Crimson Tide v Gamecocks Post-Game Reflections

Again, we here at LOHD like to wait at least a day to let the win or loss soak in before giving some feedback on the past game.

I is amazing about the loss to Bama is you will rarely see a team win the turnover battle, time of possession battle and field position battle and still lose by 2 TDs. You can’t create 4 turnovers and score zero points off those turnovers and still expect to win. The Gamecocks had opportunities to put Bama away time and time again and couldn’t capitalize.  We had great chance but just could not pull it out.

The Gamecocks were just overmatched at the point of attack. South Carolina did a good job hanging in there for much of the game but ultimately the battle in the trenches simply proved too much. That said, give USC a lot of credit for hanging tough.  BUT "hanging tough" does not get you much - just look at the New Kids on the Block.

LOHD "Hot Dog Hero" of the game
LB Shaq Wilson -- Since moving into the starting lineup in place of injured Rodney Paulk, Wilson leading up to this last game had been criticized for poor tackling and decisions, but the sophomore was solid against the Crimson Tide. His 11 tackles tied S Chris Culliver for team-high honors. Wilson added 1 1/2 tackles for loss and an interception during the best performance of his career.

Chew on this....

• The Gamecock defense finished the game with four turnovers, doubling Alabama’s season total.
• The 20-point output for the Tide was their lowest of the season.
• Alabama finished with only 92 yards receiving – the second-lowest output for an opposing team against the Gamecocks this year.

3 Areas to Focus on in Practice from the LOHD Coaching Box

• The offensive line, which has been shuffled nearly every game this season, was overmatched against Alabama's front. QB Stephen Garcia was under constant pressure and was sacked five times.  I know it is a rotating line-up from week to week and "who is on first" but somehow this group needs to man up going forward.
• The running game, which ranked dead last in the SEC the past two seasons, is improved but still is in need of being a constant threat. Carolina managed only 64 yards on the ground, but that's against the top-ranked defense in the nation.  Running the ball has to get better.  I know Bama had a great D but I want to see a better running attack...maybe this goes back to point #1.
• Play Calling in the Red Zone, I love ya Spurrier and you are smarter than me in this category but seriously - why so many fade routes after they were not working?  Something tells me this guy does not take "no" very good.

Next up....
#23 South Carolina (5-2, 2-2 SEC) hosts Vanderbilt (2-5, 0-4) on Saturday.

UK Wildcats v USC Gamecocks Post-Game Reflections

I know I am a tad bit late on recapping the game as most beat writers and blogs beat us to it but this is a game that I need to sit on and think about.  Due to the fact - well, we were some what lucky to win.  Our defense did not play up to their potential versus UK.  For the second week in a row, our defense did not get a sack.  That will not help our cause this week vs 'Bama.  Thank god for a good display by our offense in mixing in the run and the pass.  Garcia did well - Over the last two games, Garcia is 29-of-42 passing (69.0 percent) for 365 yards and five touchdowns. His interception on Saturday was the first in 16 quarters. Nevertheless, he had a 189.01 quarterback rating against the Wildcats, his highest of the season.  Great play by Alshon but sore thumb on offense was our line play as it was not that great.  Oh and don't forget Chris Culliver who did a excellent job on special teams and put his offensive partners in good position.

I am certainly gald we won but know this week in practice has to be a great one.  The gamecocks have to play just about perfect vs Alabama come Saturday.  Our young team is going to have to step up big in front of a rowdy crowd.  Both sides of the ball have to bring their A+ game to the field and execute.  I will get to my preview later and keys later but know this...USC line play on both sides of the ball has to get better or it could be a long trip home from Alabama!

LOHD "Hot Dog Hero" of the game
WR Alshon Jeffery -- He caught seven passes for 138 yards and three touchdowns. Jeffery, a 6-foot-3, 217-pound freshman, had just 5 catches coming into the game, but seemed to develop some chemistry with Garcia due to some undersized corners.  For Jeffrey, the heralded true freshman from Saint Matthews, S.C., it was a coming-out party. His second touchdown was a thrilling, one-handed, over-the-shoulder ESPN highlight reel grab.  Jeffrey – LOHD fans will recall – was the subject of a Youtube 'Lane Kiffin Show' spoof after he chose the Gamecocks over the Vols......Something tells me pumping gas is not in this kids future.

Runner-up was RB Kenny Miles, who is emerging as the Gamecocks' top back. The redshirt freshman carried the ball 17 times for 100 yards against Kentucky. Fellow backs Jarvis Giles and Bryan Maddux had just three and two carries, respectively.

Chew on this....
From 2006-08, South Carolina is 15-5 in games played prior to October 15.  Add the 2009 totals to the mix and USC is 20-6.

Post October 15?  Over the last three years, the Gamecocks have posted a gaudy 6-12 mark in games played after October 15, and a 2-9 record over the past two seasons. I bring this up not to force you to slam your head against the nearby wall but to make a point that there is still tons of work to do for these 2009 gamecocks. They travel to Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa this week. Then the Gamecocks host Vanderbilt at 7pm on ESPNU, oh, and this is a Vandy team that has beaten SC twice in a row.From there they go on the road against Tennessee and Arkansas. Then back to Columbia to round out the season vs. No. 1 Florida and arch-rival Clemson.

Bartender, I will take another.....

3 Areas to Focus on in Practice from the LOHD Coaching Box

• Line Play - must win some battles in the trenches, time to get angry boys and smack people around as Bama has big boys that will eat you up front on both sides of the ball
• Spreading the ball amongst the recieving corp -  Bama knows Alshon and Alshon will not be able to go to the bathroom without a Bama player, let's just say he will be blanketed vs Bama. Somebody has to step up....paging Mr. Saunders and Mr. Barnes.....
• Leadership Time to Step up --- Norwood and others it is time to rally the troops and get them pumped up for what is going to be a great game. UK and Ole Miss showed us some weak spots but the gamecocks must play a "complete game" for 60 mins.  I do not want to hear about young this or injuries....throw that out the window and man up!

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.

LOHD Tourney Winner

Congrats to LOHD's own Big Angry for winning the 3rd annual LOHD NCAA March Madness Tourney conducted through Yahoo! Sports. Here is the run down of the top 3 finishers....

• 1st place goes to - pda+seriously=TICK - with 42 of 63 picks selected correctly for 128 points.
• 2nd place goes to - Odom T-Baggins - with 46 of 63 picks selected correctly for 125 pts.
• 3rd place goes to - JR's Buttf**kin Assassins - with 41 of 63 picks selected correctly for 116 pts. This team is managed by LOHD writer JR .
  

Gamecock Jesus is the man

The man leading the Garnet Army last night.....LOHD has declared that Gamecock Jesus is hereby duly appointed the General of the Garnet Army.

Michael Phelps using bong at South Carolina Party

Puff Puff give....Mike-y Like-y.....

Seems Super Mike was testing his lungs at a USC house party back in November. This was the same time he was spotted at a USC football game.

The winner of a record eight gold medals last summer in Beijing was spotted knocking back shots and chugging beers at a house party at the University of South Carolina in Columbia on Nov. 6, when a partygoer handed him the water pipe etched with red writing. "He grabbed the bong and a lighter and knew exactly what to do," a witness said of the swimming superstar, who was in town visiting a gal pal and South Carolina coed.

Full Story HERE on FoxSports.

what are you doing here?

After winning a couple gold medals in China this summer, Swimming superstar Michael Phelps was in Columbia this past weekend to watch some Gamecock football.

Well our staff asked Michael a couple questions before the game

LOHD: What are you doing here in Columbia?

MP: I enjoy football and watched to see what real football looks like. I had to put up with ACC football growing up and then Michigan football in college. They both suck.

LOHD: What do you think about the women in South Carolina?

MP: They are pretty hot but the dudes are really hot?

LOHD: Say what? Moving on to the next question. What would you give up to meet Steve Spurrier?

MP: Every gold medal

LOHD: Today might be your lucky day. What was the hardest part of winning 8 gold medals?

MP: Wearing a Speedo 8 times.

LOHD: Thanks Michael, and enjoy the game. Go cocks

Don't mess with me

While drinking in charlotte last Friday night, we ran into a brushed up Ric Flair. Granted 10 drunk guys yelling at a ex-professional wrestler is always a good time. Just ask anybody who has ever since Mr. Flair at a Gamecock football game.

To shed some light on why Ric Flair was wearing a nice black eye on Friday, he got into a fist fight with his daughter’s boyfriend in Chapel Hill. The story goes that Ric Daughter’s (Ashley Elizabeth Fliehr) boyfriend ruffed her up, so the good father that he is, went up to Chapel Hill and took care of business. If you happen to see Ric on Saturday at the UGA game, I am sure he will tell you the story if you ask. Just don’t ask him about what he thought of the Vandy game, he about blackened my eye for even bringing it up on Friday night. Luckily I was able to smooth over the situation by giving him JR’s gamecock koozie. In return JR freaking bit me, like a rabid dog, or in some peoples cases a rabid stripper.

Best name in college football

Ok so I will be giving awards out this year on my blog for different things during the season, and this week I will be giving out the "best name in college football."

And the winner is Jim Bob Cooter of the Tennessee Vol's. As a 4th string QB, who will probably never see the field, he has to have something going for him, and it is his name. How could you forget a name like that? If you don't believe me, here is his profile from the UT website.




http://utsports.collegesports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/cooter_jimbob00.html

Congrat's Mr. Cooter