Twenty-seven players.That is how many players on the South Carolina roster hail from the state of Georgia. That is the second-highest any one state, by a wide margin. 46 players are from the Palmetto State.
The South Carolina women’s golf team is set to kick off its much anticipated 2013 season this weekend at the Cougar Classic in Hanahan, S.C. The Gamecocks, ranked No. 20 by Golfweek’s preseason countdown, return from a year in which the team reached its fourth consecutive NCAA Championship finals appearance under coach Kalen Harris.
One of the most anticipated matches of the season has arrived for the South Carolina women’s soccer team. The Gamecocks will travel to Clemson on Friday at 5:30 p.m. to play the Tigers (1-0-2). South Carolina is undefeated at 3-0-1 after finishing up a road trip in Boston last week. The Gamecocks tied Boston University 0-0 Friday, and Sunday the Gamecocks won 3-0 against Northeastern.
After months of building up the Jadeveon-Clowney-is-unstoppable hype, the junior star finally hit the field for a new season last Thursday against North Carolina. Because of the constant replay of Clowney’s hit on Michigan’s Vincent Smith in January, it appears that fans and critics around the nation expected that highlight to be a given every week this season.
Gamecocks look to rebound from tough loss
Leading up to the start of the new season, coach Mark Berson said that in order for Gamecock men’s soccer to win games this fall, the team would need production from key young players. And after sophomore Jeffrey Torda’s screamer of a goal in South Carolina’s 1-0 season opening victory over East Tennessee State, Berson had nothing to complain about.
Young team impresses at tournament, wins every game in three matches
With lone goal, Gamecocks top East Tennessee State
Sophomore running back Mike Davis took advantage of his new opportunity as a starter with 75-yard touchdown run in the third quarter of the Gamecocks’ Thursday night win over North Carolina.
The South Carolina defense started the season about as hot as the 90-plus-degree weather at kickoff, posting a shutout in the first quarter of play.
Quarterbacks Connor Shaw and Dylan Thompson picked up right where they left off last season as the Gamecocks opened their highly anticipated 2013 campaign with Thursday night’s battle against North Carolina.
Senior Connor Shaw is the winningest quarterback in South Carolina history, with 17 wins to 3 losses as a starter, but that does not mean his starting job is safe from junior Dylan Thompson.
The offensive and defensive lines are often overlooked and underappreciated, but this year, the battles in the trenches could determine South Carolina’s fate. With other position groups scrambling to replace departed starters and much of the weight of the team on his unit’s shoulders, offensive line coach Shawn Elliott is confident that his group can deliver come gameday.
Last season, the South Carolina defense was full of names. Safety D.J. Swearinger made a name for himself by making big hits and intimidating players on the field. DeVonte Holloman was a consistent presence at the spur and linebacker positions, as were Shaq Wilson, Quin Smith and Reginald Bowens.
There are a few familiar wide receivers from last season that will return this year for South Carolina, but some new names are expected to contribute, too. The big story involving the receivers for the game against North Carolina is the status of junior Bruce Ellington, who has been dealing with a hamstring injury. He would normally start as an outside receiver, but is not listed as a starter in the depth chart USC released before this week’s game.
When the Gamecocks take the field against North Carolina in the 2013 season opener, the team will have a slightly different look than fans are used to. Earlier this month, Under Armour rolled out a brand-new uniform set for South Carolina football. In terms of looks, the threads are not too much of a departure from the uniform the Gamecocks have worn for the past two years; the name and number fonts remain the same, and the stripes have been moved from the front of the jersey to the shoulders.
The hot topic on the defensive side of the ball for the Gamecocks has been whether they will be able to slow down North Carolina coach Larry Fedora’s fast-paced offense.