LARRY P. JORDAN/T&D University of South Carolina President Dr. Andrew Sorensen presents Othneil Wienges with one of his Bow Tie Tour T-shirts on his stop in St. Matthews Monday morning.

‘Rooster Roadster' delivers USC president to St. Matthews

By LARRY P. JORDAN, T&D St. Matthews Correspondent

Calhoun County Gamecocks had plenty to crow about Monday when University of South Carolina President Dr. Andrew A. Sorensen rolled into St. Matthews aboard the "Rooster Roadster" mini-bus.

Sorensen stopped by the Town and Country Restaurant in St. Matthews early in the morning as part of his "Bow Tie Bus Tour" in which he visits USC alumni in various towns around the state. This time his entourage was headed to Charleston via Santee.

"It's a pleasure to be here," Sorensen told those who came to greet him. He noted that on his last visit to St. Matthews he substituted for Gov. Mark Sanford in presenting the Order of the Palmetto to Calhoun County resident Othneil Wienges.

Sorensen described Wienges as a leader in the state. Wienges, who currently serves on the USC Board of Trustees, was presented with a Bow Tie Tour T-shirt by Sorensen during Monday's visit.

The USC president told the alumni that he attended the spring football game Saturday along with 39,000 other spectators. Then, accompanied by new USC Athletic Director Eric Hyman and his family, Sorensen said he watched the Gamecock baseball team defeat Vanderbilt.

Sorensen said he is excited about the upcoming football season with Coach Steve Spurrier at the helm. He and Spurrier started at the University of Florida at the same time in 1990 and worked together for six years.

Sorensen said he thinks the combination of Hyman and Spurrier is a "terrific" combination for the university. He said the two men were prepared to deal with the problems with the football players, adding, that two "were arrested this morning."

Applications for admission to USC increased to 13,000 this year and enrollment is up by 3,000 since he arrived at the school, Sorensen said. He said additions to the USC campus have included the Colonial Center, the Strom Thurmond Fitness Center and the Greek Village, which has grown to 14 houses.

USC boasts the largest "green dorm," which is environment friendly, Sorensen noted, adding that the dorm even has a grass roof which provides better insulation.

Additionally, the USC president mentioned that a new Gamecock baseball stadium has been approved for construction.