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University of South Carolina Scholar Commons February 2011 2-15-2011 The aiD ly Gamecock, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011 University of South Carolina, Office oftude S nt Media Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/gamecock_2011_feb Recommended Citation University of South Carolina, Office of Student Media, "The aiD ly Gamecock, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011" (2011). February. 8. https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/gamecock_2011_feb/8 This Newspaper is brought to you by the 2011 at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in February by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. dailygamecock.com UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011 VOL. 105, NO. 24 ● SINCE 1908 See Sports on page 7 and www.DailyGamecock.com for more coverage on the Jadeveon Clowney commitment. Photos by Keri Goff / THE DAILY GAMECOCK Left: Josenna Clowney, Jadeveon Clowney’s mother, speaks with the media. Center: Clowney with South Pointe Athletic Director Mike Drummond. Right: Clowney after the ceremony. Rock Hill’s Clowney signs with USC No. 1 recruit commits USC over Clemson and Alabama, calling people in the crowd began to sing “Happy and be more appealing. in front of national audience it an “easy decision.” Birthday” on two occasions. Monday was In the end, that didn’t come to pass. But “I knew, like, a week ago,” Clowney said Clowney’s 18th birthday. it almost did. Clowney gave kudos to a late James Kratch of his conclusion. About fi ve and a half minutes after the Clemson charge spearheaded by coach [email protected] Clowney’s announcement was delayed original delay, Clowney was given the go- Dabo Swinney and said the Tigers almost several minutes at the request of ESPN, ahead. He then did what most predicted, won him over. But, he said, the chance to ROCK HILL — Jadeveon Clowney was which was televising the ceremony live picking up the garnet baseball cap with an play in the Southeastern Conference was a ready to go. ESPN wasn’t. on the network’s flagship program, interlocking “SC” logo on the front from major decision point. Either way, South Carolina is happy. SportsCenter. When Clowney was first the table to his right and putting it on his “I was very close to going to Clemson,” The Gamecocks got their man. ready to reveal his choice, ESPN was on a head. Clowney said. “My mom really liked Clowney, the nation’s top-ranked high commercial break and communicated such Clowney said he did not inform coaches Clemson. But I wanted to play in the SEC.” school football player, committed to USC to him. from Clemson or Alabama of his decision Swinney in particular had an effect on Monday at South Pointe High School. Clowney stood at the podium, not prior to the announcement. He admitted Josenna Clowney, Jadeveon’s mother. The announcement brought an end to one appearing sure of what to do. He Monday he had been leaning toward USC “He really sounded real good,” said of the most publicized recruiting sagas in announced he was being told by ESPN for quite some time, although he expected Josenna Clowney. “We [weren’t] even recent memory. that two minutes remained before he at times he’d go elsewhere, anticipating As had been expected, Clowney chose could speak. To break the awkward silence, another school would “treat him better” CLOWNEY ● 2 Tuesday Grammy recapClowney signs Beamer leaves 61° 36° Mix Editor Chloe Visit DailyGamecock. USC special teams Gould runs down com for exclusive coordinator Shane top performances photos and video Beamer is heading and most unexpect- from Jadeveon home to Virginia Tech. Wednesday ed recipients from Clowney’s signing the annual music ceremony. See page 7 67° 45° award event. PAGE 2 The Daily Gamecock ● TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011 Jesus for SG president? Campus cheers on Clowney USC opens Russell House Before the announcement, students theater for signing event constantly scrolled through their iPads, computers and smartphones, reading Josh Dawsey commentary and looking for the most [email protected] recent update. School offi cials changed the channel from ESPN after a student promised live coverage on another When Jadeveon Clowney made his network. long-awaited announcement in Rock Some students inside the theater Hill, the 50 or so students inside the heard about the event from friends. Russell House theater erupted in a loud Others happened to be in the Russell chaos of chants, fi st bumps, hugs and House and were frantically searching grins. for a place to watch the 10:15 a.m. Clowney’s announcement 50 miles announcement. away was the culmination of weeks “I was trying to watch it in the of anxious waiting, nervous Twitter bookstore,” said Coard Miller, a third- checks, thousands of news reports and year visual communications student , plenty of speculation. “but they wouldn’t let us turn the A little before 10:30 Monday volume up.” morning, it ended in sheer mass elation. And while the televisions were Kim McMahon, director of the without volume in the bookstore, the Russell House , chose to open the theater students made up for the lack of noise, and use the live cable feed early Monday hollering loud enough to be heard one morning. The event wasn’t advertised, fl oor above when the decision was made. but students steadily streamed into the theater prior to the announcement. “It was an impromptu show of school Comments on this story? spirit,” McMahon said. Visit: dailygamecock.com/news Park Jennette / THE DAILY GAMECOCK A mock Student Government campaign poster advertising Jesus Christ’s ● run for student body president appeared on Greene Street alongside CLOWNEY From 1 “I’m happy now,” sure where I was going to legitimate banners over the weekend. The sign depicted Jesus walking on going to take the Clemson Clowney said. “I wish I had go.” water and reaching out to Cocky, and the text included a sexual innuendo. visit. He talked us into to [signed] on the second (of In recent days, concerns It was torn down before 11 a.m. Monday. Past SG campaigns have seen coming to Clemson.” February).” have been raised about their fair share of joke posters and candidacies. Josenna Clowney went The decision to wait the possibility of Clowney on to say she didn’t talk to before making a choice failing to gain admittance — Complied by Ryan Quinn, News Editor USC coach Steve Spurrier was made in order to USC. A Feb. 11 story in as much as she talked to to fully complete his the New York Times story Swinney but affirmed she process, Clowney said. raised questions about his is happy for her son and his He specifi cally mentioned academic record. Clowney decision. making all of his official was steadfast in stating he Jadeveon Clowney’s visits, including one to will be eligible to attend decision came 12 days after Clemson on Jan. 29, which USC. National Signing Day, sparked the stretch run “That’s taken care of,” which was on Feb. 2. He rally for CU. Clowney said. “I’ve taken indicated if he could do “I wasn’t really sure. I the class I need to take the recruiting process over still had visits [to take],” again, and I’m going to get again, he likely wouldn’t Clowney said. “I took a visit in.” have extended the process. to Clemson. So I wasn’t Many coaches, teammates and acquaintances have spoken of Clowney’s confidence Voice during the recruiting process. It was on display Vote Monday, especially when he was asked what he expects Carolina out of his freshman season at Carolina. USC Student Body “To play and make a Elections 2011 lot of plays,” Clowney responded, later adding, “As soon as I step in there, I’m going to start.” Toward the end of the question-and-answer session with media following the ceremony, Clowney was asked if the fact he can accomplish something historic with the up-and-coming Gamecocks was a factor in his decision. He said it was, adding he has large aspirations for what USC can achieve during his time in Columbia. “Oh, it’s going to be big,” Clowney said. When asked to elaborate on what “big” meant, Clowney didn’t hesitate on details. “I hope the national championship,” he said. Comments on this story? Visit: dailygamecock.com/ sports The Daily Gamecock ● TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011 PAGE 3 Strickland campaign Students can log onto VIP to vote in the sign stolen Student Government Candidate may elections today through fi le police report 5 p.m. Wednesday. Ryan Quinn [email protected] Student body presidential Students can also fi ll out write-in ballots in the Campus candidate James Strickland’s Life Center in the Russell House between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. today and Wednesday. President, vice president, Follow us campaign banner was stolen from Greene treasurer and senator positions are up for grabs. Also, Street sometime between a referendum that would amend the current Student Thursday evening and Body Constitution to combine the Graduate Student Saturday afternoon. Association and SG is up for a vote. Each student may on Twitter “We had a replacement, only vote once. Check out dailygamecock.com to read thank goodness, and that candidate profi les and endorsements. is currently hanging,” Strickland said. “I’m — Complied by Ryan Quinn, News Editor somewhat surprised and disappointed.” Strickland said his campaign was working on filing a police report. He www. informed the Elections Daily Gamecock Commission of the theft, .com and the value of the banner won’t be counted toward his campaign’s spending total.