Press Release - April 2019 - This press release was written for my Writing for Mass Communications class. The information in this press release was provided by the professor and is fictitious.
University of South Carolina Athletics
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Emma Hynek,
Director of Communications
Phone: 803-555-5555
Email: hynekec@gmail.com
USC Welcomes New Addition to Gamecock Football Team
Quarterback Kelly Bryant Transfers to USC
COLUMBIA, S.C., March 6—Former Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant has made the decision to transfer to the University of South Carolina.
A South Carolina native, Bryant attended Wren High School in Piedmont, S.C. He ended his senior season at Wren with 41 passing touchdowns, 720 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. He committed to Clemson and began his football career there in 2015.
Bryant became Clemson’s starting quarterback at the beginning of the 2017 season. He finished the season with a 65.8 percent completion rate, 2,802 passing yards, 13 passing touchdowns and eight interceptions. Bryant rushed for 665 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Bryant was replaced by freshman Trevor Lawrence after the fourth game of the 2018 season. He had a 66.7 percent completion rate, 461 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and one interception. He rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns.
After losing his starting position, Bryant chose to transfer to USC as a redshirt. According to new NCAA transfer rules, collegiate athletes have five years to complete four seasons, and they can now play up to four games in a season and still retain that years’ eligibility. Bryant will be competing his final year of eligibility at USC.
“We are very happy to be welcoming Kelly Bryant to the Gamecock family,” said USC Head Coach Will Muschamp. “It is our goal to ensure he has a healthy and successful season here.”
Bryant will be completing for the starting position with current USC quarterback Jake Bentley and current backup quarterback Michael Scarnecchia. “We are going to have a decision to make if the other quarterbacks return healthy for 2019,” Muschamp said. “It’s good to have three quarterbacks. If one of them is playing well, let him play.”
The football team’s spring training began in February and Bryant has been practicing with his new team since then. “Kelly Bryant is an awesome quarterback and a great guy. All of us are really excited to be sharing the field with him,” said USC wide receiver Shi Smith.
“I can’t wait for this new chapter of my life at USC,” Bryant said. The coaching staff and team have been so encouraging and I am confident this is the right place for me.”
There will be a press conference with Bryant tonight, March 6, at 5:00 p.m.
The University of South Carolina Athletics Department is home to some of the country’s top collegiate student-athletes. USC has 381 student-athletes on the SEC Academic Honor Rolls, an average GPA of 3.28 and have collectively participated in a total of 11,153 hours of community service. USC has 14 sports ranked in the Top 25 for at least one week, 15 first team All-American student-athletes, and three national coaches of the year. It is the mission of the USC Athletic Department to ensure every student-athlete has a successful academic and athletic experience.
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For more information about the USC Athletic Department, call 803-777-2374.
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