South Carolina looks to move to 2-0 in the SEC, but it'll be a tough road test at Alabama where the Gamecocks are double-digit underdogs despite their hot start. I'll have live updates and post-game coverage here.

Hey there,

I'm going to try to keep these threads up each month throughout the year. Feel free to ask me any question you think of about Gamecock athletics or recruiting, and I'll attempt to answer it, or find someone who knows.

Thanks to all of you who check the board regularly throughout the football off-season.

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On Stepp, Wright, and the Gamecocks’ program: “I liked (Stepp), because he wasn’t just all about football. He talked about (principles) like working hard, and life in general. That’s the thing I got from the (Carolina) coaches, man. They just ask ‘how are you doing?’ Football is the last thing they bring up.They always make it about family and values like coming a better man. That’s what stood out about Coach Stepp and Coach Wright. Those are the things they talk about.”

“I think Carolina would take care of me academically, and treat me like family for sure, just like they are now.

Murph on great wide receivers at Carolina and what it personally means to him: “They’re getting a lot of great guys at receiver in the 2024 cycle and (via) the portal. I’m seeing lots of wideouts coming through (at Carolina). Xavier Legette is an animal. (Legette) is going to the league, he’s just different. Every time I went to Carolina for a game, that’s who I was watching. He is a big receiver that has (several) great qualities. I see a lot of similarities between us. Watching him move around the field, that’s how I see myself as a high school player now, (Irmo) just using me in different ways.”

On fitting into offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains’ system schematically: “I just know the system, and I would be able to fit into that system, because that’s the type of receiver I am.”

On the culture Shane Beamer is building at Carolina: “(Beamer) is trying to build something special. You can just tell by the way he speaks. I know he’s trying to build something special at Carolina. That’s why so many players are signing to Carolina into the transfer portal, because everybody wants to buy into that same system.”

The good

We are 13-1 and 1-0 in the conference

We played good defense when we needed to in order to win

We hit the boards hard and out rebounded them by about 10

Cooper had 7 assists which was more than half of our total.

We got to the line 26 times and miss state only 14.

The bad

Mack and Cooper can't throw it in the ocean If they were neck deep (combined 2 of 15)

These same two guys missed 4 free throws with under a minute left that would have given us a comfortable 10 point win instead of Meechie having to make a steal to keep miss state from having a chance to take the lead with under 15 seconds to go.

The ugly

Our defense allowed them to stay in the game by letting them shoot 52% for the majority of the game before they stepped up at the end.

Josh Gray.... He comes in, gets 3 fouls on what I swear was three possessions and leaves.

I again mention, free throw shooting with under a minute to go. Meechie did his job. The rest? Not even close.

My takes

I am happy for the win. More positive than negative came from this game. I guess my frustration comes from seeing what this team COULD do if they play to their potential and what will happen with lapses like I saw today. I am not a critic. Just a fan who supports the University and wants to see them do well in all sports. If Mack, Cooper, and Clark can shoot better (or in Clarks case, shoot it) and make 40% of their shots with what we have at other positions we will have a chance in most games. We gutted it out today. Most other teams,won't be that forgiving. Go Cocks.

We just may have something here.
Crickets on this board.

Back at CLA? Back at CLA.

Same matchup as yesterday, this time on the women's side. South Carolina hosting Mississippi State at 1 p.m. on ESPNU. Everything as it should be in warm-ups. Updates and thoughts to follow.

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The rest have been revealed.

As we alluded to the last month or so, Daniel Hill ultimately lands with Alabama. I think the staff did a good job with the position in the portal and have been anticipating being without him for a while.

Brady Hunt -- the transfer portal tight end from Ball State who committed to South Carolina on Dec. 17 and officially signed on Dec. 20 before reportedly flipping to Texas A&M two days ago -- cleared the air:

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And the response from the head coach:

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Our initial story on Hunt when he signed:

Two stories from a big game at CLA today, a gamer and some thoughts on the defense at the end with quotes from Lamont Paris, Meechie Johnson and Myles Stute. Back tomorrow for the same matchup on the women's side:

Gamer:

Defense:

Hello from Colonial Life Arena for the first time in 2024 where we have.....a big game on the men's side? Yep, sure do.

SEC play returns to Columbia with a nationally televised game against Mississippi State. Good test for this taem in a big spot.

Stick around for live updates and let's have some fun.

I have 2 tickets in section 104 row 22 or 2 tickets in section 103 row 17 or 2 tickets in section 103 row 18 $30.00 per ticket or best offer . Call or text 803-446-1163.

The Solution is to require Players to sign contracts like the Pros. Give them the money. But i was always taught with money comes responsibility. Performance and commitment by contract. If the player leaves require he/she to pay back the money, because of Breach of contract. So it would be treated like a loan.

With Money comes responsibility/performance/commitment through a signed contract. CSB and Staff are going to Need to discuss a Plan/System/ Process to better Retain Starters/Contributors. Not all of them. But we need to decrease our number of Transfer Portal Deflections. I like CSB and I want him to be successful Coaching USC. I he can't minimize the number of kids leaving yearly it cost him and his Coaches their Jobs,
I know the contract option had already mentioned/discussed by other posters. But I thought it needed to be mentioned again to express my Point of View

Apparently has been relieved of his job, after shitty recruiting and a shit job of coaching.