5. South Carolina (10-2, 6-2): Make sure when you look back at South Carolina's season, you realize that the Gamecocks were most certainly not Clemson. They weren't the team that had its defense ranked 59th nationally. All South Carolina could muster was ranking fourth. South Carolina also wasn't the team that was able to keep its starting quarterback and its starting running back all year (that running back being one of the best in the country when he's healthy). They weren't the team that lost three games. And they weren't the team that got blown out to its arch-rival at the end of the regular season.

And, no doubt, South Carolina's defense is the best Clemson will face all season, and no other team even close. Including the bowl game.

"South Carolina has one of the best receivers in the country and one of the best running backs in the country," Rainey said. "And they just signed the top prospect in the nation. Heck yeah, I want to play with those guys and that's very exciting for me. The funny thing is that I play all those positions for my high school team. Now I can go to South Carolina and be a big-play tight end that they don't have to go with Jeffery and Lattimore. I can be that threat. And I will get to go against Clowney every day in practice. I still have a high school season to play, but I can't wait to get to South Carolina." from ESPN

The University of South Carolina will be offering a class called "Lady Gaga and the Sociology of Fame" beginning next spring, taught by an obsessed professor with a Gaga fansite. Finally a college class with so many real world applications.

Landon Powell — who caught the game with regular catcher Kurt Suzuki injured — Kouzmanoff and Ryan Sweeney each singled in runs for the A’s, who added two unearned runs in the fourth after catcher Navarro’s throwing error.

I wanted to share with you some pictures of the football recruiting room and players lounge. The room is about 95% complete and everyone is tremendously excited about it.

Brancheau was rubbing a killer whale named Tilikum after a noontime show when the 12,000-pound animal grabbed her and pulled her in, said Chuck Tompkins, head of animal training at all SeaWorld parks. Park officials say the veteran trainer drowned.

"I didn’t think he was as aggressive in Columbia. But when I say non-aggressive I thought he did a terrific job of incorporating the other guys in the game," Donovan said. [Editorial note: yeah, I think this explains the 13 3FGA against UGA. Whatever Coach Horn may be saying, Devan is running on fumes right now.]

University of South Carolina students interested in joining the Gamecock football squad as walk-on members are invited to attend an orientation meeting on Tuesday, January 19.

Spurrier threw LB Eric Norwood out of a drill for shoving QB Zac Brindise at the end of a play. Norwood returned a few plays later and promptly stripped QB Stephen Garcia. Spurrier said at times it looks like the offensive linemen are afraid to block Norwood.