A new desi college football player is now at large. 6’4”, ~290 lb. Gurminder Thind starts as left tackle on the University of South Carolina roster (thanks, OldWarHouse). 
But based on the snarl, Thind really should moonlight as a professional wrestler.
I’m very happy to report that based on the recently concluded Spring practice sessions in Columbia, SC, Gurminder Thind (6’4 290lbs) born in Mississauga, Ontario to practicing Sikh immigrants from India has locked down the starting LT for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. A desi will be protecting the blindside of Steve Spurrier’s signal callers in ‘06. [Link]
Gurminder Thind is not like most major college football players in the United States. For one thing, he’s from Canada, where football is not held in the same high regard as it is in the American South. Second, he did not start playing football until he was 16 years old. A former USC assistant coach noticed him there and the rest is history. [Link]
Given the size of these Canadian imports, its hard to imagine anyone taking the joke too far. Pavlovic, who is 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds, is the runt compared to Thind (6-4, 286) and Sorensen (6-7, 309).
As Pavlovic explained when asked why his countrymen did not take up the Canadian religion/pastime of ice hockey: “With how big they are, its pretty hard for them to skate.”
But the three seem to be taking to football fine. With spring practice ending with today’s Garnet and Black game, Pavlovic and Thind have strong grips on starting positions, and Sorensen is working with the second team. [Link]
Although he’d spent four years on a club team in Mississauga, Ontario — a suburb of Toronto — Thind hadn’t been exposed to a complex system or the teaching tools his American counterparts take for granted as obvious.
So when he decided to make film study a serious part of his preparation routine after last year’s spring practice, Thind believed he’d struck gold…
USC may have little choice but opt for Thind as its starting left tackle and ultimately the protector of quarterback Blake Mitchell’s blindside…
Offensive line is typically the hardest position for incoming freshmen to handle, so with USC already down in numbers — only seven scholarship linemen return — Thind became the front runner by default…
“You can tell he’s not quite as far along as other guys, but he’s coming,” Hunt said, referring to Thind’s football background. [Link]
Gurminder Thind was listed as the starter at left tackle… [Link]
“I think the offensive line will play just as well as last year’s. Gurminder (Thind) held his own in there…” [Link]
