Lindsey twins are split for finale

TAMPA, Fla. — Through the peaks and valleys of the past five seasons, Jordin and Dustin Lindsey always vowed they would go out together.

Both brothers are in Tampa for Thursday’s Outback Bowl, but this is not the ending either envisioned.

While Jordin, a starting defensive end, and the rest of the South Carolina defense tries to slow Iowa tailback Shonn Greene, Dustin will be in the stands at Raymond James Stadium after being ruled academically ineligible for the game.

Critics might call it a fitting finale for the identical twins from Mobile, Ala., whose toughness on the field often was matched by their propensity to find trouble off of it.

“Hopefully, they won’t hate on him too much,” Jordin said Saturday after the Gamecocks’ first practice in Tampa. “Hopefully, they’ll look at the good things we’ve done instead of all the bad.”

Two of the seven remaining players from the Lou Holtz era, the Lindseys each missed a season because of grades and were in the middle of a couple of incidents in Five Points.

While Dustin was plagued by a knee injury that required multiple surgeries, Jordin developed into one of the defense’s best playmakers.

Named the defensive MVP of the 2006 Liberty Bowl after coming up with a pair of takeaways in the victory against Houston, Jordin missed the following season while ineligible.

But he came back this year to start 11 games and contribute momentum-turning plays: a blocked field goal at Kentucky that Captain Munnerlyn returned for a touchdown and a 40-yard interception return to set up a touchdown against Arkansas.

“Jordy Lindsey’s been a very valuable player for us,” USC coach Steve Spurrier said. “Dusty’s played a little bit here and there.”

Spurrier expressed disappointment that Dustin did not make the grades this semester, although Dustin said he didn’t realize he was in danger until it was too late.

Of the nine credit hours he passed, only three were in his criminal justice major. The NCAA requires upperclassmen to pass six hours in their major to be eligible for a bowl — a rule Spurrier said last week he was not aware of.

“I didn’t get told until two days before the last practice (in Columbia) that it wasn’t good enough,” Dustin said. “I’m a little pissed off, but there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Dustin accompanied his father and brother on the drive to Tampa on Friday. Though he is not staying at USC’s hotel, Dustin hung out with his brother and other friends on the team during the Gamecocks’ first night in Florida.

“I’m going to be there rooting him on. I’ll be proud of him no matter what, proud of my team,” he said. “I hope we can go out with a big win. The team needs it.”

Though the knee injury affected his production, Dustin hopes fans will remember his passion for the game and his school.

“I want everybody to know I always gave everything I ever had on the field. Even when I was 205 pounds playing middle linebacker, I still gave everything I had,” he said. “I love football. I love Carolina. Carolina was good to me throughout everything.”

The brothers may well leave USC together, yet. Jordin needs nine hours in the spring to finish his degree in African-American studies, while Dustin is 15 hours away from graduating.

“Up to this point of him not making it, we turned around a lot,” Jordin said. “We’ve overcome a lot of obstacles and were able to finish up pretty much on a good note.”

Reach Person at (803) 771-8496.