JANUARY 2020 • VOLUME 42 • ISSUE 1
CAROLINA'S GREATEST DECADE
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NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS HIGHLIGHT SC’S GREATEST DECADE
CONTENTS
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Greatest Decade
SCHEDULE Spurs & Feathers is the official publication of the University of South Carolina Gamecock Club. It is published monthly, 12 times per year and is available to Gamecock Club members as well as additional subscribers. To opt in or subscribe, email subscribe@ spursandfeathers.com or call 843-853-7678. The Gamecock Club and Spurs & Feathers thank you for your support. Below is our publication schedule for 2019:
May 20 June 24 July 22 Aug. 26
Legendary fan: The Gentrys make history............................5 Firehouse Subs Athlete of the Month: Aliyah Boston...................... 6
Editor’s Note: The editorial deadline for this issue was Jan 16
Jan. 29 Feb. 26 March 25 April 22
Gamecock Club
Sept. 23 Oct. 21 Nov. 25 Dec. 23
Championships, All-Americans and numbers that matter........................... 10 All-Decade teams for football, baseball, all sports........................................ 12
COUISNARD BRINGS TOUGHNESS, LEADERSHIP
Basketball
No. 1: How Staley’s Gamecocks rose to the top...................... 30
34 SPRING FEVER T HREE PLAYERS TO WATCH
IN EACH SPRING SPORT
POSTAL INFORMATION SPURS & FEATHERS (USPS 12779) (ISSN7454368X) is published 12 times a year, monthly January-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 Evening Post Industries, 2101 Gervais St, Columbia, SC 29204. Periodicals postage paid at Columbia, SC. Postmaster: Send changes to SPURS & FEATHERS, 2101 Gervais St. Columbia, SC 29204
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Baseball
Star Power: Eyster ready to slug for Gamecocks ............................. 40
Football
Soccer
Coming Home: Connor Shaw returns with important mission.............. 26
Columns
High-Class: Muschamp proud of 2020 signees....... 20
Play Caller 1: New OC Mike Bobo likes potential at SC ............ 28 On the Cover: Photos by Allen Sharpe and SC Athletics Cover Design by Caryn Scheving
EDITORIAL
STAFF
32 MR. PERSONALITY
Jeff Owens Executive Editor jowens@spursandfeathers.com Josh Hyber Staff Writer jhyber@spursandfeathers.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bill Gunter, Langston Moore, Ed Girardeau, Brian Hand
Record Keeper: Krzeczowski adds to SC legacy ....................................... 42
Gunter: Best and worst of memorable decade..................................... 46 Girardeau: How to build nation’s No. 1 team........... 47
PHOTOGRAPHERS Allen Sharpe Jenny Dilworth
PRODUCTION & DESIGN Lisa Willis Production Manager Caryn Scheving Layout and Graphic Design
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JANUARY 2020
Gentrys take pride in unique accomplishment as Legendary Fans By Brian Hand | Contributing writer • Photos by Allen Sharpe
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t’s always special to say that you have done something nobody else has ever done. It’s even more special when you can say that you accomplished it as a father-son duo. That is the case for the Gentrys. That truly special accomplishment is that W. M. Gentry, Jr. and his son Wes Gentry III have both been named Legendary Fans of the Game by South Carolina. That is believed to be a first. W.M. Gentry Jr. was honored in October 2010 and his son, Wes, was honored in September 2014. “It means a great deal to us,� Wes Gentry III said. “My dad has never missed any home games and he is the type of person who sits through the games no matter what the score is until the end of the game.� The Gentry family has been working hard for not only the Gamecocks, but Saluda County, for a long time. Located in Saluda County, Gentry’s Poultry Company was founded in the 1950s and the business flourished under the direction of W.M. Gentry, Jr. Wes Gentry III and his brother, Larry E. Gentry, both helped build the business over the years. Wes Gentry III has been working at the family business since graduating from the University of South Carolina.
That dedication to building a successful family business has also translated into the Gentrys working hard to help keep the Gamecocks thriving. “I have been giving to the Gamecock Club for 45 years and my dad has been giving for 53 years,� Wes Gentry III, a 1971 graduate of the University of South Carolina, said. “Like his business, my dad is very proud of the Gamecocks.� Put simply, Wes Gentry III says that being a Gamecock “is a part of our lives.� “We have not wavered one bit, and we are not going to waver one bit. I just think South Carolina is a great place to go to school.� Following the Gamecocks has allowed the Gentrys unique opportunities, like seeing George Rogers and South Carolina play Southern Cal at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. in 1980. But they also know that commitment has also given them so much as well. “We have just done a lot with the Gamecock Club, but they have also done a lot for us,� Wes Gentry III said. “They are good people.�
Wes Gentry III and W.M. Gentry Jr.
Wes Gentry III JANUARY 2020
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LEGENDARY FAN • GAMECOCK CLUB
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ATHLE TE OF THE MONTH
ALIYAH BOSTON S
outh Carolina freshman Aliyah Boston started her Gamecock career with a bang, posting a triple-double in her very first regular-season game. She continued her dominant play through January, winning four SEC Freshman of the Week awards and one national honor. Through 17 games, Boston was averaging 13 points and 8.8 rebounds per game with a team-high 53 blocks and 22 steals, while shooting 61.6 percent from the field and 77 percent from the freethrow line. She had 16 double-figure scoring games, six double-doubles and one triple-double to earn a spot on the Midseason Top 25 list for the prestigious Wooden Award. Boston’s best game came on Jan. 9 when she had 19 points and 25 rebounds, the second-highest rebounding performance in program history.
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ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
JANUARY 2020
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ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
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GREATEST DECADE
2011 College World Series 8
JANUARY 2020
THE GREATEST DECADE Gamecocks enjoy unprecedented success from 2010-2019
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By Brad Muller | SC Athletics • Photo by Allen Sharpe hile the academic year is only half over, the decade that ended in 2019 represents the greatest in University of South Carolina sports history. In looking back at all of the Garnet and Black programs from 2010-2019, it has been a great time to be a Gamecock. The combined achievements of the 21 South Carolina athletic teams include: • 150 postseason appearances (an average of 15 per year) • 17 conference championships (regular season and tournament) • 11 national championships (team and individual) • 395 All-Americans (1st, 2nd and 3rd team) • 146 Academic All-Americans or Scholar-Athletes • 784 All-Conference performers (1st, 2nd and 3rd team) • 2,733 athletes named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll During the last decade, 20 of 21 Gamecock teams played in postseason competition with 15 competing six times or more. Nine teams won either conference regular-season or tournament titles or team or individual national championships. Of the 21 sports, 11 had their best season ever during the decade. South Carolina has also won the annual Palmetto Series Championship against rival Clemson every year since the competition was launched in 2015-16. The football team played in eight bowl games, the most ever in a decade. The Gamecocks posted a 78-51 overall record during the decade for a .605 winning percentage. The 78 wins were 10 more than the previous high for a decade, while the team won more than 60 per-
JANUARY 2020
cent of its games in a decade for the first time in school history. Baseball won back-to-back College World Series championships in 2010 and 2011 and finished as the runner-up in 2012. Women’s basketball reached the Final Four twice and won its first national championship in 2017, while men’s basketball reached the Final Four for the first time in school history that same year. Women’s soccer reached the College Cup semifinals (Final Four) in 2017, and equestrian won its third national championship in 2015. Track & field claimed six national titles for individual events: Johnny Dutch won the 400-Meter Outdoor Hurdles in 2010; LaKya Brookins won the Indoor 60-meters in 2011; Jeannelle Scheper won the Outdoor High Jump in 2015; Stephanie Davis, Aliyah Abrams, Tatyana Mills and Wadeline Jonathas won the Indoor 4x400 Meter Relay in 2019; Jonathas also won the Outdoor 400-Meters in 2019; and Quincy Hall won 400-Meter Hurdles in 2019. Men’s tennis also won its first national championship in 2019 as Paul Jubb took home the NCAA Singles Championship last spring. Off the field, South Carolina led the SEC in the number of student-athletes listed on the league’s academic honor roll. “I am proud of the efforts of our former and current student-athletes, coaches and staff,” Athletics Director Ray Tanner said. “They have represented our school well during the past decade. I am appreciative of our great fans, who have supported our programs and helped us grow our facilities. “I believe the best is yet to come for Gamecock Athletics and look forward to many championships in the new decade.”
GREATEST DECADE 9
NUMBERS TH Photos by Allen Sharpe & SC Athletics
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Team national championships. South Carolina’s traditionrich baseball team won back-to-back national titles at the College World Series in 2010-11. Women’s basketball won the 2017 national title, while equestrian won its third national championship in 2015.
College football bowl games — five under head coach Steve Spurrier and three under Will Muschamp. The Gamecocks won four of five bowl games under Spurrier and one of three under Muschamp.
150
NCAA/postseason appearances. The Gamecocks were led by women’s golf, women’s tennis, women’s swimming, men’s and women’s outdoor track and equestrian with 10 postseason appearances each. Five teams had nine appearances.
Total national champions. In addition to baseball, equestrian and women’s basketball winning team titles, the Gamecocks have won seven individual national championships. Women’s indoor track and men’s and women’s outdoor track each won two national titles, while Paul Jubb won the 2019 NCAA Singles Championship for men’s tennis.
10 GREATEST DECADE • NUMBERS
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Conference champions, led by Dawn Staley’s women’s basketball with eight SEC titles. Equestrian and women’s soccer each won three conference titles, while baseball, women’s tennis and men's soccer won one each.
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HAT MATTER 146
Academic AllAmericans, led by men’s swimming (31), women’s swimming (28) and men’s tennis (27).
All-Americans. Most were produced by such individual sports as track & field (185), swimming & diving (76), golf (39) and equestrian (16). But among team sports, football had 19, baseball 16 and women’s basketball and women’s soccer had 13 each.
SEC Academic Honor Roll. Equestrian led the way with 325 scholar athletes followed by women’s swimming (266), football (262) and women’s outdoor track (259).
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NCAA Baseball Super Regional appearances — four under head coach Ray Tanner and one each under Chad Holbrook and Mark Kingston. The Gamecocks advanced to the College World Series three times under Tanner.
2,733 784
All-SEC (or all-conference) selections. While the list is dominated by track & field, football has had 57 All-SEC performers followed by women’s soccer (38), women’s basketball (26) and baseball (16). Men’s soccer had 37 all-conference players in Conference USA.
Akram Mahmoud
College baseball AllAmericans, including multiple honors for pitchers Michael Roth, Matt Price and Blake Cooper.
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All-Americans each for women’s basketball and women’s soccer. A’ja Wilson was a three-time All-American for women’s baskeball, while women’s soccer stars Grace Fisk and Savannah McCaskill were also three-time All-Americans.
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Football All-Americans. The Gamecocks had 19 players named to various All-American teams, with two concensus All-Americans — Melvin Ingram (2011) and Jadeveon Clowney (2012).
SOURCE: SC Athletics JANUARY 2020
NUMBERS • GREATEST DECADE 11
ALL-DECADE TEA Pharoh Cooper WR (2013-15)
All-SEC as WR and all-purpose in 2014-15 … seventh all-time with 18 receiving TDs … 138 career catches for 2,163 yards … also rushed for 513 yards and four scores.
Melvin Ingram DE (2010-11)
Consensus All-American in 2011 with careerhigh 10 sacks … fifth all-time with 21.5 career sacks … returned two fumbles and a fake punt for touchdowns in 2011 … led Gamecocks with 81 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss in 2011.
Jadeveon Clowney DE (2011-13)
All-American in 2012 (consensus) and 2013 … set single-season sack record in 2012 with 13 … third in school history with 24 career sacks … second with 47 career tackles for loss … No. 1 draft pick in 2013 NFL Draft.
BEST OF THE REST:
Antonio Allen, Zack Bailey, Jake Bentley, T.J. Brunson, A.J. Cann, Joseph Charlton, Dennis Daley, Mike Davis, Bruce Ellington, Rashad Fenton, Eliott Fry, Victor Hampton, DeVonte Holloman, Hayden Hurst, T.J. Johnson, Skai Moore, Kelcy Quarles, Travian Robertson, Ace Sanders, Brandon Shell, D.J. Swearinger, Devin Taylor, Dylan Thompson, Rokevious Watkins, Shaq Wilson, D.J. Wonnum.
Stephon Gilmore CB (2010-11)
Bryan Edwards WR (2016-19)
Four-year starter set school record with 234 receptions, 3,045 receiving yards and 48 consecutive games with a catch … third with 22 career TD catches.
12 GREATEST DECADE • FOOTBALL
All-American and first-team All-SEC as sophomore … led team with 79 tackles, including six for loss and three sacks … three-year starter had eight career interceptions … first-round draft pick by Buffalo Bills in 2012.
JANUARY 2020
AM
Football
Deebo Samuel
Photos by Allen Sharpe & Jenny Dilworth
Alshon Jeffery WR (2009-11)
WR (2014-18)
Marcus Lattimore
Tied for first all-time with 23 TD receptions, second in receiving yards (3,042) and third in catches (183) … All-American in 2010 with record 88 catches for 1,517 yards, nine TDs and eight 100-yard games.
2018 all-purpose All-American … school record four kickoff returns for touchdowns … sixth all-time with 28 career TDs … 148 receptions for 2,076 yards and 16 TDs.
RB (2010-12)
First in school history in rushing TDs and total TDs (38) … Sixth in rushing yards (2,677) … SEC Freshman of the Year with 1,197 yards in 2010 … sophomore and junior seasons cut short due to knee injuries.
Connor Shaw QB (2010-13) Javon Kinlaw DT (2017-19)
First-team All-American in 2019 … led Gamecocks with six sacks as senior … had 82 career tackles with 10 sacks and 17 tackles for loss.
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Won more games than any QB in school history (27), including 17-0 at home. … first in school history in completion percentage (65.5), second in TD passes (56) and fifth in passing yards (6,074).
FOOTBALL • GREATEST DECADE 13
ALL-DECADE TEAM Baseball Photos by Allen Sharpe
Scott Wingo
Jackie Bradley Jr. OF (2009-11)
Led Gamecocks with .368 average and 13 home runs in 2010 … Most Outstanding Player of 2010 College World Series … NCAA All-Regional team … SEC All-Defensive team in injury-plagued junior season … 2009 Freshman All-American … First-round draft pick by Boston Red Sox in 2011.
Michael Roth P (2010-12)
Led Gamecocks to back-to-back CWS championships … National Player of the Year and consensus All-American in 2011 … CWS All-Tournament team in 2011-12 … holds record for innings pitched (60.1) in CWS … four career wins in CWS … fifth-best ERA (1.49) in CWS … second-best ERA (1.06) in program history … winner of prestigious President’s Award in 2012.
2B (2008-2011)
Most Outstanding Player of 2011 CWS … 2011 All-SEC … hit .338 with .467 onbase percentage in 2011 … 2011 NCAA All-Regional team … two-time All-SEC Defensive team … scored winning run in 2010 national championship game.
Christian Walker 1B (2010-12) Matt Price P (2010-12)
Program and SEC record 43 career saves … record 20 saves in 2011 … program record 102 appearances … CWS record with five wins … leads program in strikeouts per nine innings (13.42) … three-time All-SEC and 2011 AllAmerican.
14 GREATEST DECADE • BASEBALL
Two-time All-American … Two-time All-SEC … Made CWS All-Tournament team three times …. 2010 Freshman All-American … game-winning home run in NCAA Super Regional to send Gamecocks to 2010 CWS … career .336 hitter … led Gamecocks in home runs and RBI in 2011 and 2012 … held CWS record for career hits (28) after 2012 CWS.
BEST OF THE REST: Jonah Bride, Carlos Cortes, Will Crowe,
Grayson Greiner, Adam Hill, TJ Hopkins, Tyler Johnson, Kyle Martin, Whitt Merrifield, Jordan Montgomery, Adrian Morales, Clarke Schmidt, Reed Scott, Joel Seddon, Madison Stokes, John Taylor, Brady Thomas, LT Tolbert, Braden Webb, Tyler Webb, Jack Wynkoop.
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ALL-DECADE TEAM All Sports
Photos by Allen Sharpe & SC Athletics
BEACH VOLLEYBALL Macie Tendrich
2016 CCSA All-Tournament team with Katie Zimmerman … leads program with 71 individual wins and 39 pairs wins … best single-season in program history with 27 individual wins. BEST OF THE REST: Sarah Blomgren, Adrianna Culbert, Aubrey Ezell, Franky Harrison, Megan Kent, Julia Mannisto, Katie Smith, Carly Schneider, Jade Vitt, Paige Wheeler, Shannon Williams.
CROSS COUNTRY
Kayla Lampe (2011-14)
All-SEC and All-Southeast Region in 2012 … second-best time in program history in both 5K and 6K … top SC finisher in all events as redshirt freshman in 2012. BEST OF THE REST: Beatrice Biwott, Meredith Mill, Heather Stone, Anna Kathryn Stoddard, Anna Todd.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
G (2013-17)
2017 Consensus National Player of the Year … 2017 Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy … led Gamecocks to 2017 national championship … NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player … three-time SEC Player of the Year … two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year … Freshman All-American … first in program history in points (2,389), blocks (363) and free throws (597) … third in rebounds (1,195) … 54 career double-doubles … No. 1 pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft.
Sindarius Thornwell
First-team All-American and 2017 SEC Player of the Year … led South Carolina to first-ever Final Four … averaged 21.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.1 steals as senior … led SEC in scoring … Most Outstanding Player of NCAA East Region … two-time SEC AllDefensive team … SEC All-Freshman team … third in career scoring with 1,941 points.
Chris Silva C (2015-19)
2017-18 SEC Defensive Player of the Year … two-time SEC All-Defensive team … 201819 All-SEC … 15.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.9 blocks as senior … 27 career double-doubles … 10th in career scoring with 1,509 points … sixth in career rebounds (876) and blocks (186). BEST OF THE REST: Michael Carrera, PJ Dozier, Hassani Gravett, Maik Kotsar, Duane Notice.
JANUARY 2020
A’ja Wilson F (2014-18)
Tiffany Mitchell G (2012-16)
2014 SEC Player of the Year … three-time AllAmerican … three-time All-SEC … three-time finalist for Naismith Award … SEC All-Freshman team … career averages of 13.6 points, 2.7 rebounds … 314 career assists and 234 career steals … No. 9 pick in 2016 WNBA Draft. BEST OF THE REST: Kaela Davis, Allisha Gray, Ty Harris, La’Keisha Sutton, Aleighsa Welch, Ieasia Walker.
Alaina Coates C (2013-17)
Three-time All-American … four-time All-SEC … two-time SEC All-Defensive team … 2014 SEC Freshman of the Year … career averages of 12.1 points, 9.2 rebounds … averaged double-double as junior and senior … program-best .620 career FG percentage … second with 1,230 rebounds and 210 blocked shots … No. 2 pick in 2017 WNBA Draft.
ALL SPORTS • GREATEST DECADE 15
ALL-DECADE TEAM All Sports WOMEN'S GOLF
Katelyn Dambaugh (2013-17)
Three-time All-American … second-best career scoring average (72.67) in school history … second-most top-five finishes (15) in school history … single-round 64 and 54-hole 204 are lowest in school history … won 2017 SEC Championship with lowest round in SEC history.
Ainhoa Olarra (2014-18)
Two-time All-American … holds single-season record with 71.0 stroke average (9th in NCAA) … third-best career average (73.44) in program history … 2018 SEC Champion … second-best 54-hole score (205) in school history.
Lois Kaye Go (2017-PRESENT)
Two-time All-American … holds record for career scoring average (72.63) … 72.45 scoring average in 2017-18 is fourth-best in program history … two-time All-SEC … ANNIKA Award Watch List … has won four international tournaments. BEST OF THE REST: Katie Burnett, Justine Dreher, Suzie Lee, Ana Pelaez, Emily Price, Sarah Schmelzel, Amanda Strang, Samantha Swinehart.
Katelyn Dambaush
SOFTBALL
Alaynie Page (2013-16)
First-Team All-American in 2015 … record 33 career home runs …. second with 106 career walks … holds five single-season records, including home runs (15) … All-SEC … AllSoutheast Region. BEST OF THE REST: Mackenzie Boesel, Cayla Drotar, Nickie Blue, Jessica Elliott, Samie Garcia, Chelsea Hawkins, Jana Johns, Lauren Lackey, Ashlyn Master, Kayla Snaer, Julie Surratt.
MEN’S SOCCER
Bradlee Baladez (2010-14)
All-South Region in 2011 and 2012 … threetime All-Conference USA … Conference USA All-Freshman. BEST OF THE REST: Blake Brettschneider, Danny Cates, Jimmy Mauer, Mike Mangotic, Stephen Morrissey, Luca Mayr, Will Traynor, Bradeden Troyer.
MEN'S GOLF
Matt NeSmith
Keenan Huskey (2014-18)
2017 Honorable Mention All-American … third-lowest scoring average (70.63) in program history in 2017 … second all-time career scoring average (71.66) … All-SEC and PING All-Southeast Region … four career victories … sixth all-time with 16 top-10s.
Matt NeSmith (2013-16)
Three-time All-American … program’s first first-team All-American after leading Gamecocks to program-best T5 in 2016 NCAA Championship … semifinalist for Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus Awards … 2015 SEC Champion … three-time All-SEC … SEC Freshman of the Year … four-time PING All-Southeast Region … four career victories tied for second all-time. BEST OF THE REST: George Bryan, Wesley Bryan, Ryan Hall, Dykes Harbin, Will Miles, Will Murphy, Will Starke, Scott Stevens, Cabel Sturgeon.
16 GREATEST DECADE • ALL SPORTS
JANUARY 2020
ALL-DECADE TEAM All Sports
Kayla Grimsley (2008-11)
Two-time All-American … two-time AllRegion … MAC Herman Trophy Award watch list … two-time SEC Offensive Player of the Year … three-time All-SEC … second in career goals with 43 … first in career points with 119.
WOMEN'S SOCCER Savannah McCaskill (2014-17)
Three-time All-American … three-time All-Region … MAC Herman Trophy Award semifinalist … three-time SEC Offensive Player of the Year … record 17 goals in 2016 … third in career goals with 40 … third in career points with 114 … record 17 career game-winning goals.
(2011-14)
Two-time All-American … three-time All-Region … MAC Herman Trophy Award seminfinalist … two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year … three-time All-SEC … second in career saves with 241 … third in career shutouts.
Grace Fisk (2017-19)
Mikayla Krzeczowski
Three-time All-American … three-time All-Region … MAC Herman Trophy Award semifinalist … three-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year … three-time All-SEC.
2019 All-American … 2019 SEC Goalkeeper of the Year … Four-time All-SEC … fourtime All-Region … SEC All-Freshman team … first in program history in wins, shutouts and goals against average … third in NCAA history in shutouts.
BEST OF THE REST: Danielle Au, Elexa Bahr, Paige Bendell, Lauren Chang, Chelsea Drennan, Ellen Fahey, Sophie Groff, Raina Johnson, Kaleigh Kurtz, Lindsey Lane, Taylor Leach, Tatumn Milazzo, Brittiny Rhodes.
(2016-19)
Savannah McCaskill
Sabrina D’Angelo
EQUESTRIAN VOLLEYBALL
Mikayla Shields
(2016-19)
First All-American in program history in 2019 … Honorable Mention All-American in 2017 and 2018 … two-time All-SEC … two-time All-Southeast Region. BEST OF THE REST: Aubrey Ezell, Megan Kirkland, Mikayla Robinson, Juliette Thevenin.
JANUARY 2020
Katherine Schmidt (2011-15)
Three-time participant in NCEA National Championships … 2013 All-SEC Equestrian Team and All-Championship Team … Honorable Mention All-American … 101 career wins, 24 career MOPs in equitation over fences and over flat … National Rider of the Month and SEC Rider of the Month in 2013-14 … 2011-12 AgSouth Female Athlete of the Year. BEST OF THE REST: Sam Chiodo, Layla Choate, Carolyn Curcio, Lauren Fabiano, Maggie Fortune, Caroline Gute, Kelsey Hart, Amber Hunter, Grady Lyman, Johnna Letchworth, Kimberly McCormack, Abigail Pait, Chloe Schmidt, Bridgett White.
ALL SPORTS • GREATEST DECADE 17
ALL-DECADE TEAM All Sports SWIMMING & DIVING
Emma Barksdale (2015-19)
Emma Barksdale Six-time All-American … SEC Champion (400 IM) … three-time
All-American in 400 IM … All-American in three events in 2018-19 … school record in six events and four relays.
Akram Mahmoud (2014-18)
10-time All-American … third swimmer in program history to win All-American honors in same event (1,650 freestyle) three straight years … three-time SEC champion in 1,650 freestyle … holds school record in 1,650 freestyle and 1000 freestyle … 2019 USC Male Athlete of the Year.
Fynn Minuth (2015-19)
Eight-time All-American … three-time SEC Champion in 500 freestyle … SEC champion in both 500 free and 200 butterfly in 2018 … school record in three individual events and one relay. BEST OF THE REST: Brandonn Almeida, Cody Bekemyer, Anton Down-Jenkins, Marwan El Kamash, Michael Flach, Courtney Forcucci, Itay Goldfaden, Albury Higgs, Lauren Lamendola, Kevin Leithold, Cole Miller, Allyson Nied, Tomas Peribonio, Gerald Rodriguez, Marissa Roth, Amanda Rutqvist, Julia Vincent, Nils Wich-Glasen.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Paul Jubb
Hadley Berg (2014-18)
2016 Doubles All-American … 2018 firstteam All-SEC … second in program history with 50 SEC wins … third in career doubles wins with 87 … ranked No. 30 in nation in singles … joined doubles partner Paige Cline as first All-Americans since 1994.
Paige Cline (2015-19)
2019 ITA All-American in singles … 2016 ITA All-American in doubles … first-team All-SEC in 2019 … 2019 SEC All-Tournament team … ranked No. 16 in singles … ranked No. 20 in doubles as freshman.
Mia Horvit
Ingrid Gamarra Martins
Ingrid Gamarra Martins
2019 Doubles All-American … 2017 Singles All-American … two-time All-SEC … SEC All-Freshman team … ranked No. 1 in the (2015-19) nation in doubles … first freshman in pro- All-American in singles and doubles … National gram history to earn All-American honors Senior Player of the Year … SEC Player of the Year in singles. … SEC Tournament MVP … NCAA Woman of the Year Nominee … Two-time All-SEC … Ranked No. BEST OF THE REST: Meghan Blevins, 4 in nation in singles and No. 1 in doubles, the highest Megan Davies, Brigit Folland, Elixana Lech- rankings in program history … 59 combined wins as emia, Ximena Siles Luna, Katerina Popova, a senior … advanced to semifinals of NCAA Doubles Rachel Rohrabacher. Championships.
18 GREATEST DECADE • ALL SPORTS
MEN’S TENNIS Paul Jubb
2019 NCAA Singles Champion … first-team AllAmerican … ranked program-best No. 3 in nation with 38-4 record … 23 wins over ranked opponents … 11-1 in SEC play … two-time All-SEC … joined pro tour in summer 2019 and earned wildcard invitation to Wimbledon. BEST OF THE REST: Andrew Adams, Gabriel Friedrich, Kyle Koch, Tsvetan Mihov, Harrison O’Keefe, Thiago Pinheiro, Daniel Rodrigues, Andrew Schafer.
JANUARY 2020
ALL-DECADE TEAM All Sports Aliyah Abrams (2016-PRESENT)
2019 NCAA Champion in 4x400 Relay … five-time All-American … second in 400m at NCAA Indoor Championships … competed in 2016 Rio Olympics.
TRACK & FIELD
Wadeline Jonathas (2018-19)
2019 NCAA Champion in 400m … NCAA Indoor Champion in 4x400 relay … four-time AllAmerican … set collegiate record in 400m at 2019 IAAF World Championships … nine-time national champion at NCAA Division II.
Quincy Hall (2019-PRESENT)
2019 NCAA Champion in 400m Hurdles … Four-time All-American … SEC Indoor and Outdoor Champion in 400m … fourth at NCAA Indoor Championships in 400m.
LaKya Brookins (2008-11)
NCAA Champion in 60m Dash in 2009 and 2011 … Four-time All-American … third in 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships … First back-to-back champion in 60m Dash in SEC history.
Jeannell Scheper (2011-15)
2015 NCAA Outdoor High Jump Champion … two-time NCAA Indoor runnerup … five-time All-American … two-time SEC Champion … four-time All-SEC .
Quincy Hall & Wadeline Jonathas
BEST OF THE REST: Josh Awotunde, Beatrice Biwott, Kierre Beckles, Tyler Brockington, Damiere Byrd, Arinze Chance, Kettiany Clarke, Stephanie Davis, Natasha Dicks, Johnny Dutch, Eric Favors, Sarah Graham, Nakita Gray, Elliott Haynie, Otis Jones, Kendell Kee, Kayla Lampe, Tatyana Mills, Isaiah Moore, Obakeng Ngwigw, Petra Olsen, Yann Randrianasolo, Mary Reiser, Marvin Reitze, Erika Rucker, Vica Shobe, Ncincilili Titi, Anna Todd, Michael Wamer, David Winters.
823 Lady Street Columbia, SC 29201
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ALL SPORTS • GREATEST DECADE 19
FOOTBALL
COMMITTED Muschamp excited about another high-character recruiting class By Josh Hyber | Staff writer Photos by SC Athletics & Allen Sharpe
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ill Muschamp announced part of South Carolina’s 2020 signing class on Dec. 17, and it features several high-profile recruits. In all, the not-yet-completed class features 17 players from across the country. It includes one quarterback, two running backs, two receivers, five offensive linemen, three cornerbacks, one defensive lineman, one linebacker and two “athletes.” Six are listed in ESPN’s Top 300, including running back Marshawn Lloyd (53), quarterback Luke Doty (85), defensive lineman Tonka Hemingway (187), receiver Michael Wyman (226), linebacker Mohamed Kaba (229) and guard Tyshawn Wannamaker (270). Coming off a disappointing 4-8 season and losing more than 20 seniors, Muschamp is excited about another strong recruiting class. “I appreciate the type of young men and the character that we have in this class,” he said. “All of these guys, other than two, committed before the season started, never wavered and have a lot of people coming after them. That says a lot about the young men, the character and the type of guys we’re signing in this class. We’re really excited about them and they’re all good players as well.” Here’s a look at the December signees: 20 2020 SIGNEES
Rashad Amos, RB
Jaheim Bell, ATH
Size: 6-0, 213 Hometown: Fayetteville, Ga. High school: Sandy Creek Notes: Rushed for more than
Size: 6-2, 207 Hometown: Valdosta, Ga. High school: Valdosta Notes: Multi-talented player who
1,000 yards as senior and more than 2,300 yards in career… helped Patriots to 12-2 record and spot in state AAAA semifinals as senior… rushed for 939 yards on 133 carries (7.1 yards per carry) and 12 touchdowns in 2018 … caught 16 passes for 93 yards … also played basketball.
Ratings: Rivals: 72nd-best player in Georgia and country’s 38th best running back … 247Sports: Nation’s 68th-best running back and 113th-best overall in Georgia. Muschamp: “We got on Rashad
a little late. We liked him in the spring, but [Director of Player Personnel] Matt Lindsay and his staff did a really good job of tracking him through his senior year. He’s a hard runner, is tough and comes from a great program at Sandy Creek.”
missed part of senior season with torn ACL … could play tight end or wide receiver… 210 receiving yards as senior … 770 yards as junior… helped Wildcats reach state quarterfinals in 2018 and 2019 … Nike The Opening Finalist … Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s 6A All-State first-team as junior… also played basketball.
Ratings: Rivals: 45th-best player in Georgia and nation’s 18th-best “athlete”... 247Sports: Georgia’s 39th-best player, country’s 17thbest “athlete” and No. 382 overall prospect. Muschamp: “He’s a real explosive
guy with a 36-inch vertical leap. His role next fall will be very similar to what he did at Valdosta. They played him outside, inside, used him as an H-back type. He gives you a lot of things. They put him on defense some too and he played really well there. That caught my eye, for sure. … He’s a very explosive guy. I watched him play basketball as a junior. He actually tore down the basketball goal one night. He’s an explosive guy and a really good athlete.”
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Luke Doty, QB Size: 6-1, 185 Hometown: Myrtle Beach, S.C. High school: Myrtle Beach Notes: Highly-regarded prospect who enrolled in January … threw
for 5,614 career yards with 66 touchdowns … 7,364 all-purpose yards and was responsible for 83 touchdowns … Seahawks were undefeated before falling in state 4A title game in 2019 … did not play after injuring throwing hand in first round of playoffs … completed 64 percent of passes for 1,876 yards and 25 touchdowns in 10 games … also rushed for 408 yards and four scores … named first team all-state by SC coaches … South Carolina’s “Mr. Football” … selected to Shrine Bowl, Nike’s The Opening Finals and Elite 11 Finals … as a junior, helped guide Myrtle Beach to 4A state championship in first year as starter … threw for 3,037 yards on with 36 touchdowns … 701 yards and seven TDs on ground … threw for 244 yards and three touchdowns in 2018 championship game … 2018 4A Lower State Back of the Year … played WR early in career.
Ratings: Rivals: Second-best player in South Carolina, nation’s
second-best dual-threat QB and No. 100 overall player … 247Sports: Second-best prospect in state, nation’s No. 3 dual-threat quarterback and No. 65 overall player... ESPN: No. 85 overall player.
He played for Mickey Wilson and won a state championship his junior year, his first year as a starter. Muschamp: “He played for Mickey Wilson and won a state champion-
ship his junior year, his first year as a starter. He was on his way to another state championship, but unfortunately hurt his hand. He’ll be fully recovered when he steps on campus in January. He’s a guy with a 36-inch vertical, a 10-foot broad [jump], a low 4.5 [in the 40-yard dash] and can really spin it.”
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O’Donnell Fortune, CB
Tonka Hemingway, DT
Size: 6-1, 172 Hometown: Sumter, S.C. High school: Sumter Notes: Enrolled in January …
Size: 6-2, 259 Hometown: Conway, S.C. High school: Conway Notes: 201 career tackles with
played both cornerback and safety and also handled punt and kickoff returns … 84 career tackles with eight for loss and eight interceptions for 10-1 Sumter … 42 tackles with five for loss and three interceptions as senior … first team all-state by SC coaches … selected to Shrine Bowl … as a junior, led Sumter with five interceptions with 48 tackles and one fumble recovery … also played basketball and competed in track & field.
Ratings: Rivals: SC’s 10th-best
player … 247Sports: State’s 22ndbest player and country’s 116thbest cornerback.
Muschamp: “Came to camp and earned the scholarship. His testing numbers were outstanding, very comparable to the combine in Indianapolis, as far as his length is concerned, his size, his change of direction, his speed. … I think all three of the DBs that we signed can play corner, can play safety, can play nickel, can play dime. The intelligence, the athleticism, the speed to finish on the top-end outside.”
49 for loss and 13 sacks … 92 tackles, 24 for loss and four sacks as senior … also served as team’s punter … lost in first round of AAAAA state playoffs in 2019 … selected to Shrine Bowl … first team all-state by SC coaches and three-time USA Today first-team all-state selection … also played basketball and baseball, earning first-team all-state in basketball.
Ratings: Rivals: state’s seventhbest player and country’s 40thbest strongside defensive end … 247Sports: Fourth-best player in South Carolina, 28th-best defensive tackle in country and No. 314 player overall … ESPN: country’s No. 187 player overall. Muschamp: “What’s interesting
with Tonka is he’s a basketball player in the winter and a pitcher and first baseman in the spring. I don’t know how much in the weight room he’s getting. When he gets in the weight room and does it full time I’m interested to see where his body is going to go. He’s a really good athlete, a 4.0 student, a guy we’re really excited about being able to keep in-state.”
2020 SIGNEES 21
Dominick Hill, CB Size: 6-0, 188 Hometown: Orlando, Fla. High school: Jones Notes: Enrolled in January … 30 tackles with six interceptions as senior
for 13-2 team that reached state Class 5A championship game … 34 tackles, 12 pass breakups, three interceptions, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery as junior … No. 1 player in Orlando Sentinel’s 2020 Central Florida Super 60 … also competed in track & field.
Ratings: Rivals: 87th-best player in Florida and country’s 28th-best
“athlete”... 247Sports: 118th-best player in Florida, the country’s 70thbest cornerback and No. 887 overall prospect.
He’s a 40-plus triple jumper, 20-plus long jumper. High jumps about 6-4, 6-5. Very explosive guy that we’re excited about. Muschamp: “Dominick just competed for the state championship. Elijah Williams is his coach, a guy who I’ve got a lot of respect for. Been committed to us the whole time. A lot of schools came and took some shots. Testing extremely well. He’s a 40-plus triple jumper, 20-plus long jumper. High jumps about 6-4, 6-5. Very explosive guy that we’re excited about.”
22 FOOTBALL • 2020 SIGNEES
Joey Hunter, CB
Trai Jones, C
Size: 6-0, 197 Hometown: Atlanta, Ga. High school: Sandy Creek Notes: Safety prospect … injuries
Size: 6-2, 276 Hometown: Abbeville, S.C. High school: Abbeville Notes: Played on both offensive
ended senior season prematurely … Patriots posted a 12-2 record and played in state AAAA semifinals in 2019 … began prep career at Starr’s Mill … also competed in track & field.
Ratings: Rivals: 56th-best player in Georgia and the country’s 51stbest cornerback … 247Sports: 68th-best player in Georgia, country’s 50th-best cornerback and No. 677 player overall. Muschamp: “From Sandy Creek
High School, a great program. He knows about work. He knows about winning. He had a shoulder issue during the season but had that scoped and fixed. He’ll be ready to go when he gets on campus here during the spring. … A guy that gives you a lot of position multiplicity, to be able to play multiple spots on the back-end and is extremely intelligent.”
and defensive lines … first team all-state by SC coaches … enrolled in January … helped Panthers reach state semifinals in Class 2A with a 13-1 record in 2019 … led team to pair of state titles in 2017 and 2018 … selected to Shrine Bowl.
Ratings: Rivals: Ninth-best player in South Carolina … 247Sports: 11th-best player in state, 19th-best center in country and No. 888 player overall. Muschamp: “It’s a perennial
state championship team. He understands about winning and understands about work. He’s really a unique story. He has 34inch arms but is only about 6-2. You start to question yourself a little bit because of height, but he runs a 4.6 at 290 pounds. He’s as powerful a guy on our team. He’ll be a 600-pound squatter and a 300-plus pound power cleaner coming out of high school. He’s really flexible in his lower body. He came to our camp and earned his scholarship. Athletic ability for an offensive lineman is off the charts. He’ll be a center or guard for us.”
JANUARY 2020
MarShawn Lloyd, RB Size: 5-9, 211 Hometown: Middletown, Del. High school: DeMatha Catholic Notes: Enrolled in January … helped Stags to 7-4 mark as senior
while serving as team captain … selected for Opening Finals, Under Armour All-American Bowl and Polynesian Bowl … earned top spot on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays after 69-yard run against Good Counsel in which he hurdled a defender on his way to a touchdown … also competed in track & field.
Ratings: Rivals: Third-best player in Maryland, fifth-best running
back in country and No. 31 overall … 247Sports: Third-best player in state, eighth-best running back in country and No. 39 overall … ESPN: No. 53 overall.
He has great lateral change in direction, great vision and is a tough, hard runner. Muschamp: “He committed in May and never wavered. He had everybody in the country on him. He is very explosive in his lower body. He has a 36-inch vertical leap at 215 pounds. He has great lateral change in direction, great vision and is a tough, hard runner. Thomas Brown did a fantastic job recruiting MarShawn. We’re really excited about MarShawn.”
Mohamed Kaba, LB
Vershon Lee, G
Size: 6-2, 212 Hometown: Clinton, N.C. High school: Clinton Notes: Played inside linebacker
Size: 6-3, 300 Hometown: Woodbridge, Va. High school: Freedom Notes: Enrolled in January … led
but also several positions on offense … enrolled in January … helped lead Dark Horses to a 12-2 record and 2-AA state semifinals as senior … tore ACL during senior season, limiting him to just four games … invited to AllAmerican Bowl … also competed in track & field.
Ratings: Rivals: 16th-best player in North Carolina and country’s 49th-best outside linebacker … 247Sports: 10th-best player in North Carolina, nation’s 11th-best inside linebacker and No. 228 overall … ESPN: Country’s No. 229 overall player.
When we started evaluating linebackers ... He was No. 1 on our board.
Eagles to 11-1 record and Class 6 playoffs as senior … first team all-district on both offensive and defensive lines … second-team all-state in 2018 … also played basketball and was a first-team all-district in 2018.
Ratings: Rivals: 18th-best player in Virginia and 75th-best offensive tackle ... 247Sports: 20th-best player in Virginia, country’s 44thbest guard and No. 728 overall. Muschamp: “We targeted him
early in the process. Eric Wolford and I were recruiting Jakai Moore last year. We went to see him in the day but went to watch Vershon play basketball. I knew then athletically this guy is what we’re looking for. He’s 6-4 plus with 34-inch arms, has great length and athleticism and has huge upside as a player. He comes from a great family.”
Muschamp: “When we started
evaluating linebackers and looking at the 2020 class, he was No. 1 on our board, as far as his athleticism and his physicality that he played with, his contact speed, his short-area quickness to engage.”
JANUARY 2020
2020 SIGNEES • FOOTBALL 23
Michael Wyman, WR Size: 6-2, 188 Hometown: Greensboro, N.C. High school: Dudley Notes: Enrolled in January … helped Dudley to 10-3 record and second
round of playoffs in 2019 and 10-4 mark and quarterfinals in 2018 … 26 receptions for 465 yards as senior … caught 46 passes for 664 yards and five touchdowns as junior and 18 for 478 and six scores as sophomore … first-team All-Area in 2018 … also played basketball.
Ratings: Rivals: 13th-best player in North Carolina and 74th-best receiver in country … 247Sports: No. 12 player in North Carolina, 49th-best wide receiver in country and No. 295 overall … ESPN: No. 226 player overall.
He’s a big target and a guy that catches the ball extremely well.
Muschamp: “He’s a big receiver, a guy we had in camp two years ago.
Mike and his mom, Bonnie, have been with us from day one. They committed here and it’s been a good process. He was a state champion as a junior. He’s a big target and a guy that catches the ball extremely well.”
24 FOOTBALL • 2020 SIGNEES
Rico Powers Jr., WR
Makius Scott, DT
Size: 6-1, 183 Hometown: Atlanta High school: Hapeville Charter Notes: Played final prep season
Size: 6-3, 306 Hometown: Gainesville, Ga. High school: Gainesville Notes: Played on both sides of the
at Hapeville Charter … Led Hornets to 10-2-1 record and state AA quarterfinals as senior … attended Benedictine High School in Savannah prior to transferring … 2019 Nike The Opening Charlotte Top Performer … Savannah Morning News Offensive Player of the Year in 2018 … 1,006 yards rushing, 17 touchdowns and 8.7 yards per carry … 2018 All-Greater Savannah First Team Offense … as sophomore, had 842 yards rushing and 449 yards receiving with 16 touchdowns … also played basketball and ran track.
Ratings: Rivals: 26th-best player in Georgia, country’s 42nd-best wide receiver and No. 228 overall ... 247Sports: 31st-best player in Georgia, country’s 52nd-best wide receiver and No. 307 overall. Muschamp: “A very explosive guy
with a 35-inch vertical leap and over 10-foot broad [jump]. He runs extremely well. We got J.J. Enagbare from that high school and he’s had a fantastic career here at South Carolina. Rico is an explosive guy, has a lot of length. He is the starting point guard on their basketball team, is over 6-2 and is a guy that can really stretch the field vertically as we continue to replenish ourselves at the receiver position.”
ball … also competed in track & field … sixth in state in shot put in 2019 … has 8-foot wingspan.
Ratings: Rivals: 86th-best player in Georgia and country’s 58thbest defensive tackle ... 247Sports: 101st-best player in Georgia, country’s 79th-best defensive tackle and No. 979 overall.
He has really good feet and change in direction. Muschamp: “He’s another guy
that came to camp and earned the offer. We liked his tape and wanted to see him move around. He has really good feet and change in direction with good length in his upper body. We think he’s going to be a really good inside technique. He has a huge upside as an athlete, another guy you go watch play basketball and you see him bend and come off the floor for a big guy that’s 300-plus. It’s very impressive to see his athleticism.”
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Tyshawn Wannamaker, G Size: 6-4, 347 Hometown: St. Matthews, S.C. High school: Calhoun County Notes: First commitment of 2020 class in spring of sophomore year …
enrolled in January … Saints posted 6-6 mark in 2019, reaching second round of playoffs … selected to play in Shrine Bowl … first team all-state by SC coaches … first-team all-state as junior by USA TODAY … also competed in throw events on track team.
Ratings: Rivals: Eighth-best player in South Carolina and country’s 35thbest guard ... 247Sports: Seventh-best player in South Carolina, 23rd-best guard in country and No. 446 overall … ESPN: No. 270 player in country.
He looks like he’s 280 pounds and that’s what you want guys to look like.
Muschamp: “He’s from Calhoun County right down the road. He’s another
powerful guy inside. Trai and Tyshawn aren’t guys that go to many camps. They aren’t going to get rated high, but we feel inside player-wise that they are as good as we’ve seen on tape all year. He is 6-4, 350 pounds with 34inch arms. He looks like he’s 280 pounds and that’s what you want guys to look like. He has great mass on him and great camp numbers. … Alshon Jeffery texted me before I came into this press conference to congratulate me on getting another good player from Calhoun County.”
JANUARY 2020
Eric Shaw, ATH
Jazston Turnetine, T
Size: 6-4, 205 Hometown: Dadeville, Ala. High school: Reeltown Notes: Tight end prospect who
Size: 6-6, 337 Hometown: Ellenwood, Ga. Previous school: Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College Notes: Enrolled in January …
also played receiver and outside linebacker … helped Rebels to 13-2 record and Class 2A championship game as senior … Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game participant … tore ACL during junior season … also played basketball and competed in track & field … six-time state track & field champion … won three consecutive 110-meter high hurdle titles … won three titles in spring of 2019 (high jump, 110m hurdles and 300m hurdles) … also qualified for state finals in shot put.
Ratings: Rivals: 15th-best player in Alabama and country’s 22ndbest tight end … 247Sports: 17thbest player in Alabama, 16th-best “athlete” in country and No. 379 overall. Muschamp: “He’s 6-3, 6-4 and
about 210 pounds. He was a high jumper over six-foot and long jumps over 20 feet. He’s a very explosive guy. He played in the state title game this year. … He can play defense, outside linebacker, but wants to play tight end and that’s where we’re going to play him at. He has a big frame and is a really good athlete we are excited about.”
will have three years to play two … started at offensive tackle for two seasons at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College … secondteam NJCAA All-America as sophomore … Blue Dragons were 10-2 mark in 2019 and 9-3 his freshman season, winning Salt City Bowl both years … graduated from Stockbridge (Ga.) High School in 2018.
Ratings: JC-Gridiron.com: No. 4 JUCO offensive tackle in nation … Rivals: 48th-best JUCO prospect ... 247Sports: country’s 14th-best JUCO offensive tackle and No. 84 JUCO player overall. Muschamp: “He’s from Hutchin-
son Junior College. He is 6-7, 340 pounds with 36-inch arms, a massive human being. He can really move his feet and bend in his lower body. We tracked him out of high school at Stockbridge. He went to Hutch and had a fantastic career.”
2020 SIGNEES • FOOTBALL 25
Connor Shaw returns home to assist Muschamp, help Gamecock players By Josh Hyber | Staff writer • Photo by Allen Sharpe
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ill Muschamp began his news conference on January 15 by stating the obvious. “I’d like to introduce somebody that needs absolutely no introduction here in Columbia, South Carolina and welcome him back,” the South Carolina head coach began before officially announcing Connor Shaw as the team’s new Director of Player Development. “ … A guy that’s the winningest quarterback in South Carolina history, can relate with our players. We truly believe in outlets here for our players. I think we have as good of support off the field as anybody in the country. … And now Connor is a huge part of that with our Beyond Football program and with life skills and just being a mentor for our guys every day.” Shaw, Muschamp said, practically lived at Williams-Brice Stadium when he was the team’s starting quarterback under Steve Spurrier. “It was kind of confirmed in our first team meeting how much I really missed this type of environment,” Shaw said. “Coach going through the goals and expectations, seeing guys take down notes, being ready to work and compete. I can’t wait to be a part of their journey. “… Every guy in that locker room chose the University of South Carolina because they believed they would be developed into outstanding football players, earn a great education and leave here as mature and respectable men.”
26 FOOTBALL • CONNOR SHAW
From 2010-13, Shaw led Carolina to a 27-5 record, including a 17-0 at Williams-Brice Stadium. In his four-year career, he completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 6,074 yards and 56 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,683 yards and 17 scores. Shaw, 28, broke down his role into four parts: career building, mental health, life skills and mentorship. He will help players with things like professional development, networking, self-awareness, decision making and planning while they are on campus. “We’re going to use football to accomplish what they want to accomplish out of ball,” Shaw said. “My first step is just to get to know the guys. The more I know them, the more I can help them. I’m not going to pretend that I’m some know-it-all who has all the answers, but I what I will offer is authentic feedback and open dialogue to whatever they feel like they need help with.” As evidenced by Muschamp’s comments and feedback on social media, Shaw’s return had the feel of a homecoming. “I think I always had aspirations to be back a part of this program in some sort of role,” Shaw said. “… Regardless of the timing, it was an opportunity to come back to the university that I love and that I invested so much into and invested so much into me. “… I think the first conversation [coach Muschamp] and I had was, we don’t have a lot of, you know, bad guys, character-wise. These
guys want to learn. They want to be sponges. And they want to work hard. “… For the timing, it could have been two months ago, it could have been two months from now, I would have been ride or die.” The team’s previous Director of Player Development, Marcus Lattimore, left the university where he was an ambassador and legend to
I just want to be a sponge so I can come back and kind of make my stamp here. – CONNOR SHAW study psychology abroad in Europe. Shaw said he will continue to bounce ideas off Lattimore and former Gamecock quarterback Dylan Thompson (2010-14), who holds the title Character Coach/Team Development with the Detroit Lions. He will also lean on sports psychologist Dr. Gloria Balague, who worked for the Chicago Bears when Shaw played there. “I just want to be a sponge so I can come back and kind of make my stamp here,” he said.
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27
‘ON THE VERGE’ New OC Mike Bobo loves passion, potential at Carolina
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By Josh Hyber | Staff writer • Photo by Allen Sharpe
ike Bobo remembers the 2012 South CarolinaGeorgia game at Williams-Brice Stadium and, as the Bulldogs offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, having to create a gameplan to stop Gamecock defensive lineman Jadeveon Clowney. He also remembers the heat that night in Columbia. “Just how loud and how energetic the fans [were],” Bobo said. “… We were in the SEC championship game that year and we got throttled here 35-7. … I remember upstairs, there’s thick glass in 28 FOOTBALL • MIKE BOBO
these press boxes, and I remember saying, ‘Is it loud down there? It looks loud.’ And I remember our offensive line coach [who was on the field] saying, ‘You just keep drinking those Diet Cokes up there. We’re down here in this damn jungle.’” Bobo, who was named South Carolina’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Dec. 10 after a five-season stint as Colorado State’s head coach, will now be on the other side of the predicament. “I’m excited about coming to a place that I really believe is on the verge,” Bobo said. “I know last year wasn’t what coach and his
staff expects out of this program, and what we’re striving for. But the pieces are here, from a great staff to a great foundation of players. “… And this is a place that is hungry. I’ve always been impressed when you come here and play, the passion this fanbase has and the energy in this stadium. And that carries over to your players.” Said Gamecock head coach Will Muschamp, “[I have] a lot of respect for Mike. Number one, as a person. Number two, as a play caller. In his 14 years of calling plays he has averaged over 30 points and right at 425 yards a game.”
“He’s a great coach and really knows his players,” current Colorado State receiver Dante Wright told Spurs & Feathers. “He knows how to recruit. He’s a great example to look up to. He knows how to get the ball in different people’s hands and give them the best opportunity for success.” Said the mom of a Colorado State player, South Carolina “got a good man.” “We love Coach Bobo. He loves and takes care of his players. An example of great integrity for young men,” she told Spurs & Feathers. “I’m definitely excited to be here at South Carolina and excited to be back in the south,” Bobo said in December. “Excited about this opportunity to be with coach Muschamp and this staff. … I have been blown away with the things they’ve done here with the facilities. It’s just a first-class facility.” Bobo is also excited about what he will have to work with offensively at South Carolina. “There’s a lot of work to do, like there’s a lot of work to do at every place every year this time of year. I’m excited about the challenge we have and look forward to this coming offseason,” he said. Bobo said he wants a “physical” team and preached having a balanced offense that begins with a productive run game. South Carolina averaged just 148 yards rushing and 4.2 yards per carry last year and was 11th in the SEC in rushing. “I believe you have to run the football in this league to be successful and contend for the championship,” he said. “But at the same time, we want to have balance. We want to be able to spread people out.” Bobo will work with at least two young quarterbacks in Ryan Hilinski, who started 11 games as a freshman last year, and incoming freshman Luke Doty. He will also have redshirt sophomore Dakereon Joyner, who split time at quarterback and wide receiver, and any possible graduate transfers. Bobo said he’s excited about working with Hilinski, who took over last year when starter Jake Bentley went down in the season opener. “I see a guy that’s got some talent,” he said. “I see a guy that went through some growing pains, being a freshman. And we’ve got to do things to help him, and some of
JANUARY 2020
that is the run game and some of that is protection.” Bobo was also impressed with Joyner, who announced in January that he will return for his sophomore season. “I’m really impressed with him,” Bobo said. “He’s a guy that wants to do whatever he can to help this football team. That was the first words out of his mouth. It wasn’t I need to play quarterback, I need to do this. It was, ‘Coach, I want to help this football team. I want to do whatever it takes to help this team be successful,’ and I just love the look in that kid’s eye. I’m excited about seeing him this offseason.” Bobo posted a 28-35 record at CSU, including a 20-20 mark in Mountain West Conference games. He led the Rams to bowl games in each of his first three seasons. Before that the former Georgia quarterback coached at his alma mater, where he spent 16 seasons, including the last eight (2007-14) as offensive coordinator. While there he playedMurray and coached with NEW! Lake current Gamecock receivers coach Bryan$849,900 McClendon and running 305’ shoreline, 1+Thomas acres, 4Brown. Bdrm, backs coach
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Bobo’s 14-year stint at Georgia, where he starred at quarterback in the late 1990s, began in 2001 when Mark Richt hired him as quarterbacks coach, his second stint with the school. He was promoted by Richt to offensive coordinator in 2007. During his time at UGA, Bobo helped lead the Bulldogs to 135 victories, including two SEC championships and five SEC Eastern Division titles. The 2012 Broyles Award finalist held the offensive coordinator spot for 92 games with the Bulldogs, scoring 30-plus points 57 times, 40-plus
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“Paul has worked for and with several people that I have a lot of respect for and he comes highly recommended,” Muschamp said. “He did an outstanding job on his interview and I’m excited to have Paul become part of our staff.” Jackson has also had stops at Southern Miss (2011), MiamiOhio (2010) and LSU (2007-10), where he served as an assistant strength coach. About a month later, Muschamp announced a few other points 29 times and more than 50 staff changes. Joe Cox, who spent points 13 times. time with Bobo at Colorado State, was named tight ends coach. Bobby Bentely, who coached tight ends last year, was reassigned to an assistant quarterbacks role. On Jan. 14, special teams On Dec. 17 Muschamp named coach Coleman Hutzler left the Paul Jackson Director of Football program to become co-defensive Strength and Conditioning. coordinator/linebacker coach Jackson comes to SC following at Texas. He will be replaced by an eight-year stint as the head Kyle Krantz, who was promoted football strength and conditionspecial teams coordinator and ing coach at Ole Miss. During Lake Murrayto assistant defensive backs coach. Jackson’s tenure in Oxford the $1,188,450 Krantz, 32, helped with special Rebels reached four bowl games, including back-to-back New 6 Bdrm, 4.5 Bath, 3 Bay teams garage,and linebackers the past two seasons. Year’s Six bowls waterfront in 2014 andporch, 2015. fireplace,
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• FOOTBALL 29
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‘WOMAN UP’
Balanced attack, fab freshmen lead Gamecocks back to top of college basketball By Josh Hyber | Staff writer • Photos by Allen Sharpe & Jenny Dilworth
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outh Carolina fans had an inkling, and for a few days — since the nation’s first-, second- and third-ranked teams all lost — there was anticipation. Then it came. On Jan. 13, the Gamecocks (16-1, 4-0 SEC at the time) were announced as the AP’s No. 1 team entering its games against Missouri and Mississippi State. South Carolina returned to the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll for the first time since Feb. 9, 2015, which capped a 12-week run at the top. “Our ‘Woman Up’ theme this season is about approaching each practice and game with a focused, disciplined and trusting mindset,” Gamecock head coach Dawn Staley said. “Our players
have embraced this process, and their commitment to hard work has earned them the No. 1 ranking in the country.” With three wins in the team’s previous four games against ranked teams — and five total to that point this season — the Gamecocks were primed to take the top spot. Staley told SEC Network after SC’s game at Vanderbilt on Jan. 12 she knew this season’s squad would be special when she saw its desire to play pickup games early in the summer. “I hope we just keep bottling this up, keep working hard and keep working on our weaknesses and enjoy this. Because it’s a little bit different than we’ve ever experienced,” she said.
30 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL • NO. 1 RANKING
Here are four reasons the Gamecocks have been so successful this season:
BALANCED ATTACK Staley told the SEC Network after the Vanderbilt game a lesson she learned from Gamecock great Kaela Davis. “I don’t necessarily have to shoot the ball,” Davis told her. “But I want to feel the ball early on.” Staley had a message for Davis: “Your rule is in effect.” Through its non-conference play and first four games SEC games, South Carolina used a nine-player rotation. It had five players average at least 8.6 points per game, but none more than
13.2. It had nine average more than 13.6 minutes per game, but none more than 28.2. Eight different Gamecocks scored in double figures in the team’s first two SEC games. South Carolina ranked third in points per game (83.0) early in conference play and had three 90-plus point outings in the first three games. In just three games, the Gamecocks matched their most 90-plus point games in league play (three in 2002-03). The team ranked second in assists per game with Ty Harris leading the category. “We’ve got a team that’s playing really well together,” Staley said. “When you’re sharing the ball and everybody’s touching the ball, good things can happen. As of right now, everybody’s happy because everybody’s touching the ball, feeling the ball.”
BOSTON BLOCK PARTY Aliyah Boston has been as good as advertised. Probably even better. The freshman’s stat lines have been otherworldly and she has won four SEC Freshman of the Week honors. On Jan. 9 against then No. 21 Arkansas she had 19 points, 25 rebounds, five blocks and a steal. It was the second-highest single-game rebounding performance in program history — Demetress Adams had 26 on Feb. 3, 2008 — and the mostever by a freshman. Her 15 defensive rebounds and 10 offensive rebounds were, respectfully, both freshman records. Said Razorback head coach Mike Neighbors, “Gosh guys, Aliyah Boston, we talked about her and you can show it on film all you want, but when you get next to her and see how agile she is and how quickly she closes, you think you’re open, but you’re not. “… She is a force. … Twentyfive rebounds? I had twenty-five rebounds my entire junior year of high school. I can’t even fathom what that feels like.” A few minutes later Neighbors talked about Boston’s skill
JANUARY 2020
COOKE IN THE KITCHEN Staley used the word “killer” to describe Zia Cooke. “She plays on both sides of the ball. Whether she’s shooting the ball well or not, it never takes away from her energy and her intensity,” the coach said. “She’s one that wants it. Like right now. Every day she tries to win that particular day. Every single day. And that’s what I like. “I like her approach to the game. I like the fact that she’s in the gym. She works. She studies it. She just wants to get better and be the best.”
Staley even admitted Cooke probably works harder than she did when she was a player. The electric freshman guard ranked third on the team early in conference play with 12.2 points per game and too many highlight-reel plays to count. She led the team in scoring in wins over Alabama and Arkansas.
BEAL STREET Versatile freshman Brea Beal has been the team’s glue and drawn comparisons to program great Allisha Gray. She has rebounded and gotten to the free-throw line (second on the team in both categories). She has passed (fifth in assists) and she has scored (sixth in points). She has guarded guards and forwards and oftentimes the opponent’s best player, including Kentucky's Rhyne Howard in the
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Gamecocks’ 27-point win over the then No. 13 Wildcats. “I think what Brea was able to do was tire her out,” Staley said.
“We just exhausted her. [Howard had] 28 points, but they were insignificant points.”
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set — how she moves without the ball, uses angles and even strategically blocks shots so they stay inbounds to start quick breaks. “It’s not just a function of her being big. She is the total package,” he said.
• WOMEN'S BASKETBALL 31
MR. PERSONALITY Jermaine Couisnard emerges as leader, brings spark to Gamecock backcourt By Jeff Owens | Executive Editor • Photos by Travis Bell
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alfway through the season, South Carolina was struggling and Frank Martin was still trying to figure out his young team. Leading scorer AJ Lawson was in a slump, the team had no consistent point guard and Martin was baffled by a “Jekyll and Hyde” team that had lost three straight games after upsetting No. 9 Virginia on the road. What he needed was someone to step into a leadership role and give his young team an identity and some personality. He may have found that player during a two-game stretch in mid-January. In a heartbreaking 56-55 loss at Tennessee Jan.
11, redshirt freshman Jermaine Couisnard came off the bench to score 15 points and give the Gamecocks some life in the second half. Four days later, Couisnard got his first career start and delivered in a big way. In South Carolina’s thrilling 81-78 upset over No. 10 Kentucky, Couisnard scored a career-high 26 points and hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer. “Jermaine is becoming the heartbeat of our team,” Martin said of the young guard, who scored 17 second-half points in a game-high 34 minutes to help South Carolina rally from
32 MEN'S BASKETBALL • JERMAINE COUISNARD
a 14-point second-half deficit against Kentucky. With Lawson and point guard Jair Bolden, who started 15 of the first 16 games, both struggling, Couisnard took charge of the backcourt and delivered the biggest performance of the season in the Gamecocks’ biggest game. It was the type of leadership Martin needed for a team he said had gotten too quiet and passive during its struggles. “Jermaine is learning how to play college basketball,” Martin said. “His feelings were hurt in November because it’s harder than he thought it was going to be, and then the ball wasn’t
going in for him so he got a little timid and passive. … He could have joined the club and stayed quiet and passive but he refused to do that. “He’s taken ownership of our team. I probably should have given him more ownership a little sooner than I did. … I’m really happy for him because we needed that personality on our team.” More importantly, South Carolina needed better play at point guard, which Martin said had become “a major problem.” After his strong performance at Tennessee, Couisnard started at the point against Kentucky. Though he had just three assists, he had only one turnover and ran the offense well. “Right now our point guard play is not adding up for us to succeed,” Martin said. “… We have no personality at our guard spots. The only guy that gives us a personality is Jermaine.” In 15 games, Couisnard was averaging 10 points per game and had 39 assists to 26 turnovers for a team that had combined for more turnovers (218) than assists (212) in the first half of the season. “Jermaine is connected. He’s the most connected guard on our team,” Martin said. “He has the best understanding and plays with the best aggression on our team. He’s a real good player. I’m excited about coaching Jermaine. I go out there every day and I know he is going to fight for me, so I get excited about coaching guys like him.”
Jermaine is becoming the heartbeat of our team – FRANK MARTIN Martin believes Couisnard, a redshirt freshman, can handle the point. He compared him to 2017 SEC Player of the Year Sindarius Thornwell when Thornwell was a freshman. “He has personality, fearlessness, aggression, all the things I
JANUARY 2020
am struggling to find with our guard play right now,” he said. “[With Sin], the guy with the most personality on the team got the ball in his hands and because of that we became a better team as time went on. Jermaine is kind of along those lines. He has the best understanding of what I want and the loudest voice and the most aggressive game of all our guards.” Couisnard, a 6-4 guard from Chicago, had to sit out last season due to academic issues. Though he was able to practice, and often mimicked the opposition’s leading scorer, he had to keep his head up while sitting out games. “It was very tough,” he said. “I used that as motivation because I felt like last year I could have helped in some games and help us win. This year I just play my role and try to be confident.” He entered the 2019-20 season with high expectations as one of the team’s most talented offensive players and a guard who showed the toughness Martin likes on defense.
Charlie Guarino
While sitting out last season, he learned how to adapt to Martin’s system and how to be a vocal leader. He learned that from one of the best. “I feel like that’s my job,” he said. “Last year I was sitting
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out and just took the lead from Chris Silva and tried to watch him and see what he was doing to give players confidence, and that’s what I try to do.” After starting 8-4 in nonconference play, the Gamecocks
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struggled with inconsistency. A week after upsetting Virginia, they lost to 5-9 Stetson in a game Martin called the worst of his coaching career. (“I was embarrassed and disturbed with how we took the court that day,” he said.) After dropping its first two games SEC games to Florida and Tennessee, Martin was looking for leadership on and off the floor. Couisnard provided that against Kentucky, giving Martin and his team hope for the rest of the season. “There are some guys who are cut a certain way, that’s just who they are,” he said. “[Jermaine is] one of those guys who has a feel to play basketball and a mind to play basketball. He’s not intimidated by an opponent or the moment. “He’s tough. … He loves that stage, he loves the competition. I think he’s going to have a heck of a year and career.”
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MEN'S BASKETBALL 33
SPRING SPORTS
SPRING STARS
Athletes to watch as Gamecocks prepare for another big spring season
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By Jeff Owens and Josh Hyber | Photos by Allen Sharpe, Jenny Dilworth and SC Athletics ope springs eternal. Never is that more true than when the sports calendar flips to January at the University of South Carolina. Six of South Carolina’s nine spring sports teams made the NCAA Tournament last season, with three of them (men’s and women’s track & field, men’s tennis) producing individual national champions and the women’s tennis team winning its first SEC championship. With strong teams returning for every program, the Gamecocks expect to make several more postseason runs this season
and contend for more conference and national titles. Mark Kingston begins his third season as head coach of South Carolina’s tradition-rich baseball program. After leading the Gamecocks to the NCAA Super Regionals in his first season in 2018, Kingston looks to lead them back to the NCAA Tournament this season. Beverly Smith’s Gamecock softball team, meanwhile, looks to make its eighth straight NCAA appearance and get back to the Super Regionals, as it did in 2018. South Carolina boasts two of the top tennis programs in the country, with Kevin Epley’s women ranked No. 9 at the start
34 SPRING SPORTS • STAR PLAYERS
of the season and looking to win another SEC title. The Gamecock women have made seven straight NCAA appearances under Epley, including three straight Sweet 16s, and advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time last year. Led by national singles champion Paul Jubb, Josh Goffi has his strongest men’s squad in years and looks to make the postseason for the seventh time. The men’s and women’s golf teams are also regular participants in the NCAA Tournament, with Bill McDonald’s men’s team looking for an eighth straight appearance and Kalen Anderson’s women trying to make it for the ninth time in the past 11
years. Both squads have two of the top golfers in program history returning. Curtis Frye’s track & field team returns three individual national champions and several AllAmericans, giving him a chance to make national headlines again. The beach volleyball team, led by head coach Mortiz Mortiz, hopes to return to postseason play after making it in 2017 and 2018, while Boo Major’s equstrian squad looks to build on a strong fall season and return to SEC and national championship contention. As the spring season dawns, here’s a look at three athletes to watch in each spring sport.
JANUARY 2020
BASEBALL Andrew Eyster
Eyster had a strong first season at South Carolina and finished 2019 with a flourish, hitting .417 in the last 10 games to lead the Gamecocks with a .309 average. The junior-college transfer had 10 home runs, 12 doubles and 32 RBI. His .576 slugging percentage was eighth in the SEC. A starting outfielder, Eyster had three hits in a win at Clemson and homered twice and drove in three runs in a win over No. 3 Mississippi State in the regular-season finale. He returns to the outfield and will be a fixture in the middle of the Gamecock lineup.
Brett Kerry
A freshman All-American, Kerry was South Carolina’s top pitcher last season, going 4-1 with seven saves and a 2.62 ERA in 22 appearances. He was dominant from the start, earning a win on opening weekend and then striking out seven over 3.1 innings to earn a save against rival Clemson. Kerry struck out 65 batters in 58.1 innings and held hitters to a .208 batting average (2.95 ERA in SEC play) to make the SEC All-Freshman team. He made two starts and held No. 3 Mississippi State to two runs on five hits in six innings in the regular-season finale to help the Gamecocks earn a spot in the SEC Tournament. Kerry is expected to be in the weekend rotation this season.
SOFTBALL Mackenzie Boesel
A senior second baseman, Boesel hit over .340 in each of her first three seasons batting mostly at the top of the Gamecock lineup. Last season she hit .356 with eight home runs and 21 doubles, the fifth-most in the nation and best in the SEC. She led the Gamecocks with 52 runs scored and ranked third in RBI with 37. Boesel, who made the SEC All-Freshman team in 2017, has a career .352 average with 26 home runs.
Cayla Drotar
A senior pitcher/designated player, the Hartsville, S.C. product has been productive in the circle and at the plate the last three seasons. Drotar had 12 wins and a 2.73 ERA in 130 innings pitched last season. In three years she is 40-20 with a 2.69 ERA. At the plate, she batted .288 with 10 home runs and a team-high 49 RBI last season and enters the season with 20 career home runs.
Jana Johns
A junior third baseman, Johns was a star in the middle of the Gamecock lineup last season. She hit .348 and tied the single-season program record with 15 home runs. She also had 44 RBI, scored 50 runs and slugged .708 with a .500 onbase percentage. An outstanding defensive player, Johns was named to the All-SEC second team and All-Region last year.
Carmen Mlodzinski
After a solid freshman season, Mlodzinski began last season as the Friday night starter. But he made just three starts before suffering a broken foot against Clemson that ended his season. After taking a medical redshirt, Mlodzinski returns for his sophomore season as one of the best pitching prospects in the country. He was dominant in the elite Cape Cod League last summer, going 3-0 with a 1.83 ERA over seven starts. He struck out 43 batters in 34.1 innings and held batters to a .136 batting average. With his fastball climbing to 98 mph during the fall, Mlodzinski rocketed up draft boards and enters the season as the No. 7 prospect in the nation (D1 Baseball) for the 2020 MLB Draft. He will open the season again as South Carolina’s Friday night starter.
JANUARY 2020
MEN’S TENNIS Paul Jubb
Jubb is coming off the greatest season in school history, winning the 2019 NCAA Singles Championship and finishing the season ranked No. 3 in the nation, the highest ranking in program history. Jubb’s national championship capped a remarkable season as he finished 38-4 in singles with 23 wins over ranked opponents. A senior from Hull, England, Jubb began his pro career over the summer, beating three top-150 players and earning a wildcard invitation to Wimbledon. He will look to defend his national singles title this season as he caps the greatest career in South Carolina tennis history.
STAR PLAYERS
• SPRING SPORTS 35
Raphael Lambling
A native of Paris, France, Lambling was one of two freshmen who shined for South Carolina in 2019, finishing with a 27-12 record to make the SEC All-Freshman team. He was 15-9 in dual matches, including 6-6 in the SEC. He settled into the No. 3 spot in the lineup early and went 9-7 at the position, earning the decisive point in South Carolina’s upset over No. 11 Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament. Lambling had a strong fall season, beating two top-70 opponents to climb from No. 110 to No. 39 in the ITA National Rankings. He is also ranked No. 39 in doubles to start the season.
Daniel Rodrigues
Rodrigues had one of the finest freshman seasons in program history, going 32-11 to finish ranked No. 65 in the nation and earning First-Team All-SEC honors. His 32 wins were the second-most for a South Carolina freshman and included an 18-8 mark in dual matches (7-4 in the SEC) and 13-6 at No. 2 singles. A native of Funchal, Portugal, he was also 21-14 in doubles and finished the year ranked No. 63 in the nation with Lambling. After a strong showing in the fall ITA tournaments, Rodrigues enters the season ranked No. 21 in singles and No. 39 in doubles.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Mia Horvit
A three-time All-SEC performer and 2019 firstteam All-American, Horvit has won big match after big match in her three-year career. She has the second highest SEC winning percentage in both singles and doubles in program history and won a deciding singles match last season as the Gamecocks won their first SEC Tournament title. One of three All-Americans on the Elite Eight team, Horvit had a phenomenal junior season, going 24-5 in singles, including 17-3 in dual matches and 6-1 in the SEC. She was 30-8 in doubles and finished the season ranked No. 1 in the nation with All-American Ingrid Martins after the duo reached the national semifinals. Horvit continued her strong performance in the fall, going 13-7 (7-7 against ranked opponents) and enters the season ranked No. 27 in the nation.
TRACK & FIELD Aliyah Abrams
The 2016 Olympian for Guyana was an outdoor first-team All-American (400m, 4x400m relay) and an indoor first-team All-American (400m, 4x400m relay) last year. A five-time All-American, she was part of the national championship 4x400m relay team and finished second in the 400m at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Quincy Hall
On Jan. 6 Hall was announced as one of 10 nominees for the Bowerman Award, given annually to the most outstanding male and female NCAA track & field athletes in the nation. During the outdoor season last year, Hall was the NCAA champion in the 400m hurdles. He was named a first-team AllAmerican in the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay during both the indoor and outdoor seasons and won the indoor and outdoor SEC Championship in the 400m.
Silvia Chinellato
A three-year starter, Chinellato is one of the leaders of the 2020 team after winning 89 matches in her first three years. A native of Como, Italy, Chinellato has a 50-30 career singles record, including 16-6 last season. She was 11-3 in dual matches at the No. 5 spot and instrumental in South Carolina’s run to the SEC Tournament championship and first-ever NCAA Elite Eight appearance. Chinellato is also a strong doubles player, compiling a 39-22 career mark. After a strong fall season, she enters the season ranked No. 18 in the nation in doubles with highly regarded freshman Emma Shelton.
Megan Davies
After an impressive freshman season, when she set a freshman record with 56 combined wins, Davies continued to play a huge role for the Gamecocks in 2019. The native of Wolverhampton, England was 16-10 at No. 4 singles, including 10-7 in dual matches, and emerged as one of the top doubles players in the country. She finished the season 26-13 in doubles (9-2 in the SEC) and ranked No. 39 in the nation with senior Rachel Rohrabacher. After just two seasons, Davies has a 45-18 career mark in singles and 53-21 in doubles. She had a strong fall season, going 16-9 (7-7 against ranked opponents) to leap from No. 125 to No. 28 in the national rankings. 36 SPRING SPORTS • STAR PLAYERS
Eric Favors
The redshirt senior has been a force competing in the shot put. Last season he qualified for the Outdoor NCAA Championships and was the SEC Outdoor bronze medalist after throwing 18.87m (61-11). He tossed a new personal record of 19.11m (62-8 1/2) — the fourth-best throw in school history — to clinch a nationals berth on his first throw of the NCAA East Regional.
JANUARY 2020
GOLF Lois Kaye Go
Go emerged as one of the best golfers in program history in 2018-19, earning first-team All-SEC and All-American honors. She finished her junior season with the lowest career scoring average in program history at 72.63. She had four top-five finishes, including a seasonbest 69 and 54-hole 212 at the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational. She finished third at the All-State Sugar Bowl and tied for fifth at the SEC Championships. An entry on multiple Annika Award watch lists, she has also shined in international play, winning the 2018 Kuala Lumpur Amateur Open and the 2019 Philippine Amateur Open. The native of Cebu City, Philippines, Go has led her home country to the gold medal of the Southeast Asia Games the past two years, finishing fourth individually in 2018.
Ryan Hall
After making the 2019 PING AllSoutheast Regional team as a freshman, Hall has already taken his game to another level in 2019-20. After making the 119th U.S. Amateur this summer, Hall won his first collegiate tournament in the J.T. Poston Invitational with a final-round 64, the fourthbest round in program history. He also finished third in the Ka’anapali Collegiate Classic in Hawaii during the fall season. Hall had three top-five and six top-20 finishes last season with a stroke average of 71, the lowest-ever for a freshman. He missed most of the spring with a wrist injury but returned to finish as the runner-up at the Wofford Invitational and shot a 205 (-5) in the NCAA Pullman Regional to help the Gamecocks reach the NCAA Championships.
Emily Price
The SEC Freshman of the Year, Price set a South Carolina record with the best scoring average ever for a freshman at 72.81. With 10 rounds of par or better, Price was a secondteam All-SEC selection and honorable mention All-American by Golfweek and WGCA. The native of Ludlow, England had backto-back top-six finishes at the Landfall Tradition and the Allstate Sugar Bowl and finished seventh at the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic. She finished fifth at the SEC Championships, the best ever for a Gamecock freshman, and finished T22nd at the NCAA Cle Elum Regional to lead South Carolina.
EQUESTRIAN Grady Lyman
As a freshman last season Lyman was named an honorable mention All-American (equitation on flat) and earned a spot on the All-SEC and All-SEC Freshman flat and equitation over fences teams. She was the February SEC Rider of the Month in Equitation on the Flat last year and this November took home the NCEA and SEC Flat Rider of the Month awards.
Caroline Gute
Last season Gute was named to the SEC All-Tournament team in reining. She had a 10-7-1 record in reining, including 6-3 against SEC opponents, and had five MOPs Awards, two at the SEC Tournament. Gute led the reining and horsemanship squads to the semifinals at the NCEA Championships. She has 29 career wins and nine MOP awards in reigning.
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JANUARY 2020
STAR PLAYERS
• SPRING SPORTS 37
Jordan Scott
Scott, a senior, was 10-7-1 last season with two MOP awards. She was named NCEA Rider of the Month in November and helped the reining squad advance to the semifinals at the NCEA Championships. Scott has 21 career wins, including six at the NCEA Championships, and earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team in 2016-17.
Carly Schneider
Schneider finished last year with a 19-11 overall record, going 13-9 at No. 3 and 5-1 at No. 5. She had six wins over CCSA rivals and four wins against ranked opponents. She closed the season with a dominating 21-13, 21-7 over No. 9 FIU at the CCSA tournament. A three-year starter, Schneider has 60 career wins and qualified for the USA Volleyball Collegiate Championships as a sophomore.
Franky Harrison
BEACH VOLLEYBALL Katie Smith
ranked opponents. They opened the season with wins over No. 7 LSU and No. 3 Florida State, both in straight sets. Smith qualified for the USA Volleyball Collegiate Championships as a freshman and sophomore.
Smith, who became the fourth player in program history to reach 70 career wins, teamed with Lydia Dimke at the No. 2 position last year and led the Gamecocks with 23 wins. The duo also led the team with 10 wins over CCSA rivals and six wins over nationally-
Harrison returned from offseason shoulder surgery last year to win 20 games at the No. 3 position. She won her 50th career match in a sweep of Tulane on April 19. She also had eight wins over CCSA rivals and three against nationally ranked teams. She clinched a 3-2 win over No. 4 LSU with a win over the Tigers. Harrison had a freshman record 22 wins in 2017 and started in the NCAA Tournament as a sophomore.
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BASEBALL All Baseball content sponsored by:
COMFORT ZONE How Andrew Eyster emerged as Gamecocks’ best hitter
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By Jeff Owens | Executive Editor • Photos by Allen Sharpe
ndrew Eyster was already a star when he arrived at South Carolina. After a stellar high school career, he was drafted in 2017 by the Arizona Diamondbacks. A year later, after hitting .412 with 13 home runs in junior college, he was drafted again. But like many star players, Eyster was in for a rude awakening when he joined one of the top college baseball programs in the country. “I didn’t have to prepare as much then as I do now,” the 6-3 outfielder from Ocala, Fla. said. “I
40 ANDREW EYSTER
would just go out there and have fun because I was pretty confident I would have a good day every day. It’s a lot different here. You have to prepare a lot more.” Eyster, one of head coach Mark Kingston’s prized recruits last year, flashed his enormous potential last fall, showing early on that he had the talent to hit major-college pitching and be a factor offensively for South Carolina. But there were still plenty of eye-opening moments, at-bats when he realized he was playing at a completely different level. “I got comfortable in the fall, but it definitely took a while,” he
said. “There were moments when I would see guys like [pitcher] Carmen [Mlodzinski] and I would see him throwing 95 and he throws one of those sliders and I thought I have no chance. But it’s all about getting reps and seeing the ball as many times as you can. Late in the fall was when I started getting comfortable.” Eyster continued his progression and by last spring was a fixture in South Carolina’s lineup, starting 47 of the 50 games he played and settling into the middle of the batting order. With veteran’s TJ Hopkins and Jacob Olson and fellow junior-college
transfer Luke Berryhill, Eyster helped give the Gamecocks a powerful lineup. He drove in a pair of runs on opening weekend, hit his first home run the following week and then had three hits and drove in three runs in a win over rival Clemson. Then came another eye-opening moment. South Carolina, which begins spring practice next week, opened SEC play last year by getting swept at home by Georgia and Eyster faced pitching like he had never seen before, like Bulldog ace Emerson Hancock, the No. 1 MLB prospect in the country entering this season. In the three-game series, Eyster was 2-for-13 with nine strikeouts. “That was pretty insane,” he said. “That was pretty overwhelming for a first weekend. I was definitely prepared, but seeing 98 coming in for the first time was pretty crazy.” But Eyster quickly made more adjustments and by the end of the season emerged as South Carolina’s best hitter, slashing .309/.389/.576 to lead the Gamecocks. He had 10 home runs, 12 doubles, 32 RBI and was eighth in the SEC in slugging. He caught fire at the end of the season, hitting .417 in his last 10 games with four home runs and 11 RBI. He had five hits against national champion Vanderbilt and six against No. 3 Mississippi State. On the final day of the regular season, he went 3-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI to lead the Gamecocks to a win over Mississippi State that earned them a spot in the SEC Tournament. “He was clearly one of our better hitters by the end of the season … and one of the best in the SEC,” Kingston said. “What he did on the last day of the season versus Mississippi State speaks volumes of what he can do for us.” By the end of the season, Eyster was locked in and displaying the type of swing and potential that attracted the attention of professional scouts. “That was an incredible five weeks,” he said. “It was like nothing I had ever experienced before. I was so confident in myself. I felt like I didn’t have to sit on a pitch, I felt like I could go out there and be ready and see what the pitcher
JANUARY 2020
guy to help myself. I’m my best coach, especially when it comes to hitting. I know myself the best.” Eyster’s struggles continued when he returned to campus in September, but by the end of the fall he was hitting the ball with authority again and ready for the 2020 season. “I spent this fall just trying to get comfortable again and I felt like I have gotten there,” he said. Kingston expects his junior slugger to lead the way in a revamped offense this season. “Eyster struggled some this summer but based on what we are seeing so far with us, he’s swinging it really, really well,” he said. “I anticipate him having a better year than he did last year and continue to evolve as a hitter.”
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was throwing, no matter how hard he was throwing, and just react to it. I felt like I was seeing the ball so long. It was incredible.” Eyster carried that momentum to the elite Cape Cod League, where he got off to a good start last summer but struggled as the season wore on. Again facing some of the best pitching in college baseball, Eyster hit just .205 with four home runs and 15 RBI in 36 games. Once again, it was a period of adjustment for the talented hitter. “It was a learning experience, and I learned a lot while I was up there,” he said. “I learned you are going to have struggles. You are not going to be great all the time. I learned some things about myself and about coaches. I kinda learned that I’m the best
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SOCCER
THE KRZECZOWSKI EXPERIENCE Record-setting keeper ends career as one of most celebrated players in Gamecock history
I
By Josh Hyber | Staff writer • Photos by Allen Sharpe and SC Athletics
t poured in Columbia on the afternoon of Nov. 27, 2019 — torrential rain soaked the grass field next to South Carolina’s outdoor track & field facility — and Mikayla Krzeczowski was still outside, diving and jumping and sliding on the grass to make saves. Her blonde hair drenched and her thighs muddied, the South Carolina women’s goalkeeper was not taking anything for granted. This was two days before her team’s Elite Eight
42 MIKAYLA KRZECZOWSKI
matchup against Washington State, her final game at Stone Stadium, and the senior needed her reps. The rain finally let up, and she moved to team workouts. “If you don’t know what you’re going to do with the ball, don’t get it,” she yelled at teammates. “Shoot it! Don’t pass it. Come on!” “Don’t shoot it back across. Too easy!”
It was the full Krzeczowski Experience — a mix of passion, skill, leadership and thoughtfulness. Though Krzeczowski and her teammates fell to the Cougars 1-0 in overtime, preventing a second NCAA Tournament Final Four trip in three seasons, the keeper finished her career as one of the most celebrated players in program history. In four seasons, Krzeczowski played more minutes than any keeper (she never missed a game) and finished with the three best individual season goals-against averages. She shattered the South Carolina record with 50 career shutouts (third-most all-time in NCAA history) and won the 2019 SEC Goalkeeper of the Year. As a team, she led the Gamecocks to the 2017 Final Four and two Elite Eights. “I always said she had a great defense in front of her, and I know she credits her success a lot to who she played with, but really they played their best because of her,” Gamecock head coach Shelley Smith told Spurs & Feathers. In a 35-minute interview with Spurs & Feathers, Krzeczowski reflected on her career. “I’ve been able to look back on the last four years, everything my team and I accomplished, and it’s a lot,” she said. “It’s definitely overwhelming. It’s cool to see the program from where it was then to what it is now. Just the little things. Now we have a trophy case. Just the little details added to the mix, it was cool to be a part of.” Krzeczowski etched her name in stone alongside the program’s legends and continued the celebrated lineage of keepers the team has had under Smith — from Lindsay Thorstenson and Laura Armstrong to Mollie Patton and Sabrina D’Angelo. “I never forget my freshman year. I was so nervous, thinking, ‘The goalkeeper position is such a huge part of this program,’” Krzeczowski said. “At the time I didn’t feel like I was adequate enough. But I had an upperclassman tell me, ‘Hey, Sabrina was great, but don’t worry about being her. Just be you. And the rest will come.’” It did. “I want people to look back on my four years and know I gave everything I had,” Krzeczowski said. “My goal, and our goal as a class, was to leave the program better than we found it. I just hope my years were memorable for fans and teammates and my family. And to remember that I was a hard worker. “I just wanted to win for this program.” “Mikayla showed tremendous heart and competitiveness,” Smith said. “Mikayla, the team she led, had the most success [of any teams in program history].”
A GAMECOCK LEGEND “We call ourselves goal-creatures,” South Carolina assistant coach Clark McCarthy, who trains the team’s keepers, says about
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players and coaches whose lives revolve around the position. And from the moment in her freshman season when she made a diving save in the 85th minute to preserve a 2-1 road victory over No. 6 Clemson, Krzeczowski was a creature out of this world. For Lauren Chang, it was a save Krzeczowski made this past season against Tennessee. “My heart kind of sunk because I thought it was a great hit, but Mik got her fingertips on it and pushed it to the left just enough for it to hit the post and bounce out,” the midfielder said. For Ryan Gareis, it was one of the multiple clearing punches Krzeczowski had in the 2019 SEC Tournament championship game — a win over Arkansas. “She made multiple saves under high pressure that helped seal the tournament title for the first time in 10 years,” the forward said. “Arkansas was attacking as aggressively as possible, but Mik, as always, was a brick wall.” For three-time SEC Defender of the Year Grace Fisk, it was a diving save in the first game of this season's SEC Tournament when Krzeczowski tipped a ball off the post and out. The highlight-reel saves, wins, shutouts and records are a combination of several factors. To start, there’s a chip on Krzeczowski’s shoulder. At 5-foot-6, she has always been a bit
shorter than most keepers her age. All three keepers on the U.S. women’s national team are 5-foot-9. At one of the first meetings she had with U.S. Soccer, Krzeczowski said the staff asked how tall her parents were. “She’s extremely explosive, and I think she has to be,” D’Angelo said. “I’m in her boat, where I’m also not the tallest, so I think it’s our job to be as explosive as possible to make up the ground we don’t get with our height. I think it’s incredible she’s doing as well as she is, getting to things probably most goalkeepers wouldn’t.” Then there’s her skillset and intellect. Krzeczowski played midfield and forward growing up and carried that athleticism to the net. She worked on angles and positioning, which made up the difference for any height disadvantage. She was consistent and most often made the right decision whether to hold onto a ball or play it out. She was vocal, even from a young age. Before she was a teenager, Krzeczowski’s dad Dan, a former Air Force quarterback, told her that keepers are like quarterbacks in how they control the field. “I didn’t know what I was saying, but I was saying it,” she said with a laugh. “I remember coaches telling me that’s the one thing that stood out with me. You don’t really hear 14-
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and 15-year-olds screaming at their teammates. But I guess I was. I was one of the loudest ones out there and kind of turned heads. “But I got better. It went from screaming to communicating.” At South Carolina, if Krzeczowski wasn’t in position, most often her defense was there for her. “She won’t say it, but I know the confidence she exudes in goal helps the entire back line,” Smith said. “She’s demanding, confident and vocal and does her job. The players around her want to help her. When you have that much confidence
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in a goalkeeper, it helps everyone play to the best of their abilities. It makes a difference when they have that confidence in someone behind them.” This season Krzeczowski had to make more clutch saves than she ever had. “Her presence and her confidence in herself, she’s shown that throughout her career, that when she needs to stand up and make a big save, she’s there,” D’Angelo said. “She’s been ready when called upon,” Patton added. “I’ve seen her make some big saves, especially in the SEC championship. She’s agile off her line. And she’s a leader.” Krzeczowski started all 89 games of her South Carolina career despite injuries to both her shoulders. This past season especially she had multiple “smaller injuries” and — in her words — “felt old” for the first time. She couldn’t bounce back as quickly as she once did. “Sometimes hitting the ground hard, anything from throwing, lifting and anything over my head, it can get tight, and a little painful here and there,” she said. “But nothing that could keep me out of playing.” “She’s just a true competitor,” McCarthy said. “In practices and in games when she steps over the white line, she just kind of switches into a different mindset. It’s always really fun to watch her do her thing and compete. That makes my job easy, really. “I don’t have to hype her up. When the whistle blows, Mikayla is Mikayla.” Krzeczowski has also remained thoughtful, honest and fun. On that November day in the rain, between reps, she asked a reporter nearby if he had plans for Thanksgiving. After mostly every home game she answered questions from reporters. She also played the role of jokester,
once wearing a sombrero during a youth clinic. “I was coaching the Mad Tacos,” she explained. “I just wanted to make the kids happy.”
A BROKEN RECORD There’s no swearing in ceremony or even a group text, but South Carolina keepers have an elite sisterhood. From Thorstenson and Armstrong, the first keepers Shelley and assistant Jamie Smith brought in, to Patton and D’Angelo, the lineage has been among the nation’s best. Patton remains in the NCAA record book for single-season shutout percentage, while D’Angelo still plays professionally and with the Canadian national program. As the years progressed, Shelley Smith saw an uptick in competition for the players she was recruiting. “You get to Mikayla, and now we’re competing against some of the top SEC teams and teams across the country,” Smith said. “[Shelley and Jamie] invest in that position and believe in that position,” McCarthy said. “… It’s obviously very important to the program. Mikayla knew that coming in, and it’s obviously been a staple and something that we work hard at.” D’Angelo, Patton and Armstrong all pointed to the position coach they had in Columbia as a reason for their success. Before McCarthy the Gamecocks had Libby Bassett (2011-14), and before Bassett was Matt Cosgriff (2003-11). “It’s just cool to see the support within our goalkeeper group. It’s a special bond,” Krzeczowski said. “You’ve got to be a little crazy to be a keeper, so we all have something in common.” “To see the level continuously rise, it’s really
44 WOMEN'S SOCCER • MIKAYLA KRZECZOWSKI
exciting,” said Armstrong, who played professionally in Brazil, coached at Liberty University and now coaches keepers at Myers Park (Charlotte) High School. “It’s not about us as individuals, it’s about us leaving a legacy and preparing the next goalkeeper to come in and play and take it to another level.” “It’s keeping the legacy of South Carolina always having strong goalkeepers alive,” D’Angelo said. “Each time a new goalkeeper has come in we’ve added something to the program and helped develop it. From Mollie to me to Mikayla … I think us being able to live up to the standard has been a huge accomplishment. “It’s putting South Carolina on the map as a top team.” Krzeczowski was a Top Drawer Soccer top-50 recruit and one of the top handful of
keepers in her class. “When I made the decision I wanted to be at South Carolina, I knew I had to make sure I was doing everything I could to fill Sabrina’s shoes,” she said. And D’Angelo “loved” seeing Krzeczowski break her records. “I messaged her and said congrats and to just keeping kicking ass,” she said. “You want that for the program. Records are meant to be broken. If she’s doing that, someday someone else is going to come and do that to her records. “And I’m sure she’ll want that to happen, because we’re invested in South Carolina soccer.” “I’m so proud of her and her commitment to the program and her desire to keep making it better and continue the legacy we tried to leave as goalkeepers,” Armstrong said.
JANUARY 2020
THE FUTURE Smith hopes to continue the “great line” of goalkeepers. “The next person to step in will have some big shoes to fill, for sure,” she said. This past season Krzeczowski mentored freshman Heather Hinz, a former Top Drawer Soccer AllAmerican. “She’s really technical, really very consistent and knows what to do and when to do it,” Hinz said. “She always has the right answer.” Hinz called Krzeczowski one of the best mentors she has ever had. “Even the day I came down just to see the school, she went out of her way to check on me
and see how I was doing,” she said. “And over the summer she asked if I wanted to train with her whenever. She’s always been really positive and so welcoming. Without her, I don’t know what I would do. “… It’s amazing to have her skill and drive in front of me, because it shows me what I want to be and who I want to be as a person.” Hinz will compete with incoming freshman Taylor Fox — a four-star prospect, according to Top Drawer Soccer, and someone who has had U.S. U16 and U18 national team call-ups — for the starting position next year. “I think they’re both very aware of how important the position is to this program,” Krzeczowski said. “The goalkeeper position can make or break a team. You either have a brick wall in there, somebody that’s still developing or someone not quite at that elite level. But I’m not worried about it with those two. They’re both such quality goalkeepers and such great people. “My records are out there to break.”
PRO POTENTIAL When she was a young teenager, Krzeczowski realized the specialness of her position.
“I’m the only one that can command this box,” she thought to herself. “Everything else is kind of history.” Historical, to be more precise. “I feel like I blinked and here I am,” Krzeczowski said. “It definitely f lew by, but there were definitely days that felt longer than normal, and trips where I felt like they were never going to end. … It’s the closing of a chapter.” And the beginning of a new one. Krzeczowski was not taken in the NWSL Draft and said going overseas for a year or two will probably be her best bet professionally. “It would be so much fun to travel the world,” she said. “Whoever wants me, I’ll go, because I want to compete for whatever spot I can and just continue to play the game I love.” “With how successful she’s been at South Carolina, it’s definitely not out of the question at all,” D’Angelo said. “The sky’s the limit,” McCarthy said. “Whatever team gets her is getting a really good goalkeeper, a really good competitor and a good teammate.”
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The best and worst of a memorable decade for Gamecocks By Bill Gunter | Contributing writer
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ard to believe the last decade has come to a close. As a Gamecock fan, it’s interesting to reflect on what has transpired in the past 10 years. In January of 2010, South Carolina football was led by Steve Spurrier and coming off a crushing Birmingham Bowl defeat (I was there and, 10 years later, I am still cold), men's basketball was heading in the wrong direction under Darrin Horn, Dawn Staley was in her second year and in the middle of a losing season and Ray Tanner was about to bring Gamecock Nation a national championship in baseball. The Dawn Staley story just goes to show how much can change in 10 years. The 2009-10 season would see her team finish 14-15. Now she is one of the best basketball coaches in the game and her teams are national title contenders every year. Players such as Tiffany Mitchell, Aleighsa Welch, Alaina Coates and A’ja Wilson helped build a national power and win a national
46 COLUMN • GUNTER
championship. Staley is head coach of the U.S. National Team and I would say the last 10 years have gone extremely well for her. Carolina baseball has a different story. In January of 2010, Ray Tanner was in his 13th season as head coach and the Gamecocks were already a national power. However, Tanner was about to take things to another level by winning back-to-back national championships. Tanner would depart three years later and Chad Holbrook would step in, followed by current head coach Mark Kingston. The baseball program has fallen on hard times of late, missing the postseason three of the past five years. Baseball and women’s basketball are two great examples of just how much things can change in a decade. Men’s basketball and football have been interesting as well. The 2010s saw Gamecock football reach heights never seen before under Spurrier. While the
winning streak against Clemson started in 2009, it carried over four more years but has seen a drastic change in the last five. Will Muschamp took over and, despite this past year being a major disappointment, has shown moderate success that can be built upon. After 10 years of watching Gamecock men’s basketball, it is hard to put into words what has happened. Horn left the program in an awful place and Frank Martin was left to pick up the pieces. Fans who remember the glory days of Frank McGuire may not understand that the general consensus when Martin took over was that South Carolina was considered one the worst coaching jobs in the country. Martin rebuilt a program and fan base that had not seen an NCAA Tournament victory since the 1970s. It all came together in 2017 as the Gamecocks made a dramatic run to the Final Four. Other than that, Gamecock basketball has been relatively me-
diocre through the decade, having more success in conference play than ever before but making just one more postseason appearance — the NIT in 2016. The past decade brought both great memories and ones I would rather forget. The back-toback national championships in baseball, along with the women’s national title and seven individual championships showcase a strong decade. But moderate success recently in football, baseball and men’s basketball leave much to be desired. As we transition into a new decade, one can only wonder where we will be and what memories we will have in January 2030.
Bill Gunter is the co-host of the Early Game on 107.5 The Game in Columbia. Follow him on Twitter @WillGunter.
JANUARY 2020
How to build the nation’s best team? Follow Dawn Staley’s blueprint By Ed Girardeau | Contributing writer
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n Jan. 13, the South Carolina women’s basketball team was ranked No. 1 the nation for the first time since its national championship in 2017. A year ago, in what was considered a down year after losing the best player in women’s basketball in A’ja Wilson, the Gamecocks went 23-10, finished second in the SEC for the first time in four years and lost in the Sweet 16. Hard times, indeed. Dawn Staley’s formula for turning it around was pretty simple. Bring in the best recruiting class in the country. The result is a team with players who are just better than other teams. Staley does a great job coaching, but I’m sure she’d be the first to tell you it’s a whole lot easier with really great players. She’s got them. Are they better than UConn? Well, we don’t have to wonder. The Huskies come to Columbia
JANUARY 2020
Feb. 10. UConn was knocked from the top spot by Baylor. Baylor’s only loss? A 74-59 knockout by South Carolina. Meanwhile, the other South Carolina programs can learn a lot from Staley. The team that has the best players wins. At least most of time. Recruiting has been good in football. The players are getting better. It’s a tough get. South Carolina finished 15th in the nation in most rankings for this year’s class. That’s good but only seventh in the SEC. It’s a tough row to hoe. LSU winning the national championship should give everyone hope. Here’s a team that fell apart and in stepped Ed Orgeron, who had won only 10 games in three seasons at Ole Miss and was shown the door. He kicked around as an assistant and was the interim head coach at Southern Cal, but was passed over for the permanent job.
He came to LSU as an assistant and once again found himself as an interim head coach. When he was named head coach you could hear the scowls all the way in South Carolina. He’d never win. Look how awful he was at another SEC school. Sound familiar? Who’s laughing now? 15-0, the Heisman Trophy winner and a national championship over the school from the Upstate, thank you very much. All from a program in disarray just four years ago. Why not South Carolina? It’s possible. I’m not one to give the other school from the Upstate any credit, but I will put it this way. They are where we want to be. They have recruited some very good football players and stayed the course while losing five straight times to Carolina. None of us really believe their head coach is some football guru, but he can recruit.
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Ed Girardeau is a 1982 South Carolina graduate and has been a columnist for Spurs & Feathers since 2012. You can reach him at edgirardeau@spursandfeathers.com.
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