More on Horn

"Recruiting, it’s like shaving, it’s something you’ve gotta work on every day,” Horn said during the press conference yesterday introducing him as the new men's basketball coach at USC.

I love that quote and I feel it is positive signs to come to the program.

Here are some nice articles for your reading pleasure today from THE STATE - HERE and and a nice 'DYK' article - here - ALSO Ron Morris - HERE- pens a nice writing on USC which means that is two good/positive articles about USC in a row. Has hell frozen over?

Price of a Horn to come to USC

Seems Ron Morris is happy with the hire - here - which is good b/c normally Morris is a critic of everything USC does.

I hope Darrin knows what he is getting into:

• South Carolina went 14-18 this season, including a 5-11 mark in the Southeastern Conference in 07-08.
  
• The Gamecocks struggled in the Southeastern Conference under Odom, going 128-104 overall and 41-71 in the SEC in his seven seasons at the school.


• South Carolina has made the NCAA tournament only once this decade, in 2004, and only four times since 1974.

The University of South Carolina Exec. Committee approved a five-year contract today that could pay new men’s basketball coach Darrin Horn up to $1.19 million in a season.

The 35-year-old Horn, who is scheduled to be introduced at a 3 p.m. news conference today, will have a base salary of $250,000 under the contract. Horn will also will be guaranteed an additional $550,000 annually in personal services compensation. He would have the opportunity to earn another $390,000 annually in incentives. The incentives include a $50,000 bonus for each increase of 1,000 "full-paid season tickets" sold. Last year USC had 9,322 full-paid season tickets. He also would receive a $25,000 bonus if USC reaches the NCAA Tournament, with additional bonuses for each NCAA Tournament win, topping out at $250,000 for winning the NCAA Tournament championship. The contract includes buyouts for USC and Horn (i.e USC pays WKU 200K) and USC must play WKU 4 times in the future.

Still does USC get the rights to http://www.darrinhorn.com/ ? Which I thought was nice of WKU to change the site today...take a look!!!

So let's all hope that Darrin Horn is up to the challenge and let's be mindful that he will need some time so don't expect USC in the final four next year.

Changes I hope he brings:

• I hope he gets the student body into the game more, that is one thing I feel USC is lacking and a change would help....energize the students Mr. Horn.
• Recruit a dominate 'big man'....I know Mike Holmes and Muldrow stepped up towards the end of the season but we need a quick big man.
• Instill the attitude of playing hard the entire game, not just in spurts

Thoughts? More HERE on Horn from THE STATE or a nice article from the Garnet and Black Blog - HERE.

Never going to happen

The rumor is that Cal running back James Montgomery is looking to transfer to Carolina, I really don't see this happening. Granted I don't think we need another back, with Miles, Davis and Maddox all looking for playing time. Other blogs have him transferring to Fresno State, Washington State and even Florida, where he visits this Friday. What ever happened to the WR from GT that was suppose to transfer to Carolina, is he headed back to GT.

Look out USC -- Sign of things to come?

Tennessee is raising ticket prices for football games for the 2008 season. Tickets will be $315 for seven home games, representing a $19 increase for the season or $2.71 per game. More HERE.

Why is this important to you the LOHD reader you ask, well this means 'Hyman and crew' will follow suit in short order.

Will USC do the same this year and raise ticket prices? I don't think this is a case of "if" but "when." God knows we have to raise some serious cash to upgrade some of our buildings that athletes use to keep up in the recruiting battle. But Hyman may delay this for one year b/c Gamecock Club dues went up last year oh but then again there are lots of changes going around Cola so a ticket increase would not surprise me.
Oh, their is also talk of "PSLs" coming to Willy B....(clemson is talking about doing PSLs also) ...more topics related to the 'cash collecting' and changes in the past that shows that the USC is out to get some money - here here here here - ...... so I think this is signs of what is to come for the USC fans so save some of the tax refund or bush bucks.

Welcome Mr. Horn

Western Kentucky coach Darrin Horn has agreed to replace Dave Odom as the Gamecocks' new head coach, according to sources.

Just look at that smile on his face...he is rumored to get about 750k once he signs the new contract and USC will pay the 'buy out' he has at WKU. I would be smiling too; not to mention this is a "step up" in his career to enter into the SEC coaching ranks.

Seems the rumor was true and I wonder what will happen to http://www.darrinhorn.com/?
Will USC buy the site for use to promote USC basketball? I hope so b/c that "game is on" stuff is not so great.

Anyway read more here or here.

What do you think of the hire? Is this best for USC and the program?

A press conference is expected Tuesday to introduce Horn.

The Great White Hope passes down knowledge

Willie "The Great White Hope" Korn of Clemson recently speakth and shares his wise knowledge but his injury last season and the Clemson cover-up that followed but keep in mind they have x-rays to prove it (sure but whose arm is pictured in those x-rays? B/c Willie is the savior of the program according to Clemson fans and Willie does not get hurt, pain is no match for the Clemson 3rd string in 07 QB, Willie eats injuries for breakfast only Chuck Norris can relate).....

Today kids, here is a quote from the "Great White Hope" from the above THE STATE story; Willie is very wise and we could all learn from him, and let's all hope that the USC football team is listening -

“You get sloppy when you’re not coached all the time,” Korn said in the article; and with that this week's teachings from the "Great White Hope" are concluded.

Stay tuned for the next time "The Great White Hope" shares with us lesser fools his wisdom...

Rumor has it - Horn to be named coach

Over on the message board, Gamecockcentral.com, there has been plenty of talk of Western Kentucky coach Darrin Horn being named the next coach of the University of South Carolina Men's Basketball program. Now the newspapers in SC report on it - here and here- that Horn is in talks with Hyman and visiting Carolina. Rumor is that Horn and USC will announce on Monday about the hire...

Horn, 35, just completed his fifth year at his alma mater, where his record is 111-48. Along with that, every player that has finished his eligibility at Western Kentucky under Horn has graduated, according to the WKU. He spent four years as an assistant at Marquette before that. This year was Western Kentucky’s first appearance in the NCAA tournament under Horn, who replaced current Georgia coach Dennis Felton

So with all this - Do you agree with Horn being the next coach to take over were Odom left off?

USC's Young gets those charges dropped

Columbia police dropped two charges Friday against University of South Carolina offensive guard Kevin Young. A municipal court judge dismissed charges of fighting and resisting arrest after police said they didn't plan to pursue the case. After being arrested March 2, Young said police used excessive force against him, an allegation that is continuing to be investigated by the State Law Enforcement Division.

Good for Young and now he can rest all spring and not worry - Young in practice broke a bone and tore his labrum, and will most likely undergo surgery for the third time in his career in the next few weeks.

Mark out Capel on the short list

Seems USC AD Eric Hyman can mark off Jeff Capel from his short list of who could be the next USC men's basketball coach. Reported by the Tulsa World paper and our friend over the Garnet and Black Attack, seems Capel has agreed to nice raise and a contract extension.

Again here is the LOHD short list for Mr. Hyman to use - here.

I know the STATE says that now that Capel is out of the picture that USC has focused on Darrin Horn...BUT....Why shouldn't Hyman inquire about this guy or this guy? Seems to fit the mold of what USC needs...a guy who can recruit, has ties to the area, automatic name ID, loads of experience, young/hungry and are a minority which seems to be what USC is after....just thrown' it out there.