USC DT caught dealing

Seems now some of the truth behind what prompted this is coming out now and it is not good news. Seems USC DT Ladi Ajiboye was trying to be a small buisness man but in the wrong way by "dealing drugs." This is not good for him nor the football team.

According to the incident report, shortly after midnight on Feb. 21 at the intersection of Harden and Lady streets, investigators witnessed Ajiboye engage in a “hand-to-hand transaction” with another person. The other person was not identified in the report. After Ajiboye returned to a car driven by USC offensive lineman Terrence Campbell, sheriff’s personnel followed the 2004 Ford Crown Victoria and pulled it over after Campbell failed to signal for a turn, authorities said. They found evidence of marijuana use and five grams of pot between the two front seats, which Ajiboye admitted belonged to him, the report stated.

Investigators: Ajiboye involved in drug deal

Former Gamecock Brown going to Liberty

Receiver Freddie Brown plans to transfer to the Football Championship Subdivision school in Lynchburg, Va., which announced Brown’s move Friday. Brown joins Tommy Beecher, who started USC’s season opener last season before transferring after the season.

LOHD wishes him well.

Another ex-Gamecock to transfer to Liberty

Who is Willis Mills?

Seems the gamecocks have a new walk-on QB that Spurrier likes according to this article yet I have never heard of Willis Mills. So did some searching and here is what I found -

According to this - Former Socastee football standout now a Gamecock - he finished Socastee in the Mrytle Beach area then did not enroll in USC till January so he could have the fall to prepare to try to walk on. I do know his high school team ran the flexbone offense so he never really got to showcase his arm as it was more of a option attack so the kid can run. Word is he is a good athelete and a good decision maker. Mills senior year his team lost to eventual state champion Wilson in the first round of the Class AAA playoffs.

The Cocky Formation is coming...

Per The State, seems Spurrier is developing his own type of formation similar to "the wildcat" or "the hog." I look forward to seeing this in 2009. Here is the text ---

The Gamecocks are looking to implement plays similar to the “Wildcat” formation that became popular in the NFL last season. But coach Steve Spurrier is calling it the “Cocky” formation, with starting quarterback Stephen Garcia on the sideline and a tailback taking a shotgun snap. Receiver Dion LeCorn was taking some of the snaps Thursday, but Spurrier indicated that true freshman Stephen Gilmore would get a look too. Gilmore played quarterback in high school and is working in the defensive secondary.

Former Gamecock Blake goes under center again

Former Gamecock QB Blake Mitchell will again play quarterback for South Carolina but this time it is for the South Carolina Force. LOHD shared this a while back but this weekend is the first home game for the team and Blake. This will be the first game for the Force in the Bi-lo center in Greenville, SC as they begin their campaign for the American Indoor Football Association title vs. the Fayetteville (N.C.) Guard.

Surprise! Blake is back

Update on former gamecock Justin Smoak

Former University of South Carolina first baseman Justin Smoak was optioned to minor league camp yesterday. You may remember he went to the Rangers as their #11 overall pick. He will begin the season at the AA level - Frisco. Word is the Rangers have big plans to replace Hank Blalock's bat with Smoak's by the spring of 2010. He is ranked 22nd by Baseball Prospectus in their Top 100 Prospects for 2009.

Gamecock Clips

Here is a healthy dose of gameock news in case you missed it the last few days ...

• Davidson, Curry bounce USC from NIT
• Garcia ready to accept leader, QB mantle
• USC suspends starting defensive lineman
• Gamecocks' season ends in NIT opener
• Morris: Curry wins battle of star guards
• Postgame: Downey deflects NBA talk
• USC switches up football practices
• Schedules held back SEC's NCAA bids
• Devan Downey has locked up another honor.
• Horn to focus players on avoiding late slump
• Cooper's arm, USC's bats batter Furman
• Video: USC spring football outlook
• 5 SEC football questions to be answered in spring
• Garcia ready to accept leader, QB mantle
• LeCorn reverses course to offense
• Gamecocks lament season's end
• Recruiting Rewind: Stone Mountain LB tells what happened with South Carolina
• Recruiting Rewind: Perry OL didn’t believe Steve Spurrier about academics

Next year's basketball schedule gets additions already: Baylor, Clemson, Wofford and Western Kentucky.

Other stuff
ACC, SEC football coaching salaries
Top recruit Bryce Brown signs with Tennessee


ESPN's Chris Low puts hurtful words out there....here is what he says---

South Carolina: The rich tradition that so many of the teams in this league hold near and dear. The Gamecocks' tradition consists of one player (George Rogers), some of the most loyal fans in the country and more than 100 years of mediocrity.

Gamecock lose to Davidson

In the 1st round game of the NIT tonight, the University of South Carolina lost to Davidson College by the score of 70-63.

The game really sucked to watch from a gamecock fan perspective from low attendance to lackluster play from Carolina. Davidson was hungry and fought off SC attacks. I swear ever since the 2nd UK win at home the Carolina basketball team has not been the same. Not sure what occurred but real proud of the team for a great year (when compared to last). I hope each year we get better and I hope this is the low point of the Horn tenure. Not finishing to close out the regular season hurt as did a weak 2nd half showing in the MSU game recently. Then no NCAA love and bad team play vs Davidson.....geez.....

O well....the season was not a complete waste as USC was SEC Co Champs of the East, won 20+ games, won 10 games in the SEC....much to build on from this season....now Horn needs to recruit hard for next year and the future! Again I hope SC gets better each year and next year we are in the NCAA tourney! Also Horn please wear garnet and black next season!

USC DT suspended

USC defensive tackle Ladi Ajiboye has been suspended indefinitely for an undisclosed violation of team rules, Spurrier said after the Tuesday practice.

USC Hosts Davidson In NIT First Round

The Gamecocks (21-9) will host Davidson College (26-7) tonight at the Colonial Life Arena. The Gamecocks are the #3 seed while Davidson is the #6 seed. Tonight's winner will play the winner of second-seeded St. Mary's v Washington State game.

Carolina's appearance in the postseason NIT is its 11th overall and first since the 2005-06 season when the Gamecocks earned their second-consecutive postseason NIT Championship (back to back). South Carolina has won the postseason NIT twice (2005, 2006) and finished as the tournament's runner-up in 2002. South Carolina owns a 21-8 record in postseason NIT contests.

Tonight, we will get to see two of the premier point guards in Downey and Davidson's Stephen Curry. Downey leads the Gamecocks in scoring (19.9 ppg), assists (4.5) and steals (3.0), while Curry leads the NCAA in scoring (28.6 ppg), while dishing 5.5 assists and adding 2.5 steals per game. Should be good to watch those two as both are the key to each of their teams. Davidson will try to slow Devan as USC will try to defend Curry.

Besides Curry..who should SC shut down? Davidson forward Andrew Lovedale who gets 12.8 pts a game and a team-best 8.7 rebounds per game. Lovedale has recorded double-digit rebounds 10 times this season and has collected 10 double-doubles. So Mike Holmes and Muldrow should be busy working this guy down low.

Keys to a Carolina win...

1. Focus on Davidson....it is that time of year - one and done. So play the best game of the year tonight!

2. USC's front court is key...USC must win down low and win the rebounding war. Box out, block some shots yet no foul troblue.

3. USC perimeter Defense....this has been a sore spot for Carolina the last 6 or 7 games. We need Carolina to defend on the perimeter, put a hand up and eliminate easy looks. Make Curry and Co. work tonight for open shots.

4. USC shot selection....Devan and crew need to be smart tonight and not rush shots. Also keep their heads in the game.

5. 2nd half is crucial....this is when USC has lost games in the post halftime realm. SC has to give it 110% tonight for 40 mins. No letting up and no slack play!

Go Cocks....me thinks SC by 7!

***Visit the live game thread at the Garnet and Black Attack today***

Gamecocks in MLB --- Tolleson and Powell

Former University of South Carolina shortstop Steve Tolleson will start the 2009 season with the Minnesota Twins’ Class AAA affiliate in Rochester, N.Y.

Tolleson, 25, spent 2008 with the Twins’ Class AA team in New Britain, Conn., batting .300 with nine homers and 50 RBIs.

The Oakland Athletics released catcher Rob Bowen today, likely opening the door for former University of South Carolina star Landon Powell to back up Kurt Suzuki.

Powell, who will turn 27 on Thursday, was the A’s first-round pick in the 2004 draft. His career has been slowed by knee problems, but he has been healthy this spring. He hit .230 with 15 homers in 88 games at Triple-A Sacramento last year. He is batting .308 with two homers and seven runs batted in this spring.

LOHD says cheers to St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Pats day! Here's to a gamecock win tonight!

Gamecock Reflections going into NIT

No way to spin this... it was quite the disappointing finish for the Gamecocks to end what was shaping out to be a special year for Coach Horn and his boys. The hurt began with the loss to Vanderbilt in a must-win situation. I think that was the worse loss of them all...win that one and we are in NCAA. Then getting pounded in 2nd half vs Tennessee. Then draggin hope into the SEC Tourney only to be "one and done" but after a double digit lead over MSU. Oh and not to mention the snub for conference player and coach of the year voting. As LOHD always has stated...."it is tough being a gamecock fan."

But now we must get pumped for the NIT. A tourney we have won back to back so we know what it takes to win. I still think the #3 seed in NIT was bullsh*t but I guess no one asked us.

Time to make the most out of the opportunity for the men's basketball team to continue play. Grow as a team, learn more from Coach Horn and hopefully win more games.

I am proud of what they did accomplish this season — a thrilling win over Florida, beat Kentucky in their backwoods then beat them again in columbia (1st time we have beat UK twice in 1 season), a fantastic home record (only two losses all year), a renewed sense of purpose thanks to Horn and the school’s first SEC East title since 1997. Gotta say Go Cocks on that one and hope that we can forget the past and focus on Davidson now. The Garnet Army needs to be loud Tuesday and the team needs to bring their "A" game!

Being SEC East Co Champs, winning 10 games in the SEC and 20+ wins for the season is a excellent start to many long years with Coach Horn. I hope to look back on the 08-09 season as the start of a nice run for USC basketball and the beginning of a winning tradition. With that said I will take a 3rd NIT title but next year I hope for nothing less that NCAA tourney!

Go Cocks!

Gamecock 'DYK'

Gameock Fans.....Did you know.......

that none of USC's 21 wins came against a team that made the NCAA tournament!

NIT: Gamecocks get Davidson

So we get to see Curry vs Downey....the Gamecocks got a #3 seed...that is bullsh*t!!! No love for the the gamecocks for sure....

South Carolina draws Davidson in NIT

Gamecocks Head to NIT

Gamecocks still on bubble....

Hope is still alive which should make watching Sunday's Selection Show interesting. I am not sold on USC going to the NCAA but I hope that I am wrong. Feel NIT is the logical situation and the good news is we most likely will get a high seed in the NIT which means home court advantage.

I think Tennessee winning today helps Carolina's chances but not sure...thoughts?

Anywho....here is the latest in bracket talk and gamecock news---

• College Basketball Bubble Watch
• Brackets will feel brunt of early Madness
• Selection Sunday: Eight burning questions
• USC likely to miss big dance despite 10 SEC wins
• Morris: Clemson, USC still worthy of praise
• Bubble watch: What others say about USC
• Deflating season for SEC basketball

Former Gamecock Balkman continues...

to light it up! The Denver forward got his second straight start yesterday against the Clippers. He put in a nice 22 points to go with 11 rebounds. This was his 2nd straight double-double and the 22pts were a career high.

Over the past two games, Balkman has averaged 18 points and 12.5 rebounds. The Nuggets are 7-1 this season in games Balkman has started.