Spurs & Feathers 914 by Spurs & Feathers

september 14, 2016 • Volume 38 • Issue 6 • $1.50

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Gamecocks excited to be back at Williams-Brice Stadium for home opener against ECU Publication mailed from Columbia on Monday, September 12

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 Allen Sharpe) 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 14, 2016

Please Read: Editor’s note Please note that we are weekly for the rest of the football season (except for the open date). Please also make sure to email bhand@spursandfeathers.com whenever you have a meeting for inclusion in our editions and on SpursandFeathers.com. Per our contract with the Gamecock Club, below are our remaining edition dates for the 2016 year. Forever to Thee! Spurs & Feathers schedule 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.

Sept. 14 newspaper Sept. 21 newspaper Sept. 28 newspaper Oct. 5 newspaper Oct. 12 newspaper Oct. 19 bye week (no newspaper) Oct. 26 newspaper Nov. 2 newspaper Nov. 9 newspaper Nov. 16 newspaper Nov. 23 newspaper Nov. 30 newspaper Dec. 21 magazine (end of year)

• 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 14, 2016

McIlwain puts together ‘exceptional’ second half by Brian Hand Executive Editor STARKVILLE, Miss. - South Carolina senior quarterback Perry Orth was not surprised by the way he came out and played because he gets to see him in action every day. Still, for everyone that was waiting to see exactly what Brandon McIlwain would look like in a hostile environment in extended action the first reviews are extremely favorable. Obviously, the Gamecocks would rather have the team win than a strong second half performance by their freshman quarterback, but for Orth McIlwain’s strong efforts in the second half in the 27-14 loss to Mississippi State just further show his capability, and that says a ton coming from someone who is also battling him daily for playing time. “Exceptional,” Orth said of McIlwain’s play in the second half before adding, “He’s a very talented kid, and I was very proud of the way he came out and played.” Orth started the loss to Mississippi State, but McIlwain took over the reins in the second half as South Carolina head football coach Will Muschamp felt like the team just

photo by allen sharpe

needed a spark. And that’s exactly what McIlwain provided in helping the Gamecocks to outscore the Bulldogs, 14-3, in the second half. McIlwain passed for 126 yards in total in the second half, throwing for two touchdowns on 11-of-22 passing. McIlwain also rushed for 32 yards.

Offensive lineman Cory Helms said despite McIlwain being a true freshman he has the respect of the team. “He’s a good player,” Helms said. “We’ve had respect for him since the day he got here. We treat him just like another other guy, just like any other guy back there telling us what to do.”

Muschamp in general was just pleased with what McIlwain was able to provide the Gamecocks in the second half. “I thought he did a nice job,” Muschamp said of McIlwain’s performance. “I thought he went in there and created some plays for us. We’ll evaluate the tape and move forward.”

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4 • Spurs & Feathers

September 14, 2016

Gamecocks suffer first loss of 2016 season by Brian Hand Executive Editor

STARKVILLE, Miss. - The first half was not what was expected by anybody, but South Carolina head football coach Will Muschamp was pleased with the way his team came out and responded in the second half in the Gamecocks’ 27-14 loss to Mississippi State before a crowd of 57,763 at Davis Wade Stadium. In fact, in the continued process of building his program at South Carolina his message to his team that was down 24-0 at the break was simple. “Just respond, and they did,” Muschamp said after the loss. “Play with effort, play with intensity, play the way you are capable of playing, and they did. We responded in the second half. I was very pleased with the way our guys came out and played. The first half wasn’t indicative of who we are.” The Gamecocks would receive the football first in the game, but after going three and out it would be Mississippi State that took advantage of its first possession to take an early 7-0 lead with exactly 11 minutes remaining in the opening quarter. Fred Ross captured the first touchdown of the game when he caught a 6-yard pass from quarterback Nick Fitzgerald. The touchdown finished off a seven-play, 55-yard drive that lasted 2:27 for the Bulldogs. A little bit later it looked as if the Bulldogs would extend their lead after a 74-yard run by Fitzgerald to the South Carolina 5-yard line. The Gamecock defense would be up to the challenge though with Mississippi State unable to score, turning the ball over on downs at the 3-yard line. Mississippi State nevertheless would still take a 14-0 advantage with 12:15 left in the first half when a trick play from wide receiver to wide receiver in Ross to Donald Gray led to a 17-yard touchdown. The touchdown was the culmination of a nine-play, 63-yard touchdown that took exactly three minutes off the clock. The Bulldogs would extend their lead to 21-0 with 3:21 remaining in the first half when Jordan Thomas caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Fitzgerald. The touchdown ended a five-play, 36-yard drive that lasted 1:40. Mississippi State would tack on three more points before the halftime break with Westin Graves’ 27-yard field goal as time expired in the half giving the Bulldogs a 24-0 lead. The field goal was the final play of a seven-play, 68-yard drive in the final 1:07 of the second quarter. South Carolina finished with 90 yards of offense in the first half to Mississippi State’s 324. The Gamecocks held a slight 15:55-14:05 advantage in terms of time of possession in the first half of play. The Gamecocks would garner the first points of the second half on Brandon McIlwain’s first

photo by jenny dilworth

career touchdown pass. The 18-yard touchdown pass to running back A.J. Turner came after McIlwain was able to escape out of the pocket and find a streaking Turner down the right sideline for the touchdown that set the score at 24-7 in Mississippi State’s favor. The touchdown finished off an impressive 12-play, 80-yard drive that lasted 5:22. The Bulldogs would respond to South Carolina’s first touchdown of the day just over five minutes into the fourth and final quarter when a 28-yard Graves field goal concluded a 13-play, 62-yard drive for Mississippi State. The scoring drive took 5:30 off the clock and made the score 27-7 in favor of the Bulldogs. The Gamecocks would pick up their second touchdown of the day with 2:37 left in the fourth quarter when on fourth and one at the 4-yard line McIlwain connected with K.C. Crosby for a touchdown that cut the score to 27-14. The touchdown pass finished off a 13-play, 83-yard drive that took 3:49 off the clock. That would prove to the final points of the game for either team with the Bulldogs emerg-

ing with the 13-point win. After the game, junior offensive lineman Cory Helms noted like Muschamp he knew the second half was better, but once again despite outscoring opponents 27-3 so far on the year in the second half the Gamecocks have to start faster. “We picked it up at the end, but we’ve really got to start it off faster,” Helms said. “Last week we killed ourselves with penalties and this week we just started slow.” South Carolina ended their loss with 243 yards of total offense on 70 plays, while the Bulldogs picked up 485 yards of total offense on 75 plays. The Gamecocks held a slight 30:05-29:55 advantage in time of possession in the contest. McIlwain ended his first extended action for the Gamecocks passing for 126 yards. He was 11-for-22 overall with two touchdown passes. Orth was 9-of-17 with one interception in the first half. He passed for 83 yards. Tight end Hayden Hurst led the Gamecocks in receiving yards with a career-best 68 yards receiving on eight catches. Eight different

Gamecocks caught a pass in the contest. The Gamecocks were led defensively by Ulric Jones, who ended his efforts on the evening with a career-best nine total tackles. South Carolina’s T.J. Holloman had seven tackles to go along with one interception in the game. The interception was the sixth of his career. Mississippi State was paced in their win by Fitzgerald’s 195 yards rushing and 178 yards passing. He was 19-for-29 overall with two touchdown passes. Fitzgerald also had the one interception picked off by Holloman. South Carolina next returns home for the first time in the 2016 season to face off against East Carolina at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17. The game will be televised on the SEC Network. Once again, Muschamp knows next week’s game is just a part of the process, and he is looking forward to seeing his team grow over the course of the next week. “We knew there would be some bumps in the road,” Muschamp said. “We said it last week (after Vanderbilt win). We’ll move forward and get better and improve our football team.”

Spurs & Feathers • 5

September 14, 2016

View from the Mississippi State locker room by KYLE HECK Reporter

Carolina head coach) Will (Muschamp), he had those guys ready (in) second half. Young quarterback comes in, makes some STARKVILLE, Miss. - Coming off a plays, and they continued to battle and tough loss against South Alabama in the play hard for four quarters. That’s what season opener, Mississippi State made it a you’re always going to get in a Southeastpriority to emphasize intensity and focus ern Conference game.” during the week of practice leading up to That young quarterback was Brandon the game against South Carolina. McIlwain, who provided a spark for the On Saturday, Sept. 10, at Davis Wade Gamecocks. The freshman finished 11-ofStadium, the Bulldogs brought that out in 22 through the air for 126 yards and two an actual game, and came away with a 27touchdowns, all obviously coming in the 14 win over the Gamecocks. The bouncesecond half. He also added 17 net rushing back performance had a lot to do with the yards on the ground. play of quarterback Nick Fitzgerald. After “Give credit to that young quarterback,” splitting time with Damian Williams in Mullen said. “He made some plays with the season opener, Fitzgerald played the his legs. You can see why he’s going to be photo by jenny dilworth entire game against South Carolina and a dynamic player for them in the future.” I knew it was for real, and that I was godid damage on the ground and through Mullen said that the Bulldogs “played ing to have to really, really lock down and the right way” against the Gamecocks, the air. Fitzgerald broke a school record for prepare.” and was proud of his team’s performance. rushing yards by a quarterback with 195, The Bulldogs (1-1, 1-0 SEC) jumped out and completed 19-of-29 passes for 178 “After you lose, you want to get that bad to a 24-0 halftime lead, but after a lightyards, two touchdowns and an interceptaste out of your mouth,” said defensive tion. The sophomore learned he was goning delay that lasted around a hour, the end A.J. Jefferson, who finished with ing to play the entire game last Sunday, Gamecocks (1-1, 1-1 SEC) charged back five tackles and a sack. “That just got us and it changed his mindset. to outscore Mississippi State, 14-3, in the juiced up and ready to go.” “Overall, just prepare more,” Fitzgerald final two quarters. Mississippi State controlled the first said of the mentality when he learned “Give South Carolina credit,” Bulldog half, thanks to great play on both sides of about the start. “The second he told me, head coach Dan Mullen said. “(South the ball. While McIlwain led the Game-

cocks on two scoring drives in the second half, the offensive struggles in the first half weren’t necessarily a result of South Carolina starting quarterback Perry Orth. Mississippi State linebacker Richie Brown said the Bulldogs came out with an intensity that was hard to match. “We were just relentlessly getting after the ball, focused, dialed in, communicating (and) we had a lot of energy on the field and off the field,” Brown said of how they were able to limit Orth. The Bulldogs are known as a team that likes to use short screen passes to their advantage, and they did so in the first half. However, after the halftime break, they noticed a definite difference from Muschamp and South Carolina. In addition, several Bulldogs said that it was hard to replicate the intensity and energy after a long break because of the lightning. “We attacked (screens) in the first half, and they made adjustments,” Fred Ross said. “They started taking away the bubble.” While the Gamecocks did all they could to charge back in the second half, the first half deficit proved to be too much to overcome.

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6 • Spurs & Feathers

September 14, 2016

Former Gamecock captures another title with Overseas Elite by kyle heck Reporter

When former Gamecock Johndre Jefferson first heard about The Basketball Tournament, he didn’t believe it. Who would pay one million dollars to the winning team in a tournament that lasted just a few weekends? It simply sounded too good to be true. However, Jefferson still responded to the invitation sent by general manager Andrew Morrison, went through the tryout, and became a member of the Overseas Elite team. All Gamecock basketball The Basketball Tournament is a coverage sponsored by Yesterdays 64-team singleelimination tournament made up of former college basketball standouts and other players from all over the world. “I ended up making the trip, and it paid off,” Jefferson said. Indeed it did. On Tuesday, Aug. 2, Jefferson and Overseas Elite clinched their secondstraight The Basketball Tournament title with a 77-72 win over Team Colorado. Jefferson was part of the team that won the million dollar prize in 2015, and this year the club claimed a two million dollar paycheck that would be split up among the team. Jefferson made nearly $200,000 from the win, and that will come in extremely handy as he is looking for a permanent place to stay around the Columbia area when he is home from professional basketball. “It was like a big weight off of my shoulder,” Jefferson said of the moment the final buzzer sounded against Team Colorado. “I’m in the market for a house, so that’s what I’m planning on using these winnings for.” Shortly after winning the title, Jefferson was back home with his family in South Carolina, resting up before embarking to Italy for yet another season of professional basketball. Over the past two years, Jefferson has bonded with his Overseas Elite teammates, many of whom he already knew from playing in Europe. “I genuinely love all those guys,” Jefferson said. “They’re definitely part of my extended family now. I tell them all the time, if you ever need me, just let me know and I’ll do whatever I

Photo by Travis Bell/Sideline Carolina

can for you, and vice versa.” Overseas Elite brought back the majority of the roster that won the first championship in 2015, while also adding a couple of pivotal pieces. Jefferson said that familiarity was crucial in the repeat, and the team was confident entering The Basketball Tournament. “I felt confident that we had the edge on everyone because we had already been through it and played together and had success with it last year,” Jefferson said. Along with the hefty paycheck, Jefferson had the opportunity to play on live television back in the United States where his family could watch him. He was joined by his fiancée for

the championship games, and his mother and grandmother came to Charlotte to watch him play the first weekend of the tournament. Jefferson played the 2009 and 2010 seasons with South Carolina after transferring from Northwest Florida State college. He played in 54 games for the Gamecocks, averaging just over 10 minutes played per game. Since leaving South Carolina, Jefferson has enjoyed a successful professional career overseas, and is coming off a season in Turkey where he averaged just over 10 points and six rebounds per game while shooting over 64 percent from the field. While he didn’t play as much as he would’ve

liked, Jefferson still looks back fondly at his days as a Gamecock. “I still love the University,” Jefferson said. “I’m always here working out. I still come back and I hang out with the younger guys. We talk a lot, and I still keep in contact with the guys that were on my team when I played there.” As Jefferson prepares to head back to Italy for the upcoming season with Dolomiti Energia Trento, he’s already looking forward to The Basketball Tournament next year, and said his Overseas Elite teammates have made it known they want to come back as well. “Just looking forward to going for the threepeat next year,” Jefferson said.

Spurs & Feathers â&#x20AC;˘ 7

September 14, 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

09/10/16...........at Mississippi State#............ Starkville, Miss...................... L, 27-14

Florida

1-0

2-0

0-0

NEU PF PA STRK 0-0

09/17/16........ East Carolina....................Columbia, S.C............ 4 p.m. EST

South Carolina 1-1

1-1

0-0

1-1

0-0

09/24/16...........at Kentucky#.......................... Lexington, Ky................................TBA

Georgia

0-0

2-0

1-0

0-0

1-0

Tennessee

0-0

2-0

1-0

0-0

1-0

10/01/16........ Texas A&M#.....................Columbia, S.C.......................TBA

Missouri

0-0

1-1

1-0

0-1

0-0

10/08/16........ Georgia#..........................Columbia, S.C.......................TBA

Vanderbilt

0-1

1-1

0-0

Kentucky

0-1 0-2 0-1 0-1 0-0 42 89 L2

10/22/16........ Massachusetts.................Columbia, S.C.......................TBA 10/29/16........ Tennessee#......................Columbia, S.C.......................TBA

SEC West

11/05/16........ Missouri#.........................Columbia, S.C.......................TBA 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

SEC

W-L PF

PA W-L PF PA STRK

Mississippi State 1-0

1-1

0-0

Alabama

0-0

2-0

1-0

0-0

1-0

Arkansas

0-0

2-0

1-0

0-0

Texas A&M

0-0

2-0

0-0

Auburn

0-0

1-1

0-0

LSU

0-0

1-1

1-0

0-0

0-1

Ole Miss

0-0

1-1

1-0

0-0

0-1

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8 • Spurs & Feathers

September 14, 2016

Muschamp: ‘Gamecock Confidential’ allows us to open up our program by brian hand Executive Editor

South Carolina head football coach Will Muschamp makes it no secret that he wants his program to be open to the outside world. That’s why he considers it so important to have things such as the special five-part “Gamecock Confidential: Forever to Thee” video series. “I think sometimes perception in life is not always reality, and we’re very open about our coaching, what we do and how we run our program,” Muschamp said. “A lot of people hide behind the scenes of what they do with their program. We don’t.” The first episode of “Gamecock Confidential: Forever to Thee” premiered on Facebook at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 10, through the Facebook Live platform. Since its unveiling the series has received rave reviews, which means a great deal to the Gamecock Productions staff, who have literally been working toward the moment since the day Muschamp was hired at South Carolina. In fact, the original idea for the five-part “Gamecock Confidential: Forever to Thee” series originally materialized during the introductory press conference for Muschamp in early December of 2015. “I think we had such great access thanks to (athletics director Ray) Tanner and coach Muschamp during the hiring process and then immediately afterwards that it kind of forced us to think longterm, and think how can we make the most out of this?” associate director of Gamecock Productions Jonathan Hillyard told Spurs & Feathers. “Moving forward from there, coach Muschamp was wide-open from day one of spring practice and gave us all of the access that we could ever want with the assistant coaches and microphones.” Around this same time, Gamecock Productions was already well into the thought process and production for the “Gamecock Confidential” look early in the spring of 2016 into the Gamecock baseball program. “We started thinking about ways we could take best advantage of that, and at the time we were in production for the ‘Gamecock Baseball Confidential,’ and that was going really well and getting good exposure,” Hillyard said. “That opportunity with coach Muschamp and his staff in year one that opportunity was too good to pass up.” A continued evolution The “Gamecock Confidential” baseball series was a huge hit, and coupled with the softball “Gamecock Confidential,” Gamecock Produc-

tions had already started to think about things they could do with a football version, and what would work best, particularly with the way it was promoted and delivered to the masses. “We had done ‘Gamecock Confidential’ in the past with the softball program, and (South Carolina head softball coach) Beverly (Smith) was kind of the first one to open the doors and say ‘you guys do whatever you want,’ and those did really well, so we wanted to branch out and (South Carolina head baseball) coach (Chad) Holbrook gave us the same opportunity,” Hillyard said. “Those experiments kind of continued to evolve and led to the planning of ‘Gamecock Confidential’ for football, and it’s continued to evolve. Social media changes so often that we kind of have to think of new ways to get your content in front of people.” The South Carolina baseball “Gamecock Confidential” was done in advance of the 2016 Opening Day, and Holbrook was thrilled with how the special features had been done and received. “Our production team and our video team have done a great job,” Holbrook told Spurs & Feathers on Feb. 18, 2016. “I love for our fans and the media to be able to see what goes on behind the scenes to get to know some of our players and to get to know what they do on a daily basis. It just puts a personal touch to it and it also allows our recruits to see what goes on, on a daily basis and I think that’s extremely beneficial as well.” Always one to make sure his team understands that it is important to take a holistic approach to life, Holbrook was particularly pleased with how the series expounded upon what it means to be a part of the Gamecock baseball program. “I talk to our players all the time about having balance in their life and knowing not to be about baseball all the time even though baseball’s a very important part of their life and I think our fans get to see that first-hand, and I think it’s been neat for our team, it’s been neat for our players, it’s been neat for our fans and it’s neat for me to even learn a little bit more about my team and my players that they may be a little gun-shy to approach me about oneon-one,” Holbrook said. “I think it’s a win for everybody.” Hillyard and the rest of the Gamecock Productions team led by director of Gamecock Productions Paul Danna were thrilled by the reception by Holbrook, his coaching staff and Gamecock fans everywhere. “That was special,” Hillyard said. “The goal that we had for that project was to bring exposure to his program to show a side that fans

photo by allen sharpe

don’t normally get to see, and to be able to use that to be able to attract both fans and prospective student-athletes. That was huge for us because it was kind of mission accomplished for us. That was the ultimate goal. Obviously we want to get as many eyeballs on it (as possible), but ultimately if the coaching staff is happy with it and we feel like it is a good representation of our brand and we feel like it furthers their efforts of trying to win championships and compete, then it’s a success.” ‘The staff gets it 100 percent’ South Carolina athletics director Ray Tanner is also a big fan of giving Gamecock fans the unique inside look to the football program during preseason camp. “I think it’s great,” Tanner said. “Our staff and the things that they do, they continue to be very impressive and on the cutting-edge.” That cutting-edge approach and attention to detail in all areas has not been lost on Gamecock Productions. “They’ve been great,” Hillyard said. “This staff gets it 100 percent. They’ve been wideopen. I don’t think we’ve been told no to anything. We’ve been in staff meetings. We’ve been in position meetings. There’s some really solid coaching going on the field and in the meeting rooms, and you’ll see it as the season progresses.” ‘It’s all hands on-deck for us’ Gamecock Productions already has a ton on its plate with the start of the athletic year, but the work for “Gamecock Confidential: Forever to Thee” is on top of their efforts daily in other areas. That’s why they are working wholly as a unit to make the five-part series happen. “It’s definitely a team effort,” Hillyard said. “Episode one, we had a long time to prepare for because it was Dec. 6 through the end of spring, and we kind of had all summer to stew on it and lay it out. Moving forward to episode two - which is going to be focused mostly on their summer - and then episodes 3-5, we’ll be working on a pretty quick turnaround of two

weeks after it happened. It takes everybody in our office. It takes all four of our full-time staff members. The four of us are kind of acting as segment producers, and I’m kind of leading the storyline and production side, but as far as editing and shooting, it’s all hands on-deck for us.” Gamecock Productions utilizes the help of University of South Carolina students a great deal, and they know having them back on campus for the final episodes of the series will be huge. “We have a great student staff during the season – it will be about 20 students – but we’ve had four or five students at the end of the summer that have really helped us get this project off the ground, and they’ll be crucial come episodes 3-5 as we’re looking at these quick turnarounds,” Hillyard said. In addition to all of the efforts to just make the series happen, Gamecock Productions would like the series to be very character-driven, so they are focusing their time wisely. “We’ve had to be strategic and really hone in on the stories we want to tell, and the characters we want to develop and focus ourselves so we don’t end up with terabytes of footage that the four of us have to go through,” Hillyard said. The goal was to keep each episode around 10-15 minutes, but Hillyard was quick to relay with so much great content, they would never say never to having even longer episodes. “The goal is to make it something easy for fans to ingest, so we don’t want to get too long with it, and the 10-15 minutes is kind of a sweet spot to make you feel like you got a good bit of value, but it didn’t take too big of a chunk of your time,” Hillyard said. All episodes of the five-part “Gamecock Confidential: Forever to Thee” have now been unveiled. If you missed any of the episodes, make sure and visit https://medium.com/gamecocksonline-com/gamecock-confidential-forever-tothee-episode-one-7822f4f9999b#.lzkftzb7s to view each episode.

Spurs & Feathers • 9

September 14, 2016

Gunter: I am excited to see the Gamecocks return home

photo by juan blas

As a kid growing up (and even now), there was nothing I ever wanted to do more than run out of that tunnel, between the band to the tune of “2001.” Yes, I am biased but I have seen several entrances in college football and the way the Gamecocks enter the football field to “2001” is near, if not at the top of my list. Part of that is the Gamecock family and how they embrace their team. Again, yes I am biased but look at the facts. Colonial Life Arena, Founders Park and of course Williams Brice Stadium have become tough places to play and fantastic venues to watch a ball game. That isn’t because they are loaded with luxury boxes, built with amenities or serve alcohol. It is because of the Gamecock fan base and the environment they create. So as Muschamp and the football team open their home schedule this coming week, take pride in what the Gamecock family has built. Take pride in the atmosphere that Williams-Brice Stadium provides and the home field advantage it gives the

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Gamecocks. Sometimes, we tend to take that for granted, we tend to expect that each home game, regardless of sport is going to be packed to the brim and full of screaming Gamecock fans but the fact is that it takes time, money and effort by the fans to show up and make each home game a difficult place for the opponent to gain a victory at.

I know, this coming week, I am excited to see the Gamecocks return home. To enjoy a great Gamecock tailgate and experience the sights and sounds that accompanies Williams-Brice Stadium. Because it is that type of atmosphere that is building the program in each sport and it is that type of atmosphere that has earned Gamecock fans a reputation as the most loyal in the country.

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The South Carolina football program returns home this week to face East Carolina and this past week it was announced as a sellout. Maybe that should not come as a surprise though as Gamecock fans have proved to be among the most loyal in the country. Still, coming off a 3-9 season, maybe you would expect Gamecock fans to take a wait and see approach Bill Gunter to the first home Contributing game of the Will Writer Muschamp era, but that won’t be the case. However, if you examine what is taking place in Columbia recently regarding the Gamecock fans then you aren’t surprised at all regarding the recent news of a sellout for a season opener. Let’s start with what is happening for Dawn Staley and the women’s basketball team. Maybe you haven’t noticed because let’s be honest, fan attendance is one of the last stats that most pay attention to, but Staley and her program have built the premier homecourt advantage in the country. I don’t care what anyone says about Connecticut, it is the “G-Hive” that has become the place nationally to watch a women’s basketball game. It doesn’t just stop with the women’s team. Frank Martin’s men’s program averaged over 13,000 fans during the regular season last year and quickly has become one one of the tougher places to play in the SEC. In other words, Colonial Life Arena has become one of the tougher venues in the country regardless of sport to come and gain a victory. And while the home team playing in those games are a much improved bunch, a great deal has to do with the fan base that inhabits each home environment. Williams-Brice Stadium and Colonial Life Arena are not the only two Gamecock venues that have become nationally known as difficult places to play. Founders Park is regarded year in and year out as one of the most difficult ball parks to venture into for a weekend series. So I point all that out to say that Gamecock fans have created some of the best home environments in the country. This coming weekend Will Muschamp gets to experience his first time running out of the tunnel at Williams-Brice Stadium and the crowd that embraces that particular tradition.

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10 • Spurs & Feathers

September 14, 2016

Exciting time for the Gamecock Club

by brian hand Executive Editor

The month of August is always one of the busiest times of year, but also one of the most enjoyable times of the year for the Gamecock Club. Every August the different Gamecock Club judicial districts hold numerous events featuring special speakers, Gamecock coaches and much more. Officials from the Gamecock Club always make sure to be at as many of the events as possible because they know how hard the areas work to make the events happen. “It really is neat to go out and see everybody before kickoff,” Gamecock Club executive director Patrick McFarland said. “People want to be around other Gamecock fans, talk about the upcoming season and kind of get on the same page with one another. It was fun. It was nice to

be on the road again.” The special extra efforts of the judicial districts above and beyond does not go unnoticed by McFarland and the Gamecock Club. “Obviously as a volunteer they’re not getting paid to do any of this and they are doing this in their own personal time to put this on,” McFarland said. “It just shows their commitment to the Gamecock Club and Gamecock athletics in

general.” The excitement is not just confined to August though as the home football opener against East Carolina at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, will serve as Gamecock Club Appreciation Day. During halftime of the game the Gamecock Club will honor their executive committee on the field. Just recently, the Gamecock Club was also

able to extend the ages for the Junior Gamecock Club. “We’re excited about the Junior Gamecock Club expanding from 13 years old to 18 years old,” McFarland said. “We’re going to bring in a whole new group of people and allow the ones who are turning 14 to maintain their Gamecock Club membership.” McFarland and the Gamecock Club are particularly excited about this change as now one can literally be a member for their entire life. “You can be a member from the time you enter this earth to when you leave this earth,” McFarland said. “We have people that do that. They join their child up the day they are born in the Junior Gamecock Club. You can keep your membership going from the Junior Gamecock Club to the Student Gamecock Club to the regular Gamecock Club. We’re excited to have that opportunity.”

‘Slam Dunk Back to School Bash’ makes huge impact once again

by brian hand Executive Editor

to who the Tanners are,” Rich said. “I remember having a conversation with coach Tanner when he was still the baseball coach, Karen Tanner knows that it is incredibly and he talked about how important it was important because it’s their home. to be involved in community service even That’s why the wife of South Carolina’s when he was just a coach at the University athletics director and the co-founder of the of South Carolina. It was important for him Ray Tanner Foundation was so excited about to be a part of the community and show how all of the great things taking place at the 2016 grateful he and his wife and his family are “Slam Dunk Back to School Bash” at Eau when it comes to how the community has Claire High School on Saturday, Aug. 13. embraced them, and to not only appreciate “I think it’s great for children to try and get what they’re doing from the aspect of giving them super-excited about the school year, back, but the areas that they are giving back and it’s just a great way to reach out to the to. They’re giving back to needed areas like community,” Karen Tanner said. “Ray and I at C.A. Johnson last year and Eau Claire this live so close, and it truly is our community. year. Areas that need it, and it speaks to how These people are our neighbors, and (it’s in touch with reality coach Tanner is, and great) just to have the ability - we have about I think it speaks to how much he wants to 28 community partners - to gather that group show the community how much he and his together to have everybody make sure this wife appreciate what they city of Columbia school year is going to be so special for these has done for them. What a great way to rekids.” ciprocate that.” The fact that the Tanners would take the The idea for a Columbia “Slam Dunk Back time to embrace the community in this fash- to School Bash” came from a similar event ion once again this year is not lost on former ran through the Hootie and the Blowfish South Carolina men’s basketball point guard Foundation in Charleston, and after two sucand current City of Columbia superintendent cessful events in 2015 at C.A. Johnson High of recreation Carey Rich, who was also in at- School and now in 2016 at Eau Claire High tendance at the special kickoff to the school School along with the Charleston success it year for the second straight year. has Karen Tanner thinking of advancing the “I think it’s amazing and I think it speaks special event to different areas of the state.

learning about numerous other healthy initiatives at a variety of stations inside the George Glymph Arena and throughout the halls of Eau Claire. Cocky was also in attendance at the “Slam Dunk Back to School Bash” once again promoting the importance of literacy through “Cocky’s Reading Express.” Ray Tanner like his wife was just overall photo by brian hand thrilled with how everything turned out on the day, and to once again be able to help “I think that’s the thing that drives us every children get the year started the right way. year - to do it a little bit better and a little “It’s an exciting time of the year,” Ray Tanner said. “All of our young boys and girls are bit better even to the point that next year we’d like to expand it to the Upstate,” Karen getting ready to go back to school, and it’s a Tanner said. “Taking it up to the Greenville- time of new clothes, supplies and backpacks, Spartanburg area to try to have it canvas the and now through the many volunteers that we have and the Junior Women’s Club of Cowhole state. We really want to be able to do lumbia and Under Armour, we’re able to be a that.” part of this and get some young people ready One of the most unique things about the to go back to school.” “Slam Dunk Back to School Bash” is that A true coaching legend, George Glymph each child in attendance has the opportunity spent 27 years as the head coach at Eau to be outfitted with an Under Armour backpack that is filled with school supplies for the Claire High School, and he was proud to be in attendance at the “Slam Dunk Back to upcoming school year. School Bash” because he knows just how The special Under Armour backpacks much it helps the community. once again in 2016 were just a small part of “This is special, especially for a lot of the the truly holistic approach undertaken with kids who can’t afford it,” Glymph said. “It the “Slam Dunk Back to School Bash” as helps out the parents and everything. This is the children in attendance had the chance super.” for dental and vision screenings along with

Spurs & Feathers • 11

September 14, 2016

Recipients of 2016-17 endowed scholarships announced South Carolina Athletics Media Relations

handed pitcher in the state after a standout career at Gaffney High School. Schmidt earned All-America and All-SEC honors last University of South Carolina Athletics season. The junior is a two-time SEC Acaannounced recently the recipients of nine demic Honor Roll selection. Destino, another endowed scholarships across five sports. Four junior, earned a spot on the NCAA Regional members of the group are All-Americans All-Tournament team last season, helping the and six have appeared on the SEC Academic Gamecocks into the Super Regionals. Honor Roll. Recipients for endowed scholarCoates is a three-time All-SEC selection ships are selected each year by the sport’s and who pulled down 10.3 rebounds per head coach. game last season, becoming the first Game“Our student-athletes are able to have a cock to average double-figure rebounds over‘championship experience’ here and large all since 1992-93 and in SEC play since 1993part of that is due to the generosity of our 94. A 2016 Wade Trophy finalist, the senior Gamecock Club members,” South Carolina center is just the fourth player in program Athletics Director Ray Tanner said. “These history to amass at least 1,000 career points endowed scholarships represent the special and 900 career rebounds. Heading into her commitment that our Gamecock Club mem- final season, she already holds school records bers and student-athletes make. We are very for career defensive rebounds (642), rebounds appreciative of the support from our Gamein SEC play (433) and double-doubles in SEC cock Club members.” action (19). The 2016-17 recipients of endowed scholHolloman is a senior linebacker who earned arships are: a spot on the preseason watch list for the 32nd Baseball annual Butkus Award in July. In addition to The Ken Branch and Kathy Falls Endowed piling up 140 career tackles in 36 games over Baseball Scholarship – Josh Gregory the last three seasons, the 2015 team captain The Everette and Beverly Newman is a two-time member of the SEC Fall AcaEndowed Pitcher’s Scholarship – Clarke demic Honor Roll. Orth earned this scholarSchmidt ship for the second-straight season and is The Ken Rosefield Family Endowed First competing for the starting quarterback role Baseman’s Scholarship – Alex Destino in his senior season. Hurst played in all 12 games in 2015 as a true freshman and entered Women’s Basketball this fall as a co-starter at tight end. The Aleighsa Welch Endowed Women’s Earning this endowed scholarship for the Basketball Scholarship – Alaina Coates second-straight season, Dambaugh is set for a stellar senior season after capturing WGCA Football First-Team All-America honors last season, The Marcus Lattimore Endowed Football which she capped by winning the NCAA Scholarship – T.J. Holloman Baton Rouge Regional. Her school-record The Tommy Suggs Endowed Quarterback 71.62 stroke average in 2015-16 was second Scholarship – Perry Orth in NCAA Division I women’s golf, and she The Wraellen and Larry Winn Endowed posted the Gamecocks’ best score in nine Tight End Scholarship – Hayden Hurst of their 11 tournaments. With one season to play, she ranks second in program history in Women’s Golf career top-five finishes (10) and fifth in top-10 The Kenneth T. Lytle Endowed Women’s showings (14). Golf Scholarship – Katelyn Dambaugh Awotunde is the first recipient of the Schreiber Family Endowed Scholarship as he Track & Field heads into his junior season as the GameThe Schreiber Family Endowed Scholarship cocks’ premier shot putter. He placed seventh – Josh Awotunde at the NCAA Outdoor Championships to earn First-Team All-America status after A two-way player, Gregory is a freshman earning Second-Team All-SEC honors at the this season, joining the Gamecocks as the conference indoor meet earlier in the season. No. 4 high school prospect in the state of His throw at the NCAA event was the proSouth Carolina and the top high school leftgram’s best since 1999 and came shortly after

photo by jenny dilworth

missing two months due to injury. Awotunde was also a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2015. In addition to these eight endowed scholarships, South Carolina Athletics has several

other planned gift endowed scholarships. For more information on endowed scholarships, please contact Steve Eigenbrot, Associated Athletics Director/Development at 803-7778116.

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12 • Spurs & Feathers

September 14, 2016

Catching up with former Gamecock Hugh Merck by brad muller South Carolina Director of Content Hugh Merck didn’t have the typical college football career. Between 1950 and 1955, Merck bounced between playing for South Carolina, military service, and a chance to play professionally before returning to the Gamecocks. What hasn’t changed, as he prepares to celebrate his 87th birthday this month, is his passion for his alma mater. “I just enjoyed playing for Carolina,” Merck said. “It’s a great school.” “When we lived in Columbia, he would go to games for all the sports whether it was baseball or volleyball or whatever,” said his middle daughter, Cathy Merck Tyson. “If there was something going on there, he wanted to go. We all have great memories growing up of going to games and going to the Letterman’s Lounge.” The former defensive tackle (#66) still has a great sense of humor and is also passionate about the instate rivalry. “With the Clemson confrontation, we won three Big Thursday games, and Clemson won one, accidentally,” Merck chuckled. “They beat us in the last game I ever played in. That kind of made for a bad day for me.” After a stellar high school career growing up in the arch rival’s back yard in Liberty, S.C., located

in Pickens County, Merck recalls having more than 20 scholarship offers from various colleges and universities. “I narrowed it down to South Carolina, Clemson and Georgia,” Merck said. “I went down to visit Clemson, and I couldn’t get very close to the guy (coach) there because every time he spoke, he was spilling tobacco juice and cursing. So that’s what made me decide to go to Carolina.” “Dad never could have afforded to go to college if he hadn’t earned that scholarship,” Tyson said. “Carolina afforded him, and our entire family, a really wonderful education and lifestyle. We have a lot of gratitude to the University.” Merck was coached by Rex Enright, and he took a liking to his style right away. “He was a fine coach,” Merck said. “He wasn’t a screamer when the team wasn’t playing well like some of the other coaches were.” With the start of the Korean War, Merck and a few teammates put part of their Gamecock careers on hold. “Back then, you didn’t wait to get drafted,” Merck said. “You volunteered.” Merck laughed as he explained how he and his friends were headed to the enlistment office for the United States Navy, but ended up in the wrong room and enlisted in the Coast Guard instead. “The recruiting office for the Navy was on

lege career. Following the 1953 season, Merck was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the spring of 1954, but a knee injury in training camp ended his professional career before it even started. With the rules being much different than they are today, Merck rehabilitated his knee while sitting out the 1954 season, and because he still had eligibility remaining, he was able to return for his final season with the Gamecocks the second floor of the Post Office,” Merck said. in 1955. “The Coast Guard office was there too. We saw “I had planned to teach and coach when I was the guy in uniform and it looked like the Navy. done with school,” Merck said. “I majored in So we didn’t read any signs. When we found out education, so I wanted to work at a high school. I we were in the Coast Guard office, we stood up had a wife and two kids then, and when I found to leave. Then he said that the Coast Guard has out what the pay was, I knew I wasn’t going to a three year enlistment, and the Navy has a four make enough money for us to live.” year enlistment. So we did an about-face and sat Merck began working for a large trucking down to join the Coast Guard.” company instead and stayed in that field for 19 After another good laugh about his entrance years. He worked in the transportation industry into the military, Merck explained how his serbefore retiring when he was 51 years old to take vice ended up being a different experience than a position as the director of the Fellowship of expected. Christian Athletes for the State of South Carolina “I played two years of (military) service ball,” where he worked for five years. He later earned Merck said. “When they found out we were ath- a graduate degree from Columbia Bible College letes, they didn’t want us to fight, so they put us and spent time building homes. on some football teams. It was a different time. A generous donor to South Carolina Athletics, We played two years against military teams from Merck is now living in Hilton Head, S.C. He and other bases.” his wife, Doris, still enjoy watching the GameWhen his military commitment ended, Merck cocks and visiting with their three daughters; returned to South Carolina to resume his colGloria, Cathy and Cindi.

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Spurs & Feathers â&#x20AC;˘ 13

September 14, 2016

University of South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame tickets on sale now south carolina athletics media relations

1928-34) were elected to the Athletics Hall of Fame based on their significant contributions to Carolina Athletics. In addition to the induction ceremony on Thursday, October 20, the nine members of the Hall of Fame class of 2016 will be recognized during the South Carolina-UMass football game

on Saturday, October 22. To purchase tickets or for more information regarding the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, contact Shelley Leavitt, Lettermenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Association Coordinator, at 803-777-2961 or sleavitt@ mailbox.sc.edu. Since the University of South Carolina Athlet-

ics Hall of Fame was created in 1967, 163 members, including these nine, have been elected by the University of South Carolina Association of Lettermen. For more information on the Athletics Hall of Fame, go to http://www.gamecocksonline.com/ trads/scar-hof.html

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Tickets are on sale now for the annual University of South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony, it was announced today. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place in the Zone at Williams-Brice Stadium on Thursday, October 20. The event will begin at 5:30 pm with a cocktail hour, followed by the program at 6:30 pm. Tickets are on sale now for $40 per person, and will be available after October 1 for $50 per person. Nine new members were elected to the University of South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame sponsored by the Association of Lettermen in August. The list includes former student-athletes Ryan Bordenick (Baseball, 1995-98), Shonda Cole (Volleyball, 2003-06); Bo Davies (Football, 1969-71), Jimmy Mitchell (Football, 196971), Sidney Rice (Football, 2005-06), David Seawell (Golf, 1993-96) and Justin Smoak (Baseball, 2006-08). In addition Jim Carlen (Football Coach and Athletics Director, 1975-81) and Billy Laval (Football, Baseball and Basketball Coach,

14 • Spurs & Feathers

September 14, 2016

Looking ahead to East Carolina

by Kyle heck Reporter

cocks. The Pirates appear to have found their replacement at quarterback with Philip Nelson, who started 16 games in two seasons at Minnesota. When South Carolina takes on East Carolina The senior then transferred to Rutgers in 2014 in its home opener at Williams-Brice Stadium on before he was dismissed from the team. James Saturday, Sept. 17, the Pirates look like they’ll once Summers is also an additional threat, particularly again have an electrifying offense even with a new on the ground. head coach in Scottie Montgomery. ECU also has a proven playmaker at wide Entering a home game against N.C. State, the receiver in Zay Jones, who was on the preseason Pirates looked mighty impressive on the offensive Biletnikoff Award watch list after a 1,000-yard side of the ball in their season-opening 52-7 win season in 2015. The senior is off to a strong start over Western Carolina. this season, and the Gamecocks will have to cerAfter winning just five games a year ago, East tainly key in on him. Carolina under the direction of Montgomery will Junior tailback Anthony Scott is a multi-threat be looking to pull off the upset over the Gameback who can do damage in and out of the back-

photo by allen sharpe

field as a receiver. On defense, the Pirates lost a couple of big playmakers from last season, but leading returning tackler Jordan Williams has done a good job so

far. Defensive back Travon Simmons is the team’s top secondary player and has also developed into a ballhawk that South Carolina will have to watch out for. Sophomore outside linebacker Yiannis Bowden has shown an impressive ability this year to get to the opposing quarterback and disrupt throws. South Carolina currently owns a three-game winning streak against East Carolina. The last meeting between the Gamecocks and Pirates came in 2014 at Williams-Brice Stadium, where the home team won, 33-23. The Gamecocks hope to keep that streak going on Sept. 17 in the much-anticipated home opener of the Will Muschamp era.

Spurs & Feathers • 15

September 14, 2016

South Carolina Gamecocks

Recruiting Round-up By Phil Kornblut

DB Tank Robinson of Lake Marion has not decided on official visits from the list of eight schools he continues to favor, but he has penciled in an unofficial visit to Tennessee September 24th for the Florida game. The Vols remain on his short list along with USC, Clemson, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, NC State, Louisville and Alabama. He has been in contact recently with USC and Clemson. Robinson has been to games at USC and Clemson in the past and will get to both this season. He said there is no favorite right now and all the schools are the same with him, and USC and Clemson are even with Phil Kornblut him. He did say NC Contributing State has been recruiting Writer harder than the rest. DE Matthew Butler of Garner, NC will have a commitment announcement ceremony at his school between October 10-14. That’s an off week for his team and he feels the perfect time to make his choice

known from among USC, Duke, NC State, Tennessee and Penn State. Butler plans to take official visits to each of his finalists beginning this weekend at Duke. As for his USC official visit, Butler said he’s looking at the Texas A&M weekend on October 1st or the following weekend when Georgia visits. Butler recently added Penn State to his short list which previously was made up of the other four schools. He said the Nittany Lions have been recruiting him for a long time and he owes them a closer look because of their persistence. Butler’s last visit to USC was for the social gathering of targeted prospects in late July. USC is in the top 6 with Brooklyn DL Romello Martin. He visited Columbia earlier this summer. He also has Florida, Ole Miss, Rutgers, Tennessee and Miami on his short list. WR Austin Connor of Dutch Fork has a final four of USC, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech and Georgia. DB TJ Carter of Nashville committed to Memphis. He had a USC offer and also considered Mississippi State and Louisville. 2018 DE Xavier Thomas of Wilson had planned to go to Auburn last Saturday but the

weather kept him home. He now plans to go to USC for its first home game against East Carolina. 2018 WR Jordyn Adams of Blythewood was offered by Ole Miss last week. He also holds offers from USC, East Carolina, Southern Miss, North Carolina and Maryland.

Shuler will take official visits to USC, Oklahoma State, Western Kentucky and Ole Miss according to his coach Steve Smith. The other dates have not been set. Smith said the Gamecocks should have a good opportunity to keep Shuler close to home. “He went home for about four week after summer school and he visited their campus Basketball News: several times and played pick up with their USC target 6-2 PG Ja Morant of Crestwood players,”Smith said. “I think he has a very committed to Murray State while on his official good relationship with their staff, especially visit there. with coach Martin.” 2018 USC target SF Zion Williamson of Martin will be at Oak Hill Wednesday to Spartanburg Day received an offer from Duke. meet with Shuler. Smith believes Shuler has USC this past weekend played host to the the skills and temperament to fit right in with state’s tallest basketball prospect in 7-1 Jason Martin. Cudd of Socastee for an official visit. Cudd has “He’s a very good defender and offensively also set an official visit to East Carolina for Oc- he’s come on,” Smith said. “His shot is more tober 1st and is also looking at Tulane. consistent and he scores at the rim. He’s adNext weekend the Gamecocks will have on vanced his game on offense.” campus a prospect who would be one of the state’s top players this season if he had stayed Baseball News: at Irmo. But 6-3 Devontae Shuler is going Cardinal Newman RHP Cam Tringali cominto his second season at Oak Hill Academy, mitted to USC for 2017 class. VA instead of his senior season with the Yellow 2018 RHP Cameron Reeves of NorthwestJackets. ern committed to USC

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16 • Spurs & Feathers

September 14, 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

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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 14, 2016

East Carolina Pirates # Name Pos. 1 Deondre Farrier WR 1 Dayon Pratt LB 2 Xavier Smith DB 3 Anthony Scott RB 3 Travon Simmons DB 4 Malik Gray WR 5 Gardner Minshew QB 5 Corey Seargent DB 6 DaShawn Benton DB 6 Jeffrey Coprich RB 7 Jordan Williams LB 7 Zay Jones WR 8 Tahj Deans WR 8 Bobby Fulp DB 9 Nhyre Quinerly DB 9 Philip Nelson QB 10 Yiannis Bowden LB 11 James Summers WR 12 Javontay Smith DB 12 Ray Smith QB 13 Reid Herring QB 13 Pat Green LB 14 John Jacobs QB 14 Travis Phillips DB 14 Brandon Bishop WR 15 Terrell Green WR 17 Blake Norwood DB 19 Jason Connella QB 19 Curtis Burston WR 20 Austin Teague DB 21 Ray Tillman LB 22 Terrell Richardson LB 23 Quay Johnson WR 24 C.J. Maybin LB 24 Derrell Scott RB 25 Devin Anderson RB 25 Eric Kristensen K 26 Colby Gore DB 26 Tyrell Thompson WR 27 Tim Irvin DB 28 Hussein Howe RB 28 Corey Newby DB 30 Joe Carter LB 31 Johnnie Glaspie RB 31 Keyshawn Canady DB 32 Marquel King DB 33 Shawn Furlow RB 34 Devin Carlos LB 34 Devaris Brunson TE 35 Chris Love DB 37 Trevian Hicks LB 38 Davis Plowman K 39 DaShaun Amos DB 40 Worth Gregory P 41 Tony Baird LB 42 Devon Sutton DB 43 Drayvon Fairley LB 44 Kendall Futrell LB 45 Kenyon Taylor DB 45 Chanler Renna TE 46 Chance Purvis LB 47 Anthony Ratliff LS

Ht. 6-1 6-4 6-2 5-9 5-10 6-1 6-2 6-0 6-0 5-8 6-0 6-1 6-2 6-4 5-11 6-1 6-5 6-3 6-0 6-1 6-3 6-2 6-2 5-11 5-11 6-4 6-0 5-11 6-1 6-0 6-1 6-0 5-10 6-4 5-11 5-9 5-10 5-11 5-11 5-9 5-9 5-10 6-2 5-11 6-0 5-11 5-10 6-1 6-1 5-10 5-11 5-10 6-1 6-3 6-3 5-11 6-3 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-4 6-0

Wt. 187 237 188 189 187 203 215 172 196 175 234 197 185 198 192 216 221 218 180 194 175 231 211 189 191 206 200 206 220 189 215 218 188 220 207 208 167 175 196 192 175 190 232 180 185 183 191 249 228 172 214 195 185 210 226 190 232 215 170 220 220 208

Yr. Fr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Soph. Soph. Soph. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Sr. Soph. Sr. Fr. Soph. Fr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Sr. Soph. Soph. Soph. Soph. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Fr. Soph. Soph. Jr. Fr. Fr. Soph. Fr. Fr. Soph. Fr. Fr. Soph. Soph. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr.

Football Roster

Hometown Orlando, FL Washington, DC Raleigh, NC Virginia Beach, VA Marietta, GA Inman, SC Brandon, MS Rock Hill, SC Atlanta, GA Watts, CA Fayetteville, NC Austin, TX Bailey, NC Midlothian, VA Norfolk, VA Mankato, MN Kernersville, NC Greensboro, NC Columbus, GA Whittier, NC Raleigh, NC Winston-Salem, NC Shawnee, OK Montpelier, VA Snow Hill, NC Charleston, SC Pensacola, FL Charlotte, NC Apex, NC Lexington, NC Lithonia, GA Raleigh, NC Knightdale, NC Pompano Beach, FL Havelock, NC Henderson, NC Ann Arbor, MI Little River, SC Sun Valley, NC Miami, FL Jacksonville, FL Asheboro, NC Ponte Vedra, FL Rose Hill, NC Wallace, NC Cameron, NC Greenville, NC Jacksonville, NC Lake City, SC Wake Forest, NC Ayden, NC Roswell, GA Midlothian, VA Fort Mill, SC Virginia Beach, VA Charlotte, NC Red Springs, NC Greenville, NC High Point, NC Cameron, NC Meridian, MS Suwanee, GA

# Name Pos. 48 Anthony Gutierrez LB 49 Dedrick Hawkins DB 49 Brian Hardy WR 50 Shaun James DL 51 Aaron Ramseur LB 52 Ryan Bursiek LB 52 Kyle Erickson OL 53 Michael Swift LB 53 Cole Pickard LB 54 Anthony Orr DL 55 Garrett McGhin OL 55 Cam White LB 56 Demetri McGill DL 57 Joe Allely LB 58 Darius Commissiong DL 59 Reece Speight LB 60 Austin Lee OL 60 Jamie Land LS 61 Colton Oliver LS 62 Brandon Smith OL 63 Jaison Fournet OL 64 Des Barmore OL 65 J.T. Boyd OL 66 Erik Lenzen OL 67 D’Ante Smith OL 68 Jack Doyle OL 69 Justin Brown DL 70 Cortez Herrin OL 72 Jared Huneycutt OL 73 Christian Matau OL 74 Justin Sandifer OL 75 Sean Bailey OL 75 Bladen Gatling OL 76 Branden Pena OL 77 Will Dancy OL 78 Messiah Rice OL 79 Dalton Montgomery OL 80 Anthony Watley TE 81 Jimmy Williams WR 82 OckwonTyson-Hart WR 82 DaQuan Barnes WR 83 Cam Marshmon WR 84 Kole Stanley WR 84 Jonathan Stanley WR 85 Davon Grayson WR 86 Stephen Baggett TE 87 Beau Huffman TE 88 Trevon Brown WR 89 Raequan Purvis DL 89 Jonte Leaston WR 90 Randall Anderson DL 91 Caleb Pratt K 92 Mike Myers DL 93 Jalen Price DL 94 Alex Turner DL 95 Bennett Boateng DL 96 Kiante Anderson LB 97 Demage Bailey DL 98 Joshon Perry DL 98 Jake Verity K 98 Tucker Smith K 99 Fred Presley DL

Ht. 6-2 6-2 6-1 6-4 6-1 6-1 6-4 6-3 6-0 6-2 6-6 5-11 6-1 6-1 6-2 6-3 6-1 5-11 6-3 6-8 6-1 6-6 6-4 6-5 6-4 6-4 6-3 6-3 6-2 6-3 6-5 6-6 6-2 6-2 6-4 6-5 6-6 6-3 5-11 5-9 6-1 5-9 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-5 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-4 6-3 6-0 6-2 6-2 6-1 6-4 6-5 6-3 6-1 5-9 6-3

Wt. 230 192 230 280 215 220 295 228 222 327 319 218 295 238 288 234 280 195 280 325 294 318 306 290 310 260 275 321 276 308 305 335 308 290 310 320 282 240 194 176 187 160 210 211 190 255 216 203 270 174 255 197 290 290 290 315 252 310 282 170 150 291

Yr. Jr. Fr. Sr. Soph. Fr. Fr. Soph. Soph. Soph. Sr. Soph. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Soph. Sr. Soph. Fr. Fr. Soph. Fr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Soph. Fr. Fr. Sr. Soph. Sr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Soph. Jr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Soph. Jr. Fr. Fr. Soph. Jr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Sr.

Hometown Sherman Oaks, CA Winston-Salem, NC La Grange, NC Virginia Beach, VA Shelby, NC Springfield, VA Fayetteville, NC Apex, NC Walkertown, NC Charlotte, NC Tallahassee, FL Apex, NC Virginia Beach, VA Vienna, VA District Heights, MD Wilson, NC Mooresville, NC Manning, SC Charlotte, NC Kernersville, NC Cornelius, NC Columbus, GA Fort Mill, SC Fort Lauderdale, FL Grovetown, GA Wake Forest, NC Greenville, NC Saluda, SC Concord, NC New Bern, NC Greenwood, MS Cumming, GA Murfreesboro, TN Salinas, CA Graham, NC Orangeburg, SC Corinth, TX Jacksonville, FL Washington, NC Greenville, NC Wilmington, NC Raleigh, NC Hamlet, NC Hamlet, NC Suffolk, VA Beaufort, SC Massillon, OH Wilmington, NC Plymouth, NC Manning, SC New Castle, DE Roanoke Rapids, NC Goose Creek, SC Williamston, NC Houston, TX Charlotte, NC Greenville, SC Clayton, NC Louisburg, NC Bremen, GA Elgin, SC Stantonsburg, NC

Chris Cook Phillip Mitchell Donovan Varner Garrett VanHoy Hunter Williams Terrell Smith Brian Overton Ethan Johnson Alex Folken Sedrick Irvin Jeff Connors Ann Hoggard Brittany Harward

Quality Control Coordinator/Offense Graduate Assistant Coach/Offense Graduate Assistant Coach/Offense Student Assistant Coach Student Assistant Coach Assistant AD/Football Operations Director of Player Development Director of Player Personnel Assistant Director of Player Personnel Coordinator of Football Administration Assistant Athletics Director/Strength and Conditioning Administrative Assistant/Scottie Montgomery Administrative Assistant/Defense

Coaches/Staff Scottie Montgomery Deke Adams Ryan Anderson Antonio King Phil McGeoghan Shannon Moore Tony Petersen Kenwick Thompson Rick Smith Geep Wade David Mackie Damon Magazu Brandon Williams

Head Coach Assistant Coach - Defensive Line Assistant Coach - Inside Linebackers Assistant Coach - Running Backs Assistant Coach - Wide Receivers Assistant Coach - Special Teams Coordinator/TE Assistant Coach - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Assistant Coach - Defensive Coordinator/Outside LB Assistant Head Coach - Secondary Assistant Coach - Offensive Line Quality Control Coordinator/Defense Graduate Assistant Coach/Defense Graduate Assistant Coach/Defense

18 • Spurs & Feathers

September 14, 2016

Depth Charts for September 17, 4 p.m. South Carolina OFFENSE WR: WR: WR: -OR- LT: LG: OC: RG: RT: TE: QB: -OR- -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 10 Perry Orth 11 Brandon McIlwain 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. 6-1, 200, Sr. 6-0, 205, Fr. 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. Ponte Verda, Fla. Newtown, Pa. Opelika, Ala. Clifton, Va. Philadelphia, Pa. Laurens, S.C.

7 Zay Jones 6-1, 197, Sr. 15 Terrell Green 6-4, 206, So. 23 Quay Johnson 5-10, 188, Jr. 1 Deondre Farrier 6-1, 187, RFr. 78 Messiah Rice 6-5, 320, So. 74 Justin Sandifer 6-5, 305, Jr. 67 D’Ante Smith 6-4, 310, Fr. 55 Garrett McGhin 6-6, 319, So. 70 Cortez Herrin 6-3, 321, Fr. 65 J.T. Boyd 6-4, 306, Sr. 73 Christian Matau 6-3, 308, Jr. 77 Will Dancy 6-4, 310, Sr. 75 Sean Bailey 6-6, 310, Fr. 62 Brandon Smith 6-8, 325, Jr. 79 Dalton Montgomery 6-5, 282, RFr. 9 Philip Nelson 6-1, 216, Sr. 11 James Summers 6-3, 218, Sr. 5 Gardner Minshew 6-2, 215, So. 3 Anthony Scott 5-9, 189, Jr. 25 Devin Anderson 5-9, 208, So. TE: 86 Stephen Baggett 6-5, 255, Jr. 87 Beau Huffman 6-2, 216, So. 27 Aeris Williams 6-1, 217, So. WR(Z): 81 Jimmy Williams 5-11, 194, Sr.

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.

SPECIALISTS 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

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.

East Carolina

OFFENSE WR(X): WR(H): LT: LG: C: RG: RT: QB: -OR- RB:

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

-OR- Austin, Texas Charleston, S.C. Knightdale, N.C. Orlando, Fla. Orangeburg, S.C. Greenwood, Miss. Grovetown, Ga. Tallahassee, Fla. Saluda, S.C. Fort Mill, S.C. New Bern, N.C. Graham, N.C. Cumming, Ga. Kernersville, N.C. Corinth, Texas Deforest, Wis. Greensboro, N.C. Brandon, Miss. Virginia Beach, Va. Henderson, N.C. Beaufort, S.C. Massillon, Ohio West Point, Miss. Washington, N.C.

88 Trevon Brown

6-2, 203, Jr.

Wilmington, N.C.

DEFENSE DE: NT: DE: SAM: -OR- MIKE: -OR- WILL: RUSH: CB: SS: -OR- FS: CB:

99 Fred Presley 97 Demage Bailey 56 Demetri McGill 92 Mike Myers 69 Justin Brown 94 Alex Turner 10 Yiannis Bowden 96 Kiante Anderson 30 Joe Carter 55 Cam White 7 Jordan Williams 13 Pat Green 21 Ray Tillman 1 Dayon Pratt 44 Kendall Futrell 5 Corey Seargent 14 Travis Phillips 6 DeShawn Benton 8 Bobby Fulp 3 Travon Simmons 2 Xavier Smith 39 DaShaun Amos

6-3, 291, Sr. 6-5, 310, Jr. 6-1, 295, Sr. 6-0, 290, Jr. 6-1, 275, So. 6-2, 290, Fr. 6-5, 221, So. 6-4, 252, Jr. 6-2, 232, So. 5-11, 218, Sr. 6-0, 234, Jr. 6-2, 231, Jr. 6-1, 215, Jr. 6-4, 237, Sr. 6-2, 215, Fr. 6-0, 172, So. 5-11, 189, Jr. 6-0, 196, Sr. 6-4, 198, Jr. 5-10, 187, Jr. 6-2, 188, Jr. 6-1, 185, Sr.

Snow Hill, N.C. Clayton, N.C. Virginia Beach, Va. Goose Creek, S.C. Greenville, N.C. Houston, Texas Kernersville, N.C. Greenville, N.C. Ponte Vedra, Fla. Apex, N.C. Fayetteville, N.C. Winston-Salem, N.C. Lithonia, Ga. Washington, D.C. Winterville, N.C. Rock Hill, S.C. Montpelier, Va. Atlanta, Ga. Midlothian, Va. Marietta, Ga. Raleigh, N.C. Midlothian, Va.

26 Colby Gore

5-11, 175, Fr.

Little River, S.C.

SPECIALISTS PK: KO: H: P: SS: LS: PR: KR: -OR-

38 Davis Plowman 91 Caleb Pratt 91 Caleb Pratt 40 Worth Gregory 7 Zay Jones 40 Worth Gregory 98 Jake Verity 61 Colton Oliver 47 Anthony Ratliff 23 Quay Johnson 88 Trevon Brown 23 Quay Johnson 88 Trevon Brown 7 Zay Jones

5-10, 195, Sr. 6-3, 197, So. 6-3, 197, So. 6-3, 210, Sr. 6-1, 197, Sr. 6-3, 210, Sr. 6-1, 170, Fr. 6-3, 280, Jr. 6-0, 208, Fr. 5-10, 188, Jr. 6-2, 203, Jr. 5-10, 188, Jr. 6-2, 203, Jr. 6-1, 197, Sr.

*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.

Roswell, Ga. Roanoke Rapids, N.C. Roanoke Rapids, N.C. Fort Mill, S.C. Austin, Texas Fort Mill, S.C. Bremen, Ga. Charlotte, N.C. Suwanee, Ga. Knightdale, N.C. Wilmington, N.C. Knightdale, N.C. Wilmington, N.C. Austin, Texas

Spurs & Feathers • 19

September 14, 2016

Moore: It’s all about the want to Last Thursday, the Gamecocks opened up the popular during the Vietnam War. Defined as “A football season on the road against Vandy. Some battlefield syndrome in which a soldier may be270-plus miles to the southwest, Mississippi State come lost in thought due to stress from the fight.” was a four-touchdown favorite against South Ala- Saturday against Mississippi State every Gamebama. The Mississippi State program going into cock had that “glazed over” look in their eyes. Dan Mullen’s eighth season looked to find a way State Rolled up 260-plus yards in the half on its to break the “Bama, LSU, Ole Miss” ceiling in the way to a 24-0 halftime lead. A majority of those SEC west. yards coming from QB Nick Fitzgerald who only One coach was welcomed by 10,000-plus fans saw two series the previous week in a loss to South in the season opener on the road. One program Alabama. The “stare” was in full effect after began their 2016 season down by 10 points on the Fitzgerald broke a run up the Gamecocks sideline road, mostly because of selfinflicted penalties, for the longest run of the game. This play was a turnovers and inexperience. It was only “one win,” result of an old virus called “don’t want to” that has not a program-defining “win,” but confirmation seemed to infect this Gamecock defense the past that it’s headed in the right direcfew seasons. tion. Tackling is 90% “want to”One coach continued to test the Lance Thompson patience of his program and its It’s real simple when it comes fans with his team’s week one lost. to tackling in football - either you After starting fast, the Bulldogs make your mind up to put your would only score three points in body in front of the ball carrier or the second half to a school that you don’t … All the fancy techdidn’t even have a football proniques, drills and philosophies gram eight years ago! To some in might as well be background noise the Bulldog program, they saw unless you have that desire to “put this as the worst loss in the school’s your face in the fan.” This isn’t Langston Moore recent history. a one time thing, but something Contributing The 1000-yard stare…. good defenses do over and over Writer This was a military term made again during the course of game.

Enjoy our beaches every da y... Call about proper ties for sale.

“glazed over” look. Like the “1000-yard stare” the last place you need to be during the course of a game is running through the barrage of thoughts that enter your mind. Doesn’t matter if you’re up four touchdowns or down four touchdowns, the focus has to remain constant. That focus must be on “the next play.” If not, you won’t see what’s in front of you in the “now,” and will get punched in photo by allen sharpe the gut figuratively and literally. No one is coming to save you - Steve Chandler And so it is… It’s that old Star Wars philosophy: “there is no Saturday night we knew we would get the Bulltry…” either you do it or you don’t. The Gamedogs best shot for four quarters. We knew that cocks didn’t Saturday night, the Bulldogs did on State had its own issues and we had to answer the both sides of the ball. challenge, we didn’t. This Gamecock team has I can only speak from my experience as a defight and grit, but we aren’t talented enough to fensive lineman, but that’s the hardest part of the game: “the want to.” Can you make your mind up overcome our opponent and ourselves each game. to fight, claw, compete each down versus the guy Lack of attention to detail, unresponsiveness to across from you. You hope to develop some tech- external stimuli showed on the scoreboard and stat sheet Saturday night. With a young team of “first nique along the line to make it easier on yourself but ultimately it’s the fight! There’s plenty of peo- time” starters, the biggest lesson they everyone can learn is: “You have to do it, no one is coming ple who can teach techniques but you don’t teach to save you.” There’s no All-American player “want to.” That’s a personal choice, an internal war each person has to battle each play, each day. we’ve been hiding, there’s no secret defense or offense we haven’t called. If you (the player) want to “Your mind is a bad neighborhood, stay out stop the onslaught of plays being made against you of it” This is especially true in football. The teams that and your team … you do something about it! It starts in practice and it starts with the person lookdon’t “play fast” and doesn’t epitomize the “be where your cleats are at” philosophy, make for that ing back at you in the mirror. #BeatECU!!!

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20 • Spurs & Feathers

September 14, 2016

Florence Gamecocks step up big once again for Gamecock athletics by Brian hand Executive Editor

If there is a Gamecock Club event in Florence, it is always known that they are going to have a great crowd before the event even starts, and this year’s Florence County Gamecock Club Annual Fall Luncheon on Thursday, Aug. 25, at the Floyd Conference Center on the grounds of the Carolinas Hospital System was no exception. This year’s annual event was once again catered by Roger’s BBQ House, and as it has for many years running featured Tony Morrell of TheBigSpur.com as the speaker. As he always does at these types of events before the start of the football season, Morrell spent his time at the podium talking about what he expects in the upcoming year and in the coming years with the Gamecock football program. “You guys are in for a fun ride, I believe,” Morrell told the capacity crowd. Before Morrell took the stage though, the Florence Gamecocks presented numerous checks to Gamecock Club executive director Patrick McFarland, who was in attendance at the event. South Carolina cheerleading head coach Erika Goodwin was also in attendance, and she received the first of the checks for $2,500 for her cheerleading program from

Florence Gamecocks president Michael “Scat” Scaturro. McFarland then accepted numerous checks from Scaturro over the next few minutes as the Florence Gamecocks from the proceeds from the Florence Gamecock Club William Rhea Memorial Golf Tournament at the Florence Country Club

donation concluded a three-year commitment by the Florence Gamecocks where they donated a total of $15,000 to INNERSOLE. This is all on top of the $4,000 check that the Florence Gamecocks presented South Carolina head football coach Will Muschamp for the use of Gamecock football at the golf tournament. Scaturro and the Florence Gamecocks could not be more thankful to be able to give back in this way. “Thanks to the gracious folks in Florence that have supported our golf tournament, we’re able to do this, and every year it’s a little more successful,” Scaturro said. “This year with the football coaching staff attending it obviously makes that a special event and it works out for a great cause. We’re just thankful to be able to do that, and to be able to contribute to Gamecock photo by brian hand athletics.” McFarland knows that Gamecocks everywhere can expect nothing less from the on Monday, May 16, made five separate Florence Gamecocks as they are always donations including the cheerleading dona- willing to go above and beyond. tion. In addition, the Florence Gamecocks “They do this every single year, and Flordonated $1,000 to help with the Louisiana ence always assists us with anything we flood relief efforts, $2,500 to volleyball and need with multiple sports,” McFarland said. “I know each coach that is involved with $5,000 to men’s basketball. One of the five checks also went to Dawn those sports receiving those donations are Staley’s INNERSOLE charity. The $5,000 extremely appreciative.”

Dillon and Marion County Gamecock Club Kickoff event a huge success by brian hand Executive Editor The two groups are very close in vicinity, but before the night of Thursday, Aug. 25, they had never officially come together for a joint event. If the Dillon and Marion County Gamecock Club Kickoff Celebration was any indication it will not be a surprise if they join forces though once again as it was definitely a packed house at Shuler’s BBQ. “We’ve been working on this together for a couple of months,” Dillon County Gamecocks president Rogan Sloan said. “We’ve never gotten the Dillon and Marion clubs together, but we’ve

photo by brian hand

seen each other at Gamecock events. Bradley called me one day, and we decided to put the two counties together.” The special evening commenced with Cocky making an appearance to take pictures with all of those in attendance.

Before the official program on the evening started, all of those in attendance were treated to a buffet at the world-renowned Shuler’s BBQ that was featured on season two of the CNBC hit television show “The Profit.” Gamecock Club executive director Patrick McFarland then told everyone at the event about all of the great things happening with Gamecock athletics before turning things over to Wes Mitchell of GamecockCentral.com, who then gave a short speech about Gamecock football before taking questions from the crowd. Marion Gamecocks president Bradley George was thrilled to once again be able to hear from Mitchell, who has been a regular at Marion events.

“Wes has always been extremely open to come speak to our club over in Marion, and we’re excited for the Dillon crowd to hear him for the first time,” George said. “He’s just extremely flexible, a great guy and we’re glad to have him.” McFarland, who was joined by Gamecock Club external operations coordinator Hayden Lipham at the event, was overall just ecstatic to see the two areas come together for such a tremendous evening. “It was really special to see the Marion and Dillon Gamecocks come together for this joint event with a packed house,” McFarland said. “These two groups do so much for the Gamecocks, and their enthusiasm was evident for the start of football season.”

Spurs & Feathers • 21

September 14, 2016

Cherokee Gamecocks treated to special evening by brian hand Executive Editor

mer South Carolina director of broadcasting Andy Demetra, who started his time by commending Moore and Thorne for all South Carolina football legend Langston of their efforts to promote reading among Moore knows that he would not be where he children. is today without the Gamecock Club. “I hope you all know and appreciate how That’s why as always he was more than special it is what Langston and Preston are happy to share of his time and catch up with doing,” Demetra said. the Gamecocks in the Upstate at the CheroOn an evening that also featured a buffet kee County Fall Banquet on the evening dinner, scholarships given out to local stuof Tuesday, Aug. 9, at Limestone College’s dents, a raffle ad much more, Demetra also Stephenson Dining Hall. talked to those in attendance about all of “I appreciate the opportunity to come the great things happening with Gamecock out here because as I always talk about the baseball and men’s basketball. Gamecock Club gives us the opportunity to The final speaker on the evening was Tony really be student-athletes,” Moore said. Morrell of TheBigSpur.com, who as always Moore was able to utilize the resources gave a great breakdown of the South Caroprovided by the Gamecock Club to expound lina football roster entering the upcoming upon his playing days at South Carolina into season. a career in the NFL, and now he is a pubMorrell also talked about how impressed lished author along with former Gamecock he was by the staff assembled by South Carteammate Preston Thorne with their world- olina head football coach Will Muschamp. renowned children’s book, “#JustaChicken.” “I think it’s very obvious that he had a forOne of three speakers on the evening, mula in mind when he hired his coaches,” Moore was followed at the podium by forMorrell said. “There is a camaraderie there,

photo by brian hand

there is a work ethic there, they can recruit, they can teach, they can coach and the players like them. Their strength and conditioning program is on another level, and you are going to see a lot of the results of that on the field, not just this year, but future years.” That attention to detail with the staff and with every aspect of the program has Morrell believing big things are ahead for Muschamp and the Gamecock football program. “He is setting the tone day in and day out for his assistants, for the graduate assistants, you name it,” Morrell said. “Anyone

involved with the program, he’s setting the tone. He is busting his rear end day in and day out to get South Carolina the program that (Gamecock fans) so desperately want. It will take time to get there, but I firmly believe in this coaching staff, and I think they’re going to achieve a lot of great things.” The whole evening was a unique treat for all in attendance at the annual event. “It’s good to have a good crowd, a great turnout and great speakers from Columbia come up,” Cherokee Gamecocks president Mike Phillips said. “All of that is much appreciated.” Gamecock Club executive director Patrick McFarland overall was just thrilled to see such a passion for the start of Gamecock football and the 2016-17 athletic year for South Carolina athletics. “It’s always good to be up here in Cherokee with the great fans and Gamecock Club members here,” McFarland said. “You can sense the excitement. People are ready to get the season started.”

Cherokee Gamecocks enjoy sold-out golf tournament by kyle heck Reporter

photo by brian hand

bilt.” And will Phillips be one of them? “Oh yeah,” he replied. Along with keeping up with the fall season for Gamecock athletics, the Cherokee Gamecocks will soon begin preparing for their spring meeting next year. At the meeting this past spring, the club was able to get South Carolina running backs coach Bobby Bentley to come up and speak in what was another fantastic crowd. The Cherokee Gamecocks were also able to present a check to Gamecock Club executive director Patrick McFarland on Saturday, Aug. 20, at a special event at Williams-Brice Stadium for Gamecock Club leaders. “We have a spring meeting every year, the golf tournament and then the fall banquet,” Phillips said. With all three events being wildly successful this year, one can only expect that the support in Cherokee County will continue to grow throughout the rest of 2016 and into 2017.

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Just a few days after holding a fall banquet that featured TheBigSpur.com’s Tony Morrell, Gamecock football great Langston Moore and the final Gamecock appearance by radio voice Andy Demetra, the Cherokee Gamecocks kept the momentum going with their annual golf tournament on Saturday, Aug. 13. After a spectacular showing of support from South Carolina fans at the fall banquet, the golf tournament was sold out. President of the Cherokee Gamecocks, Mike Phillips, said the weather was hot, but beautiful, and that everything went smoothly. Along with the tournament, the golfers were fed lunch and there were also door prizes. Throughout much of the football season, the Cherokee Gamecocks will hold a raffle for a football autographed by head coach Will Muschamp. The winner will be announced the Saturday before the annual ClemsonSouth Carolina rivalry game. All-in-all, it was a great week for the Cherokee Gamecocks. “It’s fortunate that we can sell (golf tournament) out because that’s all the teams that we can have there,” Phillips said. With football season underway, Phillips, like everyone else in the area, is excited to see what this season holds. “Everyone is really excited,” Phillips said. “We’ll have a good number going to Vander-

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22 • Spurs & Feathers

September 14, 2016

Packed house for Martin at Atlanta Gamecocks kickoff party by brian hand Executive Editor

Atlanta Gamecocks president Michele Braddock-Beagle has been receiving texts about it for quite some time. “I know 10 of you have been texting me when we would have Frank here,” Braddock-Beagle said. “You can high-five me now as you are leaving.” Braddock-Beagle’s comments were perfect on a night that it was incredibly obvious that the Atlanta Gamecocks were extremely excited to have South Carolina men’s basketball head coach Frank Martin at the Atlanta Gamecock Club Fall Kickoff Party on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at the Copeland’s of New Orleans Cumberland Mall location. “This is something that the Atlanta alumni has asked for and has wanted, and that’s why we’ve got the turnout that we do have,” Braddock-Beagle said. On an evening that also featured an appearance by Wes Mitchell of GamecockCentral.com answering questions about Gamecock football, a buffet dinner, a

raffle and much more, Martin was just as happy to be there to thank Gamecock fans in the area as they were to have him there. In fact, Martin made sure to take the time upon his arrival to personally thank fans and take pictures. “It’s all about people,” Martin told Spurs & Feathers. “The one thing I’ve learned about Gamecock fans is that they love their school. The passion for their school is unbelievable, whether they’re young or old. And that means a lot to me. When you’re asking folks for the three most precious things we’ve got in time, money and passion, you can’t just ask them to show up and then you don’t show up and thank them. I know how hard our fans work to support our team and show up and support the team. It’s my duty to go around and thank them for it.” The whole evening was just another sign of the incredible passion of Gamecock fans for senior associate athletics director for development and the Gamecock Club Jeff Crane, who was in attendance on the night with assistant director of development Jesse Kasser.

photo by brian hand

“I think it shows the passion of the Gamecocks,” Crane said. “We’re four hours away from Columbia, and we have a room full of folks that are excited about basketball season, and we’re still months away from basketball season. When coach Martin is in town, he wants to come

out and visit with the Gamecocks, and I think that is the passion you find with our coaching staff across the board. We’re very fortunate to have coaches that care and want to be a part of the Gamecock family. That’s a fun environment to be a part of.”

great to have Cocky and the cheerleaders here with us tonight. This is a family event as you can see with all of the kids here.” Earlier this year, the Spartanburg Gamecocks had the opportunity to hear from head football coach Will Muschamp and head men’s basketball coach Frank Martin as part of the #SpursUp Tour. “We’ve had the #SpursUp Tour this spring and our golf tournament as well,” Thornton said. “We enjoy volunteering for these events because it allows us to give back to something we love - the Gamecocks.” The special networking event for the Spartanburg Gamecocks is something that Gamecock Club executive director Patrick

McFarland always looks forward to attending. “They always have great crowds whenever they have an event, and this one is a little unique in that it is based on getting people excited about kickoff 14 days from now,” McFarland said. McFarland was particularly impressed with the way just like so many Gamecocks everywhere, the Spartanburg Gamecocks stepped up at the event to help the relief efforts in Baton Rouge. “I think it’s really cool that they see what the University is trying to do help those in need in Baton Rouge, and that they are willing to step up to help such a great cause,” McFarland said. “The Spartanburg Gamecocks are a really special group.”

Spartanburg Gamecocks have a blast at annual kickoff event by brian hand Executive Editor

The Spartanburg Gamecocks always go above and beyond, and the evening of Thursday, Aug. 18, at Wild Wing Cafe was no different. The Spartanburg Gamecocks annual kickoff party held upstairs at Wild Wing Cafe in downtown Spartanburg featured a special appearance by Cocky and the cheerleaders. Members of the Gamecock Club staff were also in attendance on the evening that included a raffle for door prizes that featured a pair of South Carolina football season tickets. Lee Thornton leads the Spartanburg

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Gamecocks, and he always looks forward to their August event. “We enjoy doing this kickoff event because it gets fans in the area excited and ready for the season,” Thornton said. “It’s

September 14, 2016

Spurs & Feathers • 23

Holbrook, Martin highlight Charleston Gamecocks kickoff event We couldn’t enjoy any of the success on the field or all the luxuries we get off the field without their support.” South Carolina baseball head coach Chad Holbrook was part of a special evening at the Holbrook knows that his program would not be annual Charleston Gamecock Club Kickoff able to reach levels like winning the SEC East Party at the Cotton Dock at Boone Hall Plantathis past season without Gamecock fans every- tion where he was joined by South Carolina where, which is why he knows it’s important to men’s basketball head coach Frank Martin. make sure and attend Gamecock Club events Also in attendance before a sellout crowd to personally thank fans. at the Cotton Dock was Charleston native “You’ve got to thank them for all that they and Gamecock baseball legend Drew Meyer, do and all of the opportunities they afford our who introduced Holbrook on the evening, and athletes and our coaches,” Holbrook told Spurs Gamecock football legend Langston Moore, & Feathers. “Without them, we don’t have who interacted with fans while also promoting Founders Park, we don’t have a great baseball his world-renowned children’s book, “#Jusfacility, we don’t have one of taChicken.” the top travel and recruiting Like Holbrook, Martin was budgets in the country, so it’s excited to be in the Lowcounthe least we can do to come try to show Gamecock fans in down and say thank you for all the area how much they mean their support and how much to Gamecock athletics. noise they make in the stands “It’s great,” Martin, who was All Gamecock baseball and how much they support joined by his wife, Anya, at the coverage sponsored by our University and athletic kickoff event said of getting DiPrato’s department with their wallets. to visit with the Charleston

new era. We are super-excited to have coach Holbrook here, especially coming off that great baseball season and Frank Martin as well off of that wonderful basketball season.” Before Holbrook and Martin spoke to the crowd on an evening that also included a live and silent auction along with a catered meal by Home Team BBQ and an open bar, Krizan photo by brian hand and the Charleston Gamecocks presented the Gamecock Club with five $2,000 checks for a Gamecocks. “You get to enjoy Charleston. I total of a $10,000 donation. don’t know if it’s good for my checking acThe five checks of $2,000 were to be given to count my wife being on King Street, but any the volleyball program, the marching band, the time you enjoy Charleston and you get to be tennis program, men’s basketball and baseball. around Gamecocks it’s a win-win.” Gamecock Club executive director Patrick On an evening where Cocky and the Game- McFarland could not have been more thankful cock cheerleaders also made an appearance for the donation on a night that he looks foralong with live music from Moxie, Charleston ward to all year. Gamecocks president Jen Skoy Krizan was “This is one of our favorites events to come just excited to have a great night of fellowship to every year,” McFarland said. “Boone Hall among Gamecocks. Plantation at the Cotton Dock is a really, really “This is our biggest event of the year,” Krizan neat venue. We look forward to this all year. said. “People really enjoy coming out to the We can’t thank the Charleston Gamecocks Cotton Dock and getting excited for the footenough for all they do for Gamecocks everyball season, especially this year moving into a where.”

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by brian hand Executive Editor

24 • Spurs & Feathers

September 14, 2016

Tradition continues with successful Aiken Gamecocks kickoff event by brian hand Executive Editor For Patrick McFarland and the Gamecock Club it’s an annual tradition. The Gamecock Club executive director always looks forward to the annual event because he knows it’s going to be a great time, but also because he knows it means it is gameweek for Gamecock football. “It’s an Aiken County Gamecocks tradition when you come to this event you know kickoff is just a few days and hours away,” McFarland said. “You know it’s here. We always enjoy coming to this be-

cause it truly is a Gamecock tradition.” This year’s Aiken County Gamecock Club Kickoff Party was held the evening of Monday, Aug. 29, at the Aiken County Shrine Club. The evening billed as “bring the whole family” was definitely just that as the packed house of Gamecocks of all ages had the opportunity to hang out and take pictures with Cocky and the South Carolina cheerleaders. In addition, the evening featured the BBQ of the national collegiate tailgating championship-winning Ultimate Tailgaters and a raffle for many Gamecock

photo by brian hand

prizes. As he always is for the annual event, “Franko the Magician,” was also on site

to provide a top-notch magic show for the numerous children in attendance. The family atmosphere is something the Aiken Gamecocks go out of their way to provide at the event according to Aiken Gamecocks president Chris Fulmer. “I just think it’s a fun kind of like a pep rally the week of the game, and this year with it being a road game a lot of people obviously aren’t able to get up there, so this is their way of kind of getting the football year started,” Fulmer said before adding, “we never charge admission. We try to make it as easy for a family to come out and have a good a time as possible.”

Lancaster has strong football contingent at kickoff event by kyle heck Reporter Several former South Carolina football stars converged on The Moose Club to help the Lancaster Gamecocks celebrate the start of the football season on Monday, Aug. 1. Langston Moore, Travelle Wharton and Fran Person all came out to speak to those in attendance, and with the football opener against Vanderbilt exactly a month away at the time, it was clear that they were ready for football. “We like to do this and pay our Gamecock people back,” said Joe Grier, president of the Lancaster Gamecocks. “I think we had a good crowd, and we’re tickled to death about that.”

photo by kyle heck

A capacity crowd of around 100 people were on hand to listen to the trio of former Gamecock stars talk about the team, and how much the support from the Gamecock Club meant to them while they were in school.

“To come back out and see the support of the fans, they’re like family,” Wharton said. “Their support is tremendous.” The former student-athletes also remember how much Gamecock Nation supported them on the field as well. “Gamecock fans have always been the best fans,” Person said. “They’re always there when we’re good and when we’re bad.” Moore took questions from the crowd, and was asked about a game against Arkansas early in his career where he had multiple sacks. Moore joked around about it, but he was pleased that there were those who remember specific games from nearly 20 years ago. “It’s always great to come out here and listen to some of the fans who know the

old history too,” Moore said. “Calling out old games and different things. Nothing more than we expect when we go out here and visit these Gamecock Clubs because obviously these are true diehard fans and we have a great time connecting.” At the end of the dinner and speeches, two season tickets were raffled off. The fundraiser goes a long way to allowing the Lancaster Gamecocks to send support back to the Gamecock Club, and Grier was thankful for the appearances by Moore, Wharton and Person. “We had a good draw, and everyone came out to see them all,” Grier said. “I’m glad everyone had a good time. That’s the main thing. We just want to get the season started so we can all have a good time.”

Collaboration with rival shows Aiken Gamecocks are a special group by brian hand Executive Editor It’s unique, but at the same time that’s what makes it special. And Gamecock Club executive director Patrick McFarland made the trip to Aiken County to support the event because he knows just how hard area president Chris Fulmer and the Aiken Gamecocks work to have topnotch events like the annual South Carolina/ Clemson Aiken County Golf Classic on Friday, Aug. 12, at Woodside Plantation Country Club.

“It’s always great to be in Aiken for quality events like this,” McFarland told Spurs & Feathers. “It’s unique to have both South Carolina and Clemson working so closely together for a common goal, but it also just shows how special the Aiken Gamecocks really are.” Fulmer knows it is a little different to work with Clemson, but he also appreciates how well the two rivals come together for the great cause. “We’re fortunate here in Aiken,” Fulmer said. “We’ve got a good group of folks, and we’ve got two very rabid fan bases here in Carolina and Clemson. The money is going for

a good cause, so that’s why we’re out here.” Woodside Plantation Country Club was thrilled to be able to host an event like the South Carolina/Clemson Aiken County Golf Classic that benefits the rival universities since it helps with their community involvement and much more. “It definitely is good exposure and shows community support,” Woodside Plantation Country Club assistant golf professional Aaron Solomon said. “There’s always growth also for potential membership, but putting our face out there and getting the community more involved definitely helps. With the facilities

we’ve got and everything to showcase what we can do can only grow participation as well as help us on the membership side of things. It’s hand-in-hand with the events we have, especially like this one where we do have some members with us, but we also have a lot of guests. It’s a growth thing for us.” Solomon in general stood out on the day for his support of one of the two universities as he was sporting a garnet Gamecock Under Armour polo. Was that by design on a day with both fan bases in attendance? “Absolutely,” Solomon said.

September 14, 2016

Spurs & Feathers • 25

Spurrier holds book signing in Columbia: ‘I still got a lot of Gamecock in me’ by kyle heck Reporter

he spent nearly 11 years coaching for the Gamecocks. He spent time at the Books-AMillion at Village at Sandhill signing copAfter holding a book signing at the Colies for fans. Prior to doing that, Spurrier lege Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta to went by the practice fields at Williamsbenefit Curing Kids Cancer, former South Brice Stadium as the Gamecocks were Carolina head football coach Steve Spurwrapping up practice. rier swung over to Columbia to hold a He’s been to practice before since resignsigning on Thursday, Sept. 8. ing, but it was the first time since South Spurrier recently released a book, the Carolina officially started the season with “Head Ball Coach. My Life in Football, a 13-10 road win at Vanderbilt. Spurrier Doing It Differently–and Winning” that said it was a good win for the Gamecocks, he co-authored and has been promoting in and has a lot of faith in the job that Will recent weeks. After working on it for about Muschamp and his staff can do. two years, he was excited to release it to “Saw coach Muschamp and a couple the public. of coaches and so forth,” Spurrier said. “Someone once said ‘if you don’t tell “Coach Muschamp is doing a super job. your story, someone else will,’” Spurrier Those coaches, they know how to coach said. defense here now. We weren’t very good Thursday was unique in that the former coaches the last two years. I think the Head Ball Coach returned to a place where Gamecocks, they’re going to be competi-

as often as I can,” Spurrier said. “Any time we can help those charities such as that one, I try to do it.” While he’s now an ambassador at Florida, his alma mater and a place where he won a Heisman Trophy as a player and a National Championship as a coach, that doesn’t mean he won’t pay attention to the Gamecocks any more. At the signing, Spurrier spoke about the fact that he photo by kyle heck was glad his experience with the NFL’s Washington Redskins went the way it did because if not, he would’ve never had the tive, very much this year.” The night before the book signing in Co- opportunity to coach South Carolina. As fans were coming through the line to lumbia, Spurrier held one in Atlanta where get their books signed, Spurrier was overall the proceeds went to help the charity, Curing Kids Cancer. Spurrier and his wife, heard replying to comments that Gamecock fans missed him and were thankful Jerri, have long helped that charity and for everything he did with the program. it’s cause of finding cures for childhood “I still got a lot of Gamecock in me, cancer. now,” Spurrier replied. “That’s one of the charities I try to help

Pickens Gamecocks keep up tradition with football kickoff He really knows his stuff.” The Gamecocks in Pickens County hold several popular events throughout the On Tuesday, Aug. 30, just two days prior year, including a football recruiting recap to South Carolina’s season opener, the that everyone always looks forward to. Pickens County Gamecocks held their an- Morrell talked a bit about recruiting, and nual kickoff event in Easley. There was let Bishop and the others in attendance a great crowd present, even with the fact know that while this year’s class is lookthat several members were already traving good, “you’re going to really, really eling to Nashville for the opening game like the 2018 class.” against the Commodores. All of the talk got the Gamecocks in the “We had a nice group of Gamecocks Upstate excited about the football season here,” said Hubert Bishop with the Pickand the Will Muschamp era. The kickoff ens Gamecocks. “This was our normal event is something that’s went on for a kickoff meeting. We met at FATZ Cafe in long time, and has become a tradition in Easley. They have a room that makes it Pickens County. easy to do this kind of stuff.” “Very fired up, just like always,” Bishop Tony Morrell of TheBigSpur.com was said. “Very much looking forward to the the featured speaker at the event, and pro- future. A lot of these guys are friends vided a great breakdown of the Gamecock of mine. We grew up together in Easley, football team just a couple days prior to and we’ve been doing this, I wouldn’t be the season opener. He went over the team surprised if it went back 20 years. Time in detail before taking several questions flies.” from the crowd. Easley is extremely close to the GameMorrell has spoken at the event before, cocks’ instate rival, Clemson, and as Bishand the Pickens County Gamecocks were op said, “you can smell that other school extremely excited to have someone so from here.” To be able to keep a South knowledgeable speak about South CaroCarolina presence in enemy territory is lina. something that he holds dear to his heart. “To us it was a big deal because we “It’s good, and there’s a lot of Gamewanted to hear about the team and practic- cocks in Easley,” Bishop said. “I see flags es and what he had heard from players and and tags (all over). I’ve lived here for most things,” Bishop said. “Tony is very good. of my life.”

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26 • Spurs & Feathers

September 14, 2016

Moore and Williamson talk Gamecocks in front of packed house by kyle heck Reporter

sightful information about this year’s team. Williamson spoke about his past experiences with adversity, and said he sees the same Over the last few months, the Augusta kind of fight in the Gamecocks this year. Gamecocks have been busy promoting their Moore went more in-depth about the team product on social media and trying to get the itself, previewing each position before taklocal South Carolina fans involved. ing questions. On Tuesday, Aug. 23, it was clearly evident “It’s always exciting,” Moore said of talkthat their efforts are paying off. Nearly 80 ing about the Gamecocks. “It was good to people came out for the eighth annual Auhave Troy come out here tonight to connect gusta football social at Tin Lizzy’s, which someone from the area to the local Gamewas the most people in attendance for that cock Club. We forget sometimes how many event in years. great players come out these different areas “We just want to grow it and get as many that we live in. It’s always good to come out Carolina fans together as we can to celebrate here and hang out.” Carolina victories,” president of the AuWilliamson went to nearby Silver Bluff gusta Gamecocks Curley Avant said. “We High School, and was excited to come out just want to get as many people together in and do his part to promote the Gamecocks. (Georgia) Bulldog territory as we can.” “Langston always calls me when they Gamecock greats Langston Moore and come close, so he invited me to come out,” Troy Williamson came out to speak at the Williamson said. “It’s great to see so many event, and they provided the crowd with in- Gamecocks out and a lot of support in this

the year. We’re very appreciative of their efforts.” Along with their promotional efforts, Avant said being able to bring out two former South Carolina stars to speak went a long way toward getting fans excited about the event. “I think one thing that has helped us this year to bring out more people is we actually photo by kyle heck brought back past football players,” Avant said. “I think it’s great that people are getting fired up for the season.” area.” Williamson travels the country speakWith the season quickly approaching, ing to different schools and universities everyone is excited to see what this year throughout the year, but he is certainly gobrings. ing to make time to watch the Gamecocks “I think people are ready to drink up any- this year. thing Gamecock football,” Gamecock Club “I’m always excited for the Gamecocks’ executive director Patrick McFarland said. season,” Williamson said. “We’re going to “Our group in Augusta is a good group bebe there for the first home game, and we’ll cause they’re giving up their time to put on a be there as much as we can during the seagreat event, not only tonight, but throughout son. I’m excited.”

Horry Gamecocks enjoy successful tournament, excited for season

by kyle heck Reporter

fans as well. “We have been blessed,” Webster said. “The biggest spring meeting we’ve had, there For more than two decades, the Gamecocks were about 800 people there. This year with down in Horry County have held a golf tourthe spring meeting, we had 600, and had 26 nament to benefit the University of South teams for the golf tournament, and that was Carolina and the Gamecock Club. This year, a low number for us. We normally have 34 the tournament was held on July 16 at the to 36 teams. Horry County has always been Grande Dunes Resort golf club, and once huge supporters (of Gamecock Club).” again featured a strong turnout and plenty of Executive director of the Gamecock Club great prizes. Patrick McFarland and Gamecock Club Two sets of home game tickets that inexternal operations coordinator Hayden cluded VIP passes to be on the field during submitted photo Lipham were also in attendance, and McFar“2001” were raffled off, as well as signed land spoke about what’s happening around memorabilia from Will Muschamp, Dawn the athletic department. Both were extremely Staley and Chad Holbrook. Despite high Chuck Jones, Jack McCutcheon, Eddie Dyer glad to be able to join the Horry Gamecocks. temperatures on the day of the tournament, and Charlie Thrasher. The second-place team “They always do a great job, and we’re just president of the Horry Gamecocks, Kellah consisted of David Bell, David Paratore and incredibly thankful that they do this golf Webster, said that around 26 teams still came Al Lowe while Nick Webster, Rhett McRoy, tournament and work hard for the Gameout to play. Every player that participated Nick Miller and Trent Pannell won third cocks,” McFarland said. “They had a lot of received an Under Armour shirt that had place. teams participate, especially during the hot “Horry County Gamecock Club” embroiWebster said the club receives a lot of sup- July heat, and we appreciate everyone’s supdered on it. port from the golf courses around the Myrtle port.” Coming in first place was the quartet of Beach area, and from the local Gamecock It was the 21st annual golf tournament for

the Horry Gamecocks, and it’s just one of the ways they help out the University. “We’ve been doing it a while,” Webster said. “Typically, we’ve done it in August, and we’re getting ready to pick our date for next year. We’re hoping we might be able to do it in June. We’ve been very successful with it, and it’s something that we love to do. We look forward to it every year.” Webster said the group will hold a pregame tailgating event at one of the board member’s parking spots during one of the home games this season. The winter meeting will be in January, but first Webster and the other Horry Gamecocks are excited to see what happens this fall, particularly with a local player expected to make an impact on the football team. “I think everyone this year is really excited again because of (wide receiver) Bryan (Edwards),” Webster said. “Bryan Edwards being a local boy from Conway, we’re quite proud of our home child. We were watching a practice the other day, and he is amazing.”

Spurs & Feathers • 27

September 14, 2016

Gamecock Radio/Television Information

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-East Carolina television The South Carolina-East Carolina game will be available on the SEC Network. Please check local listings.

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

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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.

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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Gamecock baseball trio featured at Greenville golf tournament by kyle heck Reporter

Around two and a half months ago, Wayne Poole of the Greenville Gamecocks ran into Willow Creek Golf Club professional Steve Goforth at a gas station. When Poole found out Goforth’s profession, the two immediately started a conversation about hosting a golf tournament at Willow Creek. On Saturday, Aug. 27, that idea came to fruition as the Greenville Gamecocks hosted their first golf tournament in well over 10 years. Poole said that the tournament “went without a glitch” and that despite the relatively short notice, 64 golfers were in attendance.

“We hadn’t had one in quite a while, and it happened in a hurry,” Poole said. “It worked out so well with all the work our guys did getting all the stuff together. We had 22 sponsors.” One of those helpers was Goforth, who provided Poole with a lot of help before, during and after the golf tournament. “He helped me more than he’ll ever know getting everything organized,” Poole said. “The carts were ready, he scored the whole thing, he took care of everything.” Along with good food, there were about 15 to 20 door prizes handed out, as well as several special guests. Former South Carolina baseball stars Landon Powell, David Marchbanks and Jon Coutlangus came out to the golf tournament, which was extreme-

The trio signed a baseball that was then raffled off at the event. Thanks to the support shown by the former stars, the Greenville golf tournament was even more successful. “We wouldn’t have had as many (people), I guarantee you that,” Poole noted. “Those guys, they drew the crowd.” With it being the first golf tournament in over a decade, Poole was excited to see the support shown by the Gamecock fans submitted photo in the area. The group holds a spring event each year, with head football coach Will Muschamp making an appearance this past ly beneficial for Poole and company. spring where over 600 fans were in attenIn addition, Matthew Rollins, a local dance. Poole hopes to keep up the momenbaseball bat manufacturer for the MLB, showed up to support the Greenville Game- tum from the fall tournament and organize one in the spring around that event. cocks.

Three football legends highlight York County preseason event by Kyle heck Reporter

of stories, including one that involved two Gamecock greats from Rock Hill, the primary recruiting area for Johnson when he At The City Club of Rock Hill on Thurswas on staff. He recruited Stephon Gilmore day, Aug. 18, there were two legendary and was able to get him to commit, and coaching and athletic figures in attendance, around that same time, DeVonte Holloman, as well as a true Gamecock legend for the a Clemson commitment at the time, moved York County Gamecocks pre-football meetfrom Charlotte to South Pointe High School ing. with Gilmore. Johnson said he believed it Clyde Wrenn and Ellis Johnson, both of was a move by Clemson to get Holloman to whom each have several decades of coaching convince Gilmore to flip to the Tigers, but photo by kyle heck and athletic experience in South Carolina, the reverse happened. Gilmore was able to he has a lot of intensity, and I really think were two of the featured speakers, and the get Holloman to be a Gamecock, and the rest Gamecock fans are going to love seeing what is history. night was capped off by Heisman Trophyhappens on the field.” winner George Rogers speaking to the Johnson was excited to be back in his old Wrenn introduced Johnson, who was South recruiting stomping grounds to see several crowd. His trophy was with him, and fans in attendance were able to take pictures with it Carolina’s defensive coordinator from 2008- familiar faces. 11 and has more than 30 years of coaching and Rogers, as well as get an autograph. “I met a lot of folks up here in that process, With football season so close, York County experience across the country. Johnson and I grew up right down the road in WinnsGamecocks president Chip Comer said evtalked about Muschamp and his staff, and boro, South Carolina, so I’ve always been by eryone was excited to see what the guests the impact they have already made on the Rock Hill,” Johnson told Spurs & Feathers. had to say about this year’s team in Will program. While there is still some work to “But it’s been really good to get back and see Muschamp’s first season in charge. do, Johnson believes that the Gamecocks some old friends, and people I knew when I “This is a year that we all anticipated and will be back contending for championships was here before.” wondered what’s going to happen,” Comer before too long. Senior associate athletics director Jeff said. “(Muschamp) is such a great guy and The coaching veteran also shared a couple Crane also traveled to York County to talk

about the great facility updates going on at South Carolina, and was able to see the excitement of everyone for himself. “This time of year is a lot of fun because everyone is energized and excited for the season,” Crane said. “It’s always fun to be out and about when we’re undefeated. Having George Rogers here is a special opportunity for the people in Rock Hill, and having Ellis Johnson here and Clyde Wrenn here, it just shows you that from the athletics department perspective there’s so much support, and all the folks realize what Gamecock Club members do. They just want to take the time and come up and thank the people that are here.” Comer was obviously pleased to get three legendary figures to come out for the preseason event, and that definitely contributed to the sold-out crowd of around 180 people. “York County fans are great,” Comer said. “They always show out in numbers for our events. This is a special one since it’s right before football, so everyone looks forward to that to hear what’s getting ready to happen before the football season.”

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September 14, 2016

Smooth sailing for the Colleton Gamecocks at annual golf tournament by kyle heck Reporter Things went much easier for Lori Beard and Brantley Strickland at the second edition of the Colleton County Gamecock Club golf tournament on Saturday, Aug. 27. Just one year after putting on the tournament by themselves, the duo had more help the second time around, and it paid dividends. “Everything fell together easily and quickly,” Beard said. “We had a little bit more help this year, which was a lot better.” The Colleton Gamecocks have been doing a golf tournament for nearly a decade, but prior to last year, it was a tournament between South Carolina and Clemson fans. This year, four field passes to a home football game were given out, and in general

submitted photo

everyone showed a lot of excitement for the season. “We are all anticipating a terrific season,” said Beard, the president of the Colleton Gamecocks. “We love the coaches enthusiasm. There wasn’t any negativity in the bunch.”

For the Gamecocks’ season opener on Thursday, Sept. 1, against Vanderbilt, Beard said the Colleton Gamecocks held a watch party at the Walterboro Elks Lodge for anyone interested in the area. For the first time, the Colleton Gamecocks were able to bring in another group from outside the county to participate in the tournament held at Dogwood Hills Golf Club. The group was from Dorchester County, and Beard was excited to see the local club’s influence reach outside the area. “This was the first time that we’ve had an out of town group call up,” Beard said. “We really enjoyed having them there, and I think they enjoyed it. Hoping that we can grow and maybe partner up with some other local clubs and raise some more money for the Gamecock Club.”

During the golf tournament, Mark Tomodolskey and Keith Gephart won the closest to the hole competition while Kevin Lyle won longest drive. As for Beard, she was a golfer in high school, but hadn’t ever participated in the Colleton golf tournament. She finally did on Saturday, and was part of the winning team. “I picked up right where I left off when I was a senior in high school,” Beard said. “I was very surprised by how well I did. I will be playing in every golf tournament from here on out.” Beard said that the Colleton Gamecocks will have watch parties for every home game, and they’re already looking forward to the annual pep rally prior to the ClemsonSouth Carolina football game on Monday, Nov. 21.

Charlotte Gamecocks continue to make huge impact by brian hand Executive Editor

Travelle Wharton knows what South Carolina fans provide the Gamecocks is second-to-none. Plus, it gives the Gamecock football great and longtime NFL player the bragging rights with his NFL friends. All of this is why the Carolina Panthers legend made it a point to attend the seventh annual My Carolina Club of Charlotte Golf Tournament at the Ballantyne Resort. “What you do in the Carolinas it goes a long way,” Wharton told all in attendance at the golf tournament. “As a former student-athlete, it means a lot when I get to brag to my NFL friends that we’ve got the best fans in the country.” And some of those best fans in the country definitely reside in the Charlotte area as currently over 9,000 University of South Carolina alumni call the area home. That’s why just like South Carolina head football coach Will Muschamp, Charlotte Gamecocks president James Wolf makes it a point to note that the area is really just “Charlotte, South Carolina.” “People should view this as Charlotte, South Carolina,” Wolf told Spurs & Feathers. “I say it all the time. We have a fulltime admissions person here, the MBA program, football’s playing here a lot more, so being so close to the University of South Carolina, it’s great having people in Char-

lotte. When they graduate they may go to Atlanta and they may go to Charleston, but we want Charlotte to be one of those options.” Representatives from both the My Carolina Alumni Association and the Gamecock Club were in attendance for the Charlotte Gamecocks golf tournament, and My Carolina Alumni Association executive director Jack Claypoole knows just how important their efforts were on the day. “The money that you’re raising today is helping young people from right here in Charlotte experience the great education that so many of us as Gamecock alumni have experienced,” Claypoole told everyone in attendance. “We are grateful.” While speaking to the over 125 golfers playing in the event that in addition to Wharton also included Gamecock football greats Dr. Rick Sanford and Brian Maddox and former Gamecock baseball standout Steve Bondurant, Wolf also unveiled that the Charlotte Gamecocks have now raised over $100,000. Obviously, being able to make this announcement thrilled Wolf, but what excited him more was the possibility that even more could be raised in the future. “It’s fantastic, and hopefully several years from now we can make that over $1 million,” Wolf said. “You just never know. You always have to constantly push the envelope just like (athletics director) Ray Tanner says.”

photo by brian hand

Gamecock Club executive director Patrick McFarland in general is just incredibly thankful for the efforts of the Charlotte Gamecocks. “That group works their tail off,” McFarland said. “They have a good number

of events, and each event is successful because they put a lot of time and effort into making sure that they are. They take pride in what they do, and they take pride in being able to give back to the University of South Carolina and the Gamecocks.”

30 • Spurs & Feathers

September 14, 2016

South Carolina/Mississippi State postgame notes and quotes south carolina athletics media relations GENERAL NOTES • Mississippi State defeated South Carolina 27-14 at Davis Wade Stadium. The Gamecocks are now 1-1 on the year and 1-1 in the SEC with Mississippi State 1-1 and 1-0 in league play. • Captains for South Carolina were: Hayden Hurst, Mason Zandi, Marquavius Lewis and Jonathan Walton • Attendance at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field was 57,763 • The loss snapped a seven-game win streak for South Carolina against Mississippi State. It is South Carolina’s first loss to Mississippi State since a 17-0 loss to the Bulldogs on Sept. 25, 1999 in Starkville. South Carolina leads the all-time series history 9-7. • The Gamecocks have had 18 players start both of the first two games of the season: WR Deebo Samuel, WR Bryan Edwards, TE Hayden Hurst, LT Mason Zandi, LG Zack Bailey, G Cory Helms, QB Perry Orth, TB A.J. Turner, DE Marquavius Lewis, DT Taylor Stallworth, DT Kelsey Griffin, DE Darius English, LB Bryson Allen-Williams, LB T.J. Holloman, CB Rashad Fenton, S D.J. Smith, S Chaz Elder and CB Chris Lammons • South Carolina is outscoring opponents this season 27-3 in the second half. OFFENSIVE NOTES • Freshman quarterback Brandon McIlwain completed his first career touchdown pass in the 3rd quarter with an 18-yard completion to A.J. Turner. The reception was also Turner’s first career touchdown in a Gamecock uniform. McIlwain finished 11-for-22 in the air for 126 yards with two touchdown passes. • Sophomore tight end K.C. Crosby’s 4-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter marked his first career touchdown in a Gamecock uniform. Crosby caught 3 passes for 14 yards. • Sophomore tight end Hayden Hurst tallied a career-high eight receptions for a career-high 68 yards. DEFENSIVE NOTES • Senior defensive end Marquavius Lewis has started all 14 games of his career at South Carolina. Lewis finished with four tackles. • Senior linebacker T.J. Holloman’s second quarter interception was his first of the season and his sixth career interception. He had seven tackles in the game as well. • Junior defensive tackle Ulric Jones led the Gamecocks on defense with a career-high nine tackles. Jones came in with just two career tackles from last week’s contest vs. Vanderbilt. • Junior linebacker Bryson Allen-Williams finished with a career-high seven tackles surpassing his previous high of six last year at Georgia. He also finished with two tackles for loss. • Junior defensive back Jasper Sasser tallied a career-high eight tackles. • The Gamecock defense has allowed just three points in the second half in the first two games of the season. SPECIAL TEAM NOTES • Senior placekicker Elliott Fry has now made 126 consecutive PAT kicks, moving him into fourth all-time in the SEC surpassing Damon Duval of Auburn (1999-02). • Senior punter Sean Kelly had a season-high 66-yard punt

photo by allen sharpe

in the fourth quarter, just three yards shy of his career longest that he set last season. Kelly finished the game with seven punts for 344 yards for an average of 49.1 yards per punt. He also had two inside the 20.

3rd Down Conversions 4th Down Conversions Turnovers Time of Possession

South Carolina head football coach Will Muschamp Opening Statement: “We just got physically beat on both lines of scrimmage. Defensively, we had guys at the point of attack that didn’t want to tackle. It’s hard to understand at times. It seems like we are a decent tackling team at times, other times we’re not. You got to get off blocks. You have to make tackles. You have to be able to stick your face in there and tackle. Unfortunately, we just didn’t do that tonight, especially in the first half. We settled down a little, played a little better in the second half. I like the way our guys responded in the game and came out and fought in the second half. There will be some bumps in the road. We said it last week, but we will continue to move forward and improve our team.”

Passing Leaders South Carolina COM McIlwain 11 Orth 9 MSU COM Fitzgerald 19 Ross 1 Rushing Leaders South Carolina CAR Turner 16 McIlwain 11 MSU CAR Fitzgerald 17 Holloway 15 Receiving Leaders South Carolina REC Hurst 8 Crosby 3 MSU REC Ross 6 Gray 4

Category 1st Downs Total Yards Passing Rushing Penalties-Yards

SC MSU 18 24 243 485 209 195 34 290 6-70 6-60

6-17 3-3 2 30:05

6-14 0-2 1 29:55

ATT 22 17 ATT 29 1

YDS 126 83 YDS 178 17

TD 2 0 TD 2 1

INT 0 1 INT 1 0

YDS 32 17 YDS 195 48

AVG 2.0 1.5 AVG 11.5 3.2

TD 0 0 TD 0 0

LG 10 1 LG 74 22

YDS 68 14 YDS 56 54

AVG 8.5 4.7 AVG 9.3 13.5

TD 0 1 TD 1 1

LG 22 7 LG 18 22

Spurs & Feathers • 31

September 14, 2016

Girardeau: It’s going to be a rollercoaster ride Two games into the season, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect from South Carolina football this season. Inconsistent play will probably be the norm. At least for the immediate future. USC repeated their first game performance by starting slow in the first half before showing some improvement in the second. Unfortunately, in the second week the Gamecocks could not dig themselves out of the hole and took their first loss of the season. If the first half against Vandy was awful, the Mississippi State effort was pathetic. A lack of offense and a 24-0 halftime deficit would indicate just how bad things were. Never mind that the Bulldogs lost to South Alabama at home last week, South Carolina had no answer in the first Ed Girardeau two quarters. Contributing The worst part Editor of it, by far, was the return of the terrible defense of the past two years. Arms flailing, heads down, missed tackles abounded and once again USC made an opposing quarterback look like the next big thing. Nick Fitzgerald, who was benched last week against South Alabama, was 19-of-29 passing for 178 yards, while rushing for a Bulldog record by a quarterback 195 yards, bringing back memories of Tim Tebow. South Carolina was hapless in trying to stop him in the first half. Fitzgerald continued in the second half, but was not nearly as effective as MSU scored only one field goal in the second half. In fact, South Carolina, led by quarterback Brandon McIlwain, scored two touchdowns through the air and won the second half, 14-3. Moral victories are for losers, but on this night the Gamecocks were the losers and the play in the second half was a marked improvement. McIlwain was far from perfect, but showed that the future does have a bright side including a couple of passes to Bryan Edwards. After catching eight passes for 101 yards in the first game, Edwards was held without a catch until the fourth quarter, hauling in two long passes for 38 yards to move the chains on both. Those are two of what could be many between these two true freshmen. McIlwain finished 11-of-22 and 126 yards with touchdowns to A.J. Turner and K.C. Crosby. He also had 36 yards rushing, but sacks gave him a net of just 17 yards.

photo by jenny dilworth

The second half did show that there is hope for this team. Adjustments were made and play was better on both sides of the ball. So taking this season one game at a time and looking back, how many of us thought if we can be 1-1, that would not be too bad. It could have been better, but it could have been worse. As it is, USC is about what our record indicates: a 50/50 team with some good and some bad. There is plenty of that to go around in college football. After watching a lot of football these first two weekends, there are plenty of teams playing pretty mediocre football. Fortunately, many of those teams are on the Gamecocks’ schedule. Particularly the “juggernauts” aren’t exactly burning it up. Tennessee was very lucky to beat Appalachian State at home. Georgia managed to beat some team called Nicholls State by two points in Athens and the Tigers from Clemson managed to dodge two touchdown passes in the end zone in the final two plays to escape a very poor looking Auburn team and then only led by three points at home in the fourth quarter against Troy before managing to win by six over a 35-point underdog. All that to say, there’s no need to panic. There are some bright spots and there are things that need improvement. In particular, Coach Muschamp and his staff will have to find a way to get out of the gate faster. Another start like the last two weeks could be disastrous, starting this week with East Carolina. South Carolina is 13-5 all time against the Pirates, but are only 5-5 in the last 10 meetings. East Carolina had a huge win for their program by downing NC State 33-30 on Saturday. The folks in Raleigh look down their noses at ECU and rarely schedule them, so this was a very emotional win. The Pirates will come in looking to continue this run by getting back on the winning side against USC having lost in their last three meetings to the Gamecocks. Saturday’s win over the Wolfpack was no fluke, East Carolina was pretty good. If South Carolina is going to win their home opener, they need to put together two good halves of football. I’ll predict now that it’s going to be a roller coaster ride this year. There are going to be some wins which maybe we should not have won and probably a loss or two that we shouldn’t have lost, but if there’s improvement, I think it can be a fun season despite the disappointment of the first half in Starkville. So hang on, it may be a bumpy ride, but it could still be a fun one starting this weekend. We will see you at Williams-Brice. It’s a great time to be a Gamecock!

32 • Spurs & Feathers

September 14, 2016

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