Garnet And Black Attack

Garcia to start bowl game; changes afoot for coaching staff

2008-11-30T19:24:44Z

Garcia to start bowl game; changes afoot for coaching staff

No surprise about Garcia, of course. I only wish Spurrier could have come to this revelation at halftime against Clemson. Hopefully the extra practices will be beneficial to Garcia.

Reports are also out that Spurrier has fired embattled OL coach John Hunt and that QB coach and recruiting coordinator David Reaves will join Lane Kiffin's staff at Tennessee. The Hunt move is a good one, as we have lacked a solid line during Spurrier's time here. Hard to say how much losing Reaves will hurt us. It will be interesting to see how Spurrier addresses the two holes.

There are also reports that Ellis Johnson is on Mississippi State's coaching search list, although I'd be a little surprised to see him go. First of all, he's stated before that he'd like to retire here. Second of all, you'd think the Bulldogs would go for someone with more head coaching experience. Other than a short and unsuccessful tenure as the head honcho at The Citadel, Johnson is a career assistant.

Reviewing Clemson / Why We Lost and Other Thoughts

2008-11-30T17:23:35Z

First off, let's give credit where credit is due; we may hate Clemson, but you have to admit that they executed and we didn't. I’m not going to spend too much time reviewing this game, because there’s not a whole lot to say other than that we lost because of poor QB play by Chris Smelley. Granted, there were other problems, but QB play was the main one. You could say that the defense didn’t play well, but they actually came out and played hard early and gave us good field position that we couldn’t take advantage of. If we had built a lead, we would have played better defense throughout the game. Our defense basically did the same thing Auburn’s defense did last night in the second half of the Iron Bowl: they wilted under the pressure of having to do everything because the offense was so pitiful. You could say that we never established the run like we should have against a team with a poor run defense, but we actually ran the ball better than we have at other points in the season. With better QB play, we could have had something resembling a balanced offense yesterday. Poor special teams play—particularly, a holding call that gave Clemson a first down on their first punt and took away great field position for us and a blocked punt later—was a big problem, but you have to expect some things like that to happen in poor playing conditions. Plus, would we have done anything to take advantage of the good field position? Probably not. Spurrier pointed out that Jared Cook wasn’t giving a good effort, but can you blame him? Smelley has to be the only QB in the SEC who can consistently overthrow a 6’5 monster like Cook. You could blame Smelley’s play on the rain, but Cullen Harper only had minimal trouble with it.

These issues were all problems, but Smelley was the main one. His performance was truly pitiful, maybe worse than Tommy Beecher’s game earlier in the season against NC State. Smelley overthrew his receivers several times, mainly because was throwing the ball too early and his receivers couldn’t get to it. Some of his passes in traffic were truly perplexing, as there didn’t appear to be anyone on our team in sight to catch the ball. Some of these problems may have been the receivers’ fault for not running routes correctly, but is Smelley so set on getting the ball to a certain place on the field that he isn’t capable of adjusting when a play goes awry?

I defended Spurrier’s decision to go with Smelley based on what I had seen on the field the past couple of weeks, but I’ll now admit that I was wrong. Garcia should have played this game. Even if he had played poorly, he probably wouldn’t have thrown as many picks. One thing you can say for Garcia is that, unlike Smelley, he’s capable of adjusting when there’s no one open, even if that only means scrambling for a two yard gain. His scrambling would have really helped us when the receivers didn’t run routes correctly. And even if we hadn’t won, at least Garcia would have gotten some experience playing a rivalry game. The truly perplexing thing about Spurrier’s coaching yesterday was that he left Smelley in even after it became clear that Smelley was way off his game. In past games, notably NC State and Kentucky, Spurrier has been quick to pull his starter out before it was too late. Why he didn’t do that yesterday was beyond comprehension.

The question now is what this game means for the state of the program. I said before the game that this was a must-win game that would define the Spurrier era thus far. Clemson is down, we had a chance to get to eight wins and finish the year ranked, and we could rake in a good recruiting class with a solid performance. The result? Not only did we lose, but we lost in embarrassing fashion. Winning the bowl game would assuage some of the pain and might net us some momentum going into next year, but beating Clemson was much more important.

In my view, this lost is a serious indictment of the job Spurrier has done here. Should he be on the hot seat? Perhaps, although I’m not exactly ready to see him forced out. By our standards, Spurrier has been fairly successful and deserves some goodwill for that. He hasn’t had a losing record, has beaten Tennessee twice, and is the first Carolina coach to beat Florida in decades. Moreover, next year could be better if Garcia lives up to his potential. We also have a solid recruiting class in the works, although you have to wonder if we’ll retain all of the players we poached from Clemson after Bowden resigned.

Despite those positives, though, the program’s development has stalled significantly after a promising first two years. The fact that the SEC and Clemson are down this year and were ripe for the taking only serves to highlight the lack of development. Moreover, the reasons we haven’t moved forward don’t speak well for Spurrier. We got the few big wins we’ve gained over the past two years with defense. However, Spurrier coaches the offense and leaves the defense to his assistants, so does he deserve the credit for those wins when our offense has gotten progressively worse since the heady days of late 2006? Not really, I would say, although I guess one could make the argument that Spurrier’s name helps us attract talented assistants and recruits that we build the defense around.

Granted, part of the problem with the offense owes to the fact that Spurrier hasn’t yet found a QB worth his salt. Garcia (or even Aramis Hillary) might be that QB next year, so perhaps there’s reason for optimism. Some people have suggested that Spurrier should look into finding a new offensive coordinator, but I don’t think that’s the case, as Spurrier’s offense doesn’t seem to me to be outdated. We had open receivers all day yesterday against Clemson; Smelley just couldn’t get them the ball consistently. Another commonly cited problem is the offensive line, but again, they didn’t play terribly yesterday. We ran the ball better than usual and Smelley had time to throw. Spurrier might do well to consider looking into finding a new line coach, but the problems yesterday all go back to Smelley’s inability to hook up with his receivers. We can hope for better play under center next year.

All of this is to say that Spurrier shouldn’t be forced out right now but should be on the hot seat going into next year. If we can’t get to eight or nine wins next year, then I say it’s time to look into young blood like Mark Dantonio, a Carolina graduate who has Michigan State playing great football this year. If Garcia comes through, though, I see potential for major improvement next year. I should add that Garcia’s training should start right now; if Smelley starts the bowl game, then I’m officially giving up on Spurrier.

Let's hear it Garnet and Black Attack readers. Is Spurrier still the man for the job? How do you feel about the state of the program?

Reasons South Carolina lost to Clemson

2008-11-29T20:19:19Z

Reasons South Carolina lost to Clemson

Chris Smelley
Chris Smelley
Chris Smelley
Third-down defense
Chris Smelley

FIVE REASONS: South Carolina vs. Clemson

2008-11-29T07:21:55Z

Go to the Game Thread to leave your thoughts about the battle of Good vs. Evil and Well-Done Color Scheme vs. Eye-Bleeding Monstrosity.

1. ACC vs. SEC. I kind of made fun of Ron Morris for his picks, but he makes one good point before going round the bend:

Middle-of-the-pack SEC vs. middle-of-the-pack ACC makes for easy pick.

You could argue that there's a gulf of difference between South Carolina's "middle of the pack" (7-4, 4-4 SEC, 6-4 vs. FBS) and The Team from the Upstate's "middle of the pack" (6-5, 4-4 ACC, 4-5 vs. FBS). But that doesn't really matter. Morris is right that South Carolina's .500 record in the SEC is worth more than The Team from the Upstate's .500 mark in the ACC. Every league in America is better than the ACC, with the possible exception of the Big East. South Carolina is better prepared for a big game.

2. Not the DaviSpiller monster you remember. In fact, James Davis and C.J. Spiller have looked downright mortal this year, combining for 110 ypg. Neither has rushed for more than 100 yards in a game since both of them did it against Maryland on Sept. 27. In years past, this was a running back tandem to fret over. But this year, much like the rest of The Team from the Upstate, there's no reason to be concerned about them.

3. Steve Spurrier: Most important game. HBC clearly feels this is a huge match-up for the Gamecocks.

Your in-state rival game is the biggest game of the year unless you're playing for the conference championship. We aren't doing that, so it's our biggest game of the year.

That means the trick plays and offensive scheming will be out in full force. You have to believe that Spurrier will have a few things none of us have seen before ready for the Tiggers. Here's betting they'll work.

4. The South Carolina defense. Even after the disaster in the Swamp, the Gamecocks are the 11th-ranked defense in the nation; the Team from the Upstate ranks 85th in total offense. This could be a fun game for Eric Norwood and Co.

5. One quarterback. I might not think it's the right choice, but at least it's a choice. I would argue that it takes more talented quarterbacks to thrive in a rotation, not less talented signal-callers. But, in any case, Chris Smelley is our quarterback. And to not have a plural in that sentence is a good thing.

1. The passing game. This has less to do with Smelley -- I think he'll be fine -- than with The Team from the Upstate's defense. The Farmers are ranked 5th against the pass and have the nation's 15th-ranked pass efficiency defense. If they manage to pick off a pass or two, Spurrier's promise to stay with Smelley through the entire game might fall by the wayside.

2. History. Let's face it, the Gamecocks haven't exactly had a great deal of success against the Team from the Upstate, going 37-64-4 all time and 8-15-1 away from Columbia. There are more lopsided "rivalries" in college football, but not many. It's time to change that, but until the Gamecocks do, it's something to consider.

3. C.J. Spiller. He and Davis might not be having that much success running the ball, but Spiller is still a talented player (I've always seen him as the better of the two), and he averages 138.9 all-purpose ypg. He catches, he returns, he does a little bit of everything -- meaning he gets plenty of opportunities to defeat us.

4. Rushing offense. Meanwhile, South Carolina's rushing offense is, to say the least, mediocre. Whine all you want about Mike Davis, or about the critcism of Mike Davis, the fact of the matter is that the ground attack isn't much of an attack right now. It's more of a feint. If there's a weakenss in The Team from the Upstate's defense, it's against the running game. Can the Gamecocks take advantage?

5. It's a rivalry. Throw out the records; they don't matter. The Team from the Upstate might not be the better team on paper, but that might not make much difference. And they have some added motivation -- keeping Dabo Swinney and going to a bowl -- the Gamecocks can't match.

PREDICTION: I'd love to say "I told you so," but really I didn't. I just chose the Gamecocks before the season because I never choose The Team from the Upstate to win this game. (It's superstitious, really; if I always choose the Gamecocks to win this game, I can't cause problems by choosing them in a particular year. It makes much more sense in my head.) In any case, this is the perfect set-up for the Gamecocks to win: TTFTU isn't very good this year, there's uncertainty in their future and South Carolina is the better team on paper. Here's hoping they're the better team on the field, as well. South Carolina 24, Clemson 17

Previewing Clemson / Gameday Open Thread

2008-11-29T04:04:47Z

This is how Clemson pays tribute to its father institution, Auburn University. They also pay tribute to LSU by nicknaming their stadium Death Valley. This afternoon, they pay tribute to our defense by losing.

Here we are: the big game against our in-state rivals. The season sure did blow by, didn't it? I've already talked about how much this game means to these two teams, so let's get down to business. These are the three things that need to happen for us to beat the Tigers.

Establish the Run

With rain and poor field conditions likely, we're not going to be able to rely on the pass as much as we usually do. Moreover, you have to think that Steve Spurrier would like to take some of the pressure off mistake-prone Chris Smelley. That means that Mike Davis, Bobby Wallace, Brian Maddox, Stephen Garcia if he plays, and the big guys making the push up front need to pick up some of the slack. Our running game's performance over the course of the season doesn't exactly inspire confidence, but Clemson's questionable defensive front has been horrible this year. To make matters worse for the Tigers, talented DE Ricky Sapp went down with a knee injury against Virginia last week. Even when healthier, the Tigers have given up several big rushing games to their opponents this year. Granted, some of the teams that have had success running the ball against Clemson are teams like Alabama and Florida State that have significantly better running backs and offensive lines than us. Still, I think we have a puncher's chance to taking it to Clemson on the ground. If we can do that, we could score 30+ and run away with the game unless we give up lots of turnovers or special teams scores.

Smart Play from Chris Smelley

If we can run the ball decently, we won't need Smelley to throw for 300 yards to score enough points to win this game. However, he can't kill us by throwing any interceptions, especially deep in our territory. Although I criticized Spurrier earlier in the year for not opening up the playbook with Smelley under center, in this game I really almost want to say that I think we should play it very safe and stick to safe plays like hitch patterns to Kenny McKinley, screen passes to Davis, crossing patterns over the middle to Jared Cook and Weslye Saunders and the like. This is a game our defense can win for us as long as we don't give away too many turnovers. I'm sure we'll have to throw the ball down the field at some point, though, and I hope and pray that Chris will avoid making bad decisions when we do. One thing that works in our favor is that Clemson doesn't have much of a pass rush, especially now that Sapp, their most likely defender to get into the backfield, is out. Like most QBs, Smelley isn't quite such a poor decision maker when he has lots of time, which will hopefully be the case today.

Contain CJ Spiller

James Davis and Cullen Harper are good players, but Spiller is the one that really scares me. Davis, a between the tackles kind of guy, has had trouble over the course of the season because his line isn't getting as much of a push as Clemson would like. Harper and the receivers are very solid, but I expect we'll put a lot of pressure on Harper and limit the effectiveness of Clemson's downfield passing game. In general, I think we will play very well defensively against these dimensions of Clemson's offense. Spiller, however, remains dangerous even without a solid offensive line because of his breakaway speed. The Tigers will try to get Spiller the ball in space by running sweeps and passing him the ball on screen plays, and if our defense doesn't play smart, Spiller could make a couple of big plays and really hurt us. We can't let that happen.

Prediction

Surprising, Ron Morris predicts a 42-6 Carolina victory. I wish I believed him. If we do the three things listed above very well, I think it would be possible for us to win by that kind of margin. However, while I think we'll be successful, we probably won't be 42-6 successful. CJ Spiller will probably have one long run, Smelley will probably throw an interception at some point, we probably won't run for 200 yards. However, if we can run it a little, keep from giving up more than two turnovers (and get a couple of takeaways of our own), and keep Spiller from going nuts, I think we will win this game. My prediction: 27-17 Gamecocks.

Gamecock Man's SEC Picks

2008-11-28T19:28:53Z

It's rivalry week, so there should be some good games this weekend. Expect an upset out of either the Georgia-GA Tech or Auburn-Alabama games. I'm going to keep this pretty brief because I have things to do and still have to write a preview for the Clemson game.

Friday

Mississippi State at Ole Miss

This one is going on right now, and the Rebels are predictably mauling State. Look for a pretty big MOV for Houston Nutt's team, which is red-hot right now.

LSU at Arkansas

This one might be closer than you think because LSU is playing so poorly, but the Hogs are a terrible team and the Tigers should pull out the win late and take home the Golden Boot.

Saturday

Georgia Tech at Georgia

This is my upset pick of the week. Tech is playing well and will beat the disheartened Dawgs.

South Carolina at Clemson

More on this later tonight.

Auburn at Alabama

I wish I could say that Auburn will win here, but Bama is just a much better team this year. The Tigers will keep it closer than most expect, but the Tide will win en route to a beating at the hands of the Gators.

Florida at Florida State

Again, the talent differential is just too big here. FSU might keep it close early, but in the end the Gators will win by 21+.

Kentucky at Tennessee

If Kentucky doesn't win this game, they will never beat the Vols. I think the Cats will pull it out, though.

Vanderbilt at Wake Forest

Ole Miss's victory over LSU last week probably shot Vandy's chance of playing in the Peach Bowl, as LSU is now likely headed to Atlanta. That means that this game isn't quite as significant as it might be, as a win will do little to change the Dores bowl projection. They'd still like a win, though, although I think the Deacons will be too much for them.

Random Clemson Fan Guy on this weekend's game

2008-11-27T05:39:00Z

No, I haven't cleared this with Gamecock Man, so don't blame him...

Anyone who read Cock & Fire will remember Random Clemson Fan Guy (don't know that he had that name at the time), as he was our stand-in for The Team from the Upstate. In any case, with this weekend's game coming up, I decided to ask RCFG to give us his thoughts on the game this weekend. His response follows.

We know how you South Carolina fokes see us! We remember that survey in The Gamecock that said, "Have you ever slept with a cow? What was the Clemsonite's major?"* We seen that, and so I wrote in The Tiger, "Have you ever slept with a rocket physicianist? What was the Carolina-ites major?" Har har har.

And we can read here at Clemson, contrary to what you ~~Uesssee~~ ~~youesssee~~ ~~YouSsee~~ Carolina fans think. We know that the SEC is in a down cycle baby! And we're from the A!!! C!!! C!!! Power conference, h*lls yeah! We don't need your Florida and your Alabama! We got more division champs than we know what to do with!!!

Plus, we have all the motivationalism we need! Six wins and no bowl game - that's screwed up, man. Sure, we played two FCS teams, whatever those are, but - we beat Duke! And N.C. State! And Virginia! We should get to a bowl based on that alone!

Besides, Dabo's the man. He's going to lead us back where we belong!!! PBS title, baby!!! Or PCS, or whatever they call that thing.

IPTAY, losurz!!!!!

*True story. I was on that year's staff.

A Tale of Two Teams: What Clemson-Carolina Means to Both Teams this Year

2008-11-26T23:28:42Z

The Famous 1902 Transparency. Check out Photon Torpedo Tube for a story that should make every Gamecock proud (and every Tiger ashamed).

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Like last year, Carolina and Clemson come into their annual slugfest going into different directions, but both could reverse their paths by winning the game. This time, though, the roles have switched. Last year, the Gamecocks welcomed Clemson to Williams-Brice with the weight of a four game losing streak on their shoulders. Beating Clemson would have been a way to partially remove the taint of the lost dreams of what had been a very promising season. Clemson came to town having had a pretty solid season, although they had lost to Boston College the previous week and lost a bid in the ACC Title Game in the process. Of course, the Tigers won that game on a last second FG, ruining the Gamecocks' season and bolstering their 2008 preseason expectations.

This year, things have gone the other way. The Gamecocks, although hardly world beaters, have generally lived up to expectations. If we win this game and our bowl, we will finish the season ranked for the first time in the Spurrier era. Much like Clemson's win did last year, that will likely set up relatively lofty 2010 expectations for Carolina, who returns a lot of players and has a solid recruiting class in the works. Clemson, meanwhile, has utterly failed to live up to their preseason role as a dark horse national title contender. The Tigers removed their battle captain in the middle of the season, replacing Tommy Bowden with Dabo Swinney. Swinney has Clemson playing better football, but this season has been a rough one for the Tigers, and they desperately want to beat us as a consolation prize.

As it should be in any great rivalry, the implications of this game are huge for both teams. For the Tigers, Saturday brings a chance to redeem a horrible season. A win could also give Dabo Swinney, who seems like a very good coach (certainly better than Bowden) and is very popular with the players, a chance to keep his job. A loss, on the other hand, doesn't bode well for Swinney and will plunge Clemson deeper into the abyss of uncertainty. They could lose disillusioned players to the NFL Draft. They could lose the favor of many in-state recruits. Things could get bad. This is a scenario that I would like to see.

What does this game mean for us? In his fourth year, Steve Spurrier needs this win to give him a chance to have his best year in Columbia. A win, and everything appears to be as it should be. We'll be on our way to the Outback Bowl and have a chance to finish the season ranked. That's a good season considering what happened last year. A loss, though, and the program will appear stagnant. This is especially true considering that this game has never been riper for a Carolina victory. Simply put, this is a must-win game for Steve Spurrier and his Gamecocks. I will be extremely disappointed if we don't win Saturday, and I'm not just talking about the kind of disappointment you always get from losing a game, especially to a hated rival. I'm talking about the kind of disappointment you get when you begin to seriously wonder whether your team is ever going to take the next step or whether 6-6 and 7-5 is just your lot in life. This game is a, maybe the, definitive moment thus far of the Spurrier era.

I'll be back on Friday with a preview of the nuts and bolts of the game. Until then, I want to wish all of you a happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your time with family and friends. Also, do your friend Gamecock Man a favor and pray that I don't burn my turkey.

Poll

Is this the most important game of the Spurrier era?

SEC Power Poll, Week 13: No one is safe -- except Florida, Bama and Georgia (of course)

2008-11-26T06:29:09Z

Thanksgiving Week. What are you going to do?

1. Florida, 141 points (9 first-place votes)

2. Alabama, 135 (3)

3. Georgia, 120

4. Mississippi, 107

5. South Carolina, 91

6. LSU, 87

7 (tie). Vanderbilt, 63

7 (tie). Kentucky, 63

9. Auburn, 47

10. Tennessee, 38

11. Mississippi State, 28

12. Arkansas, 16

Below three, almost everyone moves. Ole Miss zooms to No. 4, South Carolina stays put, LSU falls two, Vanderbilt and Kentucky stand pat though the Wildcats tie the Dores, Auburn escapes the first quartile and Tennessee flips with Arkansas as the Hogs once again grab the lead in the race for the "Worst of the Best" Cup.

Voters?

FLORIDA

Yes, it was just The Citadel, but when's the last time the Gators (or anyone else in the S.E.C., for that matter) hung 70 on someone? The Orange and Blue machine is set on "crush."--Dawg Sports

What did Chris Rainey average per carry against the Citadel? Like 30 yards?--Garnet and Black Attack

Sure it was just the Citadel, but it's impressive the Gators were that sharp against such a weak opponent. May have hands full in Tallahassee with a depleted DL.--The Dead Guy

ALABAMA

After a nice week off, it's time to break Auburn's Iron Bowl streak in emphatic fashion. There's no excuse for not doing so.--Year 2

A lot of people in the vicinity of Tuscaloosa are talking like the Iron Bowl is signed, sealed, and delivered for the Tide. As bad as Auburn has looked this season, I'd advise against that.--Hey Jenny Slater

Only one hurdle remains to the perfect regular season, something even the most die-hard of Tide fans could not have envisioned.--Pelican State Sports

GEORGIA

Given the periodic defensive struggles for UGA in the second half of this season, I'd be scared to death of playing Georgia Tech if I was a Bulldog fan. What they did to Miami was sick.--Year 2

An 8th straight win over Georgia Tech Saturday would help assuage some of the disappointment from this season. But it's hard to be too disappointed in another 10 win season and a top 10 finish.--The Dead Guy

A good team that is largely forgotten.--Pelican State Sports

MISSISSIPPI

If I were a Rebel fan, I'd really be giving the Arkansas people a hard time over the fact that they treated Houston Nutt as badly as, um, Mississippi treated David Cutcliffe. ... Uh, nevermind. Anyway, the Rebs appear to have sewn up a Cotton Bowl berth, making them one of the feel good stories of the season.--Dawg Sports

It's really incredible how far Houston Nutt has brought this team in less than a full season -- as in "four straight losing seasons" to "right back to the Cotton Bowl."--Hey Jenny Slater

Nutt + Talent is a scary combination.--Pelican State Sports

SOUTH CAROLINA

If the Gamecocks beat Clemson, can we give them the ACC title? No one in that conference appears to want it, and they used to be in that league once upon a time.--Year 2

Yet another "better watch out this weekend" team. They've improved a lot the last couple months, but as LSU and Florida showed, they're not good enough to completely take Clemson for granted.--Hey Jenny Slater

Now Spurrier says Clemson is the biggest game of the year, and this year they may actually win it.--Pelican State Sports

LSU

Anyone who blames the Bayou Bengals' woes on their quarterback situation is making the same mistake as the Florida fans who blamed Tim Tebow's sore shoulder for the Gators' loss to the ‘Dawgs in 2007. Signal-callers don't play defense. Unfortunately for L.S.U., neither do the Fighting Tigers.--Dawg Sports

Replacing their stars from last year as well as inexperience at the QB position has dropped LSU from the elite SEC teams. They bowl-bound, but that's about it.--The Dead Guy

Erratic QB play and a general lack of leadership from the seniors has cost the Tigers this season. Still, 8-4 isn't THAT bad.--Orange and Blue Hue

VANDERBILT

You would think the Commodores would get up for a rivalry game, but they appeared to still be hung over from celebrating the bowl berth.--Year 2

What was that all about? You figured, great, we're bowl-eligible, we can just switch on the cruise control between now and the Liberty Bowl?--Hey Jenny Slater

Nobody knows what to make of this anymore.--Red Solo Cup

KENTUCKY

The six wins and bowl bid are nice, but the Wildcats haven't beaten a team that will finish the year with a winning record.--Year 2

Now that the Vols are showing life, can the Cats still end the losing streak?--Garnet and Black Attack

The ‘Cats will try to do what Vandy couldn't -- knock off the worst Tennessee team in school history. If they don't, can you say "Music City Bowl Three-peat"?--The Dead Guy

AUBURN

All right, guys, just how interesting are you prepared to make the Iron Bowl this year?--Hey Jenny Slater

Sheesh! Pre-season, I had the Tigers winning the West. That's the last time I make picks based on which coach has the strongest hair gel. Iron Bowl could get ugly.--Gate 21

A win against Alabama might give Tiger fans something to cheer about in the short term but seriously, where is this program headed?--Orange and Blue Hue

TENNESSEE

Nice win against the Dores, in a season where every win is a "nice win." Can the Orange send the Great Punkin out with a win? He deserves that small courtesy.--Gate 21

21 yds passing? For an entire game? And you won? So the Volunteer Navy runs a Service Academy offense now?--The Dead Guy

As fans, we only wish that other Tennessee *fans* put a little bit less time into trying to ruin TBC's emotional departure.--Loser With Socks

MISSISSIPPI STATE

About every third game they pop their heads up above the ground and come up with some offense. Still don't know how Woody McCorvey has managed to maintain his employment, though.--Hey Jenny Slater

The Bulldogs emerge from the cellar with an offensive explosion against the defenseless Hogs.--The Dead Guy

31 points? Wow, I thought State couldn't score. The Egg Bowl could be interesting.--Red Solo Cup

ARKANSAS

So much for slowly improving. I guess the Hogs have probably met the expectations most had for them -- namely floundering about.--Gate 21

Unfortunately, the Hogs made a bold statement in favor of their "Best of the Worst" cup candidacy.--Razorback Expats

It's been a neck and neck race for worst in the SEC. Hogs ... I think you have won.--Orange and Blue Hue

The National Scene in Review: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

2008-11-26T00:19:34Z

The Good

Oklahoma

What impressive things did the Sooners do this past weekend in Norman? 625 yards of total offense? Check. 35 points in one quarter? Check. An incredible performance at the exact time when the voters are most likely to be swayed? Check. The last point is the most important. Whether they deserve it more than Texas, the Sooners are likely in the driver's seat to the BCS Title Game if they can win out. Voters tend to have a "what have you done for me lately?" attitude, and Oklahoma has done a lot lately.

A related point potentially playing into the Sooners' favor? They'll get another chance at an impressive victory this weekend in Stillwater, whereas voters will not be impressed by a Texas victory over a reeling A&M team. Of course, the downside for Oklahoma is that Oklahoma State would love to knock their rivals off their perch. They're good enough to do it, so don't be surprised if it happens. If it does and Texas and Texas Tech both win, Tech would play in the Big XII title game by virtue of a tiebreaker with the Longhorns.

The Bad

Consistency in the ACC

I know I've harped on this before, but seriously: the ranked teams in this conference change weekly. Getting ranked almost certainly means you're going to be destroyed by an unranked team in your next game. It's ridiculous. The latest victims were Miami and UNC, to Georgia Tech and NC State, respectively.

The question is: are any of these teams any good? The way the conference played in its OOC games against BCS teams earlier in the year would suggest that they're not, but the conference will get a chance to redeem itself this weekend when Clemson, FSU, and Georgia Tech all get chances to prove themselves against OOC in-state rivals.

The Ugly

The Apple Cup

Think the state of your favorite team's rivalry isn't what it used to be? Then think about this: in a battle of previously winless teams, the Huskies completed an ignominious winless season over the weekend, losing to rival Washington State.

Perhaps the most bizarre thing about the Huskies is that someone thinks Looney Les might be their next head coach. We all know Les is a lunatic, but he'd have to be an idiot to take this job. Although who knows? If he loses too many more like he lost last weekend, he might get run out of town by the LSU faithful.

Recruiting Tidbits

2008-11-24T23:30:05Z

South Carolina gained two commitments over the weekend and lost one.

First the good: we picked up DB DJ Swearinger for this year's class and DL Kelcey Quarles for next year's class. Swearinger is a former Vols commit that is backing off due to the coaching situation in Knoxville, while Quarles's is the son of a former Gamecock. Both are very solid players, and Quarles plays a position we'll need more talent at over the next couple of years.

Now the bad: OL Johnnie Farms decommitted and pledged to North Carolina. Why Farms was impressed with the Tar Heels' putrid performance against NC State is beyond me, although I guess I can't blame him if he likes Chapel Hill and the school.

Losing Farms is, to put it lightly, not good. Considering our needs on the offensive line, Farms was possibly the most important recruit of this class. Hopefully we can either sway him back to Columbia before signing day or pick up another quality lineman somewhere.

SEC Power Poll Ballot: Week 13

2008-11-24T17:59:04Z

1. Florida

What did Chris Rainey average per carry against the Citadel? Like 30 yards?

2. Alabama

Need to watch their backs this weekend.

3. Georgia

These guys better REALLY watch their backs this weekend. I think GT might take this one.

About the next three teams: These guys have beaten up on each other and are basically pretty equal. I'm going with Ole Miss at the top because they're really hot right now and LSU last because they're struggling.

4. Ole Miss

One of the league's hottest teams right now. Les Miles must hate Houston Nutt.

5. South Carolina

Need to beat Clemson to finish off a solid season

6. LSU

Jordan Jefferson looks like a nice player. Not much else to say.

7. Vanderbilt

Just when you thought they had gotten it back in gear.

8. Kentucky

Now that the Vols are showing life, can the Cats still end the losing streak?

9. Auburn

One last chance to salvage a forgettable season.

10. Tennessee

Nice win over Vandy.

11. Mississippi State

Coming around just in time to try to give the Rebels a game.

12. Arkansas

Getting your butts kicked by Mississippi State gets you in last place. And here I thought Arky might have a shot at making a bowl.

QB Controversy Part 4: Knock 'Em Dead, Smelley!

2008-11-22T21:44:59Z

This is the final installment of a series on our QB controversy. This time around, at the risk of angering most of Gamecock Nation, Gamecock Man tells the Garcia Evangelicals to put a lid on it and support Chris Smelley.

Let me preface this by saying that I believe Stephen Garcia is our QB of the future. With a dazzling array of physical skills, Garcia has a higher ceiling than Smelley. If he spends his time in the film room and away from Five Points over the off-season, he could become a great QB, perhaps one of the best ever to don a Gamecocks uniform.

That said, based on what we've seen over the past few weeks, Spurrier is right when he says that Garcia is not ready. Chris Smelley, on the other hand and despite his shortcomings, has played with a certain degree of poise over the past few weeks. He may not have Garcia's physical tools, but he more than makes up for that with his mental edge on the freshman.

Is Smelley perfect? No. Does he throw too many interceptions? Yes. Is he less accurate and mobile than Garcia? Yes.

However, other than one or two drives against Tennessee, Garcia has done very little since the second quarter against LSU. For those of you who think Garcia is such a great player, tell me: has Garcia really done anything special other than in the fourth quarter against Kentucky and the second quarter against LSU? And no, UAB does not count. His lack of understanding of Spurrier's offense has been very obvious. Moreover, and contrary to popular belief, he's been sacked quite a few times; his mobility hasn't helped us all that much.

Smelley, on the other hand, has had a handful of periods of good play. He was great against NC State. He threw some bad passes against Vandy, but generally moved the ball fairly well in that game. He was good against UGA. He was a monster against Ole Miss. And since he's begun sharing snaps with Garcia over the past two weeks, he has clearly outperformed his young teammate.

This isn't to say that I'm sure I'm right about this. There are lots of good reasons to go with Garcia. This also isn't to say that I don't want Spurrier to keep Smelley on a short lease against Clemson. Spurrier's decision to pull Chris against Kentucky was a wise one, and if Smelley comes out and struggles against the Tigers, I hope SOS pulls him again. However, Smelley is the right choice to start this game and lead us to a second straight victory in Death Valley.

Poll

Who should start against the Tigers?

QB Controversy Part 3: Clemson's Defense

2008-11-22T03:49:24Z

Fun memories of our last trip to Death Valley.

This post is the third installment in a series on our current QB controversy. Later this weekend I'll have a final post on my own opinion on who should start.

In an effort to consider which QB would be best against our hated rivals, let's take a short look at the Tigers' defense. This is a defense that has typically not performed well against the best competition: they gave up 34 points and 419 yards in their embarrassing loss to Alabama and 41 and 419 again to Florida State. Wake Forest also put up lots of yards against Clemson but didn't score as many points due to turnovers. In other games they've generally played well, but that probably has as much to do with playing in a league full of teams with solid defenses and terrible offenses as it does with actually having a great defense.

The Tigers' weakness appears to be a poor run defense. Bama and FSU both blasted Clemson for over 200 yards on the ground, as did Georgia Tech. Teams like Wake and NC State also had a bit of success running the ball against Clemson.

Does Clemson's weakness against the run mean that Spurrier should play Garcia and take advantage of the freshman's mobility? Perhaps, although it's hard to say. The teams that have had the most success running against Clemson are teams that use traditional offensive attacks and that have big, fast RBs and solid offensive lines. We don't have much data, on the other hand, for how mobile QBs have fared against Clemson. NC State's talented freshman Russell Wilson had some good runs against the Tigers, but he hardly lit up the stat line, compiling a total of 26 yards. Tech's Josh Nesbitt ran for over 70 yards, but Tech runs the triple option and thus cannot be considered representative.

My guess is that Spurrier might call some designed runs if Garcia plays but probably not much more than usual. Other than Tech, teams that have ran well against Clemson do it the old fashioned way, so you can expect Spurrier to put the ball in his RBs' hands and try to establish the run regardless of which QB plays the most. That said, if Clemson's defense favors either QB's style, I would say it favors Garcia's.

Gamecock Man's SEC Picks

2008-11-22T02:24:11Z

Although on the surface this is a relatively uneventful week with many teams idle and no games with major national implications, there are some interesting matchups. The best will be Ole Miss at LSU, where Houston Nutt's surging Rebels will try to knock off a reeling LSU squad. Check out Team Speed Kills for more previews.

Tennessee at Vanderbilt

Before they played Wyoming, I thought the Vols would get it together and win out for their lame duck coach. I was wrong, however, as the Vols proceeded to lose to a terrible team. Vandy, meanwhile, regained its mojo against Kentucky. The Dores played a great game in Lexington, finally winning by force of a strong all-around performance instead of by the miscues of their opponent.

As should be clear, these are two teams heading in different directions. The Vols are in a tailspin, and Vandy wants to improve its bowl chances by getting to seven or eight wins. Last year, the Vols pulled out a close win despite being outplayed, but as they spent all their luck en route to Fulmer's last hurrah in Atlanta, they won't be so fortunate this time around. Dores win this one.

The Citadel at Florida

The only interesting thing about this game is that it will serve as a good measure of how much of a prick Urban Meyer really is. Will he pull Tebow at the end of the first quarter when the score is 35-0 or will Tebow throw a TD pass early in the fourth to make the score 84-3? The truth will probably be somewhere in between, but I'm guessing the it will be closer to the latter than the former.

Arkansas at Mississippi State

Arkansas still has a slim shot at becoming bowl eligible if they can beat the Bulldogs and then LSU next week. Both of these teams are pretty bad, although the Razorbacks, who at least have some semblance of an offense, are probably a little better than State. Still, State has a decent defense and has been a tough out at home, having played other middling teams like Auburn and Kentucky pretty tough. I'm going to go with the Bulldogs in a minor upset.

Ole Miss at LSU

The game is in Baton Rouge and LSU comes in the favorite by a slim margin, but to hear most people talk about it this game is Ole Miss's to lose. The Rebels have played well down the stretch, while the Tigers, although they have a solid record and put a major scare into Bama, have looked very vulnerable. The Tigers D has been gashed a couple of times and QB Jarrett Lee has been a major liability. Moreover, Ole Miss's strong front seven seems to match up well against the Tigers biggest offensive weapon, Charles Scott and the ground game.

Will Jevan Snead lead the Rebels to the upset over one of their biggest rivals? My guess is no. The Tigers played poorly last week against Troy, but this week they won't be caught napping. The potent Ole Miss offense will likely put up lots of yards, but Les Miles has a more talented team and will figure out a way to get it done. LSU wins a nail biter.

Idle: Auburn, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina

QB Controversy Part 2: Defending Chris Smelley

2008-11-21T01:27:12Z

This is the second installment in a series on our QB controversy. Stay tuned tomorrow for a discussion of which QB's style would be better against Clemson's defensive strengths and weaknesses. I plan on wrapping this series up over the weekend with my own take on who should start.

Last time, we took a look at what Stephen Garcia brings to the table. This time, we're going to give Chris Smelley's merits a look. As I said last time, the two have similar stats on the season, but each brings different pluses and minuses to the table.

The most common argument in Smelley's favor is that he, unlike Garcia, knows Spurrier's offense. This one, of course, comes from the horse's mouth itself: Spurrier feels limited with Garcia at the helm because the freshman knows a limited number of plays and often has a lot of trouble understanding what Spurrier is telling him to do during games. The fact that Garcia has been under center during a few busted plays over the last few games would seem to confirm this. Smelley, on the other hand, seems very aware of what SOS wants out of him.

There are, of course, counterarguments to Spurrier's statements. A lot of the pro-Garcia crowd say that Smelley's knowledge doesn't make him any better than Garcia because Garcia has such a huge edge on Smelley in natural ability. That's true to a certain degree: Smelley's weak, inaccurate arm has cost us important yardage a few times when the open receivers have been there and Smelley has seen them. In hindsight, the play against Vanderbilt where Smelley overthrew a wide open Jared Cook who had room to run into the endzone may have cost us that game. On the other hand, Smelley's knowledge has paid dividends at times, which brings us to the next point...

When Smelley plays well, he plays very well. Knowledge combined with execution is a powerful thing, and Smelley showed us why against Ole Miss. Here are Smelley's stats during that game:

C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT
C. Smelley	22/32	327	10.2	3	1

I'll take that line any day of week. Hell, Mack Brown would take that line. Smelley's performance against the Rebels, especially considering that this is probably the one game this year that our offense instead of our defense won for us, was clearly the best performance either QB has put up this year.

The counterargument to this point is that Smelley has generally been an inconsistent performer over the past two years. Last year, he was great against Mississippi State and Kentucky but awful against Vandy and Tennessee, the latter performance prompting Spurrier to put Blake Mitchell back in (for the record, I don't think he ever should have pulled Blake in the first place). This year, Smelley played well against Georgia (that loss will forever lie in Mike Davis's hands...or falling outside his hands and onto the grass, as the case may be) and very well against Ole Miss. However, he played like garbage against Kentucky, prompting Spurrier to put Garcia in to save the day. The pro-Garcia crowd will tell you that we shouldn't put the game in Smelley's hand because he might give the game away if he has a bad day. On the other hand, Garcia has been inconsistent as well, usually failing when opposing defenses key into his game and force him to win with his head.

QB Controversy Part 1: Defending Stephen Garcia

2008-11-20T03:05:09Z

This post is the first installment of a two-three part series on the relative merits of Stephen Garcia and Chris Smelley.

Undoubtedly to the chagrin of many Gamecocks fans, Steve Spurrier is leaning towards Chris Smelley as his starting QB against Clemson. Spurrier claims that he will probably play Smelley most of the game and that while Garcia may come in at times, the freshman is just not ready because of his lack of knowledge of the playbook and tendency to leave the pocket too early. Is SOS making the wrong decision?

Before looking at the advantages and disadvantages of the two signal callers, let's take a look at how the two signal callers have performed over the course of the season. For the year, the two have surprisingly similar statistics. Here they are:

NAME	CMP	ATT	YDS	CMP%	YDS/A	TD	INT	RAT
Chris Smelley	131	224	1531	58.5	6.84	11	11	122.3
Stephen Garcia	56	104	753	53.8	7.24	6	5	124.1

Smelley has played more, hence his greater overall yardage, completions, etc. However, they have similar passer ratings, and Garcia's yardage per attempt stacks up comparably to Smelley's. One difference is that Garcia has a slightly better TD to INT ratio, while Smelley has a better completion percentage. Overall, though, these stats confirm SOS's claim that neither QB has really distinguished himself.

However, is it fair to compare the two for the season and just say they're the same QB? Looking at the issue in other ways, we can see that both have arguments in their favor. Today, we're going to look at arguments in favor of Garcia. Tomorrow, we'll take a look at Smelley's pluses, so stay tuned.

One potential argument for Garcia is that Garcia had played much better than Smelley until Spurrier implemented what has turned out to an ill-advised QB rotation system that negatively affected Garcia's play more than it did Smelley's. In those two games, Garcia posted the following lines:

Arkansas

S. Garcia

4/11

6.5

Florida

S. Garcia

6/13

2.2

Before these two games, Garcia had performed much better, but these numbers brought Garcia's season stats down a good bit. Would Garcia go back to playing like he did in the second half against Kentucky if Spurrier put his confidence in the freshman told him he would let him go the distance? Part of the answer depends on whether or not you agree that the rotation system has confused Garcia, but considering the dismal offensive showing we had against the Gators, it's at the very least fair to say that the rotation system was not the best way to go.

Another argument in favor of Garcia is that Garcia's mobility could add a new dimension to our offense. Considering that Carolina sports an offensive line that blows away like a pile of leaves in the wind, some reasonably think that Garcia's mobility could be useful for us. Moreover, with Garcia under center we could run more options and QB draw plays, which would give opposing defenses more to think about while preparing for us.

Of course, Spurrier has resisted the idea of changing his offensive philosophy, instead insisting that Garcia work on becoming a pocket passer. Therefore, Garcia's mobility has for the most part only worked to our advantage when he has scrambled to escape sacks, and, as Spurrier points out, at times Garcia's tendency to leave the pocket too quickly has worked against us.

Is Spurrier being stubborn by insisting that Garcia learn the Fun-n-Gun instead of installing a simplified passing attack combined with designed runs and option plays? Perhaps. Garcia's future with South Carolina undoubtedly involves learning Spurrier's offense from cover to cover, but since Garcia likely won't be able fully to do that until after the season, one solution to getting the most out of Garcia's skills would be to adapt the offensive gameplan to Garcia's skill set.

Where oh where is the top offensive recruiting?

2008-11-19T13:39:34Z

Three safety recruits and one athlete who will most likley be converted to safety when he arrives at So Car.

These round out the top four recruits. Now I am grateful that they have 4 top end recruits, but why are they for the same position from the same class?

I am very aware of athletes being able to decommit, but come on four safeties. I know they have some mediocre talent at offense coming in, but why are no TOP WR or RB recruits commiting to South Carolina. Is the recruiting staff not going after these guys hard enough? They obviously are going to have great depth at Safety in the future which I am all for, but what about the offense?

In my opinion they need at least two top 150 offensive recruits. Am I the only one who thinks this? Where is the offensive talent? Isn't it the offense that is hurting? Garcia or Smelly, whoever it will be in the future, needs offensive weapons around him.

If South Carolina is going to be successful, they need TOP recruits on both sides of the ball.

Poll

Are you happy with South Carolina's recruiting class so far?

The National Scene in Review: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

2008-11-19T12:00:07Z

The Good

Oregon State

The Beavers didn't look so hot when they opened the year with losses to Stanford and Penn State, the latter a blowout. However, since then they've beaten USC and every other Pac-10 that has stood in their way. Their latest victim was Cal. Now, by virtue of holding a tiebreaker over the Trojans, OSU can secure its first Rose Bowl berth since who knows when by winning out. That would certainly be a job well done for a team that looked to be in a down year.

The Bad

Texas's Coaching Decision

In an effort to keep him out of Auburn, Clemson, or Knoxville, the Texas Longhorns have named defensive coordinator Will Muschamp head-coach-in-waiting. This decision perplexes me. Muschamp is a very good DC, but should a powerhouse like Texas bank on him being a great head coach when they could probably do better? Texas is likely one of the top two or three jobs in the country. It's a great, rich school with a great, rich athletic department located in a killer city. Why should they be afraid of the doing a coaching search when Mack Brown retires? Many of the best coaches in the country--and by that I mean coaches that have proven their greatness as head coaches--would love to lead the Longhorns. I just don't get it--it's one thing when a school like Kentucky does this, but Texas? Really?

The Ugly

The Steve Spurrier Rumors

Like clockwork, around this time of your a rumor leaks that, for whatever reason, Spurrier is going to jump ship for another school or retire. This year, he's going to retire because he's upset that the school won't promise to make his son head coach when he retires. Spurrier claims that the rumors are bogus, which should come as no surprise considering that he said just a week or two ago that he plans on being here for another four to five years. And why wouldn't he? He surely wants to cement his legacy here and, considering that he's increased the talent level with solid recruiting classes, he'll have his best chance to win big over the next few years. Why would he want to give up before getting to enjoy the fruits of the program he's built?

As Joe Person astutely says, the fact that rival schools undoubtedly tell recruits that Spurrier won't be there as their coach if they choose Carolina is one of the main roots of the annual rumors. Still, I find it surprising how quickly the sports media gobbles this stuff up. Don't get me wrong; Spurrier's actions are somewhat difficult to predict, so it would only be a minor surprise if he were to bolt. But, based on what he's been saying, it would still be a surprise, so why do we have to go through the rumor mill every year?

SEC Power Poll, Week 12: Inertia

2008-11-19T06:02:47Z

1. Florida, 188 points (12 first-place votes)

2. Alabama, 180 (4)

3. Georgia, 160

4. LSU, 143

5 (tie). South Carolina, 113.5

5 (tie). Mississippi, 113.5

7. Vanderbilt, 109

8. Kentucky, 79

9. Arkansas, 59

10. Auburn, 56

11. Mississippi State, 25.5

12. Tennessee, 22.5

Florida extends its lead over Alabama (POINTS! POW! ZING! Oooh. Pretty!). The two once again split first place on two ballots. Meanwhile, the only real movement in the poll is Mississippi tying South Carolina and Vanderbilt passing Kentucky. And Tennessee "leads" by only three in the race for the "Worst of the Best" Cup, though that name might not fit. It's a down league this year, folks.

Voters tell us more after the jump.

FLORIDA

Another SEC opponent, another ridiculous blowout. No, this is not a repeat from last week. Or the week before. Or the week before.--The Dead Guy

Probably the most talented and lawless team in the East, the outlaw Gates have two more criminal teams looming ahead: FSU and the Roids.--Loser With Socks

So the long-awaited matchup for the ages looms before us: Irresistable force versus immovable object. Godzilla versus Superman. Florida Gators versus Citadel Bulldogs.--Save the Shield

ALABAMA

They're not really taking anyone behind the woodshed and just beating the crap out of them from the opening gun, but then again, that was a complaint frequently lodged against the '92 team, too.--Hey Jenny Slater

I just can't see them beating the Gators, although low-risk, efficient style of play might work well when the two teams square off.--Garnet and Black Attack

The Tide's win over Mississippi State was a great metaphor for their season. Steady, often underwhelming production that, after it's all over, looks like a dominating performance.--Red Solo Cup

GEORGIA

Sloppy play and ill-timed defensive breakdowns are turning what should be blowouts into close games. Georgia Tech is good enough to make them pay for this in a couple weeks.--Hey Jenny Slater

Mark Richt sure seems to be getting a lot of flak these days for a coach with an OL decimated by injury and a team that's only lost to two de facto NC semifinalists.--Save the Shield

The only thing that makes less sense to me than this offense averaging only 26.9 points per SEC game is, like, molecular quantum physics. No, wait -- molecular quantum physics as explained by Lou Holtz.--Joe Cribbs Car Wash

LSU

Trojan horse almost ruined a good season.--Leftover Hot Dog

Dearest Lestipher Miles, please please please PLEASE start Jarrett Lee this Saturday. Sincerely, The Rebels--Red Solo Cup

I dunno, I'm starting to think opposing defenses are sending Jarrett Lee e-mails like DEAR MR. LEE: MY NAME IS PRINCE TEBO MUTOMBO OF THE REPUBLIC OF PIKSIXIA AND I HAVE INHERITED 47,000 FOOTBALL POINTS AFTER THE DEATH OF MY FATHER KING LORENZO MUTOMBO OF PIKSIXIA. I NEED YOU TO HELP ME KEEP MY FOOTBALL POINTS SAFE. IF YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY VIA INTERCEPTION TRANSFER A SMALL SCOREBOARD INCREASE FEE OF SEVEN FOOTBALL POINTS FOR ME, I WILL MOVE MY POINTS TO A SAFE ACCOUNT IN GAYNESVILLE AND BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU 7,000 FOOTBALL POINTS AS A TOKEN OF MY GRATITUDE. THEY WILL BE YOUR POINTS YOU CAN USE TO WIN YOUR TEAM FOOTBALL. PLEASE HELP ME MR. LEE.--Joe Cribbs Car Wash

L.S.U. is talented, well-coached, and riddled with holes that prevent the team from living up to its potential. Basically, Les Miles's team is Georgia with a Cajun accent.--Dawg Sports

SOUTH CAROLINA

From very early on against Florida, they looked desperate in a way that you don't usually see Spurrier teams look, and I'm not just talking about the dumb*ss throwback attempt on the kickoff return.--Hey Jenny Slater

Despite the final score the Gamecocks played consistent football. They were outscored in the first half 28-3 and outscored in the second half ... 28-3.--Orange and Blue Hue

You see Steve!?! That's what it felt like all those years!--Red Solo Cup

MISSISSIPPI

For some reason, the national media just doesn't understand how tough Ole Miss is to their SEC rivals or the Fighting Nutria of ULM.--Loser With Socks

I give them more than a puncher's chance in the Magnolia Bowl. Are they really calling it the Magnolia Bowl or is the Memphis media just getting loopy?--Save the Shield

Ole Miss 59, Louisiana-Monroe 0; Louisiana-Monroe 31, Troy 30; Troy 31, LSU 3 (however temporarily). Consider that a prediction.--Joe Cribbs Car Wash

VANDERBILT

Bowl-eligible for the first time in 26 years -- honestly, I was starting to think they didn't have it in 'em -- and they've still got a chance to pad their bowl resume against Tennessee and Wake.--Hey Jenny Slater

You're lucky I managed to fill out the other 11 teams instead of doing more daydreaming about bowl destinations.--Save the Shield

The Commodores overcame a quarter-century of unfavorable history to become bowl-eligible for the first time since I was in junior high. It will be the cruelest of ironies if Vandy receives a Music City Bowl bid for its trouble.--Dawg Sports

KENTUCKY

If Kentucky could avoid their slow starts this could be an 8 or 9 win team by now. And all this is being done with UK talent ... wow.--Orange and Blue Hue

I keep looking for reasons to take this team more seriously than I do, but they keep giving me precious few.--Year 2

First half cat nap costs UK a victory.--A Sea of Blue

ARKANSAS

The Hogs are clinging to waning bowl hopes entering this weekend's showdown in Starkville.--The Dead Guy

We needed that bye week. And now, on to the first game in forever that we might actually be expected to win (which makes me VERY nervous).--Razorback Expats

As wacky as this may sound, the Hogs could end their season with wins over MSU and LSU. The SEC West, outside of Alabama, is just that mediocre.--Red Solo Cup

AUBURN

Was that a win one for the gipper, save coach his job type performances? Because if so, Tubs better pack his bags before the Bama game.--Orange and Blue Hue

Great to see Auburn finally, finally get over the top after so many weeks of trying. Trying to cover the spread, I mean. That's an eight-game losing streak we snapped there. Also, the trying to finally hit dead last in the country in red zone efficiency. We've been after that one for a while, too.--Joe Cribbs Car Wash

The Plainsmen are good enough to play everybody in the S.E.C. close. They just aren't good enough to beat anyone who isn't lousy.--Dawg Sports

MISSISSIPPI STATE

Meh. 167 total yards. Does Woody McCorvey really still have a job?--Garnet and Black Attack

Why was Sylvester Croom dressed like Emperor Palpatine Saturday night?--The Dead Guy

If the Bulldogs can't beat the Hogs or Rebels, you'll be able to make an argument this is, in fact, the worst season yet of Croom's tenure.--Joe Cribbs Car Wash

TENNESSEE

If they can't get off the mat any better than they did against Wyoming, then a 3-9 record and the title of "Worst Team in UT History" await them. Does anyone in Knoxville even care at this point?--Hey Jenny Slater

About to get stomped by Vandy and Kentucky. My how times have changed.--Garnet and Black Attack

Nick Stephens had a nightmare last night that the Volunteers are going to hire a head coach specializing in the spread offense.--Red Solo Cup