The Cool Chicken

MARK Z - A REAL QUESTION

2008-07-14T18:16:00.000-07:00

Ok so this Mark Z guy (if you read my comments you know who he is) finally decided to bring something to the blog other than attacks. For this, I will reward him with a response. Here is his question:

I know I bag about your blog, but I actually have a serious question for you: Do you believe that hiring aging, once great coaches like Spurrier and Holtz to rebuild a struggling team is the answer? Many Cock fans believe this is the right course of action but it obviously has not shown results yet and correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't seem entirely behind Spurrier just yet. Why not try something different? For example, when Saban took over LSU, he was a young, upbeat, and passionate coach who could recruit exceptionally well, which worked out great since Louisiana has so much football talent living inside of it. Saban's defenses were great and his offenses were effective, so long as he had the right talent for both, which he didn't have at Michigan State. After recruiting so well in a talent rich region, his career took off as now he could apply his schemes effectively. Don't get me wrong, I can't stand Saban; he's a money-grubbing liar who snubbed both LSU and the Dolphins and will eventually snub Bama, especially if the LSU job opens up for some unknown reason (where he wanted to go in the first place). However, he's an excellent example for what a team like South Carolina needs: a fresh face with new ideas who can appeal to recruits. LSU was not much better than South Carolina when Saban took over, but they exploded after a year or two under his guidance. What are your thoughts?

Mark Z,

Thank you for the question. #1.) I wouldn’t wish Saban on Clemson and I am sure you agree since you addressed that in the question. #2.) You have to look at the whole Spurrier/Holtz in the bigger picture.

When Holtz was hired, the program was in shambles. It was destroyed from the inside out by a coach who will not be named. I don’t think hiring a newcomer at that time would have been the way to go. We needed an experienced coach who could relay the foundation and rebuild.

I personally never got on the Holtz wagon as a gameday coach but for the attention he brought the program, I was absolutely behind him. He put a foundation in place quietly. Like it or not, he took a program that was at the lowest of the low and made it mediocre. He was then instrumental in bring Spurrier along.

I am on the Spurrier train but it too has to make a stop at some point. Spurrier took the work that Holtz put in and went further. The team he inherited was mediocre and hopefully by the end of his tenure he will have turned it in to a contender. However, he needs to do it this year or next or his seat will warm up.

I will say that the next coach we bring in (after Spurrier) needs to be young and fresh (maybe like Steve Spurrier Jr.) in order for the progression to continue. Then we will really see if hiring Holtz and Spurrier was a good thing or not.

As far as Spurrier as a coach, the jury is still out. He still has about two years to make an impression.

I await your reply.

BARNYARD!!!

2008-06-20T07:49:00.001-07:00

Matt and Tim send me anything you want and I will host it on this website: BARNYARD! The Matt and Tim show is going off the air but I vow to carry on the BARNYARD! You can visit the website above... leave comments or talk about the BARNYARD all you want.

B to the ARNYARD and MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!

FIRST 3 GAMES COVERED

2008-06-03T14:20:00.001-07:00

Rock on rocker. The first three games of the 2008 football season will be televised. More on that:

Each of the first three University of South Carolina football games scheduled this fall will be nationally televised, it was announced today.

"It appears we will be one of the most televised teams in the country again this season and we will try our best to compete like one of the best teams in the country," said Carolina Head Coach Steve Spurrier.

The Gamecocks' season and home opener against North Carolina State, scheduled for Thursday, August 28, will be televised nationally by ESPN, beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern time. The Gamecocks and Wolfpack have not met since the 1999 season. NC State holds a slim 26-25-4 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to 1900.

The Gamecocks' conference and road opener at Vanderbilt, set for Thursday, September 4, will also be televised nationally by ESPN. Game time from Nashville, Tenn. is set for 8:30 p.m. ET. South Carolina holds a 14-3 advantage in the all-time series with the Commodores, but the Gamecocks will be looking for revenge following a 17-6 loss to VU in 2007.

CBS Sports will televise the Georgia at South Carolina game, set for Saturday, September 13. That national broadcast is slated for a 3:30 p.m. ET kick. The Georgia contest will mark the fourth straight year that CBS has televised a Gamecock football game and will be their first appearance in Columbia since 2005 when they carried the Alabama-South Carolina tilt. Georgia leads the all-time series 44-14-2, but the Gamecocks won by a 16-12 count last year in Athens.

The Gamecocks had seven national television exposures in 2007, appearing three times each on ESPN and on ESPN2 and once on CBS.

Additional televised games will be announced as they become available.

THE AS OF NOW SEC TV LIST

CLICK IT TO MAKE IT BIGGER

GAMECOCKS PS3 THEME

2008-05-20T19:55:00.000-07:00

I am working on a Gamecocks theme for the playstation 3. This link is to the beta which I am testing on my PS3. Download here. Please looks for future versions.

BEECHER IT IS

2008-04-23T21:41:00.000-07:00

Tommy Beecher has not started a game since 2004, when he was a 17-year-old high school senior leading his school to a state championship in North Carolina.

But if South Carolina's season began today, Beecher would be the Gamecocks' starter.

DARTH DRUNK

2008-03-28T07:21:00.000-07:00

Ok. So... maybe Garcia is more Anakin than Obi Wan Kenobi after all.

Late News. Not as in breaking. Late as in, I am posting it late.

University of South Carolina redshirt freshman quarterback Stephen Garcia has been suspended from the football team, Athletics Director Eric Hyman announced today.
"Stephen Garcia broke University rules," said Hyman. "Therefore he is suspended from all team activities through August 15."

THANKS KPAGE...

2008-03-27T10:28:00.000-07:00

We need to be distracted from the whole Garcia thing.

WARNING - THIS POST HAS STRONG LANGUAGE - WARNING

Note to Tommy Bowden: If you are going to buy a recruit make sure he A.) Doesn't have myspace page, B.) Crave attention and C.) Has an I.Q. above 2.

What a class act this Page kid is! Before Clemson makes him change it/take it down, I have decided to take a screenshot of Mr. Page's myspace page. Notice the title... (click for bigger picture)

To clear it up a little for you... F*K em F*k em F*k em even if they celibate translates to Fuck em fuck em fuck em even if they are celibate.

For more on this story go HERE, HERE and HERE.

GARCIA: PADAWAN LEARNER

2008-03-24T06:42:00.000-07:00

I am looking forward to watching Garcia's career. As the young Jedi grows, the only question that will trouble me is this: Which will he turn out to be? Obi Wan or Anakin? I sense much fear in him. Click for Full Size ->

Some links from this weekend:

SMELLEY THE FORGOTTEN MAN
THE BIG BOYS ARE BACK
CULLIVER: LOCK DOWN CORNER?

AT THIS POINT...

2008-03-16T21:37:00.001-07:00

All I can do is laugh!

Another USC FOOTBALL PLAYER ARRESTED IN 5 POINTS.

I really just don't know what to say.

TOMMY BOWDEN IS #1

2008-03-13T08:16:00.000-07:00

FROM GEORGIA SPORTS BLOG:

Have you ever wondered....Who are the longest currently tenured coaches at a BCS Conference school that haven't guided their current program to a BCS bowl game? Well, I'm glad you asked. Last year, we published this list, and I wanted to take a moment to update it for 2008.

Here's the 2008 Top 10:
1. Tommy Bowden (Clemson)
2. Mike Leach (Texas Tech)
3. Al Groh (UVA)
4. Greg Schiano (Rutgers)
5. Gary Pinkel (Missouri)
6. Jeff Tedford (Cal)
7. Bobby Johnson (Vandy)
8. Rich Brooks (Kentucky)
9. Mike Riley (Oregon State)
10. Sly Croom (Miss State)
11. Mike Stoops (Arizona)

WE TALKIN BOUT PRACTICE

2008-03-11T06:09:00.000-07:00

THE GAMECOCKS 2008 SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE IS BELOW

Practice No. 1: Wednesday, March 19
Practice No. 2: Friday, March 21
Practice No. 3: Monday, March 24
Practice No. 4: Wednesday, March 26
Practice No. 5: Friday, March 28 (Scrimmage No. 1)
Practice No. 6: Monday, March 31
Practice No. 7: Wednesday, April 2
Practice No. 8: Friday, April 4
Practice No. 9: Saturday, April 5 (Scrimmage No. 2)
Practice No. 10: Monday, April 7
Practice No. 11: Wednesday, April 9
Practice No. 12: Friday, April 11
Practice No. 13: Monday, April 14
Practice No. 14: Wednesday, April 16
Practice No. 15: Saturday, April 19 (Garnet & Black Spring Game); 1 p.m.

NORWOOD

2008-03-11T06:06:00.000-07:00

University of South Carolina defensive end Eric Norwood is one of 54 players selected to the 2008 preliminary watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award, it was announced today.

Norwood, a 6-1, 270-pound junior from Acworth, Ga., was tabbed first team All-SEC by the league's coaches, second team All-SEC by the Associated Press and third team All-SEC by Phil Steele's in 2007.

A Freshman All-American in 2006, Norwood was second on the squad with 69 tackles during his sophomore season, including a school-record 19.5 tackles for loss. His 1.62 tackles for loss per game ranked third in the SEC and tied for seventh nationally. He also tied for first in the SEC with three fumble recoveries. Norwood had 6.0 sacks, which placed him 10th in the league. He was also credited with a team-high nine quarterback hurries and three pass breakups. A big-play performer, Norwood had a blocked punt and three fumble recoveries, two of which he returned for touchdowns. He was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week, the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski and the Master Coaches National Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts against Kentucky when he tied an NCAA record by returning two fumbles for touchdowns - scoring from two and from 53-yards out - registered five unassisted tackles including a tackle for loss, had two pass deflections and a quarterback hurry in the nationally-televised Thursday night win.
Norwood has played in all 25 games over the past two seasons, making a dozen starts. He ranks sixth on the school's all-time list in career tackles for loss with 28.5, just 6.5 off the record total of 35 set by Andrew Provence. His 13.0 sacks rank eighth on the all-time list and are halfway to Provence's school record of 26.0.

Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen and those defensive players who line up within five yards of the football. The candidates earned a place on the preliminary watch list by earning All-American honors or by being named to their respective all-conference first team as selected by the conference's head coaches. The Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List will be updated prior to the start of the 2008 season in order to identify those players who have been selected as pre-season honors candidates.

While the Watch List highlights players who have already received national recognition, any Division 1 player who meets the position requirements is eligible for consideration from the Rotary Lombardi Selection Committee. This committee is comprised of more than 500 members, including all past winners and finalists, all Division 1 head coaches and a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. The Rotary Lombardi Watch List, intended as a reference tool for the Selection Committee, will be periodically updated and revised through the conclusion of the voting to determine the 12 Semifinalists for 2008.

ROM MORRIS EMAIL UPDATE

2008-03-09T17:58:00.000-07:00

Here are the emails so far in full: I AM IN GARNET - RON IS IN PURPLE

MY FIRST EMAIL:

From: The Cool Chicken
Sent: Sun 3/9/2008 1:34 AM
To: Morris, Ron
Subject: A question

You know… I don’t get you. You are one of the most hated men in Columbia SC. You constantly do everything you can to attack Gamecock Athletics. Most readers of the state and those that can bear to listen to your monotone and painstakingly boring commentaries; consider you nothing more than an ambulance chaser with a vendetta. I say ambulance chaser because your attempts at addressing the hot topics surrounding gamecock athletics are nothing more than insecure pleas for attention. Look at me! Look at me!

I and many others think you are a joke. Yet you continue to do it. Why?

Do you enjoy being despised? Do you get some sort of sick pleasure out of it? What is your purpose?

I have always thought that most journalist do what they do to bring something to society as a whole. However, it must be clear to you that you don’t. You are not taken seriously. Your name has become likened with something to be disliked and yet you just keep right on writing on. Please tell me why. I truly want to know what drives a person to be such a tool. What is the point?

I can’t tell you how many times I have heard your voice, read your articles and felt sorry for you. You must know. You must know that you have no legacy and nothing of importance to say. Yet you keep on saying it.

So again, I ask the question… why? Why do you do it? Help me understand.

-------------------------

Subject: RE: A question
From: "Morris, Ron" rmorris@thestate.com
Date: Sun, March 09, 2008 6:11 am
To:

Thanks for the email. I trust you understand that I am a columnist. My job is to address issues in sports. It's OK to disagree with my opinion. You obviously have a passion for USC athletics. Good for you. That's what makes sports entertaining.
ron

------------------------

From: The Cool Chicken
Sent: Sun 3/9/2008 3:57 PM
To: Morris, Ron
Subject: RE: A question

Ron,

Ok so you are a columnist. Insert columnist in to my last email for the word journalist. You still have not answered my question. So... please answer it. Why do you continue to do something that no one wants you to do? Also, let me pose a couple of things to you.

1.) I don't need you to tell me it is OK to disagree. Most sane people do.
2.) You are not a part of sports. You do not make it entertaining. You do the exact opposite. Again, you are a ambulance chaser.
3.) I do have a passion for USC athletics. You seem to hate it and that is why I ask you why you bother to write about it.
4.) Your job? Fine. Let's say it is your job. Who do you do it for? The readers? Guess what. They don't like you. So... let's try this just one more time... why do you do it?

Normal people (those of us with souls) prefer to do jobs in which we actually are appreciated for what we do.

---------------------------

Subject: RE: A question
From: "Morris, Ron" rmorris@thestate.com
Date: Sun, March 09, 2008 1:12 pm
To: The Cool Chicken
The Cool Chicken (assuming that is your name, since you don't have guts enough to put your name on it):
Someone must be reading it. I'm still employed. I get the most number of hits on our Internet site.
Maybe it has something to do with you not wanting me to address important issues. Perhaps you would prefer that I only write puff stories about USC athletics.
I write what I write because I deem my subjects as the most interesting of the day. Pretty simple. I also put my name to everything I write. it is what responsible people do.
ron

----------------------------
From: The Cool Chicken
Sent: Sun 3/9/2008 4:50 PM
To: Morris, Ron
Subject: RE: A question

Ronnie...

Calm down. Take a valium or whatever it is you chew to help you sleep at night. You must need something.

My name is pretty easy to figure out. It is in my email address. As matter of fact, even slow people can get it. You did. I know you put your name on everything you write. You seem to need that attention. Look at me! Look at me! I am controversial. Oooooh watch out!

As far as hits on the internet site... Britney Spears and Hitler get a lot of hits on the internet as well. It doesn't mean people like them. You are most like a car crash. You don't want to look but you can't help it. People read you to hate you more. You are still employed because the state is more concerned with selling papers than actually being a pillar and providing a service. Ambulance chasers sell papers. Much like those loved guys who take pictures of celebs in compromising positions... sell tabloids. So, if that if what you wish your name to be known for then... you are indeed doing a good job.

Fluff... how is that your peers seem to be able to address the same issues with out damning the university? It is not that I want you to write fluff... I (and many others) would prefer that you keep your opinion to something that is discernable as truth and not just an attempt to "ruffle feathers" if you will pardom the pun.

How is it that many other schools have programs whose legal troubles dwarf those of South Carolinas yet you don't have "columnists" constantly bashing their local university?

Responsible people also make sure they are writing something that is truly their belief and not just taking shots at someone for the hell of it.

To close... I believe you are a tool. It is OK to disagree with my opinion. But... not necessarily smart.

-The Cool Chicken

--------------------------
Subject: RE: A question
From: "Morris, Ron" rmorris@thestate.com
Date: Sun, March 09, 2008 6:22 pm
To: The Cool Chicken

Cool Chicken,
Whatever. . . . Is that your last name?
ron

-------------------------------

AND HERE IS MY MOST RECENT RESPONSE WHICH HE HAS NOT REPLIED TO

From:
The Cool Chicken
Date: Sun, Mar 09, 2008 7:07 pm
To: "Morris, Ron" <rmorris@thestate.com>

Ronnie,

Did you make a "W" with your fingers when you wrote that witty retort? I didn't realize I was emailing Alicia Silverstone.

Why are you askng me about my name so much? Are you trying to go back to that whole responsible thing? I was thinking about that and it seems as if you were trying to discredit my opinion because of the format in which I express it. So, is it your position that your opinion only matters if a.) you are an employ of the state and b.) your name is on it? Because history and even many in your industry would disagree. However, I applaud your attempt. Granted it is transparent as usual and pretty weak but at least it was an attempt. A lot of people/writers will attack the source of an opinion versus the opinion's merit. I attack you in both ways but since you are unable to combat my charge, you try to discredit it by holding up your responsibility shield. Of course, journalistic integrity doesn't really apply in this instance. Even you pointed out that you are not a journalist.

Look... I only want one thing from you. Admit it. Admit that you hate the university of south carolina. People might even be able to respect that. You say I have no guts. I say you have no balls. You like to attack USC but don't have the testicular fortitude to actually say you hate them. Your career would be over and you know it.

Like totally.

-The Cool Chicken

------------------

So let's see if he has the balls to respond.

A RESPONSE FROM RON

2008-03-09T12:49:00.000-07:00

The Cool Chicken,
Thanks for the email. I trust you understand that I am a columnist. My job is to address issues in sports. It's OK to disagree with my opinion. You obviously have a passion for USC athletics. Good for you. That's what makes sports entertaining.
ron

Of course, I will respond.

DAVE ODOM

2008-03-09T12:42:00.000-07:00

Good grief. Good bye.

RON MORRIS

2008-03-08T22:08:00.000-08:00

I don't get it. The man is hated by one and all. Even his co-workers who defend him will tell you over a cold one that he is one of the people who when they speak... makes you just want to puke. I am so sick of hearing about this man. I have long ago stopped getting the newspaper because of him. I can't stand to have someone with obviously very low moral character commenting on Gamecock athletics. What I don't get is why he wants to continue doing what he does.

Is it fun for him? Does he enjoy being hated? Does he get some sort of sick pleasure from being despised?

I wish there was someway that I could avoid him but I can't. Being a Gamecock blogger, I have no choice but to be faced with this man. At this point, it has gotten to the point where even seeing his pointy nose and ridiculous smirk makes me want to curse. This is a man who represents everything I hate about journalist.

Don't get me wrong, some actually have something to offer society. This man (and I use the term loosely) is nothing more than a insecure (look at me... look at me) ambulance chaser whose journalistic ability leaves a lot to be desired. I say ambulance chaser because it is quite ironic that most of his columns are designed to take the atheletics program to task for whatever happens to be the hot topic.

His name has become transparent. Nothing he says is given credibility. He is a joke and a hack.

FIRE RON MORRIS

I am a sane person. I really am. Still, I can't seem to hide my disdain for this man. With all this in mind, I have decided to ask Ron Morris himself why he continues to do a job that no one wants him to do. I will let you know if he responds.

DON'T BEAT OUR COCKS!

2008-03-04T07:51:00.000-08:00

It is starting to make sense now. I asked in a previous post if the CPD has it in for the football team. It appears they are just abusive jack asses. Please see article below:

A South Carolina offensive lineman claims Columbia police used excessive force while subduing him following a fight with a West Columbia man in Five Points during the weekend.

Gamecocks guard Kevin Young told USC coach Steve Spurrier that police officers hit him multiple times and bloodied his nose before arresting him early Sunday outside of Sharky’s on Harden Street.

Columbia city manager Charles Austin said Monday afternoon that he would investigate whether police acted improperly.

“Now that we have heard this information, certainly I will authorize an internal investigation,” Austin said. “If there’s a formal complaint filed, we will at that point make a determination as to what would be the next step.”

Austin said that no one involved in the incident has contacted his office or the police department claiming excessive force.

Attempts to reach Young, a redshirt freshman from Clearwater, Fla., who has yet to play for the Gamecocks, were unsuccessful.

The 6-foot-6, 320-pound Young is charged with fighting and resisting arrest. The other man, Errol Hewitt James, listed as 6-1 and 195 pounds on the incident report, faces fighting and disorderly conduct charges.

“The story that I’ve heard from Kevin and from a few witnesses is that Kevin basically did not do anything wrong in this situation except try to defend himself from some guy that took a swing at him,” Spurrier said Monday. “I heard some policeman was beating on (Young) while the other one had his hands behind his back, or something. That’s the story we heard.

“I’ll just have to wait until all the facts firmly come in. But I hope this gets investigated pretty well.”

A local sports-talk radio host who witnessed the incident confirmed the version of events that Spurrier says Young told him.

Kevin McCrarey, a co-host on the South Carolina News Network’s SportsTalk show, said he was leaving a nearby bar around 1:30 a.m. when three or four officers ran by him on Harden Street. McCrarey said he saw an officer repeatedly punch one of the combatants, whom he later learned was Young, in the head with a closed fist.

“I think his rights were violated. Just because you get in a fight ... he got beat up by police. I really believe that,” McCrarey said. “I don’t know police procedure, but the guy from behind was just swinging. He must have thrown 10 or 15 punches. Then they got him down, and they were still hitting him.”

ANOTHER GAMECOCK CHARGED?

2008-03-02T20:01:00.001-08:00

I have said it before and I will say it again… Gamecock athletes… stay out of 5 points. I don’t get it. If you are a Gamecock athlete and in 5 points you have a 50/50 chance of going to jail. Granted it shouldn’t be that way… but it is. You are college kids and you should be able to have fun. But unfortunately, for some reason, people seem to like to start shit with you. At some point it has go to be about more than bad athletes.

Is there some bias towards Gamecocks in Columbia? Is it possible that every Gamecock football player is a thug? It can’t be… can it?

I don’t know. But I have a suggestion for Coach Spurrier. Try the cage to the left out. Tell it em it is a new wave dorm… tell em something. Whether it is to protect the football players from the public or the public from the football players, lock them up every night.

Geez. Does the CPD have a hard on for football players or what?

OUT OF POCKET

2008-02-23T22:19:00.001-08:00

Hey all... I will be out of pocket for awhile but I should be back in time for football season. Please check back then. Thanks.

RESPONSE TO EDBS WIKISMACK

2008-02-21T06:29:00.000-08:00

So EDBS decided to post some information related to the WIKIPEDIA entry for Williams Brice Stadium. The claim is that some smack has been laid down upon us. Unfortunately, it is not true.

The first thing they said was that this appeared in the entry:

Carolina football teams consistently attract standing-room-only crowds to Williams-Brice Stadium, at least until halftime when the South Carolina faithful usually leave after watching the Gamecocks get trounced during the first thirty minutes of the game.

Not true. The entry is this:

Carolina football teams consistently attract standing-room-only crowds to Williams-Brice Stadium. The atmosphere on game days has been voted "the best" by secsports.com.

They also claim that this appears:

It has been nicknamed “The Cockpit” by Gamecock fans and local media and “Death Valley South” by Clemson since the Tigers own the place, although both nicknames are unofficial. Steve Spurrier has suggested “The Barnyard” due to the stadium’s proximity to the State Farmers Market or “My Career’s Garveyard” due to his futility there.

Again, not true. Here is the entry:

It has been nicknamed "The Cockpit" by Gamecock fans and local media, although the nickname is unofficial. Steve Spurrier has suggested "The Barnyard" due to the stadium's proximity to the State Farmers Market.

If you would like to check for yourself. Check the link here: WILLIAMS BRICE

YOU SAY GOOD BYE AND I SAY... JUST GO

2008-01-17T21:27:00.000-08:00

University of South Carolina men’s basketball coach Dave Odom is stepping down at the end of the season, multiple sources close to the team confirmed Thursday night.

USC has scheduled a news conference for today but had not specified a time or place by late Thursday.

Odom declined to talk about the subject Thursday night when approached after his radio show.

“You’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do,” he twice told a reporter while walking away.

So... 2008?

2008-01-13T17:26:00.001-08:00

What does 2008 look like for the Gamecock Football team? Who knows! We have talent. We have question marks. We have no special teams and defensive coachs (thank god). So, it leaves everything up in the air. Let's look at the schedule shall we?

08/28/08 vs. North Carolina State
Kudos to the coaching staff for avoiding the whole starting the season with a patsy thing. While NC State is not a barn burner, they are also not a 1AA team. This should be a win for us.

09/04/08 at Vanderbilt
Yes we lost to Vandy last year, but it was a fluke. I do not expect a loss this year. Vandy will remember they are Vandy and our talent should be more than enough to carry us in this game.

09/13/08 vs. Georgia
Who wants to play this game? Anybody? Bueller? Georgia is going to be nucking futs next year and I do not look forward to this game. Our only saving grace is that we are playing at Billy Brice. So, maybe it will be close. Probably not. I am predicting a loss.

09/20/08 vs. Wofford
Win.

09/27/08 vs. UAB
Not a bad team but not on the talent par with South Carolina. Should be a win.

10/04/08 at Mississippi
Win

10/11/08 at Kentucky
Yay! Kentucky is going to be Kentucky again. With out their Heisman hopeful, this should be a win.

10/18/08 vs. LSU
The defending national champs are going to rough and tumble next year again. I say loss.

11/01/08 vs. Tennessee
Spurrier is going to pull an upset here. I say win.

11/08/08 vs. Arkansas
Should be a win. The program is in shambles and McFadden carried the team last year.

11/15/08 at Florida
Florida is also going to be nucking futs. I am thinking the SEC championship will be decided between either Florida and LSU or Georgia and LSU. I saw loss.

11/29/08 at Clemson
Hard to predict. Clemson is so up and down that you never know what to expect. I am going to be bold and say win but it could go either way.

So, I predict a 9 win season in 2008 and that should be acceptable.

How is that for too early predictions? The college football season is still smoldering.

One thing I will say, this season will rest in the hands of an unknown player: Garcia. Yes ,I know you know who he is. I mean we have no idea if he can play the college game. We know what Smelley can do and he is not up to par. If we are to have a chance of doing better than what I listed above, Garcia is going to have to be a phenom.

Done.

JUST HOW BAD ARE WE?

2008-01-13T17:12:00.000-08:00

I am predicting one win in SEC play. That's it.

BRINKLEY & MCKINLEY

2008-01-04T08:30:00.000-08:00

Middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley and all-SEC receiver Kenny McKinley confirmed their intentions to return to USC for their final seasons Thursday when reached by phone.

Neither is expected to participate much in spring practice while continuing to rehab following surgeries. But that is of little concern to a coaching staff that has seen four players leave early for the NFL since Steve Spurrier arrived before the 2005 season.

After watching the wave of televised bowl games, McKinley said he and Brinkley talked excitedly Thursday about the Gamecocks’ chances in 2008. After rising to a No. 6 national ranking with a 6-1 start this season, USC (6-6) lost its final five games and did not receive a bowl bid.

SPURRIER PRESS CONFERENCE ON NEW DC, RECRUITING AND MORE

2007-12-19T16:14:00.000-08:00

Columbia, S.C. - South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier met with the media on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the hiring of defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder and special teams coach Ray Rychleski.

"We've had a couple coaching changes here in the last two days. Ray Rychleski. Rich-LESS-key is how you pronounce his name. I've known Ray a little bit, since we played Maryland in the Orange Bowl back (at the end of) the 2001 season. His name sort of came up, I talked to him a little bit and felt like he was excited for a change in scenery to come to South Carolina and coach in the SEC.

"If you have looked at Ray's track record, which I've looked at thoroughly, I just really felt like this guy knows how to coach special teams. Everyone that I asked about him, concurred and he is a heck of a coach. We really need to get our special teams solidified with everyone knowing what they are doing. Our other coaches did a good job but for some reason, whatever we would tell them, it wouldn't work well enough. The biggest thing about Ray is that he hasn't had a punt blocked in seven years at Maryland. Hopefully that will continue here for seven years, or however long we get this thing worked out here (at South Carolina). He's going to run special teams. He is going to have a chance to get the guys going and be there leader on special teams."

"On the defensive side, yesterday I went over to Atlanta to talk a good hour, hour and a half with Brian VanGorder. He was the coordinator at Georgia for four years in the early 2000's. He has had a couple of years in the NFL at Jacksonville and Atlanta this year. He is a quality guy with a lot of experience. I really think he is going to do a super job. He is the kind of guy that I was looking for. He is a linebackers coach but he will coach everything on defense. He can over-coach the defensive line, over-coach the secondary players and so forth. Hopefully, we will be a faster, more physical team and a team that plays our assignments better."

"Our former coach did a super job here. Tyrone (Nix) worked endlessly. Good guy, good coach, sometimes if its not working a certain way you have to make changes. Tyrone has an excellent opportunity at Ole Miss. We wish those guys the best, except when we play them."

"Getting back to Brian, he is a good family man. He has five children and has been coaching for a long time. He worked his way up through high school, some small colleges. He convinced me that he and his family are ready to settle down a little bit. They are tired of moving and so hopefully we can have him, three to five, seven years, however it works out. He has a three-year deal and Ray has a two-year deal. We are making a strong commitment to these guys that will be an important part of our football program."

"Other than that, recruiting is going fine. There are still a lot of good players out there and a lot of players that haven't done anything (with commitments). It will work its way out and hopefully we will have another outstanding recruiting class."