september 21, 2016 • Volume 38 • Issue 7 • $1.50
Back in Black! Gamecocks protect their house
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Gamecocks on fans: ‘They were amazing’ Publication mailed from Columbia on Monday, September 19
2 • Spurs & Feathers
Spurs & Feathers Published by Aiken Communications, Inc.
Contact Us: 326 Rutland Drive N.W. PO Box 456 Aiken, SC, 29801 To subscribe: Please call 800-559-2311; annual subscription price is $50 Ellen Priest Publisher/Advertising Director Aiken Communications, Inc. epriest@aikenstandard.com (803) 644-2345 Brian Hand Executive Editor bhand@spursandfeathers.com (803) 335-1399 Ext. 506 Reporter Kyle Heck kheck@spursandfeathers.com Kathy Boyette Advertising Sales Manager (803) 295-3654 kboyette@spursandfeathers.com Brooks Rogers Advertising Representative (803) 446-4022 brooks@spursandfeathers.com Ed Girardeau Contributing Editor/ Advertising Account Executive ed@spursandfeathers.com (803) 646-9807 Photographers Allen Sharpe and Jenny Dilworth Cover Design Brian Hand (Photo by Jenny Dilworth) Postal Information: SPURS & FEATHERS (USPS 12779) (ISSN 7454368X) is published 20 times annually. The frequency is monthly in January, April and July. The publication is weekly from September-November. SPURS & FEATHERS also publishes two slick-paper magazine issues — one in August and one in December. The annual subscription price is $50 for non Gamecock Club members. Members of the Gamecock Club receive a discounted subscription as a member benefit. Spurs & Feathers is published by Aiken Communications, Inc., 326 Rutland Drive NW, Aiken, SC, 29801-4010. Periodicals postage paid at Columbia, SC
September 21, 2016
Please Read: Editor’s note Ple a s e not e t h at we a r e we ek ly for t he r e st of t he fo ot ba l l s e a s on (exc e pt for t he op e n d at e). Ple a s e a l s o m a ke s u r e t o e m a i l bh a nd @ s pu r s a nd fe at he r s.c om whe neve r you h ave a me e t i ng for i nclu sion i n ou r e d it ion s a nd on Spu r s a nd Fe at he r s.c om . Pe r ou r c ont r a c t w it h t he G a me c o ck Clu b, b elow a r e ou r r e m a i n i ng e d it ion d at e s for t he 2016 ye a r. Forever t o T he e! University of Kentucky Parking Information (for 9/24) General Public Parking: On-campus parking is available in the following areas: • Parking Structure #2 – accessible from University Drive near the WT Young Library • Parking Structure #3 – Kentucky Clinic parking off Virginia Avenue • Parking Structure #6 – On the corner of Virginia Avenue and Press Avenue Cooper Drive Tailgate & Parking : • Tailgate setups and vehicle parking may begin no earlier than Noon on Fridays prior to Game Day. • Beginning Noon on Friday, two vehicles will be permitted to parallel park outside/along painted 6’ restraining line, within each designated tailgate area. Vehicles will be restricted from parking in any water retention ditches, f lood areas, sidewalks and otherwise marked of areas Handicap Parking: • With a valid state-issued handicap hang tag, nonreserved disabled lot located at the corner of University Drive and Farm Road , capacity of 120 vehicles ($30/vehicle cash only) – FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED UNTIL LOT IS FULL. Once the Non-Reserved Disabled Lot is full, guests will be directed to park in Parking Structures 2 or 6. • Shuttle : Begins two hours before kickoff. Pick up is located in the Non-Reserved Disabled Lot (Tobacco Research Center parking lot). Drop off point is Gate 9. Return shuttles begin at the end of the 3rd quarter and continue until 30 minutes after the end of the game.
S p u r s & Fe a t he r s s che du le Se pt . 21 news p a p e r Se pt . 28 news p a p e r O c t . 5 news p a p e r O c t . 12 news p a p e r O c t . 19 bye we ek (no news p a p e r) O c t . 26 news p a p e r Nov. 2 news p a p e r Nov. 9 news p a p e r Nov. 16 news p a p e r Nov. 23 news p a p e r Nov. 30 news p a p e r D e c. 21 m a g a z i ne (e nd of ye a r)
• A disabled guest golf cart shuttle is available from Gate 9 to any other gate outside of Commonwealth Stadium. • Check with the Guest Services for additional help. • Outside of Gates 1, 4, 9 & 12; Inside on the lower concourse near sections 6, 16, 26 & 36; On the upper concourse near sections 206 & 226. Parking Maps: http://ukathleticsgameday.com/football/maps/ RV Parking: Non-Reserved RV Regulations - RV’s without permits may park in: • The Non-Reserved Lot (limited availability) located on Virginia Avenue between South Limestone and Press Avenue . • Virginia Ave. RV Lot is the primary Non-Reserved RV Lot. • Accommodates approximately 30 RV’s and is firstcome first-serve. • Opens at 6:00 PM Friday evenings prior to game day. Please do not park in any University lots designated for RV’s until 6:00 PM on Friday evening prior to game day. • This lot is free of charge. • There are no RV Hookups in this lot • For Alternative parking and waiting options until lot opens check this website PDF and map http://ukathleticsgameday. com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/rv_alternatives.pdf
Special thanks to Mike McManus and the Gamecock Cruisers, who provide us with this parking information to pass along
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Spurs & Feathers • 3
September 21, 2016
Gamecocks on fans: ‘They were amazing’ by brian hand Executive Editor COLUMBIA - Any time you have the opportunity to play in front of your fans it’s special, but when it is your third game of the year the opportunity may just be cherished even a little bit more. That’s why one of the first things every Gamecock football player that entered the media room made sure to say after the homeopening 20-15 win over East Carolina was just how big the fans were in helping to make that win happen. “They were amazing,” South Carolina senior offensive lineman Mason Zandi said. “They were absolutely amazing. We fed off them all game.” On a day where it was also Gamecock Club Appreciation Day with the Gamecock Club logo on the field at both 25-yard lines, South Carolina head football coach Will Muschamp also wanted to make sure to thank the fans before he talked about the Gamecock win. “First of all, I want to thank our crowd,” Muschamp said. “It was an amazing environment. Even after the game and waiting on our players to come in our locker room, the passion and the energy and the loyalty that they have is awe-
photo by allen sharpe
some. We really appreciate that. They certainly of 80,384 that in a close game anything could helped us in the game, especially early in the have happened. game to get us jumpstarted a little bit.” “We played off their energy, and that kept us South Carolina senior linebacker T.J. Hollogoing,” Holloman said of the crowd. man knows without the strong sellout crowd South Carolina junior running back David
Williams like his teammates and head coach knows the strong crowd behind them gave them a huge advantage. “I think the fans played a huge part,” Williams said.
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4 • Spurs & Feathers
September 21, 2016
Gutty performance from South Carolina leads to win in home opener by brian hand Executive Editor
champ that they would go for it in that position. “We needed to steal possessions in the game and keep them off the field,” Muschamp said COLUMBIA - A gritty red zone defense and before adding that offensive coordinator Kurt a 17-point first quarter helped lead South CaroRoper and his staff also made an “outstanding lina to a 20-15 win over East Carolina in its call” in that situation. home opener before a sellout crowd of 80,384 That would be all the Gamecocks would need at Williams-Brice Stadium. as they would run out the clock the rest of the “Give those guys credit,” South Carolina way to pick up the win. head football coach Will Muschamp said after East Carolina statistically had the numbers in the game. “They’ve got a good football team, the game as they out-gained the Gamecocks, but it was a very gutty performance by our 519-312, and held a 38:25-21:35 advantage in players. They kept battling, kept hanging in terms of time of possession, but once again the there in the game. They fought through adverGamecocks held the only score that mattered, sity and we’ve got to continue to build on that which was the final score. and we’ve got to have some consistency from Plus, the Gamecock defense limited East that.” Carolina to just 2-of-6 in their red zone opporThe Gamecocks made it look easy to start tunities. things off as A.J. Turner returned the opening “That was major,” linebacker Bryson Allenkickoff 80 yards to the East Carolina 18-yard Williams said of the Gamecocks’ red zone line. After a personal foul by East Carolina on defense. “Coach Muschamp and the coaches the same play, it would only take one play for talked about East Carolina coming in and being the Gamecocks to take a 7-0 advantage with an up-tempo, fast-paced team. When they get down to the red zone, we just have to have a lot Brandon McIlwain’s first snap as the starting more fight. I felt like our defense really stepped quarterback for the Gamecocks rushed in from up today and made a statement.” nine yards out with 14:43 remaining in the first McIlwain concluded his first career start 16quarter. photo by allen sharpe of-28. He passed for a total of 195 yards to go The Gamecocks would not take long to exalong with his 34 yards rushing and two rushtend their advantage to 14-0 when with 10:47 ing touchdowns. left in the first quarter, McIlwain captured East Carolina looked as if they would be pullThe Pirates would be able to cut the GameThe plan according to Muschamp all along his second rushing touchdown of the day on ing even closer with under six minutes to play cock lead to eight with 8:42 to play when Plowwas to start McIlwain, and the starting quartera 10-yard run. The touchdown run was made in the first half with the Pirates making it all the man’s 45-yard field goal concluded a sevenpossible after just two plays earlier McIlwain way to the Gamecocks 1-yard line, but a huge play, 20-yard drive that took 2:30 off the clock back spot is his job going forward. “We’re going to continue to progress our ofhad put the Gamecocks in scoring position on Jamarcus King interception gave the Gamefor the Pirates. fense,” Muschamp said. “We need to, but that a 42-yard connection with another true freshcocks the football back and kept the score at The Gamecocks would quickly match East was the plan going in (to start McIlwain).” man in Bryan Edwards. After a 20-yard David 17-6 in their favor. Carolina’s field goal with a field goal of their Williams led the Gamecocks in the game Williams run to the East Carolina 10-yard The two teams would enter the halftime own with 6:24 remaining. Fry’s 39-yard field with 67 yards rushing on seven attempts. line, McIlwain then finished out the six-play, break with the Gamecocks still holding the goal that extended South Carolina’s lead to Edwards was the top receiver for the Game84-yard drive that lasted exactly two minutes same advantage. 20-9 capped off a six-play, 54-yard drive that cocks in the game with 68 yards receiving on for the Gamecocks. The second half would start with the Pirates lasted 2:18 for the Gamecocks. five catches. South Carolina’s lead would be 17-0 with marching down the field to the Gamecocks’ The Pirates would cut the Gamecock lead T.J. Holloman led the Gamecock defense in 7:58 left in the first quarter after an Elliott 6-yard line. Once again though, the Gamecock to 20-15 with 2:29 left when Devin Anderson the game with nine total tackles, while D.J. Fry 37-yard field goal finished off a five-play, defense would come up huge with Lammons scored on a four-yard touchdown pass from 10-yard scoring drive by the Gamecocks that picking off a Nelson pass at the 1-yard line. Nelson. The touchdown finished off a 13-play, Smith and Lammons were right behind with eight tackles each. Lammons in the game had took 1:21 off the clock. The scoring drive for With 5:07 left in the third quarter, the Pirates 75-yard drive that lasted 3:55. two tackles for loss, one sack and one intercepSouth Carolina was made possible when Chris would once again have a chance to cut into the East Carolina then went for two to try and tion. Lammons forced East Carolina quarterback Gamecock lead, but Plowman’s 25-yard field get within three, but their conversion attempt East Carolina’s Zay Jones led all in the game Phillip Nelson into a fumble that was recovered goal attempt was partially blocked by Ulric missed to leave the Gamecocks up by five. The with a school and American Athletic Conferby Dante Sawyer at the East Carolina 29-yard Jones and missed wide left to keep the score at Pirates would try the onside kick next, but the ence record 22 catches for 190 yards. Jones line. 17-6 in favor of South Carolina. Gamecocks would recover. The Pirates would get on the scoreboard for The Gamecock defense would find a way to It looked as if the Gamecocks might go three caught half of Nelson’s completions in the the first time with 3:37 left in the first quarter stop another East Carolina scoring opportunity and out on their next offensive possession, but game as Jones was 44-for-58 overall for 400 yards passing. He had one touchdown pass and when a Davis Plowman 32-yard field goal end- just a couple minutes into the fourth quarter on fourth and one at the 40-yard line a great ed a 11-play, 62-yard drive that lasted 4:21. Just when a forced fumble at the 5-yard line by play call led to an option that went for a 25-yard two interceptions. under three minutes into the second quarter Antoine Wilder was recovered by D.J. Smith in Williams run. The run gave the Gamecocks the South Carolina will next travel to Kentucky for an SEC showdown with the Wildcats in the Pirates would make it 17-6 after Plowman’s the end zone and gave the Gamecocks back the football at the East Carolina 15-yard line with Lexington, Kentucky at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, 43-yard field goal capped off a 13-play, 51-yard football and left the score once again at 17-6 in 1:45 remaining in the contest. drive for East Carolina. The drive lasted 5:01. South Carolina’s favor. There was never any doubt according to Mus- Sept. 24.
Spurs & Feathers • 5
September 21, 2016
View from the East Carolina locker room by kyle heck Reporter
tight area. The other thing is we had a few mental errors on assignments in the front, but also we felt like we had some good COLUMBIA - East Carolina head coach matchups and covers down there, and we Scottie Montgomery knows that it is hard just didn’t take advantage of it.” to win a road game when you fail to score ECU quarterback Philip Nelson ended up any points on four separate trips to the red throwing for 400 yards, but those two critizone. cal interceptions near the goal line were all The Pirates found that out the hard way he was thinking about when the game was as turnovers near the goal line doomed over. them in a 20-15 loss to South Carolina at “Hats off to South Carolina,” Nelson said. Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. “They did a great job. At the same time, I 17. just feel like we did a poor job of executing “The difference in this game was the pen- down there.” alties and turnovers,” Montgomery said. Despite the loss, Pirates wide receiver ECU had four turnovers overall in the Zay Jones nearly broke an NCAA record. game, and three of them came inside the He racked up 22 receptions for a careerSouth Carolina 10-yard line. There were high 190 yards. The 22 receptions were a two interceptions, one each by Jamarcus school and American Athletic Conference King and Chris Lammons, and a forced record, and just one shy of the NCAA fumble by Antoine Wilder that was recov- record of 23 catches last accomplished in ered by D.J. Smith in the end zone. 2008. While Montgomery said the struggles “Our coaches did a really good job of had a lot to do with self-inflicted wounds, utilizing me in the slot and outside and putSouth Carolina showed them a physicality ting me in different places to make opporthe Pirates hadn’t seen before. tunities for our team,” Jones said. “First thing they did, they are very big,” “He’s a big-time player,” Montgomery Montgomery said of the Gamecocks. added of Jones. “We’ve said it, when you “They’re very physical down there in that come on road games, what you want to
photo by jenny dilworth
do is pack your bus with a lot of guys with big-time character, and those are the guys that always play well. He has bigtime character, he’s a big-time player and when you put those two things together, it doesn’t matter where you go.” Coming into the game, Montgomery and the Pirates had to prepare for two different quarterbacks because they weren’t sure who was going to start between Brandon McIlwain and Perry Orth. McIlwain start-
ed and played the entire game, and it took a while for the Pirates to adjust. “We spent a lot of time preparing for the drop-back passing game, which we didn’t see a lot of,” Montgomery said. “You have to split time in practice because you don’t know what you’re going to get. But I thought all-in-all, our defense once we settled in and got back to the 50 percent of our gameplan that we had worked for Brandon McIlwain, we settled down and played pretty good football.” Even with the loss, Montgomery was proud of the way his defense played. The Pirates limited the Gamecocks to 312 total yards, and just three points after the 17 quick points to start the game. However, South Carolina managed to make the important plays near the goal line when it mattered most, and came out with the victory in its home opener before a sellout crowd. “Hats off to the University of South Carolina,” Montgomery said. “Coach Muschamp, I think they have a good football team and they did a good job today. We just have to play better in the red zone, and be able to put it all together at certain times.”
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6 • Spurs & Feathers
September 21, 2016
‘Our University has great fans’: S&F exclusive with Frank Martin Spurs & Feathers executive editor Brian Hand recently sat down with South Carolina men’s basketball head coach Frank Martin to talk about a number of different topics. S&F: As you have talked about numerous times, it has been a different offseason for you with the Costa Rica foreign tour and the way you approached the tour. How has the tour allowed you to grow as a head coach? When you deal with your players yearround and get to know them, you’re always with the basketball part of it. You’re always so consumed with fixing the problems that by disengaging you can sit back and watch and see the good. I know coaching high school basketball in the summers every assistant would be in charge of one summer camp and one league, and I would go to all of the games, but I would sit in the stands. If there was a discipline issue, I would deal with it, but as far as the basketball part of it, our assistants knew the system. They coached it, they knew the terminology and I was able to sit back and it would give me perspective as to the good that kids do. Not just what they have to get better at, and I think that is what this summer did for me. You don’t get a gauge for what your players do in a 40-minute workout with four guys. You don’t get a gauge for ability to learn when you conduct workouts that last two hours a week. When you actually see them for 10 days for two to two and a half hours a day and what you spend two hours practicing on day one is expected to be able to be repeated on day two, you can get a sense for learning and what motivates who, who’s receptive and who is not, who understands and who does not, which then allows you to do your job a little better. All of those things were what helped me tremendously as we go into the year. S&F: Obviously having the chance to practice as a full squad in August afforded you new opportunities as a team. How do you think it will impact the upcoming season? The old guys and the new guys kind of found out the good and the warts about each other, which it’s not just about getting along and liking each other, it’s about also understanding the things that bother us about one another, so we can better communicate and
understand so we eventually can connect and grow. That’s what that trip did. Our guys have a much-better understanding of one another - old guys and new guys - than we had at this time last year. At this time last year, all the old guys and new guys were still trying to figure each other out. Right now, those guys pretty much understand one another. S&F: It’s kind of crazy to think about it, but this year begins the senior years for Duane Notice, Justin McKie and Sindarius Thornwell. When they came in the program was in a much different place. How special is it to see players such as these buy in and help to build the program up over the past few years? It’s unreal. I remember being on the phone with Duane when we were getting ready to play Mississippi State in Nashville at the conference tournament. It was at the end of our first season, and I’m on the phone earlier that day trying to convince him that we’d be the right place for him. Now you fast-forward and here he is, Sixth Man of the Year in the SEC, a guy that has taken an unbelievable pride in growing and in how we do things. I couldn’t be prouder of him. The same thing with Sindarius and Justin. Justin was funny in his recruitment because he wanted me to offer sooner than I did. It was important for me to get to know Justin and the whole dynamic there, and when I did he was so happy that I could see it coming out of his pores. He was ecstatic. Sindarius had all these other big-name schools on the table, and he was in a place where he loved this state, loved his family and he always loved the Gamecocks, but he also had a decision to make for his career and for the benefits of Sindarius Thornwell. He jumped in and believed in what we were talking about at a stage where he knew the beginning was going to be kind of difficult. All three of those guys they’ve taken ownership and bought in. They’ve become tremendous leaders in our locker room, and they absolutely love this school, love this community, love their team and as a coach I couldn’t be prouder of how they’ve worked and how they’ve helped me improve and they’re willingness to believe in our vision four years ago and then coming in here and working and seeing some of those things true. S&F: With all of the new players in
photo by brian hand
Frank Martin is pictured in his office at the Colonial Life Arena on Wednesday, Sept. 7. your program, is there anything that has surprised you from the new players, or is there anything Gamecock fans can expect out of this new grouping of Gamecocks? I think with the frontline guys, it’s the athleticism and the strength that they all play with. Mindaugas (Kacinas) was never an inside guy. We trained him to figure out a way to help us in that department. Michael (Carrera) was fearless in throwing his body around, but Michael was a 205-pound guy. Laimonas (Chatkevicius) is a guy that worked so hard so he could be productive, but the physicality part of the game that was never something he was completely comfortable with. These guys that we’re talking about, they’re all 250 pounds naturally and they all run and they all throw their bodies around. I’m not saying that they’re going to average 25 points a game. It’s just that dynamic is going to be something that’s new within our team. Hassani Gravett, the athleticism that he has, it’s something that we have not had since I’ve been here at the guard spot. As good as Ty Johnson, Sindarius and Duane, as good as Justin will be for us, they’re all slow-twitch
guys. Hassani’s different. Hassani is like Chris Silva’s version at the guard spot. It’s what he is. The same thing with P.J. He’s a tremendous player for us, but he’s not a fasttwitch guy. Hassani is, and that’s going to be fun to watch him grow. S&F: P.J. Dozier having the opportunity to attend the Stephen Curry SC30 Select Camp says a lot about how he is perceived nationally. You’ve talked about how much he has progressed over the past few months. How much can he grow in year No. 2 in your system? I think P.J.’s put himself in a place where he can have an unbelievable year. I thought P.J. was pretty good last year, and he just kind of ran out of gas at the end of the year. That’s just my personal opinion. We won 25 games, and we didn’t win 25 in spite of him. We won 25 because of his presence, because of his greatest talent. As talented as he is as a player, his greatest talent is that he’s a heck of a teammate. He makes guys around him better. CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
Spurs & Feathers • 7
September 21, 2016
Now mentally and physically, he’s put himself in a much-better place as he enters this season. I know this summer was a great experience for him being a part of Steph’s camp. All these are moments that 20 years from now when he looks back, he’s going to be proud of every one of these things and that he was so fortunate to be a part of these things. The way that he goes out and represents himself, his family and the University everywhere he goes is what makes him special. That’s why I have so much confidence that he’s going to have an unbelievable year, and that he’s going to help our team have an unbelievable year.
photo by jenny dilworth
people, to help who you’re calling better understand what you’re about and what you’re building, what you want to be about and where they fit. I’d like to think that we’re continuing to recruit at a higher level every year that goes by. That means the success of the previous season is allowing us and helping us to get in certain doors that maybe we couldn’t get in two years before.
S&F: Last year, your program was among the tops in the SEC and the nation in terms of attendance. I know one of the reasons you came to South Carolina was because you knew the Colonial Life Arena could be an intimidating place to play when filled. How pleased are you by the continued progression of fans buying into making it a tough situation for opponents? Our University has great fans. You go to any athletic event and there is a bunch of people there. S&F: Obviously you cannot speak on We had to improve our product. We had certain players due to NCAA rules, but to restore the faith of our fans. The one when recruiting with the program to the thing that I did not gauge before I got here level it is now how much easier is it to is that our fans had been burned for a long get players to talk about the time and they were scarred future of Gamecock basketpretty good. When you scar ball? somebody, you can’t expect We just don’t have access to them to go get scarred again. the first phone call. We have There’s some healing that access to continuing converneeds to take place, and I sations past that first phone think over the last four years, call, and that’s what gets you we’ve gotten to a place where All Gamecock basketball our fans are really, really excited because that gives coverage sponsored by starting to trust in our guys. you an opportunity to build Yesterdays a relationship, to get to know Like I said this past spring
and summer on the Gamecock Club tour, the first game I ever coached in this building there was less than 4,000 people in the stands. This past year if you eliminate the NIT games in the regular-season, we aver-
aged over 13,000 people per game. That’s a huge turnaround. It’s a huge turnaround. That just goes to show the commitment of Gamecock fans towards the school, and obviously our program.
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S&F: The 2016-17 schedule was just released and as always it includes some tremendous matchups. Did this year’s schedule accomplish what you wanted? I hope so. I thought last year’s schedule accomplished what we wanted, and then for whatever reason, coaching changes, people transferring out, teams that were supposed to have good years don’t have as good of years as you thought they would have and then all of the sudden the opponent numbers go south, which makes it look like your number is no good. We, once again, put together a schedule that we feel has a chance to be good. You look at the games, where they’re at, the opponents, the caliber (of opponents), what they did last year and all arrows indicate and point towards a very hard schedule. We’ll see. The non-conference schedule is supposed to prepare you for conference play, and I think this non-conference schedule once again will prepare us for conference play. Last year, I think the schedule we played and the wins we had against the opponents that we had - whether it was away from home or here - prepared us for conference. There’s a reason we won 11 games and finished third in the SEC. We kind of ran out of gas at the end of the year. We had to exert so much into winning, but the opponents were good too. It’s not like we have to apologize for losing a game. It’s just unfortunate it wasn’t meant to be (make the NCAA Tournament).
8 • Spurs & Feathers
September 21, 2016
2017 Gamecock football schedule announced South Carolina Athletics MEdia Relations The 2017 University of South Carolina football schedule was unveiled by the SEC Network on Tuesday, Sept. 13. The Gamecocks will play seven home games, four road games and one neutral site game during the 2017 campaign. The Gamecocks will open the 2017 season in Charlotte, N.C., for the third time since 2011 when they take on North Carolina State on Saturday, September 2, at Bank of America Stadium. The Gamecocks are 2-0 when opening the season in Charlotte, defeating East Carolina by a 56-37 score in 2011, then topping North Carolina by a 17-13 margin in 2015. The Gamecocks have won each of the last two meetings with the Wolfpack to take a slim 27-26-4 advantage in the all-time series. Carolina jumps into SEC action in week two when it travels to Columbia, Mo. to face the Missouri Tigers on September 9. Mizzou has won back-to-back games to take a 4-2 advantage in the season series with the winner securing the Mayor’s Cup for another year. The 2017 home opener is set for Saturday, September 16, when the Kentucky Wildcats visit Williams-Brice Stadium in another SEC Eastern Division showdown. The Wildcats have escaped with wins in each of the last two seasons, but the Gamecocks still hold a comfortable lead in the all-time series with Kentucky, 179-1. The Gamecocks are home again on September 23 as they host Louisiana Tech in a non-conference matchup. The teams met on the gridiron in five consecutive years from 1991-95, but have not played since. Carolina has won each of the last four meetings and owns a 4-0-1 lead in the all-time series. The Gamecocks wrap up the first month of the season with a September 30 date in College Station with Texas A&M. The Aggies have won each of the first two meetings in a series in which the two schools are tabbed as “permanent” SEC cross-division rivals. The Gamecocks’ former “permanent” cross-division rival, Arkansas, provides the opposition on October 7 at Williams-Brice Stadium. The Razorbacks hold a 139 lead in a series in which the teams played every year from 1992-2013. The Gamecocks have won the last two games in the series, most recently a 52-7 rout in Fayetteville in 2013. The Gamecocks begin the second half of the 2017 slate in Knoxville against the Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols have won each of the last three meetings after Carolina had won three-straight from 2010-12. Tennessee holds a 25-7-2 lead in the all-time series, including a 16-2 advantage in Knoxville. After the season’s lone open date on October 21, the Gamecocks return to SEC action on October 28 when they host the Vanderbilt Commodores in Columbia. The Gamecocks opened the 2016 season with a win over the ‘Dores in Nashville, extending their winning streak in the series to eight-straight games. The Gamecocks hold a 22-4 lead in the all-time series. The Gamecocks final road game of the 2017 season will come on November 4 at Georgia. The Bulldogs
photo by allen sharpe
own a 48-18-2 advantage in the all-time series, but the Gamecocks have won four of the last six meetings between the two Eastern Division rivals. It’s only the second time since 1980 that the Gamecocks and Bulldogs have met after September (they played on October 6 in 2012), and is the second-latest date in the history of the series that extends back to 1894, surpassed only by the November 18 game in 1939. The Gamecocks wrap up the 2017 regular season with three-consecutive home games. The SEC slate comes to an end when the Florida Gators visit Columbia on November 11. The Gators lead the all-time series by a 25-8-3 margin, but the Gamecocks have won four of the last six meetings between the two schools. The Wofford Terriers make their way to WilliamsBrice Stadium on November 18 to renew their instate rivalry with the Gamecocks. South Carolina has won each of the last 16 meetings to take a commanding 19-4 lead in the series between the two Palmetto state schools, with the Terriers last win coming in 1917. The regular season concludes with the annual Palmetto Bowl showdown between South Carolina and
Clemson on November 25. The Tigers hold a 67-42-4 lead in the all-time series, but the Gamecocks have won five of the last seven meetings with their instate rivals from the Atlantic Coast Conference.
2017 SOUTH CAROLINA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Sept. 2 vs NC State (Charlotte) Sept. 9 at Missouri* Sept. 16 KENTUCKY* Sept. 23 LOUISIANA TECH Sept. 30 at Texas A&M* Oct. 7 ARKANSAS* Oct. 14 at Tennessee* Oct. 21 Open Date Oct. 28 VANDERBILT* Nov. 4 at Georgia* Nov. 11 FLORIDA* Nov. 18 WOFFORD Nov. 25 CLEMSON *-SEC game
Spurs & Feathers • 9
September 21, 2016
South Carolina Gamecocks
2016
football Schedule 09/01/16...........at Vanderbilt# ....................... Nashville, Tenn....................W, 13-10
Standings
SEC East
SEC
W-L
HOME
ROAD
NEU PF PA STRK
09/10/16...........at Mississippi State#............ Starkville, Miss...................... L, 27-14
Florida
1-0
3-0
3-0
0-0
0-0
101
14
W3
09/17/16........ East Carolina....................Columbia, S.C............... W, 20-15
Georgia
1-0
3-0
1-0
1-0
1-0
87
75
W3
09/24/16...........at Kentucky#.......................... Lexington, Ky......................7:30 p.m.
South Carolina 1-1
2-1
1-0
1-1
0-0
47
52
W1
Tennessee
0-0
3-0
2-0
0-0
1-0
93
56
W3
10/01/16........ Texas A&M#.....................Columbia, S.C.......................TBA
Kentucky
0-1
1-2
1-1
0-1
0-0
104
131
W1
10/08/16........ Georgia#..........................Columbia, S.C.......................TBA
Missouri
0-1 1-2 1-1 0-1 0-0 99 75 L1
10/22/16........ Massachusetts.................Columbia, S.C.......................TBA
Vanderbilt 0-1 1-2 1-1 0-1 0-0 64 75 L1
10/29/16........ Tennessee#......................Columbia, S.C.......................TBA
SEC West
SEC
W-L PF
PA W-L PF PA STRK
11/05/16........ Missouri#.........................Columbia, S.C.......................TBA
Alabama
1-0
3-0 1-0
1-0 1-0 138 59 W3
Texas A&M
1-0
3-0
2-0
1-0
0-0
127
40
W3
LSU
1-0
2-1
2-0
0-0
0-1
71
49
W2
Mississippi State 1-1
1-2
1-1
0-1
0-0
67
58
L1
Arkansas
0-0
3-0
2-0
1-0
0-0
104
61
W3
Auburn
0-1 1-2 1-2 0-0 0-0 80 62 L1
Ole Miss
0-1
11/12/16...........at Florida#............................... Gainesville, Fla.............................TBA 11/19/16........ Western Carolina.............Columbia, S.C.......................TBA 11/26/16...........at Clemson.............................. Clemson, S.C.................................TBA Bold=Home Game #=SEC
1-2
1-1
0-0
0-1
115
106
L1
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10 • Spurs & Feathers
September 21, 2016
‘This year is different’ Remembering a true Gamecock As the Gamecocks kicked off the 2016 college football season in Nashville, everything felt different. Like most college football fanatics, the start of the season has always been like a holiday to me – where the days are counted down with more anticipation than Christmas. This year is different. Not because of the makeover that the Gamecock football program has undergone in the last nine months, but because of something else. Instead of reading every article, blog, and message board evaluating every miniscule detail of preseason practice, I have spent the last several weeks mourning the loss of my father, a Gamecock fan for over 35 years, who died unexpectedly in July. I cancelled the hotel room we were going to share in Nashville. I tried to prepare myself for my first college football season without my dad. It is fitting that the Gamecocks opened the 2016 season against Vanderbilt. My father, Terry Marshall, graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1973. After obtaining a medical doctorate from the University of Tennessee, he completed a residency in pediatrics, met his wife of 39 years, completed a fellowship in neonatology at the University of Virginia, and then moved to Columbia, where I was born in 1981. Before moving the Greenwood a few years later, where he would ultimately care for over 7,000 premature babies over 32 years in the NICU at Self Regional Healthcare, my dad worked for Richland Memorial Hospital and served as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the USC School of Medicine. A Gamecock was born. My earliest childhood memories involve the Gamecocks. Tailgating in my youth Todd Ellis jersey, throwing the football with my dad and two brothers in the fairgrounds. Sitting in the upper deck of Williams-Brice stadium. Helping my dad carry the same four seat cushions into every game. Listening to strangers offer to buy a “Black Magic” shirt off my dad’s back year after year. It is not surprising that my parents raised three Gamecock graduates: my brother, Alan (2001); me (2003); and my brother, Drew (2006). I remember sitting in East Upper on Halloween in 1992 when the Gamecocks stuffed a two-point conversion to beat Tennessee 2423 as scenes from the movie “The Program” were filmed during timeouts, halftime, and between quarters. Brandon Bennett was my favorite Gamecock at the time, and his kick return “throwback” to Reggie Richardson in
submitted photo
submitted photo
Terry Marshall tailgating in the fall of 2004.
Meeting Spurrier in Greenwood in spring 2014.
the 1994 Clemson game happened right in front of our 5th row, 15-yard line scalped seats in the heart of Death Valley. After the game, we stormed the field and celebrated with the team. I even got Brandon Bennett to sign my hat. That offseason, after the Gamecocks’ first bowl win in history, I tagged along with my dad and met head coach Brad Scott at Angelo’s with the Greenwood Gamecock Club. But as the sun set on the Brad Scott era, my dad was like most Gamecocks at the time, in need of something new. Or at least something new to us. Lou Holtz proved to be that reenergizing force. Coincidentally, my freshman year at USC was Holtz’s inaugural season at the helm. Although the 1999 season was forgettable, the 2000 and 2001 seasons were special. Perhaps most memorable of the Lou Holtz era was going to Athens with my dad in 2001, where we witnessed “The Catch” by Brian Scott. We celebrated so much that night that my dad received a ticket for drinking a beer on Clayton Street. Apparently, (a) you aren’t supposed to do that, and (b) Athens police don’t take kindly to being told, “You’re only hassling me because I’m a Gamecock fan and we beat y’all.” My dad and I capped off the 2001 season with a cold New Year’s trip to Tampa to watch Ryan Brewer’s Gamecocks defeat the Buckeyes from Ohio State University, 31-28. Nine months later, I found myself in Charlottesville, again with my dad, some friends, and extended family with ties to UVA. Given his time in Charlottesville, where my older brother Alan was born, my dad always held a special place in his heart for UVA. True to form, we started tailgating at 7:30 in the morning for a 7:45 pm game, which did not go our way.
Funny how six fumbles pretty much eliminates your chances of success. But my dad took the loss better than me and my friends, because he didn’t join us when we drove back to Columbia after the fourth quarter ended. Not our smartest decision. I capped off the 2002 season tailgating with my dad in Clemson, and would still prefer not to talk about it. In fact, it is the last time I have stepped foot in that part of South Carolina, and I don’t have any desire to return. But my dad would return every now and then, sometimes bringing home a win, and the other times leaving at halftime. I made my first trip to Nashville for the 2004 Vandy game and had a great time with my friends and parents. Although the Gamecocks always came first, my dad loved the Commodores too. His typical attire for a USC-Vandy game was a Vanderbilt shirt and Gamecocks hat. He took pride in having graduated from Vanderbilt University. My dad and younger brother Drew returned to Vandy for the game in 2008, and I wish I could have seen their face when Erin Andrews got on the elevator with them at the Nashville Marriott prior to the game. But perhaps my most enjoyable Vandy moment with my dad was in 2009. In typical fashion, he wore his Vandy shirt and Gamecocks hat, and I did what every respectable Gamecock graduate would do under the circumstances – put a few “Beat Vandy” stickers on his back. As fate would have it, the last football game my dad would attend at Williams-Brice stadium was against Vanderbilt on October 17, 2015, a game the Gamecocks would win 1910. True to form, he proudly flew flags from
both his favorite schools. In 2010, I went to Auburn with friends and hopeful anticipation of the Gamecocks beating Cam Newton’s Auburn. About 9:00 pm the night before the game as I was walking through Toomer’s Corner, my dad called, asking how everything was going. I could tell in his voice that he regretted not making the trip, so I told him to get up in the morning and drive down. It was an evening game, so he would have time if he left early enough. Little did I know, he already decided he was coming, had the car packed, and only needed to know the name and room number of our hotel in Opelika. Next thing I know, I awoke sometime after 3:00 am to loud banging on our hotel room door. It was my dad. He barged into the room and climbed in bed. I should have known. We had a great day tailgating the next day, and despite the loss, I know he was glad he came. I enjoyed many games with my dad over the years, and I especially enjoyed tailgating with him after I finished law school in 2006 when he bought adjacent parking spaces for us in the newly developed Gamecock Pavilion tailgating facility on Bluff Road. We soon learned that the parking lot never opened early enough for my dad, so he obtained the gate code and let himself in hours before staff and security would arrive. For my dad, tailgating for Gamecock football was about bringing family together, and my parents soon became grandparents. Although I have so many memories of Gamecock experiences with my dad, there is no doubt that the one achievement my dad enjoyed the most was the stretch of five straight wins over Clemson from 2009 to 2013. It was the pinnacle. As much as my dad adored the Gamecocks, he detested the Tigers. It was a special time. For my family, the end of August didn’t just mean the start of football season. It was a time for family. My dad’s birthday was August 28th. More than once, the Gamecocks kicked off the college football season on his birthday. Over the years, my dad would often join me for the Columbia Touchdown Club meetings when head coach Steve Spurrier was the featured speaker. But he also came one time Brandon Bennett was the speaker, because he remembered my adoration for #33 as a child and because he wanted to know if the CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
Spurs & Feathers • 11
September 21, 2016
SUBMITTED PHOTO
SUBMITTED PHOTO
SUBMITTED PHOTO
SUBMITTED PHOTO
My dad and brother holding me in 1981.
David, Alan, Drew, Jane and Terry Marshall. Tailgating with grandkids vs. ECU, Sept. 8, 2012.
David, Cristy, Jane and Terry Marshall.
recruiting story with Johnny Majors was true. According to Bennett, it was. Another Gamecock moment my dad was proud of was the day he met Marcus Lattimore. Like the rest of Gamecock Nation, my dad was especially fond of Marcus and his track record of overcoming adversity. My dad’s love of the Gamecocks wasn’t just limited to football, although honestly his love for basketball never fully recovered after the Eddie Fogler era. He had season tickets for a few years under Dave Odom, but mostly came to an occasional game when I was able to take him. He thoroughly enjoyed the 2015-2016 men’s basketball season, and the last game he attended in person was March 3, 2016, when the Gamecocks lost a close one to Georgia.
I turned my dad on to baseball during my freshman year in the spring of 2000. It didn’t hurt that the team won 50 games and had the best pitching staff in the country. I sat next to him at Sarge Frye Field as the Gamecocks beat Miami in the 2002 Super Regionals, and again in 2003 when the Gamecocks advanced past North Carolina. But, of course, the pinnacle was 2010-2011. I will forever cherish the memories made with my father during the regionals and super regionals during the best run in school history. As fate would have it, the last Gamecock sporting event my dad would witness in person occurred June 7, 2016 – the regional finale when the Gamecocks beat UNC Wilmington. Through some good friends, we were able to watch the game from a suite,
football season for me. But as time passes, I am finding comfort and laughter in the memories of my father, our mutual affection for the Gamecocks, and from a note my dad wrote in 2004 in the event of his untimely passing:
Enjoy our beaches every da y... Call about proper ties for sale.
and my dad loved every minute of it. Before returning to Greenwood, he stopped for dinner at one of his favorite restaurants, Gervais and Vine. Shortly over a month later, my dad passed away. Not only did I lose my father and role model, I lost my best friend. The person I shared Gamecock sports with my entire life. Although I think of him daily, I have especially missed talking with him about recent Gamecock developments – Spurrier returning to Florida, Andy Demetra leaving for Georgia Tech, recruiting wins and losses, the start of the Will Muschamp era, preseason practices, QB competition, and Derek Mason’s letter to “Commodore Nation” concerning the game on September 1st. Needless to say, it is going to be a difficult
With that, I am looking forward to tailgating with my dad one more time. David Marshall USC, Class of 2003 USC School of Law, Class of 2006 Gamecock Club Member since 2004 Twitter: @dcm1142
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12 • Spurs & Feathers
September 21, 2016
Tommy Suggs Garnet Way officially unveiled by brian hand Executive Editor
the special evening were many of Tommy Suggs’ Sigma Nu fraternity brothers. Before the Suggs family cut the ribbon on For Tommy and Jane Suggs it has been the special evening, South Carolina athletics a “marriage-long” dream of theirs to be director Ray Tanner talked with everyone in able to give back to the University of South attendance about just how much the Suggs Carolina in a significant way with a substan- have meant to the University of South Carotial gift. lina. That’s why the evening of Friday, Sept. 16, “Tommy has been a longtime teammate was so special to them as before family and of our program,” Tanner said of the former friends the Tommy Suggs Garnet Way was Gamecock quarterback, who helped lead the photo by brian hand officially dedicated. Gamecocks to the 1969 ACC title. The special ribbon-cutting ceremony The promenade in Gamecock Park being on the evening featured many of Tommy named in Tommy Suggs’ honor is due to the day of the special dedication. Suggs’ former Gamecock football teamsubstantial gift given by the Suggs to the The Tommy Suggs Garnet Way at Gamemates in attendance as well as their family Football Operations Center, which officially cock Park has two special gates installed by and friends. In addition in attendance on entered phase two of its process the same the company of former Gamecock running
back Ryan Brewer. The gates both say Tommy Suggs Garnet Way, and there is also a plaque with details about the Tommy Suggs Garnet Way. Now in his 44th year as the analyst for Gamecock football games on the radio, Tommy Suggs originally planned to attend Clemson, but instead changed his mind. In fact, Suggs considers that decision along with marrying Jane two of the best decisions of his life, and on the night of Friday, Sept. 16, at the official dedication of the Tommy Suggs Garnet Way that was more than evident. “The University of South Carolina has always been very special to our family,” Tommy Suggs said.
‘It’s like family here’: Gamecock Cruisers have a special group by brian hand Executive Editor For Tommy and Jane Suggs it has been a”It’s like our own little town.” Michael Beckham’s thoughts were spot-on when describing what exactly it was like for an outsider to come and see what the Gamecock Cruisers were all about. In general, the Gamecock Cruisers are a group of recreational vehicle owners that are passionate about South Carolina athletics, but now in their seventh year with the Family Motor Coach Association the group has become so much more. “It’s like family here,” Beckham, in his first year as the president of the Gamecock Cruisers, told Spurs & Feathers the morning before the first South Carolina home game of the year on Saturday, Sept. 17. “We do something every game and just eat, watch games, fellowship and then go watch Carolina play. Win or lose, we try and have a great time.” That the group tries to have a great time among the family atmosphere was more than evident the morning of Sept. 17 as around 9 a.m. that morning for a 4 p.m. kickoff the group was already up having a first-class breakfast among friends. In general it was just readily apparent that the group was just glad to be back home. “It’s awesome,” Beckham said of seeing the Gamecock Cruisers getting ready for the South Carolina home opener. “We spent the first two weeks of the season at away games, and it’s good to be back home with everybody here.” The Gamecock Cruisers had around 60 families in town for the home opener, which
photo by brian hand
also served as their annual business meeting that was attended by South Carolina senior associate athletics director for development and the Gamecock Club Jeff Crane. In addition to all of the fun, one of the most unique things that the Gamecock Cruisers provide is that they work with Spurs & Feathers and South Carolina athletics to help make sure Gamecock fans know where to park for away games. “We help set up the parking so that people
are not lost when they go on the road,” Beckham said. “We try to kind of help provide a way of going on the road in an organized manner so people can enjoy it.” Former Gamecock Cruisers president and current FMCA liaison for the group Mike McManus started helping in this way because “for RVs, it’s not always easy to find out where you’re supposed to park.” Despite having such a tight-knit group, the Gamecock Cruisers are always looking to
grow their family. “We’re trying to build our membership and bring as many people in this lot to join the Cruisers,” Beckham said. “We want to be instead of just a club of friends, more of a thing for all Gamecock fans.” 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.
September 21, 2016
Spurs & Feathers • 13
Gourmet Gents Grub of the Week Nearly World Famous BLT Dip 1 Cup Sour Cream 1 Cup Mayonnaise Cooked bacon, crumbled (as much as you’d like to add) Hint: Add LOTS 2 large tomatoes with seeds removed and drained to remove water Mix the Sour Cream, Mayonnaise, and bacon together thoroughly. Add the tomatoes right before being ready to serve so the dip doesn’t get watered down. Serve with sliced baguettes, French bread, chips etc Enjoy! About the Gourmet Gents Who are we? A few families who randomly met at Williams Brice Stadium that enjoy doing it big (and just for fun) in the parking lot for the Gamecocks. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @Gourmet_Gents.
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Go Gamecocks!
14 • Spurs & Feathers
September 21, 2016
Gamecocks to host Women Empowering the Game Coaches Clinic south carolina athletics media relations
“Our goal is to bring together highly respected and successful women basketball coaches and professionals to foster learning, South Carolina women’s basketball coach inspiration and provoke conversation,” Staley Dawn Staley is hosting the Women Empowsaid of the event. “Some of the best minds in ering the Game coaches clinic at Colonial Life the game of women’s basketball will share Arena on Sun., Oct. 30, from 1-6 p.m. The their knowledge with our South Carolina clinic will feature presentations from various basketball community. I’m most excited about WNBA coaches and administrators, includour players getting unprecedented access to ing WNBA President Lisa Borders, as Staley women who are leaders in the game as they and Player Relations Renee Brown and three brings some of the best minds in the game of look to their future professional goals.” WNBA head coaches -- Cheryl Reeve (Minwomen’s basketball to South Carolina. Borders joins WNBA Chief of Operations nesota Lynx), Pokey Chatman (Chicago Sky)
South Carolina Gamecocks
and Jenny Boucek (Seattle Storm) -- at the inaugural event. Along with Staley and her staff, the group will lead attendees in strategy sessions and basketball round-table discussions around techniques for success in the game. The five-hour clinic is $75 per person with registration available at: https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/gamecocks/EN/link/buy/details/ wbmpwr. NCAA rules do not permit prospective student-athletes, including Junior College players, to attend this event.
Recruiting Round-up WR OrTre Smith (6-4 212) of Wando, who at one time appeared destined to be a Clemson Tiger, announced last Sunday night he instead will be a USC Gamecock and play for Will Muschamp. Smith made his commitment announcement in Charleston as part of his birthday celebration. Smith’s mother is a former Clemson volleyball player and most of his family supports the Tigers. And early on in the recruiting process Clemson held the clear upper hand on the field. But earlier this year, by all accounts, the Tigers let up in their pursuit while recruiting other receivers. Muschamp had made Smith a priority for the 2017 class and never relented in his pursuit and that, more than anything else, turned the tables in USC’s favor. “Coach Phil Kornblut Muschamp and coach Contributing McClendon showed a Writer lot of love and always kept up with me” Smith said. “That stood out to me. Coach Muschamp said I’m a priority and I could contribute as soon as I get there. I could just see myself there and it just fit.” Smith, regarded by analysts as the state’s top prospect and one of the top receivers in the country in the class, had 84 catches for 1,364 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. “He’s a competitor play in and play out,” said Wando coach Jimmy Noonan. “When it’s show time, it’s show time. He has size and his catch radius is ridiculous. He is going to make the play and he’s elusive after the catch. And he has great body control.” Smith narrowed his final list to USC, Clemson, Georgia and North Carolina and visited each over the summer. He becomes USC’s 23rd commitment for the class and the third receiver, all with the last name of Smith. He plans to enroll in January.
By Phil Kornblut
DL Tyrone Truesdell of Augusta, GA said his top schools at this point are USC, Florida, Louisville, Kentucky, Auburn and Ole Miss. Truesdell visited USC earlier this year and the Gamecocks have continued to work him. Truesdell said all the schools are recruiting him about the same but Florida is working him a little harder than the rest. Truesdell said he wants to take official visits to Auburn, Louisville and Kentucky because he hasn’t visited them before. He’s undecided on the other two official visits. DE Brad Johnson of Pendleton will make official visits this fall to Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Michigan State and Notre Dame according to his coach Paul Sutherland. The Notre Dame visit likely will take place weekend after next during Pendleton’s open week. USC is the fifth school Johnson is considering and he’s been there several times unofficially so he’s not sure he will take an official with the Gamecocks. This past Saturday Johnson went to Bristol, TN for the Tennessee-Virginia Tech game as a guest of the Hokies. Sutherland said Johnson wants to get these official visits in as soon as possible so he can finalize his plans. “South Carolina is recruiting him harder than anyone followed closely by Virginia Tech,” Sutherland said. “The others are in contact with him every week. I’ve never seen a head coach work like Will Muschamp in recruiting.” Johnson has been hampered this season with a grade one separated shoulder and has been playing with a brace. DL Romello Martin of Brooklyn dropped his top six schools recently and USC has one of those spots locked down. Joining the Gamecocks in Martin’s favored half-dozen are Tennessee, Rutgers, Florida, Miami and Ole Miss. Martin visited USC in mid-August, his only visit of the summer, and the Gamecocks continue to be a strong pursuer. Martin said he’s still working on setting up his official visits from his group of six and he thinks USC
will get one. He said Miami, Florida, Rutgers and Ole Miss are the other schools coming at him the hardest along with USC and there is no leader at this point. 2018 DE Xavier Thomas of Wilson visited Georgia last weekend and now has the Bulldogs in his top three. He plans to be at USC Saturday. He said USC coaches will scout him October 20th. USC offered 2018 OL Maxwell Iyama of Murfreesboro, TN and 2019 DE Joseph Anderson of Murfreesboro, TN. Basketball News: 7-1 center Jason Cudd of Socastee made his official visit to USC last weekend and last Monday made his official decision with a commitment to Frank Martin’s Gamecocks. Cudd also considered offers from East Carolina and Tulane. Cudd said after his visit that he liked everything he saw around the school and the program and felt he would be an excellent fit in Martin’s scheme. “They showed me how they use their big men and the style of play that they play,” Cudd said. “I think it would be a great fit. They throw the ball inside a lot. They run the offense through the big man.” Cudd is a developing big man who averaged 12 points and 8 rebounds per game last season. He’s working on his game around the rim and in developing big man moves. But he really likes to play like a small forward. “He’s a really good outside shooter,” said Socastee coach Derrick Hilton. “He’s active and runs the floor. He’s a kid who wants to get better and we’re trying to get him stronger. He’s not bad close to the rim but he’s not overly athletic. We’ve got to get him more active but he has a presence.” Cudd becomes the first Gamecock commitment for the 2017 class. 6-8 Ibrahim Doumbia, a native of Mali who attends high school in Miami, made an official visit to USC last weekend. That was his first official visit and right now Doumbia isn’t plan-
ning to take many more. “It went good, the visit went good, it was very good, it was a good experience,” Doumbia said. “The academics (stood out). They have a good business school and that’s what I want to study for college. And I think the coaches are really good, too. They tell me that they have a good program for guys like me, too. I’m just happy about it.” Doumbia said the Gamecocks talked with him about playing inside and outside. He said he averaged 18 points per game last season and can play on the perimeter. This weekend Doumbia will visit Florida and right now he has no other visits planned. But he’s not sure yet if the decision will come down to just the Gamecocks and Gators. He’s also hearing from Virginia Tech and a little bit from Tennessee. And he’s not yet sure if he’ll sign early. 6-10 Nick Claxton of Legacy Charter in Greenville made his first official visit last weekend to Florida State. He also is set to visit USC this weekend, Georgia September 30th, Baylor October 14th and NC State October 21st. Claxton visited USC unofficially earlier this summer. He averaged 15 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks per game last season. 6-3 Devontae Shuler of Oak Hill Prep, VA makes his official visit to USC this weekend. He will go to Oklahoma State next weekend and Ole Miss October 1st. 6-7 Zion Williamson of Spartanburg Day, considered by some analysts as the top prospect in the country in the 2018 class, was visited by Martin earlier in the week. Martin Friday paid a visit to 6-10 Brandon Huffman of Raleigh and 2019 SF Juwan Gary of Gray Collegiate in Columbia according to Phenom Hoops. 6-4 Clyde Trapp of Lower Richland was offered by Georgia and Georgia Tech Tuesday according to PhenomHoopReport. And Martin was scheduled to visit with him Wednesday according to former Gamecock captain Carey Rich.
Spurs & Feathers • 15
September 21, 2016
Gamecocks utilizing fall to gain momentum for spring season by brian hand Executive Editor The fall season for South Carolina women’s tennis is always about individual development and preparing the team for the rigors of the spring schedule. “We’re approaching the fall very much with the mindset that we approach every fall in that we’re going to try and improve,” fifth-year South Carolina women’s tennis head coach Kevin Epley told Spurs & Feathers. “I think the one thing we have this year is that we’re a little more confident in general than we’ve been in the past because we had a little more success last year, so our expectations are a little bit higher.” There is one big difference though from the year before. “We only have two freshmen - we had five last year - so there is a lot more girls that are familiar with our system,” Epley said. “We’re really interested in starting
to work with the new ones and seeing how they’re going to progress.” The two freshmen in Silvia Chinellato of Como, Italy and Mia Horvit of Palm City, Florida join a South Carolina women’s tennis program that has played in 22 straight NCAA Tournaments. Last year, the Gamecocks, who finished the year 19-8 (9-4 SEC), played host to an NCAA Regional, besting Winthrop in the opening round before falling to Georgia Tech in the second round. The sting of the loss in the second round of a regional they were hosting is something South Carolina is definitely using as a motivator during fall practice. “I think it’s important that we have a pretty strong fall and kind of get some momentum going into the next season,” Epley said. “We’re going to have to use that as sort of sustaining our intensity over a longer period of time next spring. We did very well for a half to three-quarters of a season and we just kind of ran out
were noted recently in the Oracle/ITA preseason rankings with the doubles team of Hadley Berg and Paige Cline ranked seventh in the country. The Gamecocks’ Caroline Dailey (51st) and Ingrid Gamarra Martins (55th) are ranked in the top-100 in singles. Cline (69th) is also ranked among the top-100 in singles. photo by allen sharpe Epley knows that the national rankings mean the Gamecocks are doing the right of gas a little bit. Probably emotional gas. things, and also that people are paying atWe kind of just spent ourselves emotional- tention. “That bodes well as we kind of look into ly, so it’s important that we can maintain.” Just over a week and a half into practice the landscape (of women’s college tennis),” Epley said. on Wednesday, Sept. 13, Epley was alSouth Carolina opened its fall season ready noticing their efforts were paying this past weekend at home by hosting the off. “It was an important day today when the USC Invitational. Along with South Carolina the tournament featured Middle Tengirls were tired and tapping into an extra nessee, North Florida and Winthrop. gear and finding a way because that what “This first tournament, half of the team it’s about,” Epley said. “That’s what sucis playing, so it will be a good opportunity cess is about.” to get some competition and to just see South Carolina has already received where we are,” Epley said. attention nationally as four Gamecocks
Brittons host Parents’ Weekend celebration by kyle heck Reporter
A little over 10 years ago, Perry Lancaster’s wife, Stacy, witnessed something that gave the couple an idea to do something special in the Columbia area during Parents’ Weekend. “12 years ago my wife Stacy was on a flight coming back from a buying trip the day before Parents’ Weekend, and she saw the influx of all of the people coming from New York, New Jersey coming into Columbia for Parents’ Weekend,” Lancaster said. “We’ve been in business for 63 years, and we said ‘you know, we believe in South Carolina and we want to be a part of South Carolina even more,’ so the next year we started doing a Parents’ Weekend party.” Lancaster is the co-owner of Brittons, a local clothing store that has been part of the Columbia community since around World War II. They’re especially entrenched in the Gamecock community, and they wanted to do something special for the big weekend when thousands of parents come into town to celebrate with their children at school. Brittons offered free food and beverages at the store prior to the South Carolina football game against East Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 17. In addition, “Mic Man” came out to mingle and take pictures with fans. Those who attended also received the opportunity to browse the store and look at the unique items Brittons has to offer. A lot of the items in the store are things
photo by kyle heck
that no one else anywhere has. “We just separate ourself that way, and invite the parents to come here and be a part of our store and have a fun day,” Lancaster said. Inside the store there are signed footballs from current head coach Will Muschamp and past coaches Steve Spurrier and Lou Holtz. In fact, Brittons provided the tie that Muschamp wore in his introductory press conference at South Carolina. That tie is one of the items that can’t be bought anywhere else. The local store is also the clothing provider for “Voice of the Gamecocks” Todd Ellis. With the special items that Brittons offers and the customer service they have provided for over six decades, they continue to get more and more customers as the years go by. “It keeps getting busier and busier,” Lancaster said. “Actually (Friday) was swamped. Friday’s a very busy day. Today will be a busy day also. It’s just a great way to give back to the community and the community come and support us.”
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16 • Spurs & Feathers
September 21, 2016
South Carolina Gamecocks # Name Pos. 1 Deebo Samuel WR 3 K.C. Crosby TE 3 Chris Lammons DB 4 Bryson Allen-Williams LB 4 Jake Bentley QB 5 Darius English DL 5 Terry Googer WR 6 Chris Moody LB 7 Korey Banks WR 7 Jamarcus King DB 8 Randrecous Davis WR 8 Marquavius Lewis DL 9 Jerad Washington WR 9 Sherrod Pittman LB 10 Skai Moore LB 10 Perry Orth QB 11 Brandon McIlwain QB 11 T.J. Holloman LB 12 Javon Charleston DB 12 Michael Scarnecchia QB 13 Sean Kelly P 13 Jalen Dread LB 14 Jamari Smith WR 15 Antoine Wilder DB 15 Matrick Belton WR 16 Bailey Hart QB 16 Rashad Fenton DB 17 Chaz Elder DB 18 Danny Gordon QB 18 Keir Thomas DL 19 Lorenzo Nunez WR 20 Joseph Charlton K/P 21 Rico Dowdle RB 22 Steven Montac DB 22 Montray Feaster WR 23 Christian Owens WR 23 Larenz Bryant LB 24 D.J. Smith DB 24 Garrett Frederick WR 25 A.J. Turner RB 26 Jasper Sasser DB 27 Toure Boyd DB 27 Ty’Son Williams RB 28 Jonathan Walton LB 29 Elliott Fry PK 30 Darius Paulk RB 30 Daniel Fennell DL 31 Chris Smith DB 32 Rod Talley RB 32 Brett Shore LB 33 David Williams RB 34 Mon Denson RB 34 Scott Grant DB 35 Shannon James DB 36 Morgan Vest DB 36 C.J. Freeman RB 39 Demetrius Smalls DB 39 Rivers Bedenbaugh TE 40 Jason Senn DB
Hgt. 6-0 6-1 5-10 6-0 6-3 6-6 6-4 6-1 5-11 6-2 5-10 6-3 5-8 6-0 6-2 6-1 6-0 6-2 6-0 6-4 5-10 5-10 5-10 5-10 6-3 6-2 5-10 6-2 6-0 6-2 6-3 6-5 5-11 5-11 6-4 6-5 6-0 5-11 5-11 5-10 6-0 5-10 6-0 6-0 6-0 5-8 6-3 5-10 5-10 5-11 6-1 5-10 5-10 5-7 6-0 5-11 5-9 6-2 5-8
Coaches/Staff
Wgt. 205 227 190 230 223 245 220 220 180 180 181 270 175 225 220 200 205 230 195 215 190 220 210 185 215 175 190 200 210 265 205 185 211 190 205 215 225 195 180 195 210 195 220 230 170 205 235 180 205 210 220 215 185 160 190 200 170 256 195
Cl. RS SO RS SO JR JR FR RS SR RS SO RS SR FR JR FR SR RS FR RS FR SR RS SR FR RS SR RS FR RS SO RS SR SO RS JR RS FR RS SR FR SO RS SR RS SO FR SO RS FR FR SO FR RS FR SR JR FR RS FR RS JR RS JR SO SR SR RS SR RS FR FR RS JR RS JR RS JR RS FR RS SO RS SR FR FR RS JR RS JR RS FR
Football Roster
Hometown/High School/Last College Inman, S.C./Chapman Bamberg, S.C./Bamberg-Ehrhardt Lauderhill, Fla./Plantation Ellenwood, Ga./Ceder Grove Opelika, Ala./Opelika Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern Atlanta, Ga./Woodward Academy McDonough, Ga./Henry County Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek Mobile, Ala./Blount Atlanta, Ga./Mays Greenwood, S.C./Greenwood/Hutchinson CC Jacksonville, Fla./First Coast Jacksonville, Fla./First Coast Cooper City, Fla./University PonteVedra, Fla./PonteVedra/Florida State College Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North Stone Mountain, Ga./St. Pius X Gurnee, Ill./Warren Fleming Island, Fla./Fleming Island Oakland, Fla./West Orange/FAU/Tallahassee JC Foley, Ala./Foley Jacksonville, Fla./Fletcher Riverdale, Ga./Hapeville Charter Columbia, S.C./Keenan/Hampton Mt. Pleasant, S.C./Wando Miami, Fla./Miami Carol City Union City, Ga./Banneker Worthington, Ohio/Worthington/Miami (Ohio) Miami, Fla./Miami Central Kennesaw, Ga./Harrison Columbia, S.C./A.C. Flora Asheville, N.C./A.C. Reynolds Covington, Ga./Newton/Coffeyville C.C. Union, S.C./Union County Griffin, Ga./Griffin Charlotte, NC./Vance Marietta, Ga./Walton Plano, Texas/Plano Clifton, Va./Centreville Jacksonville, Fla./Wolfson Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Chaffey College Sumter, S.C./Crestwood/North Carolina Daphne, Ala./Bayside Academy Frisco, Texas/Prince of Peace Christian Columbia, S.C./North Greenville Loganville, Ga./Grayson Rock Hill, S.C./South Pointe Laurens, S.C./Laurens/Gardner-Webb Irmo, S.C./Dutch Fork/Tyler JC Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter LaGrange, Ga./LaGrange Laurens, S.C./Laurens Florence, S.C./South Florence Leander, Texas/Rouse Greensboro, N.C./Northern Guilford Bluffton, S.C./Bluffton Leesville, S.C./Lexington/Georgia Southern Beaufort, S.C./Beaufort
Will Muschamp - Head Coach Bobby Bentley - Running Backs Shawn Elliott - Offensive Line Coleman Hutzler - Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers Bryan McClendon - Co-Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers Mike Peterson - Outside Linebackers Travaris Robinson - Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs Kurt Roper - Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Lance Thompson - Asst. Head Coach - Defense/Defensive Line Pat Washington - Tight Ends Jeff Dillman - Director of Strength & Conditioning Jamie Speronis - Associate AD/Football Operations Robbie Liles - Director of Player Personnel Joey Blake - Director of Football Nutrition Andre Goodman - Director of Football Development Larry Waters - Director of Football Equipment Operations Clyde Wrenn - Director of High School Relations
# Name Pos. 40 Jacob August TE 41 Tyler Ragsdale LB 42 Jordan Diggs DB 42 Alexander Woznick PK 43 Benji Russell DB 44 Adrian McGee RB 44 T.J. Brunson LB 45 Ben Asbury LS 45 Spencer Eason-Riddle LB 46 Trey Mitchell LB 46 Harrison Freeman LS 47 Drew Williams LS 47 Avery James DB 48 Nick McGriff LS 48 Dexter Wideman DL 49 Boosie Whitlow DL 50 Griffin Gentry DL 50 Sadarius Hutcherson OL 51 Cory Helms OL 52 Jajuan Blankenship DL 55 Christian Pellage OL 57 Hassan Belton LB 59 Logan Crane LS 60 Chandler Farrell OL 61 Javion Duncan DL 61 Cameron Johnson OL 63 Blake Camper OL 65 Pika Leota OL 66 Will Putnam OL 67 Ryan Green OL 69 D.J. Park OL 70 Alan Knott OL 72 Donell Stanley OL 74 Mason Zandi OL 75 Darius Whitfield OL 77 Malik Young OL 78 Zack Bailey OL 79 Trey Derouen OL 80 Shemar Glenn WR 81 Hayden Hurst TE 82 Evan Hinson TE 83 Chavis Dawkins WR 84 Kyle Markway TE 85 Devin Dingle WR 85 Michael Almond K/P 86 Robert Tucker III TE 87 Kiel Pollard TE 89 Bryan Edwards WR 90 Wyman Baxley LS 90 Taylor Stallworth DL 91 Shameik Blackshear DL 92 D.J. Wonnum DL 93 Ulric Jones DL 94 Kelsey Griffin DL 95 Dante Sawyer DL 96 Aaron Thompson DL 97 Kobe Smith DL 98 Stephon Taylor DL 99 Abu Lamin DL
Hgt. 6-6 6-0 6-0 5-11 6-0 5-11 6-1 5-10 5-11 6-2 6-4 6-2 6-0 6-0 6-4 6-3 6-1 6-4 6-4 6-0 6-6 6-0 6-3 6-2 6-0 6-8 6-8 6-4 6-5 6-4 6-4 6-4 6-4 6-9 6-2 6-3 6-6 6-3 6-1 6-5 6-4 6-2 6-5 5-10 6-3 6-3 6-0 6-3 6-2 6-2 6-4 6-4 6-5 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-2 6-4 6-4
Wgt. 248 220 205 160 200 185 225 210 226 210 235 215 195 225 280 240 246 273 310 265 305 215 245 280 260 300 300 315 282 265 330 290 325 315 286 300 315 310 175 250 238 200 245 180 222 238 230 210 195 310 265 240 300 295 275 271 305 293 310
Cl. RS SO RS FR RS SR FR RS JR FR FR RS SO FR FR FR SR JR RS SO RS FR SO FR FR RS JR FR SO SO RS FR FR RS SO FR SO FR FR SO RS JR RS JR RS SO RS SR FR RS SO SO RS FR RS FR SO FR FR SO RS FR RS FR FR FR FR FR JR RS FR FR RS JR SR JR FR FR FR RS SR
Hometown/High School/Last College Columbia, S.C./Fork Union Military Mt. Pleasant, S.C./Wando Fort Myers, Fla./Island Coast Greenville, S.C./Eastside Atlanta, Ga./Woodward Academy Greer, S.C./Greer Columbia, S.C./Richland Northeast Atlanta, Ga./Berry College Raleigh, N.C./Leesville Road Lexington, S.C./Lexington Raleigh, N.C./Leesville Road Irmo, S.C./Dutch Fork Duncan, S.C./Byrnes/Liberty Gainesville, Fla./Gainesville Saluda, S.C./Saluda/Camden Military Opelika, Ala./Opelika Birmingham, Ala./Homewood Huntingdon, Tenn./Huntingdon Alpharetta, Ga./Milton/Wake Forest Anderson, S.C./T.L. Hanna Brooksville, Fla./Nature Coast Tech Blythewood, S.C./Western Carolina Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth Summerville, S.C./Summerville Simpsonville, S.C./Woodmont/Citadel Bennettsville, S.C./Marlboro County Virginia Beach, Va./Frank W. Cox Asheville, N.C./Asheville Harrisburg, N.C./Hickory Ridge James Island, S.C./James Island/Presbyterian Dillon, S.C./Dillon Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek Floydale, S.C./Latta Chapin, S.C./Chapin Mobile, Ala./St. Paul’s Episcopal Pelzer, S.C./Woodmont Summerville, S.C./Summerville Lilburn, Ga./Parkview Union, S.C./Union County/USC-Union Jacksonville, Fla./The Bolles School Deltona, Fla./Deltona Duncan, S.C./Byrnes St. Louis, Mo./St. John Vianney Summerville, S.C./Cane Bay North Augusta, S.C./Westminster Atlanta, Ga./B.E.S.T. Academy Moultrie, Ga./Colquitt County Conway, S.C./Conway Athens, Ga./Athens Academy Mobile, Ala./Murphy Bluffton, S.C./Bluffton Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson Oxford, Ala.//Butler (Kan.) Community College Buford, Ga./Mill Creek Suwanee, Ga./East Mississippi C.C. Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Dillard Lawrenceville, Ga./Archer New Orleans, La./McDonogh 35 Fayetteville, N.C./Trinity Christian/Fort Scott C.C.
Jessica Jackson - Director of On-Campus Recruiting Kristin Sheetz - Director of External Communications Ellis Johnson - Analyst Kyle Krantz - Analyst Demarco McNeil - Analyst Scott Spurrier - Analyst Seth Strickland - Analyst Brian Turk - Assistant Director - Recruiting - Offense Shaq Wilson - Assistant Director - Recruiting - Defense Omar Young - Analyst David Feeley - Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach Corey Jenkins - Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach Roy Upchurch - Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach Cedric Williams - Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach Shuler Hayes - Assistant Director of Football Equipment Operations Kim Fields - Assistant to Head Football Coach Charity Grady - Coordinator of Offensive Operations Carina Hargreaves - Coordinator of Defensive Operations
Spurs & Feathers • 17
September 21, 2016
Kentucky Wildcats
# Name Pos. 1 Ryan Timmons WR 2 Dorian Baker WR 3 Jordan Griffin DB 3 Jojo Kemp RB 4 Mikel Horton RB 5 Kendall Randolph CB 6 Blake Bone WR 7 Drew Barker QB 8 Jabari Greenwood WR 8 Kobie Walker LB 9 Garrett Johnson WR 9 Davonte Robinson CB 10 A.J. Rose RB 11 J.D. Harmon CB 11 Tavin Richardson WR 12 Gunnar Hoak QB 13 Jeff Badet WR 14 Luke Wright QB 15 Stephen Johnson QB 15 Marcus McWilson S 16 Davis Mattingly QB 16 Marcus Walker S 17 Tobias Gilliam DB 17 AlexanderMontgomery WR 18 Boom Williams RB 19 Kayaune Ross WR 20 Kengera Daniel DE 20 Ryan Kendall WR 21 Josh Clemons RB 21 Chris Westry CB 22 Sihiem King RB 22 Casius Smith DB 23 Brayden Berezowitz WR 24 Zach Johnson RB 24 Blake McClain DB 25 Darius West S 26 Jack Jackson DB 26 Benjamin Snell Jr. RB 27 Mike Edwards S 28 Kei Beckham CB 29 Derrick Baity CB 30 Isaiah Brown CB 30 Marvin Robinson WR 31 David Bouvier WR 31 Jamar Watson LB 32 Eli Brown LB 32 William Mahone III RB 33 Roland Walder LB 34 Jordan Jones LB 35 Denzil Ware DE 36 Jacob Hyde NT 38 Alex Brownell LB 39 Elijah Barnett LB 40 Nico Firios LB 41 Josh Allen LB 42 Kynan Smith WR 43 Logan Blue LB 44 De’Niro Laster LB
Ht. 5-10 6-3 6-0 5-10 6-1 6-0 6-5 6-3 6-3 6-3 5-11 6-2 6-1 6-2 6-3 6-4 6-0 6-4 6-2 6-0 6-4 6-1 5-11 6-2 5-9 6-6 6-5 5-10 5-10 6-4 5-9 5-10 5-9 5-10 5-11 6-0 5-11 5-11 6-0 5-11 6-3 6-0 6-4 5-9 6-3 6-2 5-9 6-3 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-3 6-2 6-5 6-2 6-4 6-4
Wt. 198 208 177 200 230 182 213 225 195 215 175 187 200 200 216 200 180 206 183 210 217 202 193 210 196 225 260 193 220 195 172 165 158 193 200 206 165 220 200 175 182 180 175 171 234 215 200 215 220 255 320 215 230 242 230 188 240 241
Yr. SR JR FR SR JR JR JR SO SO SO JR FR FR SR SO FR JR SO JR SR FR FR FR JR JR SO SO SO SR SO SO FR FR FR SR SO FR FR SO FR SO FR FR SO FR FR JR FR SO SO JR FR FR SO SO FR SO JR
Football Roster
Hometown Frankfort, KY Cleveland Heights, OH Jonesboro, GA Deland, FL West Chester, OH Tallahassee, FL Woodruff, SC Burlington, KY Washington, DC Baltimore, MD Winter Garden, FL Lexington, KY Cleveland, OH Paducah, KY Duncan, SC Dublin, OH Orlando, FL Atlanta, GA Rancho Cucamonga, CA Youngstown, OH Louisville, KY Lake Wales, FL Dayton, OH Weston, FL Monroe, GA West Chester, OH Raleigh, NC Charlotte, NC Fayetteville, GA Orange Park, FL Moultrie, GA Lexington, KY Lexington, KY Cincinnati, OH Winter Park, FL Lima, OH Lexington, KY Westerville, OH Cincinnati, OH Trotwood, OH Tampa, FL Martinez, GA Fort Lauderdale, FL Lexington, KY Forestville, MD Bowling Green, KY Cincinnati, OH Dayton, OH Youngstown, OH Opp, AL Manchester, KY Union, KY Lexington, KY Longwood, FL Montclair, NJ Taylorsville, KY Owensboro, KY Cleveland Heights, OH
# Name Pos. 45 Jaylin Bannerman LB 46 Drew Schlegel LB 47 Jordan Bonner LB 47 Dorian Hendrix LB 48 Will Thomas Collins FB 49 Tanner Fink TE 51 Courtney Love LB 52 Drake Jackson C 53 Blake Best LS 54 Colton Piatt LS 55 David Baumer G 56 Kash Daniel LB 56 Spencer Foy DL 57 Zach Myers C 58 Matt Howard LS 58 Tristan Yeomans LS 59 Kordell Looney DT 60 Calvin Taylor Jr. DT 61 Tristen Salyer OT 62 Dylan Greenberg G 63 Wells Purdom OL 64 George Asafo-Adjei G 65 Jervontius Stallings C 67 Landon Young OL 68 Nick Haynes G 69 Matt Elam DT 69 Ramsey Meyers G 71 Logan Stenberg G 72 Jon Toth C 73 Kyle Meadows OT 74 Cole Mosier OT 75 Tate Leavitt OT 77 Naquez Pringle DT 77 Mason Wolfe OT 78 Zane Williams DT 79 Luke Fortner OT 80 Harold Turks WR 81 Dakota Holtzclaw WR 82 Bryan Berezowitz WR 83 Justin Rigg TE 84 Charles Moushey WR 85 Greg Hart TE 86 Grant McKinniss P 87 C.J. Conrad TE 88 Charles Walker WR 89 Zy’Aire Hughes WR 90 T.J. Carter DE 91 Tyler Pack PK 92 Alvonte Bell DE 93 Ja’Quize Cross DL 93 Bryan Kirshe P 94 Courtney Miggins DT 95 Miles Butler PK 97 Kevin Kirby DL 98 Tymere Dubose DT 99 Austin MacGinnis PK 99 Adrian Middleton DT
Ht. 6-5 5-11 6-5 6-1 5-11 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-1 6-3 6-5 6-1 6-4 6-3 5-11 6-2 6-3 6-9 6-5 6-2 6-2 6-5 6-3 6-7 6-3 6-7 6-4 6-6 6-5 6-5 6-6 6-6 6-3 6-6 6-4 6-6 6-4 6-7 5-9 6-6 6-0 6-5 6-1 6-5 5-11 6-1 6-4 6-4 6-5 6-3 6-0 6-5 5-9 6-6 6-5 5-10 6-3
Wt. 220 202 220 247 241 251 242 302 246 211 309 241 226 305 201 190 285 295 306 302 294 315 318 305 316 360 305 318 310 300 335 310 320 305 290 305 175 216 165 251 180 245 210 245 203 190 275 220 260 312 150 285 171 270 320 180 303
Yr. FR FR SO SO SR SR JR FR FR FR SO FR SO SR JR SO FR SO FR JR FR SO SO FR JR JR JR SO SR JR JR JR JR FR SR FR FR FR FR FR JR JR FR SO JR FR FR FR JR FR SO SR SO FR SO JR SO
Hometown Pickerington, OH Parker, CO Lyndhurst, OH Huber Heights, OH Jackson, KY Louisville, KY Youngstown, OH Versailles, KY Duluth, GA Nashville, TN Cincinnati, OH Paintsville, KY Louisville, KY Miamisburg, OH Berea, KY Waycross, GA Springfield, OH Augusta, GA Oil Springs, KY Tucson, AZ Paducah, KY West Chester, OH Hoover, AL Lexington, KY Niceville, FL Elizabethtown, KY Orange Park, FL Madison, AL Indianapolis, IN West Chester, OH Walton, KY Thornville, OH Georgetown, SC Henderson, KY Lexington, KY Sylvania, OH Nashville, TN Columbus, OH Lexington, KY Springboro, OH Westerville, OH Dayton, OH Findlay, OH Lagrange, OH Louisville, KY Paducah, KY Mableton, GA Paintsville, KY Miramar, FL New Market, AL Sarasota, FL Lithonia, GA Paducah, KY Louisville, KY Youngstown, OH Wedowee, AL Bowling Green, KY
Lamar Thomas Mark Pelini Michael Colosimo Jonathan Cooley Dillon Sanders
Wide Receivers Graduate Asst. - Offense Graduate Asst., Offense Graduate Asst. - Defense Graduate Assistant/Defense
Coaches/Staff Mark Stoops D.J. Eliot Eddie Gran Darin Hinshaw Vince Marrow John Schlarman Jimmy Brumbaugh Matt House Steve Clinkscale
Head Coach Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers Coach Head Coach of the Offense/Offensive Coordinator Co-Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks Tight Ends, Recruiting Coordinator, NFL Liaison Offensive Line Defensive Line Inside Linebackers/Special Teams Coordinator Defensive Backs
18 • Spurs & Feathers
September 21, 2016
Depth Charts for September 24, 7:30 p.m. EST South Carolina OFFENSE WR: WR: WR: -OR- LT: LG: OC: RG: RT: TE: QB: -OR- RB: -OR-
1 Deebo Samuel 83 Chavis Dawkins 14 Jamari Smith 7 Korey Banks 89 Bryan Edwards 5 Terry Googer 8 Randrecous Davis 74 Mason Zandi 77 Malik Young 78 Zack Bailey 70 Alan Knott 51 Cory Helms 70 Alan Knott 72 Donell Stanley 69 D.J. Park 69 D.J. Park 63 Blake Camper 81 Hayden Hurst 3 K.C. Crosby 11 Brandon McIlwain 10 Perry Orth 4 Jake Bentley 25 A.J. Turner 33 David Williams 32 Rod Talley
6-0, 205, So. 6-2, 200, Fr. 5-10, 210, Jr. 5-11, 180, Fr. 6-3, 210, Fr. 6-4, 220, So. 5-10, 181, Fr. 6-9, 315, Sr. 6-3, 300, So. 6-6, 315, So. 6-4, 290, Jr. 6-4, 310, Jr. 6-4, 290, Jr. 6-4, 325, So. 6-4, 330, Jr. 6-4, 330, Jr. 6-8, 300, So. 6-5, 250, So. 6-1, 227, So. 6-0, 205, Fr. 6-1, 200, Sr. 6-3, 223, Fr. 5-10, 195, RFr. 6-1, 220, Jr. 5-10, 205, Jr.
DEFENSE Inman, S.C. Duncan, S.C. Jacksonville, Fla. Tyrone, Ga. Conway, S.C. Atlanta, Ga. Atlanta, Ga. Chapin, S.C. Pelzer, S.C. Summerville, S.C. Tyrone, Ga. Alpharetta, Ga. Tyrone, Ga. Floydale, S.C. Dillon, S.C. Dillon, S.C. Virginia Beach, Va. Jacksonville, Fla. Bamberg, S.C. Newtown, Pa. Ponte Verda, Fla. Opelika, Ala. Clifton, Va. Philadelphia, Pa. Laurens, S.C.
OFFENSE LT: LG: C: RG: RT: TE: WR: -OR- WR: WR: WR: QB:
74 Cole Mosier 6-6, 335, Jr. Walton, Ky. 67 Landon Young 6-7, 305, Fr. Lexington, Ky. 68 Nick Haynes 6-3, 316, Jr. Niceville, Fla. 71 Logan Stenberg 6-6, 318, RFr. Madison, Ala. 72 Jon Toth 6-5, 310, Sr. Indianapolis, Ind. 65 Jervontius Stallings 6-3, 318, So. Hoover, Ala. 69 Ramsey Meyers 6-4, 305, Jr. Orange Park, Fla. 65 Jervontius Stallings 6-3, 318, So. Hoover, Ala. 73 Kyle Meadows 6-5, 300, Jr. West Chester, Ohio 64 George Asafo-Adjei 6-5, 315, So. West Chester, Ohio 87 C.J. Conrad 6-5, 245, So. LaGrange, Ohio 85 Greg Hart 6-5, 245, Jr. Dayton, Ohio 13 Jeff Badet 6-0, 180, Jr. Orlando, Fla. 19 Kayaune Ross 6-6, 225, So. West Chester, Ohio 6 Blake Bone 6-5, 213, Jr. Woodruff, S.C. 1 Ryan Timmons 5-10, 198, Sr. Frankfort, Ky. 31 David Bouvier 5-9, 171, So. Lexington, Ky. 9 Garrett Johnson 5-11, 175, Jr. Winter Garden, Fla. 88 Charles Walker 5-11, 203, Jr. Louisville, Ky. 2 Dorian Baker 6-3, 208, Jr. Cleveland Heights, Ohio 80 Tavin Richardson 6-3, 216, RFr. Duncan, S.C. 8 Jabari Greenwood 6-3, 195, RFr. Washington, D.C. 7 Drew Barker 6-3, 225, So. Burlington, Ky. 15 Stephen Johnson 6-2, 183, Jr. Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
DE: 8 Marquavius Lewis 92 D.J. Wonnum -OR- 91 Shameik Blackshear DT: 90 Taylor Stallworth 18 Keir Thomas DT: 94 Kelsey Griffin 93 Ulric Jones DE: 95 Dante Sawyer 5 Darius English SLB: 11 T.J. Holloman -OR- 6 Chris Moody MLB: 28 Jonathan Walton -OR- 11 T.J. Holloman WLB: 4 B. Allen-Williams -OR- 11 T.J. Holloman CB: 16 Rashad Fenton 22 Steven Montac S: 24 D.J. Smith 42 Jordan Diggs S: 17 Chaz Elder 22 Steven Montac CB: 3 Chris Lammons 7 Jamarcus King N: 42 Jordan Diggs 16 Rashad Fenton
6-3, 270, Sr. 6-4, 240, Fr. 6-4, 265, RFr. 6-2, 310, Jr. 6-2, 265, Fr. 6-2, 295, Sr. 6-5, 300, Jr. 6-3, 275, Jr. 6-6, 245, Sr. 6-2, 230, Sr. 6-1, 220, Sr. 6-0, 230, Sr. 6-2, 230, Sr. 6-0, 230, Jr. 6-2, 230, Sr. 5-10, 190, So. 5-11, 190, So. 5-11, 195, Jr. 6-0, 205, Sr. 6-2, 200, Sr. 5-11, 190, So. 5-10, 190, Jr. 6-2, 180, Jr. 6-0, 205, Sr. 5-10, 190, So.
Greenwood, S.C. Stone Mountain, Ga. Bluffton, S.C. Mobile, Ala. Miami, Fla. Buford, Ga. Oxford, Ala. Suwanee, Ga. Powder Springs, Ga. Stone Mountain, Ga. McDonough, Ga. Daphne, Ala. Stone Mountain, Ga. Ellenwood, Ga. Stone Mountain, Ga. Miami, Fla. Covington, Ga. Marietta, Ga. Fort Myers, Fla. Union City, Ga. Covington, Ga. Lauderhill, Fla. Mobile, Ala. Fort Myers, Fla. Miami, Fla.
K: P: LS: KOR: PR: H:
29 Elliott Fry 20 Joseph Charlton 13 Sean Kelly 20 Joseph Charlton 47 Drew Williams 48 Nick McGriff 25 A.J. Turner 16 Rashad Fenton 16 Rashad Fenton 3 Chris Lammons 13 Sean Kelly
SPECIALISTS
6-0, 170, Sr. 6-5, 185, RFr. 5-10, 190, Sr. 6-5, 185, RFr. 6-2, 215, Sr. 6-0, 225, So. 5-10, 195, RFr. 5-10, 190, So. 5-10, 190, So. 5-10, 190, Jr. 5-10, 189, Jr.
Frisco, Texas Columbia, S.C. Oakland, Fla. Columbia, S.C. Irmo, S.C. Gainesville, Fla. Clifton, Va. Miami, Fla. Miami, Fla. Lauderhill, Fla. Oakland, Fla.
Kentucky RB: FB:
18 Stanley Williams 3 Jojo Kemp 26 Benny Snell Jr. 48 Will Tom Collins 49 Tanner Fink
5-9, 196, Jr. 5-10, 200, Sr. 5-11, 220, Fr. 5-11, 241, Sr. 6-2, 251, Sr.
Monroe, Ga. DeLand, Fla. Westerville, Ohio Jackson, Ky. Louisville, Ky.
DEFENSE SLB: 41 Josh Allen 47 Jordan Bonner DT: 99 Adrian Middleton 60 Calvin Taylor Jr. NG: 69 Matt Elam 77 Naquez Pringle DE: 94 Courtney Miggins 92 Alvonte Bell DE/OLB: 35 Denzil Ware 44 De’Niro Laster NB: 5 Kendall Randolph 24 Blake McClain MLB: 51 Courtney Love 56 Kash Daniel WLB: 34 Jordan Jones 32 Eli Brown CB: 29 Derrick Baity 3 Jordan Griffin
6-5, 230, So. Montclair, N.J. 6-5, 220, So. Lyndhurst, Ohio 6-3, 303, So. Bowling Green, Ky. 6-9, 295, RFr. Augusta, Ga. 6-7, 360, Jr. Elizabethtown, Ky. 6-3, 320, Jr. Georgetown, S.C. 6-5, 285, Sr. Lithonia, Ga. 6-5, 260, Jr. Miramar, Fla. 6-2, 255, So. Opp, Ala. 6-4, 241, Jr. Cleveland Heights, Ohio 6-0, 182, Jr. Tallahassee, Fla. 5-11, 200, Sr. Winter Park, Fla. 6-2, 242, Jr. Youngstown, Ohio 6-1, 241, Fr. Paintsville, Ky. 6-2, 220, So. Youngstown, Ohio 6-2, 215, RFr. Bowling Green, Ky. 6-3, 182, So. Tampa, Fla. 6-0, 177, Fr. Jonesboro, Ga.
-OR- CB: SS: FS:
9 Davonte Robinson 21 Chris Westry 11 J.D. Harmon 27 Mike Edwards 5 Kendall Randolph 24 Blake McClain 15 Marcus McWilson
6-2, 187, Fr. 6-4, 195, So. 6-2, 200, Sr. 6-0, 200, So. 6-0, 182, Jr. 5-11, 200, Sr. 6-0, 210, Sr.
Lexington, Ky. Orange Park, Fla. Paducah, Ky. Cincinnati, Ohio Tallahassee, Fla. Winter Park, Fla. Youngstown, Ohio
SPECIALISTS PK: P: -OR- LS: PR: KR: H:
99 Austin MacGinnis 95 Miles Butler 86 Grant McKinniss 93 Bryan Kirshe 42 Tristan Yeomans 53 Blake Best 88 Charles Walker 1 Ryan Timmons 22 Sihiem King 13 Jeff Badet 42 Tristan Yeomans 86 Grant McKinniss
5-10, 180, Jr. 5-9, 171, So. 6-1, 210, Fr. 6-0, 150, So. 6-2, 190, So. 6-1, 246, RFr. 5-11, 203, Jr. 5-10, 198, Sr. 5-9, 172, So. 6-0, 180, Jr. 6-2, 190, So. 6-1, 210, Fr.
*These depth charts are taken from the listings from each team’s previous game. Spurs & Feathers goes to print shortly after the conclusion of each game. Please visit www.spursandfeathers.com over the course of the week for updated depth charts.
Wedowee, Ala. Paducah, Ky. Findlay, Ohio Sarasota, Fla. Waycross, Ga. Duluth, Ga. Louisville, Ky. Frankfort, Ky. Moultrie, Ga. Orlando, Fla. Waycross, Ga. Findlay, Ohio
Spurs & Feathers • 19
September 21, 2016
Davis excited to get back on the basketball court with Gamecocks
& Feathers. “I’m so excited. Just seeing fans and running into people, I’m excited that they’re excited.” Kaela Davis last played a college basketball This summer, Davis received a chance to game on March 22, 2015, nearly a year and get back out on the court, thanks to former a half ago. She was with Georgia Tech at Gamecock Khadijah Sessions, who started the time, and up the SC Women’s Pro-Am. Because of that, shortly thereafDavis is able to get back on the court, and ter, Davis made although it won’t be anything like what she’s the decision going to experience in the upcoming season, to transfer to it’s still a live game situation. South Carolina. “Just to be able to get the feel of the game Due to NCAA and quarters and halftime, it’s just exciting,” rules, she was Davis said. “Especially to be able to see evforced to sit out eryone play. It’s fun.” the 2015-16 sea- All Gamecock basketball Davis played with several of her teammates coverage sponsored by in the SC Women’s Pro-Am, including fellow son and watch Yesterdays the Gamecocks transfer Allisha Gray, who joined the Gameas they comcocks after two years with North Carolina. piled a 33-2 record, getting upset in the Sweet Both players have worked extremely hard on Sixteen by Syracuse. and off the court in preparation for the upIt’s been a long time on the sideline, but the coming season. The two guards are expected wait is almost over for Davis as the season to help fill the void left by the graduation of gets underway in a few short months. Sessions, Tiffany Mitchell, Asia Dozier and “I can’t even explain it,” Davis told Spurs Tina Roy, which will be extremely beneficial
for the Gamecocks. “We put a lot of work in during that season we weren’t playing,” Davis said. “We know we have roles to fill, and shoes to fill, so we’re focused on coming in and filling those spots, and just focusing on this year’s team and making everyone gel.” Davis, like Gray, will bring an excellent scoring ability to South Carolina. In two years at Georgia Tech, Davis was the fastest player in program history to score 1,000 points (52 games). As a sophomore, she led the ACC in scoring in league games, averaging 19.2 points per game. Coming out of high school, Davis was one of the best players in the country. She was ranked as the No. 1 guard and No. 2 overall recruit, and was named a McDonald’s and WBCA High School All-American. While Davis ideally would’ve played for the Gamecocks last year, the time off allowed her to adjust to head coach Dawn Staley’s system. “Obviously it sucks to sit out a year, but in a sense getting acclimated with everything has
photo by kyle heck
helped,” Davis said. “Now that I know how everything works, I obviously feel a lot more comfortable with everything.” Davis has already felt firsthand the love from Gamecock Nation. South Carolina has led the nation the past two years in average attendance, and Davis is excited to play out in front of those fans at Colonial Life Arena. “It honestly feels like I’ve been here all along, so they’re an amazing fan base and amazing people,” Davis said. “To have a group like them behind you makes it hard to be anything but successful.”
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by kyle heck Reporter
20 • Spurs & Feathers
September 21, 2016
Hedgepeth: South Carolina has a ‘special place in my heart’
by kyle heck Reporter
The University of South Carolina has a long history of putting its student-athletes in great position to succeed. For former equestrian standout Colvin Hedgepeth, that experience with the University allowed her to land a dream job she had wanted for many years. For nearly the whole month of August, Hedgepeth was down in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the 2016 Summer Olympics. She is a meeting and event services coordinator for the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), and had many job responsibilities, most notably of which was helping to coordinate the USA House, which was the main hospitality and business center for the Team USA family. Hedgepeth initially applied for an internship with the USOC in 2010 while a junior at South Carolina, but didn’t get it. Four years later, she applied again and was accepted, beginning her journey to Rio. Hedgepeth credits the education she received at South Carolina as a public relations major for helping her to land the job.
“I became interested in (public relations) as it seemed to offer a wide array of careers that fall within the communications umbrella,” Hedgepeth said. “During my studies, I gained exposure in writing, editing, strategic messaging, developing campaigns and executing events. After graduating, I worked at a communications agency and further expanded my PR skill set - however, I always knew that I eventually wanted to try my hand in events.” While in Rio, Hedgepeth was able to witness several events, including beach volleyball, swimming and, of course, equestrian. She also met up with another South Carolina alum in US Consul General James Story. His wife volunteered at USA House, and Hedgepeth said they were instrumental in helping with the local area. “Having a little Southern hospitality from a fellow Gamecock down in Rio has made all the difference in my experience,” Hedgepeth noted. While at South Carolina, Hedgepeth was a first-team NCEA Academic All-American and helped the 2011-12 Gamecock squad post the best GPA in team history, which she calls one of the proudest moments of her career.
was the first of four-straight championships for South Carolina. SEC added equestrian as a sport in the 2012-13 academic year, and the Gamecocks were conference champions in 2013 and 2014 before capping off the run by claiming the 2015 NCEA National Championship, the third national title in school history. Hedgepeth remembers the team making a concerted effort during her senior year to turn things around. submitted photo “Maggie Fortune and I, along with the rest Hedgepeth with US Consul General James Story. of our senior class, really made an effort to lead the team in a new direction that year,” “Looking back now, I am grateful for the Hedgepeth recalled. “I would like to think community that South Carolina creates for that we forged a path for success, which student-athletes,” Hedgepeth said. “I felt made it especially exciting - and bittersweet! incredible support during my collegiate ca- when the team earned the National Chamreer, from my team, coaches, administrators, pionship in 2015.” professors and beyond. Win or lose, I always While she is currently working her dream knew that the team had my back. As cliché job, Hedgepeth will always remember and as that saying is, I feel that it truly describes appreciate all that the University of South the culture we had on the South Carolina Carolina did for her and her professional equestrian team.” career. Hedgepeth and her teammates also en“USC and the equestrian program have joyed success in the competition arena. Her such a special place in my heart, and those senior class helped win the final Southern are four years that I know I’ll never be able Equestrian Championship in 2012, which to recreate,” Hedgepeth said.
A ‘Spa Day’ for retired horses provided by equestrian team by brad muller South Carolina Director of Content
ful program. This was a volunteer activity, and to get over half of our team out there is a lot of fun.” The South Carolina Equestrian team is ac“We do a lot of different community service customed to taking care of the horses on which as a team, but none of it has been horse-centhey compete, but the Gamecocks paid it fortered,” said sophomore Hanna Powers. “Anyward recently by providing a little tender loving thing we can do with our knowledge of horses, care to retired thoroughbreds housed at the Wa- it’s very exciting.” teree River Correctional Institution with some The Wateree facility is the home to 40 retired serious grooming and bathing of the animals. thoroughbreds, several of which are being proSouth Carolina head coach Boo Major called fessionally retrained and offered for adoption. the event an “Equine makeover.” The South Carolina Thoroughbred Retirement “A lot of these horses haven’t had a whole lot Foundation oversees the project and is the local of TLC as far as grooming them is concerned,” chapter of a national organization which rescues Major said. “They had long, scraggly manes, thoroughbred horses that have finished racing and some knots in their tails and things like or are no longer able to compete. that. So their manes were trimmed so they’re “We place them at prison farms or private the right length, and we clipped them where farms around the country so they don’t end up needed and gave them baths. It’s kind of like a in the slaughter houses and that sort of thing,” spa day for horses. said William Cox from the South Carolina “We wanted to get involved, but we didn’t Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, who is want the girls to be riding these horses or do also a long-time friend of Major. “What we’re anything that could potentially cause them to be trying to do is place these horses with adophurt. This second chances program is a wonder- tive homes so they can be reused or retrained
for school horses, fox hunters, show horses or things like that. What they’re doing is making these horses look like the thoroughbreds that they really are.” “We want these horses to have a great life,” Major said. Cox said prison farms are often used not only because of the available labor force to tend to the horses with their daily needs, but it also offers a behavior modification and educational opportunity for those incarcerated who are participating in the program. “We teach them, through a nationally certified course, how to be employed as grooms so that when they get out, they can be employed on farms or a racetrack or high end show barns anywhere in the country,” Cox said. “Those that hire them can trust them with their horses because they know they will be well taken care of.” “It’s a great opportunity for them to learn and get some hands on experience,” said sophomore Meredith Milton. “It’s really rewarding to see these horses and to see the inmates learn how to
do all of these tasks that they are going to need.” At the end of the day, the horses were looking sharp and ready to be shown. “I just wanted to help,” said Freshman Bailey Tims. “I didn’t think it would be this much fun, but it’s been great.” “We’re going to come back,” said freshman Katie Mack who groomed a horse named Duck. “We’re going to track Duck and take care of him forever. I want to call my mom and adopt him.” “Now we can take new pictures of the horses for our web site and Facebook page and try to get more of these horses adopted out,” Cox said. “That’s where they need to be as opposed to being permanently in an institution like this. The men here take care of them, but they don’t know how to make them look how they’re supposed to look. It’s a huge help to us.” For more information about the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation in South Carolina, visit www.trfsc.org or search for South Carolina Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation on Facebook.
Spurs & Feathers • 21
September 21, 2016
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22 • Spurs & Feathers
September 21, 2016
Gamecocks pumped to start fall season by brian hand Executive Editor Josh Reagan could not contain his excitement. “I’m pumped,” the senior pitcher said. “I’m absolutely pumped.” It was obvious the afternoon of Friday, Sept. 16, that Reagan’s enthusiasm was shared by the whole team as the Gamecocks were preparing to have their first weekend of fall scrimmages. Junior catcher John Jones agreed with his teammate. “It feels great,” Jones said. “We’re glad to be here. The fall has been good for the first month, and we’re ready to get going and see the talent we’ve got and get ready for the year.” That same excitement was also shared by South Carolina baseball head coach Chad Holbrook. “It’s exciting to get started with another fall,” Holbrook said. “We certainly have a lot to learn about our team. We’ve got some interesting battles going on.” The Gamecocks start the fall of 2016 coming off an impressive season in which they won the SEC East and advanced to the Super Regionals. Holbrook and the Gamecocks obviously have some holes to fill with a lot of talent having departed, but at the same time, South Carolina also returns a tremendous amount of talent this year. “We’ve got a number of questions to answer this fall, and it’s very, very important that we get started to answer those questions, especially from a leadership standpoint,” Holbrook said. “With that being said, I do feel like I’ve got a pretty good team, a talented team with some exciting newcomers that are anxious to get out there and play and show us what they can do. We’ve got some other guys that have been here for a couple of years that will be fighting for some new positions and maybe moving around a little bit and wanting to show that they can play every day instead of just playing part of the time.” Since school started in August, the Gamecocks have been working as a group to prepare, but the start of the fall scrimmages begins the start of their real work to prepare for the 2017 season. “All-in-all, we’ve had a great month of preseason workouts both in the weight room and on the field and I feel like I have an idea of what type of ability of our players have and possess, but I’m anxious to see our players face live pitching and I’m certainly anxious to see our pitchers get out there on the mound and throw to our hitters,” Holbrook
photo by allen sharpe
said. “It should be a fun fall for our players his media availability on Friday, Sept. 16. and a fun fall for our coaches.” “I’ve got to try and see what we have and The start of the fall scrimhow they react to playing mages the weekend of Sept. against each other in certain 16-18 will give Holbrook and situations. How they play the Gamecock coaching staff defense, how they run the the chance to see the newbases, all of those things are comers in action, and also important and this is my first see just how much the returnchance to see a lot of those All Gamecock baseball ers have grown. guys play against that type of coverage sponsored by “It will be straight basecompetition. I hope to learn a DiPrato’s ball,” Holbrook said during lot about our players this fall,
and it starts today.” In general, Holbrook knows the pieces are there for another successful Gamecock baseball campaign in the 2017 season, but he also knows there is a lot of work ahead. “I think we have the makings to have a pretty darn good team,” Holbrook said. “We’re going to have to do all of the other things right and we’re going to have to work hard and continue to improve this fall, but we’ve got some guys that I think are pretty good at playing baseball.”
Spurs & Feathers • 23
September 21, 2016
Undefeated Gamecocks in good place as SEC play nears by brian hand Executive Editor Coming into the season, South Carolina volleyball head coach Scott Swanson knew he had a team that could possibly have a special year. So far, so good in that regard as the Gamecocks are currently undefeated at the end of nonconference play. South Carolina kicked off the Gamecock Invitational with a dominating, 3-0 win over Davidson on Friday, Sept. 16, before rolling through William & Mary, 3-1, and also sweeping Gardner-Webb to capture the Gamecock Invitational title the next day. South Carolina finished non-conference play with a perfect 12-0 record. While the Gamecocks have had several sweeps on the year, they have also had to battle and come back from deficits. At the Springhill Suites Invitational in Georgia, South Carolina captured two five-set wins. “I’m really proud of how consistently tough they’ve been,” Swanson said of his team. “Whether we’re down four or five points or even up to seven points, I feel like they always believe that if they just get back to what they were good at, the outcome will be favorable for us. I really do think it’s an experience thing. We have a lot of seniors out there who are leading the way with
the confidence and the discipline, and they’re not letting anyone else slack off.” Swanson also has a few outstanding freshmen to throw in the mix. Mikayla Shields is one of them, and had a career night against Davidson. In just three sets, the Orlando native racked up 19 kills. No one else on the team had more than nine. Rather than just power the ball through people, Shields does a good job of finding the empty spot on the opponent’s side of the net. “She sees the court really well,” Swanson said. “She’s the type of player where she doesn’t hit a lot of straight down balls, which if you tried that, you would get blocked more, she hits deep corners. I think because she’s left-handed, unless you have someone in your gym all week and you’re practicing against that, it’s very hard to adjust to.” Another freshman that has charged into the starting lineup is Alicia Starr. She put on a good performance at the tournament in Georgia, and has impressed her head coach. “Alicia is such a good athlete,” Swanson said. “She’s a quiet kid, she doesn’t say a whole lot, she just works hard, does her job and could really play any position. It’s unbelievable what a great teammate she is because she came in as an outside hitter. She hasn’t played middle (blocker)
fact, it’s about to get a lot tougher with SEC play starting up. As always, the league will be one of the best in the country, and South Carolina is already preparing for the challenge. “The level definitely changes,” Swanson said of SEC play. “We’re going to see a lot more athletes as good or better than what we have. The good thing about that is in my six years, I feel like this is the best we match up with everybody. We have photo by allen sharpe big blocking, we have some high-flying, hardhitting attackers, we have good setting, we have some pretty good ball control and blocking, so since maybe her ninth grade year, and all of a I’m excited for the challenge.” sudden we need a middle, and she’s run that Outside of Columbia, there aren’t a whole lot of spot.” With the talent he had entering the year, Swan- people who expect much from the Gamecocks this season, even with the good start. South Caroson expected the Gamecocks to perform well during non-conference play. However, it’s always lina’s goal is to let everyone else in the league know it is for real. nice to see your players live up to expectations. “It builds a lot of confidence,” Shields said of “I expected this team to win most, if not all, of our (non-conference) matches,” Swanson said. “I the start to the year. “We’re definitely the team that nobody expected coming in. I think this thought that we were going to be more talented team can surprise a lot of people. Going forward, this year, and for sure more experienced. We have a lot of good players that aren’t even seeing I think that confidence is going to carry us very far.” the court right now, and that’s tough. It means “Our mantra at the beginning of the season was that our practices are so much better. That’s something you want in your gym, you want that ‘we fear no one,’” Swanson added. “Let’s go at it. I think we have to be the hunters this year in the competitiveness every day.” SEC. We can’t sit back and see what happens, we Despite the excellent start to the season, the have to go after people.” Gamecocks know the work is far from over. In
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24 • Spurs & Feathers
September 21, 2016
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Spurs & Feathers • 25
September 21, 2016
Looking ahead to the Kentucky Wildcats For the third time in four games, South Carolina will be facing an SEC opponent in a hostile stadium. This time, the Gamecocks travel up to Lexington to take on Kentucky on Saturday, Sept. 24. So far this season, the Wildcats have struggled, but they do currently hold a twogame winning streak over South Carolina entering the contest. One of the biggest struggles so far this season for the Wildcats has been on defense. When you look at what they lost from last year, you can see the reason for the struggles. Kentucky was forced to replace its top three tacklers, as well as the majority of the sacks from last year. So far, the Wildcats are still trying to find their identity. Early in the season, linebacker Jordan Jones has been around the ball a lot, and defensive back J.D. Harmon has shown flashes as well, but the Wildcats are still trying to find a consistent pass rush. On offense, the Wildcats have a clear leader in tailback Stanley “Boom” Williams. The junior was a third-team preseason All-SEC selection, and has performed well
so far. Unfortunately for him, Williams hasn’t received the ball as much during Kentucky’s losses due to the fact of playing catchup through the passing game. Speaking of the passing game, Drew Barker, who was injured in Kentucky’s win over New Mexico State, is in the midst of his first full season as the starting quarterback. The sophomore has had an up-anddown season so far, but this particular game holds special meaning for him because of the fact the Gamecocks were the other school he strongly considered coming out of high school. Junior wide receiver Garrett Johnson has been the standout at that position so far, and tight end C.J. Conrad is widely regarded as one of the better tight ends in the SEC. As mentioned before, the Wildcats currently own a two-game winning streak over South Carolina. The last meeting in Lexington in 2014 was a wild affair that Kentucky was eventually able to claim. The Wildcats charged back from a 14-point fourth quarter deficit to take a 45-38 victory over the Gamecocks. Kickoff for this year’s game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and can be seen on the SEC Network.
photo by allen sharpe
AS14-1492167-1
by kyle heck Reporter
26 • Spurs & Feathers
September 21, 2016
Suggs family gives significant gift for football south carolina athletics media relations
Club my junior year at Carolina. My family believed in giving back and Jane and I are pleased we can contribute to the many posiIn recognition of a substantial gift to the tive things happening at Carolina -- both Football Operations Center, the University athletically and academically. Jane was the of South Carolina has named the Garnet person who suggested The Garnet Way Way promenade in Gamecock Park in honor name and the excitement there on game day of former Gamecock quarterback Tommy is a wonderful experience for both the fans Suggs. and players alike. We are excited about the The Tommy Suggs Garnet Way is the hub future of Carolina football under Coach of activity on game day for Gamecocks gath- Muschamp and glad to be supporters,” said ering in Gamecock Park. Thousands of fans Tommy Suggs. line this picturesque, tree-lined avenue two The major gift will go towards the building hours prior to each home game to watch the of a proposed $50 million Football OperaGamecock football team make their way to tions Center that will be located adjacent to Williams-Brice Stadium. the Jerri and Steve Spurrier Indoor Football “The Suggs’ name is synonymous with Facility. The state-of-the-art operations facilGamecock athletics,” said South Carolina ity will provide the coaches and student-athathletics director Ray Tanner. “Tommy and letes with the ability to train and compete at Jane Suggs’ significant gift to South Carothe highest level. It will feature coaches’ oflina Athletics will make a positive impact for fices, locker room, meeting rooms, a weight our student-athletes and Tommy’s name on room, athletic training room, a dining room, The Garnet Way will honor their commita players’ lounge and an equipment room. ment and dedication to Gamecock athletics “The Suggs’ commitment to helping our for years to come.” football program compete at the highest “My parents joined me in the Gamecock level is so much appreciated by our student-
athletes and coaches,” said South Carolina head football coach Will Muschamp. “The Football Operations Center is a game changer for us.” Suggs lettered from 1968-70 and is regarded as one of the school’s all-time premier signal-callers. Suggs ended his career at Carolina passing for more yardage than any quarterback in the history of college football in the State of South Carolina. He helped lead the Gamecocks to the 1969 ACC championship and Peach Bowl berth and was named MVP 1970 Gamecocks foot-
ball team and MVP of the 1970 Blue-Gray All-Star Classic. Suggs was inducted into the State’s South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 1983 and the University’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989. In 2012, friends and colleagues of Tommy and Jane Suggs established the Tommy Suggs Endowed Quarterback Scholarship to honor his long-time commitment to the University and Gamecock Athletics. The Tommy Suggs Quarterback Scholarship was the first endowed scholarship for the football program and is annually awarded to a Gamecock quarterback. Suggs will be entering his 44th year as color analyst for football with the Gamecock Radio Network. He served as chairman of the Garnet Way Capital Campaign from 2009-15 and is widely known as the creator of 2001 entrance for Gamecock football team. He has been a member of USC’s Development Foundation and also served on the USC’s Development Foundation Board since 2000 and was Chairman from 2004 - 2008. Tommy was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree in 2012 from The Darla Moore School of Business.
the individual talent is why the Gamecocks officially closed the non-conference season without a loss after the win over UNCG. “Everyone is just playing really great now,” Drennan said of the Gamecocks, who closed out non-league play at 6-0-1. That the Gamecocks were able to close out the non-conference portion of their season undefeated shows the type of talent the team has, and it also shows that the Gamecocks have the right mindset. All one has to do is look at South Carolina’s 2-1 win over then No. 6 Clemson on Sept. 3 as an example. “We had a strong non-conference schedule with good opponents and I think it prepared us
well for SEC season, and the fact that we can get out of that being undefeated is tremendous and we’ve got to continue to look at what we can do a little better,” Smith said. “We haven’t learned from a loss yet, so you do have things to work on and take care of, but I’m really pleased with our performance up until this point.” Drennan and the rest of her teammates are just taking the game-by-game approach as they know the SEC season is an incredible grind. “We talk about playing every game to the best of our ability, so each day we try to get better, which helps us in SEC play, which is obviously our very important season as we want to win an SEC championship this year,” Drennan said.
photo by allen sharpe
Gamecocks close out non-conference play undefeated by brian hand Executive Editor Chelsea Drennan of the 14th-ranked South Carolina women’s soccer team entered the match needing just one assist to tie the school record for assists, but instead she scored twice to lead the Gamecocks to a 3-0 win over UNCG on Thursday, Sept. 15, at Stone Stadium. The two goals by Drennan pushed Drennan’s season goal total already to four. In a season in which junior Savannah McCaskill is garnering a lot of the attention for her 20 points (eight goals, four assists) already through eight matches, Drennan’s brace in the
photo by allen sharpe
win over UNCG (3-5-1) shows just how lethal the Gamecocks can be offensively. In fact, Drennan - a senior captain - believes the solid efforts of the team overall and not just
Upcoming Gamecock Club events/watch parties
Current listing of known upcoming Gamecock Club events: Please contact Brian Hand (bhand@spursandfeathers.com) if your upcoming event is not listed.
Atlanta Gamecocks Viewing Party • When: Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016 • Where: Buffalo Wild Wings, 1636 Cumberland Mall SE Atlanta, GA 30399 Augusta Gamecocks Viewing Party • When: Saturday, September 24, 2016
• Where: Tin Lizzy’s, 2821 Washington Rd Augusta, GA Charleston Gamecocks Viewing Party • When: Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016 • Where: 1179 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Charleston, SC 29407 Charlotte Gamecocks Viewing Party • When: Saturday, September 24, 2016 • Where: Flight, 314 N College St, Charlotte, NC 28202
New York Gamecocks Viewing Party • When: Saturday, September 24, 2016 • Where: Mason Jar NYC, 43 E 30th St, New York, NY 10016 23rd Annual Border Bash • When: Friday, October 7, 2016 • Location: Augusta University Golf & Gardens, One 11th St, Augusta GA 30901 • Website: www.borderbash.net • Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ borderbash Tickets Available: www.borderbash.net
Spurs & Feathers • 27
September 21, 2016
Gamecock Radio/Television Information
The Gamecock Sports Network from IMG College counts 25 affiliate stations for the 2016 football season. For Sirius/XM subscribers, follow the Gamecock Radio Twitter page for weekly updates on channel information for Gamecock broadcasts. The weekly Carolina Calls show will air from 7-8 p.m. on the flagship station of the Gamecocks, WNKT-FM (107.5 FM), and over the Internet at www.GamecocksOnline.com. The show takes place each week at Wild Wing Café, located at 729 Lady Street in the Vista. Wild Wing Café, which is South Carolina’s home for the best wings south of Buffalo, has 12 locations in the Palmetto State. Inside the Roost South Carolina Athletics Director Ray Tanner and Derek Scott from the Gamecock Sports Network from IMG College host an hour long radio show every Monday night at 7 p.m. from Hilton Columbia Center in the Vista. The show is broadcast on 107.5 FM and features discussions on current issues with Ray Tanner and interviews with coaches and athletics department staff. South Carolina-Kentucky television The South Carolina-Kentucky game will be available on the SEC Network. Please check local listings. South Carolina-Kentucky In-Game frequency The South Carolina-Kentucky in-game frequency for the Gamecock Radio Network for inside the stadium is 89.5 (primary ) and 93.7 (secondary).
2016-17 RADIO AFFILIATES
City
Call Letters
Frequency
Football
Abbeville WZLA-FM 92.9 johnston/Aiken WKSX-FM 92.7 Allendale WDOG-FM 93.5 Camden WPUB-FM 102.7 Camden WCAM-AM 1590 Charleston WWIK-FM 98.9 Chesterfield WVDZ-FM 107.3 Columbia WNKT-FM 107.5 Florence WFRK-FM 93.5 Florence WHYM-AM 1260 Gaffney WZZQ-FM 104.3 Gaffney WZZQ-AM 1500 Greenville WROO-FM 104.9 Hilton Head WVSC-FM 106.5 Hilton Head WVSC-FM 99.1 Lake City WHYM-AM 1260 Myrtle Beach WJXY-FM 93.9 Myrtle Beach WJXY-FM 93.7 Newberry WKDK-AM 1240 Rock Hill WRHM-FM 107.1 Seneca WSNW-AM 1150 Seneca WSNW-FM 94.1 Spartanburg WSPG-AM 1240 Sumter WIBZ-FM 95.5 Union WBCU-AM 1460
X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
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28 • Spurs & Feathers
September 21, 2016
South Carolina/East Carolina postgame notes and quotes south carolina athletics media relations
to have more possessions in the game. I am really proud of our guys. When you play teams like this you get them in the red zone and those pass zones condense out so it is harder to throw the ball and when you are able to stop the run it makes them very difficult to be forced to a field goal. So that was part of the plan, to grind it out a little more offensively, create ball control for us, and when they did get the ball in the red zone, make stops. When you play a team like this, this quarterback is going to play on Sunday. He is really good. Next to Deshaun Watson he will be the second-best quarterback we see this season, in my opinion. He is a really good player, I give those guys credit, they have a good football team but it was a very gutty performance by our players. They kept battling and kept hanging in their in the game. They fought through adversity. We have to continue to build on that and gain some consistency from that and that’s been my biggest issue with last week was emotionally how we played last week.
GENERAL NOTES • South Carolina defeated East Carolina 20-15 at Williams-Brice Stadium. The Gamecocks are now 2-1 on the season and 1-1 in the SEC with East Carolina 2-1 and 0-0 in league play. • Captains for South Carolina were: Darius English, T.J. Holloman, Sean Kelly and Hayden Hurst. • Attendance at Williams-Brice Stadium was 80,384. • Seven Gamecocks had their first career starts: QB Brandon McIlwain, WR Randrecous Davis, DB Steven Montac, DB Jamarcus King, DB Antoine Wilder, TE K.C. Crosby and DL Ulric Jones. • First home game with South Carolina wearing all black uniforms since Sept. 11 ,2004, against Georgia. • The Gamecocks scored 17 points in the first quarter, the most since Nov. 23, 2013, when they scored 28 in the first quarter against Coastal Carolina. • It was South Carolina’s first time leading at the half since the Independence Bowl in 2014. OFFENSIVE NOTES • Freshman quarterback Brandon McIlwain scored his first two rushing touchdowns in two consecutive scoring drives in the first quarter. McIlwain finished 16-of-28 in the air for 195 yards. • Freshman wide receiver Bryan Edwards led the Gamecocks with five receptions for 68 yards. • Junior running back, David Williams tallied seven carries for 67 yards. DEFENSIVE NOTES • First fumble forced on the season by junior cornerback Chris Lammons in the first quarter and freshman Antoine Wilder in the fourth quarter. • Freshman defensive end, D.J. Wonnum and freshman defensive tackle Keir Thomas had their first career sack for a loss both in the first quarter. • Senior linebacker T.J. Holloman lead the Gamecocks with nine tackles, tying a career high last accomplished at Clemson last season (Nov. 28, 2015). • Junior cornerback Chris Lammons had a career-high eight tackles, surpassing his previous high of six against Auburn in 2014. He also had a career-high two tackles for a loss, in addition to one sack and his second career interception. • In the second quarter, junior cornerback Jamarcus King recorded his first career interception. He also surpassed his previous career high with six tackles. His previous high was five tackles at Mississippi State last week. • Junior safety D.J. Smith had eight tackles, a career high, besting his previous high of six tackles at Mississippi State last week, and recovered a fumble inside the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter. SPECIAL TEAM NOTES • Freshman kick-off returner AJ Turner had an 80-yard return on the opening kickoff, a new career high. • Senior punter Sean Kelly finished the game with five punts for 188 yards, averaging 37.6 yards. • Senior placekicker Elliot Fry attempted and completed two PAT kicks extending his streak to 129, just one shy of tying Michael Proctor of Alabama at 130 for third all-time
photo by jenny dilworth
in the SEC. Fry also completed two field goals – one from 37 yards in the first quarter and the other from 39 yards in the fourth quarter. He scored eight points on the game, making him the second Gamecock in history to break the 300 mark with 306 points scored. South Carolina head football coach Will Muschamp Opening Statement: “First off I would like to thank this crowd, we played in a great environment. Even after the game we were waiting on the players to come in the locker room, the passion and energy and loyalty they have is awesome and we appreciate that. It certainly helped us win this game, especially early in the game to get us jumpstarted a little bit. We got ahead quick. Outstanding job to A.J. Turner and our kickoff return team, a couple of us, our special teams coordinator really blocked well he hit the crease exactly how we wanted. Then one play and we were in the end zone. Then we got some momentum defensively. We got some stops and got things going offensively then we were up 17 and we just have to continue to comply on some things offensively. I think a lot of it from the naked eye you say it’s an inside zone, but there’s a lot of things going on as far as getting the ball back out on the perimeter from the zone on the read, whether it is an inside zone or bounce zone. There are some things we thought we could have gotten in the game but we got a little stagnant there. I am proud of Brandon [McIlwain] and how he preformed. It was a big ball with Bryan Edwards on the side and then to answer their score to make it now a two-score game with a field goal you have two great balls going down the field they bust the coverage on our sideline and Hayden Hurst can’t catch the corner route and the other play as well. I am really proud of him and how he responded. That’s what good teams do they respond and they gain momentum back in the game. There at the end we didn’t want to put our defense back on the field. We played close to a hundred snaps in the game. When you play a team like this, that’s what they’re going to do. They average 5.7 yards per play we average 5.9. We needed
On if it was a step forward defensively from last week… “It was a lot better. When you hold an offense like that, who is a really good offense and you just watch them through, every Saturday, and hold them to 15 points it is an outstanding job. First, on our defensive staff, but also on our kids.” On last play on option if there was a doubt you were going to go for it… “No we had played 150 snaps, we were dead on defense, we had no pass rush and that’s why the game is never over when you play teams like that. When we went four on the fourth down in our territory. We needed to steal possessions in the game to keep them off the field and it was an outstanding call by Kurt Roper and our staff.” Category 1st Downs Total Yards Passing Rushing Penalties-Yards 3rd Down Conversions 4th Down Conversions Turnovers Time of Possession Passing Leaders ECU COM Nelson 44 South Carolina COM McIlwain 16 Rushing Leaders ECU CAR Summers 11 Scott 10 South Carolina CAR Williams 7 McIlwain 9 Receiving Leaders ECU REC Jones 22 Johnson 7 South Carolina REC Edwards 5 Crosby 4
ECU SC 34 13 519 312 400 195 119 117 8-75 7-65 5-14 3-12 2-2 1-2 4 0 38:25 21:35 ATT 58 ATT 28
YDS 400 YDS 195
TD 1 TD 0
INT 2 INT 0
YDS 71 48 YDS 67 34
AVG 6.5 4.8 AVG 9.6 3.8
TD 0 0 TD 0 2
LG 16 12 LG 25 10
YDS 190 59 YDS 68 31
AVG 8.6 8.4 AVG 13.6 7.8
TD 0 0 TD 0 0
LG 15 21 LG 42 19
Spurs & Feathers • 29
September 21, 2016
Etched in Olympics history, Vincent ready for new year It’s something she always wanted to do one day. At the same time, she knew it would take a great deal of work and effort to make it happen. That’s why when South Carolina and South African diver Julia Vincent returned from the Olympics one of the first things she did was make sure to get the tattoo she had always dreamed of getting. “I told my mom if I went to the Olympics I’m getting the Olympic tattoo,” Vincent said during a media availability with some of South Carolina’s many Olympians at the Rio Summer Olympics at Williams-Brice Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 24. The fourth South Carolina diver to reach the Olympics, Vincent finished 29th overall in the 3-meter springboard at the 2016 Summer Olympics. For Vincent, finishing 29th was not indicative of what she feels she is capable of, which is why the junior also sees the Olympics rings tattoo on her left forearm as a reminder. “It’s just to remind me where I’ve been, and sort of give me the strength to keep going because I’ve got a lot more in me and I definitely want to be able to go out on the international stage and not shock people, but at least do as well as I hope that I could’ve in this Olympics,” Vincent said. “I’ll motivate myself, but this is a nice reminder to keep me going throughout practices knowing that I’ve been to the Olympics and sort of give me strength to just keep on.” The 2016 NCAA All-America selection was coached at the Olympics by Gamecock head diving coach Todd Sherritt, who also is the head coach for South Africa. Sherritt feels like the Olympics is just another continuation of what is set up to be a special career for Vincent. “For me to see her get there and achieve all those things, it was pretty incredible,” Sherritt said. “She’s got at least All Gamecock swimming and two more diving coverage Olympics in sponsored by Aquarian her, I think. Pools of Columbia This was
a good one because you get to really adjust to so many things going on down there. It wasn’t a smooth trip for us going down there; (our) plane got delayed, (we) missed a flight, standby the next night, got there (and we) had to train and then Opening Ceremonies (we) had to stay up until 1 a.m. at night, so it threw our whole schedule off. (In) learning to be an Olympian part of it is learning to be able to adjust to those types of things. And then of course the green pool made it even more of a problem to adjust to.” In general, Sherritt was just overall impressed with what Vincent was able to handle as a full-time NCAA All-America studentathlete and also an international star over the last few months. “It’s so hard to get there,” Sherritt said of Vincent. “I thought a lot about the journey for her specifically to get there. She had to go from our conference championships (Feb. 21), fly directly down to World Cup in Rio (Feb. 22) right after that meet and had to qualify for her country. (She then) flies back, goes to Zone championships (March 7) and has to make NCAAs because that’s why she is here and then goes to NCAAs (March 17) after that and is fourth, which is an awesome thing. Then she turns around and goes to her Olympic Trials in South Africa (April 12) and then turns around and trains for the Olympics.” The journey was definitely special for Vincent, who said one of her biggest thrills of the whole Olympics experience was meeting United States individual all-around gold medal-winning gymnast Simone Biles. Aside from the unique aspect of just taking in the whole Olympics experience as an athlete, Vincent also feels she now knows what she needs to work on most as she prepares for her next step at South Carolina and the next Olympics. “I think the mental side of things,” Vincent said. “That’s something I’m constantly working on. Physically, I was feeling really good going into (the Olympics), but I think the main thing I took out of it was being able to go into it confident no matter what competition I’m in.” After time to take it all in and get the new semester started at South Carolina, Vincent is now ready to kick off the year with her Gamecock swimming and diving teammates. “I’m definitely ready to get back in the pool and compete for my team now,” Vincent said.
photo by allen sharpe
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by brian hand Executive Editor
30 • Spurs & Feathers
September 21, 2016
Gunter: The win over the Pirates continues to build hope In this column the past two weeks I have offered my thoughts on the excitement for the 2016 season along with the amount of young talent the South Carolina roster has. Then last week on the home field environment the Gamecocks fans have created at Williams-Brice Stadium and other Gamecock home venues. I thought on Saturday, both of Bill Gunter those particular Contributing thoughts were Writer on display in full force as the Gamecocks pulled out a 20-15 victory over East Carolina. For starters, the game may have been listed as a sellout however there were some empty seats in the house as the Gamecocks took to the field. But, it was evident early on that the fans that had showed up were ready to make an impact on the game as Williams-Brice Stadium was rocking from the time “2001” started until Brandon McIlwain took the final knee.
Will Muschamp noted as much in the opening of his postgame press conference regarding the atmosphere at the stadium. “It was an amazing environment,” Muschamp stated. “Even after the game they were waiting on our players to come into the locker room. The passion and energy and loyalty they have is awesome. We really appreciate that. It certainly helped us in the game.” As the crowd was making their presence felt, so was the young talent on the Gamecocks roster. Most notably was McIIwain who got his first start and played every offensive snap, showing signs of being the guy that can carry this team through the remainder of the season. It wasn’t just McIIwain though making big plays offensively to build the early 17-0 lead. Redshirt freshman A.J. Turner had the big kickoff return to set up the opening score. Wide Receiver Bryan Edwards made a big catch to set up the second touchdown of the game. Throughout the game, other freshmen such as wide receiver Randrecous Davis and defensive end D.J. Wonnum made plays to help the Gamecocks pick up the victory. Maybe most importantly for both the football team and the fans was following the game, Muschamp came across confidant that he had found his quarterback. When asked about McIIwain being the guy moving forward, the
back to being very interested to seeing the improvement from week three to week four and it’s only Sunday morning. This team though is exciting to watch grow and it is interesting to see the development of certain players like McIIwain and Edwards as well as the entire defense from week to week. Fans should enjoy that as the goal this year is not to win the SEC East but instead to improve photo by jenny dilworth the team, to get back to being a physical, blue collar type program that competes hard each week. answer was a strong “yes.” Next week against Kentucky is another Muschamp went a little more in depth on chance to take a step forward, to pick up anwhy he believes McIIwain will continue to other big victory in the quest for bowl eligibilimprove and be a solid quarterback for the ity. The questions will be whether McIIwain Gamecocks. can continue his progress during his first start “He has a lot of poise about him,” he said. in a road game? Can the defense build off on a “He has a lot of the ‘it’ factor you look for at solid game against East Carolina in which they that position. He has a very good work ethic, gave up yards but not points. These are the he is extremely intelligent, so there are a lot fun things, (at least to me) which I am looking of the intangible qualities you look for at the for this upcoming Saturday. position.” Make no mistake, for this program, at this With all of the positives from Saturday it point in time, Saturday’s victory over East was still evident that a topic I wrote about three weeks back needs to be constantly talked Carolina was a big win. With a young team about. This version of the Gamecock football still looking for confidence, with a fan base trying to believe in their program again after team is still a work in progress and there are the last two years, the win over the Pirates going to be ups and downs. However, this is a fun team to watch as they continues to build hope. Now on to Lexington, Kentucky and the next step in the evolution of grow. As I reflected on Saturday afternoon’s game before writing this article, I kept coming the Gamecocks program under Muschamp.
Moore: It will be worth it when we arrive
We had the right call dialed up, against the right defense. On the road ... If we make that catch, maybe we score, maybe we play better on defense, maybe we go on to win the game. Maybe, maybe maybe… “Whatever” for the “maybes.” The game continues to Langston Moore teach. You Contributing can plan, you Writer can prep, you can rehearse ... then life happens, the game happens. It doesn’t go your way. The play you called is the perfect play for the opposing team’s defense. Your best player might get hurt? Nowwhat?! The gameplan seems useless now. Do you pack it up, wait to play another day? Football teams across the country gameplan and practice situations all the time, not only preparing physically for these scenarios, but to condition those deep recesses of the mind
to handle adversity. To give you some sort of life raft to hold on to, to calm you down when things get nasty out there and you feel all alone in the open water. The sea of circumstances are always swelling around you. You may feel out of control, you may feel like you’re drowning in your own thoughts of “maybes” and “what ifs?” As a player in the midst of it all, there are many things that can give you an excuse to be overwhelmed during a game, don’t bob underwater. Don’t do it ... don’t allow the sea of doubt and uncertainty of a situation drown you. Don’t let it sap your focus and fight … “It doesn’t end until we say so”- “#JustAChicken”
It starts between the ears. Thinking the game or your opponent will change for you ... won’t work. You’ll be waiting forever. Circumstances won’t change - you have to change, the winds ofcircumstance don’t care, it’s indifferent. But you can harness the circumstances (wind) by constantly being vigilant of your thoughts, attitudes and find the teachable moments from your experience (adjust your sail). What happens, happens to us all, it’s all in how we internalize it. If you don’t realize this power to change as a player you’ll look up one day and your playing career will be over. You’ll be left wondering how did you get here and what happened to your intentions you had in the begin“The same wind blows on us all” ning. “Don’t wish it was easier, wish you were Jim Rohn better” “It’s not the blowing of the wind, but the set of “Comfort can kill” your sail.” This quote from Rohn illustrates the If I could speak to my younger self, I would point I’m trying to get at with all this nautical heed this advice. We like to find those familjargon. That the opportunity to make plays, iar routines to follow, we like to know how score touchdowns and win games is there things are going to be. The mind looks for for everyone. If you do the things that are routine and predictability in a world that is anyconducive to winning (i.e. don’t turn the ball thing but that. On the surface it can feel like over, have penalties, tackle, win the short today is just like yesterday, but it isn’t. It’s huyardage and third down situations) and “adman nature to want to feel comfortable just your sail” correctly, the wind of fortune will and in control this way, but be careful beblow in your favor. cause this routine becomes your habitual pat-
terns which become who are. Looking for familiarity leads you to fall into a rut that you feel comfortable enough to dwell in. But a rut is nothing but a grave that hasn’t been closed in yet. And there you sit in comfort, wasting away until you realize you are boxed in by your habits and you now live in a tomb of “what ifs” and “maybes.” “The most comfortable is the most unwilling to change”
“Sail away from the safe harbour” - Samuel Clemens “All aboard”... take a journey with the rest of us to this uncharted territory we’ve never been to Gamecocks. We’ve dreamed of this and heard others regale stories of championships and their journey toward this port of call. But before you board the good ship “championship” I must warn you, this cruise is going to be turbulent and uncomfortable for the most part. No 24 hour buffets and live entertainment to help make this trek enjoyable. Just the pull of the vision of what awaits at this championship port. No, I don’t know how long it’s going to take, but I do know this will be worth it when we arrive. Until then we all have to “adjust our sails” and “batten down the hatches” for this odyssey until we get there.
Spurs & Feathers • 31
September 21, 2016
Girardeau: This was a good win for the Gamecocks In the future, I doubt there will be many South Carolina fans that will look back lovingly at the win over East Carolina on Saturday. It was not the prettiest of wins and I’m sure from an ECU perspective the Pirates self destructed when it mattered the most. It was a win in the first home game of the season and the first home game of the Will Muschamp era and a bounce back from a very hollow loss on the road a week ago. The most important part though is it was ... a win. I rode the elevator down from the press box and wondered what in the world do you say about a game where your opponent gains 519 yards to your 312 and you still win the game? A game where your opponent’s quarterback goes 44-58 passing for 400 yards and completes 22 of Ed Girardeau the completions Contributing (one short of a naEditor tional record) to one wide receiver who has 190 yards by himself? I lamented last week that for the past two years we have made a new “latest big thing” out of a player from our opponent week in and week out. At first blush, it seems we did again. There’s one big difference. We won. It did not take long to get the answer to what I would write this week. After listening to Coach Muschamp answer questions and talk about the game, I have to admit I felt a lot better about things. I recommend that if you have not watched it, go online to Gamecocksonline.com and watch the postgame press conference. You can read his quotes in this newspaper and you can get the idea of what I am talking about, but it’s not the same as hearing him talk. You don’t get to hear the conviction in his voice. South Carolina had a plan on Saturday and the bottom line is it worked and we won. After last season, we certainly should not take that for granted. East Carolina is a pretty good football team. I watched their game against NC State last week and knew we were in for a fight and they brought it. I’ve also watched just about every team in the SEC play a couple of times now, too. The Pirates can hang with most of them and, obviously, if you ask the Wolfpack, they can hang with the ACC, too. As Coach Muschamp pointed out, this was a good win for the Gamecocks on Saturday. After three wins last year, two feels pretty darn
photo by allen sharpe
good at this point this year. And lest we forget, think back two years ago. This game against ECU was very similar to that of the Missouri and Tennessee games at home (much less the debacle in Kentucky) in 2014. Big leads for Carolina in the fourth quarter, only to see it slip away right at the end for heartbreaking losses. Not on this day. The Pirates finally got within one score in the fourth quarter and USC responded with a drive and a field goal to stretch it to two scores and their only points in the second half. Then needing a first down to salt the game away, on fourth down, McIlwain pitched to David Williams, who had maybe the biggest run of his career to get the first down by plenty and put this one in the win column. When asked by a reporter after the game if this defensive effort was a step forward or back from last week, Coach Muschamp quickly responded, “Did you watch last
week’s game?!” The plan of “bend don’t break” worked great as the Pirates looked lost in the red zone. Keep the offense in front of you and don’t get beat deep. It led to a lot of yards, but not many points. As Coach Muschamp pointed out, watch how many points ECU scores in games as the season progresses. I’m willing to bet that this will be their lowest production of the season, by far, when it is all said and done. Now will that kind of defense work against some of the other teams on our schedule? Probably not, but I have a feeling that the coaching staff understands that and we’ll see a different approach from week to week. That is where we are. We need to scheme every week to get wins and it worked on this day. Next week the Gamecocks travel to Kentucky. The Wildcats have struggled early, but did put 62 points on the board against New Mexico State this weekend. They are going to throw the ball around ... a lot. It’s probably go-
ing to be another white-knuckle trip. South Carolina needs to come out and pop them in the mouth just as they delivered the blows to the Pirates on Saturday in the early going. It sets up a lot better doing it that way than in the first two games. The Gamecocks have a chance to go to 3-1 on the season next week. Based on what we’ve seen so far, that’s not too bad. The rest of the season plays out mostly at home and the teams on the schedule do not appear as “scary” as perhaps they might have been in the past. Not sure how many wins that will work out for us in the final tally this year, but one thing is for sure, it is a lot better to make reference to “wins” in reference to South Carolina being the victor than in reference to what might have been. We will win a game over someone unexpected this year. Count on it. It’s a great time to be a Gamecock!
September 21, 2016
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32 • Spurs & Feathers