Spurs & Feathers August 13 Magazine

U n i v e r s i t y

o f

S o u t h

C a r o l i n a

Spurs & Feathers Y o u r

G a m e c o c k

C l u b

c o n n e c t i o n

30 years of dazzle

best college football anthem thrills fans and players

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U n i v e r s i t y

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S o u t h

Spurs & Feathers

Spurs & Feathers is published by Aiken Communications, Inc.

Scott B. Hunter Publisher & President Aiken Communications, Inc. Tim O’Briant General Manager tobriant@spursandfeathers.com (803) 335-1400 Ext. 500 Brian Hand Executive Editor bhand@spursandfeathers.com (803) 335-1399 Ext. 506 Mike Kucharski Reporter mike@spursandfeathers.com (803) 335-1399 Ext. 507 Dee Taylor Marketing Director 803-644-2349 Kathy Boyette Advertising Sales Manager 803-644-2349 kboyette@spursandfeathers.com Allen Sharpe Photographer Ed Girardeau Contributing Editor ed@spursandfeathers.com Bart Wright Contributing Writer Tami Burke Web Developer

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Spurs & Feathers • 4

C a r o l i n a

Y o u r

G a m e c o c k

6 | Gamecocks ready

to take the field 12 | “2001” marks an anniversary

16 | Troy Williamson:

Where is he now

18 | Reaching for 100:

So many records,

plenty of time 20 | A look ahead

Game-by-game view 25 | Georgia Drivers

get USC tags

Spurrier

By The Numbers

He starts the season with 122 SEC wins, 37 behind all-time leader Paul “Bear” Bryant with 159 and with only eight chances to win each year, the goal of surpassing Bear seems unrealistic.

But there’s another number that makes lots of sense, and it’s easy to remember – 100.

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C l u b

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26 | Fall Preview

Soccer, volleyball

and cross country 30 | Looking Back

Gamecocks had

a great 2012-13

Welcome to the all new Spurs & Feathers

Ray Tanner Athletics Director University of South Carolina

As a member of the Gamecock Club, you receive this publication as one of the benefits of your support of our student-athletes. Over the last year, we’ve worked to upgrade the quality of the publications you receive as a Gamecock Club member. We believe we’ve found the right partners to do just that. We are excited about our new partnership with Aiken Communications, Inc. This magazine represents the first of many great publications throughout the 2013-14 athletic year.

In addition to this edition and two more magazines throughout the course of the upcoming athletic year, the

new Spurs & Feathers will include the tabloid newspaper you have to come to enjoy as well as online features, tablet and mobile apps and a social media presence.

We are excited about all of these new offerings since they will give our fans an inside look into not only Gamecock athletics, but also the inner workings of the athletic department, the Gamecock Club and all the donors who support the University of South Carolina.

Although this is a new look to Spurs & Feathers, I do want to take the time and note that this new agreement was put into place to build upon the hard work and commitment

of the previous staff of Spurs & Feathers. We know that the new publishers will work hard to continue the great legacy of this publication.

As we look forward after what can be only looked back on as a terrific 2012-13 athletic year, the 2013-14 South Carolina athletic year is also shaping up to be a tremendous one. We are very excited about the possibilities for all of our teams in the upcoming year.

It truly is a great time to be a Gamecock!

Our staff is excited to provide exclusive and extensive information on all aspects of Gamecock Athletics.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Back Row: Brian Hand, Ed Girardeau, Mike Kucharski, Front Row: Kathy Boyette, Tim O’Briant Tim O’Briant-General Manager (803) 335-1400 ext. 500 tobriant@spursandfeathers.com

Brian Hand-Executive Editor (803) 646-9716 bhand@spursandfeathers.com

Mike Kucharski-Reporter (803) 646-9385 mike@spursandfeathers.com-

Kathy Boyette-Advertising Sales (803) 644-2349 kboyette@spursandfeathers.com

To subscribe to Spurs & Feathers, call 800-559-2311.

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Ed Girardeau-Contributing Editor (803) 335-1400 ext. 501 ed@spursandfeathers.com

2013 South Carolina football team preview

Gamecocks ready to take the field

by Mike Kucharski Photography by Allen Sharpe The 2013 South Carolina football team will look to continue the excellence displayed by winning 11 games in back-to-back years for the first time in program history. The Gamecocks must navigate the always difficult SEC schedule, plus a non-conference slate that features some tough matchups. Gamecock opponents combined for a total record of 93-60 in 2012, including seven wins against top-25 teams. The Gamecocks are highly ranked

and have the talent to look to achieve head coach Steve Spurrier’s goal of bringing an SEC Championship to Columbia.

In the trenches The foundation of many good teams is built in the trenches, and play up front looks to be the strength for the Gamecocks on both sides of the ball. Four starters return on the offensive line as the only loss will be center T.J. Johnson after he was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in April. Starters are projected as 2012 Freshman All-American selection Brandon Shell and 2013 pre-

Chaz Sutton

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... everyone knows about all-world, all-everything standout Jadeveon Clowney ... the focus of many opponents’ game plans. season All-SEC pick A.J. Cann joining Ronald Patrick and Corey Robinson with starting experience. Depth will come from returning lettermen and talented youth. With the majority of the line returning, it looks to be a strength of the offense which should bode well for the Gamecocks ability to run the football.

On the defensive side, everyone knows about allworld, all-everything standout Jadeveon Clowney who will be the focus of many opponents’ game plans. Returning starter Kelcy Quarles hopes to help solidify the defensive line and possibly take some pressure and double-teams off Clowney.

South Carolina will look to have some contributions from returning lettermen J.T. Surratt and Gerald Dixon, Jr., on the inside, and ends Chaz Sutton, a fifth-year senior with high expectations, and Mason Harris will be called on from the edge.

This group could be one of the nation’s best this season.

The lines on both sides of the ball have talent and experience, and they look to be the building blocks for what could be a special run in 2013.

Offensive skill positions Other than the quarterback, offensive skill positions will see quite a bit of turnover from last year. Receiver Bruce Ellington, off of the game-winning touchdown in the Outback Bowl, is the only returning starter at the skill positions.

There does seem to be depth at receiver with returning lettermen Damiere Byrd, Nick Jones and Shaq Roland looking to play bigger roles along with highly recruited K.J. Brent and Shamier Jeffery. The receiving corps has the potential to be explosive and another strength for the Gamecocks.

Jerell Adams The tight ends will look to replace Justice Cunningham who was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL Draft.

Both Rory Anderson and Jerell Adams are returning lettermen and will compete for catches.

Anderson is a preseason AllSEC selection and will be the starter, but the expectation is there will be many two-tight end sets on the field throughout the fall to capitalize on the talented duo.

The running backs may not have legend Marcus Lattimore among their group anymore, but they do have some playing experience to fall back on.

Mike Davis is the projected starter who saw action last season as a true freshman, so he should only improve this fall after a full year in the Gamecocks’ strength and conditioning program. Brandon Wilds missed last season due to injury, but saw action in 2011, so both these backs should be prepared for the SEC grind and bring depth to the position.

Kendric Salley and Shon Car-

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son also add depth, and highly recruited freshman David Williams may see some action.

Running the offense will be returning starter Connor Shaw, who brings a 17-3 record as a starter for the Gamecocks and is a four-time SEC Offensive Player of the Week in his career. Shaw will look to cement his name in the South

Carolina record books and fans’ memories with another strong season possibly leading the Gamecocks back to Atlanta for the first time since 2010.

Expect to see Dylan Thompson under center some after proving himself late in the year subbing for the injured Shaw. We saw flashes of brilliance from Thompson last year as he threw

Spurs & Feathers • 8

for five touchdowns against one interception in the final two games against Clemson and Michigan. Spurrier has said “Connor Shaw is our quarterback,” but also hinted at putting both on the field together.

Despite some inexperience, the skill positions should be another strength for the Gamecocks this fall.

The defensive back seven This may be the one of the biggest question marks for the 2013 Gamecocks, but defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward will have this group ready to play.

Both linebackers and the spur positions will have new starters, but there are returning lettermen who will be called upon in this group. Kaiwan Lewis

and Cedrick Cooper saw action last year at the linebacker position, and now they will need to step up and start. The rest of the group will gain experience and look to fill in when needed to help out the defense. Sharrod Golightly is slated to start as the spur after lettering last season, and redshirt freshman Jordan Diggs could also see the field. This group has big shoes to fill now that Shaq Wilson and DeVonte Holloman are gone, and they will get chances early.

The secondary looks strong on the outside with returning starters Victor Hampton and Jimmy Legree, both of whom are capable of performing at a high level. Depth will come in the form of returning lettermen Ahmad Christian and Sidney Rhodes with junior college transfer Ronnie Martin figuring to see some time as well. Brison Williams returns at strong safety after starting last year, and Kadetrix Marcus is

projected to get the call at free safety. T.J. Gurley is a returning letterman who will compete for playing time, and Chris Moody and Rico McWillams are also likely to get on the field in the secondary this fall. Chaz Elder drew some buzz during spring workouts from the safety positions as well.

Overall the back seven are talented but untested, which will likely not remain that way for long with the difficult schedule.

Special teams The kicking duties will be handled by Landon Ard, a sophomore from Rock Hill, S.C. Ard saw some action while kicking off in 2012, and he will look to add to his placekicking resume this fall. There will also be walk-on players competing for the kicking duties this fall.

Punter Tyler Hull returns this year after averaging 39.4 yards on 54 punts in 2012. He pinned opponents inside the 20 yard line 12 times last year

THE TERRY BISHOP TEAM

THE HIT. That’s how the amazing play Jadeveon Clowney made in the Outback Bowl against Michigan has become known. The masterful stop won the Best Play ESPY at the 2013 ESPY Awards on July 17.

As a former Gamecock Football Player and Letterman, Terry knows the power of great teamwork.

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STOP

Jimmy Legree and punted 50 or more yards seven times. Kick returns will be handled by the explosive Ellington, an all-purpose preseason All-SEC pick, and lightning-fast Byrd, who will look to electrify the crowd with long returns when possible. Experienced cornerback

Hampton will return punts for the Gamecocks in 2013.

Outlook The Gamecocks are talented and experienced almost everywhere on the football field, and they will look to capitalize on that potential this year.

The schedule sets up for tough

tests early with the opener against North Carolina and then a trip to Athens to face highly-ranked Georgia. September doesn’t get any easier after that with the Gamecocks hosting Vanderbilt the following week, then traveling to Orlando for a matchup with

Central Florida after a bye.

The Gamecocks have a tough three-game SEC road stretch in October with trips to Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri before they return home for their final four games.

Those four include big showdowns with Florida (Nov. 16) and the rivalry game with Clemson (Nov. 30).

After the regular season, the schedule hopefully will include a trip to Atlanta in early December for an SEC Championship appearance, but the Garnet and Black will have to navigate these tough foes to get there.

The season will dictate if the Gamecocks get a shot to earn the program’s first BCS bid, but a trip to SEC Championship would definitely increase the likelihood of that. The Gamecocks certainly have the potential, now the fans just have to wait to see how everything unfolds on the field this fall.

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Dylan Thompson

LuckY Number 7?

Gamecocks claim highest preseason ranking in school history

T

he University of South Carolina football team will enter the 2013 season with its highest ever preseason ranking.

The Gamecocks were tabbed seventh in the USA Today top25 coaches poll released on Thursday, Aug. 1.

The ranking of seventh bests the 2012 ranking of No. 9 that the Gamecocks picked up.

South Carolina concluded the 2012 season eighth in the final AP poll and seventh in the final coaches’ poll.

South Carolina collected 1,136 votes in the preseason tally to sit just behind Texas A&M (1,215) and one spot ahead of rival Clemson (1,047).

1.

2.

3.

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Alabama USA Ohio State Today Oregon Preseason Stanford College Football Georgia Coaches Poll Texas A&M South Carolina Clemson 12. Florida State Louisville 13. LSU Florida 14. Oklahoma St. Notre Dame

Defending national champion Alabama (1,545) is first in the preseason poll, while Ohio State (1,427) is second. Oregon is third (1,397) and Stanford

(1,262) is fourth.

Tabbed to finish ahead of the Gamecocks in the East in the SEC preseason media poll, Georgia (1,250) is fifth.

15.

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Texas Oklahoma Michigan Nebraska Boise State TCU UCLA Northwestern Wisconsin Southern Cal Oregon State

Six SEC teams in total are ranked in the inaugural top-25.

Five of the six are in the top-10 with Florida (930) 10th. LSU (797) is ranked 13th.

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2001

30 years of the best entrance in all of college football Spurs & Feathers • 12

The Gamecocks take the field to the haunting, but thrilling theme from the 1968 Stanley Kubrick film 2001: A Space Odyssey. The tone poem entitled, Also Sprach Zarathustra, was written by German composer Richard Strauss in 1896.

The final countdown begins.

One hour.

30 minutes.

15 minutes.

The countdown is almost over.

The chants begin.

GAME! ... COCKS! GAME! ... COCKS! GAME! ... COCKS! It is finally time for Carolina football.

The first notes send Williams-Brice into feverish anticipation. “2001” is here.

It is the most unique and greatest entrance in all of college football and, believe it or not, has now been a Gamecock staple for 30 years.

by Brian Hand • Photography by Allen Sharpe

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Theme’s adoption was its own odyssey

I

n many ways people believe that how “2001” became a staple at home Gamecock football games just kind of materialized when Joe Morrison took over the reins of the Gamecock football program in 1983.

Really it was a long time in the works, and something that could have happened well before the start of the 1983 season.

Former South Carolina quarterback and current football color analyst Tommy Suggs went to an Elvis Presley concert in the mid-1970s and from his fourth or fifth row seat saw Presley come out to “2001.” He was blown away and felt it was just what the Gamecocks needed.

Suggs came back with the idea of having the Gamecocks come out to the song, and then head coach Jim Carlen loved the idea as well, but felt it would be better if the band played the song. Suggs felt it would be better over the loud speakers, but nevertheless during Carlen’s

last year with the Gamecocks in 1981, the band played it twice, but it never made an impact and according to Suggs “nobody really heard.”

In 1982 with Richard Bell in charge of the Gamecock football program, the idea was brought forward once again, but the public address system was so bad at the time that new athletic director Bob Marcum shelved the idea for another year. After a $120,000 upgrade to the PA system, “2001” as we know it now was to be unveiled to an unknowing crowd in 1983.

Morrison took over a Gamecock program in 1983 that had experienced some lean years in 1981 and 1982 after a strong 1980 season that saw the Gamecocks pick up eight wins and George Rogers forever cement himself in college football lore as a Heisman Trophy winner.

Morrison took over the helm

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of the Gamecocks after the Bell-led Gamecocks finished 4-7 in 1982.

The New York Giants Ring of Honor member was a hot commodity before taking the South Carolina head coaching gig, which was his third stop as a head coach after successful stints at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and New Mexico. He led the Lobos to a 10-1 record in his final season with New Mexico in 1982.

With the Gamecock football program needing a tremendous boost among its student-athletes and fans, Morrison arrived in Columbia looking to not only win on the field, but also come up with a way to get his players and the Gamecock fans excited about South Carolina football prior to the start of the game. To accomplish the task, Morrison used the idea brought forward from Suggs many years before and then championed by Marcum of having the Gamecocks come out to the haunting, but thrilling theme music from 2001: A Space Odyssey. The tone poem entitled, Also Sprach Zarathustra, was written by German composer Richard Strauss in 1896.

Ironically, much as the 30th year of “2001” will begin, the

first time that “2001” was used prior to the Gamecocks coming out was against North Carolina in the season opener in 1983.

Marcum wanted the introduction to be a surprise so two days before the opener against North Carolina, they tested it out by playing about 30 seconds of the song right after practice to make sure everything sounded right on the PA and everybody in the area kind of looked around wondering what was going on.

Two days later, against North Carolina on Sept. 3, 1983, the song was played over the PA for the first time and 30 years later it is still being played prior to the Gamecocks taking the field.

The introduction was indeed a surprise to everyone in attendance with former Gamecock football player Ted Girardeau (1957-58) noting that he was thinking, “what in the world are we doing?”

The Gamecocks finished their first season coming out to “2001” in 1983 with a record of 5-6.

But just as the song builds to its crescendo, so were the Gamecocks under the “Man in Black” with Morrison’s second season at the helm of the Gamecocks one of the best in school history.

The Gamecocks reached as high as No. 2 nationally during the 1984 season and “2001” had cemented itself in a short period of time as a Gamecock institution.

It was not until the Clemson game in 1987 that “2001” really hit its national peak. The then No. 12 Gamecocks were preparing to take on archrival and No. 8 Clemson in its final home game of the season. Legend has it that ESPN representatives told Morrison that the Gamecocks would have to skip what had become their traditional entrance if they wanted to have the game on television. Morrison said that they would not do that and ESPN relented and decided to instead air the whole pregame introduction to a national television audience.

The Gamecocks would go on to win, 20-7, and from that point forward the most exciting pregame entrance in all of college football has become a staple on national and regional television.

Suggs always knew that “2001” had potential to be something special, but never imagined the explosion of media coverage that would come with it over the years. He also feels that adding “Sandstorm” to the pregame hype has made for “one of the most unbelievable beginnings in all of college football.”

Suggs’ broadcast partner, Todd Ellis, readily agrees.

“To me, ‘2001,’ signals that it is time for Gamecock football. It still raises the hairs on the back of my neck. I would never broadcast over ‘2001.’”

Ellis adds that in his travels it is one of the top three things he is always asked about.

“People always want to hear about Spurrier, Clowney - especially right now - and ‘2001.’”

Ninth-year South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier thinks “2001” is wonderful for Gamecock fans.

“I think it is one of the best traditions in all of college football and I know most of our fans really love us coming out to it (“2001”),” said Spurrier.

Even Girardeau now loves “2001.”

“It takes a while to accept anything new and now it (“2001”) has been built up over the years into something we cannot live without.”

Spurs & Feathers • 15

Where are they now?

Troy Williamson has been defying the odds all of his life.

In fact, Williamson says that he goes out of his way to tell people that “no matter what you go through, you can always get out.”

by Brian Hand Photography by Allen Sharpe Growing up in a single parent home with 11 brothers and sisters in tiny Jackson, S.C. life was a constant struggle for Williamson early on in his life.

When Williamson was ten, 17 percent of his body was burned and he had to learn to walk again.

Despite the struggles in the early stages of his life, Williamson broke through and found a way to become one of the fastest people in the country en route to picking up two high school state football championships at Silver Bluff High School. He was tabbed as the

South Carolina AA Player of the Year as a senior in 2001 by the High School Sports Report.

Despite not playing football until his junior year of high school, Williamson, who was a two-time state champ in the 100 and 200 meters, was considered one of the top-20 prep receivers in the country coming out of high school.

Williamson decided to attend the University of South Carolina in January of 2002.

He chose the Gamecocks over Clemson and Tennessee.

According to Williamson, “getting to play early and to

Spurs & Feathers • 16

play for a coach like Lou Holtz” was the deciding factor in him making the decision to attend the University of South Carolina.

Williamson made an immediate impact with the Gamecocks, closing out his freshman year in 2002 as a freshman All-SEC selection. He was a freshman All-America choice

by The Sporting News.

A first-team AP All-SEC selection in 2004, Williamson would go on to conclude his three-year Gamecock career with 1,754 career receiving yards on 91 career receptions. He still holds the record for most receiving yards in a single game with 210 yards in a Gamecock 34-3 win over South Florida at Williams-Brice Stadium on Sept. 18, 2004.

Williamson left South Carolina after his junior year in 2004 to pursue a career in the National Football League.

Williamson’s gaudy statistics at South Carolina coupled with a blistering 4.32 40-yard dash at the NFL combine helped him to be chosen as the seventh pick overall in the first round by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2005 NFL Draft.

Williamson would go on to spend six years in the

NFL with two different teams.

He concluded his career as a Jacksonville Jaguar after making a personal decision to retire in 2010.

The man known as “WideOpen” on the football field is now wide open to new opportunities in life and he has not slowed down at all since retiring from the NFL. Since retiring, Williamson, who is married to his childhood sweetheart Charity and has four sons (two of his own and two adopted), has focused most of his time and energy on sharing his story of defying the odds as a philanthropist and a motivator.

Williamson has been doing charity work all of his life and he incorporated his nonprofit foundation, Fighting Against the O.D.D.S (Opening Doors Doing Service), in November of 2010.

Williamson, who was named the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce’s Youth of the Year as a senior in high school in 2002, has returned to his roots in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) where Jackson, S.C. is located in the AikenAugusta metro community.

The mission of Fighting Against the O.D.D.S. is to provide diverse opportunities for young people in the

Donor Spotlight

Dr. Larry Winn

Loyalty to commitments held dear is what defines Dr. Larry Winn’s relationships in life, said Wraellen, his wife of 40 years. It is why he stepped up to provide two major planned gifts benefitting the Univerity of South Carolina, his beloved alma mater.

Winn, ’63 and ’65, chemical engineering, has long stood by his University, church, colleagues, and his family medicine practice at Palmetto Baptist Medical Center in Easley, S.C. When opportunity presented itself in 2005 to benefit the College of Engineering and Computing with an endowed distinguished professorship in chemical engineering, he acted.

Winn also stands solidly behind Carolina athletics. An avid tailgater for home football

games with several close friends, all alumni, he joined the Gamecock Club 46 years ago. In his home’s Carolina Gamecock room, there’s a testament to Winn’s loyalty hanging from the wall. A caricature-style portrait shows Winn holding a Gamecock, both celebrated with the words, “Two Tough Old Birds.” The portrait is patterned after one given to former Carolina coach Lou Holtz.

Winn had long prioritized academics, resulting in his first major gift to engineering.

More recently, the long-time Gamecock Club loyalist began to think of University Athletics in a new light. He knew Athletics generates revenue to be self-sustaining, but had yet to consider an endowment that would make a big impact for

CSRA facing adversity through avenues such as service learning, scholarship and physical activity.

According to Williamson, “everybody has different things they are fighting against. That has always been my story.

From high school to college, to playing in the pros, I have fought through adversity at each one of the steps. Even now, my adversity would be making sure that I set a good example for my kids and the kids in my foundation. That is always a thing in itself because you want to make sure you are that light and you don’t stray from that path. That is why I came back home.”

In addition to his nonprofit organization and motivational speaking, Williamson is also opening a Which Wich in Aiken. The restaurant that offers a wide variety of sandwiches is scheduled to tentatively open at the Shoppes at Brookhaven off Whiskey Road in Aiken in mid-August.

“I always tell people that playing football was something for me. Now I have to

open doors for my kids. That is where Which Wich and my foundation come in,” Williamson said.

Through it all, Williamson has not forgotten his love for the University of South Carolina.

“I learned a lot in college as far as getting me ready to be a man,” noted Williamson. “I am glad that I decided to go to a college that was in-state and not too far. It really got me to where I can always get back to Columbia and get to some of the games. If I went to a college that was in Florida, I would not have the luxury to do that.”

Williamson makes it a point to attend two games a year, but when not able to attend games he has a big crowd over at his house to watch the Carolina game every Saturday during football season.

For more information about Troy Williamson’s current ventures, visit www.abouttroywilliamson.com. You can also visit his foundation’s website at www.fightingagainstodds.com.

student athletes.

That soon changed. Winn acted again, providing a major gift for general athletic scholarships within the past year.

“I was thinking how big in our lives Carolina Athletics has been, providing so much pleasure and enjoyment over the years,” Winn said. “This is another way for us to give back to the University.”

Winn worked in the engineering field for six years before enrolling in medical school and receiving his doctorate of medicine from MUSC in 1975. He credits Carolina for

stoking a long and successful career, and his wife for turning his career toward medicine.

“Sometimes it’s just fate,” he said. “It’s not unusual for engineers to become doctors.”

Wraellen met her husband in her native Charleston, where she worked as an executive secretary and Realtor.

“There’s a passion behind his gifts because he has a very big heart,” she said.

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The Century Mark?

E

verything is fine heading into year nine for the Head Ball Coach.

If the last two years of Steve Spurrier’s tenure with the Gamecocks meant anything beyond more school records in college football’s most treacherous conference, it was the larger point that can somehow be missed when we get too caught up in the moment.

Back-to-back 11-win seasons at Carolina, following the school’s first appearance in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game, amounted to a reckoning, an appraisal if you prefer, of his eight years with the Gamecocks.

He did it, he made good on his goal of elevating the football program at the University of South Carolina to a level previously unknown to the school.

In short, the doubters have fallen away, the shrill voices that once said he came to Columbia out of desperation and ego have gone silent. Nobody questions what he’s done at Carolina, not anymore, and that’s worth remembering as a frame for the 2013 season, because he isn’t done yet.

That last part should not come as a surprise to anyone who knows Spurrier even a little bit. Does he like the records? Of course, any coach would, but while he acknowledges achievements in news conferences, inside the cocoon of the team, such things are never discussed.

For Spurrier, the joy of his profession comes from building transformational success and the attendant rise of belief that comes in that collaborative effort.

It’s one thing to go to the New York Yankees and be part of a winner, and a lot of athletes and coaches love that appeal. It’s another thing entirely to craft a winning team out of, say, the Tampa Bay Rays.

Spurrier finds no great achievements occur at those

Spurrier

By The Numbers * Most wins as head football coach in school history (66) * Back-to-back 11-win seasons (2011, 2012) * Back-to-back top-10 national finishes (2011, 2012) * Highest national finish in school history (2012: AP-8th; Coaches-7th) * Senior class with the most wins in school history (2012: 38) * Longest streak in the top-25 rankings in school history (current) * Featured a first-team All-American in four straight seasons * Bowl-eligible for eight consecutive seasons * 12-1 record against the top rivals: Clemson (4-0), Georgia (3-0), Tennessee (3-0) and Florida (2-1) in the last 13 meetings

by Bart Wright Photography by Allen Sharpe places that have everything and want you to be a part of it, but building something of substance out of nothing has always fascinated him.

The clue to Spurrier’s nature should have been clear years

Spurs & Feathers • 18

ago after his second season in Columbia when the University of Alabama was said to have had interest in him at a time when it was the end of the line for then-head coach Mike Shula.

Spurrier didn’t waver then, still the kid who grew up the son of a baseball-coaching father who enjoyed nothing more than those times when a team with a smaller payroll, lacking All-Stars in the field would beat the stuffing out of the Yankees, the team that had everything.

Never forget how close that is to the core of Spurrier’s being, the underdog, the guy who figured out a way to beat the bully in the back alley.

We were talking the other day about that component of his character when it became obvious it’s just as big a part of him today as it ever has been.

“We had a recruit in here (the day before), and I asked him about playing for somebody like Alabama,” Spurrier said. “I told him, ‘You know if you go to a place like that you might have a chance to win one, and guess what? You will be in a group with about 15 other teams.”

Spurrier said he told the recruit, “If you come here and we win one, like we’re tryin’ to do, you’ll be in a group that did it at a place that it had never been done, they could never take away the fact that you were on a team that was historic.”

That’s the stuff that still ignites the fire in the belly of this 68-year-old and while we’re at it, let’s dispense with the age issue, because it is no issue.

Some coaches wear out sooner than others, some of them just don’t have it in them to keep going, but the Dallas Cowboys are excited about their new defensive coordinator, 73-year-old Monte Kiffin and Alabama has a coach who is 61 and shows no signs of slowing down.

Others have had enough by the time they get to 50, and we’ve seen several of those in this state over the years.

So he starts the season with 122 SEC

...with only eight chances to win each year, the goal of surpassing Bear seems unrealistic.

But there’s another number that makes lots of sense, and it’s easy to remember – 100. wins, 37 behind all-time leader Paul “Bear” Bryant with 159 and with only eight chances to win each year, the goal of surpassing Bear seems unrealistic.

But there’s another number that makes lots of sense, and it’s easy to remember – 100.

Carolina’s fourth consecutive victory over Clemson last year, matching the longest stretch of consecutive wins against the in-state rival in the history of the series between the schools, gave Spurrier more wins than any Gamecocks coach. Beating Michigan in the bowl game that became the Jadeveon Clowney Highlight Reel, left Spurrier with 66 victories at South Carolina.

An average of nine wins a season – and that suddenly seems unnecessarily conservative – means that in four years, Spurrier will go past 100 coaching wins at Carolina. Isn’t that the number fans should consider when they think of his longevity?

“That’s a good one, that’s a good round number,” he said,

“we can use that as the next goal.”

It seems more than likely he can reach that standard and if he does, averaging, say, six wins a season in the conference – maybe including a championship game victory to go with the five he earned at Florida – Spurrier will be within a dozen or so of Bryant’s all-time record.

Bryant isn’t on Spurrier’s horizon; the Head Ball Coach is very comfortable in his own skin and winning the SEC and maybe a national championship at Carolina would surely slake his thirst.

Either way, we are giving much too much discussion to it here, we’ve already spent more time on chasing Bryant than Spurrier has.

At his annual media day golf outing the other day, a reporter asked Spurrier if he slept well in the off-season, knowing he had two capable quarterbacks returning for 2013. Spurrier chuckled at the suggestion.

“I don’t worry about that stuff in the off-season,” he said. “Do you mean, ‘Did I sleep well when I was playing golf in Ireland, or when I was playing in the Bahamas?’”

It’s one day at a time for a great coach in the prime of his career, one that will end with him having won more than 100 games at South Carolina, a national football power respected by anyone who follows the game.

For Steve Spurrier, that will be enough.

Spurs & Feathers • 19

2013 South Carolina football game preview August 29 North Carolina The Tar Heels are coming off of an 8-4 record in year one of the Larry Fedora era, and they will be looking to continue the upswing in 2013. Quarterback Bryn Renner put up big numbers with 28 touchdowns and over 3,300 yards passing in an offense that scored 40.6 points per game last year. The running game will be a question mark with the loss of the starting running back, and the defense will have to improve after giving up lots of points in ACC matchups in 2012. Fedora has the program headed in the right direction, but they may be a bigger threat to the Gamecocks in the 2015 season opener in Charlotte than this season at Williams-Brice Stadium.

September 28 at Central Florida The Knights won 10 games in 2012, including a victory in the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl, to post a 10-4 record. George O’Leary, in his 10th season at the helm, has Central Florida fielding consistently competitive teams. Quarterback Blake Bortles and leading receiver Rannell Hall return after leading an offense that averaged 35.4 points per game last season, so the unit should be explosive again. Defensively, the Knights have some holes to fill which could bode well for the Gamecocks. This game will be an interesting and early road test for Carolina in Orlando, but the Gamecocks are the more talented team and should win.

September 7 at Georgia This will be one of the early-season marquee showdowns of the college football season. The Bulldogs won the SEC East and beat Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl to finish the 2012 season at 12-2. The offense should be powerful as Heisman candidate Aaron Murray, the running back tandem of Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall and the offensive line all return. The defensive side of the ball, where Georgia will be inexperienced after losing seven starters from 2012, will be largely unknown. Georgia will be looking for revenge after losing the last three games to South Carolina, and the Gamecocks had a convincing 35-7 win last year to hand the Bulldogs one of their two losses on the season.

October 5 Kentucky The Wildcats are led by first-year head coach Mark Stoops, coming off a dismal 2-10 showing that cost Joker Phillips his jobs in 2012. Stoops has created a lot of buzz on the recruiting trail for Kentucky, but those players will not help this year.

The rebuilding project has begun for the Wildcats, and they should improve as long as the new players pan out. This game in Williams-Brice should go to the Gamecocks, although it is important never to overlook an SEC opponent as Kentucky proved in 2010 and the first half of last year’s game.

September 14 Vanderbilt The Commodores put together a 9-4 record last season, including going 5-3 against SEC competition in the third year under the guidance of James Franklin. Franklin has brought toughness to Vanderbilt, which has led to back-to-back bowl appearances for the team. The Commodores will need to replace the running back and quarterback from 2012, but the receiving corps will be strong. The SEC’s leading receiver Jordan Matthews and experienced Chris Boyd return, making for a dangerous tandem. The defense was tough last year, and should be strong again in 2013. Vanderbilt always plays the Gamecocks tough, but with the game in front of a crowd of garnet-clad supporters, Carolina should be able to win this one.

October 12 at Arkansas Bret Bielema has taken over the reins for the Razorbacks and the perception is that he will bring his bruising running game from Wisconsin with him to Fayetteville.

Arkansas had a down year in 2012, going 4-8. They must replace starting quarterback Tyler Wilson and running backs Dennis Johnson and Knile Davis in the upcoming season. Jonathan Williams will carry the ball often for the Razorbacks, and the defense must improve after giving up 30.4 points per game in 2012. Bielema will get Arkansas back to playing at a high level, but the changeover this year favors the Gamecocks on the road in this one.

Spurs & Feathers • 20

by Mike Kucharski

October 19 at Tennessee The Volunteers will have a lot of work to replace the offensive firepower that left for the NFL last year in the forms of Tyler Bray, Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson. New head coach Butch Jones will work to replace that offense which put up 36.2 points per game last season with an experienced offensive line and duo of running backs. There looks to be a quarterback competition in camp for the starting job. The defense was a weakness last season, but should be improved with many returners who gained some SEC experience last year. South Carolina should be favored in their trip to Neyland Stadium, which is always a tough SEC road trip.

November 16 Florida This will be one of the biggest showdowns of the year in the SEC East, and the Gamecocks will look to exact revenge from the 44-11 loss last year. The Gator offense wants to improve with Jeff Driskel having a year of starting experience under his belt, but the Gators will have to replace leading rusher Mike Gillislee. The defense must replace many players, but there is talent waiting in the wings at Florida. Give the Gamecocks the edge in this game for hosting and the revenge factor, but this late-season matchup could go a long way in deciding the SEC East champion.

October 26 at Missouri Missouri had a rough year one in the SEC going 2-6 in conference and 5-7 overall, and head coach Gary Pinkel will look to make some headway in the league in 2013. Dual-threat quarterback James Franklin is back and will try to bounce back after a sub-par year in 2012. The Tigers will have to improve defensively as well, but this team is still getting used to the life and grind in the SEC. The Gamecocks should have the advantage in this battle in the other Columbia. This is the third of three straight road games, so the Gamecocks will need to stay fresh.

November 23 Coastal Carolina The Chanticleers are a good team out of the Big South, and they put together an 8-5 record last season. This game is slated to be the easiest of the season for the Gamecocks, but Coastal Carolina will not just surrender because the Garnet and Black show up for the game. The Gamecocks have the talent edge and should be able to win this one easily while also possibly getting some experience for younger players, if things go according to the game plan.

November 2 Mississippi State The Bulldogs put together an 8-5 record last year under head coach Dan Mullen, and they will look to keep improving this season. The starting quarterback and running back from 2012 return in hopes of being able to put up more points than the 29.5 per game the offense averaged last season. The defense was stout, and it should be again in 2013. Mississippi State will be another tough opponent for the Gamecocks, but this should be a game that South Carolina can win.

November 30 Clemson The annual rivalry will be held in Williams-Brice Stadium this year as the Gamecocks look to notch their fifth straight win over Clemson. Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins will try to bring some offensive fireworks to the game this year, as both are explosive players who will be looking for their first career win over South Carolina. The defense is in the second year in coordinator Brent Venables’ system and it is experienced.

This could be a top-10 showdown at the end of the year with the eyes of the nation on Columbia, S.C. for the always bitter in-state matchup.

Spurs & Feathers • 21

Alabama The Crimson Tide have won the national championship three of the past four years, and they are the favorite to do it again this year. The offense has AJ McCarron back under center and T.J. Yeldon in the backfield, plus depth at receiver and size on the offensive line. The defense is led by linebacker C.J. Mosley and has stockpiled talent that can step in for departing starters from the best scoring defense in the nation in 2012. Head coach Nick Saban always challenges his teams and gets them to perform at a high level, and 2013 should be no different. The path to the SEC Championship, and most likely the National Championship, will probably go through the Crimson Tide this season.

Arkansas Arkansas brings in Bret Bielema who coached Wisconsin to three straight Rose Bowls and Big Ten Championships, and Bielema will try to change the culture in Fayetteville.

There will be an adjustment period since much of the current roster was recruited to play in a spread offense under Bobby Petrino, but history says that Bielema will have the Razorbacks playing smash-mouth football before long. There is talent at the running back position, but Tyler Wilson is gone so the offense will be somewhat of a question mark. The defense will have to improve after giving up more than 30 points per game in 2012. Expect to see some rough times this year for Hogs fans, but the future looks brighter under new leadership.

Auburn Gus Malzhan is back for Auburn, this time as the head coach, and he has his work cut out for him. The Tigers went 3-9 in 2012 and did not win a conference game, leading to the opening for Malzahn, who won the Sun Belt title with Arkansas State last year.

The quarterback position is up for grabs, but the spread offense should

Spurs & Feathers • 22

fit better for whichever player takes the reins of the offense. Former Gamecocks’ defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson, who takes the same position at Auburn, should help this unit to improve behind strong play from the line. This may not be the year for Auburn, but they should be on the upswing with the new coaching staff and athletes coming to the plains of Alabama.

Florida The Gators return and reload a defense that was one of the best in the country last season, and this unit will again be the strength of Will Muschamp’s team.

Florida will try to get the offense going this year so the defense is not forced to shut out opponents, but the skill positions remain question marks. Jeff Driskell should improve at quarterback, but the youth around him makes it hard to predict how the offense will perform.

The schedule is pretty tough for the Gators this year with non-conference showdowns against in-state rivals Miami and Florida State plus the SEC grind. Florida will go as far as their vaunted defense can carry them in 2013, and Muschamp will have them chomping at the bit to go toward a title in 2013.

Georgia Mark Richt has one of his most talented and highly-touted teams in Athens this year, and the Bulldogs will want to capitalize and challenge for SEC and national supremacy. The offense has the look of a well-oiled machine led by experienced Aaron Murray.

If Murray has an off day, he gets the option to hand the ball off to one of the two talented tailbacks, both of whom are receiving a fair amount of preseason attention. The defense will have big shoes to fill with the loss of some of the talented players who will now be playing their

PREVIEW football on Sunday afternoons, and how well this unit plays will go a long way in dictating how far the Bulldogs can go this season. Georgia will have to navigate a difficult early schedule to be able to live up to preseason expectations.

Kentucky The Mark Stoops era has begun in Lexington, and he is already drawing attention from Kentucky’s rabid basketball-centric fan base. Stoops has done a good job of recruiting, and he will try to bring in talent that has not considered playing at Kentucky before.

On the field this season, there is some experience returning on the offensive side of the ball in two quarterbacks and two running backs that saw significant action last year. The offense will have to figure out a way to put up more that 17.9 points per game if they want to improve on their 2-10 record from 2012. Kentucky seems to be headed in the right direction, but this may still be a lean year for the Wildcat football fans.

LSU LSU has one of the toughest schedules

in the country in 2013 with trips to Georgia and Alabama then hosting Florida and Texas A&M, but the Tigers should be used to this kind of gauntlet. Zach Mettenberger returns under center to run the offense, and he is receiving some preseason attention for his improvement in Cam Cameron’s new offensive scheme.

LSU will have to rely on Mettenberger more due to the lack of depth at running back. The defense will need to fill holes left by current NFL players, but this always seems to be a strength of Les Miles’ teams. The grueling schedule will show us if the Tigers are able to continue to reload, or if all the talent leaving will finally catch up to them.

Mississippi Ole Miss is in a good position coming off of a turnaround season in 2012 where they won seven games including the BBVA Compass Bowl. Head coach Hugh Freeze has brought in some good athletes who will look to make an impact this fall, but they will not have to be counted on due to the many returning starters. Offensively, the experience of quarterback Bo Wallace and returning the starting running back and wide receivers should help the Rebels put up some points.

On the defensive side, there should be progress in the second year in the system with talented returners and newcomers.

Ole Miss is a team that could make some noise and possibly surprise some SEC West powers this fall.

Mississippi State The Bulldogs will want to continue to progress under Dan Mullen after winning eight games in 2012, but they will need to finish stronger than last season if they want to factor into the SEC West battle. The offense will be led by the return of the starting backfield, so experience should help them on that side of the ball.

The defense was pretty good nationally, but only average in the tough SEC. Defensive coordinator Geoff Collins should help

this unit continue to progress in the third season under his tutelage; he has succeed everywhere he has coached. Mississippi State will need to perform late in the season with their back-loaded schedule to avoid taking a step back this season.

Missouri The transition to the SEC did not go very smoothly for the Tigers last fall, but they could make some progress in 2013.

Gary Pinkel returns eight starters on the offensive side of the ball, and quarterback James Franklin should bounce back after a down year. Former top recruit Dorial Green-Beckham should be more of a consistent threat, and wide receiver looks to be one of the deepest positions on the Mizzou roster. Six starters return on defense, and the line projects to be the strength of the unit. If the Mizzou offense can put up more than the 25.8 points per game they did last year, the Tigers may be able to have a better season in year two in the SEC.

South Carolina The Gamecocks should be in contention for the SEC title in 2013 with important SEC East games both early and late in the year, not to mention a tough non-conference slate as well. Head coach Steve Spurrier has brought unprecedented success to South Carolina, and to continue the trend the experienced players will have to perform at a high level. South Carolina had one of the best defenses in the nation in 2012, and All-American Jadeveon Clowney will lead another talented unit this season despite some inexperience in the back seven. The offense will rely on the line with four returning starters to open holes for the running game and protect either of the capable quarterbacks.

The Gamecocks will be looking for a trip back to the SEC Championship in 2013.

Tennessee The Volunteers are another team with a new coach, and Butch Jones has the fan base excited by his credentials of winning

four conference championships in six seasons as a head coach. Tennessee lost some offensive firepower to the NFL, but the line remains fairly in tact and should allow the two returning running backs to lead the unit. The defense will need to improve from 2012 when they were porous, but an experienced front seven should help this group perform better this fall. The first year under Jones will most likely be a transition period, and he will need to get the team to buy into his scheme or it could be a forgettable and quiet season for the Vols without many refrains of Rocky Top.

Texas A&M Johnny Manziel is back after his Heisman-winning campaign in 2012, and he will look to lead the Aggies to another big season as a popular pick to make some noise in the national championship race.

They have a big showdown with Alabama in mid-September that will give one of these teams a boost in the rankings and an edge in the SEC West race.

Head coach Kevin Sumlin has a lot of experience coming back to his exciting, up-tempo offense, especially on the line to protect Johnny Football. If the defense can continue to be decent and the offense puts up big numbers, there is the potential that the new leader in the SEC West will reside in College Station, Texas in 2013.

Vanderbilt Vanderbilt has built some momentum over the past two years, including winning nine games in 2012, and head coach James Franklin will attempt to keep that rolling in 2013. The strength of this team is on the defensive side of the ball, where they have experience returning from a great showing last season. The offensive side of the ball will see changeovers in the backfield at both the quarterback and running back positions, but that transition may be easier with two highly talented and experienced receivers returning. Franklin has done a good job of changing the culture at Vanderbilt, and his team will be another tough, physical game for SEC opponents this fall.

Spurs & Feathers • 23

Gamecocks on Award Watch Lists Bruce Ellington - 2013 Paul Hornung Award Watch List; given to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission and football legend, Louisville native Paul Hornung; 2013 Biletnikoff Award Watch List - given to the outstanding receiver in college football by Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc. and named for Fred Biletnikoff.

Jadeveon Clowney - 2013 Maxwell Award Watch List - given to America’s college player of the year since 1937; 2013 Bednarik Award Watch List - given to the college defensive player of the year since 1995; 2013 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List - given annually to the national defensive player of the year by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club; 2013 Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List - given to the best down linemen, end-to-end on offense or defense within 10 yards to left or right of ball and linebackers within five yards of the ball; eligibility determined by AllAmerican, All-Conference or preseason honors.

Rory Anderson - 2013 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List, given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end by the John Mackey Award Selection Committee and named for John Mackey.

A.J. Cann - 2013 Outland

Rory Anderson

2013 South Carolina Football Schedule 8/29/13

9/7/13 9/14/13 9/28/13 10/5/13 10/12/13 10/19/13 10/26/13 11/2/13 11/16/13 11/23/13 11/30/13

North Carolina at Georgia Vanderbilt at Central Florida Kentucky at Arkansas at Tennessee at Missouri Mississippi State Florida Coastal Carolina Clemson

Trophy Watch list; given to the nation’s best interior lineman on offense or defense by the Football Writers Association of America All-America Commmittee.

Columbia, S.C. at Athens, Ga. Columbia, S.C. Orlando, Fla. Columbia, S.C. Fayetteville, Ark. Knoxville, Tenn.

Columbia, Mo. Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C. Columbia, S.C.

6 p.m 4:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA

Kimberly McCormack

Kelcy Quarles - 2013 Outland Trophy Watch list; given to the nation’s best interior lineman on offense or defense by the Football Writers Association of America AllAmerica Committee.

Damiere Byrd - 2013 Biletnikoff Award Watch List; given to the outstanding receiver in college football by Tallahassee Quaterback Club Foundation, Inc. and named for Fred Biletnikoff.

Shaq Roland - 2013 Biletnikoff Award Watch List; given to the outstanding receiver in college footballby Tallahassee Quaterback Club Foundation, Inc. and named for Fred Biletnikoff.

Connor Shaw - 2013 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Watch List and Manning Award Watch List; O’Brien Award given to nation’s best college quarterback. Manning Award comes from total quarterback rating.

Spurs & Feathers • 24

South Carolina to host multiple SEC Championships in spring of 2014 The University of South Carolina Athletics facilities get the opportunity to host two SEC Championship events this spring.

First, South Carolina and the Town of Blythewood will host the SEC Championships in the second season of SEC equestrian on March 28-29. The SEC Championships will showcase one of the premier equestrian facilities in the state at One Wood Farm in Blythewood, S.C. South Carolina will also host the 2014 SEC Softball Tournament from May 7-10. The SEC Tournament will flaunt the Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field that opened in the spring of 2013 to a national audience. All nine games of the SEC Tournament will be shown on the ESPN networks.

The Board members of the Atlanta Gamecock Club show off their new Carolina plates, issued for the first time in Georgia this year. They are from left to right: Will Clarke, Tim Martin, Susan Hitchcock, Jason Hultgren, Carey Brewer, Steven Brown, John Monahon and Jim Patterson. Not pictured are Anthony LaGroon, Michelle Beagle and John Drawdy.

Georgia drivers have Carolina on their minds Peach state approves USC tags in July

I

by Carey Brewer, Atlanta Gamecock Club President

n 2008, the Atlanta Chapter of the Carolina Alumni Association started a campaign to secure Gamecock license plates in the State of Georgia. The process required purchasing a bond and obtaining 1000 applicants to pay a $25 manufacturing fee. The Motor Vehicle Department would then start producing these tags. After over a year and and a little over 300 applications, the bond time expired and the project stalled. Since these 300 plus Gamecocks did not know when, or even if, they would ever receive a plate, many of them lost their enthusiasm.

According to the Alumni Club, it became increasingly difficult to maintain any level of excitement, and the project eventually died. During my many years of serving on the Atlanta Gamecock Club Board, I heard the frustration of my fellow Gamecocks at being not only in the midst of thousands of Bulldogs tags, but also constantly having to look at those orange Tiger paws all over the place. This past fall I agreed to accept the Presidency, and one of the first things on my agenda was to see if The Gamecock Club could revive this campaign. I asked Anthony LaGroon to run

Want more info?

Contact: Carey Brewer, President Atlanta Gamecock Club onecockychick@gmail.com (404) 906-2240 Anthony LaGroon, Director, License Tag Campaign Atlanta Gamecock Club usc1906@bellsouth.net (770) 795-1708 for a vacant position on our Board and to chair the license tag campaign. Anthony agreed and we resurrected this campaign in January. My Board and I were aware of all the hurdles The Carolina Alumni Club had tried to jump, so we decided to approach our campaign in a different way.

Instead of trying to get 1000 applicants before production could begin, we raised $25,000 sponsor money to pre-purchase these 1000 tags. Raising this money was amazingly easy for us. Board member, Will Clark and I spent just a couple

hours to solicit a few generous Gamecock sponsors and we Board members also sponsored. Pre-purchasing these tags did two things for us--one, we had no time limit on the bond and two, the plates were produced very soon after approval. We estimate that we have between 500 and 600 Gamecocks on the road with their new tags, now or in the near future. Although we had to use our funds to purchase the bond, the University was invaluable to us in setting up a web site to receive payments and to serve as our bookkeeping partner.

This entire campaign has been both challenging and rewarding--challenging because we had to search for many of the original applicants after five years and rewarding because we have made many of our fellow Gamecocks very proud and happy to finally get their tags. During this campaign, Anthony and I found that we were both determined and impatient people, and those traits definitely worked to our advantage.

You will receive temporary tags until your new ones are mailed to you ... Drive with Pride and Go Cocks!

Spurs & Feathers • 25

Cross Country The University of South Carolina cross country team is coming off of a season in 2012 that saw a team victory, the team’s second straight at the Gamecock Invitational, and a 10th-place finish in the NCAA Southeast Regional.

The Gamecocks lose only four seniors from the 2012 squad, so continuity should be a strength of the team. There were many rising sophomores who made contributions and gained experience in 2012, and that should pay off this fall.

Sophomore Kayla Lampe led the team last year by picking up two individual victories on her way to becoming an SEC AllFreshman selection and also earning All-Southeast Region honors.

The 2012 team co-captains Meredith Mill and Penny Boswell both return this fall to help lead the team to another hopefully successful season.

The team excelled not only in their meets, but also in the classroom by earning the nation’s second-best team GPA of 3.743. Lampe added to her list of awards by earning USTFCCCA All-Academic Team laurels as well.

Head coach Stan Rosenthal will enter his 13th season at the helm of the cross country team this fall, and he will look to continue the success of last season both on the course and in the classroom.

Men’s Soccer

The University of South Carolina men’s soccer program will look to progress in the new-look Conference USA. Head coach Mark Berson will be entering his 36th season leading South Carolina, and

2013 Gamecock fall sports preview Berson has compiled over 450 victories, two C-USA tournament titles (2005, 2010) and one regular season title (2011).

He was named the conference’s Coach of the Year in 2011. The Gamecocks brought in a talented recruiting class that has the ability to contribute right away to the team’s success.

Returning will be two of the top three points producers in the forms of midfielders Braeden Troyer and Jeffrey Torda. Last season’s leading scorer, Bradlee Baladez, is playing his soccer this year for FC Dallas in the MLS. Returning goalkeeper Robert Beebe compiled a 1.67 goals against average in limited action in 2012, and he will most likely be called upon to be the starter this fall. The defense and midfield should be the most experienced positions on the roster, which can assist the new starter in net.

Berson has a combination of talent, youth and experience on the roster this fall, and he will look to lead the team to compete for the C-USA title in 2013.

Women’s Soccer University of South Carolina women’s soccer will feature a young squad that will look to make a splash in the competitive SEC. The team will be led by two-time SEC Coach of the Year Shelley Smith, who enters her 13th season leading the Gamecocks. The young class of 10 new student-athletes should provide talent and depth to the group of returners. The

Gamecocks will hope to build on that to take the next step and compete for a conference title this fall.

The top five points leaders from 2012 return for the Gamecocks, led by Danielle Au, the returning goals and points leader from the forward and attacking midfield positions. The Gamecocks also have starting goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo retuning after compiling a 1.20 goals against average last fall. The returning experience will allow Smith to bring the freshmen along slowly if needed, and should only help in SEC play.

With a good mix of youth and experience, Smith could have this team playing very well and becoming a major factor in the SEC championship race.

Volleyball University of South Carolina volleyball will try to keep the program’s momentum going from the 2012 team that earned the second winning record in a decade. Returning to lead the young squad will be 2012 AllSEC Second Team performer Juliette Thévenin. The only other major contributor returning will be MB/RS sophomore Darian Dozier, who started 22 matches and appeared in 31.

New talent has been brought in to bolster the roster with eight freshmen newcomers and two transfers who will be asked to contribute right away.

Head coach Scott Swanson is entering his third season and has the program in good shape after improving the Gamecocks’ win totals in each of his first two seasons. The team also excelled in the classroom in the by scoring the athletic department’s highest team GPA in both semesters. The Gamecocks will hope to continue to improve under Swanson’s guidance and become a factor in the the extremely competitive SEC.

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Danielle Au Spurs & Feathers • 26

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www.JWSRE.com call 800.746.5651 or 843.237.4246

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Donor Spotlight

Heyward L. King Jr.

A talented Carolina running back of yesteryear who earned the Unsung Hero Award in 1957, Heyward L. King Jr., ’59, of Lake City travels to football games in a particularly stylish manner.

King lettered in football and track and was track team captain in 1958, so attending all football games—home and away—keeps him connected.

He, his wife Susie, and other guests go Gamecock-bound to tailgate in a black, dieselpowered, “Greyhound-type bus” that his brother, Reamer, owns. At Carolina, he parks in a designated tailgate space— right next to Williams-Brice Stadium.

Business Success Provides Means to Benefit Athletics “It’s a great time to be

a Gamecock,” said King, who recently bestowed a $1 million cash gift to Athletics.

The discretionary gift is for Athletics’ most vital needs.

The Gamecock Club has been another benefactor of his generosity through the years.

King has been chairman of W. Lee Flowers, a successful food distributorship in Lake City, since 1978, and a company employee since 1960—the year he left Columbia following receipt of his education degree. Before returning to Lake City, he spent a year teaching and coaching at A.C. Flora High School.

King and his long-time partner, Henry Johnson, learned the wholesale food business from their fathers—Heyward King Sr.

Heyward L. King Jr. (right) and his brother, Reamer and William H. Johnson. He emphasizes four things that have led to his success in life: “serve God through the church of your choice; love your family; give back to the community you’re a part of; and make every business step a solid one financially.”

Active as an Alumni Member, and in His Community “And that is what we’ve done,” said King, who has served his community as Lake

City as District 3 school board chairman, as USC Board of Visitors Chairman, as finance chairman of his Lake City United Methodist Church, and through many other endeavors.

He credits his 53-year marriage to Susie, which produced four children and 10 grandchildren, as his biggest success. “My pride and joy, and the best thing I ever did in my life, was marry Susie,” he said.

Gamecock Club chapters hosting kickoff festivities The University of South Carolina fall sports seasons are right around the corner, and Gamecock Club chapters are celebrating.

Each chapter’s fall preview or kickoff event information can be found on the Gamecock Club calendar on SpursandFeathers.com.

The calendar also includes all announced athletic events, and will be updated as more information comes available from South Carolina Athletics and the Gamecock Club.

This is available as a Google calendar and can be downloaded as well. Directions for downloading the calendar to your mobile device can be found here: https://support.google.com/ calendar/ If you’d like to have a Gamecock Club-related

Gamecock Club unveils new logo, sells most season tickets since 2008 Something to Crow About event listed in the Spurs & Feathers online calendar, email the information to bhand@spursandfeathers. com.

Please be sure to include all the critical details like date, time and the location where the event will be held and whether the event is open to the public or not.

Thank you Gamecock Club members! For the first time since 2008, we’ve sold over 50,000 season tickets for the season!

Ticket packages are still available! Purchase tickets today by calling the Gamecock Ticket Office at 803.777.4274.

It’s Great to be a Gamecock!

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H

ow to get involved in the Gamecock Club Garnet Market:

he Gamecock Club Garnet Market is a partnership opportunity with the University of South Carolina Gamecock Club. This is an exclusive opportunity for businesses to support the University of South Carolina and gain exposure at a minimal cost.

The Gamecock Club is the official fundraising and booster organization for the University of South Carolina Athletics Department. Thousands of student-athletes have received their college educations at the University of South Carolina thanks to generous donations from Gamecock Club members. More than 15,000 alumni and fans currently comprise the Gamecock Club, a number that continues to increase.

• To participate in the Gamecock Club Garnet Market, your business must be involved on an annual basis with the Gamecock Club or Garnet Way Capital Campaign.

• Your business must award a discount or special service to any customer that presents his or her current Gamecock Club membership card.

For more information or to join the Gamecock Club Garnet Market, please contact Jordan Gardner at (803) 777 4277 or at jgard@sc.edu

Current 2013 Garnet Market Members Cocky Town Discount: 10% everything in store. cockytown.com (803) 518-9662 419 Huger Street Columbia, SC 29201

Dano’s Pizzeria Discount: 15% off dine-in & take-out only – cannot be combined with other discounts & excludes alcohol. danosdelivers.com (803) 254-3266 2800-C Rosewood Drive Columbia, SC

DiPrato’s Discount: 10% off nonalcoholic items dipratos.com (803) 779-0606 342 Pickens Street Columbia, SC 29208

Firehouse Subs Discount: Free drink with purchase of medium or large sub 2805-B Sunset Boulevard West Columbia, SC 29169 109 Old Chapin Road Lexington, SC 29072 633 Main Street Columbia, SC 29201

Firehouse Subs Discount: Free drink with purchase of medium or large sub 3250 Forest Drive Columbia, SC 29204 150-A Harbison Boulevard Columbia, SC 29212 7467 Saint Andrews Road, Irmo, SC 29063

Home Furniture Discount: 10% off stock or custom orders homefurnituresc.com (803) 781-2925 1201 Lake Murray Blvd Irmo, SC 29063

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Jewelry Warehouse Discount: 10% off (in store only) garnet&blacktraditions. com 228 Knox Abbott Drive Cayce, SC 29033 (803) 457-7400 1270 Bower Parkway Columbia, SC 29212 (803)772-1470

Jewelry Warehouse Discount: 10% off (in store only) garnet&blacktraditions. com 5140 Sunset Blvd Lexington SC 29073 (803) 996-0485 10136 Two Notch Road Sparkleberry Square Columbia, SC 29229 (803) 788-0189

Mason Jar NYC 45 E. 30th Street New York, NY 10016 (212) 213-3587 masonjarnyc.com 15% off *Not valid on game days *Not to be combined with any other offers

Rendezvous Sports & Spirits 5021 Pelham Road Greenville, SC 29615 (864) 675-5770 http://www.rendezvousgreenville.com/ 10% off

Riverbanks Zoo Discount: 28% off online admission riverbanks.org (803) 779-8717 500 Wildlife Parkway Columbia, SC 29210

Vida Cantina Discount: 10% off all food purchases charlotte.vidacantina.com (704) 971-8432 210 East Trade Street, Suite 104A Charlotte, NC 28202

Whiskey River Charlotte Discount: 20% off food purchases/Dine-in only thewhiskeyriver.com/ charlotte/ (704) 749-1097 210 East Trade Street, Suite A-208 Charlotte, NC 28202

Sulley’s Bar & Grill 2005 North Beltline Boulevard Columbia, SC 29204 (803) 667-9083 15% off all food

Threadfinz Discount: 15% off all merchandise. Online code USC 15 threadfinz.com (843) 284-3327 1960 Rivera Drive, Suite E Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

Yesterdays Restaurant & Tavern Discount: $5 off any order over $35 yesterdayssc.com (803) 799-0196 2030 Devine Street Columbia SC 29205

2013 Hall of Fame class announced

by South Carolina Athletics Media Relations

Hall of Fame Induction: Thursday, Sept. 12 in The Zone at Williams-Brice Stadium.

The reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., with the dinner and inductions starting at 6:30 p.m.

The event is open to the public; tickets are $50 per person and may be ordered from the Association of Letterman or the USC Athletic Department beginning Aug. 6.

To purchase tickets to the event, please call the USC Ticket Office at 803-777-4274 or come by the Rice Athletics Center at 1304 Heyward Street.

The class of 2013 Hall of Fame Class includes: * The late Arlo Elkins, who

guided Carolina’s women’s tennis team to 17 consecutive NCAA tournaments, and 19 overall. Elkins coached the Gamecocks from 1983-2012, with his teams winning 438 matches. * All-America baseball shortstop Drew Meyer, a first-round draft choice by the Texas Rangers, who still holds the SEC record for most base hits in a season with 120 in 2002. * All-America softball pitcher Megan Matthews (Buning), who played from 1998-2002.

Matthews won 101 games for Carolina, and led the nation in saves as a true freshman.

When Matthews closed out her career in 2002, she was the Gamecocks’ all-time leader in strikeouts, complete games and

innings pitched. * Four-time women’s track All-American Charmaine Howell, who excelled in the 800 meters, finishing as runner-up at the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships. Howell won a silver medal in the 2000 Olympics in the 4x400 relay. * Max Runager, outstanding punter for coach Jim Carlen’s teams of the late 1970s, who was voted to Carolina’s all-time team in 1992. Runager punted in the NFL from 1979-1989 for the Eagles, 49ers and Cleveland Browns. He punted for two Super Bowl teams - the Eagles in 1980 and the 49ers in 1984. * Dave DeCamilla, who anchored the offensive line for coach Paul Dietzel’s Gamecocks from 1968-1970. DeCa-

milla was named first team All-ACC in both 1969 and 1970. Carolina won the ACC title in 1969. * Chris Boyle, baseball catcher for coach June Raines from 1981-84, helped lead the Gamecocks to two College World Series appearances. In his career, Boyle drove in 198 runs, second only to Justin Smoak’s 207; he also had 224 base hits. * And the late Jake Bodkin, who was voted first-team AllACC on coach Warren Giese’s offensive line in 1960, after being named second team in 1959. Bodkin won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy for the state of South Carolina in 1960 and was drafted by the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.

South Carolina unveils new official online store stocked with deals on all your Gamecock gear

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he University of South Carolina athletic department was hoping its new official online store would be a hit, but never did they expect how quickly it would resonate with Gamecock fans.

According to South Carolina Associate Athletics Director/CMO Eric Nichols, the first 24 hours showed just how useful the Gamecock fans found the new offering as the opening day of the new store featured more orders than the entire month of July in 2012.

“It is important to us that every touchpoint (associated with Gamecock athletics) has great appeal and we think this is exceptional,” noted Nichols.

“I feel we are meeting our demand as the new online store has unparalleled Gamecock gear, new designs for products, excellent service and four times the inventory.”

South Carolina’s official online store is part of a multiyear agreement with Fanatics Retail Group, Inc., the

shop.gamecocksonline.com business development arm of Fanatics, Inc.

According to a press release from South Carolina Athletics

Media Relations, the online store features simple site navigation, safe and secure checkout, flat-rate shipping and quick and efficient delivery.

Merchandise ranges from apparel items such as official Under Armour sideline gear, T-shirts, jerseys, sweatshirts and hats, to tailgating gear, home décor, auto accessories and more with over 1,500 unique products.

“Adding South Carolina Athletics to our Fanatics family is an honor,” stated Jamie Davis, President of Fanatics in the press release. “Fans and alumni of the university will now enjoy all the incredible benefits that we provide, such as fast shipping, yearlong returns, safe and secure checkout, and 24-hour customer service, all focusing on making every fans’ hassle-free online shopping experience the best it can be.”

For more information or to visit the new official online store, please visit shop.gamecocksonline.com.

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Quick look back on a great 2012-13 athletic campaign

by Brian Hand Photography by Allen Sharpe

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The South Carolina Track and Field teams combined to receive 13 All-America certificates from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Eleven Gamecocks were awarded the 13 All-Amer-

he 2012-13 South Carolina athletic campaign featured many memorable moments over the course of the year.

The South Carolina men’s socSamie Garcia cer team knocked off the No. 2 team in the country in the fall of 2012, while the South Carolina women’s soccer team advanced to the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament in Orange Beach, Ala. after a 3-2 overtime win over Arkansas in the first round.

The South Carolina volleyball team concluded the fall of 2012 Nolan Belcher season with 18 victories to pick up its second winning record in a decade. Gamecock cross country obtained two top-5 finishes as a team last year, including top team honors at the Gamecock Invitational at Hilton Field in Fort Jackson.

The Gamecock football team capped off its second straight 11win season with a 33-28 victory over Michigan in the Outback Bowl. The ica distinctions that were performance victory over the Wolverines in the Outback based at the 2013 NCAA Outdoor ChampiBowl allowed South Carolina to obtain onships in Eugene, Ore. its second straight national top-10 finish.

In men’s tennis, South Carolina advanced South Carolina ended the year a programto the NCAA Tournament before falling best eighth in the AP poll and seventh in to UNC Wilmington. Individually, South the Coaches’ poll.

Carolina’s Tsvetan Mihov advanced to the The Gamecocks have now secured an NCAA Round of 16 at the NCAA Men’s SEC East-best 31 wins over the last three Tennis Singles Championship. Mihov seasons. The 31 wins over the three-year knocked off the No. 2 singles player in the span are tied for the eighth-most in the county en route to the Round of 16 appearcountry over the past three years. ance. In women’s tennis, South Carolina The South Carolina women’s basketball fell to Purdue in the opening round of the team closed out its impressive 2012-13 NCAA Tournament. The South Caroseason as a consensus top-20 national selec- lina doubles tandem of Jaklin Alawi and tion. The Gamecocks finished with a 25-8 Dominika Kanakova lost in the NCAA record and advanced to the second round Round of 32. of the NCAA Tournament. The Gamecocks The South Carolina women’s golf team have captured two straight 20-win seasons. finished in third place at the SEC ChamThe South Carolina men’s basketball team pionship at the Greystone Golf Club in ended its first season under new coach Birmingham, Ala. The Gamecocks would Frank Martin with 14 victories, including go on to finish fourth out of 24 teams at the five straight wins from Dec. 7-Jan. 5.

NCAA West Regional at the Stanford Golf The Gamecock men’s swimming and div- Course in Stanford, Calif. The fourth-place ing teams finished in eighth place as a team finish allowed South Carolina to advance at the SEC Championship with the women’s to the NCAA Championship at the Georgia swimming and diving team ending their Golf Course in Athens, Ga. South Carolina efforts in 11th place as a squad. South Caro- placed 20th at the NCAA Championlina earned four All-America honors at the ship. The South Carolina men’s golf team 2013 NCAA Championships. claimed top team honors at the 26-team

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Wendy’s Kiawah Classic at the Turtle Point Golf Club in Kiawah Island, S.C. The top-place finish at the Wendy’s Kiawah Classic was part of a tremendous year that saw the Gamecocks finish second at the SEC Championship at the Sea Island Golf Club in St. Simons, Ga. South Carolina would tie for second at the NCAA Columbus Regional at the OSU Golf Club in Columbus, Ohio. The Gamecocks’ season ended in stroke play at the NCAA Championship at the Capital City Club in Atlanta tied for 27th.

One of the top equestrian programs in the country, South Carolina won the inaugural SEC Equestrian Championship at the Auburn University Horse Center. The SEC Championship was part of a 2012-13 season that saw the Gamecocks pick up 11 wins, including two Western wins and one Hunt Seat victory at the 2013 NCEA National Championship at the Extraco Events Center in Waco, Texas.

The South Carolina softball team received its first NCAA Tournament bid since 2007 in the 2013 season. The Gamecocks would advance all the way to the championship round of the Austin Regional before falling to regional host Texas.

The Gamecocks ended the 2013 season with 34 victories.

Under the guidance of first-year head coach Chad Holbrook, South Carolina baseball put together another tremendous campaign in the 2013 season.

The Gamecocks, who have appeared in every regional since 2000, dominated their own regional to make their 11th appearance in the last 14 years in the NCAA Super Regionals.

The Gamecocks fell just shy of their fourth-straight appearance at the 2013 College World Series in Omaha, but nevertheless procured 43 wins in the first season under Holbrook.

The Gamecocks success in the 2012-13 athletic year was not just confined to the field of play as South Carolina once again showed their prowess in the classroom with the athletic department picking up its 13th straight semester with over a 3.0 grade point average. South Carolina studentathletes combined for a 3.198 grade point average in the spring of 2013.

Under Armour rolls out 2013 Gamecock uniforms

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nder Armour and the University of South Carolina have partnered to design a new look for the Gamecocks for the 2013 football season.

In developing the new look, Under Armour focused on creating “something timeless that fits in with the power and tradition of SEC Football and linked specifically to South Carolina.”

According to Under Armour, “Coach Spurrier has established a tradition of excellence at South Carolina and we worked together to create a uniform that would be viewed in the same light and would instantly be known as the South Carolina design for years to come.”

Under Armour noted that the total number of stripes in the jersey, pant and helmet totals 11, the same number of buildings on “The Horseshoe,” the most famous part of the South Carolina campus and a national historic landmark.

by South Carolina Athletics Media Relations

First day of practice brings out the fans

Jadeveon Clowney goes through drills on first day of fall practice.

Connor Shaw warms up with his teammates.

Head coach Steve Spurrier watches over things at first practice of year.

A large group of Gamecock fans came out to the first practice.

Clowney and Gerald Dixon make national news by flipping a sled.

Dylan Thompson took time to sign autographs for the fans.

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