Nov. 24, 2005

Photo Gallery

Anchorage, Alaska – With snow falling for the last 36 hours and more than 15 inches piling up, the South Carolina basketball team now has its game face on in preparation for its first game in the Great Alaska Shootout. The Thanksgiving night game will feature Carolina versus host-Alaska Anchorage in a 10 pm (EST) contest televised live on ESPN2 nationally.

South Carolina will eat its Thanksgiving dinner after the UAA game. The meal, with all the trimmings at the team’s hotel, will be served about 9:30 pm – 1:30 am EST. Coach Odom has invited the almost-50 Gamecock fans in town for the Shootout to stop by the meal and say hello to the team.

It’s been a busy week since USC left Columbia on Sunday after Carolina’s 85-73 victory over Toledo. Flying almost 4500 miles, the team arrived in Anchorage late afternoon Monday. Monday – Wednesday the team practiced in the afternoon at Bartlett High School, its home-away-from-home practice facility. The Bartlett High School cheerleaders, clad in USC gear, will join Carolina at each of its game as its cheerleading squad.

The Gamecocks also spent an hour at Sullivan Arena on Tuesday. Because their practice bumped up next to Southern California’s at Sullivan Arena, the two teams met on the court for a quick photo session with both head coaches – Dave Odom and Tim Floyd. Odom and Floyd are long time friends. It was a thrill for both teams who then stayed on the court to visit and debate who the real USC really is.

On USC’s return trip to the hotel after practice on Wednesday, the team spotted two huge Moose running into the woods. After that thrill, one of the players shouted ‘now, show us a polar bear!’

With four study halls sprinkled in for good measure during the week, the Gamecocks ate dinner on Wednesday night at the Glacier Bay Ale House and then went to the Sullivan Arena for the first round games of the Great Alaska Shootout. The team was impressed with the home fans support of the visiting teams.

Each morning Coach Odom and members of his staff have gone out for an early morning run in the dark – including the past two days in snowy, windy conditions. The run along Cooks Inlet featured cross-country skiers, a man on a bike and a number of dog walkers – all praising the Gamecock faithful for braving the conditions. The sun comes up each day about 9:30 am and begins setting around 4 pm.

Thanksgiving morning the team had a 9:15 am breakfast, went over the scouting report and then went on to Sullivan Arena for an 11:30 am shoot around. After returning to the hotel, the team will rest a bit prior to going to devotion and then pre-game meal at 1:45 pm. The team will depart around 4:15 pm for its 6 pm date with Alaska Anchorage.

At the Thanksgiving morning meeting, a few players, coaches and staff talked about what they are most thankful for this year.

Dominique Archie: I am so thankful for my mom, Susan Archie, and my grandma, Lula Matthews. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I am now.

Bryce Sheldon: I am most thankful for my family, my mom, Jill Scott, my grandpa and everyone who has supported me back home in California.

If it wasn’t for my mom I wouldn’t be here. It was our decision for me to come to the East coast to play college ball. And she let me go. At first she was kind of rough about it, she didn’t want me to leave home and leave her, but she thought it would be best for my situation and me. She is proud I am a Gamecock.

Tre’ Kelley: My family. During this time of year my family provides a lot of love. When we are on TV tonight everyone from my family will be gathered around the TV watching. It’s happy times definitely.

Renaldo Balkman: The sun straight up! It’s hot where I am from in Tampa. (do you like the cold weather in Anchorage?): No, I hate it. I don’t really like it at all. I don’t like snow.

Brandon Wallace: I am most thankful for my family. For so many years I have been able to eat Thanksgiving with them and because we are here, I won’t this year. (to say hello to them tonight): I will probably wave a couple times.

Coach Barry Sanderson: My family.

Coach Rick Duckett: I am thankful for our team and for good health.

Coach Bill Old: I am thankful for the team, my family and all the fans that are out here in Anchorage cheering on the Gamecocks. I am especially happy my wife Hollee could join the team up here in Anchorage. It’s nice having her here to support us.

Strength Coach Matthew Jennings: I am thankful for friends, family and my children.

GA Brian Rosefield: I am thankful for my family.

Keving Palacios: My family. I am thankful I am able to wake up here everyday and play the game I love. I just want to make my family happy.

Dr. Tom Armsey (team physician): I am thankful for the opportunity to be in Anchorage, Alaska and share Thanksgiving with the USC basketball team. I am also happy that my wife Kelley could join me. I want to wish my family back in Columbia a Happy Thanksgiving!

Stephen McDowell: I am thankful for my family. I am thankful to be here. I am thankful to be alive. I am thankful for all the blessing that God has placed on me.

Ousmane Konate: I am thankful to be here with everyone on the team, the trainers, the doctors, everyone. I am thankful to wake up every day breathing. I am thankful for life.

Coach Dave Odom: I want to wish everybody the very best and happiest of all Thanksgivings. To all our fans I feel so fortunate to be coaching basketball at the University of South Carolina. I am so happy I have got an immediate family that loves and supports me. They make me happy.

I also have an extended family. A family of young men that I am very proud of. I am also so excited I have an extended family of Gamecocks. They all love each other and support us.

I am happy and thankful that I am in Anchorage, Alaska on Thanksgiving Day even though I am a long way from my immediate family. I am happy we have 15 inches of snow and more to come. I have had the chance to run in the dark at 7:30 – 8 am as the sun begins to come up over Cook’s Inlet.

I am happy that this is kind of a culmination of a year’s travels for me. From Kuwait and 140 degrees in the sand, spending time with our great service men and women in the Middle East. I am so proud to be an American. I am just very very thankful for everything that has been given to me in my life.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody.