Thursday, December 04, 2008

Recommended Gamecock Reading Today

I would like to ask Gamecock Nation to read THIS ARTICLE from Ron Aiken with the Columbia Free Times entitled "Spurrier: Apologize to Fans Personally or Retire Now."

Here is a snipit to strike your interest -
The sad facts of the 2008 season are that USC started off terribly with Smelley at the helm, got back on track with Garcia, then slid off the rails again in humiliating fashion, all because Garcia pisses Spurrier off to no end.

Also post your comments if you agree with his take on things. Yes we all know the last two games were poor showings but coaches can not control the play of players. Do agree Smelley should have been pulled in the CU game. Also think or should I say agree that there is a little more to the QB situation that Spurrier likes to share...maybe ego has something to do with it?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think a lot of it goes back to Garcia not dedicating himself to practice and film study like Smelley does. Garcia seems to admit as much in his interviews. I'm not sure how to judge Spurrier for this. On the one hand, an unprepared Garcia would have been a much better player than Smelley against Clemson. In that sense, you could say Spurrier's decision to punish Garcia's perceived lack of dedication potentially cost us a chance to beat our rival. On the other hand, maybe we should be blaming Garcia instead of Spurrier, both because he's not working hard enough now and because his earlier off-field troubles cost him two spring practices. Plus, maybe Spurrier's punishing Garcia will motivate Garcia to work harder in the future to make himself the great QB he has the potential to be.

Anonymous said...

People need to get off Smelley's back. Yes he sucked against ClemPsom. but the guys is at else trying. USC last 2 loss belong to Spurrier. We should have run the ball more in the Clemson game. Mike Davis was getting about 5 yards a pop. Spurrier should have change O-line coaches 2 years ago. Spurrier need to coach the receivers and quarterback up better or them and Jr need to find someone who can. We also need to get us a Head Coach in waiting. A young guy not an OVER the HILL blue hair. We should have been 11-1 this year. Spurrier got more done with Holt's recurity than his. Look at the job Johnson has done with the defense 9 months ver. Spurrier time with the offense. Spurrier needs to stop blaming the player for the problems

TheFeatheredWarrior said...

Gamecock Nation has every right to be pissed off at pretty much everyone right now. Ron Aiken brings up many good points, although he loses me when he starts talking about Spurrier's motives. I am getting really tired of everyone talking about Spurrier's ego when they have never even met the man. You're telling me that Spurrier started Smelley over Garcia because he has an axe to grind with Garcia? I call bullshit. The only reason Smelley started was because Spurrier thought he was the best QB for the job on that day.

What is also BS is the way Aiken glosses over Garcia’s off-field problems. He didn’t get coached in the Spring and Summer because he screwed up. It’s not difficult to NOT key someone’s car and NOT to drink beer underage while in public. He started August at third string where he belonged. I respect Spurrier for treating his players like adults. He doesn’t ban them from going downtown, but he does hold them accountable for their actions.

Garcia having the flu is a matter of importance, by the way. I've never tried playing football with the flu, and I wouldn't want to. I imagine, though, that it severely hampers everything from your mobility, to your decision making, and everything in between. Losing 10 pounds in a week is a big deal, I don’t care who you are. If you want to blame Spurrier for an err in judgment, then do so. Just don’t blame it on his ego.

I will say that Spurier sniping at Beecher is somewhat disconcerting, if the rumor about Beecher’s concussions is true. Health should come before football, and to say he “Doesn’t want to play” given that information shows, at best, a myopic view of the world. I don’t want a team full of idiots like this guy: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=ncf&id=3624798 – although I respect his fervor.

One last thing, anyone who blames/hates Smelley for the Clemson loss should drop dead. The kid goes to class, stays out of trouble, and studies his craft. You can’t ask for much more from a college kid (with the possible exception of shaving that ridiculous face warmer). Yes, he threw 4 INTs and fumbled twice during the game, but he gave everything he could give so just leave him alone. If you want to blame anyone, blame Garcia for missing Spring practices or Spurrier for not giving Garcia minus10 lbs. a shot.

Anonymous said...

Feathered Warrior, you really hit the nail on the head. The conspiracy theories need to stop. Spurrier has made some mistakes over the past few weeks, but the idea that the guy is doing it to get back at Garcia is just silly. Spurrier wants to win like the rest of us.