Spurrier admires fan fervor

COLUMBIA — Preseason excitement among the fans was something Steve Spurrier took for granted when he was coaching and winning championships at Florida. Since coming to South Carolina, it's something he's come to admire.

"I really believe our team will be pumped up and eager to play our best Thursday; I know our fans are," Spurrier said Sunday in preparation for this week's nationally televised season opener against N.C. State. "I've grown to really appreciate the Carolina football fans.

"They get tremendously excited this time of year. The reason is, they have hope that maybe something really good can happen this year."

For those keeping score at home, this marks the 115th season of hope for Gamecocks football and the latest in a long line of "wait until next years" by the USC fans.

But Spurrier, like many who have coached here, has great respect for the legions in garnet and black who faithfully fill Williams-Brice Stadium each season.

"Hopefully we've got a team that can give them hope and then give the results," he said.

Careless mistakes

Going into his fourth season as savior, Spurrier (21-16) still has time on his side, even if he isn't exactly riding high at the moment.

Last year's 6-1 start gave fans plenty of hope and a top-10 ranking, but the Gamecocks lost their last five games and finished out of the bowl picture.

Unfortunately, this has been the norm for a program that can't seem to fight its way out from under the formidable shadow of other big Southeastern Conference neighbors like Tennessee, Georgia and Florida.

Granted, Spurrier's teams have beaten each of those teams in his first three seasons in Columbia. The Gamecocks, however, just can't seem to beat them in the same year.

One reason has been talent, a fact of life that Spurrier has upgraded since coming to USC. Another reason has been inconsistency, something that still torments the famous coach.

"Time can only tell if we'll be a different team than the three years since we've been here," Spurrier said. "We've played fairly well at times. But we haven't played many games extremely well from start to finish.

"We need to be more disciplined with fewer careless mistakes. It's very disappointing when you give games away because you're careless."

Unending demand

Disappointing, yes.

Discouraging, apparently not.

Despite ever-rising ticket prices, the demand for Gamecocks football seems unending. The 80,000-seat, double-decked stadium is consistently sold out and season ticket holders make up 75 percent of the crowd.

These passionate people pay no heed to the fact that the school has a losing record in football (521-523-44) and has won only one championship (1969 ACC) in its history.

Those things have no bearing on the present, or at least the preseason.

USC fans are, as usual, excited about the possibilities and the fact that Spurrier is encouraged with the progress.

"We have more athletes ready to play than any of the four years I've been here," the coach said. "We're trying not to talk like we're going to tear 'em up (like he did last year). We don't know what's going to happen. But we do have better athletes as far as size, speed and strength."

That, fans believe, will lead to something better than last year's 6-6 finish.

And so does Spurrier, who is starting to feel the pain of USC's faithful fans.

"We do have hope that good things are going to happen this year," Spurrier said. "We're going to try our best that a lot of good things will happen for the Carolina Gamecocks, our fans, our university and everyone involved with University of South Carolina football."

Maybe this year, is next year.

At USC, there's always hope.

Reach Ken Burger at 937-5598 or kburger@postandcourier.com.