Saturday, May 18, 2013

Latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Midlands

USC announces football ticket price hike
Posted: 02.28.2013 at 7:15 PM
Updated: 02.28.2013 at 9:35 PM
Brian McConchie

Brian is the Sports Director for the WACH Fox.

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Football ticket prices are going up at South Carolina.  / Photo:Kara Durrette
Photo

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH/AP) -- Football ticket prices are going up at South Carolina.

University of South Carolina officials announced a $45 increase to season ticket prices for 2013, raising the cost to $365 a seat for the Gamecocks seven-game schedule. The school said Thursday it has not raised football season tickets since 2008.

Athletic director Ray Tanner said the additional revenue will help fund about $53 million in building new facilities and upgrading existing buildings. Among those projects approved by the school's board of trustees were a $17.5 million football practice facility and outdoor practice fields to replace the ones currently across from Williams-Brice Stadium.

"We have a lot of momentum going our way in Gamecock Athletics," said Tanner. "We have to keep that energy going and these additional projects, which are being funded in part by all Williams-Brice ticket holders, will give us the ability to compete at the highest levels of the Southeastern Conference."

Funds were also approved to improve the plaza area around the football stadium and construct a building for lockers, a weight room and video room next to soccer's Stone Stadium.

The Board of Trustees also approved contracts for several assistant football coaches on Thursday.

The board approved two-year contracts for coaches Deke Adams, Kirk Botkin, Grady Brown, Shawn Elliott, G.A. Mangus, Joe Robinson, Everette Sands and Steve Spurrier Jr. All are signed through the 2014 season.

Defensive Coordinator Lorenzo Ward was given a three-year contract and is signed through the 2015 season.

Head coach Steve Spurrier was given a two-year contract extension in December by the Board of Trustees. His current contract runs through December 2017.

South Carolina is coming off its second straight 11-win season after posting the school's best finish ever in the final top-25 poll of the season.

"Whenever you have an outstanding season as we have had each of the past two years, it's important to reward the coaches with two-year contracts. Hopefully, we can continue that success in the coming years," said Spurrier.

South Carolina opens the 2013 football season August 29 when they host North Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium.

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