JerryBeeds
07-19-2005, 12:30 PM
South Carolina players endure problems
COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina linebacker Lance Laury shakes his head when he remembers the past few months.
``It's been a long summer,'' he said Monday, ``a long summer.''
Almost from the time last season ended in November, Laury and the Gamecocks those not dismissed by new coach Steve Spurrier or facing criminal charges, at least have been slapped across the face with negative headlines ranging from teammate misconduct to NCAA sanctions.
Offensive lineman Jabari Levey says people would see Gamecocks running around town and used to honk or wave. Now, Levey says they act like, ``I haven't seen you on the news. Are you staying out of trouble?''
Laury says it took time to grow accustomed to friends and family giving him grief whenever the latest misstep took place.
``Everybody calling your phone,'' said Laury, a senior, ``and saying 'I'm glad you're not one of them.'''
Unfortunately for Laury and his teammates, there were plenty of chances for such calls since last fall.
Fresh off an embarrassing, ugly on-field brawl that marred coach Lou Holtz's final game and cost South Carolina a bowl bid six players were arrested for stealing video and computer equipment, and framed photographs from Williams-Brice Stadium.
Five other players, including defensive standout Moe Thompson, were arrested on various charges with Spurrier saying if the accusations proved true they would not return.
Spurrier also kicked off leading rusher Demetris Summers for violating team rules.
And then last week, the university admitted to 10 NCAA violations that took place during Holtz's tenure.
It was a lot to swallow for a team that hadn't been to a bowl game since 2001 and was still adjusting to new coaches.
The hardest part? Watching friends paraded into police stations and their mug shots splashed across newspapers, Laury said.
``The thing about it,'' he said, ``they're not bad guys.''
Laury says the news of the NCAA report did not faze upperclassmen, who have dealt with the investigation for much of the past three years. It was the younger players, Laury says, who expressed fears over what might happen next. The school proposed a two-year ban and a loss of four scholarships and 12 paid on-campus recruiting visits.
``We talked to them,'' Laury said. The underclassmen ``understand it now. It could have been a lot worse than what it was.''
South Carolina and the NCAA released a summary disposition report think plea agreement rather than going to trial where the two sides agreed that half of the violations were major. One of the five violations considered secondary in nature by South Carolina was called major by the NCAA.
The school's case is expected to go before the NCAA Committee on Infractions in the coming weeks.
Tim Frisby, South Carolina's 40-year-old receiver, has tried to bring perspective to teammates half his age through the whole ordeal. He rushed on the field at Clemson eight months ago alongside Holtz after the brawl erupted, pulling players off the pile and getting them calm.
He says the remaining Gamecocks are searching inside themselves for what they can do to improve the image of South Carolina football. ``They are trying to push all the negativity out and just look for the positive,'' Frisby said.
Right now with the team about two weeks away from fall camp, Levey says the players are working hard and excited about hitting the field and talking football instead of problems.
``We're preparing to be in the best shape to get ready for the season,'' Levey said. ``We just got a lot to prove. We're ready to talk about football instead of the other distractions.''
http://www.accessnorthga.com/news/hall/newfullstory.asp?ID=94299
COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina linebacker Lance Laury shakes his head when he remembers the past few months.
``It's been a long summer,'' he said Monday, ``a long summer.''
Almost from the time last season ended in November, Laury and the Gamecocks those not dismissed by new coach Steve Spurrier or facing criminal charges, at least have been slapped across the face with negative headlines ranging from teammate misconduct to NCAA sanctions.
Offensive lineman Jabari Levey says people would see Gamecocks running around town and used to honk or wave. Now, Levey says they act like, ``I haven't seen you on the news. Are you staying out of trouble?''
Laury says it took time to grow accustomed to friends and family giving him grief whenever the latest misstep took place.
``Everybody calling your phone,'' said Laury, a senior, ``and saying 'I'm glad you're not one of them.'''
Unfortunately for Laury and his teammates, there were plenty of chances for such calls since last fall.
Fresh off an embarrassing, ugly on-field brawl that marred coach Lou Holtz's final game and cost South Carolina a bowl bid six players were arrested for stealing video and computer equipment, and framed photographs from Williams-Brice Stadium.
Five other players, including defensive standout Moe Thompson, were arrested on various charges with Spurrier saying if the accusations proved true they would not return.
Spurrier also kicked off leading rusher Demetris Summers for violating team rules.
And then last week, the university admitted to 10 NCAA violations that took place during Holtz's tenure.
It was a lot to swallow for a team that hadn't been to a bowl game since 2001 and was still adjusting to new coaches.
The hardest part? Watching friends paraded into police stations and their mug shots splashed across newspapers, Laury said.
``The thing about it,'' he said, ``they're not bad guys.''
Laury says the news of the NCAA report did not faze upperclassmen, who have dealt with the investigation for much of the past three years. It was the younger players, Laury says, who expressed fears over what might happen next. The school proposed a two-year ban and a loss of four scholarships and 12 paid on-campus recruiting visits.
``We talked to them,'' Laury said. The underclassmen ``understand it now. It could have been a lot worse than what it was.''
South Carolina and the NCAA released a summary disposition report think plea agreement rather than going to trial where the two sides agreed that half of the violations were major. One of the five violations considered secondary in nature by South Carolina was called major by the NCAA.
The school's case is expected to go before the NCAA Committee on Infractions in the coming weeks.
Tim Frisby, South Carolina's 40-year-old receiver, has tried to bring perspective to teammates half his age through the whole ordeal. He rushed on the field at Clemson eight months ago alongside Holtz after the brawl erupted, pulling players off the pile and getting them calm.
He says the remaining Gamecocks are searching inside themselves for what they can do to improve the image of South Carolina football. ``They are trying to push all the negativity out and just look for the positive,'' Frisby said.
Right now with the team about two weeks away from fall camp, Levey says the players are working hard and excited about hitting the field and talking football instead of problems.
``We're preparing to be in the best shape to get ready for the season,'' Levey said. ``We just got a lot to prove. We're ready to talk about football instead of the other distractions.''
http://www.accessnorthga.com/news/hall/newfullstory.asp?ID=94299