PapaJohns.com Bowl Gift for Gamecocks

HERE is a full rundown of what each bowl is giving out to their respected participants this year. 

As you saw in the above referenced article the gifts vary from bowl to bowl.  From Oakley sunglasses and a Brut hairdryer to Ipods and a Fossil Watch....just to name a few of the things football players and team staff will get as a participant in their bowl.

Well what do the gamecocks get for being in the PapaJohns.com Bowl on Jan. 2nd?

--- A RCA mini HD camcorder & a Oakley Surf pack backpack (stuffed with goodies, one is a $250 gift card)

Not sure of the model of the camcorder so hard to show ya a pic or what the value is for it.  But a pretty good gift.  Also not sure if the backpack is the 5.0 version valued at $90 or not.  But seems to be pretty cool gift too.  What about papajohns pizza?

Youngstown State after Gamecocks Wolford?

According to this article, it seems that Youngstown State is interested in USC's Offensive line coach/run game coordinator Eric Wolford.

Friday night, word broke that Florida State will hire Arizona defensive coordinator Mark Stoops to replace the retiring Mickey Andrews....then this makes Wolford the number one target for the Penguins right?

I agree with Joe Person at The State, who unearthed this story, that Eric to YSU just doesn't seem like the right move for him.  He has tremendous potential as a coach and is making a great impression by helping Spurrier lead the Gamecocks.  I feel it would be wise for Eric to stick around a few more years and then leap to the HC game.

Four Gamecocks freshman All-SEC

Four players from the South Carolina Gamecocks football team got placed on the coaches Freshman All-SEC team, which was released on this past Thursday.
Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery and offensive lineman T.J. Johnson on offense and cornerback Stephon Gilmore and defensive end Devin Taylor on defense all made the team.

Here is the full list of the Freshman All-SEC team.

OFFENSE

TE Orson Charles, Georgia
OL Barrett Jones, Alabama
OL Aaron Douglas, Tennessee
OL Xavier Nixon, Florida
OL Ryan Seymour, Vanderbilt
OL Larry Warford, Kentucky
OL T.J. Johnson, South Carolina
WR Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina
WR Chad Bumphis, Mississippi State
QB Morgan Newton, Kentucky
RB Trent Richardson, Alabama
RB Warren Norman, Vanderbilt

DEFENSE

DL Devin Taylor, South Carolina
DL Tenarius Wright, Arkansas
DL Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State
DL Montez Robinson, Georgia
DL Omar Hunter, Florida
LB Nico Johnson, Alabama
LB D.T. Shackelford, Ole Miss
LB Herman Lathers, Tennessee
DB Johnthan Banks, Mississippi State
DB Corey Broomfield, Mississippi State
DB Daren Bates, Auburn
DB Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK Ryan Fowler, Vanderbilt
P Tyler Campbell, Ole Miss
RS Warren Norman, Vanderbilt

Update on USC Recruiting Target Marcus Lattimore

Byrnes RB Lattimore was named SC's Mr. Football for 2009.  Lattimore rushed for 1,898 yards and 31 touchdowns this season as he led Byrnes to the 4A state championship game. 

The Rebel runningback beat out Berkeley's Bruce Ellington, Daniel's DeAndre Hopkins, Goose Creek's Malcolm Howard and Boiling Springs' Dylan Pace Thompson.

Last week he was also named S.C. Gatorade Player of the Year and was chosen to play on South Carolina's Shrine Bowl team and in the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Game in January.

The last bit of good news to report is that THE Unviersity of South Carolina will get a offical visit from Marcus.  Eventhough he has made numerous trips to Columbia and knows the campus very well it is still good to get a offical visit.  LOHD and many believe USC is in the lead for him and LOHD feels he will sign but only time will tell.

Congrats to Gamecocks Eric Norwood

USC LB Eric Norwood has been selected by the Walter Camp Football Foundation as a All-Amercian.

Great to see much deserved accolades coming Mr.Norwood's way.

He is the first player in school history to earn three straight first-team all-SEC honors and this recent award from the Walter Camp Foundation is icing on the cake.

For 2009,  Norwood is tied for third in the SEC with 7.0 sacks this season. He is tied for eighth in the league with 11.5 total tackles for loss. He also leads the team with two interceptions, has recovered a fumble, forced a fumble, leads the team with 11 quarterback hurries and has blocked three kicks. He is the school's all-time leader in career sacks (29.0) and tackles for loss (54.5) and was one of five finalists for the Butkus Award, which recognizes the nation's top linebacker.

LOHD asks for you to Pray for Jake Nicolopulos

The LOHD staff asks you to pray for and keep Jake Nicolopulos in your thoughts. 

Nicolopulos, a TL Hanna football player and Clemson recruit, suffered a stroke this past Wednesday morning at his home before school, and had surgery at AnMed Health Medical Center in Anderson, SC yesterday.

Most in the state connected to sports has heard about this young man, before it was concerning what he did on the football field yet now it is about his new battle off the field. 

We wish him a speedy recovery. Shows how special life is and to make the most of each day given.  Our prayers are with Jake, his family and firends.

Full Story HERE

"Pray for Jake Nicolopulos" Facebook Group

Gamecocks Darrin Horn to get more Money

Per The State - Coach Horn, who is in the second year of a five-year contract he signed after being hired in April of 2008 is set to get a 300k boost and a possible extenstion.

In his first year, the Gamecocks basketball team went 21-10 (10-6 in the SEC) after consecutive losing years under former coach Dave Odom.  This raise increases Horn’s annual salary to $1.1 million but still leaves him in the lower half of the SEC in coaching salary (i.e. bargin).

Some may question the timing of the raise after one season but I think most who truly follow the program know that they have a good coach at Carolina that is going going to do good things. 

Need evidence?  First year team wins 21 games.  First recruiting class is rated in the top 10 by experts. 

I stand by my prediction for the season and think the money shelled his way is deserved. 
Keep building Mr. Horn.

The Tebow Shirt that Bama Fans Gotta Have

Former Gamecock Jasper Brinkley gets starting nod for Vikings

Vikings turn to Brinkley to replace Henderson

As you read in the above article, former Gamecock and Vikings rookie Jasper Brinkley has gotten the starting nod due to the injury of EJ Henderson.  Henderson went down with a horrific broken leg against Arizona this past Sunday, Brinkley instantly became the quarterback of the Vikings' base defense for the remainder of the season.

The Vikings traded up in the fifth round of April's draft to get Brinkley, who was second team All-SEC in his final season at South Carolina after missing most of 2007 with a knee injury.  At S. Carolina, he started 29 of his 30 games as a Gamecock, racking up 193 tackles (20 for lost yardage), 7.5 sacks, and three interceptions.

Some say a veteran linebacker is needed to run the defense of the 10-2 Vikings football team and due to the injury to EJ some think the Vikings chances of NFL glory are over.  But the Vikings team believe that they have themselves the perfect replacement and future defensive quarterback in Jasper.  It is time for him to show exactly what Gamecocks fans already know and that he is a special player with huge talent and will get the job done.  LOHD wishes Jasper success and EJ a speedy recovery.

NCAA Investigating Vols, Lane has some explaining to do

Tennessee's recruiting practices are under scrutiny by the NCAA, the New York Times reports, with the focus on recruiting bait pretty ladies recruiting hostesses.

More news on this:  HERE , HERE , HERE

From the Times:

The N.C.A.A. is conducting a wide-ranging investigation into the University of Tennessee’s football recruiting practices, according to interviews with several prospects, their family members and high school administrators. A significant part of the investigation is focused on the use of recruiting hostesses who have become folk heroes on Tennessee Internet message boards for their ability to help lure top recruits. ...

Interviews with multiple recruits and their family members revealed that the N.C.A.A. has strong interest in Tennessee’s use of recruiting hostesses, students who are part of a formal group at the university that hosts all manner of prospective students at campus visits, including athletes. It is not clear whether the university sent the hostesses to visit the football players.

In one case, hostesses traveled nearly 200 miles to attend a high school game in South Carolina in which at least three Tennessee recruits were playing.

Marcus Lattimore, a running back who made an unofficial visit to Tennessee but said he would not enroll there, said multiple Tennessee hostesses attended a game at James F. Byrnes High School in Duncan, S.C., in September. He said they brought signs, including one that read, “Come to Tennessee.”

I am sure this will be fun to watch and I am sure this will aid the Gamecocks on the recruiting trail.

14-year-old catcher commits to Gamecocks Baseball

Nick Ciuffo commits to USC

According to the article above, Gamecocks Baseball Coaching staff has recieved a verbal commitment from Wando High School freshman Nick Ciuffo.  Ciuffo will be the top player in the Class in 2013.

Great news right?  Get this....The kid is 14 and has not taken a swing in a varsity game! 

Crazy, crazy stuff but I trust Tanner and Chad Holbrook as by reading the article the kid seems to have tons of potential at 6 foot and 180 lbs. 

Just goes to show how serious Tanner is about continuing to build the SC program and shows how the game has changed.  It will be interesting to see in four years of Nick ends up being a gamecock.

Also note the comment made by Aaron Foote, college baseball writer for Baseball America, about the Gamecocks Baseball Team in the article...

"That program is clearly one of the best in the nation"

Gamecocks in Lattimore's Top 5

According to this article, RB Marcus Lattimore has ruled out UNC, leaving the star running back with a final five of USC, Auburn, Penn State, Oregon and Georgia.

I like the fact that the Gamecocks are still in the hunt for Marcus, as his services could help the USC offense from the word go....think Knowshon Moreno.  He brings a lot to the table and could really help the running game that already has some very talented backs (Miles, Giles, Maddox, Baker) then add him - well USC could be quite the running threat.  That equates to opening up the passing game which you know makes Spurrier happy.  As you have seen, to be truly successfull in the SEC you got to have a great rushing attack and this could give SC the edge it needs due to the talent assembled on the team already and its youth.

Now you understand why Spurrier is sticking around a few more years?  The best is just ahead.

More Honors for Gamecocks Football Players

The SEC's 12 coaches laid out their choices for "ALL-SEC" today and a couple fo gamecocks made the list.

Gamecocks LB Eric Norwood made the first team and DE Cliff Matthews made the second team.

Norwood is the first player in school history to earn three straight first-team all-league honors.  Norwood is tied for third in the SEC with 7.0 sacks this season. He is tied for eighth in the league with 11.5 total tackles for loss. He also leads the team with two interceptions, has recovered a fumble, forced a fumble, leads the team with 11 quarterback hurries and has blocked three kicks. He is the school's all-time leader in career sacks (29.0) and tackles for loss (54.5) and was one of five finalists for the Butkus Award, which recognizes the nation's top linebacker.

Matthews, a 6-4, 249-pound junior from Cheraw, S.C., registered 44 tackles including 32 solo stops. Matthews was second on the team with 10.0 tackles for loss and tied for the team lead and ranked third in the SEC with 7.0 sacks. He also ranked second in the SEC with three fumbles forced and tied for second in the league with three fumble recoveries.
___

Also USC DB Stephon Gilmore and USC WR Alshon Jeffery were named 1st team Freshman All-American by College Football News.
USC Defensive End Devin Taylor made the Third Team defense on the same list, while USC OL T.J. Johnson was named to the Honorable Mention list.

Congrats!

Gamecocks RB Coach Jay Graham in running for Univ of Tennessee Job?

Along with the current USC recruiting coordinator Shane Beamer being a candidate for the head coaching vacancy at Murray State (Source) seems current South Carolina Running Backs Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Jay Graham is being considered for UTs open Running Backs Coach position according to fellow blogger Gates21.

Graham is a former Vol running back that some feel could fill the void left by Eddie Gran, who left to go join Jimb at FSU.

If either were to leave it would be a huge blow to what Spurrier is trying to build at Carolina do more towards their relationships on the recruiting trails.  Graham is crucial to getting Marcus Lattimore to Carolina so let's hope both of these don't prove true as both coaches needs to stay at Carolina.

Several Gamecocks Make AP All-SEC List

The AP All-SEC List came out today and several gamecocks made the cut. 

The list is lead by USC linebacker Eric Norwood, who was a unanimous selection on the Associated Press’ All-SEC team and it marks the second year in a row he made the honor.

Two of Norwood’s defensive teammates also were honored. Safety Chris Culliver made the second team, while defensive end Cliff Matthews was honorable mention.

The complete list:

FIRST TEAM
Offense
WR — Shay Hodge, Mississippi, 6-2, 207, Sr.
WR — A.J. Green, Georgia, 6-4, 207, So.
L — Mike Johnson, Alabama, 6-5, 303, Sr.
L — Ciron Black, LSU, 6-5, 322, Sr.
L — Mike Pouncey, Florida, 6-5, 315, Jr.
L — John Jerry, Mississippi, 6-6, 335, Sr.
C — Maurkice Pouncey, Florida, 6-5, 310, Jr.
TE — Aaron Hernandez, Florida, 6-2, 250, Jr.
QB — Tim Tebow, Florida, 6-3, 240, Sr.
RB — u-Mark Ingram, Alabama, 5-10, 212, So.
RB — Anthony Dixon, Mississippi St., 6-1, 235, Sr.
K — Leigh Tiffin, Alabama, 6-2, 212, Sr.
All-Purpose — Dexter McCluster, Mississippi, 5-9, 170, Sr.
All-Purpose — Randall Cobb, Kentucky, 5-11, 188, So.

Defense
E — Antonio Coleman, Auburn, 6-3, 261, Sr.
E — Carlos Dunlap, Florida, 6-6, 290, Jr.
T — u-Terrence Cody, Alabama, 6-5, 354, Sr.
T — Dan Williams, Tennessee, 6-3, 327, Sr.
LB — u-Rolando McClain, Alabama, 6-4, 258, Jr.
LB — u-Eric Norwood, South Carolina, 6-1, 252, Sr.
LB — Rennie Curran, Georgia, 5-11, 225, Jr.
CB — Javier Arenas, Alabama, 5-9, 195, Sr.
CB — Joe Haden, Florida, 5-11, 190, Jr.
S — u-Eric Berry, Tennessee, 5-11, 203, Jr.
S — Mark Barron, Alabama, 6-2, 214, So.
P — Drew Butler, Georgia, 6-2, 203, So.

SECOND TEAM
Offense
WR — Joe Adams, Arkansas, 5-10, 182, So.
WR — Riley Cooper, Florida, 6-3, 215, Sr.
WR — Brandon LaFell, LSU, 6-3, 206, Sr.
L — Clint Boling, Georgia, 6-5, 297, Jr.
L — Chris Scott, Tennessee, 6-5, 346, Sr.
L — James Carpenter, Alabama, 6-5, 300, Jr.
L — Mitch Petrus, Arkansas, 6-4, 315, Sr.
C — Ryan Pugh, Auburn, 6-4, 289, Jr.
TE — Colin Peek, Alabama, 6-6, 255, Sr.
QB — Ryan Mallett, Arkansas, 6-7, 238, So.
RB — Dexter McCluster, Mississippi, 5-9, 170, Sr.
RB — Montario Hardesty, Tennessee, 6-0, 215, Sr.
RB — Ben Tate, Auburn, 5-11, 218, Sr.
K — Blair Walsh, Georgia, 5-10, 185, So.
All-Purpose — Derrick Locke, Kentucky, 5-9, 190, Jr.
All-Purpose — Javier Arenas, Alabama, 5-9, 195, Sr.

Defense
E — Jermaine Cunningham, Florida, 6-3, 257, Sr.
E — Justin Houston, Georgia, 6-3, 259, So.
E — Pernell McPhee, Mississippi St., 6-4, 275, Jr.
T — Geno Atkins, Georgia, 6-1, 290, Sr.
T — Corey Peters, Kentucky, 6-3, 295, Sr.
T — Jerrell Powe, Mississippi, 6-2, 330, Jr.
T — Malcolm Sheppard, Arkansas, 6-2, 291, Sr.
LB — Brandon Spikes, Florida, 6-4, 255, Sr.
LB — Sam Maxwell, Kentucky, 6-3, 248, Sr.
LB — Rico McCoy, Tennessee, 6-1, 220, Sr.
CB — Patrick Peterson, LSU, 6-1, 211, So.
CB — Myron Lewis, Vanderbilt, 6-2, 205, Sr.
CB — Walt McFadden, Auburn, 6-0, 175, Sr.
S — Chad Jones, LSU, 6-3, 231, Jr.
S — Chris Culliver, South Carolina, 6-0, 190, Jr.
P — Chas Henry, Florida, 6-4, 222, Jr.

HONORABLE MENTION
Offense
Zipp Duncan, T, Kentucky, 6-5, 291, Sr.; Trindon Holliday, All-Purpose, LSU, 5-5, 161, Sr.; Lee Ziemba, T, Auburn, 6-8, 308, Jr.

Defense
Ahmad Black, S, Florida, 5-9, 185, Jr.; Chris Marve, LB, Vanderbilt, 6-0, 230, So.; Cliff Matthews, E, South Carolina, 6-4, 249, Jr.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mark Ingram, Alabama
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Rolando McClain, Alabama
COACH OF THE YEAR
Nick Saban, Alabama
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Warren Norman, Vanderbilt

LOHD Blogger Heisman Ballot

For the first year, LOHD was contacted by Shotgun Spratling of The Blue Workhorse to vote for the Blogger Heisman.

Below is the LOHD ballot and some rationale. Stay tuned later this week for when TBW releases its results.

***Check Out Garnet Black Attack's Ballot - HERE

1. Toby Gerhart (Stanford)
He is my favorite due to the fact that he is a blue-collar back. He grinds it out and has gotten over 1700 yards rushing for a team that is not amongst the elite. His statistics compare favorably with several past Heisman-winning running backs and, of course, his total touchdown figure would be among the tops in Heisman history.

2. Mark Ingram (Alabama)
Playing for the No. 1 team is a boon to his candidacy, as is the fact that Alabama has never won a Heisman. Over 1500 yards rushing with the SEC schedule is something to hang your hat on and it is safe to say 'Bama could not do it without him.

3. Colt McCoy (Texas)
While his numbers aren’t as impressive as they were last year, they are within the bounds of past Heisman-winning seasons (though his 27 touchdown passes would be the fewest by a Heisman-winning quarterback since Vinnie Testaverde’s 26 in 1986). The big thing is his leadership in aiding UT to a title run and winning.

Honorable Mention

Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska) – His performance vs. Texas was amazing and he is a beast. For a Defensive lineman there is no better and for a person on defense that can change a game, look no further.

10 Questions: End of Regular Season

1.) If you had a Heisman vote, who would receive it?
2.) Who do you think will win the Heisman after this weekends crazyness?
3.) If Tim Tebow's tears cure cancer what do CJ Spillers tears do?
4.) Do you think Texas deserves to play Alabama in the National Championship, if not who does?
5.) What bowl game are you most excited to watch?
6.) SI does a NCAA playoff bracket every week, review the bracket and let me know who actually would play in the National Championship Game.
7.) Since nobody really cares about the BCS games other then the National Championship game, would you watch Florida/ Cincinnati if the winning coach had to take the Notre Dame job?
8.) Which conference will have the best record in bowl games this year?
9.) Are you excited about the PapaJohns.com bowl, and if so are you heading to Birmingham?
10.) Now that the regular season is over, how will you remember this season?

Picture credit

2009 LOHD Bowl Pick'em

Well the regular season has come and gone, now it is time for some bowl games.
If you would like to participate in the LOHD Annual Bowl Pickem please visit Yahoo Sports.

GROUP ID# 14198

Password: garcia09

Mumme Poll Ballot : Week 14

It's the final Mumme Poll before the bowl games...let LOHD know how yours stacks up against our picks...


The Top Five
 
1. Alabama

Undefeated SEC Champions. Is there more that needs to be said?

2. Texas

Wow, that was close.

3. TCU

Really disappointed they are going to play Boise. I still don’t think we will get a chance to see if they really are the number 3 team in the country.

4. Oregon

Won the civil war. Get to play Ohio State in SoCal.

5. Florida

Still one of the best teams in the nation.

The Next Seven

-Boise State

See TCU above.

-Cincinnati

Thank the Pitt holder. Enjoy preparing for Tebow and the Florida defense.

-Georgia Tech

Didn’t punt all day against Clemson. That’s solid offense. Clemson didn’t punt either; bad defense.

-Iowa

Despite late season losses still gets to go to the Orange Bowl.

-Ohio State

Now it’s time for the worst part of being a Buckeye – losing the bowl game.

-LSU

No game played. No change.

-Nebraska

Donkey Kong Suh is really good. Just a hair away from upsetting Texas.

Gamecocks to take on UConn in PapaJohns.com Bowl

It was reported HERE and HERE earlier today that the PapaJohns.com Bowl (aka Pizza Bowl) has invited the Gamecocks and the UConn Huskies to participate in the 4th annual game that takes place on Jan. 2 in Birmingham, Ala. at 2pm ET.

We all knew that Carolina was heading that direction but the question was "who" they would play...most had rumored that it would be Pitt but they are heading to Charlotte.

USC has been bowl-eligible in each of Steve Spurrier's five seasons and a trip this year is well-deserved for 'da cocks due to a brutal schedule in 2009.  South Carolina has won four of its last six bowl games and will be well prepared as they seek their fifth.  Huskies are bowl-eligible for third-straight year and are making their fourth bowl appearance in program history.  UConn will also come ready to fight and will make this a great game.

UConn and USC, both 7-5, have never met. UConn lost their five games by a combined total of 15 points.  So again Gamecocks fans don't think for one second that the Huskies will come in to this game and rollover.

More on the game and UConn later.

Gamecocks Basketball takes on Clemson Today

Safe to say the score of this game will be more than 34-17 but the need for a Carolina victory is very similar. 

The No. 18 Tigers (6-2) will host rival South Carolina on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Littlejohn Coliseum. The South Carolina Gamecocks have a rare opportunity on Sunday afternoon to knock off its first top 25 opponent and get a needed win versus Clemson on the hardcourt after beating them on the football turf. If the Gamecocks are able to travel to Littlejohn Coliseum and sneak away with a victory from the No. 18 Clemson Tigers, Carolina will have handed its bitter enemy what could be its worst weeklong span in history.

The Tigers will face a South Carolina (6-1) team that has been short on bodies early in the season, as senior forward Dominique Archie and junior Mike Holmes have recently fallen out of the lineup.  Archie, who averages 14.4 points and six rebounds per game, is out indefinitely following a knee sprain. Meanwhile, Holmes, who averages 11 points per game, is out following eye injury earlier in the week after breaking a bone in his face. 

Look for Devan Downey, as the two-time All-SEC point guard, to step up as he must to lead this team while others are down with injuries.  Devan is averaging 19 points per game to go along with a team-leading 23 assists and 15 steals.  Downey will need a similar performance to what he did last year when he posted a career-high 37 points on the Tigers last year, though South Carolina ultimately fell 98-87 in Columbia.

Last season’s loss was the fifth straight for South Carolina against the Tigers, the past four by an average margin of defeat of more than 15 points.

Horn knows how important it is to beat your rival and look for him to do all he can from the sidelines to will his players to the win.

“I was here for only one of those, so it's hard for me to talk about what's happened throughout the past,” Gamecocks coach Darrin Horn told reporters Friday. “That being said, there's no question we recognize that this is an important game to our fans and to people in this state.
“I don't think there's any doubt that we know it’s important, and we want to win it.”

Wanting to win and doing it are two different things and to get that needed win then Carolina will have to do the following:

1.  Get a Early lead or at least hang tough in the 1st half --- if Carolina can get a early lead it will play mental games with the tigers that recently gave up a 23 point lead in the loss to Illinois.  Gamecocks must keep the game close and not get desperate.
2.  Strong interior play --- CU lives off interior play, getting easy buckets and 2nd chance points.  The Gamecocks will have to play big today and limit easy baskets by boxing out and rotating over to help.
3.  Play as a unit --- Devan will get points but others must step up today.  The gamecocks must out-hustle CU and do all the small things right today to get a 'W'.

I think Carolina can win this game today with a balanced attack and beating the press.  Clemson is still hurting over the last loss and now is the perfect time for the Gamecocks to strike.

'Da Cocks by 6, something like 78-72.