Feb. 11, 2008

By Adam Walker, Media Relations Assistant

Just before one his first team meetings in 2000, USC Upstate men's soccer head coach Greg Hooks saw a sight that is still fresh in his mind to this day. One of his players, a newcomer to the then-USC Spartanburg men's soccer team, came into the meeting wearing a blond wig, some fake teeth, thick black sunglasses and a John Deere hat.

It was official. Rory Scovel had arrived.

"Rory was a piece of work," Hooks recalled. "That's the first memory that I have of him...he had the guts to do things like that."

"I think that Gregory enjoyed my comedic hijinks," Scovel, who played men's soccer from 2000-02, said. "I think there were a few times I was able to provide a laugh to the guys and take away some of the stress of playing soccer."

"I tried to supply that whenever it seemed slightly appropriate."

Humor has now become a big part of Scovel's life as a stand-up comic traveling the country performing in comedy clubs and other venues. At a young age, Scovel came to the realization that he had a knack for making people laugh.

"I've loved (making people laugh) all my life," Scovel said. "I think making the guys on the soccer team laugh was probably the final boost in letting me realize that is what I should be doing."

Scovel transferred to USC Spartanburg in 2000 after spending one year at the University of Central Florida in Orlando and admitted it took some time to adjust to the school despite playing in 14 games in his first season and starting 11 of those contests as a defender.

"The size of the school was much different than Central Florida and I was worried about that," Scovel said. "Fortunately, I was surrounded with great friends right away."

After settling in, Scovel quickly became one of the anchors of the USC Spartanburg defense, which recorded seven shutouts, and helped lead his team to a 14-4-1 record in 2001 and the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship. He also started all 19 games and scored his first career goal on Sept. 29, 2001, in a 3-2 overtime win against Southern Wesleyan.

In his senior season in 2002, Scovel tallied one goal and five assists and led USC Spartanburg to a 19-3-0 record, another Peach Belt Conference Tournament title and an appearance in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Tournament. The USC Spartanburg defense, consisting of Scovel, fellow defenders Matti Uoti and Marlon Grant and goalkeeper John Andrew Rousseau, shutout its opponents 12 times that season.

"We took great pride (in shutting out opponents)," Scovel said. "We knew that we were relied on every game and when we were able to shutout opponents, we knew it gave our team more confidence. I don't think we ever stepped on the field thinking anyone would get through us."

Scovel's play on the defense is something Hooks admits was a key for his teams during that time. Likewise, Scovel credits his coach for pushing him to be a great defender.

"Rory was good. He was very athletic and a great kid as well," Hooks said. "In competition, he was very serious and as good as anyone we've ever had. He was an integral part of those teams that had a lot of success in 2001 and 2002."

"Playing for Gregory was a dream come true," Scovel said. "He's an inspiration to all people everywhere."

After graduating from USC Spartanburg in 2003, Scovel decided to pursue his dream of stand-up comedy and remembers making his on-stage debut in Spartanburg as an experience enhanced by the presence of those who knew him best.

"I was just hoping to get some sort of response. Luckily, the entire crowd was packed with my friends, so there really was no chance to fail," Scovel said. "That kind of support is awesome and necessary in the beginning of your career."

Since then, Scovel has criss-crossed America with comedic performances and has also enjoyed a television appearance on the Comedy Central program "Live at Gotham". He has also been featured on a commercial for Circuit City.

Scovel does not count one particular thing, but several things that have been highlights for him since starting his stand-up career.

"The chance to meet the comics I look up to the most and meeting them by opening for them at clubs on weekends or working with them at festivals has been great," Scovel said. "Being on Comedy Central was a pretty amazing experience and I'm hoping that it happens a few more times in the future."

Being on the road constantly is one thing that Scovel admits is "the toughest thing about comedy", but he credits his soccer experience at USC Upstate for helping to prepare him for that.

"I think its make or break for a lot of people. College soccer was very helpful in helping me learn the discipline it takes to get through tough times," Scovel said. "I try to apply that mindframe to being on the road as a comic and it certainly makes things much easier."

Hooks agrees that Scovel's competitiveness could separate him from everyone else.

"What he's trying to do is like becoming a professional athlete or musician. You can be very talented and through bad breaks or bad timing you can miss out on those opportunities. The potential for Rory is significant and I think his athletic background is going to help him because there is competition involved," Hooks said.

Scovel says that his experience at USC Upstate was great and he only has one thing he wishes he could have changed about his time there.

"I would have changed the finish to my senior year with us winning the National Championship trophy, but other than that, I wouldn't change anything else," Scovel said. "The guys that I played with throughout my career and the friends I made off the field are irreplaceable."

If you want to know more about Scovel or see some of his comedic performances, visit www.roryscovel.com.