Troy at South Carolina Post-Game: Gauging What Constitutes Success from Here Forward
by Gamecock Man on Nov 21, 2025 3:16 PM EST
in Football
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PrintNow that the shock (and yes, I do think we should agree that it was somewhat shocking) of Carolina's demolishing of Troy yesterday afternoon has subsided, it's time to take account of the spoils as they now stand for the season. The victory marks the first eight-win season since 2006 and the first with the wins coming in the regular season since 2001. As I'm sure you remember the guys calling the game yesterday reminding you, this is only the tenth time overall that we've done this since we began playing football in the 1890s. Carolina is currently ranked 18th / 17th in the AP / Coaches polls, which puts us at second and first, respectively, in terms of how AQ teams with three losses rank. This is the highest we've ranked going into the Clemson game since 1987, when we were ranked 12th and would beat the Tigers 20-7 in Columbia; Carolina was ranked 22nd in 2001, when we also won, the last time we were ranked heading into the game. This will be the best chance we've had to finish the season ranked since 2001. Lastly, of course, we have the prizes we won last week in tow: an Eastern Division Title, a shot at the SEC crown, our first season beating each of the East's "Big Three," etc.
With all that said, what do we have to do from here forward to consider this season successful? I said before the season that, at the very least, that I wanted to see a nine-win regular season but might consider eight wins success depending on the circumstances. At that point, I simply hoped we'd get a shot at the Eastern Division Title, and, due to Florida's struggles, that we did, and we won it, too. I would have never thought that we would earn a spot in Atlanta with a 5-3 SEC record and a loss to Kentucky, but I guess it's been that sort of season in the East.
At any rate, at this point I think I need to revise my pre-season statements. We need to win against Clemson this week to consider this a successful season; we can talk about what else we need to do after that happens. Sure, we could make up for a loss to Clemson to a certain extent by beating Auburn and / or winning our bowl game; certainly if we won both I'd probably go back on whatever rant I might make in the event that we lose to the Purple Tigers. However, the importance of this game really can't be underestimated. We're at a point in this program's history when we need to put our best foot forward on the recruiting trail to cement our place as a team to be reckoned with in the SEC. Beating Clemson regularly is part of the proposition there, as doing so will help us convince young in-state talent that Carolina is the place to matriculate, not Clemson. I'm tired of seeing us always take a step back anytime we take one forward. How many times have we lost to an underdog immediately after a big win? This year's loss to Kentucky is only the latest in a long string of such losses. Make no mistake; Clemson is an inferior team this year, and if we lose to them, it's going to be taken as an indication that we haven't really turned the corner. Again, an SEC Title could reverse that sentiment, but aren't we ready to stop seeing a team that can't play its best each time it has a big game. Aren't we beyond that? For these reasons, this is a huge game.
So, what's your take on what we need to do to call the season successful?
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I will explain, since you said please.
Even if they beat Clemson, they’ll still only have nine regular season wins in a year I thought they should get ten; so, I think they should have to win the SEC championship to meet my minimum threshold for success. If the secondary had been better, like we all expected it to be, Carolina would have ten wins, at least. I think they should also put up a good fight in the bowl game, but I wouldn’t require they win it. I really don’t think I’d be very happy with a loss in the championship game, and a win in whatever lesser bowl they get. I’d find some happiness in it, of course, but I wouldn’t consider the season a success. I’d just see it as more of the same, Carolina playing beneath their potential.
stuff 'bout stuff.
by silver82blade on Nov 21, 2025 3:52 PM EST reply actions
Well, at least we would have played a bit closer to our potential than in past years. You can grant that, right?
As far as the bowl game goes, I think it’s hard to talk about expectations until we get paired up with someone. If we get paired up against MIchigan St., Iowa, or some other talented Big 10 team, I probably won’t be as upset if we lose. If we go to the Chick-fil-A Bowl and play North Carolina, Maryland, or some other weak sister team from the ACC and lose, I’ll be pissed, just like I was last year after UConn.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Nov 21, 2025 4:08 PM EST up reply actions
No, I can't really agree to that.
As Skulls down there pointed out, I’ve only been following football for a short time. Since I’ve been watching, Carolina hasn’t had a very good quarterback outside of Newton, and Newton was rarely used properly. There also hasn’t been a star running back, as far as I’m concerned. It’s hard to have much success without a good quarterback, it being the most important position and all. I do think Carolina has played beneath their potential many times since I’ve been following the team, but I don’t think it’s any more than what Carolina did against Kentucky this year.
As far as the rest of the Carolina football history, I don’t know about that. Maybe it has been better. I have no first hand knowledge to say one way or another.
stuff 'bout stuff.
by silver82blade on Nov 21, 2025 4:46 PM EST up reply actions
You've admitted you've only been following Carolina for about 7 years.
If a 10-4 season, a birth to our first ever SEC Championship game, and the first back to back wins over Clemson in 40 years only brings you “some happiness,” you’re in for a disappointing life as a Gamecock fan, my friend.
by Skulls and Spurs on Nov 21, 2025 4:08 PM EST up reply actions
If the above occurs, that would singularly be South Carolina's most successful season in history, in my opinion.
10-2, with losses to Navy and Pitt, is trumped by 10-4, with an SEC Championship game trip, a second consecutive win over Clemson, and victories over Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee in the same year. That’s just my opinion, though.
by Skulls and Spurs on Nov 21, 2025 4:19 PM EST up reply actions
I think that's plausible...
Although of course it’s arguable. I’d be interested in knowing what an older fan has to say about it. I guess it depends on how you measure the two season’s SOS against each other, and I’m guessing the advantage goes to 2010 in terms of difficulty. We didn’t play in the SEC back then, and although the East has been way down this year, our Western Division draw has been brutal. At the same time, I’ve read about 1984 and know we beat some highly ranked teams like Florida St. How was Clemson ranked that year? I know they had some powerhouses back then, but I don’t know what their team was like in 1984. CFB Datawarehouse says they were 7-4, but it looks like they had some close losses.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Nov 21, 2025 4:41 PM EST up reply actions
It's not really about whether or not it's the most successful Carolina season.
All I’m looking at is what we could have done. I know who the players on the team are. I’ve seen what some are capable of in the past, and I’ve seen what the freshmen are capable of from high school tape, and what they’ve done this year. This is a ten win regular season team. If the secondary had played like they had in the past, it may have even been an eleven win regular season team, with any luck. Nine wins is disappointing to me. You guys can feel good about it all you want.
stuff 'bout stuff.
by silver82blade on Nov 21, 2025 4:41 PM EST up reply actions
That attitude could lead to feeling disappointed with virtually any result to the season, for virtually any team.
I know where you’re coming from (in fact, I’ve had all season to learn about it), but I just think your standards are out of line with our history. Should we be happy with seven wins because it’s better than what we’ve done in the past? No, I don’t think so. But should we be happy with nine? That’s a tougher question, I think. Nine wins would be a milestone for this program. That has to count for something.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Nov 21, 2025 4:51 PM EST up reply actions
Totally disagree, 100%, forever, unquestionably, to infinity, and beyond!!
Ha, sorry. I have high hopes.
stuff 'bout stuff.
by silver82blade on Nov 21, 2025 4:58 PM EST up reply actions
Heh. We do seem to have this argument once every couple of weeks or so.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Nov 21, 2025 5:06 PM EST up reply actions
I’ll just forgo my opinion the next time you ask the question, since I’m sure everyone knows it, and disagrees anyway.
stuff 'bout stuff.
by silver82blade on Nov 21, 2025 5:11 PM EST up reply actions
Respectfully...
You are being wildly unreasonable. If these are your expectations, you may want to hop on with Alabama or tOSU. And I’m not being nasty…I’m just saying that these are schools that have earned these parameters for success you’re laying out. We in no way have earned this. I don’t care how long you’ve been a fan or what you think of the team or what we’ve done thus far, our success is still measured by our improvement. If that’s not good enough for you, if your version of success is a singular goal and you find yourself unable to take consolation in the achievements this team has made outside of bringing home an SEC Championship and a BCS Bowl, I don’t know what to tell ya. It could be a long offseason, I guess…
And I know, you completely disagree with all that, and that’s cool.
My parameters: Beating Clemson is a virtual must, unless we win the last two games. Even then it’ll still give the Tigers that “Well we still beat ’em!” angle for all of eternity. An SEC Championship loss is not something that would ruin the season for us. I do believe that the year would seem a bit less memorable if we laid an egg in January. Beat the Tigers. Strong showing in Atlanta. January bowl win. Those are my parameters.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends." - Tom Waits
by Gamecock'n'Balls on Nov 21, 2025 5:14 PM EST up reply actions
Just to clarify
When I said “We in no way have earned this”, I mean silverblade’s expectation level, not our current situation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends." - Tom Waits
by Gamecock'n'Balls on Nov 21, 2025 5:15 PM EST up reply actions
Well, I just don’t agree with this philosophy that teams have to only improve by one or two games from the previous year. Auburn had the same SEC record Carolina did last year, 3-5. They’re undefeated this year, ‘cause they got the player they needed. The only thing holding us back last year was that our offense didn’t have a strong running game. We got that piece of the puzzle this year, and Lattimore has played very well. Maddox has also improved. We should have a better record than we do.
stuff 'bout stuff.
by silver82blade on Nov 21, 2025 5:24 PM EST up reply actions
I can see where you're going with the Auburn comparison...
But history has a hand in the difference. Auburn had a top-five recruiting class last year, which is a direct result of historically being a powerhouse program (maybe not at the level of Alabama or So. Cal., but they have a strong history) and having facilities, financial, and fan support resources that go along with that kind of success. We just don’t have those things, yet at least. A strong finish to this year, though, could be the kind of thing we need to build that foundation.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Nov 21, 2025 5:52 PM EST up reply actions
That's why I would've been shocked had we gone undefeated.
stuff 'bout stuff.
by silver82blade on Nov 21, 2025 5:57 PM EST up reply actions
Disagree
Sure, you could focus on what we “should” have done. But that is a two sided argument. We should have beaten Kentucky. We should have lost to Alabama. If you agree with a lot of experts and the oddsmakers, we should have lost to Florida too. I just don’t see how you can claim that all our mistakes are us playing below our capability but by using the same logic, gloss over all the times we have played above our levels.
Personally, I don’t believe in the thinking about what teams “should” have done, as that is all based on opinion. IMO, whatever “should” happen is what DOES happen. I’d rather focus on actual results instead of what people believe to be true based on assumptions.
by R-F on Nov 21, 2025 7:16 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
There's no such thing as playing above one's level.
That’s the same as someone giving 110%. It’s not possible.
stuff 'bout stuff.
by silver82blade on Nov 21, 2025 8:44 PM EST up reply actions
I'm really surprised at all the votes for winning out for this season to equal the MINIMUM threshold for success.
To me, saying that’s what has to happen for you to consider this a successful season negates what this team has already done - won an SEC East title. I hope that we win out, and I think we need to beat Clemson to show we’ve turned the corner. but to say we need to win the SEC Championship and beat a tough opponent in the Sugar Bowl for this season to be a success is asking a lot. Everyone is certainly entitled to their own opinion, but winning an SEC Championship and winning a BCS bowl will far surpass my expectations.
by Skulls and Spurs on Nov 21, 2025 5:50 PM EST reply actions
55% for winning out is ubelievable.
Either people don’t understand what the phrase “minimum threshold for success” means, or they’re bandwagon fans who are drunk off the SEC East championship thing. Saying that this season isn’t a success unless we beat Clemson, win the SEC, and beat a solid top 10 opponent in the Sugar Bowl is absolutely ludicrous. As much as I disagree with what silver82blade has said, I can at least understand where he is coming from. Calling the season a failure unless we win out is indefensible.
Dum spiro spero - "While I breathe, I hope"
State motto of South Carolina
by The Feathered Warrior on Nov 21, 2025 6:27 PM EST up reply actions
I mean, we're talking about the same team
that got blown out at home by Arkansas and lost to Kentucky. Winning out is conceivable, but that’s a far cry from likely, which is basically what the 55%ers are saying.
Dum spiro spero - "While I breathe, I hope"
State motto of South Carolina
by The Feathered Warrior on Nov 21, 2025 6:29 PM EST up reply actions
Agreed. I'd like to hear someone get on here and explain the logic behind that choice.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Nov 21, 2025 6:40 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe they think 100+ years is long enough to build a successful football program.
I can understand what you folks are thinking, as can I the people who think the complete opposite of you all. Some people are just more impatient than others, and some think this team is better than others. It just depends on what criteria you’re using to gauge how successful the team should be, and how much patience you have. I don’t think a group of people are ever going to agree with a team that is this much in flux from year to year, and week to week.
stuff 'bout stuff.
by silver82blade on Nov 21, 2025 7:02 PM EST up reply actions
It seems by your logic
That you should only be happy if we won the national title. I mean, the team that wins it all is by definition the only successful team in college football, right? It’s nice to think that way and I think expectations are good but I just think that is a bit unrealistic for most teams.
by R-F on Nov 21, 2025 7:21 PM EST up reply actions
I don't recall ever saying that.
I thought I was pretty specific as far as what my criteria for success is.
stuff 'bout stuff.
by silver82blade on Nov 21, 2025 8:49 PM EST up reply actions
If we ever won a football national title, I’d go insane and live under a bridge, muttering to myself ’til I died. It would just go against every law of the universe. My brain would explode, then implode, then explode again, lol.
stuff 'bout stuff.
by silver82blade on Nov 21, 2025 8:58 PM EST up reply actions
Yes, everyone is entitled to an opinion.
But some opinions are more well-founded than others. If one has a definition of success that isn’t reasonable, then it is pretty much worthless as a barometer of success. Just because someone is impatient doesn’t mean their opinion is valid. In an extreme example, an impatient person might have fired Lou Holtz after first season of 0-11. I don’t think anyone would have called that a wise move.
If one is going to set impossibly high goals and define success solely on those terms, then that person might as well not set any goals at all. They become meaningless. If one looks at what this team has done this season, I don’t see how one could think winning out is a reasonable expectation.
Dum spiro spero - "While I breathe, I hope"
State motto of South Carolina
by The Feathered Warrior on Nov 21, 2025 9:41 PM EST up reply actions
Well, someone else may think you all have an extremely low expectation of this program.
I think your expectations are mildly low myself, but I respect your opinions.
stuff 'bout stuff.
by silver82blade on Nov 21, 2025 11:41 PM EST up reply actions
I have said it since the outstart of this season (back in February when we got Latti)
I want to see this team win the SEC… we can get blown out by Clemson and in the Sugar Bowl, so long as we win the SEC.
Make no mistake, I wont be happy with that result, but I will EASILY trade a SINGLE Clemson game and a Bowl game for our FIRST SEC Championship.
by Gamecockrock on Nov 21, 2025 8:46 PM EST reply actions
Did you believe that Lattimore would have this kind of impact back when we signed him?
I actually didn’t, both because I had no idea he’d be this good and because I thought Kenny Miles and Brian Maddox would have bigger roles in the offense. I mean, did anyone think he’d be this awesome, this fast? I mean, the guy doesn’t run anything at all like a freshman. That’s what’s so striking about him. His strength and field smarts are far beyond what I expected. And I still don’t know what happened to Miles, by the way. He looked pretty awful against Troy. I wonder why he regressed so much; he was a solid-looking back last season.
At any rate, I hear you on Clemson and the SEC. I just think that if we want to maintain this level of success, we need to beat Clemson consistently. That will help us own them in recruiting and thus stay at a level closer to Florida, Georgia, etc., than we’re at now.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Nov 21, 2025 10:14 PM EST up reply actions
I fully did
I made several trips up to Byrnes to watch him play. He is an unbelievable player and person. It wasnt just his talent on the field that made me expect it, it was his poise and determination off of it.
Im right there with you on Miles, I can grasp how he averaged 5.5 ypc last season with a bad o-line, and cant seem to get past the line of scrimmage in back-to-back runs this season. Only think I can figure is, he is not quite as fine tuned this season being so far back in the depth, sort of “rusty” if you will. Hopefully next season when hes backup he will be back accustomed to game speed.
I know as Gamecock fans we all want to beat Clemson, but I dont think we have to own Clemson on the field to have an advantage in recruiting. Majority of the players we would want we would be able to get over Clemson, if we had an SEC Championship to sell to them; this is why I feel the SEC Title is the only thing that matters in my mind this year.
by Gamecockrock on Nov 22, 2025 7:10 AM EST up reply actions
That makes sense. Still not sure I agree, but I can see where you're coming from.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Nov 22, 2025 8:02 AM EST up reply actions
No one could have reasonably expected he'd be this good this fast.
We knew he has great size for a true frosh and that the fact that he’d run a similar offense all through high school would aid in his initial performance, but what’s been so impressive is his field vision. It’s uncanny. What an asset he is.
by Skulls and Spurs on Nov 21, 2025 10:34 PM EST reply actions
Yeah, his field vision is incredible. The way he anticipates what's going to happen as he hits each level of the field is unbelievable for a freshman.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Nov 21, 2025 10:38 PM EST up reply actions
His vision was the first thing I noticed about him from his high school tape.
I wasn’t expecting him to break so many tackles, only ‘cause I didn’t see him get touched all that much in the limited video I saw.
stuff 'bout stuff.
by silver82blade on Nov 21, 2025 11:38 PM EST up reply actions
I’m in the “Other” crowd. It’s a success if we beat Clemson & win our bowl game.
Beating Clemson is an absolute must; I shouldn’t need to explain that. Given that we all know that Auburn is an incredibly good team, it’s unreasonable to say that a loss in the SECCG would render the season a failure. However, after the way we’ve wet the bed in the past two bowl games, I think we need a January win to close out the season successfully. We’ve been embarrassed the past two seasons & it’s about time we get a W with the bowl season spotlight upon us.
by Uhaul on Nov 22, 2025 12:02 AM EST reply actions
Another "other" here.
First, we absolutely HAVE to beat Clemson. I don’t want a repeat of last year with us in their shoes. Clemson has much more of a winning tradition than we do, but in recent years, at least, the teams have been relatively even. Sometimes we have a slightly better season, sometimes they do, and neither team has accomplished much to write home about. But if we want to prove there’s a new sheriff in town — to recruits, to the state, to the country — we need to take them out behind the woodshed. Simple as that. Any accomplishments we achieve after the Clemson game will come with the caveat of “Yeah, but…” if we lose to them. (And frankly, there’s no excuse to.) I’m approaching this game like I have each game this season: gotta win here if we want the next one to mean what it could.
Secondly, I do expect us to play well and be prepared for Auburn, but I’m realistic enough to understand and realize that no one yet has been capable of stopping Cam Newton. I’ll be interested to see how the Iron Bowl goes; should Bama win, maybe they can give us a good blueprint. But expecting a win in our first-ever SECCG appearance against an absolutely dominant Auburn team with a freak QB is a little much. I WANT that win, and I know we have a chance if we bring our A game. But I won’t bet the farm on it.
And finally, good LORD, we need to start making our bowl record look more respectable. I’ve seen one bowl win in my time as a fan and I can tell you right now that only one of those teams (Iowa) was genuinely better than us. That’s just maddening, and I don’t want another awful letdown to end the season and take away the luster.
by RumblinFish on Nov 22, 2025 2:04 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Not for nothing, but Clowney’s going to be at the game. We need to win to nullify the hatch job Clemson’s coaching staff is going to put on us.
by Uhaul on Nov 22, 2025 3:43 PM EST up reply actions
Very true. Dangerous visit even though I don't think he's interested in CU.
If they can’t have him, rest assured Clemson will do everything in their power to make sure they never have to line up against him.
by RumblinFish on Nov 22, 2025 4:08 PM EST reply actions
The good news is that we will only reinforce our position by smacking them in the mouth in their house.
by Uhaul on Nov 22, 2025 5:08 PM EST up reply actions
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