GoGamecocks.com
Norwood not locked into staying
Once leaning toward returning for senior season, LB now says decision is 50-50
Eric Norwood
C. Aluka Berry/caberry@thestate.com
Written by JOSEPH PERSON
jperson@thestate.com
Posted on 12.29.08
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survey:
Outback Bowl
WHO: Iowa (8-4) vs. USC (7-5)
WHEN: 11 a.m., Jan. 1
WHERE: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.
TV: ESPN (channel 26 in Columbia, HD channel 950)
RADIO: WNKT-FM 107.5, WISW-AM 1320
LINE: Iowa by 3.5
TV, radio notes
Sean McDonough will do the play-by-play, Chris Spielman will offer analysis and Rob Stone will be on the sidelines. The game can be heard on WNKT-FM 107.5 and WISW-AM 1320 with Todd Ellis and Tommy Suggs in the booth and former USC and NFL star Duce Staley on the field.
TAMPA, Fla. — For most of the fall linebacker Eric Norwood said he was leaning toward returning to USC for his final season.
But the junior from Georgia did not sound as certain Sunday, saying it was “50-50” as to whether he remains in school or jumps to the NFL. Norwood, a first-team All-SEC selection the past two seasons, called playing in the NFL a dream.
“That’s all it is — living that dream,” said Norwood, the Gamecocks’ all-time leader in tackles for loss. “There’s a time for everything. This year might be the time. It might not be.”
Norwood, tied for the SEC lead with nine sacks, is one of at least five USC juniors who asked the NFL’s advisory committee for a draft evaluation. He said he would consider entering the April draft if he is as projected as a first-day pick.
The deadline for underclassmen to declare is Jan. 15. USC defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson hopes the Gamecocks’ juniors will wait for their evaluations before deciding.
“There’s a lot of people that get in their ears and faces that are not associated with college football or NFL football. They’re associated with making money off them,” Johnson said. “I hope they’ll trust the people that don’t have any money at stake and that’s us and NFL coaches and scouts.”
Fit to be Tide. Steve Spurrier said Iowa’s power running game reminds him of Alabama, which faces Utah in the Sugar Bowl and is on the Gamecocks’ 2009 schedule.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz appreciated the compliment — not that it helps the Hawkeyes prepare for USC.
“We’re certainly not as good as Alabama — maybe a little bit like them, which is nice except they didn’t play Alabama so we don’t know how they’d defend them,” Ferentz said.
With the loss of leading tackler Emanuel Cook, the Gamecocks switched from a three-safety alignment to a more traditional 4-3. As a result, Ferentz said the Iowa staff has played “a lot of fantasy football” this month.
“We’ve been what if, and this guy, that guy and that type of thing,” he said. “But at the end of the day they’re going to have 11 guys out there and a few of them are going to be close to the ball.”
Biggest loser no more. Spurrier and the rest of the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers no longer hold the distinction of being the NFL’s worst team. The Bucs’ 0-14 mark was surpassed Sunday by Detroit when the Lions lost to Green Bay, making them the only NFL team to finish 0-16.
Spurrier, the quarterback on Tampa Bay’s ‘76 expansion team, was rooting for the Lions. “We don’t wish that record on anybody else,” he said.
Extra points. The first-team offense has been practicing more against the starting defense as USC seeks to get tougher running the ball and stopping the run. Johnson said Spurrier has made a “concerted effort to get more running into our scheme to help the quarterbacks.” ...
Speaking of quarterbacks, Jefferson High graduate Stephen Garcia walked Chris Smelley to his old school’s baseball stadium after Sunday’s practice to show Smelley the Dragons’ wall of fame. Fred McGriff, Luis Gonzalez and Tino Martinez are among the Jefferson alums who made it to the majors.
Reach Person at (803) 771-8496.
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