No respect for USC

[Neo]

I do NOT understand how people are saying that Vanderbilt is going to win. This is a team that went 2-10-0 last year and the only teams they beat were UT-Chattanooga (Div II) and Kentucky. The rest of their games they lost by an average of 17.9 points per loss. That is not the resume of an up and coming program. If USC/Mr. Holtz wants to change the mentality of the players, then quit understating your players. USC has some very talented players at key positions and I honestly feel that this year USC will actually be competitive with anyone in the conference. Do you think Georgia is sweating Georgia Southern??? NO WAY!!

Any thoughts???

[Benthelus]

USC will beat Vandy. Anyone who thinks differently is a goob.

Kentucky will be much better this season. They finally got rid of that lardazz ballhog.

ya

[Neo]

Well...both you and I agree but that doesn't mean that the rest of the world is sane. Vanderbilt is not per say, a bad team. They just don't have what it takes in depth and talent. I honestly think that USC's TB Summers is going to have a field day with Vandy and they are going to be at a loss for words. I have just been reading message boards and I cannot believe that people are actually treating Vandy like they are running for the national title.

[oxfordrebel]

I think Vandy will win Saturday. They have the talent, it's just very understated. You're right about them not having the depth. But who needs that much depth their first game of the season? Vandy gets a hard fought win to open up the season. If they don't win, U of SC won't win by much. 3-7 max.

Lou's a great coach, but his game has definately gone down and, IMHO, I think he's just hurting the U of SC program now. It's time to get someone in there who will bring a new approach and can actually develop a QB. Pinkins is a great runner, but he's not an SEC QB. If you can't pass as well as run, you're just not going to make it that far in this conference.

[RW13]

Guess we got respect the old-fashioned way, earned it by winning 31-6! Too bad the Rebels didn't beat Memphis, although they lost to Memphis last year en route to a 10 win season....

[Neo]

Guess we got respect the old-fashioned way, earned it by winning 31-6! Too bad the Rebels didn't beat Memphis, although they lost to Memphis last year en route to a 10 win season....

Now they don't have the playmaker Eli Manning.

[RW13]

yep yep, no more mannings for at least another generation....

[Neo]

Still no respect. We whooped Vanderbilt & South Florida by an average of 32.5 points a game and lost to UGA 20-16. (Was leading 16-3 at the half.) We have people up here in Monroe, NC saying that they think Troy is going to blow us out. I really don't think Troy will. I think Troy will get a taste of our defense just like South Florida did.

USC 28
Troy 7

[RW13]

I think we'll win a closer game with Troy than the others. Even if we win 8 games this year we would not get any respect, they just won't give it to us which is fine....

[oxfordrebel]

I think we'll win a closer game with Troy than the others. Even if we win 8 games this year we would not get any respect, they just won't give it to us which is fine....

U of SC is a lot like Ole Miss in this way. The only way either of our schools will ever get major, consistant respect is if we win the MNC 2 or 3 years in a row. Then we MIGHT show up in a preseason poll. My sympathies to y'all, but like you said, perhaps it's better not to be ranked preseason and be favored (see UGA).

[RW13]

exactly, I think we are very similar to Ole Miss in that aspect. We both have the QB problems and Squandered talent problems that you guys have also...

[oxfordrebel]

exactly, I think we are very similar to Ole Miss in that aspect. We both have the QB problems and Squandered talent problems that you guys have also...

Well...um...gee...um...thanks...I-I-I guess...

Nah, j/j. You're right, on some levels Ole Miss and U of SC both have the same types of problems. Unfortunately our coach won't realize that we have one of the fastest players in the SEC, yet wants to play him at QB instead of something like RB or WR. Coach, let a QB play QB and let a guy who needs to be using his speed use his speed. Sure, it would be nice to have Michael Vick pt. 2 playing for us. Spurlock's got the speed, just not the decision making ability nor the leadership. Let Flatt QB and let Spurlock burn the opposing D as a RB or something like that. Dang.

It's the same type of thing with Coach Holtz. You have a great runner at QB who can play the option game pretty well, but he's not a passer. Perhaps the answer is a 2 QB system (although that throws off the timing of the offense). Anything as long as it puts points on the board.