News Nuggets, 08.30.03
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Holtz in full worry mode

His quarterback is untested. His defense is banged up. His kicker? Don't ask. South Carolina coach Lou Holtz starts his 32nd season just as always — worried to death.

Holtz probably hasn't slept much this week, fretting whether his Gamecocks of the Southeastern Conference can get past Louisiana-Lafayette at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday.

"I got a lot of reasons to be scared," Holtz said earlier this week. For Holtz, this is a weekly rite. No opponent is too lowly or outmatched for Holtz to treat like a Rose Bowl winner. The message sinks in with his players.

"He takes us out every day on the practice field and gets us to play like champions," quarterback Dondrial Pinkins said. "That's how you keep from taking somebody for granted."

Nothing is too irrelevant to worry about. Holtz seized on the Ragin' Cajuns seven blocked kicks as a major concern. They can run the option, something the Gamecocks haven't practiced that much.

Don't forget, Holtz said, Louisiana-Lafayette coach Rickey Bustle was the offensive coordinator at Virginia Tech for eight seasons and developed some of the finest passers in school history in Jim Druckenmiller and Michael Vick.

South Carolina athletic director Mike McGee says Holtz's style is the ultimate form of preparation. Holtz says he most likely picked up the trait in college — he was an undersized linebacker at Kent who had to outwork others.

While coaching the Ohio State secondary in 1968, Holtz remembers his preparation for a game against SMU. He says he scouted the Mustangs earlier that season and had never seen a spread offense before.

"Boy, I was scared to death," Holtz said. He returned to Columbus and worked. The result? Five interceptions by the Buckeyes in a 35-14 victory. Ohio State coach Woody Hayes commended his young assistant for a good job.

"I thought, 'Man, this is going to be easy,' " Holtz recalled. Instead, Holtz saw Hayes — the two coaches are tied for eighth on the career list with 238 wins — lose some games outside the Big Ten the Buckeyes probably should have won.

"I just think you hate to lose and you try and prepare the best you can," Holtz said. So the worry lines for the already craggy-faced 66-year-old coach will continue this season.

"I know how fickle this game is," he says. "Couple of fumbles here, couple of blocked kicks there, couple of missed tackles, safety goes to sleep. ... With all the intangibles, all the things that can change the game, I don't care who you're playing, it's bad luck."

Heralded quarterback transfers to Tulane

Denham Springs, LA, product Lester Ricard, rated the No. 5 quarterback in the nation and one of the top quarterback recruits in the country in 2002, has signed a national letter of intent to play football at Tulane. The freshman attended classes on Wednesday, the first day of school at Tulane, and began practicing with the Green Wave.

Ricard comes to Tulane from LSU, where he spent a redshirt season in 2002. He will sit out the 2003 season at Tulane under NCAA transfer regulations and be eligible to play in 2004 as a sophomore.

Ricard led Amite High School to the finals of the 3A state playoffs in 2001 and was MVP of his district following his senior season. He was a member of the Baton Rouge Advocate Super Dozen as well as the Dallas Morning News' Top 100 list. The Atlanta Journal Constitution named him to its Super Southern 100 after a senior year in which he passed for 2,421 yards and 23 touchdowns. In his final two years of high school, he completed 244-of-434 passes for 3,765 yards and 40 TDs.

Ricard joins senior J.P. Losman, redshirt freshman Nick Cannon, true freshman Richard Irvin and walk-on Chris Dawson as quarterbacks on the 2003 Tulane roster. Redshirt freshman Billy Don Malone is sitting out the 2003 season while under evaluation for a heart condition.

The Green Wave open the 2003 season Monday, Sept. 1, with a special Labor Day night game at the Louisiana Superdome versus defending Conference USA champion Texas Christian. The 7 p.m. contest will be broadcast live on ESPN as part of a special C-USA day-night twinbill. Cincinnati entertains East Carolina at noon in the kickoff of ESPN's 2003 coverage of intra-league battles.

Saturday TV capsules for C-USA and Carolinas teams

No. 11 Georgia at (0-0) at Clemson (0-0), Noon, ABC

Opening Line: Georgia by 3
Series Record: Georgia leads, 40-17-4.
Last Meeting: 2002, Georgia, 31-28.

What to Watch: Three Georgia CBs will miss the game due to suspensions, but not starters Bruce Thornton and Decory Bryant. Also, LB Thomas Davis will be playing at SS, after the Bulldogs' first two players were injured. Davis was also one of three newcomers at LB. It's a golden opportunity for Clemson QB Charlie Whitehurst to get the season started with a bang despite nursing an injured thumb. Last year's leading rusher, Yusef Kelly was overweight in fall practice and sophomore Duane Coleman is expected to start. For Georgia, Tony Milton will take over for Musa Smith at RB. The Tigers are still smarting after they blew a fourth-quarter lead in Athens last season, and badly want to make up for it. If their inexperienced defense can keep them in it, the Tigers could deliver a much-needed big win for coach Tommy Bowden.

Streaks, Stats and Notes: Georgia is 8-0 on the road under coach Mark Richt, who is in his third season. ... Clemson DE J.J. Howard is the brother of Georgia LB Marcus Howard. ... Bowden has taken the Tigers to a bowl game in each of his first four seasons, a school first. ... The Tigers haven't beaten a ranked team in an opener since 1959. ... Georgia has won at least eight games in the past six seasons ... Georgia QB David Greene has only six second-half turnovers. ... Clemson LB John Leake was named to the watch list for the Butkus Award, given to the nation's top linebacker.

South Florida (0-0) at Alabama (0-0), at Birmingham, Ala., 3 p.m., ESPN

Opening Line: Alabama by 18
Series Record: First meeting.
Last Meeting: First meeting.

What to Watch: If South Florida can even put a scare into the Crimson Tide, it will likely come in the trenches. The Bulls return all five OL starters, while Alabama has to replace three All-SEC DLs. That said, the Bulls are green at the skill positions and more or less have a committee to handle rushing chores. RB Vince Brewer is listed as the starter. ... Alabama QB Brodie Croyle takes over after a season in which he threw for 1,046 yards and 5 TDs as the backup to Tyler Watts, and is already familiar with the Tide's new offense. He will have two experienced WRs in Zac Fletcher and Triandos Luke to run the flexible passing offense of new coach Mike Shula. South Florida's secondary is probably the strength of their offense. FS J.R. Reed had six interceptions last season and SS Kevin Verpaele had three.

Streaks, Stats and Notes: The game is Mike Shula's debut as Alabama coach. ... It will be South Florida's first game broadcast by ESPN. ... Bulls coach Jim Leavitt started at safety for the Missouri team that beat Alabama at Legion Field in 1975. ... South Florida K Santiago Gramatica is on the Lou Groza Award watch list. His older brother, Martin, won the award at Kansas State. He now plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Another Gramatica, Bill, played for the Bulls and kicks for the Arizona Cardinals. ... Alabama RB Shaud Williams needs 195 yards to reach 2,000. ... Shula will be the fifth Alabama coach in the last six to debut at Legion Field.

No. 13 Florida State (0-0) at North Carolina, 8 p.m., ABC

Opening Line: Florida State by 15
Series Record: Florida State leads 12-1-1.
Last Meeting: 2002, Florida State, 40-14.

What to Watch: Florida State could simply overwhelm the Tar Heels. QB Chris Rix has regained his teammates' trust, and TB Greg Jones appears healthy after a knee injury ended his season after nine games last year. North Carolina's defense will probably key on Jones _ the Seminoles' WR corps is thin and was plagued by dropped balls last season. North Carolina will need a big game from QB Darian Durant. The junior completed nearly 60 percent of his passes last year, for 2,123 yards and 16 TDs. He is also a rushing threat, but can be thrown for a loss when he takes off. The Tar Heels might rotate as many as four TBs, to run behind their experienced OL, which returns all five starters. TE Bobby Blizzard is a major receiving threat. Florida State's defense — led by DT Darnell Dockett and LB Michael Boulware, is improved this season, and probably up to the task.

Streaks, Stats and Notes: The Tar Heels were 0-6 at Kenan Stadium last season, allowing 34 or more points in four of those losses. ... North Carolina led the ACC in passing offense for first time since 1963. ... Florida State has won 13 straight openers. ... Darian Durant's 61.4 completion percentage is best in school history. ... Florida K Xavier Beitia has made 77 extra points in a row. ... North Carolina FS Dexter Reid returns as nation's second-leading tackler. His 166 total tackles were five shy of the school record. ... North Carolina is opening against an ACC team for only the third time in 11 years.

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News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2003 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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