Gamecocks Clippings / Saturday Edition

Just in case you missed some gamecocks news due to Christmas, here is a re-cap for ya...

Gamecocks Football

• Gamecocks at full strength
• Scotty Spurrier - Earning Respect
• USC fans are ticket masters
• Lanning's season is one to remember
• Bowl game provides instant replay against Iowa
• Commentary: Comparing USC in the 1980s and 2000s
• Gamecocks Eric Norwood Selected for Senior Bowl

Gamecocks Basketball
- NIT Bound? Why The USC Gamecocks Will Miss Dominique Archie.

Other Stuff
- Incoming Gamecocks Basketball Player - All-Lowcountry Football Player of the Year: Bruce Ellington

Former Gamecocks
- Robinson's fine for shoe gaffe pays off for YMCA

Gamecocks Eric Norwood Selected for Senior Bowl

Congrats to South Carolina linebacker Eric Norwood as he has officially accepted an invitation to the 2010 Senior Bowl.  The 2010 Senior Bowl will kick off on January 30th in Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

In addition to his All-American honors, Norwood was a first team All-SEC selection by both the AP and league’s coaches and a finalist for the Butkus and Lombardi Awards. Entering the Gamecocks’ bowl game Norwood is tied for third in the SEC with seven sacks and tied for eighth with 11.5 tackles for a loss. He has two interceptions on the season — one he returned for a touchdown — and leads the team with 11 quarterback hurries.

“I just want to go down there and show what I have done over the course of the last four years at South Carolina,” Norwood said. “I want to show that I can play each linebacker position effectively, whether it’s inside linebacker or outside linebacker; that I am the complete player, the total package.”

More Here

All I want for Christmas - The LOHD Gamecocks Wish List

Dear Santa,

I know the economy is down, there is a health care debate and the US is engaged in two "conflicts" abroad so I understand there may be some bigger issues this holiday season.  I do however want to issue you the LOHD Christmas List for 2009.  Just a few things we Carolina Gamecocks fans want to see achieved or secured in 2010. 

So here goes...

1. A win vs UConn in the PapaJ Bowl to start off 2010 would be really nice as it would shut some of the fair weather gamecock fans up.
2. Marcus Lattimore would be a nice treat to have going forward.  He is the type back that we need that can help us climb the SEC mountain to reach some glory not felt in Columbia before.
3. Sharrif Floyd would be a nice present to aid in the fight on the defensive line, meaning he is a game changer.
4. John Fulton could be the next gamecock to go to the NFL from the secondary and continue the "DB U" history that Carolina has.
5. Justin Parker could step in and help the linebacking corp as it will be a nad bit weaker without Eric Norwood next season. 
6. Coach Horn to get 20 wins this season with the Gamecocks Basketball team and sneak in to the NCAA tourney.  USC Women's Hoops to make it to the NCAA tourney also.
7. Coach Tanner to take the SC Gamecocks Baseball team back to the CWS.
8. Archie to return to the Gamecocks basketball team for next year after a speedy recovery with that pesky knee issue.
9. Along with the recruits listed earlier please help convince OL Morgan Moses, TE Clive Walford, WR Sean Tapley and DL Ego Ferguson Jr. that they too need to wear garnet & black next season.
10. USC football to win at least 8 or 9 games in the regular season next year.  Heck a SEC East crown would be a nice stocking stuffer.

So Santa, there is just 10 things to bring us in 2010.  Thanks in advance.

What did I miss Carolina fans?  Anything you would like to add..............

Pac 10 vs. Mountain West

Well the bowl season is early, but I think we have learned a lot so far. The Mountain West deserves some credit. After going undefeated last year in the bowl games the Pac 10 has been a joke so far. Oregon State had a chance to represent the PAC 10 in the BCS, got whooped by BYU last night and Utah is making Cal look like Cal Polly Tech in basketball. ESPN has been trying to convince the east coast that the PAC 10 is by far the best conference in football for the past 3 years. Well after watching the past 2 games I am going to have to disagree. The conference that deserves some respect might be the Mountain West. I am not saying that Utah over Alabama last year was a fluke but I think they should deserve a automatic qualifier for the BCS. I have a heard time believing that the Big 10 deserves to have 2 teams in every year. They have a heard enough time winning a bowl game each year, why reward them with 2 BCS games. Just ask Ohio State?

Even Wyoming upsetting Fresno State gave the conference some credit, granted it was a crap bowl that nobody watched outside of the few of use that pretty much watch every football game. The only hope for the PAC 1o this year is for USC to show up against BC as long as they have enough players to play. Who knew paying players with cash, rent money and cars was against the rules. It will also help if the Ducks can crack some beer nuts in Pasadena. I am not sure if Oregon over Ohio State is considered a quality win for the PAC 10 but at least it is a win. I guess we will have to see.......

Know your UConn Huskies: DE Lindsey Witten

This is the second installement of "Know your UConn Huskies" and this time we want to introduce you to who the USC O Line will be charged with stopping to save Garcia a headache or two.  His name is Lindsey Witten.

Witten is one of the top DE in the nation and most likely will end up in the NFL next year.  He is a All Big East Selection and will participate in the East-West Shrine Game on 1/23/10. He also was on the Chuck Bednarik Watch List in 2009.  So it is just not LOHD who thinks this guy can play.

In 2009 he logged - 41 tackles, 13 TFLs, 11.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.  Not too shabby for the 6 foot 5 inch 260 pound end who wears number 9. 

This kid must be accounted for on every down and USC may need a RB to help out depending on the play.  He is what we like to call a "disrupter."  So USC Interim OL Coach Andy Boyd come up with the right strategy to slow this guy down or it could be a long night in the PapaJ Bowl.

Part 1 - Know your UConn Huskies: QB Zach Frazer

SEC Power Poll All-SEC Team: the linebackers

As a voter in the SEC Power Poll and, subsequently, the All-SEC Team balloting, I've been tapped to participate in the rollout. 
As you know the SEC Power Poll is a group of SEC bloggers (List of Bloggers HERE) and the All-SEC Team is chosen by this group of bloggers based on voting.

I get the honor of revealing the winning linebackers......the envelope, please…

The 2009 SEC Power Poll All-SEC Selections at Linebacker are (in order of votes received): Rolando McClain (Alabama), Eric Norwood (South Carolina) and Rennie Curran (Georgia).

Some reasoning on why these 3 are deemed worthy of this award -

1.  Rolando McClain, (Alabama)

His laundry list of accomplishments are too lengthy to mention in this post.  But the 6 foot 4 inch 260 pound "quarterback" of the 'Bama D is the definition of All-SEC in my book and the others as he was a unanimous selection amongst the voters.

Here is his just a tidbit of his higlights from 2009:
• Midseason Sporting News All-American
• Buktus Award winner
• Semifinalist for the Lombardi Award
• Semifinalist for the Bednarik Award
• Leads team with 66 tackles
• Has 2 interceptions and 7 TFL (-28)
• Five straight games with at least 7 tackles

This his junior year, he has helped the Crimson Tide rank fourth nationally in total defense (242.22 ypg) and second in rush defense (68.22).  Oh, and his team is in the national championship game which speaks volumes to his ability and leadership on the 'Bama D.

2. Eric Norwood, (U of South Carolina)

This senior is the key to the SC defense.  He is a Walter Camp 1st Team All-American, All SEC selection according to the league's coaches and the AP.  Mr. Norwood was also a finalist for the Butkus Award in '09. 
In 2009, Norwood had 71 tackles including 49 solo stops.  He finished 3rd in the SEC in sacks (7) and is tied for 8th with 11.5 tackles for losses.  He had 2 INTs and blocked 3 kicks to boot.  He was credited with 11 QB hurries, 3 pass breakups and a fumble recovery.  The 6 foot 250 pound Linebacker is Carolina's all-time leader with 43.0 career tackles for loss and is third on the all-time list in sacks with 22.0.

3. Rennie Curran (Georgia Bulldogs)

This future NFL-er was voted First-team All-SEC by the AP and Coaches in 2009, and was also named First-team All-America by CBSSports.com after leading the SEC in tackles this year as a junior.  In 2009, he had 116 tackles and of those 59 were solo.  So just that number alone says this kid was everyone and had his nose in almost everything the defense was doing on the field.  Curran is considered one of the top weakside linebackers of his class, and has been called "the most dominant defensive player in the game" by The Sporting News.

Others receiving votes:

• Brandon Spikes (U of Florida Gators)
• Sam Maxwell ( U of Kentucky Wildcats)
• Chris Marve (Vanderbilt Commodores)

Related Content:

• LOHD Offical Ballot
• Quarterback: Tim Tebow (Alligator Army)
• Running Backs: Mark Ingram, Dexter McCluster (Roll Bama Roll)
• Wide Receivers: A.J. Green, Shay Hodge (Hey Jenny Slater)
• Tight End: Aaron Hernandez (Team Speed Kills)
• Defensive Backs: Eric Berry, Joe Haden, Javier Arenas, Mark Barron (Gate 21)
• Special Teams:  Butler, Tiffin, Arenas (Georgia Sports Blog)
• Defensive Lineman: Cody, Coleman, Dunlap, Houston, Matthews (War Eagle Reader)

Some Gamecocks Baseball News

Collegiate Baseball released its preseason poll today and it has USC in its rankings.

USC is ranked 28th in the poll (the poll ranks the top 40 teams). The Gamecocks are coming of a 40 win season and lost in a Regional at East Carolina to end last season. Carolina is one of seven SEC teams ranked in the poll.

Texas, LSU, Virginia, Cal State Fullerton and Arizona State are the top five teams.

The Gamecocks will open the season February 19th vs Duquesne. 

Also South Carolina junior right-handed pitcher Sam Dyson earned third-team Louisville Slugger Preseason All-America honors as announced by Collegiate Baseball on Monday afternoon - HERE.

All SEC Ballot

As you all know the LOHD blog is part of the SEC Power Poll," which is a group of bloggers from across the SEC.  Look to the right column of this blog for a list of 'who is who' in the SEC Power Poll.  Now with the season done it is time to submit ballots for the "ALL SEC" Team chosen by us the bloggers. 

Here is the LOHD ballot.......

Offense

QB: Ryan Mallett (Arkansas Razorbacks)
RB: Mark Ingram (Alabama Crimson Tide)
RB: Dexter McCluster (Ole Miss Rebels)
OG: Mike Johnson (Alabama Crimson Tide)
OG: Mike Pouncey (Florida Gators)
OT: Ciron Black (LSU Tigers)
OT: John Jerry (Ole Miss Rebels)
C: Maurkice Pouncey (Florida Gators)
TE: Aaron Hernandez (Florida Gators)
WR: A.J. Green (Georgia Bulldogs)
WR: Brandon LaFell (LSU Tigers)

Defense

DE: Cliff Matthews (South Carolina Gamecocks)
DE: Carlos Dunlap (Florida Gators)
DT: Terrence Cody (Alabama Crimson Tide)
DT: Malcolm Sheppard (Arkansas Razorbacks)
LB: Eric Norwood (South Carolina Gamecocks)
LB: Rolando McClain (Alabama Crimson Tide)
LB: Rennie Curran (Georgia Bulldogs)
CB: Javier Arenas (Alabama Crimson Tide)
CB: Trevard Lindley (Kentucky Wildcats)
S: Eric Berry (Tennessee Volunteers)
S: Joe Haden (Florida Gators)

Special Teams

PK: Blair Walsh (Georgia Bulldogs)
P: Drew Butler (Georgia Bulldogs)
RS: Javier Arenas (Alabama Crimson Tide)

Gamecocks Archie Out for the Year

News broke today that Dominique Archie will have season ending knee surgery. This comes as a surprise as it was originally diagnosed as just a knee sprain. This also brings up some questions as to weather he will pursue a medical hardship for a 6th season of eligibility. Or will Archie just try to get the knee back to playing shape and try the European market.

After the lose to Wofford on Saturday night Carolina is in need of a player that can step up and fill Archie’s shoes.  Archie averaged 14.4 points and 6.0 rebounds in five games played this season. He is the most versatile player on the Gamecocks roster and he will be a big loss to the team. There is no one player on the team that can rebound, shoot and score the way Archie did prior to his injury. The Gamecocks have not been the same since they lost him.  Hopefully this will motivate some of the younger guys to play hard and make the most of the opportunity to have increased playing time.

Only time will tell what happens this season but all is not lost......or with the injury is the season lost?

Gamecocks Have NO Business Losing to Terriers

First let me say congrats to Wofford. 
They outplayed the South Carolina Men's Basketball team especially down the stretch.  They outrebounded Carolina and got to the charity stripe more often.  Basically it boiled down to the fact that the Terriers came to play and SC didn't bring the energy needed to overcome a good Southern Conference team in Benjamin Johnson Arena.

Wofford earns first victory against South Carolina since 1939 by the score of 68-61.  Wofford (6-6) played close the whole way, never trailed by more than four points, and surged ahead for good with about 10 minutes remaining. The Terriers held the Gamecocks without a field goal on seven straight possessions down the stretch to pull away.  Wofford outrebounded South Carolina, 43-33, and it was 22-11 on the offensive end. 
Carolina could not muster up enough fight to do the little things to get the edge on Wofford.  South Carolina had only three field goals (on nine tries) on its final 18 possessions. One of the buckets was a meaningless 3-pointer in the final seconds by Devan Downey, who led the Gamecocks with 17 points but shot only 5-for-14, including 1-for-5 on 3-pointers, and had five turnovers compared to just one assist.

My hope is that Carolina learns from this and don't blame the loss on being down two starters.  Losing a game like this is not what we want to see every again.  Learn that there are no easy games.  Learn that you have to come hungry for a win every game.  Learn that you must do the little things like box out, dive for the loose balls and make the extra pass. 

I ask that the team look in the mirror and remember how a loss like this tastes.  Move on and don't let this hurt worse come Monday night vs Furman.  Realize that now there is work to do to get in the "Big Dance" and get to work.