Gamecocks suffer a Razorback "spank"...

Arkansas starting pitcher Jess Todd struck out the first nine batters he faced on his way to an SEC Tournament record 17 strikeouts in eight innings as the Razorbacks defeated South Carolina 6-0. The loss drops Carolina to 41-17 on the year. The Gamecocks return to action on today in a "do or die"game at 4 pm ET against Florida (again).

Let's just look past the loss to Ark and move on. that pitcher threw a "career" game. Now, the Fla game is a must win. We really need 2 wins in the tourney to help with a possible super regional chance and chance at a top 8 seed.

Thoughts?

Can we do it again

Catfish stew anyone...

Talk about a good day fishing, did you guys see this article - here.

Lonnie McGill caught the largest catfish known to come from Lake Murray: 93 pounds, 6 ounces. This would make lots of catfish stew.

Any good fishing stories out there from LOHD readers? And remember you cann't catch no catfish in muddy water....

Gamecocks get a round 1 win...

It was a nail-biter but #3 South Carolina won today against #6 Florida in 12 innings by the score of 4-3!!!

Next up Arkansas on Thursday at 5pm (central time).

Golf gone wild

Did anybody see this story about the golfer that took his golf cart off a 75 foot high cliff. Reminds me of the time that I was driving the cart at charwood, and hit a slick spot. Ended up slamming in to a tree and throwing crummy thru the plastic window. Granted it knocked crummy out for a few minutes but he wasn't injured to bad. If anybody else has a good golf cart story, we want to hear them.

Talk about a bad day on the links...

Man dies when golf cart plunges off cliff.
Click here for full article --- SI.

Odom and Jones...

Let's just say that Coach Dave Odom didn’t have a choice, either time.

Odom couldn’t say no to a ex-Palmetto State Mr. Basketball who was interested in coming home. Odom would have been roasted by the fans had he done otherwise given the perception - true or not-that he and his staff haven’t worked hard enough to keep in-state players in state. Which I think that he has not done enough but that is just me.

But now Jones is gone.

And some are looking to blame Odom and his staff. That blame would be misplaced. Odom knew Jones might not make it; why else would he have him focus exclusively on academics after he enrolled in January?

Who’s to blame? I say not Odom. There is, as he said, a culture in basketball in which young athletes are taught that "because you’re gifted everything’s going to be okay. And at some point those lessons have to be untaught. That’s difficult.’’ Jones should have stepped up and did what was expected of him. As a athlete he already gets extra love from school officals...just focus. Jones may have learned that lesson this week when he was told by Odom that his scholarship wasn’t going to be renewed. For that, you can’t blame Dave Odom. Odom did the right thing for the kid and for the program. One could argue that doing the right thing is why SC basketball has never really performed year in and year out....but at the end of the day I would rather do the right thing.

I hear some "fans" are upset and calling for Odom's head? That has been the talk for what 2 years now. I still think that the 07-08 season is Odom's do or die year....he has the talent to compete in the SEC (key word compete) and do better than last year. If Odom and the team have a poor year like last year.....Odom is gone.

Thoughts?

Spurrier, what happened down there

You can't just pee on Augusta National. The Catty took a picture and sold it to a internet company. Damn those UGA fans.

Follow up to the 803 rap song

Check it out, the 803 is in trouble for Gang related video.

Speaking of gang members, check out this old gamecock.

SEC baseball

SEC PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Matt LaPorta, Florida
SEC PITCHER OF THE YEAR - *David Price, Vanderbilt
SEC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR - Jordan Henry, Ole Miss
SEC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Emeel Salem, Alabama
SEC COACH OF THE YEAR - *Tim Corbin, Vanderbilt
* unanimous selection
FIRST TEAM
1B - Matt LaPorta, Florida
2B - Travis Jones, South Carolina
3B - Pedro Alvarez, Vanderbilt
SS - Zack Cozart, Ole Miss
C - Edward Easley, Mississippi State
OF - *Emeel Salem, Alabama
OF - *Dominic de la Osa, Vanderbilt
OF - Brian Leclerc, Florida
DH - Phil Disher, South Carolina
P - *David Price, VanderbiltP - Nick Schmidt, Arkansas
P - Jess Todd, Arkansas
RP - Casey Weathers, Vanderbilt
SECOND TEAM
1B - Justin Smoak, South Carolina
2B - Jeffrey Rea, Mississippi State
3B - James Darnell, South Carolina
SS - Ryan Flaherty, Vanderbilt
C - J.P. Arencibia, Tennessee
OF - Jordan Henry, Ole Miss
OF - Mike Bianucci, Auburn
OF - Julio Borbon, Tennessee
DH - Alex Avila, Alabama
P - Lance Lynn, Ole Miss
P - James Adkins, Tennessee
RP - Jared Bradford, LSU
RP - Cody Satterwhite, Ole Miss
ALL FRESHMAN TEAM
1B - Yan Gomes, Tennessee 2B - Robert Brooks, Auburn2B - Zach Miller, Ole Miss3B - Connor Powers, Mississippi StateSS - Cole Figueroa, FloridaC - Sean Ochinko, LSU OF - *Jordan Henry, Ole MissOF - Blake Dean, LSU OF - Matt den Dekker, FloridaOF - Jonathan Pigott, Florida DH - Jeff Lockwood, Tennessee P - Mike Minor, Vanderbilt P - Nathan Baker, Ole Miss RP - Dallas Keuchel, Arkansas

Ark-kansas takes a hit...

The AP News wire has reported that Quarterback Mitch Mustain, who went 8-0 as a freshman starter last season for Arkansas, has transferred to Southern California.

Mustain, who will have three years of eligibility remaining after sitting out next season, is enrolled at USC for summer school and attending classes.

Mustain completed 69 of 132 passes for 894 yards and 10 touchdowns with nine interceptions for the Razorbacks. But Mustain lost his job to Dick in the 10th game.

Wide receiver Damian Williams, also from Springdale, transferred from Arkansas to USC as well. Williams will also have three years of eligibility remaining after sitting out next season.
Mustain is expected to compete for the starting quarterback position in 2008 with Mark Sanchez, who completed 3-of-7 passes for 63 yards for USC as a freshman last fall. John David Booty, who passed for 3,347 yards and 29 touchdowns for the Trojans last season, will be a senior next year.

I think it is safe to say that Coach Nutt is on the "hot" seat this upcoming season. Thoughts?

Baseball Polls released...

The Gamecocks (40-16) climbed from No. 11 to No. 9 in this week's rankings by Baseball America.

After a great weekend showing, the polls decided to award the "ballers" some love by bumping them up into the top 10. USC's student manager for the baseball team credited the recent surge to a new landry detergent. So look out SEC the boys are "fresh and clean."

Clemson (36-20) dropped four spots to No. 19 in the Baseball America rankings after losing two of three at N.C. State.

Coastal Carolina (44-11), which secured the Big South Conference regular-season title by winning two of three games against Winthrop during the weekend, moved up three spots to No. 14.

Vanderbilt, Rice, Florida State, North Carolina and San Diego are the top five teams in the poll.

In case you missed it ....

For ye of little faith who stopped watching the South Carolina baseball game on Saturday after they fell a little behind, you missed out on one of the better comebacks in Gamecock sports history. Trialing by 11 runs at one point, South Carolina rallied to beat Georgia 14-13. With the win South Carolina won the series with Georgia 2-1, finished the season 40-16 (17-13), and garnered a 3 seed in the upcoming SEC tourney. The Gamecocks continue their march toward Omaha Wednesday against Florida in Hoover, Alabama.

The South Carolina softball team, seeded 4th in their regional somehow ended up hosting a regional. No one I have spoken with can tell me how this happened. Oregon, NC State, and someone I am too lazy to look up were also there. Anyway South Carolina, who was apparently a big underdog won the regional and will now go to Evansville, Ill to face Northwestern in the Super Regional.

Also of note: South Carolina's men's golf team won the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament this weekend out in Arizona. They were seeded 11th in the region out of ???. Next they play in Virginia somewhere in the finals. I think they play with 29 other teams. Anyone else know any better? Flounder?

... and last just to be circumspect:

Former Clemson player Justin Miller has been arrested ... again. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/05/20/bc.fbn.jets.millerarres.ap/index.html

We almost forgot...

The "other" ball team......The Lady Gamecocks' Softball team played great in the NCAA Regional championship as Jessica Josker hit a game-winning walk-off single to lift South Carolina to a come-from-behind 4-3 win over No. 20 Oregon Sunday in the championship game of the Columbia Regional played at Beckham Field. With the win, the Gamecocks advance to their first NCAA Super Regional.

The Lady Gamecocks, improved to 38-24, will play the No. 2 national seed Northwestern Wildcats in Evanston, Ill. May 25-26. Northwestern defeated Illinois State 4-1 Sunday to advance to the Super Regional. LOHD wishes them much luck!

SC Baseball Round Up...

Big win this past weekend and good for the program. Going into the SEC tourney as the 3 seed.

So what are the chances SC gets a national seed? Well it's possible. How? Here's my theory on what it would take to get a national seed (one of eight): USC would probably land a national seed if it wins three in the SEC tournament coming up. This will put SC at 43 wins (SC is currently 40-16 and 17-13 in the SEC). This should be enough to give the Gamecocks one of those cherished eight national seeds.

What do you guys predict for SC in the SEC tourney? Have they done enough this season to host a regional or perhaps a super regional? Thoughts?