USC’s Andrew Pinnock to play in East-West Shrine Game

Dec. 11, 2002

Columbia, SC –

University of South Carolina running back Andrew Pinnock has accepted an invitation to play in the East-West Shrine Game, Saturday, Jan. 11 at Pac Bell Park in San Francisco, Calif. Pinnock concluded his career with the Gamecocks this past season, totaling 27 career touchdowns and 1,803 career rushing yards.

This marks the second straight season for USC to have a representative play in the East-West Shrine Game. A year ago, safetyman Willie Offord appeared in the all-star contest. Offord is now with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings.

Here is some career bio information on Pinnock, a 6-0, 250-pounder from Bloomfield, Conn.

2002 – Team’s second leading grounder gainer with 563 yards on 124 carries (4.5 average) … Led team with five rushing TDs on the season … Scored his 23rd career TD in the season opener vs. New Mexico State … Ran for 95 yards on 18 carries vs. the Aggies … Rushed for 50 yards on 13 carries at Virginia … Scored his 24th career TD in the second quarter … Rushed for 69 yards in the victory over Vanderbilt … Gained 47 yards on the ground against Mississippi State and added a touchdown run to bring his total to 25 career TDs … Led the Gamecock rushing attack at Kentucky with 61 yards on eight carries … Rushed for 33 yards on seven carries and rushed nine yards for his 26th career touchdown at LSU … Finished his career with 1,803 rushing yards (16th in school history) and 27 touchdowns (tied for third on the career list).

2001 – USC’s touchdown maker in 2001 … Tallied 12 TDs during the season to lead the team … Powerful running back who blends a bruising style with deceptive quickness … Team’s leading ground gainer with 622 yards on 115 carries (5.4 average) … His 12 TDs tied for third best in the SEC … Rushed for 44 yards and one TD vs. Boise State … Scored a rushing TD in win over Georgia … Led the Gamecocks with 97 yards rushing on 12 carries in win over Mississippi State, with his 35-yard scoring run (longest run of his career), accounting for USC’s lone TD in that game … Notched his fourth TD of the year against Alabama … Scored two TDs on the ground vs. Kentucky, rushing for 61 yards on 11 carries … Led the team with 105 yards rushing against Vanderbilt, scoring on a 15-yard run … Tallied a career-high three touchdowns in the victory over Wofford … Played well in win over Clemson, leading the Gamecocks with 80 yards rushing … Was a force in the Outback Bowl win over Ohio State, rushing for 49 yards on 12 carries with two touchdowns — a one-yard run in the second quarter and a 10-yard run in the third quarter … Received winner’s certificate.

2000 – Physical back who was team’s second leading rusher with 406 yards … Was also team’s second leading scorer with seven touchdowns … Rushed for two touchdowns against New Mexico State … Scored his third TD of the season vs. Eastern Michigan on an 11-yard burst … Tallied a 13-yard TD vs. Mississippi State … Rushed for a career-high 135 yards on 24 carries vs. Vanderbilt … Scored two TDs against the Commodores … Gained 58 yards on 10 carries against Tennessee … Led team with 52 yards rushing and one TD against Florida … Rushed for 33 yards on seven carries vs. Ohio State … Worked hard during the off-season on getting his weight down and improving his conditioning, shedding 18 pounds to get his weight to around 245 … Received a winner’s certificate for his outstanding play during the season.

1999 – Played major role on team as a true freshman … Finished the year as the team’s second leading rusher with 261 yards on 73 carries (3.6 yards per carry) … Tallied a team-best four rushing touchdowns … Saw action at both the fullback and tailback positions … Did not receive full clearance to play by the NCAA Clearinghouse until after the third game of the season … Started against Ole Miss and Kentucky … Had a season-high 76 yards on the ground in the season finale against Clemson … Rushed for 56 yards vs. Vanderbilt … Scored touchdowns against Mississippi and Clemson (2) … Powerful runner with deceptive speed.

HIGH SCHOOL – Named Mr. Football in the state of Connecticut … Rushed for more than 2,800 yards his senior year … Highly touted fullback who was ranked in the top 20 nationally at his position by SuperPrep and Recruiting Now magazines … Played in the Connecticut High School All-Star game … All-state and All-district his senior year … Chose South Carolina over Syracuse and Auburn.

CAREER STATISTICS

RUSHING

Year No.Yds.Avg.TD LP

1999 73 261 3.6 3 22

2000 110 406 3.8 7 22

2001 115 573 5.6 12 38

2002 124 563 4.5 5 34

Tls 422 1803 4.3 27 38

RECEIVING

Year No.Yds.Avg.TD LP

1999 2 2 1.0 0 5

2000 5 37 7.4 0 17