demetra and Tommy Moody will serve as moderators for the panel. Signed memorabilia, jerseys, items from the 2010 and 2011 national championship teams as well as other items will be available for bid.
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January 21, 2015
Spurs & Feathers • 25
The Gamecock Club: ‘A group of people that truly care’ about Gamecock athletics by brian hand Executive Editor
people continuing to give of themselves to be a part of this University that has meant so much to them. Just this year we’ve been able to re-do South Carolina head baseball coach Chad this whole area back here (at the Colonial Life Holbrook vividly remembers in 2010 the emoArena) where our players are at - not where tions on the field and in the stands at Rosenblatt the fans see, but where nobody sees other than Stadium when the Gamecocks won their first our players - because of the Gamecock Club. baseball national championship on June 29, That’s the kind of impact that they have on our 2010. programs. I know that folks that are members It’s something the then Gamecock associate of our Gamecock Club care and all I ever ask head coach will obviously never forget. is that people care. If they care, they’ve got me When asked what the Gamecock Club means hook, line and sinker.” to him as the organization enters its 75th anThe head coach of the No. 1 team in all of niversary in 2015 that is the exact thought that women’s college basketball, Hall of Famer came to his mind. Dawn Staley realizes that for some the Game“I don’t know if there is a group of people that cock Club not only gives means to success durcare more about their University and their athing a student-athletes time at South Carolina, letic department than the group of people assobut also can change generations. ciated with the Gamecock Club,” Holbrook not“(The Gamecock Club) gives our studented. “I’ve worked at other places and I’ve seen athletes an opportunity to play, to get a scholarphoto by allen sharpe from afar other institutions, but I don’t know if ship, to get a student-athlete experience like anyone cares more about their team and their South Carolina head men’s golf coach Bill insures that our student athletes know that they none other,” Staley said. “I think what they’ve programs than the core group of Gamecock McDonald has taken his program to new are ‘Gamecocks for Life.’” done is they’ve changed generations for some Club members. I can still think about running heights over the past few years and he readily South Carolina softball head coach Beverly of our kids. Some of our kids will be firstthrough the stands in Omaha and seeing 65 and understands that is not possible without the Smith and her team play in one of the top generation college graduates like some of our 70-year-old men crying after we won a national Gamecock Club. softball facilities in all of the country in Caroformer players. It gives life beyond the current. championship. I don’t know if that happens at “The Gamecock Club is the lifeblood of our lina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field. The I don’t think people understand that part of it. other places, but it happens here because people athletic department and my family and I are Gamecocks have made the last two NCAA I was a first-generation college graduate, so care so much.” extremely proud to be one of its members,” Mc- Tournaments and the future gets brighter every when you are able to affect a young life in that South Carolina head men’s and women’s Donald commented. “As a coach, I am forever day for Gamecock softball and Smith realizes manner it’s a beautiful thing for them to supswimming coach McGee Moody agrees with grateful for the relationships our Gamecock the Gamecock Club plays a big part in their port us in this way.” Holbrook’s thoughts. Club Staff cultivates with our boosters and the success. For more information on the Gamecock Club, “The Gamecock Club is a group of people business community and also for the tremen“The Gamecock Club epitomizes passion visit www.thegamecockclub.com. that truly care about our athletes, our athletic dous support the Gamecock Club provides for and support,” Smith stated. “In my experience Story also appears in our January digital department and our University,” Moody reour student-athletes.” I have seen the passion and pride that pours out magazine. Please make sure and visit www. marked. “They want to see us succeed on every The head coach of the newest sport at South of all the various county clubs; from Tigerburns SpursandFeathers.com to view the entire level, not only in the pool or on the field or on Carolina, sand volleyball head coach Moritz to hosting a meal for the athletes, the mission is magazine. the court, they also want to see us succeed Moritz particularly knows just how important to always support the Gamecocks. I am so apthe classroom. Their generous donations have the Gamecock Club is to South Carolina athlet- preciative of all the things the Gamecock Club made us who we are today. Their loyalty to our ics. continues to do for softball.” athletic department and the University will se“The Gamecock Club is an integral compoSouth Carolina head football coach Steve cure our success in the future.” nent to our success on and off the sand,” Moritz Spurrier has guided the Gamecocks to a schoolSouth Carolina head volleyball coach Scott relayed. “We are grateful to be able to have record four straight bowl victories. The GameSwanson realizes his program would not be the opportunities that we do and for the major cocks have picked up 40 wins over the last four able to grow the way that it has in his tenure impact that the Gamecock Club has to allow us years and he knows without the hard work of without the support of the Gamecock Club. those opportunities.” the Gamecock Club staff that success might not “After being here at South Carolina four seaSouth Carolina men’s soccer head coach be possible. sons, I have truly appreciated all that the Game- Mark Berson just completed his 37th season. “(Gamecock Club executive director) Patrick cock Club means to our athletic department, He has seen the Gamecock Club grow imMcFarland and his group do an excellent job,” our programs and especially the coaches and mensely during his illustrious career. Spurrier said. athletes that are so lucky to be a part of Game“The Gamecock Club provides a complete South Carolina men’s basketball head coach cock athletics,” Swanson said. “Without the support system for our student-athletes from Frank Martin has been working incredibly Gamecock Club we would not have the amaz- the first day they get to campus until well after hard to change the culture of his program and ing facilities or support that we are so fortunate they graduate and move on in their lives after he cannot be more proud of the efforts of the enough to enjoy. We are thankful to every loyal leaving campus,” Berson said. “They are by Gamecock Club to help with the process. member that so generously provides us with the our side supporting our student-athletes as they “It’s phenomenal,” Martin mused. “One thing opportunity to compete at the highest level both compete for Carolina and they close the loop that is great about this school is how much in the SEC and nationally.” after graduation with a support network that people care. The Gamecock Club is strong with
26 • Spurs & Feathers
January 21, 2015
South Carolina Athletic Events: This Month
Upcoming Events: Gamecock Club Spartanburg Gamecock Club February Meeting When: Thursday, February 19th, 7:00PM Where: Spartanburg Downtown Marriott Convention Center Topic: Annual “ Recruiting wrap up, along with discussions on 2014 football season and possible changes for 2015
Guest Speaker: Chris Clark (Gamecock Central Recruiting Analyst) All Gamecock fans are welcome and Admission is FREE! Current listings of known upcoming Gamecock Club events: Please contact Brian Hand (bhand@spursandfeathers. com) if your upcoming event is not listed.
Monday, Jan. 19 ** Women’s basketball at Florida..............................................................................7 p.m. ** Women’s tennis at Michigan Invitational..........................................................All Day Tuesday, Jan. 20 ** Men’s basketball vs. Tennessee................................................................ 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23 ** Women’s tennis vs. Grand Canyon (Albuquerque, N.M.) .....................................12 p.m. ** Women’s tennis vs. Northern Arizona (Albuquerque, N.M.)..................................4 p.m. ** Swimming and diving hosts Clemson, Queens, Vanderbilt and Wingate.4 p.m. ** Track at Rod McCravy Memorial (Lexington, Ky.)............................................................. All Day Saturday, Jan. 24 ** Swimming and diving hosts Queens, Vanderbilt and Wingate...............10 a.m. ** Men’s tennis vs. Stanford (Gainesville, Fla.)........................................................................... 11 a.m. ** Men’s basketball vs. Kentucky.......................................................................12 p.m. ** Women’s tennis vs. Kansas (Albuquerque, N.M.)........................................................4 p.m. ** Track at Rod McCravy Memorial (Lexington, Ky.)............................................................. All Day Sunday, Jan. 25 ** Women’s tennis at New Mexico ........................................................................................1 p.m. ** Track at Rod McCravy Memorial (Lexington, Ky.)............................................................. All Day Monday, Jan. 26 ** Women’s basketball vs. Texas A&M.......................................................... 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28 ** Men’s basketball at LSU......................................................................................................... 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29 ** Women’s basketball vs. Alabama............................................................. 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30 ** Women’s tennis at Virginia...................................................................................................5 p.m. ** Armory Track Invitational (New York, N.Y.)........................................................................... All Day
In 1941, South Carolina played Miami at Miami. Four members of the USC freshman football team wanted to go see the varsity play in Miami but had no ride to the game so they hitchhiked all the way to Miami. Upon hearing about their efforts to get to the game, Rex Enright allowed the four freshman to ride the bus with the team back to Columbia. Unfortunately the Gamecocks lost a tough 7-6 contest to the Hurricanes. Pictured above from left to right are four members of the USC “Biddies”(freshman team): Danny Ross (Blackville, S.C.), Phil Cantore (New Brunswick, N.J.), Dominic Fusci (Brooklynn, N.Y.—Member of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame) and Frank Chibbaro (New Brunswick, N.J.—Past President of Greenville County Gamecock Club). Frank Chibbaro is the only surviving member of the picture (age 93). Chibbaro has been an active member of the Gamecock Club for 65 consecutive years.
Saturday, Jan. 31 ** Equestrian vs. SMU................................................................................... 10 a.m. ** Men’s tennis vs. Clemson........................................................................... 3 p.m. ** Men’s basketball vs. Georgia..................................................................... 4 p.m. ** Armory Track Invitational (New York, N.Y.)........................................................................... All Day
Bold=Home event **For more South Carolina schedule information, visit: www.gamecocksonline.com/calendar/events/ for a complete master calendar.**
submitted photos
The Charlotte Gamecock Club had a great turnout at their holiday party at Icehouse South End. South Carolina fan Lynn James showing off her special customized Gamecock motorcycle.
Spurs & Feathers • 27
January 21, 2015
Several Gamecock teams kick off their seasons this month by Kyle heck Reporter
work. Expectations are high for the No. 27 Gamecocks, who return four of their top six singles Several South Carolina teams have a busy players and brought in the nation’s second-best month of January ahead of them as they ramp recruiting class as well. up the spring part of their schedule. “The culture that they are instilling right now After a successful fall season, both the men’s in this program is top-shelf,” Goffi said of his and women’s swimming and diving teams younger players. “The seniors are kind of leadhave already participated in meets in January. ing them and showing them what it means to Swimming coach McGee Moody has been compete on gameday. They’re being unbelievpleased with the performances of several able leaders.” Gamecocks in January so far, including breakGoffi is pleased with the mix of his team that out star Akram Mahmoud, a freshman from consists of quality young players and seasoned Egypt who just arrived on campus at the beveterans that include All-American Andrew ginning of the month. He earned his first colAdams and senior Thiago Pinheiro. legiate win in the 1,000 freestyle with a time The No. 23 South Carolina women’s tennis of 9:13.50, which was the third-fastest time in team is led by senior Meghan Blevins, who is school history. ranked No. 99 in the country in singles. The In a team win over Duke, the Gamecock South Carolina doubles tandem that consists men claimed first through third place in both of Blevins and sophomore Brigit Folland is the 500 and 1000 freestyle. Freshman Nils ranked No. 33. Wich-Glasen put together two wins in the 200 After opening the year in Michigan, the breaststroke and the 200 individual medley. Gamecocks will participate in their first dual His time of 1:58.91 in the breaststroke broke match of the season Jan. 23 against Grand the facility record in Durham. On the women’s Canyon. That is the first of four matches in side, senior Victoria Mitchell took first place in three days that South Carolina will play in the 500 and 1000 freestyle. Albuquerque, N.M. The Gamecocks will then The men’s tennis team gets its spring season have two more road matches, one at Virginia started after a successful fall where Goffi said and one at Clemson, before they finally return his younger players got some much-needed to Columbia for their home-opener against RECRUITING CONT. FROM PAGE 14 Dorman is a Stanford commitment and is still waiting to hear from the school about being accepted. If he is accepted, he said he will no doubt go to Stanford. He is also hearing from USC, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest. He talked with Spurrier Jr. and Shawn Elliott and was told if things don’t work out at Stanford, they would be interested in talking with him more seriously. He will make his official visit to Stanford January 16th and hopes to find out then if he’s going to be accepted. He has not scheduled any other official visits. While USC has no official visits scheduled for this weekend, several prospects on its board are scheduled to have taken visits this past weekend: DB Maurice Smitherman to Texas Tech OL Cory Helms to Texas A&M DB Antoine Wilder (commitment) to Tennessee State DB Treston Decoud to Oregon State DB Damon Arnette (commitment) to Michigan DE Arden Key to LSU DE Quandeski Whitlow (commitment) to Louisville DB Jeremiah Dinson to Florida OL Christian Pellage (commitment) to Florida Juniors: DB James Valdez of Lake Marion will be one of the top prospects in the state’s 2016 class and he has set June 7th for his announcement date. Valdez has offers from USC, North Carolina,
NC State, Tennessee, Wake Forest and SC State. “USC wants me to commit right now, wants me to commit early,” Valdez said. “They told me they had a bad season last year and I can come in and be a big factor on the defensive side of the ball. It can be a possibility. I don’t know where I’m going yet but USC could be a possibility.” Valdez said he wants to visit schools he hasn’t gotten to yet before he makes his decision. Those include Florida, Georgia, NC State, Alabama and Florida State. He was at four USC games last season. He’s also been in touch with Clemson talking to his Tiger recruiters on his birthday in December as well as on Christmas. “I talked to coach Hobby and coach Reed and they are going to offer,” he said. “I’m just waiting on it but there’s no rush.” Valdez said he doesn’t have a favorite and will formulate a short favorite’s list in the spring. RB CJ Freeman of Greensboro, NC said USC and Virginia Tech are his top two schools right now. USC last week offered DB Joejuan Williams of Nashville and sophomore ATH Jamyest Williams of Lawrenceville, GA. Baseball News: USC Sunday picked up a 2016 commitment from LHP Josh Gregory (6-0 185) of Gaffney according to John Whittle of TheBigSpur.com. Gregory attended a USC camp Saturday and was offered last Sunday. He also considered the College of Charleston. Gregory is USC’s 14th commitment for 2016 and the second lefthanded pitcher for the class.
second-place finisher from Clemson en route to her big win. In short distance, South Carolina picked up a few more wins. Tyler Brockington and Erika Rucker won the 200-meter and 800-meter dash, respectively and then combined with Precious Holmes and Briana Haith to win the 4x400 meter relay race. On the field side of things, South Carolina’s Megan Wall won in the pole vault while Alexis Murphy won the long jump and Leanne Morsouth carolina athletics media relations rison won the triple jump. Thiago Pinheiro and the Gamecock men’s The men’s team received a big boost in the tennis team host Clemson on Jan. 31. return of three-time All-American Clayton Gravesande, who sat out the 2014 season with Charlotte and the College of Charleston on an injury. He promptly won the 400-meter Valentine’s Day. dash and helped the Gamecock 4x400 relay “I think everybody is on the same page and team take first place, defeating the Clemson goal-oriented and wants to achieve some big team by one-tenth of a second. things this year,” said head coach Kevin Epley. After competing in the Virginia Tech InThe South Carolina track and field team got vitational on Jan. 16 and 17, the Gamecocks off to a great start to the year at the Orange and will round out an extremely busy month with Purple Classic hosted by Clemson on January appearances in the Rod McCravy Memorial in 10. Lexington, Ky, and the Armory Track InvitaJunior Stephanie Berger picked up a win in tional in New York City. the 5K while freshman Hannah Giangaspro “I think there are kids here that are prepared took a third-place finish in the race. Then, to bring things to the table,” head coach Curtis Anna Todd, who had a fantastic fall in cross Frye said. “Will that bring results? I’m not country, captured the victory in the 3K, winsure, but I think we have people that can give ning by more than 40 seconds. She lapped the us great effort.”
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January 21, 2015
NYC Gamecock Club capital campaign for sand volleyball going strong by Collyn Taylor Reporter It can be hard to have an impact from seven states away with roughly 711 miles between two cities, but that’s exactly what a group of Gamecocks in New York have with the University. The NYC Gamecocks and New York City Gamecock Club, operating and hosting events out of Mason Jar NYC, a Southern Barbeque restaurant and sports bar in Manhattan, have become the sponsors of the sand volleyball program at South Carolina. A fairly new chapter of the Gamecock Club, they decided that they wanted to help out a budding program at the University, since they were just starting to bloom themselves. “We’re all passionate about basketball, football, baseball and all the other programs, but if we can demonstrate that we can have a positive effect in one area and point to our name being on it, that’s a rallying cry. It’s a way to motivate everybody,” 2014 chapter president JR Buzzelli said. “Sand volleyball is a new sport and it’s not getting a lot of the love and attention that the established sports are and we looked at it and thought, ‘hey, we’re a brand new chapter and we have a lot in common.’ We had a lot of talk about being a chapter sponsor and it was agreed that we could be the chapter sponsor, so we said lets go for it, lets do it, and we never looked back.” For their efforts, the NYC Gamecocks have donated $40,000 that have gone directly to the sand volleyball program. And, after their donation they realized that if they donated about $10,000 more, they would get the naming rights to one of the courts at the Sand Volleyball Complex. And that’s when the capital campaign started. They started submitted photo raising money to finish their donation for the naming rights. NYC Gamecock Club officers (left-to-right) Caitlin Stevens, JR Buzzelli and Lou Antonelli were honored to host Right now, Buzzelli said the NYC Gamecocks have about University of South Carolina President, Dr. Harris Pastides, at The Mason Jar NYC for the DCI Bowl watch party. $6,500 dollars of the $10,000 needed. He said that every little bit helps and that anyone that wants to help can. “This is an unabashed solicitation for anybody out there who and it was really neat to see the opportunity. To our chapter, He said that no matter where they play, they are still going to would like to contribute to our capital campaign: reach out to that’s what really drives us forward.” travel at least once to go see their sponsored team play. us, go to our website, call us, email us, we would love to have Moritz said that the facilities at the Sand Volleyball Complex “We would love to catch them at home, but a flight is a flight other folks who want to support sand volleyball join our cause,” are some of the best in the country and it is because of the peo- is a flight,” Buzzelli said. “Whether it’s in Columbia or a tourhe said. ple from the New York City Gamecock Club. He said that their nament in Florida, we’re going to support them no matter what, Coming from a big, northern city they are helping a sport that money has really helped with training and recruiting. that’s our Gamecock team.” thrives in southern, humid climates with some sand, something “There’s this connection and relationship that we’ve develNYC Gamecocks is open to all in the greater New York City that all big cities yearn for. oped with these guys and it’s awesome,” Moritz said. “With area who love the University of South Carolina. The group But, just because there isn’t much sand volleyball being the New York City Gamecocks and the Mason Jar, for them to includes the Greater New York chapters of both the My Caroplayed above the Mason-Dixon line, it didn’t stop the folks from come down and see what we do and what we’re working with lina Alumni Association and the Gamecock Club. The group the NYC Gamecocks Club from helping fund the program. and how fortunate we are that it’s a constant process of evolufocuses on creating networking, entertainment and University They have fostered a relationship with the team and took a tion and improvement that we go through to have people like fundraising events in their area. NYC Gamecocks is one of the trip down during football season for a game and made a pit stop that on board, it’s unbelievable.” largest and most successful Gamecock groups outside of South at the courts. At this time of the year, the New York City Gamecocks’ Carolina. More information on NYC Gamecocks and how They got to meet the team and head coach garnet and black clothing is usually covered to get involved can be found at www.NYCGamecocks.com. Moritz Moritz, who welcomed the NYC Gamewith a thin covering of ice as the cold weather They can also be found on Twitter - @NYCGamecockClub, cocks down to Columbia warmly. sweeps through the northeast. Facebook Group - NYC Gamecocks, and Instagram - #NYC“We had an opportunity to go down there and But, Buzzelli said that NYC Gamecocks are Gamecocks. meet the team in early November, which was planning a trip down to warmer pastures once The group consists of JR Buzzelli - President, Matt Garreally neat,” Buzzelli said. “It just makes you rethe ground thaws to see the sand volleyball rick - VP, Caitlin Stevens Secretary of NYC Gamecock Club alize so much more what you’re doing because team play. & President of My Carolina Alumni Association and Lou we don’t directly see them and don’t know them All Gamecock sand volleyball The team is hosting three home tournaAntonelli current Treasurer and incoming President - with key coverage sponsored by real well. But, the team was very welcoming ments this year starting in March and travel to volunteers: Kenny Rick, Amanda Neel, Lauren Koch, George James W. Smith when we were down there. Coach Moritz was Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Louisiana for McDonald, Eliza Akers, Kyle Bussey, Andrew Zank and Jade Real Estate Co. fantastic, the student-athletes were fantastic, tournaments as well. Ho.
January 21, 2015
Spurs & Feathers • 29
Ed Pitts scholarship fund established South carolina athletics media relations
bachelor’s degree in education and later earned a second degree in business adThe University of South Carolina Athlet- ministration. He served as a student asics Department is pleased to announce a sistant under Warren Giese in 1960 and gift from a donor to establish a scholarship then Marvin Bass in 1961. He was hired fund in memory of former football stand- as a recruiter and as the head coach for the out, former Gamecock Club Director, and freshman football team in 1962. USC Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Ed A native of Clinton, S.C., Pitts served as Pitts. the Gamecock Club Director for 22 years The Ed Pitts Defensive Tackle Endowed from 1962 to 1984. He was inducted in to Scholarship will honor Pitts, who is still the South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame regarded as one of the Gamecocks’ finest in 2002. He passed away in November of linemen, having starred for Carolina in the 2014. late 1950s. He lettered as a tackle for three “We are thankful for the impact Ed had seasons (1957-59) and was co-captain of on our university and Athletics Departthe 1959 squad. He earned first-team Allment over his 40-plus years here,” said Atlantic Coast Conference honors in both Athletics Director Ray Tanner. “Ed meant 1958 and ‘59 and was selected to the Paul a great deal to a number of people in and Williamson All-America team following around this community and a scholarship his senior season. in his name is a terrific way to honor his Pitts served as co-captain of the Northlegacy here at the University of South South Shrine game in Miami, Fla. and Carolina.” later signed with the Boston Patriots of the For more information or to make a conAmerican Football League before a knee tribution to the Ed Pitts Defensive Tackle injury during a preseason practice ended Endowed Scholarship, please contact Jay his playing career. Brown at 803-777-5723 or by email at jayWhile at Carolina, Pitts received his brown@sc.edu.
south carolina athletics media relations
AS34-1270094
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January 21, 2015
Former Gamecock men’s basketball managers kick off fundraising campaign by brian hand Executive Editor Sometimes being a manager for a college team may be a thankless job. But almost always the managers are thankful for the opportunity they were given. Ron Weir is a perfect example. Currently working in Greensboro, N.C. for IPS PACKAGING, Weir graduated from South Carolina in 2001, but his love for his school and for his time as a student manager under former Gamecock men’s basketball head coach Eddie Fogler has never wavered. This passion led to him formulating a plan to develop a fund for men’s basketball on top of the existing monies already available for the men’s basketball student manager scholarships. “I’d been a manager for the University under coach Fogler and I was very grateful for that opportunity,” Weir said. “During school, back then, they had a half-scholarship available for Weir then formed that idea of his into a full the senior managers, but being a Gamecock committee of 13 former South Carolina men’s fan and wanting to give back to the Universi- basketball managers and student-athletes ty, I thought this would be a great opportunity helping to make this dream a reality. to give something back that was near and dear “They have welcomed us with open arms,” to my heart. Weir said of South Carolina. “That welcome “I had been thinking about this for a long came from coach Martin and his staff and period of time, but I wanted to run it by coach they really showed us that they need the manFolger for his valued input before any decision agers for all the things that they do behind was made. After we spoke, he had discussions the scenes for the basketball program. If you with (South Carolina Chief Operating Officer/ go through college basketball, the coaches, Men’s Basketball Sport Administrator Kevin the staff members and the players really ap(O’Connell) and (South Carolina Assistant preciate the managers and if they didn’t you Director of Athletics Development) Elaine wouldn’t find managers willing to do what Arnold through (South Carolina Men’s Basthey’re doing for the program. It is indeed ketball Director of Operations) Andy (Assal- a mutual respect. In addition to that, coach ey) and head coach (Frank) Martin and every- Martin’s staff has really opened up a lot of body thought it was a wonderful idea. After opportunities for us to make this thing sucthat input, Drew Cawood (also a former man- cessful.” ager and owner of Event Partners Inc.) and The fundraising effort has already begun I needed to get a committee together and a with the goal being to reach partial endowdecision was made to call on former managers ment status by Sept. 2015 with the goal of because we thought that they would be essen- $25,000 in mind. Presently, they are already tial if this program was to get off the ground. 10 percent of the way there with $2,500 raised Guys that were there before to date. me, guys that were there with Once they reach partial me and guys that followed endowment status, the goal behind me were called. I is to take it even further by didn’t have one guy that said naming the fund the “Mac no. Everybody thought it was Credille Scholarship Fund” an exciting idea and they felt in honor of longtime equipa strong desire to help implement manager Mac Credille. ment this program. They “Every one of the managers All Gamecock basketball were all looking to give back. has been on board with this coverage sponsored by They just needed a vehicle,” idea,” Weir said. “Our goal Yesterdays Weir elaborated. is to get this program started
photo by brian hand
and make it successful in order to honor Mac Credille. There’s nobody that has done more in mine or other people’s eyes for this University’s athletic department and the men’s basketball team, volleyball team and women’s basketball team than Mac Credille. Mac has worked around the clock for these teams and that sports complex to make it the best that it can be and we think it’s an awesome opportunity to help his legacy.” Weir’s drive for this cause also includes this group of former managers working together to be mentors for the current and future crop of Gamecock men’s basketball managers. “We want to work on another thing besides supplying a scholarship to the managers and that is to be mentors to these kids coming up and at the same time be professional references for them,” Weir said. “We are going to work and develop this behind the scenes so they can work to get jobs after they graduate. Whether it is coaching high school basketball or obtaining a job in a professional position.” Weir himself originally wanted to be a basketball coach, but being a manager for South Carolina allowed him to realize that he wanted to pursue other opportunities professionally. Nevertheless, many decide to try and work their way up the coaching ranks this way. Weir fully believes his time as a manager at South Carolina prepared him for the professional world. “It’s a big commitment being a manager, but it’s a rewarding deal too,” Weir said. “You get to travel with the team first class and you get
to see parts of the Southeastern Conference that nobody else has access to and you get to network professionally. A lot of these guys want to be college coaches. I did at the time too. It took me four years being around it to realize that that wasn’t the career path I wanted, but it helped me out tremendously from a professional standpoint. If you can do that and work, you prepare yourself for anything from a work ethic standpoint. “You look at some of the coaches around the SEC; Bruce Pearl is a former manager. There’s a lot of guys and that’s their way to crack into the coaching ranks. Obviously, it’s harder to do because you’re working without any real notoriety and you really have to do more blue collar work to get your foot in the door, but it’s a great opportunity,” Weir continued. None of this would be possible as noted without the efforts of Martin and his staff agreeing to help the cause. Weir is incredibly appreciative and like so many others he is excited for the present and future of Gamecock basketball under Martin. “I appreciate coach Martin’s staff giving us the opportunity to make this something special,” Weir concluded. “We couldn’t do it without that.” For more information, please contact Elaine Arnold in the Athletics Development Office at (803) 777-5451 or earnold@sc.edu. Story also appears in our January digital magazine. Please make sure and visit www. SpursandFeathers.com to view the entire magazine.
Spurs & Feathers • 31
January 21, 2015
Unique views sponsored by Unique Expressions
Happy New Year! Here’s hoping 2015 will be Kentucky was hard fought with the Wildcats great for the entire Gamecock Nation. The foot- giving it their best shot. ball team ended the year by wrapping up 2014 A year ago, South Carolina had played the with a win over Miami in the Independence highly ranked Kentucky women in Columbia, Bowl for the fourth consecutive bowl victory. winning 68-59 in front of a crowd of roughly It seems like just yesterday USC finally won 6,000. Everyone was ecstatic over the crowd its first bowl game in 1995’s Carquest Bowl. Do that night as the goal of 5000 was surpassed. you remember? It seemed like we would never This past Sunday’s crowd? 17,100-plus. win one, much less four in a row. Now we exThe atmosphere was electric. The new goal pect to get the win. is a sell out and you have to believe either the It also was the seventh straight year with a Texas A&M game on January 26 or the Tenwinning record and the 11th straight without a nessee game on February 23 will see that aclosing record (6-6 2007). The only streak com- complished. parable of that in the history of Carolina footMeanwhile, the men have transformed as ball was 1928-1934 and the most any of those well. The day before the game at Durham, the teams won in one year was six. men played host to a then undefeated OklaThe season as a whole was disappointing homa State team. The Gamecocks took them to due to expectations, but what Coach Spurrier the woodshed, winning 75-49 in revenge of last has been able to accomplish in his time here year’s drubbing in Stillwater, 79-52. is remarkable and unchallenged for number of I had to question whether Oklahoma State wins with 84 at USC. There is every reason to was really very good based on the thrashing believe that the winning will continue in 2015. they were given. The best answer to that is the What a difference a year makes. I suppose Cowboys were ranked No. 24 this past week in there are a lot of things in life that the statement the AP and beat No. 10 Texas. can be applied to, but in this case, I’m thinking Maybe a better answer was after returning more of the South Carolina basketball teams, to Columbia and our trip to the Duke campus, women and men. Clemson came to town. Last year Clemson beat A year ago last December, Brian Hand and USC, 71-57. A Clemson halftime lead dissiI set off to Myrtle Beach to cover the South pated quickly in the second half and the GameCarolina women’s game with North Carolina. cocks whipped the Tigers this year, 68-45. Both teams were highly ranked with the USC And to top that off, Carolina traveled to New women being undefeated at that point. North York City to take on ninth-ranked Iowa State. Carolina had lost a couple of close ball games, The Gamecocks would have the lead most of so on paper it appeared to be a winnable game. the game and hold on for a 64-60 upset win. The Tar Heels had something to prove that At this point of the season, South Carolina evening and handed the Gamecocks their first was 9-3 and the comparisons with the 1997 loss of the season, winning 74-66. It was an team really started to take shape. The 1997 indication that South Carolina was getting there team started 8-5 before finding itself and finishbut still had a ways to go. ing 15-1 in the SEC. The three-guard offense of We returned to Columbia the next day just in Sindarius Thornwell, Ty Johnson, and Duane time for an afternoon game for the men at the Notice bring back memories of the ’97 guards CLA against USC Upstate. What can only be of BJ McKie, Larry Davis, and Melvin Watson. described as a sparse crowd was on hand for But the start of the SEC schedule this year a rather humbling defeat for the home team, quickly ended that comparison as the Game74-68. cocks dropped the first two, to Florida by four It was a tough 24 hours for University of in Columbia and then the worst defeat of the South Carolina basketball. season at Ole Miss. Our road trip this December was to Durham, This past Tuesday night home game against North Carolina, this time to Alabama became extremely take on a top-10 Duke squad important. The good feel of in Cameron Indoor Stadium. the non-conference portion of The Gamecock Nation invaded the schedule had given way the Mecca of college basketball to the feeling that “oh no, here and rallied the South Carolina we go again” sentiment. Women to a 51-50 last second But the Gamecocks showed win over the Blue Devils. It was resilience against a team that a much better ride home. came in 12-3 and ranked 28th The women were elevated in the latest RPI. Carolina led to number one in the country most of the way and held on with a UConn loss to Stanford for a 68-66 win with Bama early in the year, and the Gamemissing a shot at the buzzer. Ed Girardeau cocks have proven worthy of A winning record seems Contributing the ranking. Undefeated, their reasonable in the SEC. Six Editor recent win over 10th-ranked home games remain with
photo by jenny dilworth
Marcus Stroman and the Gamecocks picked up their first SEC win over Alabama on Jan. 13. seven away. Two of those are against Kentucky and they will be a tall order to beat this year, but the Gamecocks beat the Wildcats in Columbia last year. Stranger things have happened. It won’t be easy. As coach Martin pointed out after the Alabama game, every game from here on out will be just like the two-point win: tough
battles which could go either way. The Gamecocks will have to play with the will and enthusiasm which led them to outrebound Alabama. A year has made a big difference. Here’s hoping that 2015 continues to roll in the direction of big things for USC. Then we will have a Happy New Year!
32 • Spurs & Feathers
January 21, 2015