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FOOTBALL
The author's question is basically this: "What's more valuable to a flagging franchise, a sure-thing defensive end like Clowney or a potential franchise quarterback like Arizona's Teddy Bridgewater, Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel, or (and I had to stifle a laugh when I read this too), Clemson's Tajh Boyd. Maybe it's because the only Boyd performances I've watched were against the Gamecocks or simply because I suffer from severely garnet-hued eyes, but I have never understood the national attention for Clemson's dual-threat quarterback. Someone please enlighten me in the comments.
Ellington Named To 2013 Paul Hornung Award Watch List | Gamecocks Online
"South Carolina junior wide receiver Bruce Ellington has been named to the 2013 Paul Hornung Award Watch List, as announced by the Louisville Sports Commission on Friday. Ellington is one of 44 players named to the preseason list."
The award is given annually to the "most versatile player in major college football." I'm not sure how one measures versatility (most positions played in a season?), but Ellington appears to be in good company. Other SEC players nominated include:
Odell Beckham, Jr., LSU
Trey Burton, Florida
Loucheiz Purifoy, Florida
Christion Jones, Alabama
Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
Malcolm Mitchell, UGA
Marcus Murphy, Missouri
LaDarius Perkins, Mississippi State
BASEBALL
Former Gamecock baseball players rally to help Powell | GoUpstate.com
Some encouraging news for one of my all-time favorite Gamecocks baseball players, Landon Powell. In addition to ushering in my interest in college baseball, who doesn't love a fat catcher/ power hitter. If you're not familiar with Powell and his wife's ordeal, educate yourself through the link above.
Gamecocks will bring in shortstop Marcus Mooney in 2013 class | The Big Spur
Whether it's from the fact that I grew up a Braves fan in the 90s or a recent running back who graced the turf at Williams-Brice, I've always had a good feeling about athletes named Marcus. It doesn't hurt that this guy in the brother of one Peter Mooney, who helped us win a national championship a couple years ago.
EQUESTRIAN
South Carolina Releases 2013-2014 Equestrian Schedule | Gamecocks Online
The moment we've all been waiting for has arrived. Highlights include hosting States Kansas and Fresno in consecutive weeks to open the season and trips to South Dakota State and UT-Martin. You may remember that South Carolina finished last year by winning the inaugural SEC Championship over Auburn (but I don't need to tell you that).
OLYMPIC SPORTS
Scheper, Beckles Win CAC Championships | Gamecocks Online
"Gamecocks Jeannelle Scheper and Kierre Beckles captured silver at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Championships. The event features 34 countries from across Central American and the Caribbean."
Gamecock Coaches Preview World University Games | Gamecocks Online
And if you're into Olympic sports without the pomp, circumstance, and gravity of the actual Olympics, this video is for you.
Gamecock Coaches Enjoy WUG Opening Ceremonies | ABC Columbia
Looks like men's basketball coach Frank Martin and track coach Curtis Frye are buddying up while in Russia for the 2013 World University Games.
Flach, Moody Set to Represent Team USA at World University Games | Gamecocks Online
McGee Moody certainly knows what's expected of him in an interview, despite probably not participating in all that many of them:
"It's an opportunity that every coach dreams about, to be able to represent your country and take a group of young men and women over to an international competition and be able to lead them, hopefully, to things they've never done before and to make the country proud."
If you're interested you can find these events intermittently on ESPN3, which is the de facto ESPN Ocho these days. (Side bar: lost in all the Lance Armstrong hoopla a few months ago is fact that the scene in Dodgeball featuring a pep talk from Armstrong to Vince Vaughn's character has now lost all its emotional teeth. Sure, Armstrong won 4 Tour de France titles after a vicious battle with cancer, but steroids, man! Would Peter Lafleur still be inspired to put his ill-gotten pay day all on Average Joe's Gym had he known the truth? Would Steve the Pirate return to stomp the Carribbean yArghhhhd? I don't know, man. I just don't know.)
LOOSE FEED
Happy 4th, Gamecocks! #tbt | The Rubber Chickens
In case you missed it, another reason to celebrate this past weekend.
Buckshots: 1989 Gamecock Flashback | The Rubber Chickens
Buck regails us with tails from the old country, the steroid scandal that rocked USC, Sparky Woods anecdotes, and how he barely survived Hurricane Hugo and having to watch us play Georgia Tech (unsure which was a more worrisome prospect).