5/3/07

Gamecock Club names Clarendon County fans of the year
By Eric Goold

ERIC GOOLD/Manning Times

Clarendon County Gamecock Club President Will Buyck (left) presents Bill and Judy Holmes with the 2007 Fan of the Year Award last Wednesday night at the Cypress Center.

Well over 120 people gathered at the Cypress Center last Wednesday night to celebrate the University of South Carolina Gamecocks.

The Clarendon County Gamecock Club Dinner is an annual event that attracts the county’s biggest and best supporters of USC athletics and their athletes.

The 2007 installment featured a steak dinner complete with baked potato, salad and chocolate cake. A raffle was conducted and the evening’s entertainment was provided in speeches by USC head basketball coach Dave Odom and Tyrone Nix, assistant coach and defensive coordinator for the football team.

Gamecock Club Associate Director Logan Anderson said that Clarendon County offers great support for the athletes in Columbia.

“We always love coming to Manning and Clarendon County,” said Anderson. “You have some of the best fans in South Carolina. You are making a difference in the lives of our student athletes.”

The event kicked off with the recognition of the Clarendon County Gamecock Club’s Fan of the Year.
The 2007 award actually went to Fans of the Year when Will Buyck, President of the Clarendon County Gamecock Club, named Bill and Judy Holmes as the winners.

“We’re proud to accept this on behalf of all the Clarendon County Gamecock fans,” said Judy Holmes, “who we consider to be the most wonderful fans in America.”

Coach Nix gave the audience a detailed preview of the Gamecocks defense, going through the depth chart and talking about players he expects to have a big impact this season.

Nix said that senior linebacker Jasper Brinkley is the kind of talent that you can build a whole defense around. Sophomore cornerback Captain Munnerlyn is the fastest player on the team and newcomers Cliff Matthews, Clifton Geathers and Ladi Ajiboye are part of a recruiting class that was ranked by many to be in the top five around the country.

“A unique thing about last year was that we won three out of our last four ballgames,” said Nix. “And the one we lost was by one point to the eventual National Champion. I think that showed to our players, our fans and to the country that we can compete in South Carolina.

“We’re sending the message that it can be done and we’re going to do it,” said Nix. “We’re improving and we’re expecting big things this year.”

Coach Odom was making his third or fourth visit to Manning and he is always a crowd pleaser in Clarendon County. He greeted many fans by name and shook hands and spoke warmly with many of the people he’s gotten to know during his six years at USC.

“I always enjoy the great fellowship in Manning,” said Odom. “I love coming here because you love the Gamecocks as much as I do.”

Odom talked about how winning is important, that’s why you play the game. More important to Odom, however, is helping young student athletes become good citizens that are ready to contribute to society in a positive way after graduation.

He pointed to last season as an example. While the Gamecocks were plagued by injuries and problems en route to a disappointing 14-16 overall record, senior Tre’ Kelley provided what Odom called, “One of the greatest human stories I’ve ever been a part of.”

Despite playing his last 17 games with a torn meniscus ligament in his knee, Kelley led the Southeastern Conference in scoring and collected USC’s three most prestigious awards for an athlete, Team MVP, Ernest Brooks-Male Athlete of the Year and the Gamecock Most Inspirational Award.

Kelley was also the recipient of the 2007 Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, which recognizes the nation’s most outstanding senior basketball player who is below six feet tall.

“Tre’ Kelley was just someone who was very, very special,” said Odom. “The child he was coming into school is very different from the man he became while he was at school.”

Odom said that despite the toughest schedule he’s seen in his years at Columbia, this season he expects the Gamecocks to be back at the level they were two years ago when they won consecutive NIT titles.

“To do that, I need your help,” said Odom. “We’ve got to build the environment and atmosphere at the Colonial Center to match any in the SEC. We need your support.”