B
Brian Shoemaker
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Gamecock Nation Today
Monday, March 11, 2019
“I just put it in my head that I wanted to be the hero in that moment. Heroes do what heroes do. You have to come up in the big time.” – Luke Berryhill on hitting a game-tying home run in the ninth inning of Saturday's baseball game.
Dakereon Joyner/Credit: Chris Gillespie
1. Five players who have shown improvement this spring
Above all else, spring football is a time for players to take another step forward in their development. With Will Muschamp and his staff looking to fill some key holes on the roster and to answer some questions regarding depth at certain spots, there are ample opportunities for players to step forward.
Which ones have we heard as having made significant improvement several practices into the spring?
Jamel Cook
– Chris Clark, (email)
Chris Silva/Credit: Katie Dugan
2. USC downs Georgia on Senior Day
South Carolina built a big first-half lead and then held off Georgia for a 66-46 win to clinch the fourth seed in the SEC Tournament. (story, photo galleries, postgame video)
The Gamecocks earned a double-bye in this week's SEC Tournament and will play Friday at 3. (link to bracket)
With the win, Martin became South Carolina’s third winningest coach all-time, behind Frank McGuire and Frank Johnson. Martin has 129 wins, Johnson 174, and McGuire 283.
Martin tees off on Gamecocks' critics – South Carolina wrapped up the regular season Saturday, clinching the fourth seed in the SEC Tournament and winning 11 games for the third time in four years. During that span, only Kentucky can boast more success in the SEC, and yet Frank Martin argued that South Carolina continues to get no respect. (link)
USC Women's 4x400m team/Credit: South Carolina Athletics
3. New and notes
Track & Field: Gamecocks win NCAA Women's 4x400m Championship – Stephanie Davis, Aliyah Abrams, Tatyana Mills and Wadeline Jonathas won the women's 4x400m national championship on Saturday at the 2019 NCAA Indoor Championships. They turned in a time of 3:30.76 to edge Texas A&M (3:30.85) and Arkansas (3:30.86). (link)
Women's Basketball: Gamecocks fall in SEC Tournament – South Carolina led Arkansas going into the fourth quarter, but went cold at the wrong time, and lost its SEC Tournament opener, 95-89, to the Razorbacks. (link)
Baseball: USC sweeps Valparaiso
• Game 1: Pitching cruises, leads Gamecocks to win over Valpo (link)
• Game 2: Gamecocks don't waste Morgan's outing, walk-off Valpo (link)
• Game 3: Olson rakes, Hopkins hits for cycle as USC sweeps Valpo (link)
Baseball: Jenkins fights through injuries, makes the most of his opportunity – It took 19 broken bones, five torn ligaments, four surgeries and roughly 10 million swings off the pitching machine to get him to where he found himself Sunday afternoon. (link)
Softball: South Carolina swept by Kentucky
• Game 1: Carolina falls in SEC opener (link)
• Game 2: Gamecocks drop series to Kentucky (link)
• Game 3: USC loses series finale to Kentucky (link)
Recruiting: In-state guard felt 'right at home' during visit – Until this weekend, Quentin Hodge hadn’t been on a visit to South Carolina in a long time. He got his chance to see the program up close and personal for the first time in about two years and left really impressed with what he saw from Frank Martin and company. (subscription)
Women's Golf: Go named on 2019 ANNIKA Award Watch List – Lois Kaye Go has been named to the latest ANNIKA Award Watch List, Golfweek announced Friday. Go is one of 20 golfers currently in contention for the national honor, which recognizes the top female U.S. collegiate golfer. (link)
Women's Golf: Gamecocks claim best DRI finish in program history? – The No. 10 women's golf team finished the 2019 Darius Rucker Intercollegiate with a final round 286 (+2) to finish in a tie for second place. (link)
Equestrian: Gamecocks down Delaware State on Senior Day – The equestrian team defeated Delaware State on Senior Day, 15-4, on Friday. The Gamecocks won both the Western and Hunter Seat portions of the day, 8-1 and 7-3, respectively. (link)
Men's Tennis: Gamecocks down Ole Miss – USC earned its first SEC win of the season with a 4-3 win over No. 40 Ole Miss on Sunday. (link)
Women's Tennis: Gamecocks sweep Missouri – USC needed just the doubles point and three singles courts for its, 4-0, defeat of Missouri on Friday. (link)
Women's Tennis: South Carolina defeats Arkansas – Junior Silvia Chinellato won her eighth-consecutive match in Carolina's, 4-0, rout of Arkansas on Sunday. (link)
Beach Volleyball: Gamecocks roll through Saturday doubleheader – South Carolina went 2-0 in duals on Saturday, with 5-0 wins over Coastal Carolina (6-3) and UNCW (1-3) in Conway. The Gamecocks move to .500 for the season at 5-5, and the win over UNCW improves their conference record to 3-4. (link)
– Jackson Fields (email)
Dawn Staley
4. Plan your schedule accordingly
Monday, March 11
• All day – Men's Golf, Palmetto Intercollegiate 1st & 2nd rounds
• 1 pm – Men's Tennis hosts Mississippi State, video ***
*** The match began Friday but was suspended due to rain. Mississippi State held a 1-0 advantage at the time of the stoppage.
Tuesday, March 12
• All day – Men's Golf, Palmetto Intercollegiate final round
• 10 am – Beach Volleyball vs Southern Cal (Atlanta)
• 3 pm – Beach Volleyball vs Florida Gulf Coast (Atlanta)
• 7 pm – Baseball travels to The Citadel, video
• 7 pm – Carolina Calls featuring Dawn Staley
Wednesday, March 13
• 12 pm & 2:30 pm – Softball hosts double-header vs Bryant
– Jackson Fields (email)
5. This Date in Gamecock History
March 11, 2006 – The Gamecocks upset Kentucky in the SEC semifinals, stunning the heavily favored Wildcats, who were 34-1 in SEC Tournament semifinals before that. Twice, Carolina trailed by five in the second half, but the Gamecocks rallied each time, going ahead for good when Tarence Kinsey and Bryce Sheldon hit four straight 3-pointers to put USC up by six with 5:40 left. Kinsey led the Gamecocks with 18 points, with Sheldon (12) and Tre Kelley (13) also in double figures. The Gamecocks would lose to Florida in the finals but go on to win the NIT.
– John Parker, gamecockarchives.com
6. Key Dates (Countdown) ⌚
• March 13 – SEC MBB Tourney (2 days)
• March 21 – Football: Pro Timing Day (10)
• March 22 – Muschamp Coaches Clinic (11)
• April 6 – Football: Spring game (26)
• April 25 – NFL Draft begins (45)
• May 8 – SEC Softball Tourney (58)
• May 21 – SEC Baseball Tourney (71)
• July 15 – SEC Media Days begins (126)
• Aug. 31 – Football: Gamecocks vs UNC (173)
7. Birthdays and Celebrations!
Do you have something exciting you'd like us to share in Gamecock Nation Today? Go here for a chance to be featured.
Gamecock Central birthdays, Saturday-Monday
• @LCD1 (Member since 1998)
• @uscsteve2 (1998)
• @allredb (2001)
• @fowlline (2002)
• @gamecockendo (2004)
• @spurrierfan9 (2004)
• @Carolina Rawhyd (2006)
• @tuc1958 (2007)
• @patback33 (2017)
If you have a Gamecock Central account - free or subscription - you can add your birthday here.
Gamecock Nation birthdays
• Mark Fryer – Fryer redshirted in 1985 and took over as a starter in 1986 at right tackle. Fryer was named second-team All-South Independent that season as well as Football News’ second-team Freshman All-America. Fryer also started in 1987 and won the team’s Ed Guerard Academic Award and was named to the GTE Academic All-American team. He started all 12 games in 1988, repeating the Ed Guerard and GTE Academic All-American honors. A shoulder injury kept him out much of his final season (1989), a problem that had nagged him since off-season surgery after the '86 season. The coaching staff moved him inside to right guard in attempt to ease the load on his shoulder.
• Doug Hamrick (football/tight end, 1967-70)
• Skip Ramsey (football/quarterback, 1978)
• Brandon Schweitzer (football/defensive tackle, 2002-03)
• Al Stevens (football/defensive back, 1976-79)
• Joe Strickland (football/long snapper, 1996-99)
• Rahmel Walker (football/linebacker, 2005-06)
• Reubyn Walker (football/linebacker, 2015)
– John Parker, gamecockarchives.com
8. Around Gamecock Nation
• March 27 – Greenville, President's Reception (link)
• April 10 – Give 4 Garnet (link)
• April 23 – Augusta, Spurs Up Tour
• April 24 – Midlands, Spurs Up Tour
• April 29 – Lancaster, Spurs Up Tour
• April 30 – Greenville, Spurs Up Tour
• May 2 – York, Spurs Up Tour
• May 7 – Sumter, Spurs Up Tour
• May 8 – Myrtle Beach, Spurs Up Tour
• May 9 – Atlanta, Spurs Up Tour
• May 14 – Charleston, Spurs Up Tour
Note: Will Muschamp is scheduled to appear at all of the Spurs Up Tour events. More information, including specific locations and ticket prices, will be announced as it becomes available.
– Brian Shoemaker (email)
9. Another Carolina Podcast
Recorded Thursday, Gamecock Central's Chris Clark and Wes Mitchell offer first impressions of the new defensive line coach, spring practice thoughts and what we've learned so far.
Listen to Gamecock Central Podcasts on these platforms: Apple iTunes Podcasts | Spotify | PlayerFM | SoundCloud | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | Spreaker| YouTube
Reminder: You get to choose which breaking news alerts and newsletters to receive from Gamecock Central.
Celebrating 20 years! Established in 1998, Gamecock Central provides in-depth and insider coverage of Gamecock sports and recruiting, and is home to The Insiders Forum. Not a member of Gamecock Central? Subscribe here. Read what our members think about Gamecock Central.
DID YOU KNOW? You can receive this report (Gamecock Nation Today) early each morning in your email inbox. Just go to this link to enter your email address.
---------------------------------------
Gamecock Nation Today
Monday, March 11, 2019
“I just put it in my head that I wanted to be the hero in that moment. Heroes do what heroes do. You have to come up in the big time.” – Luke Berryhill on hitting a game-tying home run in the ninth inning of Saturday's baseball game.
Dakereon Joyner/Credit: Chris Gillespie
1. Five players who have shown improvement this spring
Above all else, spring football is a time for players to take another step forward in their development. With Will Muschamp and his staff looking to fill some key holes on the roster and to answer some questions regarding depth at certain spots, there are ample opportunities for players to step forward.
Which ones have we heard as having made significant improvement several practices into the spring?
Jamel Cook
- The Southern Cal transfer had lots of offers out of high school, and his size to skill ratio has always been quite intriguing.
- He’s someone with the talent level to realistically play anywhere in the secondary, but USC’s staff has him slotted at safety and think he could help there a lot in 2019.
- There were positive indications on Cook during the offseason program and some buzz about his performance so far this spring.
- The Florida native has gotten stronger and has a legitimate chance to be one of the starters at the safety position this season.
- With a battle raging at the right guard position that could spill into preseason camp in August, it’s not a certainty that Douglas will get the nod.
- Jordan Rhodes and Jovaughn Gwyn could have something to say there as well, but Douglas has been around the program for a while now.
- He’s an intelligent player who may not pack the punch of some others like Rhodes and Gwyn, but has done a good job of improving and playing his assignments.
- At a minimum, he’s a strong candidate to be one of Eric Wolford’s “best 8” guys up front this season.
- Fenwick has intrigued USC fans since his arrival because he had good high school tape and excellent size, but yet it was known that he had yet to begin really hitting his potential.
- A conversation we had during a media opportunity with Gamecock veteran AJ Turner really gave some keen insight into the fact that Fenwick had really dedicated himself in the offseason and looked like a different player from a mental and physical standpoint.
- It’s still somewhat hard to tell how the Gamecocks’ running back rotation will shake out, but Fenwick is better positioned to have a say in it this year.
- Defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson noted this spring that he was surprised at Ellis’ progress during the offseason program.
- Ellis was a player the staff thought during the recruiting process would be able to help last year, but he was hampered by not enrolling until the summer, then an injury.
- Robinson made mention of the fact that he had improved greatly from last year to this year.
- With USC looking to build more depth on the interior of the defensive line, Ellis’ emergence would be significant.
- Several around the program have remarked to us that there could be some type of role at quarterback for Joyner in the Gamecock offense regardless of how the backup situation shakes out before the season.
- There’s no doubt he brings a unique skill set, but like most young players he needed to improve his decision making.
- Joyner has also had to answer some questions regarding his accuracy, but he’s made strides in that department as well.
- How USC is looking to improve the run game – We have previously mentioned that perhaps the biggest component missing from the football squad is a consistent running game on offense. (subscription)
- Scott weighs in on a few of his players – Defensive line coach John Scott Jr. met with the media last week. Check out Scott's opinion on three of his players that are talked about the most among the fan base. (link)
– Chris Clark, (email)
Chris Silva/Credit: Katie Dugan
2. USC downs Georgia on Senior Day
South Carolina built a big first-half lead and then held off Georgia for a 66-46 win to clinch the fourth seed in the SEC Tournament. (story, photo galleries, postgame video)
The Gamecocks earned a double-bye in this week's SEC Tournament and will play Friday at 3. (link to bracket)
With the win, Martin became South Carolina’s third winningest coach all-time, behind Frank McGuire and Frank Johnson. Martin has 129 wins, Johnson 174, and McGuire 283.
Martin tees off on Gamecocks' critics – South Carolina wrapped up the regular season Saturday, clinching the fourth seed in the SEC Tournament and winning 11 games for the third time in four years. During that span, only Kentucky can boast more success in the SEC, and yet Frank Martin argued that South Carolina continues to get no respect. (link)
USC Women's 4x400m team/Credit: South Carolina Athletics
3. New and notes
Track & Field: Gamecocks win NCAA Women's 4x400m Championship – Stephanie Davis, Aliyah Abrams, Tatyana Mills and Wadeline Jonathas won the women's 4x400m national championship on Saturday at the 2019 NCAA Indoor Championships. They turned in a time of 3:30.76 to edge Texas A&M (3:30.85) and Arkansas (3:30.86). (link)
Women's Basketball: Gamecocks fall in SEC Tournament – South Carolina led Arkansas going into the fourth quarter, but went cold at the wrong time, and lost its SEC Tournament opener, 95-89, to the Razorbacks. (link)
Baseball: USC sweeps Valparaiso
• Game 1: Pitching cruises, leads Gamecocks to win over Valpo (link)
• Game 2: Gamecocks don't waste Morgan's outing, walk-off Valpo (link)
• Game 3: Olson rakes, Hopkins hits for cycle as USC sweeps Valpo (link)
Baseball: Jenkins fights through injuries, makes the most of his opportunity – It took 19 broken bones, five torn ligaments, four surgeries and roughly 10 million swings off the pitching machine to get him to where he found himself Sunday afternoon. (link)
Softball: South Carolina swept by Kentucky
• Game 1: Carolina falls in SEC opener (link)
• Game 2: Gamecocks drop series to Kentucky (link)
• Game 3: USC loses series finale to Kentucky (link)
Recruiting: In-state guard felt 'right at home' during visit – Until this weekend, Quentin Hodge hadn’t been on a visit to South Carolina in a long time. He got his chance to see the program up close and personal for the first time in about two years and left really impressed with what he saw from Frank Martin and company. (subscription)
Women's Golf: Go named on 2019 ANNIKA Award Watch List – Lois Kaye Go has been named to the latest ANNIKA Award Watch List, Golfweek announced Friday. Go is one of 20 golfers currently in contention for the national honor, which recognizes the top female U.S. collegiate golfer. (link)
Women's Golf: Gamecocks claim best DRI finish in program history? – The No. 10 women's golf team finished the 2019 Darius Rucker Intercollegiate with a final round 286 (+2) to finish in a tie for second place. (link)
Equestrian: Gamecocks down Delaware State on Senior Day – The equestrian team defeated Delaware State on Senior Day, 15-4, on Friday. The Gamecocks won both the Western and Hunter Seat portions of the day, 8-1 and 7-3, respectively. (link)
Men's Tennis: Gamecocks down Ole Miss – USC earned its first SEC win of the season with a 4-3 win over No. 40 Ole Miss on Sunday. (link)
Women's Tennis: Gamecocks sweep Missouri – USC needed just the doubles point and three singles courts for its, 4-0, defeat of Missouri on Friday. (link)
Women's Tennis: South Carolina defeats Arkansas – Junior Silvia Chinellato won her eighth-consecutive match in Carolina's, 4-0, rout of Arkansas on Sunday. (link)
Beach Volleyball: Gamecocks roll through Saturday doubleheader – South Carolina went 2-0 in duals on Saturday, with 5-0 wins over Coastal Carolina (6-3) and UNCW (1-3) in Conway. The Gamecocks move to .500 for the season at 5-5, and the win over UNCW improves their conference record to 3-4. (link)
– Jackson Fields (email)
Dawn Staley
4. Plan your schedule accordingly
Monday, March 11
• All day – Men's Golf, Palmetto Intercollegiate 1st & 2nd rounds
• 1 pm – Men's Tennis hosts Mississippi State, video ***
*** The match began Friday but was suspended due to rain. Mississippi State held a 1-0 advantage at the time of the stoppage.
Tuesday, March 12
• All day – Men's Golf, Palmetto Intercollegiate final round
• 10 am – Beach Volleyball vs Southern Cal (Atlanta)
• 3 pm – Beach Volleyball vs Florida Gulf Coast (Atlanta)
• 7 pm – Baseball travels to The Citadel, video
• 7 pm – Carolina Calls featuring Dawn Staley
Wednesday, March 13
• 12 pm & 2:30 pm – Softball hosts double-header vs Bryant
– Jackson Fields (email)
5. This Date in Gamecock History
March 11, 2006 – The Gamecocks upset Kentucky in the SEC semifinals, stunning the heavily favored Wildcats, who were 34-1 in SEC Tournament semifinals before that. Twice, Carolina trailed by five in the second half, but the Gamecocks rallied each time, going ahead for good when Tarence Kinsey and Bryce Sheldon hit four straight 3-pointers to put USC up by six with 5:40 left. Kinsey led the Gamecocks with 18 points, with Sheldon (12) and Tre Kelley (13) also in double figures. The Gamecocks would lose to Florida in the finals but go on to win the NIT.
– John Parker, gamecockarchives.com
6. Key Dates (Countdown) ⌚
• March 13 – SEC MBB Tourney (2 days)
• March 21 – Football: Pro Timing Day (10)
• March 22 – Muschamp Coaches Clinic (11)
• April 6 – Football: Spring game (26)
• April 25 – NFL Draft begins (45)
• May 8 – SEC Softball Tourney (58)
• May 21 – SEC Baseball Tourney (71)
• July 15 – SEC Media Days begins (126)
• Aug. 31 – Football: Gamecocks vs UNC (173)
7. Birthdays and Celebrations!
Do you have something exciting you'd like us to share in Gamecock Nation Today? Go here for a chance to be featured.
Gamecock Central birthdays, Saturday-Monday
• @LCD1 (Member since 1998)
• @uscsteve2 (1998)
• @allredb (2001)
• @fowlline (2002)
• @gamecockendo (2004)
• @spurrierfan9 (2004)
• @Carolina Rawhyd (2006)
• @tuc1958 (2007)
• @patback33 (2017)
If you have a Gamecock Central account - free or subscription - you can add your birthday here.
Gamecock Nation birthdays
• Mark Fryer – Fryer redshirted in 1985 and took over as a starter in 1986 at right tackle. Fryer was named second-team All-South Independent that season as well as Football News’ second-team Freshman All-America. Fryer also started in 1987 and won the team’s Ed Guerard Academic Award and was named to the GTE Academic All-American team. He started all 12 games in 1988, repeating the Ed Guerard and GTE Academic All-American honors. A shoulder injury kept him out much of his final season (1989), a problem that had nagged him since off-season surgery after the '86 season. The coaching staff moved him inside to right guard in attempt to ease the load on his shoulder.
• Doug Hamrick (football/tight end, 1967-70)
• Skip Ramsey (football/quarterback, 1978)
• Brandon Schweitzer (football/defensive tackle, 2002-03)
• Al Stevens (football/defensive back, 1976-79)
• Joe Strickland (football/long snapper, 1996-99)
• Rahmel Walker (football/linebacker, 2005-06)
• Reubyn Walker (football/linebacker, 2015)
– John Parker, gamecockarchives.com
8. Around Gamecock Nation
• March 27 – Greenville, President's Reception (link)
• April 10 – Give 4 Garnet (link)
• April 23 – Augusta, Spurs Up Tour
• April 24 – Midlands, Spurs Up Tour
• April 29 – Lancaster, Spurs Up Tour
• April 30 – Greenville, Spurs Up Tour
• May 2 – York, Spurs Up Tour
• May 7 – Sumter, Spurs Up Tour
• May 8 – Myrtle Beach, Spurs Up Tour
• May 9 – Atlanta, Spurs Up Tour
• May 14 – Charleston, Spurs Up Tour
Note: Will Muschamp is scheduled to appear at all of the Spurs Up Tour events. More information, including specific locations and ticket prices, will be announced as it becomes available.
– Brian Shoemaker (email)
9. Another Carolina Podcast
Recorded Thursday, Gamecock Central's Chris Clark and Wes Mitchell offer first impressions of the new defensive line coach, spring practice thoughts and what we've learned so far.
Listen to Gamecock Central Podcasts on these platforms: Apple iTunes Podcasts | Spotify | PlayerFM | SoundCloud | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | Spreaker| YouTube
Reminder: You get to choose which breaking news alerts and newsletters to receive from Gamecock Central.
Celebrating 20 years! Established in 1998, Gamecock Central provides in-depth and insider coverage of Gamecock sports and recruiting, and is home to The Insiders Forum. Not a member of Gamecock Central? Subscribe here. Read what our members think about Gamecock Central.
