The Gamecock Fan's Rooting Guide: Week 3
by Connor Tapp on Sep 15, 2011 7:48 PM EDT
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PrintRemember when life was simple and South Carolina was happy to go 6-5 and lose a third tier bowl game? Back then the average Gamecock fan's enjoyment of SEC football wasn't clouded by silly ideas that the football team might challenge Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia for the SEC East. Saturdays used to be as simple as watching the Gamecocks lose to Ole Miss during the noon Jefferson Pilot broadcast, hitting the message boards for an hour or two to have a heated discussion about the way Dondrial Pinkins doesn't grip the ball on the laces, and then just sitting back and relaxing while the real SEC teams play without feeling emotionally connected to the outcome.
But the modern Gamecock fan with Sugar Bowl-sized ambitions would be well advised to root strategically.
Clearly, your decision-making skills are impaired, evidenced by the fact that at some point you made the decision to be a Gamecock fan, so I've taken the liberty of deciding who you should root for in week three.
Louisiana State Tigers @ Mississippi State Bulldogs
The Gamecocks' main interest in this game is that they play Dan Mullen's squad later this season. But if you're thinking big picture, continuing to have two SEC teams in the top three is good for the league, and the Bulldogs are currently challenging for the spot in the SEC pecking order that South Carolina wrestled away from Georgia last year. Look, Mississippi State is one of the teams I least dislike in the SEC West, but they need to be made aware that you have to earn your way out of the SEC cellar, matching each Phil Petty-sized step forward with a Corey Jenkins-sized step back.
Who to root for: LSU
Tennessee Volunteers @ Florida Gators
As much as I'd like to see the league step on the neck of the wounded Tennessee football program and not let up until they realize that opportunity is nowhere and give up altogether, South Carolina's chances of winning the SEC East would get a big boost if the volunteers upset the Gators in The Swamp. With probable losses against Georgia, LSU, Alabama, and Arkansas, Tennessee's schedule is too difficult for them to be a factor in the East, no matter how improved they may be. Florida, on the other hand, only seems sure to lose to Alabama and LSU, with a game at Jordan-Hare and the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail party looking like toss-ups.
Who to root for: Tennessee
Ole Miss Black Bears @ Vanderbilt Commodores
Awww, this is SO CUTE. They're letting them wear helmets and keeping score just like they do in real games!
Who to root for: Vanderbilt
Auburn Tigers @ Clemson Tigers
Oy. I hate the idea of either of these programs getting off to a 3-0 start.
Who to root for: Natural disaster in which Death Valley sinks into the Earth's core.
Louisville Cardinals @ Kentucky Wildcats
(See Ole Miss @ Vanderbilt)
Who to root for: Kentucky. This way, it will be marginally less embarrassing when Morgan Newton discovers his inner five star recruit and hangs 500 yards on the Gamecocks.
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Counterpoint!
Root for Auburn not a Natural Disaster. While a huge crater at Death Valley would be emotionally satisfying, we still owe both the Plains Tigers and the Lake Tigers a beat-down at Williams-Brice, plus there is the whole “SEC v. ACC” thing that is one of our main selling points in cross-recruiting with CU. From a strategery standpoint – is to have the Auburn edge Clemson (preserving SEC superiority), and then us beat the snot out of both. Added bonus – Aubie would be ranked when they come to W-B, so that revenge will be that much sweeter.
Root for Louisville not Kentucky. We also owe UK a revenge-whuppin’. Whether the ‘Cats win or lose to Louisville (who did not look particularly sharp against Florida International) I think we smash ’em at WB: i haven’t felt so confident against Kentucky in literally years; plus the whole SEC thing. Lose to the Big East? Too horrible to contemplate. Which is exactly what I want for the ’Cats. To the cellar with ’ye.
Root for Florida, not Tennessee Both teams scare me a bit. I’d rather UF have the upper hand because we get the Gators at home later on while we have to travel to Knoxville for the Vols. Taking on a confident Tyler Bray at Neyland for the SEC East – the way our secondary has been playing – is a bit scary. I’m hoping UGA-UT-UF all beat up each other so that we can withstand one conference loss and still be SECe Champs.
Root for Ole Miss, not Vandy Do we seriously want an undfefeated Vandy coming to WB while we’re ranked # 6 again? Natch. Plus – don’t want to see the Right Rev Houston Nutt get fired. How boring would that be? Remember, Vandy is cross-recruiting with us now.
Here's a health, Carolina, forever to thee! UNIVERSITAS CAROLIN MERID. 1801 Emollit mores nec sinit esse feros (Ovid)
Yeah, I agree with a lot of this.
First of all, no doubt I want Aubie to beat Clemson. Case closed.
And I’m beginning to wonder if UT may be just as much of a threat as Florida in the East. We’ll get a better idea today, but UT looks like a dangerous team right now, or at least a team you don’t want to get in a shootout with. Plus, we have to play UT on the road, Florida at home. I don’t see it as being unlikely at all for us to lose to UT and beat Florida—and that tiebreaker may be all UT needs if the Vols go on a run.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog by and for Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Sep 17, 2011 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions
One disagreement One thought
I am pulling for Florida. We have a better chance of beating Florida at home than we do beating Tennessee at Neyland Stadium.
Second, I hate Clemsux and want them to lose all the time BUT… if Clemsux wins all their games it makes our win against them in November much better. However, they are from South Carolina and I want the State of South Carolina to shine at all times. Then again Auburn is in the SEC. So when it comes down to it, my grandfather did go to Clemsux so there ya go!
Agreed about Florida-UT.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog by and for Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Sep 17, 2011 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm also worried about UT, but...
there’s a decent chance that they lose 4 games in the East, not counting their game against us. With Florida, there’s almost no chance they lose 4 games in the East.
I'm don't know. If Florida loses today, I'm willing to bet they do lose four. They've both got tough schedules.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog by and for Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Sep 17, 2011 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I can see that.
But then again if Florida loses today, then they aren’t as good as we thought they were going into the day, so their chances against Auburn and Georgia have to be downgraded.
As it stands though, I think they win at least one of those games.
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