Where's_Demetris?
10-03-2005, 03:54 AM
Ask a USC fan to tell you what the lowest point ever in Gamecock football is and you should immediately get a response of "1999." Well, believe it or not, we may quite possibly be on pace for a second choice of "2005". Allow me to examine the two teams in question.
In '99, we were ranked 105th in rushing yards, averaging 89.7 ypg. As we all know, we are now ranked 115th with an average of 66.4 ypg. As for stopping the run, we are now ranked 94th, giving up 183 ypg.; where as in '99 we finished 57th with an average of 146.2 ypg. Our total defense is ranked 52nd, allowing an average of 360.8 ypg.; in 1999 our total defense was ACTUALLY ranked 20th allowing 307.7 ypg. Our scoring defense is now ranked 71st while allowing 27.4 ppg., where as in '99, we were ranked 58th with 25.3 ppg. Are all of the statistics lower in comparison? No.
In 1999, our total offense and scoring offense were both ranked DEAD LAST, averaging 228.6 ypg. with 7.9 ppg. This year, our offense averages 296 ypg. (98th); while our scoring offense averages 21 ppg. (88th).
Our passing game has actually improved greatly compared to '99, thanks alone to the numbers put up by Mitchell(mostly against UCF who, by the way, FINALLY got a freakin' win). We now average 229.6 ypg. (58th), where in 1999 we only averaged 138.9 ypg. (103rd). Against the pass in '99, we finished 73rd, averaging 161.5 ypg. This year, we are averaging 115 ypg (44th), BUT, we only allowed 13 TD's in the air in '99. This year, we have already allowed 5 passing TD's and have yet to face the likes of Clausen, Leak, Whitehurst and, Oh yes, Jay Cutler.
Will this year end up in the books along side of 1999? Suprisingly enough, I feel that a lot of the answer lies in our performance this week against Kentucky. This is our absolute LAST chance for a positive spark, because afterwards, you can pretty much go ahead and check the "L" column for the remainder of the season. BUT, Gamecock faithful, here's the bright side.
Although we all remember the season of 1999, we all also all remember what came after that....A taste of success.......and guess what.......that taste of success was provided by a man who proved to be in failing mental health (I get nauseous everytime I hear his voice on Gameday). We now have the greatest coach of the nineties, HANDS DOWN. So, let's all close close our eyes and imagine what kind of rebuilding can be done with Steve-O running the show.
If you're still reading this lenghty post by "Where's_Demetris?", YOU RULE. :cool:
In '99, we were ranked 105th in rushing yards, averaging 89.7 ypg. As we all know, we are now ranked 115th with an average of 66.4 ypg. As for stopping the run, we are now ranked 94th, giving up 183 ypg.; where as in '99 we finished 57th with an average of 146.2 ypg. Our total defense is ranked 52nd, allowing an average of 360.8 ypg.; in 1999 our total defense was ACTUALLY ranked 20th allowing 307.7 ypg. Our scoring defense is now ranked 71st while allowing 27.4 ppg., where as in '99, we were ranked 58th with 25.3 ppg. Are all of the statistics lower in comparison? No.
In 1999, our total offense and scoring offense were both ranked DEAD LAST, averaging 228.6 ypg. with 7.9 ppg. This year, our offense averages 296 ypg. (98th); while our scoring offense averages 21 ppg. (88th).
Our passing game has actually improved greatly compared to '99, thanks alone to the numbers put up by Mitchell(mostly against UCF who, by the way, FINALLY got a freakin' win). We now average 229.6 ypg. (58th), where in 1999 we only averaged 138.9 ypg. (103rd). Against the pass in '99, we finished 73rd, averaging 161.5 ypg. This year, we are averaging 115 ypg (44th), BUT, we only allowed 13 TD's in the air in '99. This year, we have already allowed 5 passing TD's and have yet to face the likes of Clausen, Leak, Whitehurst and, Oh yes, Jay Cutler.
Will this year end up in the books along side of 1999? Suprisingly enough, I feel that a lot of the answer lies in our performance this week against Kentucky. This is our absolute LAST chance for a positive spark, because afterwards, you can pretty much go ahead and check the "L" column for the remainder of the season. BUT, Gamecock faithful, here's the bright side.
Although we all remember the season of 1999, we all also all remember what came after that....A taste of success.......and guess what.......that taste of success was provided by a man who proved to be in failing mental health (I get nauseous everytime I hear his voice on Gameday). We now have the greatest coach of the nineties, HANDS DOWN. So, let's all close close our eyes and imagine what kind of rebuilding can be done with Steve-O running the show.
If you're still reading this lenghty post by "Where's_Demetris?", YOU RULE. :cool: