Gamecock Quote of the Day

ESPN's Chris Low in rating his top 12 list of his favorite SEC Stadiums, which has Williams-Brice at #6, says this about USC Football on gameday -

"One of the most underrated game-day experiences in college football.
Gotta love the Cockabooses."

USC RB Jarvis Giles is a "sleeper"

According to Steven Lassan of AthlonSports.com, the University of South Carolina Gamecocks have a "sleeper" on their hands at the running back postion.

No not Ben Axon, Eric Baker, Brian Maddox or Kenny Miles but it is J Giles who makes his list of 2009 Sleeper Candidates.

Here is what he writes---

Jarvis Giles, South Carolina - The Gamecocks cannot afford a repeat of last season, when they finished a dismal 112th in the nation in rushing offense. Giles is a promising true freshman, but has to compete for time with Eric Baker and Brian Maddox, along with getting improved play from the offensive line. Giles should be one of the top freshman contributors this season and a solid keeper league option.

Love it - Lane Kiffin Show - SEC East Preview

You may remember are first post involving the Lane Kiffin show - HERE - well below is the SEC East Preview.

Here is what he says about the Gamecocks ---

"I am going to send those gas pumping morons back to Columbia in a greasy KFC bucket. Their coach needs to recognize that I am now the coach with the biggest mouth in this conference. I am going to teach them real lesson, just wait and see...."

Pumped about USC Coach Eric Wolford

This off season has hads its storylines from recruiting to arrests to prepartion for next year. I have enjoyed the updates and storys I read about USC's Eric Wolford, the new offensive line coach/run game coordinator.

Here is a good story about him - HERE - from thebigspur.com. But here are the quotes I love as LOHD for about 3 years now has been pleading that the biggest issue for the USC football team is it does not have the "fire in the belly." Before I get to the quotes, you may be thinking what is "fire in the belly" and no it is not bad taco bell. It is the hunger to win, to squash your opponent to go out there for the entire game/season and prove to the world why you are a gamecock. I think you get the picture basically it is about closing and doing your job at a high level with intensity. We have been lacking this desire over the last few years, I mean go to #6 in the polls to not making a bowl....I will stop there.

Alright back to the quotes from USC's Wolford --

• "I'm trying to get those guys to understand it's a 24-hour commitment not just a two hour commitment each day.”
• "If you're willing to meet me half way you will be successful. I think we might have some freshman come in and take somebody's job this year.”

I love his response to this question...Will the offensive line be tougher in 2009?

“I hope so. We have to play harder and be more physical and tenacious. Those are the things I expect to see. Spring was a filling out process for the guys to see what I was like and what I wanted. As a player you have to be willing to be coached. Our job is to take them where they can't take their self. When we get into fall we're going to finish this deal up and go up there and I expect guys to play with their hair on fire.”

I really think he along with the entire coaching staff is getting some of these boys in line and making it clear to them what it takes to play in the SEC. LOHD is a big fan of Coach Wolford and the other new coaches - Craig Fitzgerald ,Jay Graham ,Johnson Hunter ,G.A. Mangus and Lorenzo Ward . We love the new energy and hope it translates to the field.

Former Gamecock Brinkley signs with Vikings

The Vikings have have signed former gamecock linebacker Jasper Brinkley according to the Minnesota Vikings website. No terms were released.

Brinkley, started 29 of 30 games at South Carolina. He finished his career with 193 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, 20.5 tackles for a loss and three interceptions.

Congrats! HERE is a video to watch of the former gamecock.

USC Baseball OF Jackie Bradley, Jr. Honored

Congrats to South Carolina outfielder Jackie Bradley, Jr. , who has been named to the Baseball America 2009 Freshman All-American Team.

Bradley also received Freshman All-America honors from both Collegiate Baseball and the NCBWA. The Gamecock outfielder is competing this summer in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Hyannis Mets along with teammate Jay Brown. Whit Merrifield and Parker Bangs are also on the Cape playing for the Chatham A's.

MORE HERE

LOHD Reports another OL has committed to USC

LOHD beat writer Big Angry has reported that Havelock (N.C.) High School's Corey Robinson became the fifth lineman to commit to the gamecocks today.

He had offers from Duke, ECU, UNC and NCSU but USC Coach Brad Lawing reeled him by selling the "potential" to play early scenario.

More to come....

Update - Rivals.com is now reporting that Robinson gave his verbal to USC today. And Scout.com has a breakdown of this recurit HERE.

Team USA 78 France 0

The little noticed Junior World Championship of Football has started over the weekend. Team USA, featuring future South Carolina Gamecock Chris Payne, raced out to a 37-0 halftime lead and crushed France 78-0. Payne, who went to Columbia High and will prep at Fork Union in the fall, led the defense with 8 tackles, including a sack, and a punt return for 11 yards.

Full stats here.

How dominating was the game? Even more dominating than the 78-0 score sounds, if that's possible. France gained a total of 7 yards ... for the game. The USA averaged 10 per play en route to amassing 610 total yards. Team France ran 47 plays. That comes out to 0.1489 yards per play or just over 5 inches. At the rate the French were piling up yards they would have to run 671 plays to go the length of the field. Based on this weekend's game that would take them, roughly, 14.3 games, longer than most leagues' seasons.

The Americans are back in action Wednesday 7 pm against Mexico, 41-0 winners over Sweden.
-Cleveland Plain Dealer Recap
-The Sporting Blog

-Roster
-Webcast of the game, here
-Photo from Rivals

LOHD Breaking news - Alshon Jeffery is in

LOHD breaking news…..This just in.....LOHD reporter Big Angry just emailed Moose and said that early reports are saying that USC WR recruit Alshon Jeffery has qualified and will be taking summer 2 classes at USC. Seems he made the grade....

Now let’s just hope he can step up and be the go to receiver the USC Gamecocks need him to be!