South Carolina names Hill as assistant

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Madre Hill made a big impression on South Carolina fans nearly a decade ago when he ran for six touchdowns against the Gamecocks. Now, new coach Steve Spurrier hopes Hill has the same impact with his running backs.<br> <br> Spurrier tapped Hill as an assistant coach Saturday. Hill&#39;s focus? What else, Gamecock runners.<br> <br> ``This is a great opportunity and I am fully committed to helping South Carolina become a championship team,&#39;&#39; Hill said.<br> <br> Spurrier, who replaced retired Lou Holtz last month, was excited to have Hill on his side this time.<br> <br> ``He brings a lot of excitement, energy and enthusiasm to our football program,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> Gamecock supporters remember Hill bringing them a lot of frustration.<br> <br> Hill was a highly regarded sophomore still trying to find his way that September Saturday in 1995. He apparently found something against the Gamecocks, rushing for 178 yards and a school-record six touchdowns in a 51-21 victory. He rushed in from 3, 1, 2, 1, 12 and 68 yards in the rout, breaking the Arkansas touchdown record that was set in 1916 and tied in 1981.<br> <br> Hill went on to set a school record with 1,387 yards that season to lead the Southeastern Conference in rushing and take the Razorbacks into the league&#39;s championship game as Western Division champions where they lost to Spurrier&#39;s Gators.<br> <br> But injuries followed Hill after that. He missed all of the 1996 season after hurting his right knee. Reconstructive surgery to his left knee the following spring slowed him during 1997.<br> <br> Hill, though, returned in 1998, just in time to vex South Carolina again, scoring on a 30-yard touchdown run in Arkansas&#39; 41-28 victory at Williams-Brice Stadium.<br> <br> After college, Hill was drafted in 1999 by the Cleveland Browns. He was also with Oakland in 2002 when it reached the Super Bowl.<br> <br> Hill, 28, returned to Arkansas and earned his bachelor&#39;s degree this year. He was a graduate assistant coach under the Razorbacks&#39; Houston Nutt this past fall.<br> <br> Hill said while helping South Carolina win was important, he hoped to do everything he could to ``build character in our young men&#39;s lives.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> And maybe teach a couple of Gamecock runners to do as well as Hill did.

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