Keys to a win against SC State...

The No. 17 AP/No. 23 USA Today/Coaches' poll-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks (2-0, 1-0 SEC) return home for a non-conference tilt when they play host to the South Carolina State Bulldogs (1-1, 1-0 MEAC) on Saturday, Sept. 15 at Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250) in Columbia. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.

This is the first meeting ever on the gridiron between the University of South Carolina and South Carolina State University despite the school's being just 40 minutes apart. This is the 114th year of football at the University of South Carolina and the 100th year of football at South Carolina State.

So what are the keys to the game for a South Carolina Gamecocks win today, well:

1. Stay focused - The Gamecocks don't need to get caught up in the history or "talk" and just play football. Yes we all know that Spurrier will run a basic offense and defense this week due to a big game next week. The players just need to do their job today and get a 'W'.

2. Mix up the Offense - Gamecocks need to get everyone involved today and let's see a mix of run / pass. Would be good to see Boyd / Davis get over a hundred yards rushing...

3. Stop the run on defense -the SC State team runs a run - option type of offense so we need to stop the run and keep them from moving the ball with success.

4. Fundamentals - basically the gamecocks on defense need to make tackles, play their assignments against the option and knock down the passes. It is simple just execute and victory will not be hard.

5. Special Teams --- USC also has not made many big plays on special teams so it would be nice to see a good run or two off a punt / kick off. Also the flip side is we need to play excellent coverage and not let their speed bite us. We need to win field position today.

Do the 5 things above and the gamecocks should be looking at a 30-10 win today.

The Gamecocks have another tough road SEC opponent to face when they travel to Baton Rouge to take on the second-ranked LSU Tigers on Saturday, September 22. The Gamecocks and Tigers have not met since the 2003 season when LSU handed South Carolina a 33-7 setback in Columbia. LSU won the previous year in Baton Rouge by a 38-14 count. South Carolina's last win over LSU came in Baton Rouge in 1994 by an 18-17 margin. LSU leads the all-time series 14-2-1, including a 9-1 advantage in the Bayou.

Look for a simple game plan today and if Carolina squeaks one out today don't get worried just remember who we have next week. It is like poker...don't want to show too much....go cocks!

Carolina Baseball

As reported today by the University of South Carolina, Ray and the boys will play the 2008 at Sarge Frye field. Construction has been delayed again, raising the price of the new field to over 30 million dollars. Ray was not to happy, but wants the stadium built right.

What to say about USC and there lacksodaisical efforts to build Ray his new Stadium. Ray was promised a new stadium over a decade ago, and has only seen dirt moved around so far.

Any thoughts on the sistuation here in Columbia?

Game 3: South Carolina State

When most of the country looks at this weekend's home match-up against South Carolina State, they will shrug at the I-AA (I don't care what fancy acronym they have given it, it's I-AA) opponent. Indeed most South Carolina fans consider this game just another game, but for some reason South Carolina State has decided this is the greatest thing to ever befall them. Sure most I-AA teams view their games against I-A teams as opportunities for an upset, exposure, or at the very least an exciting break from their normal schedule. But there is something else here, or at least people have been writing about something else.

South Carolina State is a historically black college. They have never played South Carolina before. This game came about because SC State, along with Wofford, Furman, and The Citadel, asked that they be considered by Clemson and South Carolina when choosing their 12th game. The smaller schools figured if CU and USC were going to pay someone to come play them from I-AA, why shouldn't the money stay in state. Parts of the legislature agreed and neither South Carolina nor Clemson had any particular objection, so the scheduling was done. South Carolina played Wofford last year; Clemson plays Furman this year. That's it; that's the whole story. No race relations issues, no underlying Klan conspiracy, just one state school playing another.

If you have read the paper this week, you would think this was the triumph of Thurgood Marshall in Brown. Ron Morris, columnist for The State (Columbia), has written articles highlighting the race angle here and here. Today's Post and Courier (Charleston) contains an article by Ken Burger entitled S.C. State - USC Matchup About More than Football. Sorry, Ken; it's not. Why make an issue of something that is not one. Two state schools are playing football and instead of saying, 'I hope we have a good game, isn't it nice these two are playing,' so much media coverage has been trying to create some sort of racial tension between SC State's all black football team and USC's mostly black football team.

Just enjoy the game for what it is: South Carolina playing I-AA South Carolina State.

Even SCSU Coach Buddy Pough is downplaying the historical importance of the game. -Charleston Post and Courier

Here are some articles not predominately about race.

Apparently SC State (who is a historically black college in case you were unaware) will rely on a solid ground game - Greenville News

Also the USC secondary configuration that gave up 0 TD passes to uber-over-hyped Matt Stafford is no longer good enough. USC is shuffling its secondary - Greenville News

South Carolina State has suspended 4 players for Saturdays game. - The State

The Spartanburg Herald Journal proves why subscriber numbers are down. It is reporting that Emanuel Cook will rejoin the USC lineup. Nevermind that Cook, who had an appendectomy in August, PLAYED LAST WEEK!!! That must have been easy for the Spartanburg paper to miss, the game was on ESPN2, some small little start-up network from Connecticut I hear. I took a little time to thumb through the rest of the Spartanburg paper and discovered they are also reporting breaking news: South Carolina secedes, War Possible. Thanks for the heads up Spartanburg. Helpful as always.

Oh it is on

"Everybody has been saying we could be the next App State," he added. "I really agree. I really feel like we can beat these cats." Xavier Littleberry former Clemson player and current SC State Bro Dog player. He is still fired up about the brawl. Check it out.

Another good quote from Littleberry "My true pass-rush skill is going to shine this game," he continued. "If (Mitchell) wants to have a big game, I don’t think he should hold the ball for more than three or four seconds because I am most definitely coming. I watched film on both of their tackles, I play right end, but their left tackle -- he looked athletic -- but he is still, my speed -- I am 260 pounds and I run a low 4.6 40. He is 300-something pounds, and I am going to try to make him work this game."

Article from Timesanddemocrat.com by Brian linder

Ryan Succop is the the man...

This week the SEC named Ryan Succop the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week, before you roll your eyes and say "who cares" think about this question for a second - How important Ryan Succop is to the U of SC Gamecocks?

Succop is one of the top returning placekickers in college football. At UGA he was perfect on all three of his field goal attempts, matching his career high, and averaged 40.7 yards on seven punts. His field goals came from 41, 35 and 34 yards out, as he accounted for 10 of Carolina's 16 points in the contest. On his seven punts, two were inside the 20-yard line, with a long of 52 yards. He also had one touchback on five kickoffs, while the Bulldogs average starting position from the kickoffs was its own 30-yard line.

A candidate this year for the Lou Groza Award along with all-conference and all-America consideration. He is a strong-legged junior who handles all three kicking chores: kickoffs, punts and placements for the Gamecocks. We owe the win at UT to him...yes it is a team effort but he is the one who kicked a 50 yarder to win....and overall in his career he has been consistent.

I feel that is the biggest thing - consistent. When Succop lines up for anything within 55 yards I am confident that he will split the up rights. I remember the days when Gamecock football would not kick a FG because they did not trust the kicker to make it and go for it on fourth downs. As a Carolina fan, I am so grateful for Succop and that he is on our sideline. Also Snapper Charles Turner and Holder Tommy Beecher were awesome this past game and let's don't forget how important their roles are, they make Succop look good.

Look at his numbers the last two years, in 2006:

Earned second-team All-SEC honors as selected by the league's coaches... a semi-finalist for the Groza Award... connected on 16-of-20 of his field goal tries... his 80.0 percent accuracy was fourth in the SEC... actually only missed two - a 51-yarder that hit the left upright against Georgia and a 33-yarder against Houston in the Liberty Bowl... other two misses were blocked... was 10-for-11 from inside 47 yards... booted a 50-yarder against Tennessee and a career-high 55-yarder - the second longest in school history - against Vanderbilt... also had a 55-yarder taken off the board against Florida due to a penalty... averaged 42.8 yards per field goal attempt and 40.1 yards per field goal made... connected on 37-of-39 extra points for 85 points overall... his 85 points led the team and was the third-highest single-season total in school history... averaged 6.5 points per game, fourth in the SEC and the third-highest mark among kickers... 29 of 73 kickoff attempts (40 percent) were touchbacks... averaged 43.7 yards per punt, which would have ranked third in the SEC with enough punts to qualify... was the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts against Mississippi State when he connected on all three of his field goal attempts (39, 35 and 47 yards) and punted six times for a 48.7 yard average... also averted a certain blocked punt and scrambled 16 yards for a first down, leading to a Carolina score.

2005: Handled the kickoff chores as a true freshman and was the backup placekicker... kicked off 59 times for a 62.3 yard average with 29 touchbacks (49 pct.)... attempted two field goals, missing from 50 yards against UCF and from 46 versus Georgia.

Gamecocks Walk On Arrested...

According to the Greenville News - USC sophomore walk-on linebacker John Hurton Guerry, 20, was charged with underage consumption of alcohol and open container early Saturday in Athens, Ga., according to an Athens-Clarke County Police Department incident report.

Guerry, who wasn't in uniform against Georgia, was spotted holding a beer bottle by an officer at 2 a.m., according to the incident report.

What does it take for these guys to learn to stay out of trouble? Safe to say he may not get the same treatment as Q Richardson or E Cook with being arrested because he is a walk on not a scholarship player....sad but true.



Sidenote - Check out this story about a Texas Football Fan Nearly Castrated in Bar Fight in Oklahoma Bar. (h/t: shotpolitics.com)

Bad Thomas...

University of South Carolina junior cornerback Carlos Thomas has been suspended for the first half of Saturday's game with South Carolina State. I think this is a good move for Spurrier to show some discipline for the team. Stoney Woodson can play CB and then let Darian Stewart play safety.

Thomas, who started USC's first two games, won't play in the first half after being called for a personal foul then unsportsmanlike conduct in a span of five plays during the University of Georgia's opening possession Saturday. The Greenville News writes:

"Carlos is going to sit out the first half this week," Spurrier said. "Maybe we'll get his attention. You can't open your mouth and do the things he did." Spurrier said Thomas "shoved the kid on the first one and the second one he said something to the referee."

Hmmmm

I was looking at pictures from the game on Saturday @ http://www.athensonline.com/ and found this.

this was the quote with the picture, " Trevor Frey/Staff Police arrest an SEC game official for unknown reasons after the game between UGA and the University of South Carolina at Sanford Stadium. UGA lost 16-12."

I wonder if he saw the two penalties in the first quarter.

Time is on your side, yes it is

LSU can be a dangerous place at night. I have visited the hell hole they call Baton Rouge and survived but prefer not to go back. There has been a lot of talk the past two days about the upcoming game since Carolina knocked off UGA. I am not sure what LSU has to be worried about other then the time of game. For some reason those drunken Cajuns hate playing day games. LSUSports.net reports that” Since 1960, LSU is 202-59-3 (.771) at night in Tiger Stadium compared to a 19-22-3 (.432) record during the day over that span." So does CBS control the outcome of the game or is it all just hype? LSU fans really want a night game and are going crazy on a couple messages boards about it.

Check it out.

Let's not forget...

Today marks the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of "9/11" upon New York City and Washington, D.C., and the heroic martyrs who answered the call to duty on Flight 93 who foiled the planned third attack. Let's not forget this day and what it means to so many.

Everyone please take a moment today to pause and remember those who lost their lives on 9/11 and those serving in our armed forces worldwide. We will not forget and we thank you!

What we learned this past weekend.

-UGA has lost 5 straight games to the SEC east with there loss on Saturday to Carolina 16-12.

-LSU is really good; they took the ACC’s best team and destroyed them. 48-7

-Michigan sucks; there isn’t much to say other then Michigan sucks

-Oklahoma might be the 2nd best team in the country, or Miami just sucks

-super stats so far this season, if Colt Brennon keeps it up he will pass for over 5700 yards this season, averaging 482 yards a game as of right now.

-If Ray Rice keeps it up for the season he will rush for more then 2100 yards, averaging 180 yards again as of right now.

-Notre Dame is a joke, and will not get there normal cup cake walk to a BCS game. Join a conference damn it.

-Two teams to watch out for this year, Washington and South Florida

-Penny’s call of the year, Oregon will upset USC on October 27th, write it down

- Why can’t I pick 5 games right on a parley card?

-How about Darren McFadden has 24 rushes for 151 yards and Mike Davis has 24 rushes for 150 yards. No Heisman this year. Granted Arkansas has only played one game.

Gamecocks ranked...

Going into Week 3 of the College Football season the Gamecocks are fresh off the first win against Georgia in six years; which, vaulted the Gamecocks into The Associated Press Top 25 poll at No. 17, their highest ranking since finishing the 2001 season ranked No. 13.

The only other time USC has been ranked under Spurrier was 2005, when a five-game winning streak that featured consecutive wins against Tennessee, Arkansas and Florida earned the Gamecocks a No. 19 ranking. They fell out of the poll the following week with a 13-9 loss to Clemson.

USC (2-0, 1-0 SEC) is No. 23 in this week’s coaches poll. Oh and USC is first in the SEC East right now. Let's hope they keep it up all season....

Tough to swallow for UGA fans...

Interesting reading the morning news or should we say the day after the win at Athens. Lots of questions and finger pointing in Georgia this morning. Blame being put on shoulders of the play calling of Richt / Bobo. As we all would agree it was not the best game each team has played but a 'win' is a win....even if it is "ugly." Just read the AJC.com to see all the upset 'dawg fans biting at the bits to bark at the 'dawgs play calling, the play of Stafford, the offense in general and calling UGA overratted. Wow...gotta love fans. If you are bored this Sunday and needs some reading check these out about the USC 16-12 win over UGA from the AJC.

• Bulldogs lose to Spurrier, Gamecocks
• Spurrier back to winning ways against Georgia
• Richt’s call, Stafford’s play costly
• Tormentor enjoys the flashback