BASEBALL
Gamecocks, Tigers playing for the series Tuesday | The Post and Courier
Apparently Sunday's game against the Tigers was more interest than we ever knew. Travis Haney does his part to flesh out a few of the sub-plots that we didn't get to see on television. Most surprising was that the juiced-bat incident was apparently brought about by Jack Leggett. Haney tells us that Leggett thought USC was warming its bats before use. The umpires disagreed.
Things heating up between Gamecocks, Tigers on off day | The Post and Courier
Travis Haney also reports on some of the extra-curriculars taking places around the Carolina-Clemson series lately. He's got a transcript from Chad Holbrook's interview with 107.5 The Game, Will Lamb calling USC pitchers "soft," and an update on the starting pitchers for Tuesday.
As a beat writer, I can see why Haney likes the jawing back and forth that these teams have been doing. But I have to say, I've never been one to enjoy trash-talking. I think it's disrespectful to your opponent, and I think it reflects poorly on the trash-talker. He may think these two teams have gotten a little too friendly lately (and I assure you, they have not), but I think this rivalry has enough hatred in it as is. I'd prefer to see Carolina take the high road here and lay some serious wood to the tigers on Tuesday.
More after the jump...
As for the whole Bradley Bat issue, it just sounds like sour grapes to me. If there's one thing you can say about Ray Tanner, it's that he's an honest man. Accusing him of cheating is the second most ridiculous thing I've heard in 2011. Maybe Jack Leggett was just committing a little gamesmanship, but it looks to me like he was acting childish. I don't think it had any efect on how Carolina played on Sunday and I think it made him look immature.
Haney also reports that Carolina will be going with Adam Westmoreland as a starter while Clemson will likely give David Haselden the nod.
Tales from the Foothills: Will Lamb’s Temporary Memory Loss | The Rubber Chickens
Also known as the trump card.
South Carolina & Clemson Meet In Reedy River Rivalry Game Tuesday At Fluor Field | Gamecocks Online
Your slate for the weekend.
Gamecocks Remain the Same in Baseball Polls | Leftover Hot Dog
Even after dropping a game to Clemson, Carolina is still a consensus top 10 team.
FOOTBALL
Gamecocks Football: Incoming Class Ranked Sixteenth | Leftover Hot Dog
Phile Steele rates the Gamecocks' 2011 class at sixteenth. Sounds about right to me. It says something that we're 16th and yet there are five SEC teams plus Clemson ranked above us. Recruiting sure is a grind.
Pre-Spring Practice Football Depth Chart Available | Spurs Up
Football can't get here soon enough. AmIright?
Position changes going into spring football practice | Spurs Up
Whoa, whoa. Jason Barnes is still on the team?
HONORS
Brookins Named USTFCCCA Southeast Region Athlete of the Year | Gamecocks Online
Congratualations, Lakya. You've earned it.
South Carolina senior LaKya Brookins has been named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Southeast Region Female Track Athlete of the Year, the organization announced Monday. Brookins is the first Gamecock to earn the award since Olympic gold medalist Natasha Hastings earned the honor in 2007.
Dana Hathorn Earns SEC Softball Freshman of the Week Honors | Gamecocks Online
A good sign for what has been a struggling program the last few years. Freshmen like Dana Hathorn will be instrumental in re-building our program.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Men's Hoops To Face Ole Miss In SEC Tournament First Round | Gamecocks Online
In case you missed it. Boy, don't we all wish we could miss it...