CONTENTS
‘TIL 10 WAIT THIS YEAR? ON THE COVER: Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. Photo by Paul Collins/Gamecock Central.
4 SCHEDULE 6 OPPONENT PREVIEW North Carolina Tar Heels 7 OPPONENT ROSTER North Carolina Tar Heels
8 GAMEDAY POSTER 16 EXPLAINING THE GAME
Holding the Line Defensive line coach Deke Adams ready to face a familiar foe
18 SENIOR PROFILE
Ready, Willing and Able Injuries aside, quarterback Connor Shaw poised to set records
20 RECRUIT TO WATCH
Domino Effect Committed linebacker Bryson Allen-Williams is paying early dividends
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22 OPINION
26 YOUR GAMECOCKS
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USC roster and coaches
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Well Heeled Rising Tar Heels not to be taken for granted
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EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Dan Cook | editor@free-times.com, ext. 133 MANAGING EDITOR: Patrick Wall | sideline@free-times.com, ext. 138 PRODUCTION MANAGER: Lisa Willis | lisaw@free-times.com, ext. 121 SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Wilbert T. Fields | wilbertf@free-times.com, ext. 145 GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Joey Ayer | joeya@free-times.com, ext. 150 CONTRIBUTORS: Travis Bell, Chris Clark, Paul Collins, Chris Dearing, James Harley ILLUSTRATOR: Dré Lopez
NORTH CAROLINA VS. USC
The quality of
USC online. PalmettoCollege.sc.edu Turn your college credits into a USC bachelor’s degree online without leaving your family, job or community. Palmetto College offers: Business Administration • Criminal Justice • RN-BSN Nursing Human Services • Organizational Leadership Elementary Education • Liberal Studies
AUGUST 28, 2013 | ISSUE #1
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CAROLINA FOOTBALL
2013 SCHEDULE
NORTH CAROLINA
8/29
vs.
9/7
at
9/14
vs.
9/28
at
10/5
vs.
KENTUCKY
10/12
at
ARKANSAS
10/19
at
TENNESSEE
10/26
at
MISSOURI
11/02
vs.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
11/16
vs.
FLORIDA
11/23
vs.
COASTAL CAROLINA
11/30
vs.
CLEMSON
Columbia, S.C.
6:00 p.m.
GEORGIA
Athens, Ga.
VANDERBILT Columbia, S.C.
4:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m.
UCF
Orlando, Fla..
TBA
Columbia, S.C.
Fayetteville, Ark. Knoxville, Tenn. Columbia, Mo.
Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C.
TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA
Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C.
TBA TBA
: SEC game
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NORTH CAROLINA VS. USC
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OPPONENT PREVIEW NICKNAME: Tar Heels CONFERENCE: Atlantic Coast Conference 2012 RECORD: 8-4 (5-3 ACC) 2013 RECORD: 0-0 (through Aug. 26) SERIES RECORD: 17-34-4
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NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS
COACH: Larry Fedora YEARS AS COACH: 2 CAREER RECORD AT NORTH CAROLINA: 8-4 OVERALL CAREER RECORD: 42-23 LAST MEETING: South Carolina 21, North Carolina 15 (October 13, 2007, in Chapel Hill, N.C.)
NORTH CAROLINA VS. USC
NORTH CAROLINA
ROSTER 1 Khris Francis 2 Desmond Lawrence 2 Bryn Renner 3 Sam Smiley 3 Ryan Switzer 4 Thomas Moore 4 Jabari Price 5 T.J. Thorpe 6 Sean Tapley 7 Tim Scott 8 T.J. Logan 8 Travis Riley 9 Travis Hughes 10 Tre Boston 10 Mitch Trubisky 11 Kanler Coker 11 Malik Simmons 12 Andrew Moore 12 Marquise Williams 13 Mack Hollins 14 Quinshad Davis 14 Clint Heaven 15 A.J. Blue 16 Alex Dixon 16 Caleb Pressley 17 Mark McNeill 19 Kedrick Davis 19 Nick Weiler 20 Brandon Ellerbe 21 Justin Fieulleteau 21 Romar Morris 23 Darius Lipford 23 Joey Mangili
RB DB QB S WR K CB WR WR CB RB RB LB S QB QB CB CB QB WR WR S RB CB QB WR WR P S DB RB LB P
5-9 195 6-1 175 6-3 225 5-11 185 5-10 175 5-10 200 6-0 200 6-0 200 6-1 185 5-11 190 5-10 180 6-1 215 6-2 225 6-1 205 6-3 210 6-4 215 5-11 190 5-11 195 6-2 215 6-3 200 6-4 205 6-0 225 6-2 215 6-0 185 6-1 205 6-4 215 5-10 175 6-0 195 6-0 220 5-11 175 5-10 185 6-3 245 6-3 205
FR FR SR SO FR JR SR SO JR JR FR SO JR SR FR FR SO SO SO SO SO FR SR SO SO JR FR SO JR FR SO SR SO
DURHAM, NC CHARLOTTE, NC WEST SPRINGFIELD, VA JACKSONVILLE, FL CHARLESTON, WV CHAPEL HILL, NC POMPANO BEACH, FL DURHAM, NC JACKSONVILLE, FL FREDERICKSBURG, VA GREENSBORO, NC KANNAPOLIS, NC VIRGINIA BEACH, VA FORT MYERS, FL MENTOR, OH FLOWERY BRANCH, GA LEHIGH ACRES, FL CHAPEL HILL, NC CHARLOTTE, NC ROCKVILLE, MD GAFFNEY, SC PALMETTO, FL DALLAS, NC CLEARWATER, FL ASHEVILLE, NC WEST RIVER, MD CHARLOTTE, NC FAIRFAX STATION, VA WADESBORO, NC RALEIGH, NC SALISBURY, NC LENOIR, NC DURHAM, NC
24 Jordan Darty 24 Terry Shankle 25 Kameron Jackson 26 Dominique Green 27 Darien McNeill 27 Darien Rankin 28 Kendrick Singleton 28 Brian Walker 29 Jeff Battle 30 Tommy Hibbard 31 Donnie Miles 32 Joe Jackson 33 Nathan Staub 34 Connor Gonet 34 Jeff Schoettmer 35 Charles Brunson 35 Damien Washington 36 Ryan Mangum 37 T.J. Jiles 38 Joshua Broach 39 Philip Spelman 40 Tim Furr 40 Luke Heavner 41 Shaquille Price 42 Shakeel Rashad 44 Junior Gnonkonde 45 Mikey Bart 47 Dan Mastromatteo 51 Alex Bales 51 Jarrod James 52 Norkeithus Otis 53 Alec Petrocelli 54 Will Dancy 55 Tommy Heffernan 56 Carson Wooten 58 Greg Webb 60 Russell Bodine 61 Conor Fry 62 David Collins
WR CB CB DB WR S WR DB S P DB S LB FB S RB S DB CB DB K DB WR CB LB LB DE LB LB C LB DE OL LB DL DT C LS G
5-11 175 5-11 190 5-11 190 5-11 185 6-2 190 5-11 200 6-2 200 5-11 175 6-1 200 5-10 190 5-11 200 6-2 210 6-2 240 6-0 220 6-1 220 6-0 200 6-1 180 6-0 195 5-11 165 5-10 185 5-10 195 5-10 180 6-1 165 6-1 200 6-2 245 6-4 240 6-3 245 6-2 230 6-4 225 6-3 290 6-1 240 6-3 225 6-4 295 6-1 215 6-3 270 6-2 310 6-4 310 6-2 225 6-8 310
JR SR SO FR JR SO SO FR SO JR FR FR FR SO SO SO SO SO SO SR SO SR JR SO SO FR FR FR FR SO JR JR SO JR SO FR JR SO SR
STATESVILLE, NC NORWOOD, NC MADISON, AL LAURINBURG, NC SANFORD, NC SALISBURY, NC MACCLENNY, FL CHARLOTTE, NC LENOIR, NC CHARLOTTE, NC LAWRENCEVILLE, GA JACKSONVILLE, FL BUFORD, GA RALEIGH, NC DALLAS, TX WINSTON-SALEM, NC KANNAPOLIS, NC RALEIGH, NC CAPE CORAL, FL RANDLEMAN, NC NASHVILLE, TN CHARLOTTE, NC JAMESTOWN, NC IRMO, SC JACKSONVILLE, FL LAKELAND, GA BUFORD, GA ABSECON, NJ KANSAS CITY, MO GOLDSBORO, NC GASTONIA, NC MADEIRA BEACH, FL GRAHAM, NC MIAMI, FL RALEIGH, NC ERIAL, NJ SCOTTSVILLE, VA RALEIGH, NC KERNERSVILLE, NC
63 Harris Hite 65 Lucas Crowley 66 Myers Colvin 67 Mack Lloyd 68 James Hurst 69 Nick Appel 70 Alex Marrs 70 Caleb Peterson 71 Jon Heck 72 Kiaro Holts 73 Brad Henson 74 Devonte Brown 74 Arien Smith 76 R.J. Prince 77 John Ferranto 78 Landon Turner 79 J.J. Patterson 80 Jack Tabb 81 Roy Smith 82 Terrance Knox 83 Cameron Campbell 84 Ian Dibble 84 Johnathan Howard 85 Eric Ebron 86 Tyler Alberts 86 Nic Platt 88 Jordan Fieulleteau 89 Dalton Stogner 90 Cody Johnson 90 Jessie Rogers 91 Eric Albright 91 Allen Champagne 92 Nazair Jones 93 Tim Jackson 94 Dajaun Drennon 95 Kareem Martin 96 Ethan Farmer 97 Shawn Underwood 98 Justin Thomason
2011
2011
OL OL OT LS OT OT LS OL OL OT OL DT C OL OL G DL TE WR TE WR DL WR TE DE WR WR WR K DE TE DL DL DT DE DE DT DT DE
6-6 6-3 6-5 6-0 6-7 6-6 6-0 6-5 6-6 6-4 6-5 6-3 6-1 6-6 6-5 6-4 6-4 6-3 5-9 6-2 6-2 6-1 6-4 6-4 6-7 6-2 6-3 6-4 6-3 6-4 6-6 6-4 6-5 6-5 6-4 6-6 6-3 6-1 6-4
300 270 310 230 305 310 230 300 300 295 295 280 260 310 290 320 310 240 170 250 205 235 195 245 240 205 205 195 200 260 225 285 250 285 230 265 295 305 265
SO FR SO SR SR JR JR FR FR SO FR JR SO FR FR SO FR JR JR FR JR FR FR JR SO JR FR SO JR SO JR SO FR SR FR SR JR JR SO
APEX, NC PONTE VEDRA, FL FAYETTEVILLE, NC CARY, NC PLAINFIELD, IN VIENNA, VA BLUEFIELD, VA AUBURN, AL JACKSONVILLE, FL INDIANAPOLIS, IN SURF CITY, NJ FAYETTEVILLE, NC GRAHAM, NC ALBEMARLE, NC BURLINGTON, NJ HARRISONBURG, VA ROANOKE RAPIDS, NC RED BANK, NJ MIAMI, FL CONCORD, NC KERNERSVILLE, NC CHARLOTTE, NC ROCHELLE, GA GREENSBORO, NC CLEMMONS, NC MIAMI, FL RALEIGH, NC DALLAS, TX GREENSBORO, NC ARLINGTON, TX RALEIGH, NC MONTREAL, PQ ROANOKE RAPIDS, NC ST. PETERSBURG, FL CLEMENTON, NJ ROANOKE RAPIDS, NC TABOR CITY, NC FUQUAY VARINA, NC MCDONOUGH, GA
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NORTH CAROLINA VS. USC
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BY CHARLES BENNETT n 119 years of college football at the University of South Carolina, it has always been about next year. But maybe next year has finally arrived. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has assembled enough talent to earn the school its highest preseason ranking (No. 7 in the ESPN coaches’ poll) and the team catches a favorable break in scheduling that could have USC not only contending for its first overall Southeastern Conference championship but its first national championship as well. “We know we’re not favored to win [the SEC championship], but we think we’re going to have a team capable if everything works out, some guys really come around, get a break or two,” Spurrier says. “That’s something we’ve not done at South Carolina is win a conference championship and we have hopes to do it.” “We’re going to do our best to
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see if we can make it happen this year,” he adds. “It won’t be easy of course. We may fall flat on our face, but that’s what we’re going to try to do, try to win the conference.” Spurrier ducks the question when asked if this is the best chance the Gamecocks have had in his nine seasons as head coach at the school, but there are believers among those who cover college football for a living. “If you’re a South Carolina fan, this is as set up for ‘next year’ as the program has ever been,” says Travis Haney, a former South Carolina beat writer for the Charleston Post and Courier who now covers college football for ESPN. “I’m sure that thought will make some nervous, and it’s not as if Florida and Georgia are going to roll over, but I hope fans
recognize that this has been a special time for a program that had starved for seasons and successes like this.” The Gamecocks have been close to that breakthrough season each of the past three years. South Carolina reached the SEC Championship game in 2010 but ran into an unbeaten Auburn team led by quarterback Cam Newton that was reaching its peak. The Tigers won 56-17 and went on to beat Oregon for the national championship. In 2011, a 16-13 loss at home to a subpar Auburn team kept the Gamecocks from reaching the SEC Championship game. Last season, the Gamecocks got off to a 6-0 start but stumbled in back-to-back road games against LSU and Florida. Georgia, which has won the SEC East each of the last two seasons despite losing to the Gamecocks, caught a break in the scheduling each year by not having to play any of the top three teams in the SEC West. This season, it’s the Gamecocks who get a break from what are expected to be the top three teams in the SEC West, avoiding
Alabama, LSU and Texas A&M. Georgia, meanwhile, has to play LSU. “If they’ve got a tougher schedule and that helps us out by a game, we’ll find out,” Spurrier said. “It may not matter. You can’t worry about that except just try to play them one at a time. We’re worried about North Carolina. That’s our next opponent.” Meshing with a presumably more favorable schedule is a team that might be Spurrier’s most talented at South Carolina. “You look to your left, you look to your right, and you just say, ‘Wow,”’ says defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles. If Quarles looks to his right, he sees defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who enters his junior season already as one of the most celebrated players in Gamecock history. Clowney is expected to be a Heisman Trophy contender and the first overall selection in next year’s NFL draft. He is the anchor on a defensive line that should be the strength of the team. “Our defensive line is the only group that’s considered top 10 in the country and that’s because of Jadeveon,” Spurrier says. “We’re NORTH CAROLINA VS. USC
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Quarterback Connor Shaw unloads a pass against Arkansas on Nov. 10, 2012. Photo by Paul Collins/Gamecock Central
Defensive end Chaz Sutton sacks Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson on Nov. 10, 2012. Photo by Travis Bell/Sideline Carolina
not known as any superstars around here. We’ve got to earn our way, we’ve got to win a bunch of close games.” It’s a vastly different formula than the one Spurrier used at Florida en route to winning nine SEC titles and one national championship in 12 seasons. The Gators blew away opponents with a high-scoring offense based around the passing game. At South Carolina, Spurrier’s teams have won thanks to solid defense and a balanced offense that typically leans more to the running game. Blowouts, common for Spurrier’s Florida teams, have been scarce. “We’ve got to be really ready to play,” Spurrier says. “We’ve got to play a little bit better than people think we are. It’s interesting. You’d think, ‘Well, they must have some good receiver or running
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backs or something to be No. 7 in the country, but maybe they just think Clowney is the star player and everyone else is not quite to his level.’ But there are good players here but for some reason haven’t gotten the publicity yet.” Those players flying under the publicity radar include starting quarterback Connor Shaw and backup Dylan Thompson. Shaw, a senior, is 17-3 as the Gamecocks’ starter, but in a league featuring the likes of Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel, Alabama’s A.J. McCarron and Georgia’s Aaron Murray, it’s easy to understand why he could be underrated. Thompson, a junior, has also proven he can get the job done, most notably in leading the Gamecocks to last year’s victory over Clemson and tossing the game-winning touchdown in the Outback Bowl against Michigan.
Running back Mike Davis looks for a hole against Clemson on Nov. 24, 2012. Photo by Paul Collins/Gamecock Central
“We plan on using both of them, but Connor’s the starter and it’s his game to go,” Spurrier says. “If we think there’s a place for Dylan to go in there, he may go in there.” Haney agrees with Spurrier that South Carolina’s talent level is probably underrated. “What really strikes me about these Gamecocks, compared to the teams I covered a few years ago, is the depth and quality of depth they have built at so many positions,” Haney said. “That’s a testament to recruiting and really building on the momentum the past three seasons has provided. But you think about it, and they’ve lost two first-rounders and numerous other important pieces on defense, and no one is expecting much of a drop. A lot of that is Clowney’s presence, but there’s more to it than that. And it’s the same story on offense. You
lose a heart-and-soul guy like [running back] Marcus Lattimore, but there’s tremendous hope in Mike Davis and Brandon Wilds that they can be just as productive — and they’ve already had to be, after Marcus went down the past two years.” The players are fully aware of the chance that awaits them. “We’ve had opportunities in the past two years, but we’ve slipped in a couple of games,” says Chaz Sutton, who will man the defensive end spot opposite Clowney. “This year, it sets up where we could possibly run the table.” With South Carolina’s recruiting at an all-time high and Spurrier showing no signs of being ready to retire, this may be the Gamecocks’ best chance, but it’s not likely to be their last chance. After all, there’s always next year. NORTH CAROLINA VS. USC
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EXPLAINING THE GAME
BY Chris Dearing
Holding the Line
Defensive Line Coach Deke Adams.
photo by Paul Collins/ Gamecock Central
Defensive line coach Deke Adams ready to face a familiar foe
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f anybody on South Carolina’s coaching staff knows what to expect out of North Carolina in the season opener, it’s first-year defensive line coach Deke Adams. He’s spent the last four seasons on Larry Fedora’s staff — three at Southern Mississippi and one at UNC — before accepting his new position with the Gamecocks in January. He understands the high-octane attack the Tar Heels employ. He hopes his unit is up to the task. “Their speed is what sets them apart,” Adams says of UNC’s uptempo offense. “I know the tempo they want to go at and how fast they want to go. I know what their mindset is. That will help a little bit. But it still comes down to lining up and playing. We have to make plays when we have the opportunity to do so and match their intensity.” If they hope to match that intensity, it could come down to the Gamecocks controlling the line of scrimmage against the Tar Heels’ inexperienced offensive line. Since arriving eight months ago, Adams has set out to change the approach of the defensive front. Former defensive line coach Brad Lawing, who had his unit near the tops in the country year in and year out, played more of a read-andreact scheme. Adams’ plan is to attack more often. That could be a nightmare scenario for opposing teams. The Gamecocks set a school record with 43 sacks last year, the sixth-most
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in the country. “I like more of an aggressive style,” Adams says. “That’s my mentality. I think being aggressive will help us. Coach Lawing did a great job with [the line], but I think giving them a little more freedom to be aggressive and get up the field a little bit more will give us a chance to make a few more plays.” The players have been very receptive to the change, Adams says. With everyone’s All-American Jadeveon Clowney leading the way, the Gamecocks’ defensive front ranks among the best in the country. But whatever has been accomplished in the past matters little to Adams. It’s his responsibility to get his group to produce under the spotlight. He only sees one way to get that accomplished. “We talk all the time about running to the football, playing your assignment and using great technique,” Adams says. “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. As talented as we are, if we don’t work at it, we’ll get our behinds kicked week in and week out. I preach all the time that there’s no position etched in stone. If you go out and you’re not getting the job done, I’m going to the next guy. It’s all about production.” A former Southern Miss letterman, Adams has been coaching since 1997, with stops at Jacksonville State, North Carolina A&T, LouisianaMonroe, Southern Miss and
UNC before arriving in Columbia. Many of those places are far away from the bright lights of SEC football. But Adams tries to keep things simple when it comes to how he approaches his job. “At the end of the day, it’s still football, regardless of the level you’re playing at,” Adams says. “If you have players that want to excel, it makes our jobs as coaches that much easier. I’ve approached the guys at South Carolina just like I’ve done at every place I’ve ever been. I like the way they’ve responded.” As for the season opener,
Adams will be glad to see a bunch of friendly faces on the opposite sideline. Most of the North Carolina coaching staff are people Adams has spent plenty of time with over the last four years. But he guarantees once the ball is kicked off, everything changes until after the final snap. “Coach Fedora is a great guy and he was great to me and my family for the four years we were together,” Adams says. “I have friends for life on that staff. But for those three hours, we’re going to try and kick each others’ behind.” NORTH CAROLINA VS. USC
AUGUST 28, 2013 | ISSUE #1
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PA R T Y AT W I L L I A M S E T A G L I A T BRICE! ST THE BE
USC AWAY GAMES? NO WORRIES
BEAT UNC!
We will still be tailgating like it’s a home game with awesome food, live music, and great specials!
DJ DDL & Guests
SHOP ROAD
Join us at our sister bar, Kelly’s Pub on Washington Street, for great food, fun, and FREE SHOTS with every SC score!
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
We will be showing all home games on a HUGE PROJECTION SCREEN on the stage as well as TLC’s numerous tvs. 3 big screens outside, 4 big screens inside AND a TV at every booth. Come check out our new look, improved back bar, & new cornhole playing area.
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SENIOR PROFILE
BY Chris Dearing
QUARTERBACK
CONNOR SHAW HOMETOWN: Flowery Branch, Ga. HEIGHT / WEIGHT: 6-1 / 209 EXPERIENCE: 3L Quarterback Connor Shaw Photo by Paul Collins
Ready, Willing and Able Injuries aside, quarterback Connor Shaw poised to set records
A
s Connor Shaw enters his senior season at South Carolina, the signal-caller from Flowery Branch, Ga., is hoping to stay healthy and make an assault on the Gamecocks record books. Last season, Shaw battled a shoulder issue early and a nagging foot injury late. But he’s completely healed from offseason foot surgery and looking forward to a banner year. Despite missing time each of the last two seasons, Shaw is 17-3 as a starter, and he has a chance to become the school’s winningest starting quarterback. Todd Ellis currently holds the record with 24 wins, but if Shaw stays healthy and the Gamecocks have the season
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most pundits expect, he could have the record come November. Though individual records aren’t what Shaw’s focused on. “I don’t look at the records and stuff like that,” Shaw says. “If it happens, that would be great, but more importantly that would mean we would be on the brink of achieving some of the team goals we’ve set.” Shaw isn’t concerned about injuries, either. And don’t even ask if he’s considered a change in his rough-and-tumble playing style, which may put him at risk for injury but has seen him throw for 3,627 yards and 32 touchdowns while rushing for 1,125 yards and another 11 scores.
“I’m not going to change the way I play,” Shaw says. “A lot of people have asked that because I’ve gotten hurt in the past. But I can’t pay too much attention to that because I’m going to play the best that I know how.” Shaw has played at least a limited role since he enrolled early and attended spring practice in 2010. He appeared in nine games as a true freshman and earned the starting job going into his sophomore season. That lasted just one game, as then-senior Stephen Garcia came off the bench to lead the Gamecocks from behind to defeat East Carolina. Shaw played sparingly over the next four games until Garcia was dismissed from the team after the Auburn game that season. Since then, Shaw has started 19 of the past 21 games and expects to be the starter every game this season despite the emergence of junior quarterback Dylan Thompson. Coach Steve Spurrier has said there’s a role for both players and he expects both to see time this season — maybe even with Shaw lining up at receiver or running back during
the course of a game. “[Spurrier] is working on finding ways to put both me and Dylan on the field at times,” Shaw says. “I think he knows and the other coaches know that I’m athletic enough and smart enough to play receiver or running back, whenever that might be. I’m excited about it.” The goal this season is for South Carolina to play at least 14 games, which would mean a second appearance in the SEC Championship game in Shaw’s four years. The expectations are there and it’s not something Shaw shies away from. And he’s not yet ready to look back on his college career; he’s more excited to talk about getting things started against North Carolina to kick-off the season. “I don’t think about what my legacy might be. That’s for other people to decide,” Shaw says. “I can’t wait for the season to be here. This is my third year as a starter and I’m extremely comfortable. I don’t put expectations on myself but we have team goals and I feel confident we can reach those.” NORTH CAROLINA VS. USC
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GamecockCentral.com
Recruit to Watch BY CHRIS CLARK
Domino Effect
Committed linebacker Bryson Allen-Williams is paying early dividends
S
igning talented players is an important part of building a winning program. Signing talented players who help recruit other excellent athletes? That’s icing on the cake. That is exactly what South Carolina’s coaching staff has in Ellenwood (Georgia) Cedar Grove linebacker Bryson AllenWilliams. The four-star recruit made a verbal commitment to the Gamecocks back in April, and over the past four months he has played a big role in helping the Carolina staff continue to put pieces together for a strong 2014 (and even 2015) class. “I’m about to get on the recruiting trail,” Allen-Williams told Gamecock Central this spring after verbally committing to lead recruiter and defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward. He’s made good on his word; he frequently talked with four-star cornerback Wesley Green prior to Green’s commitment. Allen-Williams has also been working Dante Sawyer, a four-star defensive end from Suwanee, Ga., who’s considering signing with the Gamecocks. In the 2015 class, Allen-Williams’ close friends Dexter Neal and Arden Key, potential four-stars at receiver and defensive end, respectively, have also made early commitments to Carolina. As high as Allen-Williams’ value has been as an ambassador for Carolina to other prospects and on social media, it should not be forgotten that he was a highly sought-after prospect.
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Li ne b a c k e r
Bryson Allen-Williams Hometown: Ellenwood, Ga. High School: Cedar Grove Height / Weight: 6-2 / 214 Class: Senior Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Penn State, Tennessee and numerous other top-tier programs offered scholarships to the linebacker during the recruiting process. Allen-Williams’ commitment to Carolina came earlier than expected. “I just woke up this morning and it felt right,” he said on commitment day. “I knew when I woke up in the morning and felt comfortable I would do it. I was talking to Coach [Steve] Spurrier and [defensive coordinator Lorenzo] Ward about it, and I talked to my head coach. He said to pull the trigger if I felt comfortable.” The coaching staff, and Ward in particular, was a big reason for Allen-Williams choosing South Carolina. “He’s been recruiting me really hard,” Allen-Williams said in April. “He’s been recruiting me since my sophomore year. I feel comfortable with [defensive line] coach [Deke] Adams. He had me highly considering UNC for a little bit. I just love the staff there. [Linebackers] coach [Kirk] Botkin, he’s going to be my position coach.” In 11 games during his junior season, Allen-Williams tallied 99 tackles, 16 sacks, 22 tackles for loss, one interception, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
NORTH CAROLINA VS. USC
AUGUST 28, 2013 | ISSUE #1
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Well Heeled
Rising Tar Heels Not to be Taken For Granted OPINION BY JAMES HARLEY
F
evered anticipation of the dramatic early season matchups involving Georgia and Clemson and then Georgia and South Carolina is certainly natural, given the Top 10 status and geographical proximity of these three schools. However, all of the national and regional hype has somewhat overshadowed the importance of South Carolina’s opener against the neighboring Tar Heels of North Carolina, a game that seems to be taken for granted as a Gamecock victory by most pundits, fans and oddsmakers. Put bluntly, the Tar Heels are a very underrated squad facing a Gamecock team riddled with injuries and other uncertainties, a formula for disappointment, if not disaster. Disaster, of course, would be a loss, which would drop South Carolina substantially in the polls prior to the Georgia game. Disappointment would be a close win that would be interpreted as a sign of the Gamecocks being overrated. North Carolina won’t get the respect it really deserves without winning the game outright, but there are several overlooked reasons that the team should be able to hang close with the real Carolina. North Carolina isn’t really thought of as a top team in the ACC, but why not? The Tar Heels are much like the Gamecocks of the previous decade — always hovering around the eight-win mark, solid and threatening but never quite breaking through. As a result, they are often shunned in conference championship discussions, where the traditional ACC powers such as Clemson and Virginia Tech are assumed to compete until a substantial shift occurs. For the Gamecocks that shift came under Steve Spurrier, and for the Tar Heels it might just come under second-year coach Larry Fedora, whose 8-4 2012 team could have been in contention for the ACC crown had it
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not been on NCAA probation. Under Fedora, the Tar Heels are on the verge of that desired breakthrough, as three of those four losses were by five points or fewer. (One, three and five points, to be precise). Though forgotten about during bowl season as a result of the sanctions, this team was nine points away from being 11-1 last year. Not too shabby. Of course, 2013 is a new year, but North Carolina returns senior quarterback Bryn Renner, who has thrown for over 3,000 yards in each of the past two seasons. He’ll likely continue to improve over the season as he adjusts to Fedora’s new system, and no reason to think he won’t significantly challenge South Carolina’s fresh and unproven defensive backfield, especially if banged-up defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is not available to put the pressure on him. The point is that North Carolina is not the stagnant team it used to be, but rather is a team on the rise, recruiting and retaining better talent and actually winning on a fairly consistent basis for the first time since the early to mid-’90s. This is not to say that the Tar Heels are a top program yet, but they do resemble those Gamecock squads of a few years ago, teams that upset teams like Alabama and Georgia and that helped knock Tennessee off of its pedestal and shifted the balance of power within the division. Thus, the Heels are not to be taken for granted. Who is the better team on the field? No doubt, it is the Gamecocks overall. But with all the factors at play here, including South Carolina’s injuries and North Carolina’s desire to make a statement and continue its climb, this game might end up being a little too close for comfort. Hopefully, the Gamecocks will not be thinking about the Dawgs, and will focus instead on the task at hand, keeping an unruly ram within its fence. Gamecocks 24, Tar Heels 20. NORTH CAROLINA VS. USC
AUGUST 28, 2013 | ISSUE #1
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NORTH CAROLINA VS. USC
AUGUST 28, 2013 | ISSUE #1
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GAMECOCK ROSTER NO. NAME
POS. HGT. WGT. CL.
HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL/LAST COLLEGE
NO. NAME
POS. HGT. WGT. CL.
HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL/LAST COLLEGE
NO. NAME
POS. HGT. WGT. CL.
HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL/LAST COLLEGE
1 1 3 3 4 4 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 13 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 25 26 27 28 28 29 30 31 32 33 33 34 35
Damiere Byrd Rico McWilliams Nick Jones Jamari Smith Ahmad Christian Shaq Roland Brendan Nosovitch Connor Mitch Chris Moody Shon Carson Jadeveon Clowney Darius English Shamier Jeffery Sharrod Golightly Kwinton Smith Skai Moore Perry Orth Pharoh Cooper T.J. Holloman Jody Fuller Brison Williams Tyler Hull Ali Groves Connor Shaw Jimmy Legree Kelvin Rainey Austin Hails Nick St. Germain Chaz Elder Dylan Thompson Cedrick Cooper Patrick Fish Landon Ard Kyle Fleetwood T.J. Gurley Marcquis Roberts Kaiwan Lewis Brandon Wilds Larenz Bryant Bruce Ellington Ronnie Martin Kendric Salley Kadetrix Marcus Jasper Sasser Victor Hampton Mike Davis Jonathan Walton Elliott Fry Sidney Rhodes Jordan Diaz Mohamed Camara Gerald Turner David Williams Mason Harris Jeff Homad
WR CB WR CB CB WR QB QB FS TB DE DE WR SPR WR LB QB WR LB WR SS P CB QB CB TE QB PK SS QB LB P PK SS FS LB LB TB LB WR CB TB FS S CB TB LB P/K CB FB SPR DE TB DE TE
5-9 166 5-11 187 5-7 174 5-10 183 5-10 189 6-1 190 6-1 220 6-3 227 6-1 212 5-8 219 6-6 274 6-6 226 6-1 207 5-10 195 6-4 212 6-2 205 6-1 212 5-11 184 6-2 228 5-11 217 5-11 218 6-2 206 5-10 184 6-1 209 6-0 187 6-3 233 6-2 214 5-9 175 6-2 199 6-3 218 6-2 213 6-0 195 5-9 172 5-11 216 5-10 196 6-1 225 6-0 221 6-2 223 6-0 215 5-9 196 5-11 179 5-9 183 6-1 195 6-0 192 5-10 202 5-9 215 6-0 234 6-0 150 5-10 167 6-1 233 6-1 181 6-2 256 6-1 200 6-3 218 6-2 220
JR RS FR RS JR FR RS SO SO RS FR FR RS FR RS SO JR RS FR RS SO RS JR RS FR FR RS FR FR RS FR RS FR JR RS JR FR SR RS SR RS FR RS SO RS FR RS FR RS JR RS SO RS JR SO RS FR SO RS SO SO SO FR JR JR RS FR JR FR RS JR SO FR FR JR RS JR FR FR FR RS SO RS JR
45 47 48 49 49 50 51 51 52 52 53 54 55 55 58 59 65 67 69 70 71 73 74 75 76 78 80 81 82 83 85 86 87 88 89 90 92 93 94 95 97 99
FB LS PK TB S OG OC DE DT OG OT OC LB OT LS LS OG OG OT OC OT OT OT OG OT OT WR TE WR WR WR WR WR TE TE DE DT DT DT DE DT DT
Pendleton, S.C./Pendleton Irmo, S.C/Dutch Fork Cayce, S.C./Brookland-Cayce Granite Falls, N.C./South Caldwell Marietta, Ga./Lassiter Bamberg, S.C./Bamberg-Ehrhardt Seffner, Fla./Armwood Orlando, Fla./Jones Manning, S.C./Manning Dillon, S.C./Dillon Havelock, N.C./Havelock Greensboro, N.C./Western Guilford Lithonia, Ga./Lithonia Waldorf, Md./McDonough Laurens, S.C./Laurens Academy Aiken, S.C./South Aiken Greensboro, N.C./Western Guilford Cocoa, Fla./Cocoa Dillon, S.C./Dillon Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek Goose Creek, S.C./Goose Creek Saint Marys, Ga./Camden County Irmo, S.C./Chapin Milton, Fla./Pace Boynton Beach, Fla./Park Vista Tallahassee, Fla./Lincoln Waxhaw, N.C./Marvin Ridge Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern Rock Hill, S.C./Rock Hill Athens, Ga./Clarke Central/Garner-Webb Duluth, Ga./Chattahoochee/Arkansas Cowpens, S.C./Broome Greenville, S.C./Eastside Charlotte, N.C./Ardrey Kell Pinewood, S.C./Scott’s Branch Savannah, Ga./Jenkins/Fork Union Military Rock Hill, S.C./Northwestern Windermere, Fla./Olympia Buford, Ga./Mill Creek Allendale, S.C./Allendale-Fairfax/S.C. State Winston-Salem, N.C./Parkland Hodges, S.C./Greenwood/Fork Union Military
39 40 41 41 42 43 43 44
Max Huggins Andrew Komornik Connor McLaurin Kyle Morini Jordan Diggs Garrison Gist James King Gerald Dixon
P/K P FB LB SPR FB LB DE
6-1 185 6-5 225 6-0 237 5-10 212 6-0 214 5-10 255 6-0 235 6-2 268
FR FR RS JR JR RS FR RS SO SO RS SO
Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek Hampton, Ga./Lovejoy Moore, S.C./Byrnes Jacksonville, Fla./Fletcher Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian Lexington, S.C./Lexington Allenton, Pa./Central Catholic Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield McDonough, Ga./Henry County Scranton, S.C./Lake City Rock Hill, S.C./South Pointe Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern St. Matthews, S.C./Calhoun County Decatur, Ga./Southwest DeKalb Hamer, S.C./Dillon Cooper City, Fla./University Ponde Verda, Fla./Ponte Verda/Florida State College Havelock, NC./Havelock Stone Mountain, Ga./St. Pius X Charlotte, N.C./Sun Valley Warner Robins, Ga./Northside/Fork Union Military Mount Airy, N.C./Mount Airy/Guilford College Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson Flowery Branch, Ga./Flowery Branch Beaufort, S.C./Beaufort Yulee, Fla./Yulee Collinsville, Ill./Collinsville Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern Union City, Ga./Banneker Boiling Springs, S.C./Boiling Springs Lithonia, Ga./Lithonia Shelby, N.C./Burns Rock Hill, S.C./South Pointe Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson Cairo, Ga./Cairo Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern Mays Landing, N.J./St. Joseph Blythewood, S.C./Blythewood Charlotte, NC./Vance Moncks Corner, S.C./Berkeley Spartanburg, S.C./Spartanburg/Georgia Military Williston, S.C./Williston-Elko Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson Jacksonville, Fla./Wolfson Darlington, S.C./Darlington Lithonia, Ga./Stephenson Daphne, Ala./Bayside Academy Frisco, Tx./Prince of Peace Christian Easley, S.C./Wren/Western Carolina Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West Cumming, Ga./Forsyth Goose Creek, S.C./Goose Creek Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter Fort Oglethorpe, Ga./Ridgeland Hilton Head Island, S.C./Hilton Head Island/UNC Pembroke Myrtle Beach, S.C./Myrtle Beach Fort Mill, S.C./Nations Ford Raleigh, N.C./Garner Lexington, S.C./White Knoll/Gray Military Fort Myers, Fla./Island Coast Rock Hill, S.C./Northwesterm Goose Creek, S.C./Goose Creek/Benedict Rock Hill, S.C./South Pointe
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Ty Sutherland Drew Williams Caleb Kelly Devin Potter Garrett Shank A.J. Cann Cody Waldrop Devin Washington Phillip Dukes Bryce King Corey Robinson Clayton Stadnik David Johnson Na’Ty Rodgers Ryland Culbertson Coleman Harley Brock Stadnik Ronald Patrick D.J. Park Alan Knott Brandon Shell J.P. Vonashek Mason Zandi Will Sport Mike Matulis Cody Gibson K.J. Brent Rory Anderson Matthew Harvey Carlton Heard Kane Whitehurst David Wilkins Drake Thomason Drew Owens Jerell Adams Chaz Sutton Gerald Dixon, Jr. Deon Green Kelsey Griffin Michael Washington J.T. Surratt Kelcy Quarles
5-10 234 6-2 190 6-0 184 5-10 200 6-0 171 6-4 314 6-2 319 6-3 225 6-3 315 6-3 281 6-8 341 6-3 281 6-1 268 6-5 296 6-4 265 6-1 264 6-5 286 6-2 315 6-4 334 6-4 272 6-6 323 6-6 283 6-9 293 6-5 294 6-5 266 6-7 286 6-4 188 6-5 242 6-8 225 6-0 178 5-11 179 6-1 182 6-1 205 6-6 244 6-6 237 6-5 263 6-3 318 6-4 287 6-2 292 6-3 243 6-2 307 6-4 298
RS SO FR RS FR FR FR RS JR RS FR FR RS SO FR RS JR RS FR FR FR RS JR RS SO RS FR SR FR FR RS SO FR RS FR RS SO JR RS JR RS SO JR SO SO RS SO SR RS JR RS SO SO SR RS SO RS SO FR SO RS JR JR
GAMECOCK COACHES Steve Spurrier Deke Adams Kirk Botkin Grady Brown Shawn Elliott G.A. Mangus Joe Robinson Everette Sands Jamie Speronis Steve Spurrier Jr. Lorenzo Ward Robbie Liles Patrick Shine
Head Coach Defensive Line Linebackers/Spurs Secondary/Assistant Special Teams Coordinator Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive LIne Quarterbacks Special Teams Coordinator Running Backs Associate AD/Football Operations Co-Offensive Coord/Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coord Defensive Coordinator Director - Recruiting Operations Administrative Coordinator - Recruiting
NORTH CAROLINA VS. USC
THREE DINING CHOICES.
HREE DINING CHOICES. REE DINING CHOICES.
go gamecocks!
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NORTH CAROLINA VS. USC