The State from Columbia, South Carolina • B1

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 3 2021 1BFACEBOOK.COM/THESTATENEWS TWITTER.COM/THESTATETHESTATE.COM Sports defense trots out on its first possession by nightfall on Saturday and thousands of fans at a near 50-50 split cheer around them. Those in red and black will get their first look at No. 11, Derion Kendrick, in his new white jersey and the iconic Bulldog silver pants. He will likely start as the top cornerback. His eyes will lock on top re- ceiver.

Kendrick might look out of place for a moment, because well, the highly-regarded de- fender has always been known as a star on the other side. Kendrick transferred to Geor- gia over the offseason after an abrupt end to his 2020 season at Clemson. After being cleared of criminal charges in York Coun- ty, South Carolina, it set the stage for debut against his former team. spoken to him about it and we continue Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said Monday. hurdle is more of the emotional side in playing your former teammates and old family.

It can be a knee-jerker and tough on you at Clemson molded Kendrick. where the 6-foot, 190-pound cornerback earned All-ACC honors. Now, one of Geor- biggest assets. Kendrick has been discussed ad nauseum among Smart, Georgia coordinators and a slew of players for the month leading up to his debut against the Ti- gers. Each review has been full of praise.

came in ready to work and complain about any- thing. been grateful for the opportunity, and that made me look at him as a guy with some- thing to play middle line- backer Nakobe Dean said. might take a minute for a trans- fer to buy into the team culture, but he hopped in and was part of us right The Bulldogs added Kendrick out of the transfer portal to fill its biggest area of need. All of offseason departures happened at once, including Tyson Campbell, Eric Stokes, Tyrique Stevenson and Lewis Cine and Christopher Smith found themselves on an island at safety with no experienced UGA transfer preps to face Clemson BY BRANDON SUDGE SEE KENDRICK, 4B EDGEFIELD, S.C. Beth Clark walked into a chicken pen on her 14-acre homestead.

It was a particular- ly hot afternoon in Edgefield, so she brought an ice cube tray filled with frozen water and corn to a swarm of hens and South most popular rooster, Sir Big Spur. A few minutes later, Beth returned to the coop to bring Sir Big Spur inside the home she shares with her husband, Van Clark. She walked into her living room and sat down in a reclining chair, putting the rooster at ease in her lap. Sir Big Spur made himself comfortable while Van fed him purple grapes, his favorite. think he likes being Beth said.

Van quipped back. really, really great. You can pass him off to any- body to get a Sir Big often calm demeanor is not in the nature of an Old English black-breast- ed red gamecock. The birds are naturally persistent, dom- ineering and protective, Van said, which is why most commonly known as Sir Big Spur is South fifth live mascot in a 22-year lineage started by his previous owners, Ron Albertel- li and Mary Snelling. The tra- dition took its first break since 1999 amid the ban on live mascots as part of its CO- VID-19 restrictions last year.

The Clarks, both USC gradu- ates, have taken care of Sir Big Spur since June 2020, but attend their first foot- ball game as his owners at South season opener against Eastern Illinois this Saturday. gonna get the entire experience of it right Van said. really experienced everything about SIR BIG BIG MOVE The live mascot tradition dates back to the late 1990s, when Snelling received a gamecock as a present from her father. Snelling and her father later won a contest to go to dinner with Ray Tanner, South head baseball coach at the time, and they pitched the idea of bringing the rooster to a baseball game. He went to his first baseball TRACY GLANTZ Van and Beth Clark are the new handlers of Sir Big Spur, the live mascot for the University of South Carolina.

The live mascot was introduced to USC 20 years ago by Ron Albertelli and Mary Snelling. Gamecocks mascot Sir Big Spur back to Williams-Brice in 2021 SEE BIG SPUR, 4B BY AUGUSTA STONE TRACY GLANTZ Sir Big Spur, the live mascot for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, is cared for by Van and Beth Clark. He has a coop with other chickens, but spends a good bit of time inside the home. Marlin Taylor typ- ically hand out game balls after wins. But the second-year Lower Richland football coach made an exception, and for good reason, Friday night after the victory over White Knoll.

After the game, Taylor gathered his players in the end zone and handed a game ball to senior quarterback Rob- ert Adams III. Adams was 8 of 14 passing for 115 yards and a touchdown in the 30-7 victory over the Timberwolves. But num- bers hardly told the story be- hind his performance. Adams III played the game just hours after attending his funeral. Robert Adams 40, was killed in a car acci- dent on his way to work early in the morning on Aug.

21. had to give it to him. He deserved it. If there was any kid that deserved that, it was Taylor said Tuesday before Lower prac- tice. 42 years old and he is better than me.

I ima- gine what it felt like losing his father. To be that age and have to see my mom deal with LOU BEZJAK The State A green and purple braclet with the words worn by Lower Richland quarterback Robert Adams IIII. Adams said his father, who died in a car accident Aug. 21, gave that to him. memory fuels Lower Richland QB Robert Adams SEE ROBERT ADAMS, 5B BY LOU BEZJAK Robert Adams III PATRICK CANTLAY IS THE TOP SEED AND STARTS WITH A TWO-SHOT LEAD AS THE 30-MAN FIELD CHASES THE FEDEX CUP.

Go to thestate.com/eedition and click on the section called TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP UNDERWAY At 11:01 a.m. Tuesday, Zeb phone buzzed with a call from San Francisco 49ers rookie quarterback Trey Lance one of hundreds of missed calls, texts and tweets. Noland answer, too busy practicing for the first time as South start- ing quarterback. Unbeknownst to him, Noland would become somewhat of a social media sensation in the time he spent on the practice field. not every day a South- eastern Conference team names a 24-year-old graduate assistant as its Week 1 starting quarterback.

ESPN broke the news Tues- day morning, setting the in- ternet aflame with the typical memes and jokes that come with unique sports storylines. But Noland care about any of that. When he stepped USC quarterback Zeb Noland reacts to national attention BY MICHAEL LANANNA 247Sports The Zeb Noland, a former graduate assistant coach, is getting national attention from ESPN after being named starting quarterback against Eastern Illinois.SEE ZEB NOLAND, 5B.