THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 VOL. 103, NO. 24 ● SINCE 1908

dailygamecock.com

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA

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The Gamecocks have a chance to make history tonight when they take on No. 4 Ole Miss at Williams-Brice.

Naked Juice, a more than delicious beverage that is packed with nutrients and comes in a variety of fl avors, joins fl u shots and David Cross on the Mix Tape.

See page 5A

NASCAR is a sport and deserves respect; requires ability, athleticism and focus.

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USC takes on Rebs

F i v e t h i n g s w e ’ r e obsessing about

Neighborhood Watch

Jeremy AaronFirst-year advertisingstudent

Sports Editor Chris Cox previews tonight’s game against the Rebels with Justin Fabiano of SGTV.

NEWSThe USC School of Law hosted a health caredebate Wednesday. Check out our coverage online.

Check out USC’s chances

Online @

Mix

www.DailyGamecock.com

Courtesy of Carolina SkateCarolina Skate members get active in community and campus.

See page 1B

While there’s nothing new about riding a bike to class, students have found a new mode of transportation to race from McMaster to the Coliseum: skateboarding.

C a r o l i n a S k a t e , USC’s longboarding and sk ateboard ing c lub, was formed after co-presidents Brandon Stroup and Michael Pulfer noticed the influx of skaters on campus.

“I noticed that more people were skating to class and I wanted to fi nd a way to unify the skaters on campus,” said Stroup, a graduate student in the MEERM program.

Longboarding has in many ways been a grassroots skating movement. Friends share the sport with each other and the trend grows. The club is working to expand the number of people longboarding and

help people get to know each other along the way.

“A l l d if ferent k inds of people longboard,” said Pulfer, a third-year international bus i nes s a nd market i ng student. “It’s a really diverse group.”

James Fulton, a second year pre-pharmacy student, found out about the group when he saw them skating. He introduced himself and has been skating with the club ever since.

“ It ’s a n ex pre s s ion of yourself,” Fulton said. “It’s a good release from school and fun to have friends to mess around with.”

T h e c l u b h a s g r o w n e x p o n e nt i a l l y t h r o u g h interactions like this. After forming in April, the club gained 50 members before t he end of school . Now membership is over 75 skaters and is still growing.

Howe ver, t he c lub i s work ing to do more than simply find friends to skate together with.

“We are trying to make sure that people skate safely,” Pulfer said. “We want them to

understand the rules of skating and to have a good reputation on campus. Basically, not run people over.”

Stroup said they’ve spoken with campus police and are working to “lend our sport an air of legitimacy with the police and the school.”

Stroup hopes the club will not only organize skaters but also get people to skate who’ve never skated before. He also wants to highlight it as an alternative form of transportation and let people know about the health benefi ts of skating.

The club is also involved in the community. Discounts at several skate shops have been arranged and with many major manufacturers such as Rayne Longboards. Carolina Skate is also working to organize a Halloween-themed longboard competition and skate jam to support Pour It Now, a local organization working to create skate parks.

Carolina Skate is always open to new members. Each Friday they meet in front of Russell House at 4 p.m. for a club skate. Whether you’ve

been skating since you could wa lk , or i f you’ve never stepped on a board before, the club accommodates all skill levels. There are also extra boards available. For more information, visit the

Facebook group, Carolina Skate.

W hen USC Engl ish professor Kwame Dawes t raveled to Jamaica in 2007, he was returning to h is nat ive count r y, interviewing those impacted by HIV/A I D S . W h i l e t h e r e h e m e t ma ny power f u l i n d i v i d u a l s , including the late John Marzouca.

Marzouca, co-director of a clinic in Montego Bay (a clinic that helps people with HIV/AIDS) was a source of inspiration for some of Dawes’ poetry, which is featured on the documentary Web site “Hope: Living & Loving in Jamaica.” Dawes said he decided to dedicate most of t he Web s ite to Marzouca a f ter he tragically died in a 2008 fi re.

The project, made in col laborat ion with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, won a News & Documentary Emmy Award Monday night in New York City.

“It was exciting,” Dawes s a id . “More e xc i t i n g because of the subject matter that I’m dealing with. It ’s g iv ing more attention to HIV/AIDS and the people living with that disease.”

T h e We b s i t e i s a collection of photographs, video and music coupled w i t h D awe s ’ p o e t r y. D a w e s w o r k e d w i t h execut ive producer Jon Saw yer, co-producers Nat h a l ie A pp le w h it e and Stephen Sapienza, v i d e o j o u r n a l i s t D o u g G r i t z m a c h e r , photojournal ist Joshua Cogan and interact ive producer Josh Goldblum on the project.

Dawes said the poetry

was the f rame for the entire project because of its ability to reach into a story’s heart and capture it through its strength of language.

“ Po e t r y h a s a w a y to turn something that is painful and dif f icult into something that is beautiful,” Dawes said. “Not beaut i f u l in t he way that is sweet or nice, but b e aut i f u l t h at i t can capture the human

experience.”Dawes hopes to

help his v iewers understand what it ’s l i ke to l ive with HIV/AIDS.

“ I t ’ s a v e r y p a i n f u l a n d d e b i l i t a t i n g disease,” Dawes said.

Another point Dawes hopes to get across is t h at H I V/A I DS i s n’t rest r icted to a certa in group. Everyone should be cautious.

“We are all subject to HIV/AIDS,” Dawes said.

H i s work h a s b e en w i d e l y p u b l i s h e d i n publ icat ions l i ke The Wash ing ton Post and The Virginia Quarterly Review. Dawes has also per for med h i s poems at t he Nat iona l Black T h e a t r e Fe s t i v a l i n Winston-Salem, N.C., w it h music composed by USC graduate Kevin Simmonds.

D a w e s g r e w u p i n Ja m a ic a a nd went to t he Un ivers it y of t he We s t I n d i e s f o r h i s u nderg r adu at e work . He received his Ph.D. i n E n g l i s h f r o m t he U n i v e r s i t y o f N e w Brunswick in Canada, and he came to the U.S. when he received a job to teach at USC. Dawes is also the executive director of the South Carolina Poetry Init iat ive and the USC Arts Institute.

To v iew Hope, v is it www.livehopelove.com.

It was about 3 p.m. in Five Points last July when a brick smashed through the window of a Five Points employee’s car parked on Pavillion Street. It was 6 p.m. before anyone noticed.

Stephen Stanton, 22, who works at Strictly Running, had a GPS, phone and phone charger stolen from his car, which was parked in one of the few free parking lots in Five Points. His biggest complaint was the lack of police surveillance in an area that he has no choice but to park in.

“I think it’s ridiculous that the road was not monitored,” Stanton said. “It obviously wasn’t driven down for three hours and my car just sat there for three hours while I was at work.”

Now in an effort to solve this and the problem of parking accommodation in Five Points, the City of Columbia has made a $2 million purchase of two lots at 2126 and 2132 Devine Street for both employees and customers to pay to use.

The lots will be located half a block from Harden Street and will contain 120 to 150 parking spots. They will also be the new location of the Columbia Police Department’s south region headquarters.

John Spade, the City of Columbia’s parking director, hopes that employees will use the lots and said they will be safe for anyone parking there.

“Any parking that is there is going to be extremely well lit,” Spade said. “There will be security cameras, call boxes and it will be next to the police department. There will also be a lot more police patrolling that area due to the new location of their headquarters.”

Spade said that, while the lots can be used by anyone, employees are encouraged to park there.

“All the studies we have done indicate that if we can get employees off the street, it creates

a lot more customer friendly parking,” Spade said.

Joseph Azar, owner of Upstairs Audio and a City of Columbia Mayoral candidate for 2010, agrees that employees need a new place to park.

“Having somewhere where employees can park is good because if employees park in these spaces on the street they’re hurting themselves by hurting their own businesses,” said Azar.

However, the new lots are not f ree. According to Spade, there will be meters and reserved spaces in the Devine Street parking lots. Employees wishing to reserve a spot in the lots will have to pay $20 a month for parking. There will also be some restrictions on overnight parking.

“A portion of the lot will be metered with long-term meters and a portion of the lot will be reserved for long-term employees,” Spade said. “We’ll probably have an additional part of that parking reserved for night.”

The question is whether or not employees will be willing to pay this fee during the day and whether customers will be willing to pay for meters that aren’t in Five Points.

“If you are an employee of Five Points, I think you should be able to park in a lot for free,” Stanton said. “It’s grossly unfair to charge employees for the safety of their belongings. To charge them is un-American.”

Joseph Azar agrees with the $20 fee.“If you work fi ve days a week, that’s $1 a

day,” Azar said. “The city’s got to pay for things one way or another. Employees can fi nd spots if they need to; they just might need to walk an extra block.”

Although the city does not know when the lots will open, they have started working with the city engineer to design the lots. Spade said they will also insert more lights to make it more diffi cult for crime to occur.

“There are a lot of places in Five Points where crime is ignored, and I think it’s a step in the right direction,” Stanton said.

ORGANIZATIONSTUDENT OFTHEWEEK:

English professor wins Emmy for documentaryWeb site highlights impact of HIV/AIDS with photographs,

Dawes’ poetry

Kara ApelNEWS EDITOR

Comments on this story? E-mail sagcknew@mailbox.sc.edu

DAWES

Club hopes to educate community on sport,

bring students together

Sarah PetermanSTAFF WRITER

Comments on this story? E-mai l sagcknew@mai lbox.sc.edu

James Crawford / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Columbia hopes to expand metered lots in Five Points to accomodate employee parking needs.

Metered, monthly spots to be available for patrons, employees

Cassity BrewerTHE DAILY GAMECOCK

Comments on this story? E-mail sagcknew@mailbox.sc.edu

New lots ensure safety

Keri Goff / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

A chicken mascot hands out menus from Cocky’s Menus to students on Greene Street during classes on Wednesday afternoon.

PIC OF THE DAY

FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2009

TWOpageLOCAL & WORLD NEWSCALENDAR

SPORTS SCHEDULE

Bombs identifi ed as pranks

Health care reform advances

Obama calls for cooperation

LOCAL

NATIONAL

INTERNATIONAL

FOOTBALLTonight vs. Ole MissWilliams-Brice Stadium7:30 p.m.

SOCCERTomorrow@ DavidsonAlumni Stadium7 p.m.

WOMEN’S SOCCERTomorrow vs. VanderbiltStone Stadium7 p.m.

VOLLEYBALLTomorrow vs. AlabamaVolleyball Competition Facility7 p.m.

CROSS COUNTRYSaturdayMississippi InvitationalOxford, Miss.9 a.m.

GOLFMason Rudolph Champion-shipFranklin, Tenn.ALL DAY

What: Study Abroad: Tips, Techniques and Tools When: 4 p.m.Where: Russell House, Room 203

What: Carolina Debate Union weekly debateWhen: 6 p.m.Where: RH, Room 322/326

What: A Night at the Museum 2 / Termina-tor: SalvationWhen: 6 p.m.Where: RH Theater

What: Third Annual Gentlemen Showcase interest meetingWhen: 6 p.m.Where: RH, Room 303

What: USC Women’s Bible StudyWhen: 6:30 p.m.Where: RH, Room 304

What: NASHI meetingWhen: 7 p.m.Where: Gambrell 151

What: Academic Team practiceWhen: 7 p.m.Where: Gambrell 204

What: WUSC interest meetings and trainingWhen: 8 p.m.Where: RH, Room 304

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After an unsuccessful student body vice president run last year, Sen. Matt Ungar is back in power in Student Government.

Ungar, a third-year public relations student, was elected to take Sen. Ben Bullock’s spot as President Pro Tempore of the Senate during Wednesday night’s meeting.

The position puts Ungar in command of the all-powerful Rules Committee, who sets the agenda for each week’s meeting. He’ll also serve as President of the Senate if Student Body Vice President Alex Stroman can’t attend a meeting.

“My goal is to make sure committees actually do work,” Ungar said. “I want to go to committee meetings and help them form tangible initiatives that will help the student body.”

Ungar defeated Sen. Megan Ananian in a 20-15 voice vote. Ananian, who currently serves as the chairwoman of the powers and responsibilities committee, said she didn’t always plan on running.

“I was just told Matt was running unopposed, and I firmly believe in competition,” Ananian said. “I’m sure Matt will do a great job though.”

With his new position, Ungar said he hoped to “bring lofty ideas down to earthly initiatives that can be accomplished.” Ananian said she would have “brought more effi ciency to student government.”

“I think they were both great candidates, but Matt has the most experience in student government,” said Sen. Katie Haswell, a third-year journalism student who voted for Ungar.

Since Ungar helped Bullock rewrite all the Student Government codes, Bullock says he’s ready for the job.

“He knows what he’s doing, and he’s a leader.”

— Compiled by Josh Dawsey, Assistant News Editor

SENATE QUICK HITS

WEIRD HEADLINES

Police Stun, Handcuff Errant EmuFOREST, Miss. — Offi cers had to use a stun gun and handcuffs to capture an emu running loose on Interstate 20 in central Mississippi on Sunday. Police Offi cer Kiley Culpepper told WLBT-TV in Jackson that motorists had been calling 911 since Friday to report sightings of two emus on I-20 and nearby U.S. Highway 80.Authorities had been unable to fi nd the animals until Sunday, when one was spotted near an I-20 entrance ramp.

Postal Worker Stole 30,000 DVDsSPRINGFIELD, Mass. — A Springfi eld, Mass., postal worker admits to stealing more than 30,000 Netfl ix DVDs. After the movie rental company complained to police about a rash of missing titles, investigators filmed Myles Weathers at the post office slipping the DVDs into his backpack. He faces a possible 10-month pr ison sentence and a $38,000 fi ne.

Italian police seize mafia boss’ pet crocodileROME — Here’s another of the Mafi a’s trademark offers-you-can’t-refuse: pay or be eaten by a crocodile. Italy’s anti-Mafi a police unit said Wednesday it has seized a crocodile used by an alleged Naples mob boss to intimidate local businessmen from whom he demanded protection money.Offi cers searching for weapons in the man’s home outside the southern Italian city last week found the crocodile living on his terrace, said police offi cial Sergio Di Mauro.

Cops Play V ideo Games During Drug RaidLAKELAND, Fla. — It’s game over for some police offi cers who played video games while they raided a convicted drug dealer’s home in central Florida.

Surveillance video obtained by WFLA in Tampa caught the officers playing a Nintendo Wii bowling game, with one furiously jumping up and down in celebration. Offi cials say some of the offi cers could be disciplined.Offi cers with the anti-drug task force had just stormed into the home of the convicted drug dealer, who was already in custody. One Polk County sheriff’s detective can be seen taking several breaks from cataloging evidence so she can bowl frames.

SC mayor defends no-chase policy for policeCOLUMBIA, S.C. — The mayor of a small South Carolina town says she banned her police offi cers from chasing suspects on foot after an officer was hurt running after a man.Wellford Mayor Sall ie Peake said Monday she issued the order in August after the city had to pay for an offi cer who missed work after chasing a “guy who had a piece of crack on him.” She said a drug possession charge was not worth the cost to taxpayers. But her written order said she did “not want anyone chasing any suspects whatsoever.”The decision came after two town-issued cars were totaled within a month, although her order applies only to foot chases.

White Philly offi cer told to get rid of cornrowsPHILADELPHIA — Police in Philadelphia say a white offi cer who came to work with cornrows was ordered by a black superior to get a haircut because the braids violated department standards. The Philadelphia Daily News reported Monday that Offi cer Thomas Strain was put on desk duty this month because of the braids, even though the paper reported dozens of black offi cers wear cornrows.

WASHINGTON — Sweeping health care legislation cleared its f irst hurdles in the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday as Democrats turned back a series of proposed changes by Republicans depicting the measure as a threat to Medicare.

Yet even as they prevailed on politically charged votes, majority Democrats also tacitly conceded one point — that despite a pledge by President Barack Obama, some seniors who receive coverage from private insurers could lose some of the optional benefi ts they enjoy.

In a long day of maneuvering, Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine sometimes sided with fellow Republicans on the panel and occasionally voted with Democrats who hope she will become the first GOP member of Congress to back legislation along the lines that Obama wants.

The maneuvering came as Democrats cheered a vote in the Massachusetts Legislature that will allow the appointment of a replacement for the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy — giving them 60 votes in the Senate. That’s the number needed to overcome any Republicans filibuster when health care legislation reaches the Senate fl oor.

The early skirmishes in the panel also coincided with attempts by the Obama administration to reassure seniors about the legislation. Older Americans are more likely to vote than younger men and women, and public polling shows many harbor signifi cant skepticism about attempts to redo the health care system.

“All we do is make it better for people on Medicare,” Vice President Joe Biden told about 150 people at the Leisure World retirement community in suburban Maryland.

The Finance Commit tee is the last of f ive congressional panels to debate health care legislation that is atop Obama’s domestic agenda. While the bill omits several provisions backed by liberals, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., the committee chairman, hopes to hold support from all Democrats on the panel, and perhaps pick up Snowe’s vote as well.

UNITED NATIONS — President Barack Obama challenged world leaders Wednesday to shoulder more of the globe’s critical burdens, promising a newly cooperative partner in America but sternly warning they can no longer castigate the U.S. as a go-it-alone bully while still demanding it cure all ills.

“Those who used to chastise America for acting alone in the world cannot now stand by and wait for America to solve the world’s problems alone,” said Obama in comments before a packed U.N. General Assembly hall.

In his first appearance before the group, Obama promised the U.S. would reach out in “a new era of engagement based on mutual interest and mutual respect,” but he also wagged a rhetorical finger at leaders who spend much of their time at international gatherings excoriating the U.S. He said “an almost refl exive anti-Americanism” that swept the globe under the administration of his predecessor, George W. Bush, is not “an excuse for collective inaction.”

“Nothing is easier than blaming others for our troubles and absolving ourselves of responsibility for our choices and our actions,” he said.

And yet, directly following Obama at the podium was Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, who railed against the U.N. Security Council, which includes the U.S., accusing it of treating smaller nations as “second class, despised.”

U.S. presidents have come to the United Nations year after year with a wish list of action items and preaching the gospel of working together. The U.S. is rich and powerful, but cannot solve problems without help, they say, whether Democrat or Republican.

So Obama’s message was not new.But it was delivered in an unmistakably new, more

humble tone.Following a president criticized for making my-

way-or-the-highway “requests” of allies, Obama didn’t demand so much as he chided and cajoled. It’s now an inextricably interconnected world, he said, so that each country’s problems become the others’.

Authorities say a series of explosions at a South Carolina college dormitory was the result of a student prank.

Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster says students were evacuated from Brokaw Dormitory at Newberry College late Wednesday morning after an explosion inside the building.

Police had been on scene since Tuesday night, when a minor blast was reported in the dorm’s parking lot. A second explosion was reported an hour later in the dorm’s lobby.

Af ter the third blast Wednesday, State Law Enforcement Division agents brought in dogs and a bomb robot to search the building.

Foster says the devices were made in plastic drinking water bottles using a chemical reaction from common household items.

Four people are being questioned. No injuries were reported.

Skill. Finesse. Concentration. The ability to make split-second adjustments. Off-the-charts hand-eye coordination. What sports do these qualities describe? Sounds a lot like golf or bowling. NASCAR too.

For those who read Br yan Wendland’s Viewpoints column last Friday discussing why NASCAR doesn’t qualify as a sport, I’m sure a few people who are diehard NASCAR fans (and gear-heads in general) were quite annoyed with him, myself included. Though I prefer road racing such as Formula One and the Rolex Grand Am Series, I still think it was a ridiculous claim.

Why isn’t NASCAR (and auto racing in general) a sport? ESPN does air some of the more ridiculous competitions out there but that doesn’t make NASCAR any less of a sport.

No, racecar drivers don’t have to exert all of

their physical ability to get around the track as quickly and safely as possible, but I can assure you that they have to concentrate harder than almost

any other athlete. I ’ve been in a stock car in

uncomfortable Recaro racing seats, a full race harness and a HANS device, doing 160 mph around Charlotte International Speedway with 865 horses roaring two feet in front of me. I could barely hear myself think, and I was only the passenger. How drivers do what they do is beyond me.

Where drivers lack to show their physical ability, the pit crew takes up the slack. The gas cans that

refueling men use? They weigh 80 pounds. Tires weigh a little less at 25 pounds, but tire changers are practically throwing them back toward the pit wall to get done in time. They move four of them in a matter of seconds. Winning teams can do a full pit stop in under 15 seconds. That’s a feat.

Dictionary.com says that a sport is “an athletic

activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fi shing, etc.”

Who says physical exertion is needed for something to be a sport? Competitive shotgun shooting is a sport to the majority of the public, despite not being the most physically taxing activity.

But just as there is more than one way to skin a cat, there are many more ways to defi ne a sport than just one. Mr. Wendland is entitled to his opinion of what sport is, even if it is at odds with a fan base of nearly 80 million people.

About the whole Carl Edwards/broken foot in Atlanta thing — I guess Bryan doesn’t remember Curt Schilling pitching on an injured and bleeding ankle in game two of the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees and winning, which propelled the Red Sox to the biggest comeback in MLB history.

He pitched not even one week later in game two of the World Series on the same ankle, which had a torn tendon. I guess baseball isn’t a real sport either.

PAGE 4A THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

Jeremy AaronFirst-year advertising student

No staff, fi ne should keep fans in seats

Global crisis makes biggest impact in Africa EDITORIAL BOARD

Managing EditorCALLI BURNETT

News EditorKARA APEL

The Mix EditorCOLIN JONES

Design DirectorMORGAN REID

Copy Desk ChiefKELSEY PACER

Sports EditorCHRIS COX

Viewpoints EditorMARILYNN JOYNER

Photography EditorKERI GOFF

Editor-in-ChiefAMANDA DAVIS

CORRECTIONSIf you fi nd an error in The Daily Gamecock, we want to know about it.

E-mail the editor-in-chief at gamecockeditor@mailbox.sc.edu

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The Daily Gamecock is the editorially independent student newspaper of the University of South Carolina. It is published daily during the fall and spring semesters and nine times during the summer with the exception of university holidays and exam periods. Opinions expressed in The Daily Gamecock are those of the editors or author and not those of the University of South Carolina.

Th e Board of Student Publications and Communications is the publisher of The Daily Gamecock. Th e Department of Student Media is the newspaper’s parent organization. The Daily Gamecock is supported in part by student-activity fees. One free copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchased for $1 each from the Department of Student Media.

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Letters and guest columns should be submitted via e-mail to gamecockeditor@sc.edu. Letters must be 200 to 300 words in length and include the author’s name,

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The editor reserves the right to edit and condense submissions for length and clarity, or not publish at all.

All submissions become the property of The Da i ly Gamecock and must conform to the legal standards of USC Student Media.

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Editor-in-ChiefAMANDA DAVISManaging EditorCALLI BURNETTCopy Desk ChiefKELSEY PACERAssistant Copy Desk ChiefLINDSAY WOLFEDesign DirectorMORGAN REIDAssistant Design DirectorLIZZIE ERICKSONNews EditorKARA APELAssistant News EditorsDARREN PRICEJOSH DAWSEYViewpoints EditorMARILYNN JOYNERAssistant Viewpoints EditorRYAN QUINNThe Mix EditorCOLIN JONESAssistant Mix Editor

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Economic downturn causes most harm

to developing nations

NASCAR requires great skill, exertionSport of stock car racing demands ability, athleticism, concentration;

only ignorant deny it respect

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

It is our duty as

fans to show ... just

how passionate we

are about Gamecock

football. Patrique VeilleFourth-year management science student

Tonight the Gamecocks will take on No. 4 ranked Ole Miss. Unfortunately, our football team has a 1 and 31 record when it comes to playing top fi ve teams. The last time the Gamecocks managed such a major win was in 1981 against the UNC-CH

Tarheels.Should we be lucky

e n o u g h t o w i t n e s s such col lege footbal l greatness, it is our duty as fans to show the team and the nation just how passionate we are about Gamecock football. The SEC is the only college

conference that actually penalizes fans for rushing the fi eld or court after a big win, with a harsh fi ne of at least $25K to the school.

There is absolutely no way a few dozen yellow-clad event staff could hope to stop at least 8,000 excited students from mobbing the gridiron.

And what about the benefi ts of rushing the fi eld? Not only will our team know just how much we appreciate its hard work and dedication, but the video footage of hordes of garnet-clad fans swarming the fi eld will be on the ESPN highlight reel all season. When potential recruits are waffl ing on whether or not to play for USC, seeing the enthusiasm of the school can’t hurt.

If everyone in Williams-Brice contributes a couple of dollars the fi ne would be more than covered. Or heck, we could sell off Innovista; we’ll have enough to give Florida the same when they come to town.

and other aspects of their lives.

Quiet down. Don’t stand up for what you believe in, or better yet, what you can empirically substantiate as truth. There is nothing at stake in the clash between science and religion, so if the going gets tough, perhaps we can sit down and have a nice chat about it. Maybe a compromise is in order. Equal time for different, unequal theories sounds nice (evolution v. intelligent design; gravity v. intelligent f a l l i n g ; a s t r o no m y v. astrology). After all, we don’t want to mimic, or in any way become, the dogmatism we fight. Why is the hostile and sometimes f ra n k tone of R ichard Dawkins desperately needed in dialogue between religion and science? It is because you cannot compromise with people who strap a saddle to a dinosaur exhibit in a “creation museum” and claim they were ridden by humans mere thousands of years ago. How do we reason with people who are unreasonable?

Some people think that no such clash bet ween religion and science exists.

Some even claim that the two complement each other and they have incorporated the fact of evolution into their theistic worldviews. These are the people we can work with to protect truth in general. The existence of a god and his place in evolution, if any, may be debatable, but the fact of evolution, when examined by any rational individual, cannot be denied. To deny evolution is disingenuous, ignorant, and dangerous. How are we to protect our stake as the world’s leader if we are not able to be the guiding l ight of science education and innovation?

Contrast the American e le c tor at e , a rou nd 45 percent of which believes “God created man pretty much in his present form at one t ime with in the last 10,000 years” to the Japanese public, of which almost 80 percent accept evolution. When the times call for development and innovation, which nation wil l step up for human progress, and which will stagnate from the pernicious e f fec t s of re l i a nce on literal interpretation of old religious texts, prayers, and other pleas for assistance? As we can clearly see, the health

of our nation hinges on the health of our education, mak ing Dawk ins’ tone warranted by the brevity of the dire situation we face.

A side f rom Dawk ins’ importance as a defender of reason, he is also not the harshest critic of religious belief. He simply stands up for h is posit ions as honestly as the thousands of preachers every Sunday morning, while, only by the virtue of the position he endorses and the elegance of his articulation, attracting the vilification of a highly religious majority. Even if we call his choice of words into question, this by no means necessitates a distance by us an organization from his main propositions or negates any constructive outcomes by hosting him at USC. In fact, we are honored to have him here and know his presentation will spark healthy discussion among students, which is completely consistent with our values.

For those who are on the fence about Dawkins, the best way to make up your mind is to attend the lecture.

A n d r e w C e d e r d a h l , Pastafarians at USC President

Third-year political science student

Science-religion debateneeds open discussion

As the global economic crisis stretches on, South Carolina continues to face budget cuts in educat ion and other areas. Although some are st ill able to live comfortably, the crisis creates a rather different story for the developing countries.

After years of political and governmental instability, this crisis could not have come at a worse time. In the last 10-15 years African hopes for economic growth and positive development could have actually begun to be realized. Today some Africans are beginning to doubt this possibility.

Over these particular years, the concept of globalization was projected, especially by

Westerners, as t h e w a y t h a t Africa could rise out of poverty. To d ay p e op le l i k e D o n a l d Kaberuka, who heads the African D e v e l o p m e n t B a n k , f e e l t h a t , “ W e who benef ited so l it t le f rom

globalizat ion are now the most affected by its negative impact.”

Even countries which are considered well governed, l ike Botswana, have seen export revenues collapse by 90 percent.

Because of the impact of the economic crisis on developed countries, governments from the wealthier nat ions are spending money trying to control domestic problems, and most businesses are reducing investments in the developing world. Private capital f lows have dried up and remittances (monies sent by Africans working in the industrial countries back to relatives and others at home) are dwindling, or even ending. These had totaled $20 billion in recent years.

P r i c e s f o r p r i m a r y com mod it ie s , t he m a i n expor t s of most A f r ican countries, are falling. And doubts that current foreign aid levels can be sustained haunt the nations of this continent.

T h e c o n t r a c t i o n o f economic growth is so high that although there is still a minor positive percentage growth level overall, this is not keeping up with population growth.

C o r r u p t i o n a n d m i s m a n a g e m e n t h a v e certainly played a role in Africa’s economic problems. But if African countries were less dependant on the global market place, then the people could be more empowered ab o u t i m p r o v i n g t he i r countries, their economies

Flu Vaccine Typically The Mix

would prefer to grab coffee at a locally owned establishment like Cool Beans or Immaculate Consumption, but sometimes the convenience of Starbucks is just too alluring. After one taste of the chilled Tazo Passion Tea they serve up though, you may nearly forget where you are altogether. Sweet with a twinge of tartness, this muted magenta tea combines fl avors from hibiscus fl owers, lemongrass, mango and passion fruit.

David Cross- “Drink For a

Reason”Caustic funnyman David Cross

has finally released his irreverent tome on l i fe . K now n for h i s alternative comedy style and the role of Tobias Funke on the cult TV show “Arrested Development”, Cross has hit his stride here in combining his thoughts on life and his own comedy. None of it really makes sense but that’s exactly the point. Cross wants to push his views in your face and doesn’t really care what you think about them. If you’re a fan of Cross, like The Mix is, this should be a good primer for the rumored “Arrested Development” fi lm that is currently in the works.

Naked Juice Del ic iou s i s ba re ly

breaking the surface of these healthy juices from Naked. These litt le pieces of heaven come in a variety of fl avors and combinations such as Cherry Pomegranate Power (which The Mix is currently enjoying). . Just for your information, it’s delectable. Some of the choices from Naked lean more towards the smoothie side like the thick Orange Mango Motion or Protein Zone Double Berry. On each bottle, Naked describes what is in the drink and how its contents are helping your immune system. Naked Juices are available at the Russell House Starbucks or at Publix.

Pavement Reunion

What can we say? If the entire world had to listen to “Pretty Young Thing” on repeat for two weeks after the death of Michael Jackson, then Patrick Swayze at least deserves one viewing of the late-’80s classic. With Swayze as a dance instructor Johnny at an uppity summer resort and Jennifer Grey as a doctor’s daughter, “Baby,” the star-crossed lovers from opposite sides of the tracks fall in love secretly as they learn a dance routine. Truly, it is worth watching all 100 campy minutes just to hear Patrick Swayze say “Nobody puts baby in the corner.” Need some dessert after that filling cinematic meal? Watch Patrick Swayze and Chris Farley’s infamous SNL Chippendales Dance Off clip. Doubly sad, but always worth the laugh.

Girls- “Album”

These drugged out, brash-poppers from San Francisco have such a beautiful way with their melodies that they could almost be mistaken for a glam band. While they have been kicking up a good amount of noise in their hometown, the blogosphere hasn’t completely caught on to the distinct sounds of Girls. Lead singer Christopher Owens escaped from the Children of God cult at the age of 16 to live on the streets and his eccentric background shines on their debut “Album.” He’s not necessarily writing a piece of redemption, but Owens is confronting his demons head-on with each cut. With his Elvis Costello-esque vocals, Owens is spot-on when playing the pop, fuzz or balladry on “Album.”

Vulgar, bawdy, tacky, blackly comedic, politically incorrect and just plain wrong; it all adds up to one thing: “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”

The ser ies’ f i f th season premiered September 17, satisfying the cravings of those hungry for a taste of good ol’ twisted humor.

Due to its no-holds barred approach to comedy, the show has gained cult status over the last four years. The premiere did not disappoint, making its come-back with the same sick jokes involving ways to murder an evicted family and scamming a rich couple by posing as a surrogate mother.

The show revolves around a group of employees at a rusty, cheap, Irish bar set in the slums of Philly. Danny DeVito plays the owner, Frank, a degenerate and selfi sh bigot

who feels no remorse in exploiting others to thicken his wallet. Dennis and “Sweet Dee,” played by Glenn Howerton and Kaitlin Olson respectively, are Frank’s equally greedy, delusional and degenerate children. Rob McElhenney plays Mac, son of a meth dealer with low standards and little class. Finally there’s Charlie Kelly, played by Charlie Day, the illiterate, glue-sniffing addict obsessed with a plain waitress, whose name no one can ever seem to recall.

Each episode starts off with a proposed scheme to get fast and easy cash. Each member of “The Gang” attempts to stab the other in the back in hopes of acquiring all the potential dough or furthering him or herself. Their attempts blunder and fail, and they all end up humiliated and in a worse position than before.

At the beginning of the series, Dee was the voice of reason, but as the show progressed, this role was eliminated and everyone joined in the debauchery. From picking up chicks at an abortion rally, debating the ethicality of

PAGE 5ATHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

MIX TAPE

Colin JonesMIX EDITOR

Comments on this story? E-mail sagcketc@sc.edu

David Cros

Colin JonesMIX EDITOR

I know all the geeks out there are well aware of this, but it seems a lot of the rest of us aren’t: next month Microsoft is coming out with a new operating system called Windows 7. You may have forgotten that Microsoft originally came out with a new OS every two or three years before XP. The big gap between XP and Vista, and Vista’s horrible performance, might have made you forget that Microsoft is actually trying to put out good products.

Yes, they are trying. With Vista only two years old, Microsoft is coming out with this new operating system that, f inally, looks like a signifi cant improvement over XP. It’s not anything revolutionary — borrowing many of its elements from Linux and Apple’s OS-X — but it defi nitely looks like it may be worth the upgrade.

The best t h ing about t h i s i s t hat Microsoft just introduced a special deal for students: anyone with a .edu email address can upgrade to Windows 7 for only $30. They are offering this for a limited time at www.win741.com if you want to check it out.

Why should you even bother to shell out the $30? Because all the early reviews says

that it’s everything Vista was not: a solid, functional OS that brings the PC into the 21st Century. Unlike the launch of Vista, you won’t have to worry about hardware issues — if your PC can run Vista, it will run Windows 7 even better. And as far as functionality goes, it looks like Microsoft has taken users’ interests to heart.

The taskbar now allows you to pin items onto it, much like the OS-X does. Likewise, Microsoft took a hint from Apple (again) and added some cool window prev iew a nd sw itch ing functions like you have on a Mac.

In general, the whole operating system is easier to use, so definitely take the time to go online and

check it out. If you are one of those people with a Vista

laptop who is constantly getting annoyed at the horrible ways it performs, I would defi nitely invest the $30 — Microsoft put some better laptop management features into the new OS that should make it a little easier to use (including better power management features). For those of you with a Mac ... well you go on laughing at us Windows users, it’s okay (you paid twice as much as we did).

Fast, new Microsoft operating system off ered at deeply

discounted rates for students

Josh CallThird-year interdisciplinary student

Comments on this story? E-mail sagcketc@sc.edu

FX series starts fi fth season‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’

still crass, witty, well-acted

Caitlin HugginsTHE DAILY GAMECOCK

Courtesy / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Comedy series “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is described as “‘Seinfeld’ on Crack.”

Sunny ● 6A

5 things we’reobsessingaboutthisweek

“The habit of giving only enhances the desire to give.”

—Walt Whitman

“I’m agent 0014. Twice as smart as 007.”A nyone who saw t he prev iew for

Warner Bros. Pictures’ “The Informant!” s t a r r i ng M at t Da mon wou ld have expected a comedy similar to 2008’s “Get Smart.” The obv ious formula: Inexperienced undercover agent makes for quick jokes and easy slapstick humor. Though a few scenes do include this type of comical stealth, the preview was not at all representative of the fi lm. The latest work of director Steven Soderbergh, “The Informant!” is much more complex than the archetypal, bland comedy plotline full of one-liners.

Based on a true story captured in Kurt Eichenwald’s book, the fi lm focuses on a young high-ranking company executive n a me d M a rk W h it ac re ( D a mon) . Whitacre works for ADM, a food additive company that illegally f ixes prices on lysine with its competitors around the globe.

A biochemist by degree, he has been transferred to the business side of the company and put in charge of the price-fi xing operations because of his ability to understand both the chemistry and the bankroll. Whitacre feels uneasy about

this position because of the predicament in which it puts him.

He doesn’t approve of the price-fi xing and also realizes that in the event the company’s criminal actions are discovered, he would be the fall-man. At the same time, however, if he betrays the company, he puts his job and thus, fi nancially, his family at risk. In an act of both moral uneasiness and self-protection, he informs the FBI of the situation. The FBI asks Whitacre to wear a wire to acquire more evidence and he proceeds to lead a double life as both an ADM executive and an FBI informant. The film displayed the inordinate amounts of pressure from the FBI, ADM, the media and even his own wife that build upon Whitacre as he slips into the depths of maniac depression.

Sound like a comedy to you?It had all the makings of a thriller,

however it included short asides to the audience, giv ing v iewers a look into Whitacre’s thoughts, which added more of an aspect of dark comedy. Something akin to the NBC show “The Offi ce” or “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986) where characters address the audience with thoughts and reactions to the occurring

events, these asides seemed random, but they gave insight to his personality and his thought process.

W h i l e t h e a s id e s r a n g e d f r o m Whitacre’s childhood, to tie and clothing preference, to Michael Crichton novel references, to insects, almost all of them were richly metaphorical and incredibly intellectual. They always applied in some way to Whitacre’s conf licted situation. For instance, at one point during the film, while sitting in a bathroom stall confi guring a recording device, Whitacre looks down and sees what appears to be a piece of a Pop-Tart lying on the fl oor, surrounded by feeding ants.

He t h inks to h imself , and to t he audience, “That’s a big break right there. There are no decisions to be made. You’re an ant. You eat it.” He grants the audience

the insight to see that he has grown to hate his position as a double agent and wishes he did not have to make decisions with such big consequences.

These asides were the highlight of the movie. While it was decently entertaining with a complicated plot structure, “The Informant!” lef t v iewers with mixed emotions by the end. As the characters entangled themselves in various l ies and obstructed the truth from both the audience and the investigators, viewers find themselves becoming increasingly irritated. The last sequence of scenes clarifi ed everything, but still left viewers with feelings of discontent.

PAGE 6A The Daily Gamecock ● THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

★ ★ ★ out of ✩✩✩✩✩

Director: Steven SoderberghStarring: Matt Damon, Eddie JemisonRun Time: 108 minutesRating: R for Language

The InformantNOW IN THEATERS

calling one a “Jew,” marrying your father to inherit your dead mother’s fortune, or fak ing cancer to score a chick, absolutely no subject is considered off-limits or taboo.

I f you’re a n ih i l i s t ic abstractionist who embraces the defi ciencies of this world, then this is the perfect show for you. Or if you just love watching failure unfold upon the screen, you’re also in for a treat. Tune in Thursdays at 9 p.m. on FOX.

Comments on this story? E-mail sagcketc@sc.edu

‘Informant’ twisted comedy

Comments on this story? E-mail sagcketc@sc.edu

Colin CampbellTHE DAILY GAMECOCK

Matt Damon shines as conflicted executive working for, against law in director Steven Soderbergh’s newest film which

entertains audience with Damon’s dark internal thoughts

Courtesy of Warner Brothers PicturesMatt Damon stars in “The Informant!” as a morally torn company executive working for the FBI.

Sunny ● Continued from 5A

HOROSCOPES

1234567890-=

Inside the Box ● By Marlowe Leverette / The Daily Gamecock

PhD ● By Jorge Chan

PAGE 7AThe Daily Gamecock ● THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

Calamities● By Tony Piro / MCT

The SceneUSC

TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA BY CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY

STAGE TOUR7:30 p.m., $5 students/$10Cottingham Theatre, 1301

Columbia College Dr.

TODAY

THE MOST FABULOUS STORY EVER TOLD7:30 p.m., $20Trustus Theatre, 520 Lady St.

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HUMP DAY6 and 8 p.m., $6.50Nickelodeon Theatre, 937 Main St.

TOMORROW

COLUMBIA ALTERNACIRQUE9:30, 10:30, 11:30 p.m., freeArt Bar, 1211 Park St.

CYRANO DE BERGERAC8 p.m., $10-$16Longstreet Theatre, 1300 Greene St.

THE TAMS & THE DRIFTERS8 p.m., prices varyKoger Center, 1051 Greene St.

ACROSS1 Giant Mel et al.5 Skating jumps10 Ballpark figs.14 Beat to a froth15 Euripides tragedy16 Predicament17 Pre-euro denaro18 *Singly20 *Gathering of reporters22 Authorized, briefly23 “... the morn ... Walks o’er the dew of __ high eastward hill”: “Hamlet”24 Olympian’s quest25 Sources of overhead costs?27 Highchair feature30 GPS suggestion31 *Workplace gambling group34 “The Swiss FamilyRobinson” author Johann35 Game for one37 Barbecue site40 *Furthermore44 “I love,” in Latin45 Topple (over)46 Stereotypical parrot name47 __ jumbo49 Cote occupant51 Mormon initials52 *Negotiating for alesser sentence57 *Credit company with a “Priceless” ad campaign58 Boardroom VIPs60 Director Preminger61 Postpone, as a motion (and word that can follow the last word of answersto starred clues)62 Morales of “NYPD Blue”63 Lowly laborer64 German industrial city65 JFK arrivals, onceDOWN1 Big-eyed bird2 Envision

3 Fed up with4 Gush5 Gas giant that merged with BP6 One of the noble gases7 First garden site?8 Tree growth9 Fill to the gills10 Lauder of cosmetics11 Washer setting12 Alley prowlers13 TV’s Remington et al.19 Military force21 Big name in food service22 Guadalajara gold26 Catcher Carlton __, who famously homered to win Game 6 of the 1975 World Series27 Bottom line amount28 Turnpike, e.g.29 “Put __ on it!”32 Author Wiesel33 Woodsy aerosol scent34 “What are __believe?”36 Turn red, perhaps37 Janitor’s tool

38 Try to equal39 Regainsconsciousness41 Reason to misswork42 Nasty geezer43 Where Hillarywas sen.45 Lakers starBryant48 It’s passed inrelays49 Grammy-winningcountry star

Steve50 Add lanes to53 Johnson of“Laugh-In”54 Victrolas, e.g.55 Ties up thephone, say56 Chills, as bubbly59 Bro’s sib

Solution for 09/23/09

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ARIES Hide out until the dust settles. There’s a big mess at work, but someone f igures out the problem.

TAURUS Not a good day to gamble. Don’t even shop. Odds are too great you’ll get the wrong color or size or something.

GEMINI You’re in the midst of the confusion. It’s easy to see why you’d want to get out, but it won’t happen for a few days.

C A NCER T here will be mistakes. You’re in the learning phase. If you knew how to do this, you wouldn’t be learning, would you?

L E O T h e b e t t e r educated you are, the more interest ing people you attract. This is a true win-win situation.

V I RG O Yo u ’r e stirring things up to get t hem ju s t r ight . Ta ke responsibility for the mess you’re making.

L I B R A T a k e everything you hear with a grain of salt. Spiritual matters may take a giant step forward now.

SCOR PIO T h i s is a good day for you, so make the most of it. Your one-track mind takes you in many directions. Enjoy!

SAGITTARIUS

To d a y i s y o u r d a y ! Make the most of every opportunity. Eat imported chocolate, if possible.

C A P R IC OR N St ick to the game plan, e ven i f o t her s a re on v ac at ion emot ion a l l y. Compassion is your best tool.

AQUARIUS Use the ideas that have been rolling around in the back of your mind. Pull them out of a hat like a magician.

P I S C E S W h e n you’r e on , you’r e on . Take advantage of today’s opportunities. They will serve you into the future.

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PAGE 8A The Daily Gamecock ● THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

PAGE 1B

“Why not us?” Steve Spurrier asked at his fi rst press conference as USC coach in 2004. Tonight, “us” can make the history that the Head Ball Coach envisioned when he arrived

in Columbia on that late November day. When the Gamecocks take the fi eld at Williams-Brice Stadium to take on the No. 4 Ole Miss Rebels, it won’t be just another game — it’ll be a chance for South Carolina to fi nally make a statement and prove it can play with the nation’s elite.

“Not only would it be a big win for us, it would be a big win for the university,” senior wide receiver Moe Brown said. “I don’t know the last time we beat someone that highly ranked. We’re looking forward to it.”

The only time Carolina has ever knocked off a Top-5 team was in 1981, against North Carolina. Overall, Carolina is 1-31 in history against the Top-5 — 0-4 in the past fi ve seasons. However, the past doesn’t have the team fazed.

“Truthfully, it’s just a number to me,” senior linebacker Eric Norwood said. “We know what we’re capable of. If we go out and play ball, play like we should play, everything should work out for us.”

USC is coming off a short week, but it’s nothing new to the Gamecocks. Since Spurrier took over the program, Thursdays have become a major day around Gamecock football. But rather than “Big Thursday” matchups with Clemson, the penultimate day of the working week has become USC’s time to shine in the bright lights of primetime, nationally televised games.

“Thursday nights have been pretty good for us,” Brown said. “We haven’t lost too many Thursday night games.”

Under Spurrier, the Gamecocks have played seven times on Thursday nights, four of them national openers, going 5-2. Spurrier’s biggest win to date at Carolina was on Thursday night — a 38-23 win over Kentucky in 2007.

“That game inspired me to commit to this school,” freshman wide receiver Tori Gurley said. “After the game I called … and told them that I wanted to be a part of the Gamecock Nation.”

Tonight will be the second Thursday night game against a top-5 opponent — USC fell to No. 2 Auburn 24-17 in 2006 — and the second Thursday night chance for USC to get a signature win in Columbia.

“My freshman year we had Auburn in here, who was No. 2, and we came up seven points short of beating those guys,” Brown said. “It defi nitely would’ve been a big win.”

USC has been close to a top-5 win at home a number of times. In addition to Auburn, the Gamecocks took No. 2 Georgia down to the wire last September, losing 14-7. There’s no doubt; the trademark home win that USC hasn’t been able to get in the fi rst four seasons of Spurrier’s tenure, and the chance to knock off the highest-ranked opponent in Williams-Brice Stadium’s 75-year history, is something very much in the back of the team’s mind.

“[A win would] fall right in line to the “New Carolina” theme that we got going this year,” Brown said. “We’re trying to do things that haven’t been done around here before, and that would defi nitely be one of them; that we could play with a top-echelon team and win the game.”

Besides the historic implications, USC also feels like it has a lot to prove after a topsy-turvy start to 2009.

“We haven’t played our best game. We’re looking forward to going into Ole Miss ready, with our head right,” senior safety Darian Stewart said. “Lately, the past two weeks, we haven’t played up to our potential. And I feel like this team, we have all the potential in the world.”

The history at stake tonight goes beyond a Top-5 upset. With one more win this season, the 2000s will become the most successful in South Carolina football history, surpassing the 63 wins the Gamecocks recorded in the 1980s during the era of Joe Morrison and the ‘Black Magic’ season of 1984. Getting the record is, for all intensive purposes, a foregone conclusion for this team, but there is a desire to get it on a stage like tonight’s.

“A win is a win — we’ll take it at home, we’ll take it on the road,” senior defensive tackle Nathan Pepper said. “But, that’s something we’d love to get done [tonight], especially with

our home fans, who would be able to appreciate [the achievement].” Also, two school individual records could fall tonight. With 68 return yards, junior safety

Chris Culliver would break Dick Harris’ all-time return yardage mark of 1,946 yards. With a sack, Norwood would pass Andrew Provence atop the career sacks list with 27.

“He’s a heck of a player. Everybody knows what type of ballplayer Norwood is,” Stewart said. “He’s an intense player. His passion for the game is great.”

A win would put USC in unchartered waters, but not because of the opponent. Spurrier is 3-0 in his career against the Rebels, the most recent triumph coming last fall in Oxford. USC came from behind, on the strength of the passing game, for a 31-24 win — a win that gives this year’s club confi dence.

“They’re physical, man. We had a lot of fun with [the Ole Miss secondary] last year. We competed pretty hard last year with one another. We shook hands after the game with mutual respect,” Brown said. “The guys fl y around and the safety comes down pretty hard. It’s going to be a challenge. They’re very talented, but I think we can go in there and handle our business.”

On the defensive side of the ball, standout quarterback Jevan Snead isn’t driving any fear into the Gamecocks’ hearts either.

“[Snead is] a good quarterback. We got pressure on him last year. I don’t see why we can’t do it this year,” Norwood said. “I’m not going to harp on the good things and the bad things we did last year, but I know if we go out there and play ball like we’re capable of, we’ll come out fi ne.”

Putting matchups, injuries, rankings and whatever else aside, one thing is clear: USC football has a chance to make history tonight.

“Going with the theme of ‘New Carolina,’ what we’re trying to do, it would defi nitely help push that theme that we’ve got going forward, to beat a Top-5 team,” Brown said. “We’re not coming out here to lay down for nobody. I don’t care what their rank is. We want a win. We won last year against Ole Miss, and if we come out with great effort and execute the gameplan that we have, I think we go out there and get another win.”

History says that South Carolina doesn’t win games like tonight’s. USC is 0-19 at Williams-Brice Stadium against Top-5 teams. USC hasn’t beaten Ole Miss in Columbia in 30 years.

This team doesn’t care about history. “It’s going to be very special. It’s going to be a very good game. The fans here will be out

of control, I imagine,” sophomore quarterback Stephen Garcia said. “It’s going to be very exciting for us. We’re going to take it very, very serious this week and go out there and beat ‘em.”

Comments on this story? E-mail sagckspt@mailbox.sc.edu

A NEW CAROLINA

Gamecocks have opportunity to rewrite history books against No. 5 RebelsJames Kratch

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Last time USC played Ole Miss, the Rebels were coming off an enormous upset of then-No. 4 Florida, but a stout Gamecock defense held Ole Miss to only 129 yards in the second half, setting up a come-from-behind win in Oxford. Now No. 4 Ole Miss is riding an eight-game winning streak, and the defense is going to need an even better performance than last season if the Gamecocks expect to come away with an upset.

After it played Memphis and Southeastern Louisiana in its fi rst two games of the season, it may be diffi cult to gauge exactly how good Ole Miss really is.

“At times I think they’ve not been all that

impressive,” coach Steve Spurrier said. “But again, sometimes we all play to the level of our opponent.”

What is certain, however, is that the Rebel offense will be a handful for the banged-up South Carolina defense, whose main focus will be on stopping quarterback Jevan Snead.

“He’s a great thrower, he stands up in the pocket real strong,” sophomore corner back Akeem Auguste said. “We (have) our hands full this week.”

How diffi cult will Auguste and the rest of the secondary’s job be?

That depends upon whether or not the Gamecocks can apply pressure, pressure that will come in the form of the Gamecocks’ 6-1, 252-pound All-SEC linebacker, Eric Norwood. Norwood currently leads the SEC with four sacks and is tied for the school record with 26 for his career. If Norwood can make life diffi cult for Snead, the junior quarterback is going to make

mistakes, which the defense can capitalize on.Not only will the defense have to contend with Snead,

but it will also have to face a potent Rebel ground attack that has seen fi ve different players reach the endzone in the last two games. Ole Miss also uses the wildcat formation.

“We stopped it once or twice (last season) and they quit doing it,” Spurrier said. “So that’s what (we’ve) got to do.”

The one glaring weakness for the USC defense has been on third downs. Their opponents are converting 44.7 percent of their 3rd downs (second to last in the SEC). If the defense can’t stop the Rebels on third down, it will be in for a long night Thursday.

However, the players doesn’t seem worried at all. “The opportunity is going to be big for us,” Auguste

said. “May the best man win.”

In his four previous years on the job, the offensive line has been a point of contention for coach Steve Spurrier. If last Saturday’s game against Florida Atlantic is any indication, he seems to have found something in this year’s group.

The Gamecock running game broke out against FAU, amassing 287 rushing yards on 35 attempts. Running backs Jarvis Giles and Brian Maddox had the bulk of the carries, scoring three rushing touchdowns between them. This sudden surge of running power can be credited toward great run blocking in the trenches.

“I was happy with the 287 rushing yards. I feel like the line did go out there and compete,” senior center Lemuel Jeanpierre said. “We aren’t going to settle with a good

rushing game last week. We aren’t going to live off of that. We are going to try and get better every week.”

Center Garrett Anderson, guards Heath Batchelor and T.J. Johnson and tackles Jarriel King and Quinton Richardson are all listed as starters on the depth chart and will be looking to get the big win against the Rebels.

“Every opponent is equal,” Jeanpierre said. “We will go out there and perform well and let things take care of themselves. If we do beat Ole Miss, it solidifi es this team.”

The line has done a commendable job protecting the quarterback this season. They have only allowed six sacks this year, compared to 11 allowed after three games last year. Looking to stop the Gamecock offense for Ole Miss will be senior defensive end Greg Hardy. Hardy, who led the Rebels in sacks last year, is a pure athlete that USC will have to double-team to prevent from getting to the quarterback and making plays.

“Their defense has been very good,” Spurrier said. “I don’t know where it was all ranked last year, but I know they haven’t lost a game in about

a year now, so they’re on a winning streak.” Another important facet of the Rebel defense is the

level of experience that they bring to the field. They are returning eight of the eleven starters from last year’s team that managed to conquer both Florida and Texas Tech’s high-powered offenses.

“They’re doing what’s necessary to win the games,” Spurrier said. “Team speed at Ole Miss is very good. Houston Nutt and his staff have done an excellent job there. They’ve inherited good players and have done a good job.”

USC needs to look at last year’s game as an offensive blueprint for how to beat the Rebels. In their previous visit to Oxford, the Gamecocks had single-game season highs for passing yards and touchdowns against essentially the same defensive personnel that they will face this year.

“It’s a big conference game, big for them (and) big for us,” Spurrier said. “It should be a heck of a ball game.”

PAGE 2B The Daily Gamecock ● THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

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Comments on this story? E-mail sagckspt@mailbox.sc.edu

Dylan FosterTHE DAILY GAMECOCK

Gamecocks determined to stop Mississippi’s all-conference weapon

HEAD HEAD

Chris BilkoTHE DAILY GAMECOCK

Jeanpierre anchors veteran position seeking repeat performance against Rebs

DEFENSEAkeem Auguste Jevan SneadVS.VS.

Comments on this story? E-mail sagckspt@mailbox.sc.edu

OFFENSEOffensive line Greg HardyVS.VS.

HEAD HEAD

Ryan Moore/ Memphis Commerical AppealKara Roache/ THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Kara Roache/ THE DAILY GAMECOCK Rugilio V. Solid/ The Associated Press

USC

DUCKS UNLIM

ITED

Sunday FundaySkeet Shoot

September 272PM - 7 PM

Sunday FundaySkeet Shoot

September 272PM - 7 PM

*Please bring your own shells

Email: soducks@mailbox.sc.edu with questions

and to purchase tickets

Tickets: $15 to shoot* and eat / drink$5 to watch and eat / drink

Location:Tailgate lot at the end of National Guard Road

(behind the Farmer’s Market)Find us on Facebook for more info:USC DU Sunday Funday Skeet Shoot

PAGE 3BThe Daily Gamecock ● THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

GAMECOCKGAMECOCKCHALLENGECHALLENGETHE

Jenn HaganReader of the Week

Chris CoxSports Editor

James KratchAssistant Sports Editor

Sam DavisStaff Writer

Hannah CarrollStaffer of the Week

Last Week’s Standings:

Overall:

9-1

(24-6)

7-3

(20-10)7-3

(19-11)9-1

(22-8)10-0

(20-10)

Atlantic Coast Conference showdown

No. 9 Miami @ No. 11 Virginia TechNo. 9 Miami @ No. 11 Virginia Tech

North Carolina was one the preseason picks by the so called experts to win the ACC, in fact, one expert at ESPN even suggested that the Tar Heels could make it to the National Title game. However while UNC is still undefeated, they have failed to impress in any of their games this season. Georgia Tech by virtue of their Thursday night game last week had some extra time to plan for their battle with UNC. Georgia Tech will work out the kinks in their running game as they continue their recent dominance against the overrated Tar Heels.

The Pick: Georgia Tech 24, North Carolina 10

TCU is one of the few viable BCS busters remaining in this college football season after both BYU and Utah both lost week. TCU has one the best defenses in the country, as they are consistently able to get pressure on the quarterback. Clemson will need to produce more offense than they did last week as they were unable to produce an offensive touchdown against Boston College. TCU will look to control the clock and force Kyle Parker into mistakes as they keep their BCS dreams alive with their second win against the ACC this season.

The Pick: TCU 27, Clemson 14

No. 22 North Carolina @ No. 22 North Carolina @ Georgia TechGeorgia Tech

No. 15 TCU @ ClemsonNo. 15 TCU @ Clemson

This game should be a good old fashioned Texas shootout as these teams have two the top scoring offenses in the country. Houston looks to continue their magical season with another win over the mighty Big 12. Houston’s quarterback Case Keenum has emerged as an early dark horse candidate for the Heisman, a campaign which could be destroyed or elevated on Saturday. Texas Tech showed fi ght last week as they Texas everything they had for the second straight season. Houston was able to catch Oklahoma State off-guard, but don’t expect the same result twice.

The Pick: Texas Tech 49, Houston 31

No. 17 Houston vs. Texas TechNo. 17 Houston vs. Texas Tech

Heated rivals Miami, Virginia Tech do battle in pivotal league matchupAustin Smallwood

THE DAILY GAMECOCK

All is fi nally right in the world of college football. For the fi rst time since the Ken Dorsey era, Miami has the talent to compete for the conference title and potentially the national title. Jacory Harris has shown great poise in the pocket, and is very capable of getting the ball to his many playmakers. Virginia Tech has as is their annual tradition failed to live up to their unrealistic expectations. If Tyrod Taylor had not made the best throw of his life last week, the Hokies are looking at a 1-2 record. Since joining the ACC, Virginia has fl ourished because they have more speed than their opponent, which will not be the case this week. Miami may be the fastest team outside of the Gators in the country and will make Virginia Tech another victim on their way to an ACC Championship and maybe more.

The Pick: Miami 28 , Virginia Tech 13Hans Deryk/ The Associated Press

Eric Gay / Associated Press

John Bazemore / The Associated Press

Donna McWilliam/ The Associated Press

LSU @ Mississippi State

North Carolina @ Georgia Tech

Arkansas @ Alabama

California @ Oregon

Miami @ Virginia Tech

TCU @ Clemson

Arizona State @ Georgia

Florida @ Kentucky

Iowa @ Penn State

Ole Miss @ USC

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PAGE 5BThe Daily Gamecock ● THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

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Comments on this story? E-mail sagckspt@mailbox.sc.edu

QUESTIONS ENEMYWITHTHE

Jason Smith

Sports Editor - The Daily

Mississippian

Daily Mississippian’s Jason Smith answers Carolina’s burning questions on Rebels

Bruce Newman / The Associated Press

Mississippi running back Dexter McCluster will be one of the key players in tonight’s game against the Gamecocks.

Is Ole Miss really a top fi ve team? The AP and Coaches’ Polls say they are, but judging by

quality of competition and performance, it is tough to say. The Rebels’ rise to the Top-5 has been aided by numerous upsets in front of them (Oklahoma, USC, Oklahoma State), and games against Memphis and Southeastern Louisiana certainly have not given the media an accurate gauge of the Rebels’ ability.

Despite the poor competition so far and the breaks that have allowed Ole Miss to crack the top five, it is difficult to look at the Ole Miss roster and refute that there is top-fi ve talent on the team. Jevan Snead is one of the better quarterbacks in the SEC, Brandon Bolden is the best running back in the SEC that no one is talking about and the defensive line lives up to its considerable hype.

Is Snead really that good?You will be hard-pressed to fi nd an Ole Miss coach, fan

or player that is going to disagree with the fact that Snead is the best quarterback at Ole Miss since Eli Manning. Granted, his stiffest competition is walk-on quarterback Seth Adams.

In the last four games of last season, Snead threw 12 touchdowns to only two interceptions and averaged 274 yards per game. Snead’s struggles against Memphis were due in large part to the fl u, which caused him to miss several days of practice following the Memphis game, and his stats against Southeastern Louisiana are skewed due to three inexcusably dropped passes, two of which were for touchdowns.

How do Rebel fans and players viewthe game against USC?

With Alabama only two weeks away, many Ole Miss fans are already thinking about how many orders of Abner’s chicken fi ngers they need for the Grove and what brand of whiskey should grace their fl ask, and the sorority girls are hoping no one else dons the same dress as them in fi rst big Grove event of the season.

That is def initely not the mindset of head coach Houston Nutt and the Rebels. Nutt has the reputation

around the SEC of losing games he should not, and maybe even overlooking opponents.

That being said, the right reverend is not going to allow his players to overlook the Gamecocks, and he has been delivering his patented “sermons” to the team all week to ensure Ole Miss is focused on taking care of business on one of the biggest stages of the season.

Do Rebel fans hate Tyrone Nix as much as USC fans?

Not at all. Nix has completely transformed the Ole Miss defense. Prior to his arrival, the Rebels were a notoriously bad pass defense team, and there was little to no depth in the secondary. Now, Ole Miss has one of the best rushing defenses in the nation and the secondary has made major strides, such as holding Michael Crabtree to four catches for 30 yards in the Cotton Bowl.

Nix employs an aggressive style of defense, blitzes often and has the athletes on defense to make his system highly effective. Ole Miss fans are still reeling from the 4-2-5 of Chuck Driesbach too much to be overly critical of Nix’s defense, which has limited opponents to 11.8 points per game over the past eight contests.

Who wins?Is this the same Ole Miss team that South Carolina

beat last season? If you look at the names on the roster the answer would be, yes. But this is by no means the same team that turned the ball over three times in the game at Oxford last season.

It is diffi cult to explain how mentally debilitated the Rebels were last season after weathering three brutal seasons under Hurricane (Ed) Orgeron. The team had no faith in itself, did not know how to win and once it beat Florida, it had to learn how to maintain a winning mentality.

Nutt taught them how to do these things, and he has instilled a new attitude and sense of camaraderie among the players.

Houston Dale does have the reputation of being unable to win games he should win, true. But Nutt also has the reputation of winning games on the big stage.

Tonight’s game is going to be the opening SEC game for Ole Miss, nationally televised on ESPN, and on the road. Lack of focus and energy is not going to be an issue.

The lack of competition for the Rebels and 82,000 fans in Columbia will present a challenge for Ole Miss, but I see the Rebels escaping from Williams-Brice Stadium with a victory, 27-21.