The Side Line: South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Furman

Page 1

OcTober 15, 2014 | ISSUE no. 5

LEVEL DOWN Why does Carolina play FCS schools, anyway?


2

freetimes |

usc VS. furman


CONTENTS / SCHEDULE

8

Level Down

Why does South Carolina play FCS schools, anyway?

ON THE COVER: Pharoh Cooper sprints away from Coastal Carolina defenders en route to a 71-yard touchdown run on Nov. 23, 2013.

photo by Paul Collins / Gamecock Central

4 OPPONENT PREVIEW 6 GAMEDAY POSTER 14 SENIOR PROFILE The Laughing Fish Holder Patrick Fish is comfortable in his own skin 18 EXPLAINING THE GAME No Happy Returns Special teams play a mixture of good and bad — but mostly bad

21 OPINION Holy War Inside the longstanding, if now infrequent, Carolina-Furman rivalry 22 YOUR GAMECOCKS Roster, statistics Published by Free Times free-times.com

8/28

vs.

TEXAS A&M Columbia, S.C.

L, 28-52

9/6

vs.

EAST CAROLINA Columbia, S.C.

W, 33-23

9/13

vs.

GEORGIA Columbia, S.C.

W, 38-35

9/20

at

VANDERBILT Nashville, Tenn.

W, 48-34

9/27

vs.

MISSOURI Columbia, S.C.

l,21-20

10/4

at

KENTUCKY Lexington, Ky.

L, 38-35

10/18

vs.

FURMAN Columbia, S.C.

12 p.m.

10/25

at

AUBURN Auburn, Ala.

TBA

11/01

vs.

TENNESSEE Columbia, S.C.

TBA

11/15

at

FLORIDA Gainesville, Fla.

TBA

11/22

vs.

SOUTH ALABAMA Columbia, S.C.

TBA

11/29

at

CLEMSON Clemson, S.C.

TBA

SEC game

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Dan Cook | editor@free-times.com, ext. 133 MANAGING EDITOR: Patrick Wall PRODUCTION MANAGER: Lisa Willis | lisaw@free-times.com, ext. 121 SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Joey Ayer | joeya@free-times.com, ext. 150 GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Matt Bradley | mattb@free-times.com, ext. 145 CONTRIBUTORS: Travis Bell, Chris Clark, Paul Collins, Chris Dearing, James Harley, Scott Hood, Avery Wilks ILLUSTRATOR: Dré Lopez ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Kerry Powers | kpowers@free-times.com, ext. 128 ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Hyatt Drake | hyattd@free-times.com, ext. 153 Ginny Kuhn | ginnyk@free-times.com, ext. 130 Jerry Viles | jerryv@free-times.com, ext. 140 Brian Wingard | brianw@free-times.com, ext. 127 ADVERTISING SALES COORDINATOR: Kayla Cahill | kaylac@free-times.com, ext. 123 CLASSIFIEDS SALES MANAGER: Cale Johnson | classy@free-times.com, ext. 131 CLASSIFIEDS ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jessica Rowland | jessicar@free-times.com, ext. 141 OPERATIONS MANAGER: Jen Coody | jenc@free-times.com, ext. 124 CIRCULATION MANAGER: Davey Mathias | circulation@free-times.com, ext. 152 The Side Line is published by Resorts Media, LLC 1534 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201 PO Box 8295, Columbia, SC 29202 | (803) 765-0707 • 765-0727 FAX • free-times.com Advertisers in The Side Line assume responsibility for the entire content and subject matter of all advertisements. In case of error or omissions in advertisement, the publisher’s sole liability shall be to publish the advertisement at a later date. Notice of error must be made within ten days of first insertion. © 2012 Portico Publications, LTD. All rights reserved.

OCTOBER 15, 2014 | ISSUE no. 5

|

freetimes

3


THREE TO WATCH

FURMAN

Paladins Conference: Southern (Football

Championship Subdivision)

P.J. Blazejowski, quarterback

Gary Wilkins, defensive end

Cory Magwood, linebacker

The Paladins lost incumbent starting quarterback and team captain Reese Hannon to injury in their opening game against Gardner-Webb, and their offense sputtered through the next four weeks. But true freshman P.J. Blazejowski provided a spark for Furman in week six, completing 12 of 18 passes for 127 yards and a score and rushing 14 times for 81 yards and a score — and almost led Furman to a doubleovertime upset of FCS No. 3 Coastal Carolina in the process. A true double-threat quarterback, Blazejowski gives Furman myriad offensive options.

Defensive end Gary Wilkins is the lynchpin of the Furman defense, the 17th-best defense in the FCS subdivision. The defensive captain and preseason All-SoCon first teamer is second in the Southern Conference in sacks and tackles for loss, and he’s twice this season been named the Southern Conference’s defensive player of the week. He’s also forced two fumbles and returned an interception for a touchdown against Mercer. Quick and athletic, Wilkins has drawn comparisons to former Gamecock All-American and former NFL defensive end Eric Norwood.

Middle linebacker Carl Rider went down for the season, but junior weakside linebacker Cory Magwood has fi lled the void. With 73 takedowns — a whopping 12.2 per game — the Wade Hampton High graduate leads the Southern Conference in tackles and ranks third in the FCS, sitting just six tackles off the overall lead. Magwood wasn’t much of a factor in Furman’s last game against an FBS opponent, registering just three assisted tackles against LSU last year, but he’s coming off a nine-tackle performance against Coastal Carolina.

2013 Record: 8-6 (6-2 SoCon) 2014 Record: 2-6 (1-1 SoCon) Seried Record: Carolina leads, 27-20-1

Coach: Bruce Fowler Years as Coach: 4 Record at Furman: 19-25 Last Meeting: South Carolina

38, Furman 19 (Sept. 18, 2010, in Columbia, S.C.)

Returning Starters: 15 (7 of-

fense, 8 defense)

We Won’t Just Sit on the Sidelines, We Guide You Through Every Play of the Mortgage Game Whether you’re purchasing or refinancing, we’ll help you tackle your home loan!

Clint Hammond

Clay Henry

Erica Hill West

Felicia Welch-Geiger

NMLS #71597

NMLS #998348

NMLS #397955

NMLS #397955

Branch Manager

Loan Officer

Loan Officer

Loan Officer

Ned Hill

Loan Officer

NMLS #397955

803-771-6933  TheColumbiaTeam.com 1122 Lady Street, Suite 800, Columbia, SC 29201 © 2014 Mortgage Network, Inc. NMLS ID# 2668. North Carolina L-113607; South Carolina-BFI Mortgage Lender / Servicer License MLS – 2668. This is not a commitment to lend. Restrictions apply. Equal Housing Lender.

4

freetimes |

usc VS. FURMAN


Tasting Charlotte’s Finest 10-15 • 3-7pm

OCTOBER 15, 2014 | ISSUE no. 5

| freetimes

5



AMERICA’S SMOOTHEST LAGER, NOW IN A NEW, RECLOSABLE BOTTLE


South Carolina’s offensive line squares against Furman’s defensive line during the schools’ last meeting, at Williams-Brice Stadium in 2010. Furman, in Greenville, is one of four in-state FCS schools Carolina has scheduled yearly since 2006. photo by Paul Collins / Gamecock Central

LEVEL DOWN

Why does Carolina play FCS schools, anyway?

8

freetimes |

BY SCOTT HOOD

S

oon after taking over as South Carolina’s athletic director in July 2005, Eric Hyman commenced a comprehensive review of the athletic department’s finances. What he discovered wasn’t for the fiscal faint of heart. For many years, Carolina had paid enormous sums of money to bring out-of-state schools to Williams-Brice Stadium for non-conference battles. The Gamecocks cut sixfigure checks to schools such as New Mexico State, Eastern Michigan, Boise State, Temple, Louisiana-Lafayette, South Florida and Troy for the privilege of traveling to Columbia and competing for three hours on the gridiron — making for a

fat payday in the process. Hyman believed there was a better way of doing business, and he found the solution spread across the Palmetto State — in Charleston, Greenville, Orangeburg, Spartanburg and Myrtle Beach. Hence, February 16, 2006, is a monumental date in Carolina football history. That day, the school announced a series of eight games against four in-state FCS schools: Wofford, usc VS. furman


October 15, 2014 | ISSUE no. 5

| freetimes

9


Junior running back Brandon Wilds scores at touchdown against Coastal Carolina on Nov. 23, 2013. It was the first time South Carolina, an FBS school, had played Coastal Carolina, one of four in-state FCS schools South Carolina has scheduled yearly since 2006. photo by Travis Bell / Sideline Carolina

South Carolina State, The Citadel and Furman. Some longtime Gamecock enthusiasts likely groaned when the series of games against in-state FCS schools was publicized, remembering the nightmarish losses to Furman (28-23 in 1982) and The Citadel (38-35 in 1990) the decade before Carolina joined the SEC in 1992. Hyman summed up Carolina’s motivations for agreeing to host smaller in-state schools, other than Clemson, in one succinct sentence: “We would rather play opponents within the state that people are familiar with and can identify with, than play a school with no local name recognition,” he said. “Financially, it’s a win-win situation for everyone in the state of South Carolina.” Dealing with the in-state schools undeniably makes economic sense from Carolina’s perspective. This season, the Gamecocks paid East Carolina $1.2 million

10

freetimes |

as part of a comprehensive agreement with the Pirates to travel to Williams-Brice Stadium on Sept. 6. In doing so, South Carolina assured itself a seventh home game in 2014. In addition, Carolina is paying South Alabama, a Sun Belt Conference team, the tidy sum of $900,000 for the right to host the Jaguars on Nov. 22, one week before the Palmetto Bowl at Clemson. How much is Furman receiving for Saturday’s game? $250,000. But Carolina Athletics Director Ray Tanner says benefits the Gamecocks receive from playing Palmetto State schools surpass simple economics. “From my perspective, if we have an opportunity on our schedule to play an in-state school, it’s wise for us to do that,” Tanner says. “It creates economic positives for all of us in the state of South Carolina. They are good games on your schedule if you can do it.” Besides renewing old rival-

ries with The Citadel and Furman, Carolina has also broken down barriers once thought impenetrable. The Gamecocks and South Carolina State met for the first time on Sept. 15, 2007, and Bulldog fans swarmed Williams-Brice Stadium in celebration of the occasion. Last year, the Gamecocks faced Coastal Carolina for the first time since Coastal broke away from the University of South Carolina satellite system and established itself as an independent state university in 1993, proof that formerly frosty relations between the schools had thawed significantly. “You can look at the economic and political components, but at the end of the day, it’s the right thing to do,” Tanner says. “Some people might argue they are not rivalry games, but they are in-state schools. There is always a rivalry when you’re playing an in-state foe.” Even with the four-team FBS playoff now in place, Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier

advocates facing one Palmetto State-based FCS team every year, so count on Carolina continuing to schedule those schools as long as Spurrier remains coach of the Gamecocks. “They are very appreciative when they get to come to our ballpark because they go home with a bunch of money,” Spurrier says. “And they always say, ‘Coach, we really appreciate you playing us because it really helps our budget throughout the year.” Tanner concurs with Hyman’s assessment from eight years ago — Carolina playing teams Gamecock fans are familiar with is preferable to bringing in teams from outside the borders. “Furman, in general, pulls for us and we pull for Furman,” Tanner says. “Now we’re going to play each other, so everybody pulls for their respective schools. But that is all good. That could be said throughout the state. We all pull for each other and we are familiar with each other. When you have an usc VS. furman


Darla Moore School of Business Professional MBA Program

· #1 part-time program in S.C. (US News & World Report, 2015) · Convenient learning options: Classrooms in S.C. and Charlotte, and on-demand course capture (real and delay) · One course per seven-week term, one night per week · 28 months to complete · Optional weeklong study abroad experiences · Start dates in January and August

moore.sc.edu/pmba

October 15, 2014 | ISSUE no. 5 AIKEN

BLUFFTON

CHARLESTON

|

CHARLOTTE

COLU MBIA

GREENVILLE

freetimes

11

S PA R TA N B U R G


THE BEST TAILGATE PARTY AT WILLIAMS BRICE!

CANDELA & DEZ-ONE SOUND & LIGHTING PROVIDED BY TROY DAVIS OCTOBER 18TH

12 freetimes |

usc VS. furman

AFTER THE GAME Don’t sit in traffic. We keep the party going long after the game is over!

WILLIAMS-BRICE STADIUM CAROLINA WALK CONDOS

GEORGE ROGERS BLVD

STATE FAIRGROUNDS

S. STADIUM ROAD BLUFF ROAD

DJ’S

Join us at our sister bar, Kelly’s Pub on Washington Street for great food, fun and FREE SHOTS with every SC Score! SHOP ROAD

COCKS VS. FURMAN

ASSEMBLY STREET

Check out the incredible BUD LIGHT PORTABAR equipped with Flat screen TV’s and ICE COLD Bud products! You have to see it to believe it!!

WANT TO AVOID THE STADIUM?


opportunity to get together, it’s good for everybody.” Furman and Carolina square off for the 49th time on Saturday. Next November, The Citadel visits Columbia for the second time in the last quarter century. Carolina’s 41-20 victory over the Bulldogs in 2011 marked the 50th all-time meeting between the two schools, and the first since 1990. Two years from now, South Carolina State is slated to return to Williams-Brice Stadium. Beyond that? With the college football playoff now a reality, Carolina is reviewing all of its options, like most FBS schools. Tanner prefers to keep the annual FCS game on the schedule, but the playoff ’s dynamics as they evolve over time might change that. “In the past, we’ve rotated some of these FCS schools, but I’m not sure that will be the case going forward,” Tanner said. “It’s important as we move forward with the college football playoff that your strength of schedule plays into it. We’re answering that right now.” “So, I think we’ll continue to [play one FCS school per year],” Tanner says. “We’re playing a strong schedule with at least two really difficult games out of the league. Unless we are prohibited from playing [FCS schools], I don’t anticipate a change. It always comes back to strength of schedule. Is it an issue? Not for us.” Tanner routinely played rival Palmetto State schools when he was the national championshipwinning baseball coach for the Gamecocks, and he intends to keep playing many of those same schools in football for as long as possible. “I loved it. You recruit nationally, but you recruit your state first,” Tanner says. “They are important to us, and we are important to them. In baseball, we went into different pockets of the state to play. We felt there was a tremendous benefit for us to do that. It was the right thing to do and I’m very supportive of that concept.”

14 freetimes |

Sophomore wide receiver Pharoh Cooper fights for extra yards against four Coastal Carolina defenders on Nov. 23, 2013. photo by Paul Collins / Gamecock Central

Worried about the SEC office stepping in and prohibiting league schools from playing FCS institutions in order to strengthen the conference’s resume and get as many teams as possible into the four-team playoff? Don’t be. Commissioner Mike Slive maintains football scheduling is a matter for the individual schools to decide, beyond the new requirement that beginning in 2016 all 14 teams must play at least one non-conference game against an opponent from another Power 5 conference (ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 12, SEC) each year. “We are not going to dictate to our schools,” Slive said at the SEC spring meetings. “We have no prohibition against it, that’s an institutional decision.” Carolina, of course, already fulfills that mandate with the annual Thanksgiving weekend clash with Clemson. The Gamecocks face a second ACC opponent next season when they open the 2015 season against North Carolina at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. With eight SEC games (including a home contest against LSU and road trips to Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Missouri) and a pair of heated ACC foes on the 2015 slate, the

Cooper gets around Coastal Carolina’s LaDarius Hawthorne during second-quarter action on Nov. 23, 2013. photo by Travis Bell / Sideline Carolina

contest with The Citadel could be an opportunity to sit back and take a breath. Or maybe not. Any assumption of these FCS encounters turning into cakewalks for the Gamecocks vanished quickly in 2006 when Carolina needed a last-minute red zone stop (remember Dakota Walker?) to beat Wofford 27-20. Two years ago, the Gamecocks and the Terriers were tied at 7-7 early in the fourth quarter before Carolina pulled away with 17 consecutive points

in less than five minutes and ultimately prevailed, 24-7. Even the 38-19 victory over Furman in 2010 was a hardfought affair. Carolina led by just eight points, 14-6, late in the second quarter until a touchdown run by Brian Maddox with 1:12 remaining gave the Gamecocks a 21-6 halftime lead. Will Saturday’s contest between the Gamecocks and Paladins turn into another tight game? Don’t bet against it.

usc VS. furman


VVVV

TOO BUSY TO DO LAUNDRY? WE WILL DO IT FOR YOU!

FLUFF-N-FOLD SPECIAL!

1.00

$

PER POUND

We have great dishes and platters to make you the star of every Saturday’s game. Come get creative with us.

A QUALITY CLEANER WHERE YOU GET MORE THAN WHAT YOU PAID! BRING THIS AD FOR $1 lb. SPECIAL

4600-5 FOREST DR. COLUMBIA, SC 803.782.2755 October 15, 2014 | ISSUE no. 5

GO GAMECOCKS!

dougs2.50cleaners

1637 MAIN ST. COLUMBIA, SC 803.252.2791

3101 MILLWOOD AVENUE

771.8080

www.MyMadPlatter.com

| freetimes

15


SENIOR PROFILE

BY Avery Wilks

Senior Patrick Fish, South Carolina’s holder, backup punter and Vine star. photo by Paul Collins / Gamecock Central

PLACEHOLDER HOMETOWN: Shelby, N.C.

PATRICK FISH HEIGHT / WEIGHT:

6-0 / 194

The Laughing Fish Holder Patrick Fish is comfortable in his own skin

P

atrick Fish plays one of the least-heralded positions on the field, but that hasn’t stopped the redshirt senior from becoming a fan favorite at South Carolina.

Carolina’s starting placeholder is easy to spot even with his helmet on, as his long red hair flows behind him when he trots out to handle snaps for sophomore kicker Elliott Fry. Fish, also Carolina’s backup punter, sported the Axl Rose hairdo all of last season, and he has no plans to chop his locks, even if head coach Steve Spurrier casts the occasional dig his way. “I walked in with a couple of the athletic trainers the other day, and he said, ‘Oh, hey girls!’ He saw me, and he said, ‘Oh, is that Fish too?’” Fish laughs. “It

16

freetimes |

it’s pretty cool.” Fish’s easygoing demeanor translates well to the gridiron, where his impersonations and near-constant chatter provide comedic relief to a Gamecock sideline that can be tense at times. “I’m just trying to keep the guys laid back and everybody relaxed,” says Fish, who braided his hair into cornrows for one game last season at the request of his Twitter followers. “I know sometimes we get uptight and stuff, but we all still understand it’s just a game, and I’m trying to keep everybody relaxed and having a good time out here playing.” Fish’s main concern — aside from handling snaps — has been ensuring that Fry is comfortable before every kick. His efforts appear to be paying off, as Fry quickly grew into one of the SEC’s most consistent kickers as a freshman last season, and has only improved in his sophomore campaign. Fry says he can’t stress Fish’s importance enough. “People don’t really look at it as that big of a deal as it really is, but EXPERIENCE: he gives me so much confidence 1 VL back there,” Fry says. “I know it’s always going to be there. He’s awesome.” Fish admits his own job can be nerve-wracking and hopes to stay sonations and, in a few cases, his out of the spotlight at a position Gamecock teammates. Most rely where attention often only follows on self-deprecating humor, and mistakes. Even Fish is susceptible Fish shrugs off critics who frown to butterflies while performing a on his antics. job that entails catching footballs “People are going to say stuff and positioning them onto a regardless, but I just shake it off,” precise spot within the blink of Fish laughs. “I think it’s funny. If an eye. they don’t, then oh well.” “I kind of like it. There’s presMost, like the video where sure there,” Fish says. “So you’re Fish and Fry sing Phil Collins’ not going to really get noticed as “In the Air Tonight,” have picked long as you’re doing good, and I’m up scores of “likes.” But one, a fine with that.” trick-shot video that featured Fish says he’s got a few more Fish using only his feet to spin a football on the ground and boot it Vines up his sleeve, and he plans through the uprights at Williams- on breaking out another trick shot video before the season ends, hopBrice Stadium before a game last season, earned more than 170,000 ing to top the one from last year. The cornrows — which he says views and several shout-outs from even Spurrier liked — could be national media outlets. “I’ve had some people come up back for another game at some point, as well. to me here and there,” Fish says. “That’s the kind of person I “I’ve been noticed just for some of my videos and Vines and stuff, and am,” Fish says. “That’s who I’m always going to be.” a couple people just know me because I’m the holder. So regardless,

was pretty funny. He’s always joking around with me about it.” Fish likes the look and cares little what others think about it. That self-confidence, a sizable sense of humor and plenty of creativity have combined to bring him social media popularity. The Shelby, North Carolina, native has more than 3,500 followers on Twitter and 4,400 more on Vine, an app that allows users to produce six-second looping video clips. Fish’s several dozen Vine videos feature dancing, imper-

usc VS. furman


October 15, 2014 | ISSUE no. 5

|

freetimes

17


EXPLAINING THE GAME

BY Chris Dearing

Junior tailback Shon Carson returns a kickoff against Georgia at Williams-Brice Stadium on Sept. 13, 2014.. photo by Travis Bell / Sideline Carolina

No Happy Returns

Special teams play a mixture of good and bad — but mostly bad

H

alfway through the season, South Carolina is obviously not where it wants to be. The Gamecocks’ have already lost three games — more than they did in each of the past three seasons — and, as was the case last season, special teams miscues have plagued the team, leading to some stunning losses. There have been some bright spots. Place-kicker Elliott Fry has become one of the best weapons in the SEC. The sophomore missed his first attempt — a 54-yarder against Texas A&M that was long enough but wide right. That is his only miss in 11 tries. Four of his field goals have come from longer than 40 yards, his longest a 45-yard kick at Vanderbilt. He finished 15-of-18 last season and is now a combined 25-of-29 since winning the field goal battle last preseason. He’s improved his distance, and he gives South Carolina a chance to collect points anytime they reach the opponent’s 35-yard

18

freetimes |

line. That could be crucial to the second part of the year in the remaining games against SEC foes Auburn, Tennessee and Florida, and archrival Clemson. Senior punter Tyler Hull has rebounded from two sub-par seasons, averaging 42.6 yards per punt this season. That is still not in the top half of the SEC, but considering the way the defense is giving up yards in bunches, every yard matters. Hull, a senior, averaged 39.4 and 37.8 yards per punt the last two years, and opponents continuously won the field position battle. That hasn’t been the case this season, with eight of Hull’s 22 punts pinning opponents

inside their 20-yard line. He will need to continue that trend in the second half of the season, with the hope being the defense finds a way to improve. But that’s about all the good news about this year’s special teams play. Kickoff coverage will likely be under the microscope the remainder of the season. The kickoff returns by Vanderbilt’s Darrius Sims — from 100 and 91 yards — stand out. Teams are averaging just over 29 yards per return, with many of the better returns coming at inopportune times for South Carolina. Remember just back to the last game, when the Gamecocks took a 14-point fourth quarter lead over Kentucky. The Wildcats returned the ensuing kickoff 47 yards before scoring quickly en route to staging a 21-point rally. On the flip side of things, there doesn’t seem to be much confident in the Gamecocks’ return game at this point.. Shon Carson is averaging 21.5 yars per return — last in the SEC — and it’s obvious he’s been told to take

a knee the end zone whenever possible. Pharoh Cooper hasn’t been much better on punt returns. He’s returned six so far for 35 yards, a paltry 5.8 yards per punt. Special teams coach Joe Robinson has tried to rotate different players on the kickoff team the last two weeks with mixed results. The biggest change has been at the kickoff specialist position, where redshirt sophomore Zack Cimaglia has supplanted redshirt junior Landon Ard. Ard had 11 touchbacks in 28 kickoffs with an average of 58.9 per kick; Cimaglia has seven touchbacks in 11 tries and is averaging 63.7 yards per kick. The entirety of the blame doesn’t fall solely on special teams coach Joe Robinson. (Robinson was not made available for comment by coach Steve Spurrier. In fact, Robinson has not spoken to the media since Vanderbilt returned two kickoffs for touchdowns on September 20.) Coaches have often alluded to the fact that playing on kickoff and punt coverage is most about heart and desire. It’s Robinson’s job to get the right people on the field and motivate them to play their assignment with a little reckless abandon. That hasn’t been the case. Despite the special teams struggles and field position battles, South Carolina’s special teams unit still ranks as the 39th most efficient in the 128-team FBS subdivision. Against average special teams, the Gamecocks’ special teams would add essentially nothing, about 1.29 points. (By comparison, the Gamecock defense ranks 90th out of 128 — and costs the team about a touchdown a game.) So with six games remaining, South Carolina is at a crossroads on how this season finishes. A spark by special teams could be instrumental in finishing as strong — and landing a worthwhile holiday bowl trip. usc VS. furman


October 15, 2014 | ISSUE no. 5

|

freetimes

19


Holy War Inside the long-standing, if now infrequent, Carolina-Furman rivalry

O

TAP ROOM NOW OPEN WED 5-8PM • THUR 5-8 FRI 5-9 • SAT 11AM-9PM SUN 1-6PM

921 BROOKWOOD DR. • COLUMBIA, SC 29201 Find us on Twitter and Facebook

Bring the Party!

Buy a 12 pack of tacos and GET 3 FREE ORDERS OF Nachos and Cheese! 739 Knox Abbott Drive • Closest to campus & down town. Present ad when ordering. Offer good at 12 Midlands participating restaurants for a limited time. © Taco Bell 2014.

20 freetimes |

OPINION BY JAMES HARLEY

K, Gamecock fans, it’s time for revenge! Remember the very first game in school history, back on Christmas Eve in 1892, when Carolina took the field with high hopes for excellence — only to be given a vicious, 44-0 slapdown by Furman? Well, that may have been before your time, but surely you remember the ensuing heated rivalry that extended over the next 50 years, with the Paladins taking 18 out of 31 games. Still not ringing a bell? Though Carolina doesn’t often cross paths with Furman these days — their last meeting, in 2010, was the first since 1982 — the Gamecocks and Paladins actually have a far richer history than you are likely aware, and to call it a rivalry is not necessarily a stretch. From 1921 to 1942, the two schools clashed 22 times following three games in the 1910s — a pretty strong, rivalry-like commitment to an opponent. Feeding the rivalry’s flame, neither team held a significant edge, and the 13 shutouts during that 22 year span (nine for Furman, four for Carolina) indicate that some pretty intense football was taking place. That tie ballgame in 1933? Fittingly, the score was 0-0. From 1946 to 1959, the teams resumed their yearly rivalry, but the tide shifted and the Gamecocks became the dominant team, winning 13 of 14 matches. The shutouts faded away, the margins of victory widened, and in 1960 the rivalry was effectively terminated. Since then the Cocks and Paladins have played only three times. Of course, Furman reminded Carolina about the old days in one of those games, taking the Gamecocks down 2823 in 1982 in what was possibly Carolina’s lowest point in the 10 years surrounding that season. Conversely, it was a high spot for the Paladins, who dominated the Southern Conference at the time. Interestingly, this brings us to 2014, where the Gamecocks are again at a relative low point, having already racked up more losses

(three) than in any of the past three seasons. Meanwhile, the Paladins are coming off of another Southern Conference title, and while their current 2-4 record is even worse than Carolina’s, this is precisely where Furman stood last year before reeling off five wins in its last six regular season games to capture the SoCon crown. While the history lesson is interesting, it isn’t really all that scary, as ultimately Furman is an FCS school, and ostensibly a bottomtier opponent. But with Carolina steadfastly playing to the level of its competition this year (with the unfortunate exception of the season opener against Texas A&M), the Gamecocks should be on high alert to avoid an embarrassingly epic loss — like the ones Michigan and Virginia Tech suffered at the hands of Appalachian State and James Madison in 2007 and 2010, respectively. Or closer to home, like Florida’s painful loss to Georgia Southern last season. At 3-3, with Florida, Tennessee, Auburn and Clemson still on the schedule, this week’s game (along with the November’s apparent gimme against South Alabama) is a must-win for the Gamecocks if they plan to go bowling for the seventh time in as many years. Given the poor level of overall play by the starters, both Steve Spurrier and fans will no doubt want to see some of the backups get some playing time, but this should not take priority over sealing the win first. Unfortunately, given the recent pattern of fourth quarter choking, this means that the Cocks will need at least a four-touchdown lead before considering significant substitutions. The week off preceding the game would have been better spent preparing for Auburn (a team Carolina has not beaten since 1933, the year of that 0-0 tie with Furman), but circumstance dictates full attention to the Paladins, who cannot be written off completely. Gamecocks 35, Furman 24. usc VS. furman


THE ORIGINAL DESIGNATED DRIVER DOWNLOAD THE APP TODAY!

• Book a reservation in as few as 3 clicks. • Get a fare estimate by entering both pickup and destination address. • Receive a confirmation number for your reservation immediately on booking. • Receive notifications including vehicle number once your reservation has been dispatched. • Monitor the progress of your vehicle on a map. • Create a list of favorite addresses and assign a custom name for each.

iPhone

WWW.CHECKERYELLOWCAB.COM

• Select an address from your list of telephone contacts. • Specify the number of passengers, vehicle type and preferred payment method. • Review all reservations you have made over the past 30 days. • Provide feedback related to the application and/or service you received. • Call Checker Yellow Cab with a push of a button.

Android

AVAILABLE 24/7

803-799-3311

October 15, 2014 | ISSUE no. 5

| freetimes

21


GAMECOCK ROSTER NO. NAME

NO. NAME

POS. HGT. WGT. CL.

HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL/LAST COLLEGE

89 4 81 19 40 29 80 23 21 1 50 7 16 18 11 86 58 14 28 13 31 42 44 92 52 17 5 18 29 90 43 9 19 93 7 94 14 20 15 59 31 34 84 83 82 11 13 35 8 55 3 70 99 3 8 46 25 76 91 48 41 1 6 6 10 41 5 87 10 88 69 30 49 34 30 21 53 55 4 43

TE LB TE PK TE WR WR SPR WR WR OG TB K/P DE WR TE LS WR TB QB FB SPR DE DT DT FS DE P PK TE FB SPR WR DT CB DT CB SS QB LS CB DE WR WR WR LB P DB WR DE WR OC DT CB LB SPR FS OT DE TE FB CB QB SS LB LB QB WR QB TE OT FB TB K/P CB LB OT OT WR DB

Pinewood, S.C./Scott's Branch Ellenwood, Ga./Cedar Grove Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern Rock Hill, S.C./South Pointe Columbia, S.C./Cardinal Newman/Fork Union Military Columbia, S.C./Keenan/Hampton Waxhaw, N.C./Marvin Ridge Charlotte, NC./Vance Mt. Pleasant, S.C./Bishop England/Presbyterian Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek Bamberg, S.C./Bamberg-Ehrhardt Scranton, S.C./Lake City Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park/North Carolina A&T Lithonia, Ga./Lithonia Havelock, NC./Havelock Bamberg, S.C./Bamberg-Ehrhardt Laurens, S.C./Laurens Academy Gaffney, S.C./Gaffney Atlanta, Ga./Stephenson Columbia, S.C./Irmo Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West Fort Myers, Fla./Island Coast Rock Hill, S.C./South Pointe Rock Hill, S.C./Northwestern Manning, S.C./Manning Union City, Ga./Banneker Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern Shelby, N.C./Burns Frisco, Tx./Prince of Peace Christian Tallahassee, Fla./Lincoln Rock Hill, S.C./Northwestern Decatur, Ga./Southwest DeKalb Atlanta, Ga./Woodward Academy Windermere, Fla./Olympia Lithonia, Ga./Martin Luther King Buford, Ga./Mill Creek Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson Cairo, Ga./Cairo Collinsville, Ill./Collinsville Aiken, S.C./South Aiken Fort Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas Fort Oglethorpe, Ga./Ridgeland Rock Hill, S.C./Rock Hill Athens, Ga./Clarke Central/Gardner-Webb Cornelius, N.C./Hough Stone Mountain, Ga./St. Pius X Mount Airy, N.C./Mount Airy/Guilford College Florence, S.C./South Florence St. Matthews, S.C./Calhoun County Lithonia, Ga./Lithonia Moore, S.C./Byrnes Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek Fayetteville, N.C./Trinity Christian/Fort Scott C.C. Sunrise, Fla./Plantation Pleasantville, N.J./St. Joseph Camden, S.C./Camden/Coastal Carolina Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson Boynton Beach, Fla./Park Vista Jacksonville, Fla./Sandalwood Gainesville, Fla./Gainesville Raleigh, N.C./Garner Hampton, Ga./Lovejoy Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield McDonough, Ga./Henry County Cooper City, Fla./University Warner Robins, Ga./White Knoll/Gray Military Allentown, Pa./Central Catholic Orangeburg, S.C./Orangeburg Prep Ponte Vedra, Fla./Ponte Verda/Florida State College Charlotte, N.C./Ardrey Kell Dillon, S.C./Dillon Columbia, S.C./Richland Northeast/North Greenville Granite Falls, N.C./South Caldwell Cockeysville, Md./St. Paul's Easley, S.C./Wren/Western Carolina Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern Havelock, N.C./Havelock Waldorf, Md./McDonough Lexington, S.C./Lexington Atlanta, Ga./Woodward Academy

Jerell Adams Bryson Allen-Williams Rory Anderson Landon Ard Jacob August Matrick Belton K.J. Brent Larenz Bryant Andrew Bunch Damiere Byrd A.J. Cann Shon Carson Zack Cimaglia Cedrick Cooper Pharoh Cooper Kevin Crosby Ryland Culbertson Shaq Davidson Mike Davis Grant Davitte Jordan Diaz Jordan Diggs Gerald Dixon Gerald Dixon, Jr. Phillip Dukes Chaz Elder Darius English Patrick Fish Elliott Fry Cody Gibson Garrison Gist Sharrod Golightly Terry Googer Deon Green Wesley Green Kelsey Griffin Ali Groves T.J. Gurley Austin Hails Coleman Harley Al Harris Jr. Mason Harris Matthew Harvey Carlton Heard Caleb Hines T.J. Holloman Tyler Hull Shannon James Shamier Jeffery David Johnson Nick Jones Alan Knott Abu Lamin Chris Lammons Kaiwan Lewis Cedrick Malone Kadetrix Marcus Mike Matulis Blake McClain Nick McGriff Connor McLaurin Rico McWilliams Connor Mitch Chris Moody Skai Moore Kyle Morini Brendan Nosovitch Sean Odom Perry Orth Drew Owens D.J. Park Darius Paulk Devin Potter Jonas Price Sidney Rhodes Marcquis Roberts Corey Robinson Na'Ty Rodgers Shaq Roland Benjamin Russell

22 freetimes |

6-6 242 6-1 231 6-5 227 5-9 178 6-6 247 6-4 215 6-4 192 6-0 220 5-11 173 5-9 170 6-4 311 5-8 201 6-1 170 6-2 225 5-11 201 6-1 230 6-4 267 5-11 170 5-9 223 6-3 180 6-1 236 6-0 217 6-2 274 6-3 323 6-3 323 6-2 195 6-6 241 6-0 194 6-0 165 6-7 278 5-10 260 5-10 187 6-4 210 6-4 289 5-10 176 6-2 310 5-10 187 5-10 194 6-2 220 6-1 246 5-11 162 6-3 235 6-8 22 8 6-0 188 5-11 160 6-2 234 6-2 207 5-7 153 6-1 198 6-1 275 5-7 168 6-4 280 6-4 302 5-10 172 6-0 228 6-0 201 6-1 194 6-5 307 6-3 265 6-0 220 6-0 243 5-11 184 6-3 211 6-1 210 6-2 213 5-10 221 6-1 221 6-0 190 6-1 204 6-6 238 6-4 328 5-8 199 5-10 203 6-2 165 5-10 182 6-1 216 6-8 344 6-5 280 6-1 176 6-0 175

JR FR SR RS JR FR RS SO RS JR SO RS SO SR RS SR RS JR RS SO RS JR SO FR RS SR FR JR RS FR RS SR RS SO RS SO RS JR RS JR RS SO RS SO RS SR SO RS SR RS JR RS SR FR RS SO FR SO RS FR JR RS JR RS JR FR RS JR RS JR RS JR FR RS SO RS SR RS SO RS JR RS FR RS SR RS FR RS SO FR JR RS SO SR RS JR FR FR RS SR RS SO RS FR RS SO SO RS SR RS SO SO RS SO RS JR RS FR RS SO RS SO RS FR RS SR RS SO RS SR RS FR JR RS FR

NO. NAME

9 26 12 49 71 39 24 22 75 65 54 90 72 45 97 32 17 44 51 28 51 95 85 22 12 33 47 77 74

POS. HGT. WGT. CL.

Deebo Samuel Jasper Sasser Michael Scarnecchia Garrett Shank Brandon Shell Demetrius Smalls D.J. Smith Jamari Smith Will Sport Brock Stadnik Clayton Stadnik Taylor Stallworth Donell Stanley Brandon Sturdivant J.T. Surratt Rod Talley Dylan Thompson Gerald Turner Cody Waldrop Jonathan Walton Devin Washington Michael Washington Kane Whitehurst Brandon Wilds Brison Williams David Williams Drew Williams Malik Young Mason Zandi

WR FS QB SS OT DB DB CB OG OG OC DT OL FB DT TB QB FB OC LB DE DE WR TB SS TB LS OL OT

6-0 192 6-0 203 6-4 189 6-0 203 6-6 333 5-11 170 5-11 189 5-10 197 6-5 291 6-5 287 6-3 273 6-2 293 6-4 346 6-2 218 6-2 310 5-10 201 6-3 218 6-2 250 6-2 309 6-0 228 6-3 221 6-3 237 5-11 169 6-2 222 5-11 208 6-1 214 6-2 201 6-3 318 6-9 301

FR RS FR FR RS SO RS JR RS FR FR SO RS JR RS SO RS SO FR FR RS SO RS SR RS SO RS SR RS FR RS SO SO RS FR RS JR RS JR RS JR SR RS FR SO FR RS SO

POS. HGT. WGT. CL.

HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL/LAST COLLEGE

HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL/LAST COLLEGE

Inman, S.C./Chapman Jacksonville, Fla./Wolfson Fleming Island, Fla./Fleming Island Marietta, Ga./Lassiter Goose Creek, S.C./Goose Creek Bluffton, S.C./Bluffton Marietta, Ga./Walton Jacksonville, Fla./Fletcher Milton, Fla./Pace Greensboro, N.C./Western Guilford Greensboro, N.C./Western Guilford Mobile, Ala./Murphy Floydale, S.C./Latta Fort Mill, S.C./Nation Ford/York Tech Winston-Salem, N.C./Parkland Laurens, S.C./Laurens/Gardner-Webb Boiling Springs, S.C./Boiling Springs Goose Creek, S.C./Goose Creek Seffner, Fla./Armwood Daphne, Ala./Bayside Academy Orlando, Fla./Jones Allendale, S.C./Allendale-Fairfax/S.C. State Duluth, Ga./Chattahoochee/Arkansas Blythewood, S.C./Blythewood Warner Robins, Ga./Northside/Fork Union Military Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter Irmo, S.C/Dutch Fork Pelzer, S.C./Woodmont Irmo, S.C./Chapin

GAMECOCK Game STATs Passing Dylan Thompson Total Opponents

Rushing Mike Davis Brandon Wilds Pharoh Cooper Shon Carson David Williams Damiere Byrd Dylan Thompson Total Opponents

Receiving Pharoh Cooper Nick Jones Rory Anderson Shaq Roland Mike Davis Brandon Wilds Damiere Byrd Jerell Adams K.J. Brent David Williams Cody Gibson Shon Carson Connor McLaurin Total Opponents

GP EFFIC 6 6 6

136.74 136.74 136.37

GP 6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6

COMP-ATT-INT 132-216-6 132-216-6 139-217-3

ATT GAIN 103 56 9 8 10 4 31 226 200

GP 6 6 6 5 6 6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6

567 285 97 55 44 29 84 1161 1157

NO. 30 27 17 15 14 10 8 3 3 2 1 1 1 132 139

LOSS 16 9 1 0 0 0 80 130 96

YDS

379 363 180 180 114 79 138 54 39 15 27 9 0 1577 1586

PCT

YDS

61.1 61.1 64.1

1577 1577 1586

NET

AVG

551 276 96 55 44 29 4 1031 1061

5.3 4.9 10.7 6.9 4.4 7.2 0.1 4.6 5.3

AVG

13 13 9

TD 6 1 0 1 1 0 2 11 14

LG

AVG/G

LG

AVG/G

LG

AVG/G

69 69 48

40 24 70 25 12 14 10 70 44

TD

12.6 13.4 10.6 12.0 8.1 7.9 17.2 18.0 13.0 7.5 27.0 9.0 0.0 11.9 11.4

4 3 1 2 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 13 9

TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYERS • TACKLES Skai Moore T.J Gurley S. Golightly Gerald Dixon Brison Williams

TD

27 69 29 31 24 24 46 27 16 9 27 9 0 69 48

262.8 262.8 264.3

91.8 46.0 16.0 9.2 11.0 4.8 0.7 171.8 176.8

63.2 60.5 30.0 36.0 19.0 13.2 23.0 9.0 6.5 3.8 4.5 1.5 0.0 262.8 264.3

GP

UA

A

TOT

TFL/YDS.

6 6 6 6 6

26 26 14 13 14

15 11 7 6 3

41 37 21 19 17

2.0-12 1.0-3 . 5.0-44 .

usc VS. FURMAN


October 15, 2014 | ISSUE no. 5

| freetimes

23


go gamecocks!

FUR MA N

Do you need assistance with a legal matter? Handling a legal matter on your own may lead to an undesirable outcome. Before handling a DUI, criminal charge, personal injury or civil matter on your own, let attorney Marion M. Moses consult with you to explain your rights.

Former state prosecutor, over 13 years experience practicing law.

24 freetimes |

usc VS. furman


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.