Gamecocks Quote of the Day

Via this article...from Ol' Spurrier...

“We’ve got good athletes in there. We’ve got good players. I’ve said that all along,” Spurrier said. “I’ve got to get those offensive guys playing like good players. If we do that, we might have something real good.”

Very true...if the offense played like the defense, well there would be no questions going into UGa.

Gamecocks / Williams-Brice gets new look

Check photos via gamecockcentral.com of some visual improvements to the ramps at Williams-Brice Stadium.
The ramps will feature wraps that honor South Carolina’s all-time record holders in a number of categories.
The players will also be recognized at South Carolina’s home opener against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 19.

Hopefully, this will be replaced in the future with championship banners....

Gamecocks LB Paulk could miss season

The media reported today that the Gamecocks lost starting middle linebacker Rodney Paulk to a torn knee ligament. Paulk had six tackles when he went down in the second quarter. During the game it was reported as a sprain and now it seems a little more serious which is not good.

We here at LOHD wish him the best.

With Paulk out, Shaq Wilson will see more time at middle linebacker and also junior college linebackers Josh Dickerson and Tony Straughter will have to step up.

USC's Geathers asks for jury trial

South Carolina defensive end Clifton Geathers has asked for a jury trial on charges stemming from a fight at a Columbia nightclub per THE STATE.

Police arrested Geathers Aug. 23 and charged him with drunkenness, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Officers say he swung his arms wildly as he was arrested...hmmm?

Geathers served a 1 game suspension and will play vs. UGa.

This twist seems interesting as there must be more to this story...the truth will come out soon.

Gamecocks Quote of the Day

Via this article from USC Head Football Coach Steve Spurrier -

"Hopefully, someday we can win a 42-39 game around here," Spurrier said. "We'll have to wait and see."

I agree and hope that day comes soon...love to see SC in a offensive shootout.

Gamecocks "Hot Dog Heros" for the NCSU Game

This year we are going to give a "hot dog hero" award after each game to a offense player and a defense player. This is much like a MVP type thing...We will steer clear of the obvious choices at times, for example - Eric Norwood was a beast last night with what should have been a fumble recovery and two huge sacks. Not to mention quite a few good hits but versus NC State last night the LOHD team felt like the following are the "hot dog heros" for week 1:

Defense
# 98 Devin Taylor
4 solo tackles, 2 assisted tackles, 3 tackles were for a loss of 11 yds, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked punt and 1 sack for a loss of 8 yds. In the first ten minutes of Devin Taylor’s collegiate career, he had a blocked punt and forced fumble. He and # 16 Shaq Wilson were great examples of what LOHD refers to as playing with "fire in their belly."

Offense
Had to look hard for this stud. Could go with Maddox for the TD run but decided to go with Tori Gurley who had 4 catches for 34 yards. I know not stellar but again not much of the offense was stellar. Tori and Weslye looked good amongst the receiving corps last night.

***Also thanks to that referee that did not call the face mask penalty on the late NCSU return.

An ugly Gamecocks win is still a Gamecock win

GAMECOCKS DEFENSE SETS TONE FOR SEASON IN 7-3 OPENING GAME WIN

The South Carolina Gamecocks victory, the tenth straight season opener that the Gamecocks have won, was ugly but it is a win.
It wasn't as bad as last year but the result is the same for N.C. State. South Carolina's defense held up an early touchdown to hand N.C. State a 7-3 loss in the season-opener on Thursday at Carter-Finley Stadium before a joke of a "white-out" attempt.

The Gamecocks amassed only 256 yards worth of total offense and scored just once – on a 1-yard Brian Maddox touchdown run following an N.C. State turnover – but a stellar defensive effort lifted South Carolina (1-0, 0-0 SEC) to the season-opening victory. Preseason All-SEC linebacker Eric Norwood flashed his NFL-caliber skills with two sacks and a near fumble recovery, while freshman cornerback Stephon Gilmore helped seal the win late in the fourth quarter with a critical pass deflection on the Wolfpack’s final fourth down play.

South Carolina held N.C. State (0-1, 0-0 ACC) to just 133 yards of total offense – including a measly 74 yards passing from star quarterback Russell Wilson. Starting quarterback Stephen Garcia completed 13 of 22 passes for 148 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. The sophomore did “ice” the win late in the fourth quarter with a 33-yard completion to senior wideout Moe Brown, who made a leaping catch to give Carolina a critical first down with just over two minutes remaining on the clock.
On the ground, Maddox paced South Carolina with 66 rushing yards on 23 carries, but after a promising first quarter the Gamecock rushing attack was bottled up the rest of the way by the Wolfpack.

Interesting Highlights

• The only Gamecock scoring drive consisted of 14 yards thanks to Toney Baker’s fumble right out of the gate.
• The Wolfpack averaged 2.3 yards per play.
• South Carolina missed two "gimme" field goals. I MISS SUCCOP!
• Russell Wilson threw for just 74 and was sacked 6 times.

Game Summary

N.C. State fumbled on its first snap on offense, at its own 14-yard line, which led to a 1-yard touchdown run by Brian Maddox with 9:10 left in the first quarter. It was the game's only touchdown. State, trailing 7-3, had a chance to pull ahead late in the fourth but Jay Smith dropped a would-be 32-yard touchdown pass in the end zone. South Carolina forced a turnover on downs and bled out the clock for its second consecutive season-opening win over the Wolfpack.

Interesting DYKs:

• Eric Norwood’s two sacks moved him past John Abraham on the all-time list at South Carolina. He’s just two sacks behind Andrew Provence for the school record. Norwood is also just 3.5 sacks away from being in the top ten all-time in the SEC.
• Lowest yards allowed by the Gamecocks (133) since last year’s NC State game (138
• Gamecocks have won 10 straight season openers
• Coach Spurrier is 19-1 in season openers
• Last night’s game was the first time Patrick DiMarco had multiple carries in one game
• In Spurrier's four seasons (plus one game) at South Carolina and his 12 years at Florida, Spurrier's teams never won a game scoring so few points. The fewest points in wins was 14 points and that happened twice -- 1992 over South Carolina and 2005 over Arkansas.
• Wilson set an ACC record with 272 consecutive passes without an interception. Florida State’s Drew Weatherford held the record with 270 set in 2007.

Game Recaps:

• Rescued in Raleigh: Defense keys USC win
• Gamecocks sack Pack, 7-3
• Defense gives Gamecocks early identity
• What We Learned: N.C. State
• USC edges N.C. State
• Norwood, USC defense lead Gamecocks past NC State
• Opening statement: USC tops N.C. State
• Rescued in Raleigh: Defense keys USC win
• Morris: Spurrier becomes a witness for the defense
• Garcia saves his best for last
• Easy call: Taylor's debut a big hit

Quote to remember:“I’m going to get more involved,” Spurrier said Thursday night. About offense play calling in the future.

Next up:
The 'Dawgs

5 Keys to a Gamecocks win vs NCSU Wolfpack

It is game day!
Wow, time goes quick but so glad that it is here today....

Tonight is a tie-breaker game as the USC vs NCSU series record is 26-26-4.

LOHD gave its' NCSU Preview HERE earlier but let's go one more step and talk about the 5 keys to gamecocks victory tonight. Many of you know that for several years now, LOHD issues "5 keys to a gamecock win".....so here goes....

1. Limiting NCSU’s Wilson with strong play from the USC D line - not rocket science here. NCSU QB Wilson must limited in this game both in his ability to run and his ability to connect with receivers. The USC D line must get after him like last year or get hands in his face.

2. USC winning the TO and ball position game - USC can not hurt themselves tonight. USC can not be fumble prone, bad snaps or Garcia connecting with the wrong team. Flip side of this is USC's defensive needs to get the loose balls, cause a fumble and get a INT. Oh and the special teams needs to limit the return team of NCSU and no pouch kicks.

3. USC’s QB having success through the air on a suspect NCSU secondary - Well Garcia, time to prove your game today. We need you to step up, be accurate and play smart football. Lead this team today.

4. USC’s O Line keeping NCSU’s McKeen and Young out of the USC backfield - USC's Off Line gets a great test early. Stopping a good NCSU front line that is hungry. I hope Coach Wolford has the right game plan today to keep USC's running game moving and keep NCSU out of the backfield.

5. Gamecocks must play with "fire in their belly" - I have been saying this for years now. I want to see the gamecocks play lights out, play with heart and determination, play with insanity, wear the gamecock uniform with pride and show the doubters that the gamecocks are for real in '09.



GO COCKS!

LOHD - NC State Preview

USC at N.C. State

WHEN: 7:01 p.m. Thursday
WHERE: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, N.C.
LINE: N.C. State by 4½
TV: ESPN (Time Warner Cable channel 26)
RADIO: WISW-AM 1320, WNKT-FM 107.5

USC carries a 527-530-44 all-time record into Thursday’s game. N.C. State’s record is 529-520-44. Series record is 26-26-4.

Steve Spurrier has a 3-1-1 record against N.C. State. He was 1-1-1 while working as head coach at Duke and 1-0 while at Florida. He is 1-0 at USC. The Gamecocks beat the Wolfpack 34-0 last season.

LAST MEETING: USC won 34-0 in Columbia, in the first meeting between the two teams since 1999.

This is not the same NCSU that South Carolina made look silly last year on national TV. This is a much improved team lead by a flat-out all-star at quarterback. He is the focal point of NCSU’s offense and to be honest is directly tied to the potential success of the 2009 NCSU Wolfpack. If Wilson lives up to the hype then NCSU could be in line for ACC glory but if he folds or gets hurt then the offense becomes one dimensional and is in trouble.

The Gamecocks are coming off yet another late-season collapse, while NC State is headed in the opposite direction, after stringing together four consecutive wins to end the 2008 regular season. Led by quarterback Russell Wilson, the NC State Wolfpack will be looking to avenge a 34-0 loss to the Gamecocks in their season opener a year ago. The offense developed into one of the better units in the ACC last year, and will look to give the South Carolina defense a tough early challenge.South Carolina, on the other hand, will be breaking in a number of new offensive starters and will be looking for some new playmakers to step up offensively. Enough of that as let’s look at the Gamecocks chances of making it two years in a row by defeating the Wolfpack on ESPN at Carter-Finlay stadium in front of a “white out” crowd.

Wolfpack Offense: No secret here. A healthy and productive Wilson will be the most important piece of the offensive puzzle if third-year coach Tom O’Brien wants to challenge for an Atlantic division championship in 2009.
After being knocked out of last year’s opener against South Carolina, Wilson went on to prove why he could be the next great dual-threat college quarterback. The Richmond, Va. native threw for 17 touchdowns and only one interception while racking up nearly 2,000 yards through the air. On the ground, Wilson compiled 388 rushing yards and four touchdowns. However, perhaps most impressive is Wilson’s ability to limit his turnovers. Coming into this season, Wilson carries a streak of 249 pass attempts without an interception. Bottom line is this kid is good either running or passing and plays smart. On top of that threat at QB the NC State Wolfpack have a strong running game led by Toney Baker and Jamelle Eugene. Then they have decent receiving corps made up of WR - Jarvis Williams and Darrell Davis on one side and WR - Owen Spencer and T.J. Graham on the other. Not to mention tight ends George Bryan & Matt Kushner. The greatest strength outside of QB Wilson in my view is the NCSU Offensive Line. These boys are big and nasty. The gamecocks defensive front will have their hands full on Thursday trying to bust through.

Gamecocks Defense: SC has a young secondary that is tall on talent yet short on experience. It will be crucial to gamecock success on how this unit fares in keeping NCSU QB Wilson honest by playing tight coverage, not given too much of a cushion yet recognizing the run and limiting that threat. The second point that is crucial is again the defensive surge upfront for Carolina. They have to disrupt Wilson. They have to get to him a few times and knock him around or put hands up. If the NCSU Offensive Line keeps Wilson’s jersey clean then it may be a long game for Carolina.

Wolfpack Defense: The N.C. State defense was dealt a huge blow in the offseason when linebacker Nate Irving suffered a broken leg and a collapsed lung in a car accident. Arguably the Wolfpack’s best defensive player in 2008, Irving racked up 84 tackles, four interceptions and one fumble recovery last season. In Irving’s absence, look for first-team All-ACC defensive end Willie Young to take the reins and become the leader of the defense. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound senior from Riviera Beach, Fla., recorded 6.5 sacks in 2008, along with an interception and two fumble recoveries. If Young can put pressure on USC QB Garcia, he can relieve some of the pressure in the secondary caused by Irving’s absence and make the whole defense better as a result. Young will anchor the defensive end position alongside onetime Gamecock Shea McKeen and use his tremendous pass rushing ability to add to his 12.5 career sack total. The weak spot is in the NCSU secondary and this is an area USC must exploit to win.

Gamecocks Offense: USC QB Stephen Garcia, well it’s on you. No more turnovers! I swear if there was a national championship for “shooting yourself in the foot” in college football then USC would be defending champs. If Garcia steps up and leads this team then Carolina has a big chance to make this a Carolina victory. Garcia must be able to keep the ball moving down the field and keep the NCSU offense off the field. Along with that comes the renewed ground attack that has to find success vs. NCSU. The USC receiving corp is young yet again talented. The gamecocks will have an aggressive offensive line with wider splits to allow for running lanes but will they hold up against the NCSU front? Biggest question on offense is – who will step up for Carolina as USC lost many stars on offense?

Summary:There’s no question that the NC State offense has the edge over the South Carolina offense on paper going into this game, and it will be up to the Gamecock defense to keep their team in the game long enough to let the offense settle down. Biggest issue with the gamecocks due to this young team is who is ready to make an impact. I feel this young team is hungry and wants to prove to the world that USC football is tired of being ‘so-so.’ The biggest issue in this game is limiting the threat of Wilson at QB. This is on the USC defense and it will not be easy but they must fight for every inch. USC must be aggressive and hit hard. South Carolina’s defensive leaders like Eric Norwood and Cliff Matthews can set the tone early with some pressure in the backfield and some good hits.

I feel this game will be close due to the play of the USC defense; with that the game rests on the arm of USC qb Garcia, who must have a good game. If Garcia sucks then so does USC’s season. I feel the gamecocks special teams will play a factor in the outcome.

I think this is going to be a close 23-20 win for USC.

What do you think it will be? Please comment below!

1 Gamecocks T-Shirt I will miss seeing in 2009...

Gamecocks DE Geathers Suspended vs NCSU, will play vs. UGA

USC defensive end Clifton Geathers will be eligible to play next week at Georgia after serving his one-game suspension Thursday at N.C. State...per THE STATE Paper.

Geathers, who was arrested Aug. 23 following an incident outside a Vista nightclub, received a modified one-game suspension that was set to begin when he was medically cleared to play. USC’s medical staff gave him that clearance Wednesday, according to media relations director Steve Fink.

Full Story - HERE

About time

Well it is about that time again when nothing else matters except football. Well here is a article from the Post and Courier that should get you fired up about the future QB of the Gamecocks Connor Shaw.

Hopefully he doesn't let all the hype go to his head and he can hit the field pretty early in his career here at Carolina.

Gamecocks Quote of the Day

Comes via Head Coach Steve Spurrier yesterday as he met with the media to take about NCSU. That contest will kickoff at 7:01 p.m. ET and will be televised nationally on ESPN with NCSU trying to do a "white-out."

On the running game
"Hopefully it will be more productive but hopefully our quarterbacks will take care of the ball much better. We can't win games with a lot of turnovers. We'll try to play smart and run the ball. All the good teams run the ball. Even if they throw it well they still run, so we hope to be a much-improved running team."

On key to success this year
"It's called taking care of the ball, running and passing and mixing it up, but also putting Stephen Garcia in position where he knows what to do. We don't want him running all over the place. It all starts with the offensive line and the ability to run the ball and help with pass protection. We're looking for a lot more mix than in previous years."

Is Kelcy Quarles backing off Gamecocks Commitment?

Greenwood (S.C.) High defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles is no longer a solid commitment to South Carolina, according to an interview he had with Miller Safrit of Scout.com.

“I saw some things that I didn't like, but that's with every school," Quarles said. "Some things have been going on and I went down there and saw some things. Quarles didn’t go into detail, but added, “Whatever my decision is, it will come out soon. It's just going to be an evaluation period for me. I will be taking all five of my official visits.”

North Carolina will be included in those visits, as will Tennessee and LSU. South Carolina and Clemson—he’s already familiar with both schools—could get the last two spots.

Quarles, who is 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, is ranked No.32 in the nation at DE.

Wonder what he is talking about?

Gamecocks Clippings / Mid-Week News Review

1 day til the Gamecocks take on the NCSU Wolfpack and there is lots of news to review...

Gamecock Football

• USC looks to pep up offense
• N.C. State defensive end Willie Young “provided some bulletin board material” for the Gamecocks for Thursday night.
• Coach Spurrier is confident about the direction of the team.
• Former Gamecock head coach Lou Holtz also has ties to N.C. State.
• As a quarterback for Florida, Coach Spurrier emerged as a player and a play-caller in a game against N.C. State in 1966.
• Morris: N.C. State, USC run in similar pack
• Gamecocks play the numbers game
• Preseason power rankings for defensive coordinators via Rivals has USC Ellis Johnson at #11.
• Preseason power rankings for tight ends via Rivals has USC TE Weslye Saunders at #20.
• Preseason power rankings for linebackers via Rivals has USC LB Eric Norwood at #11.
• Defense priority for Gilmore and Matthews
• Morris: Spurrier success relies on run game
• Re-energized Spurrier keeping the faith
• Refreshing offseason gives Carolina hope for 2009
• Gamecocks have opportunity to rewrite mediocre history
• South Carolina team preview
• USC gives running game a big-time face-lift
• 5 reasons to be confident in (or worried about) Garcia
• Practice report: WR Moore 'should play a bit'
• Running back position can wear you out
• Travis Haney of The Charleston Post & Courier examines the sudden rises and falls that come from playing quarterback under Steve Spurrier.
• The Sporting News lists four quarterbacks who might lose their starting jobs with bad Week One performances. Stephen Garcia made the list.
• Shaw quarterback of future for Gamecocks
• South Carolina brews up stronger chemistry
• Gamecocks have 25th Hottest Fanbase in college football

Former Gamecocks

• Beecher gets Liberty from Gamecock days
• Gamecock outfielder Jackie Bradley, Jr. was listed as one of the top prospects in this summer’s Cape Cod League.

Other Blogs of note to be read today

• From the ACC/SEC Blog - NC State - South Carolina Preview and Prediction
• Previewing N. C. State: The Wolfpack's Defense (GABAttack)
• Previewing N. C. State: The Wolfpack's Offense (GABAttack)

NC STATE News for Gamecock Fans

NC State released their injury report yesterday.
Cornerback DeAndre Morgan will miss the opener against South Carolina with an ankle injury. Stepping up to the reserve spot will be freshman Rashard Smith.

Also listed as out for Thursday: Donald Bowens (WR), Wayne Crawford (C), linebacker Ryan Cheek (hip), defensive end Jeff Rieskamp (hip) and safety Javon Walker (knee).

Other news out of Raleigh -

• NCSU Depth Chart for U of South Carolina Game
• N.C. State relishes early national TV exposure
• Holtz breaks down Wolfpack, Gamecocks

Also visit the last LOHD NCSU news recap - News from Gamecocks Week 1 Opponent: NCSU

USC Depth Chart for NCSU Game

WIDE RECEIVER
#81 Tori Gurley 6-5 227 Fr.-RS
#86 Stephen Flint 6-2 192 Soph
WIDE RECEIVER
#9Moe Brown 6-0 183 Sr.
#15 Matt clements 6-0 185 Soph
WIDE RECEIVER
#4 Jason Barnes 6-4 199 Soph-RS
#82 D.L. Moore 6-3 202 Fr-RS
LEFT TACKLE
#76 Jarriel King 6-5 312 Jr.
#73 Rokevious Watkins 6-4 340 Jr.
LEFT GUARD
#60 Terrence Campbell 6-3 290 Jr.
#62 Pierre Andrews 6-2 285 Jr.
CENTER
#70 Garrett Anderson 6-4 307 Sr.
#57 Lemuel Jeanpierre 6-4 294 Sr.
RIGHT GUARD
# 55 T.J. Johnson 6-4 297 Fr.-RS
#74 Heath Batchelor 6-7 Jr - RS
RIGHT TACKLE
#72 Quintin Richardson 6-3 283 So.
#66 Hutch Eckerson 6-6 290 Jr.
TIGHT END
#88 Weslye Saunders 6-5 280 Jr.
#87 Justice Cunningham 6-3 242 Fr.
QUARTERBACK
#5 Stephen Garcia 6-2 219 So.
#14 Reid McCollum 6-3 218 Fr.-RS
FULLBACK
#47 Patrick DiMarco 6-0 243 Jr.
#46 Dalton Wilson 6-0 223 Fr.-RS
RUNNING BACK
#10 Brian Maddox 5-11 224 Jr.
#3 Jarvis Giles 5-11 183 Fr.
#31 Kenny Miles 5-9 190 Fr - RS

PLACE-KICKER
Spencer Lanning 5-11 188 Jr.
Adam Yates 6-1 200 Fr.-RS

DEFENSE

END
#98 Devin Taylor 6-7 232 Fr.-RS
#92 Byron McKight 6-4 229 So-RS
TACKLE
#95 Nathan Pepper 6-1 300 Sr.
#94 Kenny Davis 6-3 287 Fr - RS
TACKLE
#42 Travian Robertson 6-4 283 Jr.
#6 Melvin Ingram 6-2 297 So-RS
END
#83 Cliff Matthews 6-4 249 Jr.
#90 Chaz Sutton 6-3 243 Fr.
MIDDLE LINEBACKER
#45 Rodney Paulk 6-0 216 Jr.
#41 Josh Dickerson 6-1 221 Jr.
WEAK-SIDE LINEBACKER
#40Eric Norwood 6-1 252 Sr.
#16 Shaq Wilson 5-11 210 So.
SPUR
#43 Alonzo Winfield 6-0 222 So.
#26 Antonio Allen 6-1 202 So.
CORNERBACK
#5 Stephon Gilmore 6-1 188 Fr.
#36 DJ Swearinger 5-11 196 Fr
FREE SAFETY
#17 Chris Culliver 6-0 190 Jr.
#11 Jarrett Burns 6-1 181 Fr.-RS
STRONG SAFETY
#24 Darian Stewart 5-11 216 Sr.
#21 DeVonte Holloman 6-2 211 Fr.
CORNERBACK
#3 Akeem Auguste 5-10 180 So.
#12 CC Whitlock 5-10 173 So.

PUNTER
Spencer Lanning 5-11 188 Jr.

USC Gamecocks O-Line has to stop this guy Thursday

Along with USC stopping this guy on Thursday the USC Offensive Line has to slow down...

Willie Young, (6-4/250, Sr.)
The 6-foot-4, 250-pound senior from Riviera Beach, Fla., recorded 6.5 sacks in 2008, along with an interception, two fumble recoveries and 12.5 tackles for loss last season. If Young can put pressure on USC QB Garcia, he can relieve some of the pressure in the secondary caused by Irving's absence and make the whole defense better as a result.

Mr. Young also talked some trash today via this article, here one statement he said -
On Stephen Garcia’s scrambling ability. “Until he hurts us, I’m not worried about him. It’s as simple as that. Until he starts to hurt us, he can stand back there and juke and jive all he wants to. But until he hurts us, he has no effect on my pass rush or anything I intend to do.”

Young will anchor the defensive end position alongside onetime Gamecock Shea McKeen and use his tremendous pass rushing ability to add to his 12.5 career sack total.

Oh and did you get that? I think one story line from this game not mentioned is Mr. McKeen. He attended the University of South Carolina for one season before transferring to play for coach John Anselmo at Nassau Community College. I know he did not have much of a impact at USC as he played two games for South Carolina before injuring his back. But he is doing quite well at NCSU. Should be fun to watch....

NCSU Depth Chart for U of South Carolina Game

QB - Russell Wilson, Mike Glennon

RB - Toney Baker, Jamelle Eugene

FB - Taylor Gentry, Harrison Rithcer

WR - Jarvis Williams, Darrell Davis

WR - Owen Spencer, T.J. Graham

TE - George Bryan, Matt Kushner

LT - Jake Vermiglio, Zach Allen

LG - Julian Williams, Andrew Wallace

C - Ted Larsen, Wayne Crawford

RG - R.J. Mattes, Andy Barbee

RT - Jeraill McCuller, Gary Gregory



K - Josh Czajkowski, Carl Ojala

P - Jeff Ruiz, Chris Ward

LS - Corey Tedder, Michael Maurer

H - Jeff Ruiz

KR - T.J. Graham, Rashard Smith

PR - T.J. Graham, Rashard Smith



DE - Shea McKeen, Michael Lemon

DT - Leroy Burgess, Natanu Mageo

DT - Alan Michael-Cash, J.R. Sweezy

DE - Willie Young, Audi Augstin

SLB - Audie Cole, Asante' Cureton

MLB - Ray Michel, Sterling Lucas

WLB - Dwayne Maddox, Terrell Manning

CB - C.J. Wilson, DeAndre Morgan

S - Justin Byers, Bobby Floyd

S - Clem Johnson, Earl Wolff

CB - Koyal George, Gary Grant

Gamecocks have 25th Hottest Fanbase in college football

The University of South Carolina is ranked #25 in the list of College Football's 40 Hottest Fanbases .

Gamecocks Quote of the Day

The NCSU game is just 3 days away...wow.

Quote from this article on the upcoming NCSU game ---

"Our first offensive possession will tell you everything you need to know about this season. If it ends in a turnover like the past 4 years, stock up on Maker’s Mark and Coke. If we somehow manage to score on our first drive, make a list of everything you did that day and do the exact same thing prior to every game this season. It’s your duty as a fan."

from The Feathered Warrior a loyal LOHD reader and commenter on LOHD

Weekend Gamecocks Clippings/News

Here is a dose of gamecock related news for ya this weekend since our last news round-up:

Gamecock Football

• Spurrier approaches his fifth season at South Carolina with a new attitude ...hope it correlates to some wins...
• Former Gamecock recruit at RB Ben Axon is heading to Eastern Michigan ... good luck
• The long decline of Steve Spurrier, part one ... I wouldn't call it a decline
• The long decline of Steve Spurrier, part two ....hoping for a rebirth in '09
• U. South Carolina adds 1,000 seats to football student section
• South Carolina Gamecocks' Steve Spurrier Not on Hot Seat in 2009
• Morris: USC fans more realistic this year .....reality can still hurt!
• Practice report: Barnes hopes to get a chance ...stop cryin' Jason and prove yourself.
• USC trustee Floyd sees change in attitudes
• Game-by-game: Forecasting USC's schedule ... 6-6? hmmm
• USC football: The best of the best
• Grading USC position-by-position
• Barnes looks to regain favor
• THE 2-MINUTE DRILL
• No real update about suspended DE Clifton Geathers, other than he will not be available for the opener.
• Spurrier said WR Dion LeCorn (leg) would likely dress for the N.C. State game, but will not play. Trainers have told Spurrier that LeCorn could return in the next couple of weeks.
• USC secondary is young and inexperienced, but it’s also awfully talented.
• I agree with Ron Morris that the Geathers recent arrest and suspension are “a crime against the team.”
• Spurrier on freshman wideout Alshon Jeffery -“he’s got a knack for coming down with the ball.”
• Offensive line coach Eric Wolford is ready to give Heath Batchelor a second chance.

Former Gamecocks

• Former Gamecock Justin Smoak to play for Team USA at 2009 World Cup
• One on One with Justin Smoak

Garnet & Black Attack Blog Posts of Note

• Post-Spring Previews: Clemson Tigers

Gamecocks Quote of the Day

"South Carolina has the talent, has the players. They just have to play smart and get off to a fast start. The gameplan isn't the problem. It's the ability of this team to execute, especially at the key skill positions. The defense has been good enough to win, but the offense keeps shooting itself in the foot."

-- ESPN analyst and former Florida QB Jesse Palmer

SEC Football Preseason Rankings from LOHD

Many of you know that LOHD is a member of the "SEC Power Poll" and will again be posting the weekly poll this season. I encourage you to visit all the blogs involved and LOHD will make mention of them later on this season. But first order of business is to make you aware of how we view the rankings of the SEC teams heading into week 1.

Preseason Poll:

1. Florida - Let's just say Tebow & that the Defense returns 11 starters.
2. LSU - Looks more aggressive and experienced going into '09. Ole Miss may be getting all the attention but I think LSU is the best in the West. Plus they got for UT Def Coor John Chavis which will only make their defense better. What could hurt them in '09 is the schedule.
3. Ole Miss - I know they have Snead, Dexter McCluster and Shay Hodge but not sold that they can live up to the Top 10 hype. Don't get me wrong they are good but are they that good?
4. Bama - Have loads of talent on both sides of the ball but the passer has little experience. Should be fine in 09 with Julio Jones and a stacked 'D' lead by Rolando McClain.
5. (tie) UGA - Feel this team just needs to take the field and understand "who" they are....they have a running back by committee that is to die for and a senior qb in Joe Cox but how will all this play out? Got a brutal schedule out of league with OSU and ASU. Main question is how will this team perform in 2009?
5. (tie) USC - I am drinking the kool aid to begin the season. Feel the gamecocks can surprise in 2009 with Garcia, talented defense and a young yet hungry team. I feel that the tie breaker is the second game of the season. If USC wins then 2009 is going to be a good season. Normally, when SC beats UGA then SC has a great season. I guess we will see soon enough....
7. Arkansas - Petrino is ready to put his offense to work with Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett leading the charge. Biggest question mark lies in the Defense Secondary.
8. Kentucky - I feel Rich Brooks will have his boys ready to be a threat in 2009. Not saying they will dominate but they could surprise a team or two.
9. Tennessee - Lane Kiffin it is time to shut up and play football. Lots of questions circle this team from Bryce Brown to Crompton under center....the USC v UT game will be fun to watch, especially when the coach's meet at mid-field before kickoff.
10. Auburn - can we say rebuilding?
11. MSU - welcome spread offense and Mr. Mullen....will surprise a team but not ready to be a contender in the SEC....yet.
12. Vandy - no DJ Moore so who else plays for Vandy? I am sure they will shock a team but I just don't see this team being a threat in the East. Could they finish higher than UT?

So there you have it....how wrong am I?

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