Player Detail

AL USHER
Linebacker
1967 / 1971
Pageland, SC

Biography
Usher played in both the Shrine Bowl and the North-South All-Star Game following his senior season. He played fullback and linebacker for the 1967 USC freshman team before taking over as the starting weak-side linebacker in 1968. Usher led the team in tackles and forced fumbles that year. He picked off a pass against Virginia that year and returned it to set up a Randy Yoakum touchdown run in a 49-28 USC win. He earned All-State honors for his standout play in ’68. Usher began to fight injuries the next season, as an ankle injury kept him sidelined for several games during the 1969 season, though he did have strong performances against Duke and North Carolina. He bounced back in 1970, finishing seventh on the team in tackles despite missing the final few games with an injury. Usher’s heroics that year included a 59-yard interception return against Georgia Tech. He missed almost all of his senior season due to a knee injury. Usher went on to a long career in coaching, working as the head man at Pageland Central from 1976 through 2002. He served as athletic director during part of that era, and was elected to the South Carolina Coaches Hall of Fame in March 2003.

Biography

Usher played in both the Shrine Bowl and the North-South All-Star Game following his senior season. He played fullback and linebacker for the 1967 USC freshman team before taking over as the starting weak-side linebacker in 1968. Usher led the team in tackles and forced fumbles that year. He picked off a pass against Virginia that year and returned it to set up a Randy Yoakum touchdown run in a 49-28 USC win. He earned All-State honors for his standout play in ’68. Usher began to fight injuries the next season, as an ankle injury kept him sidelined for several games during the 1969 season, though he did have strong performances against Duke and North Carolina. He bounced back in 1970, finishing seventh on the team in tackles despite missing the final few games with an injury. Usher’s heroics that year included a 59-yard interception return against Georgia Tech. He missed almost all of his senior season due to a knee injury. Usher went on to a long career in coaching, working as the head man at Pageland Central from 1976 through 2002. He served as athletic director during part of that era, and was elected to the South Carolina Coaches Hall of Fame in March 2003.

Prior Schools
School	Location

Roster Listings
Year	Roster	Num	Pos	Ht	Wt	Yr	Gms	GS
1968	1968 Spring Game (Garnet & Black)	33	LB	5-11	193	So
1968	Game Program vs NC State	33	LB	5-10	191	So	9	9
1969	Program vs NC State	33	LB	5-11	201	Jr	4	4
1970	Media Guide	33	LB	5-11	214	Jr
1971	1971 Media Guide	33	LB	5-11	210	Sr
1970	Program vs Virginia Tech	33	LB	5-11	214	Jr	6	6
1971	Progam vs Wake Forest	33	LB	5-11	210	Sr	0	0

Depth Chart Appearances
Description	Position	Rank
10/2/1971 vs. Memphis State	StrongSide Linebacker	3rd String

Honors
Award	Year
1966	Shrine Bowl

Defense
Year	Solo	Ast	Tkl	TFL	Sacks	Int	PBU	QBH	FR	FF	BK	IP	CDS	RZS	IPP	YPT
1968	86	45	131			2			1	3		22	5	4	48.82	3.57
1969	18	6	24						0	0		6	1	4	14.11	4.53
1970	45	18	63			1			1	3		16	8	2	33.7	2.5
1971	4	0	4	0.0	0.0		0	0	0	0	0
Tot	153	69	222	0.0	0.0	3	0	0	2	6	0	44	14	10	96.63

IP - Impact Plays; CDS - Conversion Down Stops (3rd & 4th Down); RZS - Red Zone Stops; IPP - Impact Play Points; YPT - Yards Per Tackle

Games Started
Date	Opponent	Position
1968-09-21	Duke	WeakSide Linebacker
1968-09-28	North Carolina	WeakSide Linebacker
1968-10-05	Georgia	WeakSide Linebacker
1968-10-12	N.C. State	WeakSide Linebacker
1968-10-26	Florida State	WeakSide Linebacker
1968-11-02	Virginia	WeakSide Linebacker
1968-11-09	Wake Forest	WeakSide Linebacker
1968-11-16	Virginia Tech	WeakSide Linebacker
1968-11-23	Clemson	WeakSide Linebacker
1969-09-20	Duke	WeakSide Linebacker
1969-09-27	North Carolina	WeakSide Linebacker
1969-10-04	Georgia	WeakSide Linebacker
1969-10-11	N.C. State	WeakSide Linebacker
1970-09-12	Georgia Tech	StrongSide Linebacker
1970-09-19	Wake Forest	StrongSide Linebacker
1970-10-03	Virginia Tech	StrongSide Linebacker
1970-10-10	North Carolina	StrongSide Linebacker
1970-10-24	Florida State	WeakSide Linebacker
1970-10-31	Georgia	StrongSide Linebacker

Game Defensive Stats
Date	Opponent	SOLO	AST	TKL	TFL	SK	FF	FR	PBU	QBH	IPL	CDPL	RZPL	IPP
1970-11-21	Clemson	3	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	1	0	1	1	0	3.36

Scoring Plays
Date	Opponent	Qtr	Time	USC	Opp	Play

Defense - Sacks
Year	Date	Opponent	Down	To Go	Side	Ydline	Play
1968	1968-10-19	Maryland	2	9	UMD	45	Pastrana sacked for loss of 9 (Al Usher)

Defense - Tackles For Loss
Year	Date	Opponent	Down	To Go	Side	Ydline	Play
1968	1968-11-23	Clemson	1	10	CLM	36	Buddy Gore rush for loss of 2 (Al Usher)
1968	1968-11-23	Clemson	2	10	CLM	6	Buddy Gore rush for loss of 1 (Al Usher)
1969	1969-09-27	North Carolina	3	3	UNC	31	Lewis Jolley rush for loss of 6 (Dickie Harris, Al Usher)
1970	1970-10-24	Florida State	3	8	FSU	14	Gary Parris, loss of 8 on pass from Gary Huff (Al Usher)

Defense - Passes Broken Up
Year	Date	Opponent	Down	To Go	Side	Ydline	Play
1968	1968-09-21	Duke	1	10	DUK	26	Hart pass for Dearth incomplete (Al Usher)
1968	1968-11-02	Virginia	2	22	UVA	4	Frank Quayle pass for Bob Bischoff incomplete (Al Usher)
1968	1968-11-23	Clemson	3	4	USC	4	Amonns pass for Sursavage incomplete (Al Usher)
1970	1970-11-21	Clemson	3	7	CLM	30	Tommy Kendrick passes incomplete for Ray Yauger (broken up by Al Usher)

Defense - Interceptions
Year	Date	Opponent	Down	To Go	Side	Ydline	Play
1968	1968-11-02	Virginia	3	25	UVA	7	Gene Arnette pass for Joe Hoppe intercepted by Al Usher at UVA 22, returned 15 yards
1970	1970-09-12	Georgia Tech	2	10	USC	38	Eddie McAshan pass intercepted by Al Usher at SC 33, returned 59 yards (Healy)

Defensive Plays
Year	Date	Opponent	Down	To Go	Side	Ydline	Play
1968	1968-09-21	Duke	2	12	USC	20	Carter, 15-yd pass from Hart (Al Usher)
1968	1968-09-21	Duke	3	6	DUK	14	Hart rush for 3 (Al Usher, Jimmy Pope)
1968	1968-09-21	Duke	3	11	DUK	19	Chesson, no gain on pass from Hart (Al Usher)
1968	1968-09-21	Duke	1	10	DUK	44	Chesson rush for 3 (Al Usher, Tim Bice)
1968	1968-09-21	Duke	2	7	DUK	47	Dearth, 16-yd pass from Hart (Al Usher)
1968	1968-09-21	Duke	2	10	USC	37	Courtillet, 8-yd pass from Hart (Tim Bice, Al Usher)
1968	1968-09-28	North Carolina	2	6	UNC	37	Borris fumbles, recovered by (Al Usher) at UNC 29
1968	1968-09-28	North Carolina	2	6	UNC	19	Berris rush for 2 (Al Usher)
1968	1968-10-05	Georgia	1	10	UGA	27	Kemp rush for 3 (Al Usher)
1968	1968-10-05	Georgia	2	6	UGA	39	Farnsworth rush for 5 (Al Usher)
1968	1968-10-05	Georgia	2	10	USC	25	Johnson rush for no gain (Al Usher)
1968	1968-10-05	Georgia	3	2	USC	25	Kemp rush for 1 (Rusty Ganas, Wally Orrel, Al Usher)
1968	1968-10-26	Florida State	2	21	FSU	44	Bailey, 15-yd pass from Cappleman (Al Usher)
1968	1968-10-26	Florida State	1	7	USC	7	Bailey rush for 1 (Al Usher, Rusty Ganas)
1968	1968-11-02	Virginia	3	8	UVA	33	Joe Hoppe, 10-yd pass from Gene Arnette (Al Usher)
1968	1968-11-02	Virginia	3	1	UVA	40	Jeff Anderson rush for 6 (Al Usher)
1968	1968-11-02	Virginia	4	1	USC	9	Jeff Anderson rush for 1 (Al Usher)
1968	1968-11-02	Virginia	2	5	UVA	37	Frank Quayle rush for 3 (Al Usher)
1968	1968-11-02	Virginia	1	10	UVA	20	Bob Bischoff, 11-yd pass from Gene Arnette (Al Usher)
1968	1968-11-02	Virginia	1	10	USC	18	Frank Quayle rush for 2 (Al Usher)
1968	1968-11-09	Wake Forest	1	10	WFU	32	Lee Clymer rush for 3 (Al Usher)
1968	1968-11-09	Wake Forest	2	7	USC	45	Freddie Summers rush for 2 (Al Usher)
1968	1968-11-09	Wake Forest	1	10	WFU	41	Jimmy Johnson rush for 7 (Al Usher)
1968	1968-11-23	Clemson	1	10	USC	16	Buddy Gore rush for 6 (Pat Watson, Al Usher)
1968	1968-11-23	Clemson	2	4	USC	4	Buddy Gore rush for no gain (Al Usher)
1968	1968-11-23	Clemson	1	10	CLM	20	Buddy Gore rush for 3 (Al Usher)
1968	1968-11-23	Clemson	2	9	CLM	44	Anderson, 19-yd pass from Ammons (Al Usher)
1968	1968-11-23	Clemson	2	7	USC	34	Buddy Gore, 1-yd pass from Ammons (Al Usher)
1968	1968-11-23	Clemson	3	1	USC	34	Buddy Gore rush for 1 (Al Usher)
1968	1968-11-23	Clemson	2	3	USC	26	Buddy Gore rush for 5 (Al Usher)
1969	1969-09-20	Duke	3	2	DUK	38	Phil Asack rush for 5 (Al Usher)
1969	1969-09-20	Duke	1	10	USC	10	Phil Asack rush for 3 (Al Usher)
1969	1969-09-20	Duke	2	7	USC	7	Don Baglien rush for 3 (Al Usher)
1969	1969-09-20	Duke	1	10	DUK	40	Phil Asack rush for 13 (Al Usher, Jimmy Nash)
1969	1969-09-20	Duke	1	10	USC	48	Phil Asack rush for 2 (Al Usher)
1969	1969-09-20	Duke	1	10	USC	24	Bob Hepler rush for 4 (Jimmy Poston, Benny Padgett, Al Usher)
1969	1969-09-27	North Carolina	2	8	UNC	30	Perry rush for 5 (Al Usher)
1969	1969-09-27	North Carolina	1	10	USC	40	Perry rush for 12 (Al Usher)
1969	1969-09-27	North Carolina	1	10	UNC	37	Don McCauley rush for 4 (Al Usher)
1969	1969-09-27	North Carolina	2	4	UNC	47	Lewis Jolley rush for 3 (Al Usher)
1969	1969-09-27	North Carolina	2	5	USC	22	Don McCauley rush for 6 (Al Usher)
1969	1969-09-27	North Carolina	2	9	USC	15	John Swofford rush for 5 (Jimmy Nash, Al Usher)
1969	1969-09-27	North Carolina	2	2	USC	48	Sigler rush for 2 (Al Usher)
1969	1969-09-27	North Carolina	1	6	USC	6	John Swofford rush for 2 (Pat Watson, Al Usher)
1969	1969-09-27	North Carolina	2	5	UNC	33	Saulis Zemaitis rush for 5 (Al Usher, Jimmy Poston)
1969	1969-09-27	North Carolina	1	10	USC	45	Tony Blanchard, 9-yd pass from Miller (Al Usher)
1970	1970-09-12	Georgia Tech	1	10	GAT	39	Healy rush for 3 (Al Usher)
1970	1970-09-12	Georgia Tech	3	8	USC	8	Harkey, 6-yd pass from Eddie McAshan (Al Usher)
1970	1970-09-12	Georgia Tech	1	10	GAT	30	Southall rush for 2 (Al Usher)
1970	1970-09-12	Georgia Tech	2	7	USC	30	McNamara rush for 2 (Al Usher)
1970	1970-09-19	Wake Forest	1	10	WFU	10	Hopkins rush for 4 (Jimmy Poston, Al Usher)
1970	1970-09-19	Wake Forest	3	2	WFU	13	Johnson rush for no gain (Al Usher)
1970	1970-09-26	N.C. State	2	6	NCS	20	Kenney rush for 4 (Al Usher)
1970	1970-09-26	N.C. State	1	10	USC	37	Kenney rush for 4 (Al Usher)
1970	1970-10-03	Virginia Tech	2	2	USC	31	Rousso rush for 1 (Al Usher)
1970	1970-10-03	Virginia Tech	3	4	VAT	15	Dobbins rush for no gain (Mack Lee Tharpe, Al Usher)
1970	1970-10-10	North Carolina	2	11	UNC	19	John Swofford rush for 2 (Al Usher)
1970	1970-10-10	North Carolina	2	12	UNC	43	Don McCauley rush for 10 (Al Usher)
1970	1970-10-10	North Carolina	3	1	USC	1	Don McCauley rush for no gain (Al Usher)
1970	1970-10-17	Maryland	3	11	USC	31	Bob Tucker rush for 5 (Al Usher, Bo Davies)
1970	1970-10-17	Maryland	2	8	USC	15	Bob Tucker rush for 1, fumble, recovered by (Al Usher) at SC 14
1970	1970-10-17	Maryland	3	7	USC	47	Bob Tucker scrambles for 6 (Al Usher)
1970	1970-10-17	Maryland	2	6	USC	39	Shanks rush for no gain (Al Usher)
1970	1970-10-24	Florida State	3	2	FSU	39	Arthur Munroe rush for 2 (Rusty Ganas, Al Usher)
1970	1970-11-21	Clemson	1	10	USC	27	Tommy Kendrick passes to Ray Yauger for 7 (Al Usher)
1970	1970-11-21	Clemson	3	1	USC	24	Ray Yauger off right tackle for 2 (Al Usher)
1970	1970-11-21	Clemson	2	10	USC	22	Ray Yauger off left guard for 7 (Al Usher)