AIKEN, SC--In a special dedication ceremony at the South Carolina welcome center on Interstate 20 in Aiken County, USC Aiken Chancellor Dr. Thomas Hallman unveiled one of the seven road signs commemorating the golf team’s 2004 NCAA Championship that will be placed throughout the state.

With regional media members and university officials present, Dr. Hallman and USCA head golf coach Michael Carlisle addressed the gathering before unveiling a smaller replica of the sign that was mounted at the interstate exit ramp to the welcome center following the presentation. Randy Warrick, USCA Athletic Director, as well as Mike Jara of the South Carolina Department of Transportation also participated in the ceremony.

The four by eight feet signs reading, “Home of the USC Aiken Pacers, 2004 NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Champions” will appear at five entrances throughout South Carolina’s borders as well as one on I-20 East bound and I-20 West bound at exit 22, the main exit for USC Aiken. The remaining signs will be located at the welcome stations on I-95 South from North Carolina, I-95 North from Georgia, I-26 East from North Carolina, I-77 South from North Carolina, and the one on I-20 East from Georgia.

“We are pleased to have these signs erected and hope it brings deserved recognition to our University,” said Carlisle. “The South Carolina DOT has worked hard in conjunction with members of the USCA athletic department to make this happen quickly, and to them we are grateful.”

USC Aiken captured the 2004 NCAA Champion by nine strokes over Chico State in Deland, Fla. Carlisle was named the National Coach of the Year while Dane Burkhart, Scott Brown, James McGhee, and Clint Smith were selected as PING All-Americans. The Pacers, who have five Peach Belt Conference titles (1995, 96, 97, 2002, 03) and are the three-time defending NCAA Southeast Region champs, lose just one senior off last year’s squad.

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