Evening star., 1961-09-11
SPOTLIGHT ON
SPORTS
A Hint of Scandal
By MERRELL WHITTLESEY

COLUMBIA, S. c.. Sept 11-six years ago, the At
antc Coast Conference took from the Big Ten
started an annual preseason tour of the college football
camps plan that since has been followed the Southern
Conference and being studied by the Big Eight and the
Pacific Coasts Big Five.
Commissioner Jim Weaver and about 20 sports writer's
meet at one end of the conference and charter plane
for fve-day jaunt
1t is five days of steaks and telling lies and
half truths, exaggeratng the poormouthing No school
WILL tell how many freshmen it has on its roster but all
of them know how many the other guy has
Everybody has just lost the greatest high school player
In history to rival school, because the boy couldn't
the entrance at the school that lost him. 1t is
week Of early calls, tight schedules and opportunity
to study football as big business.
EXCEPT FOR AN occasional meal at a training table,
the expenses prorated between the 20 travellers But
this year there's hint of scandal The NCAA may rep
rmand the newspaper publishers may step n because
we've been had. Gifts pouring in.
The Atlantic Coast Conference presented each parc
pant with beautiful white brief and letter opener
with the ACC SEAL The city of Columbia sent engraved
leatherbound note pads There was lighter from the
University of South Carolina Athletic Association socks
from merchant, and South Carolina sports shirt with
the letters use" the pocket.
There's string to the latter gift Everybody who
TOOK one had to promise to it to todays
Clemson, hated rival of the Gamecocks. When Frank
Howard the tourists wearing South Carolina shirts
he'll explode There was even an extra large one for the
commissioner but the betting that he wouldn't
For those who might suppose that sports reporters
Cdh Oe SnrC or lighter wallet, 1t is
nice TO report that the profession has retained its honesty
After being wined and dined presented with gifts
oy the GamecockS every man the tour went to his
typewriter and raped the schools football team picking
the GamecockS to finish higher than SIXTH and some
as low as last
WARREN GIESE, ONCE Jim Tatum's assistant coach
at Maryland, among the greeters Warren abruptly
resigned South Carolina coach last winter appointed
former assistant Marvin Bass as his successor Warren
continued athletic director and added the duties of
director Of physical education.
Look, lines under the eyes" Warren said You're
looking at man who sleep at night and If doesn't
feel like finishing something, he put it off until
morrow"
Giese coached the Gamecocks five years and had
only one losing season, last year. Among his accomplish
mentS three victories Duke two over Georgia
one over Texas and Clemson and two Maryland.
Among GieSe'S innovations at South Carolina was
closed circuit teeviSion The top of the
press boX and the set was in small tent by the South
Carolina bench Either Warren his quarterbacks would
watch the In defeat he usually would shut
late in the fourth quarter, and there million gags
about GieSe folding his tent and Sinking away"
BASS WAS ASKED if he going to use the set and
he answered with quick and rather loud mo- I'm not
good enough coach to something that quick Bass
said. Il might use it If you could play it back"
But Warren said the closed circuit televson had
served its purpose far he concerned The original
investment $780, and in five years he figured the
wasn't over $50 game.
Bob Stevens much faster hoped here than plans
for gym. So when basketball starts being played
to urnaway crowds Giese plans the televson
up to teevise the home games into the Student Union
buildings for the overflow.
Gese stays completely out of the coaching picture He
might attend occasional practice session for few
minutes but only spectator Warren only 81 years
DID, but he appears happier these days and doesn't have
to be introduced to his four youngsters He plays handba
and concerned only with the gate against Duke next
week. and whether not to take out rain insurance