South Carolina Athletics

Steve Spurrier will be hired today as Lou Holtz's replacement at South Carolina, a source told Associated Press on Monday night. The move had been expected for nearly a week. But a school official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that Spurrier would be returning to college coaching with the Gamecocks. After South Carolina's fight-marred 29-7 loss at Clemson on Saturday, several Gamecock players said they were told Spurrier would be their next coach.

Steve Spurrier will be hired today as Lou Holtz's replacement at South Carolina, a source told Associated Press on Monday night. The move had been expected for nearly a week. But a school official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that Spurrier would be returning to college coaching with the Gamecocks. After South Carolina's fight-marred 29-7 loss at Clemson on Saturday, several Gamecock players said they were told Spurrier would be their next coach.

Look closely when that Confederate flag comes down from the top of the South Carolina state capitol and you'll see the hands of sports figures tugging on the rope. They didn't do it by themselves, but members of the sports community from Lou Holtz to Serena Williams helped bolster the public outcry and economic backlash that led to the South Carolina Senate's vote Wednesday night to remove the flag. Next up is a procedural vote and a full reading in the State House.

Look closely when that Confederate flag comes down from the top of the South Carolina state capitol and you'll see the hands of sports figures tugging on the rope. They didn't do it by themselves, but members of the sports community from Lou Holtz to Serena Williams helped bolster the public outcry and economic backlash that led to the South Carolina Senate's vote Wednesday night to remove the flag. Next up is a procedural vote and a full reading in the State House.

Questions abound as the NFL comes one more time to the Carolinas, one of the areas hungry for an NFL franchise. The Washington Redskins will face the New York Jets tonight at Williams-Brice Stadium at Columbia, S.C., in the final exhibition game for both teams, who between them are 1-5 and have questions about their regular-season rosters. But for fans in North and South Carolina, there is but one question: Is an NFL team in the Carolinas' future?

Bob Marcum, athletic director at the University of South Carolina, was fired Tuesday after a task force found the school had not conducted random drug testing of athletes since the spring of 1986. Team physician Dr. Paul Akers also has been relieved of his duties and "termination proceedings are being instituted," school President James Holderman said at a news conference Tuesday.

Questions abound as the NFL comes one more time to the Carolinas, one of the areas hungry for an NFL franchise. The Washington Redskins will face the New York Jets tonight at Williams-Brice Stadium at Columbia, S.C., in the final exhibition game for both teams, who between them are 1-5 and have questions about their regular-season rosters. But for fans in North and South Carolina, there is but one question: Is an NFL team in the Carolinas' future?

Bob Marcum, athletic director at the University of South Carolina, was fired Tuesday after a task force found the school had not conducted random drug testing of athletes since the spring of 1986. Team physician Dr. Paul Akers also has been relieved of his duties and "termination proceedings are being instituted," school President James Holderman said at a news conference Tuesday.