USC cut off at the passBy Gene Sapakoff (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Friday, September 5, 2008
 NASHVILLE, TENN. — A group of five garnet-clad South Carolina Gamecock football fans stepped into a crosswalk on West End Avenue on a sunny Thursday and between a Marriott hotel and Borders bookstore got an ear blast from a passing motorist. "You're gonna lose!" the guy screamed. "Spurrier ain't got it anymore." The smirks said it all. It was as if someone tried to convince the visitors from the Palmetto State pizza was a fad. Look who's confident now, after Vanderbilt's 24-17 upset of No. 24 South Carolina. They were celebrating at Vanderbilt Stadium, and probably scratching their heads a bit Thursday night throughout Southeastern Conference precincts. Who would have thought at this stage in Steve Spurrier's Gamecock tenure — three seasons plus two games — there wouldn't be a quarterback capable of simply winning ugly at Vanderbilt, the SEC's traditional doormat? Spurrier is partly a victim of his own innovative success at Florida, expected to wave his visor and magically produce touchdown ball plays. Things have changed. Better athletes play defense, partly because Spurrier forced strategists to adjust. Of course, losing NFL-bound receiver Kenny McKinley to a leg injury in the first quarter was a huge loss. Still, Vanderbilt head coach Bobby Johnson had more problems and less talent. Spurrier shouldn't lose to Vanderbilt two seasons in a row. Defense worthy A quarterback-coaching expert who lives vicariously through his passers should have better passing and pass protection. The 17-6 setback in Columbia last year cost South Carolina a bowl game. This year, No. 2 Georgia is next on the schedule followed by a bunch of other opponents considered a lot better than Vanderbilt. Eventually, maybe sophomore Chris Smelley will draw on his Vanderbilt start and steadily improve, or maybe redshirt freshman Stephen Garcia will emerge over the next few weeks. It won't take the second coming of Peyton Manning, or even Phil Petty. Because South Carolina has a defense good enough to hide shaky play from inexperienced quarterbacks, almost 180 degrees opposite the fancy passing attacks Spurrier made famous throughout the South and beyond. It's a tough defense. Swarming, deep and smart. A group of talented players who underachieved in 2007 is ideally combined with new defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson, well known for having done good things in the same job at Alabama, Clemson and Mississippi State while mixing in a head coaching stop at The Citadel. The Streak It appeared as if the Gamecocks set an early tone with a textbook backfield wallop by roving "Spur" outside linebacker Darian Stewart in the first quarter. The force separated tailback Gaston Miller from the football. Stewart recovered to set up South Carolina's first touchdown. But the Gamecocks could manage only one more touchdown in the last three quarters. Two members of the ESPN broadcast crew, analyst and former quarterback Jesse Palmer and sideline reporter Erin Andrews, were Florida students when Spurrier was the Gators' head coach. As students, they never saw him lose to Vanderbilt. After the game, a fan wearing the Denver Broncos' No. 6 jersey of former Vanderbilt star quarterback Jay Cutler paraded through a row of Gamecock fans, his index fingers stretched to the sky. "The streak continues," he said. Maybe South Carolina will have a quarterback ready for the 2009 rematch. Reach Gene Sapakoff at gsapakoff@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 9 comment(s)
Posted by CharlestonJim on September 5, 2008 at 2:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
For the USC fans who mocked Clemson last week, this is o so much worse. I mocked Clemson too, alot. It was funny to me. I graduated from USC in the late 90's. This game, which I did not watch, is funny as well (I am not a football guy). Why? People care to much about this stuff.
I am a HUGE baseball fan, USC and St. Louis Cardinals. I was 7 when STL won the series in 82 and I jumped on the band wagon. I never got off of the wagon either. I cried like a little girl in 85 and 87 (10 and 12) when they lost the series. 85 really hurt. Bad, esp game 6. It might have been my the worst hurt of my childhood. I travel to games even now, I live STL baseball. I really never thought STL would win a series again with me as an adult.
"We" did in 2006. It was great. Really.
But over time, it faded away. The next morning there was traffic going to the fair. I had a great time with great friends that day with my STL hat on. I ordered 100's of dollars in gear and DVDs. I still wear and watch much of it. A few days later it rained. Soon it was thanksgiving. I would notice I was having a bad day every now and then. Soon it was Christmas. I started looking forward to spring training as always. Spring training?
See, it wears off. Your life doesn't get better. You get sick... your dog won't pee fast enough when it is cold.... your family may still have problems with health, grades, their friends, etc. You will have problems. Yes... even if USC wins an nat champ, it will not cure all evil. Look at Clemson. Those people were HURTING this weekend. Their nat champ seemed like decades ago... because it was.
Understand this USC fans. Winning is great. It warms the soul. You will remember it forever. But the pain in trival matters such as this is worse the the joy winning brings. You think after the BAMA game CU people were like "this doesnt hurt because of 80" (or 81, i dont know). Nope. It just hurt.
Seasons change, and so do players. You are basically cheering for laundry (jerseys). The players don't care about you. Trust me on that one. They care about fame, trim, and money. Notice "the loyal USC fan base" does not appear in the top 3, or top 100. So lineup with your money. Keep that SUV so you can tailgate 6 times a year. Give give give, while it takes takes takes. Enjoy the pain.
I still watch baseball, alot. I just dont sweat out the April 11th games vs Pitt like i used too. I don't sweat any of them out. I do enjoy the sport though. Enjoyment - the pain = content.
Isn't there something else we could all be doing?
After all, everyone who has ever lived has died. Ever hear someone on their death bed say "if only I had given more money to the gamecock club (or iptay)". You can't take wins over Vandy with you after that. Use this 4-8 season to look at what really matters. The UGA people will pay over face for tickets Saturday. You really want to go sit in 95 degree heat for the 4 hour CBS tv game to watch that.
I don't.
Posted by bigriver1 on September 5, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Those Vandy fans are right spurrier does not have it anymore. LOL. Lose to Vandy 2 years running! LOL. Like I said those qbs would not start at Slippery Rock! LOL.
Posted by vern on September 5, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sigh! Who's the sorriest team in the league now?
Posted by bigriver1 on September 5, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dont play DUKE they own sc also!!! Spurrier knew better than to come to sc, now he will always be remembered as a loser. this is his fourth year and his team stinks! LOl. 4-8, 2-6 no bowl AGAIN!
Posted by JRob on September 5, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Which 2 SEC teams will SC beat? Kentucky and Arkansas?
Posted by bigriver1 on September 5, 2008 at 10:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Even I give them the benifit of doubt. They could be 0-8! lamecocks need to listen, I called the Vandy game! Here it is early.
GA 34
sc 0
Posted by NativeSC on September 5, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sapakoff is a hack. What a pathetic excuse for a sports editor. Talking all kinds of sh*t about the Taters pre-season, not one word out of that Tammy's butt kissing mouth of yours after that drumming they got last weekend. Get a new picture, you tool. The Gamecocks suck, but not as much GameCOCK as you do. You and Bigdouche know about the same amount when it comes to football. Go Citadel on Saturday. Then you can go give Tammy a backrub while he calls diddy and some high school coaches to get advice. As for you bigdouche, keep running your mouth you Okie dirtball. We need the comedy with the storm coming.
Posted by Rebel_Yell on September 5, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sappy still sucks! He lives in a small house in Mt P and thinks people repect him for writing BS compositions that a 3rd grader could write. The 12-0 genius. He still can't write about his foot that's still in his mouth from that laughable prediction. So what if Vandy wins two years in a row against SCar; Ga will be in a similar position when SCar beats them two years in a row next week. The SEC is tough from top to bottom and Sappy can't seem to get his hairy palms around the SEC's parity. Go cocks!!!!!!! and Go Citadel!!!!!! I don't sweat you 12-0 tiggers. No one does! Vandy is good. Sappy still needs to call some good sportwriters to find out why he sucks. What a tool -- I just put in a subscription to The State paper because of this biased moron--no one wants to read his anti-Scar blog writing.
Posted by youmanyo on September 6, 2008 at 6:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Take your meds redneck_yelp.