BeeDee
07-18-2005, 01:37 PM
LINK (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/specials/preview/2005/teams/sec/socarolina.html)
Steve Spurrier could not figure it out. After each of South Carolina's spring practices, a gaggle of Gamecock fans would wait at the exit to the practice fields to get his autograph. "I have not been around anybody [who] wants autographs like here," Spurrier said. "I don't know what it is. I think coach [Lou] Holtz probably closed practice so he didn't have to sign autographs."
Spurrier should not have been surprised at the fans' zeal and hunger for a winner. In 111 seasons of football, South Carolina has a 500-507-44 record and has won only one championship -- the 1969 ACC crown.
The Gamecock faithful thought they were headed in the right direction under Holtz, who enjoyed the best two-year stretch in school history by posting 17 victories and back-to-back Outback Bowl wins over Ohio State following the 2000 and '01 seasons. But a tired Holtz could not finish the deal as the Gamecocks stumbled to consecutive 5-7 finishes, then went 6-5 in '04 -- a season tainted by a fourth-quarter brawl at Clemson that cost Holtz and his team a bowl trip.
Enter Spurrier, lured out of retirement by the opportunity to turn around the Gamecocks' fortunes and prove to skeptics the Ol' Ball Coach could still be a winner following a failed two-year NFL experiment.
"I tried to tell our fans here at South Carolina what happened in the past has no bearing on what we're doing in the future," Spurrier said. "We're all starting fresh."
Spurrier had to deal with a slew of off-the-field issues before he could wipe the slate clean. During Spurrier's first four months on the job, 11 players were arrested on an assortment of charges, and leading rusher Demetris Summers was dismissed for failing a second drug test.
Once the Gamecocks took the field, Spurrier had a different set of spring-cleaning chores -- transforming an offense that had been built for Holtz's ball-control scheme. For much of spring practice, Spurrier's Fun 'n' Gun offense was not much fun.
"We're putting in our scheme of things and obviously you have to fit it with the talent that's here," Spurrier said. "If we can't throw the ball around efficiently, we won't throw it around a lot. We'll try to do whatever we can to move it."
Whether the Gamecocks can win this season in the manner Spurrier is accustomed to is doubtful. The defense looks impressive, but South Carolina will begin two-a-days unsettled at quarterback and faces an SEC East schedule that is more stout than when Spurrier was running roughshod through the conference.
OFFENSE
After a dismal stint with the Washington Redskins, Spurrier is back coaching the way he knows best -- calling the offense and coaching the quarterbacks. Now all he has to do is find a quarterback. Syvelle Newton's move to receiver left Spurrier with a group of candidates who have attempted fewer than 50 passes among them.
Drop-back passer Blake Mitchell seems to be the best fit for the Fun 'n' Gun, but the sophomore needs to become more dedicated in his preparation. Redshirt freshman Antonio Heffner has a strong arm and quick feet, and his confidence grew with each practice in the spring. Incoming freshmen Cade Thompson and Tommy Beecher also could enter the mix.
The Gamecocks lost their leading rusher when Summers was dismissed. Junior Cory Boyd, the leading returning rusher and receiver, was suspended over the summer but is expected to return for fall camp. Spurrier is also eager to see what incoming freshmen Mike Davis and Bobby Wallace can do. Fullback Daccus Turman was the forgotten man in '04 after leading South Carolina in rushing the previous season.
Troy Williamson took his blazing speed and SEC-best 75.9 receiving yards per game to the NFL, meaning the Gamecocks are looking for a go-to receiver. Noah Whiteside and Newton will begin the fall as the starters, assuming Whiteside recovers from a dislocated ankle suffered in the spring game and Newton remains academically eligible. If he stays healthy, 6-foot-4 Sidney Rice will catch a lot of fade routes in the end zone. Carlos Thomas and O.J. Murdock headline a talented freshman receiving class.
DEFENSE
Safety Ko Simpson emerged in '04 as the playmaker the Gamecocks' defense had been lacking. The SEC's Freshman of the Year had six interceptions and returned two turnovers for touchdowns. A broken finger sidelined Simpson in the spring, but expect him to be in the fray this fall, whether he's used at free safety or rover.
Corners Johnathan Joseph and Fred Bennett (four picks in '04) are cover specialists who need to get a little tougher in run support.
South Carolina has been waiting for three years for linebacker Ricardo Hurley to live up to his pedigree. The wait may be over. If the he stays healthy, Hurley should lead the Gamecocks in tackles and be an NFL prospect.
The Gamecocks must replace all four starters up front, but young tackles Marque Hall and Stanley Doughty and end De'Adrian Coley each spent spring practice wreaking havoc in the offensive backfield.
SPECIALISTS
Josh Brown is again expected to handle the placekicking (10-of-13 field goals in 2004) and punting (38.9 yards) for the Gamecocks. He overcame a slow start last year to make nine consecutive field goals during one stretch.
FINAL ANALYSIS
Spurrier's challenge is building a winner without the talent he enjoyed at Florida. Also, with the emergence of Georgia, three teams now stand between the Gamecocks and the top of the SEC East. Spurrier can put the Gamecocks in bowl contention by dispatching non-conference foes UCF and Troy and SEC cellar-dwellers Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
While the Tennessee and Florida games will be huge media events, the most pivotal games are home dates with Alabama and Clemson and a trip to Arkansas. If South Carolina wins two of those three games, it will go bowling again.
Steve Spurrier could not figure it out. After each of South Carolina's spring practices, a gaggle of Gamecock fans would wait at the exit to the practice fields to get his autograph. "I have not been around anybody [who] wants autographs like here," Spurrier said. "I don't know what it is. I think coach [Lou] Holtz probably closed practice so he didn't have to sign autographs."
Spurrier should not have been surprised at the fans' zeal and hunger for a winner. In 111 seasons of football, South Carolina has a 500-507-44 record and has won only one championship -- the 1969 ACC crown.
The Gamecock faithful thought they were headed in the right direction under Holtz, who enjoyed the best two-year stretch in school history by posting 17 victories and back-to-back Outback Bowl wins over Ohio State following the 2000 and '01 seasons. But a tired Holtz could not finish the deal as the Gamecocks stumbled to consecutive 5-7 finishes, then went 6-5 in '04 -- a season tainted by a fourth-quarter brawl at Clemson that cost Holtz and his team a bowl trip.
Enter Spurrier, lured out of retirement by the opportunity to turn around the Gamecocks' fortunes and prove to skeptics the Ol' Ball Coach could still be a winner following a failed two-year NFL experiment.
"I tried to tell our fans here at South Carolina what happened in the past has no bearing on what we're doing in the future," Spurrier said. "We're all starting fresh."
Spurrier had to deal with a slew of off-the-field issues before he could wipe the slate clean. During Spurrier's first four months on the job, 11 players were arrested on an assortment of charges, and leading rusher Demetris Summers was dismissed for failing a second drug test.
Once the Gamecocks took the field, Spurrier had a different set of spring-cleaning chores -- transforming an offense that had been built for Holtz's ball-control scheme. For much of spring practice, Spurrier's Fun 'n' Gun offense was not much fun.
"We're putting in our scheme of things and obviously you have to fit it with the talent that's here," Spurrier said. "If we can't throw the ball around efficiently, we won't throw it around a lot. We'll try to do whatever we can to move it."
Whether the Gamecocks can win this season in the manner Spurrier is accustomed to is doubtful. The defense looks impressive, but South Carolina will begin two-a-days unsettled at quarterback and faces an SEC East schedule that is more stout than when Spurrier was running roughshod through the conference.
OFFENSE
After a dismal stint with the Washington Redskins, Spurrier is back coaching the way he knows best -- calling the offense and coaching the quarterbacks. Now all he has to do is find a quarterback. Syvelle Newton's move to receiver left Spurrier with a group of candidates who have attempted fewer than 50 passes among them.
Drop-back passer Blake Mitchell seems to be the best fit for the Fun 'n' Gun, but the sophomore needs to become more dedicated in his preparation. Redshirt freshman Antonio Heffner has a strong arm and quick feet, and his confidence grew with each practice in the spring. Incoming freshmen Cade Thompson and Tommy Beecher also could enter the mix.
The Gamecocks lost their leading rusher when Summers was dismissed. Junior Cory Boyd, the leading returning rusher and receiver, was suspended over the summer but is expected to return for fall camp. Spurrier is also eager to see what incoming freshmen Mike Davis and Bobby Wallace can do. Fullback Daccus Turman was the forgotten man in '04 after leading South Carolina in rushing the previous season.
Troy Williamson took his blazing speed and SEC-best 75.9 receiving yards per game to the NFL, meaning the Gamecocks are looking for a go-to receiver. Noah Whiteside and Newton will begin the fall as the starters, assuming Whiteside recovers from a dislocated ankle suffered in the spring game and Newton remains academically eligible. If he stays healthy, 6-foot-4 Sidney Rice will catch a lot of fade routes in the end zone. Carlos Thomas and O.J. Murdock headline a talented freshman receiving class.
DEFENSE
Safety Ko Simpson emerged in '04 as the playmaker the Gamecocks' defense had been lacking. The SEC's Freshman of the Year had six interceptions and returned two turnovers for touchdowns. A broken finger sidelined Simpson in the spring, but expect him to be in the fray this fall, whether he's used at free safety or rover.
Corners Johnathan Joseph and Fred Bennett (four picks in '04) are cover specialists who need to get a little tougher in run support.
South Carolina has been waiting for three years for linebacker Ricardo Hurley to live up to his pedigree. The wait may be over. If the he stays healthy, Hurley should lead the Gamecocks in tackles and be an NFL prospect.
The Gamecocks must replace all four starters up front, but young tackles Marque Hall and Stanley Doughty and end De'Adrian Coley each spent spring practice wreaking havoc in the offensive backfield.
SPECIALISTS
Josh Brown is again expected to handle the placekicking (10-of-13 field goals in 2004) and punting (38.9 yards) for the Gamecocks. He overcame a slow start last year to make nine consecutive field goals during one stretch.
FINAL ANALYSIS
Spurrier's challenge is building a winner without the talent he enjoyed at Florida. Also, with the emergence of Georgia, three teams now stand between the Gamecocks and the top of the SEC East. Spurrier can put the Gamecocks in bowl contention by dispatching non-conference foes UCF and Troy and SEC cellar-dwellers Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
While the Tennessee and Florida games will be huge media events, the most pivotal games are home dates with Alabama and Clemson and a trip to Arkansas. If South Carolina wins two of those three games, it will go bowling again.