Finally, Chris Smelley has been named the starter for the Carolina Vs. Tennessee game tomorrow night. Chris is 4-1 as a starter. His only loss thus far game last weekend when Spurrier rotated him with Blake Mitchell. I fully look for Chris to come out and be on point in this game. No doubt UT has watched the blitz put on by Vandy last week and the defense we see Saturday will be similar. Smelley is a little more mobile than Blake and given the Chance I think he can get in to the groove and do well.
Your guess is as good as mine. Really makes me nervous.
Fifth-year senior Blake Mitchell and redshirt freshman Chris Smelley combined to start the first eight games. But after the Gamecocks gave up seven sacks in a 17-6 loss to Vanderbilt, Spurrier added Tommy Beecher to the competition because of the redshirt sophomore’s mobility.
Neither Mitchell nor Smelley was made available to reporters Wednesday.
The Gamecocks are well represented this week in the SEC players of the week.
ERIC NORWOOD
Defensive End
SOUTH CAROLINA
6-0 • 258 • Sophomore
Acworth, Ga. (North Cobb HS)
# Norwood returned two fumbles for touchdowns and also registered five solo tackles in South Carolina's 38-23 win against Kentucky.# Norwood became just the fourth player in NCAA Division I history to return two fumbles for touchdowns in a single game.
# In addition to his five total tackles, Norwood had one tackle for a loss, two pass deflections and a quarterback pressure.
# South Carolina's defense forced four Kentucky turnovers in the game.
SEC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK (2ND WEEK IN A ROW)
CHRIS SMELLEY
Quarterback
SOUTH CAROLINA
6-2 • 221
Tuscaloosa, Ala. (American Christian HS)
# Making just the third start of his career, Smelley completed 17-of-30 passes for 256 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in South Carolina's 38-23 win against Kentucky.
# Smelley directed two fourth quarter scoring drives that helped secure the victory for the Gamecocks. Both drives ended on Smelley TD passes.
# For the season, Smelley has completed 58-of-107 passes for 810 yards with six TDs and three interceptions.
OTHER OUTSTANDING PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:CB CAPTAIN MUNNERLYN (South Carolina) -- Logged seven total tackles with an interception and fumble recovery against Kentucky.
CHRIS SMELLEY Quarterback SOUTH CAROLINA 6-2 • 221 Tuscaloosa, Ala. (American Christian HS)
Making just the second start of his career, Smelley completed 19-of-37 passes for 279 yards with two touchdowns (all career highs) in South Carolina's 38-21 win against Mississippi State.
With Carolina trailing 21-17 late in the third quarter, Smelley hit Kenny McKinley with a 27-yard TD pass to put the Gamecocks ahead, 24-21.
On the ensuing USC drive, Smelley led Carolina to another touchdown. A key play of the drive, was a 48-yard strike to McKinley that set up Mike Davis' 2-yard TD run.
As Blake Mitchell stood on the sideline at Williams-Brice Stadium before last week’s season opener, a group of fans heckled and yelled insults at South Carolina’s fifth-year quarterback.
That is not unusual, except the heckling was coming from Gamecocks’ fans.
“It doesn’t surprise me. People are going to be upset,” said Mitchell, suspended for the Louisiana-Lafayette game due to excessive summer school absences.
While I completely understand the frustration of my fellow gamecocks in regards to Blake Mitchell's side line inducing abscence from classes, I am absolutely disgusted that our fans would heckle, hurl insults or whatever they did at the kid.
It is a good thing that I am not Blake Mitchell, while I have honor and a sense of duty in reserve, I would probably have to ask the question: Why do it? Why should I go out there and put my body on the line for a bunch of fair weather fans who would not even know where to begin if they were charged with leading this team?
Come gamecocks, we are better than that. Of course, there always a few idiots no matter where you go.
So, Blake if you read this, know it isn't all of us. I have faith in you and if other gamecocks have a problem with you, then don't play for them. Play for us, the ones who have your back.
