actual activity on this board, Southern Fried Chicken. Good try

It's gametime at CLA, well for Marquette and South Florida at least. Stick around for updates all day from the first day of March Madness.

With N.I.L., the Portal, with the appearance of non-enforcement of academic requirements .... and a hint of favoritism ... is it time to dissolve the current NCAA governing body and create a new one ... perhaps even 2 or 3 separate governing bodies?

C'mon ... has the current NCAA been working towards what YOU ... Mr Fan, wants to see? Maybe, if you prefer Professional College Sports. But, everytime I read a post, someone wants to sign a SC two star who is underrated. What about a division limiting recruiting area? I agree, at first it sounds insane. But, isn't that what SC locals really want? Local players, local opponents? If not, why do we schedule the Citadels and Woffards? Does EVERYTHING in our lives have to involve a WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP??? LOL!!! Seriously, .... think this through .... What do YOU want? Not what does ESPN, Fox, MLB want. SCREW 'EM!

….against Norfolk State at 2 p.m. (ESPN). We’re currently 48.5 point favorite.

Daniel Hankins-Sanford hit the portal today. I felt it was close to 50-50 with him. DHS was definitely a better fit schematically for what the previous staff required.

That makes three scholarship players in the portal. DHS, Benson, and Minott. Ford Cooper is also in the portal, but he was not on scholarship.

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The Gamecocks had an open locker room session the day before their first round game against the Norfolk Spartnas. Here is how the roster is feeling ahead of the NCAA Tournament opener:

Aliyah Boston on why she gave Laeticia Amihere her SEC First-Team All-Tournament award:
"She was so deserving of it. She really was. I think the entire tournament she was competing, she was dominating, especailly the game where we were playing Arkansas she was on the verge of a triple-double. I just felt like she deserved to be recognzied, so I just felt like I needed to give it to her. What she brings with versatility, she can play any position and be great at it. She can defend any position and be ready for it. She brings energy, she helps push pace, she's just a great teammate."

Brea Beal:
On rest:
"I definitely feel better. I feel recovered. Especailly having that very physical SEC tournament, so I feel good."

On the tournament:
"The senior class, we know what it feels like. We know what it takes to get to that last game. It feels good to be able to go through the season that we went through last season, but also the season we went through sophomore year because we know what it takes to avoid situations like that."

"It feels different because we're seniors. It's our last go around, so it feels more emotional."

I also asked her about her decision for next year (she still has a COVID year of eligibility if she wants it) but she said she predictably hasn't made any decision yet.

Kierra Fletcher:

On meeting Dawn for the first time two years ago at the NCAA Tournament:
Some of the younger generation of kids, they don't really understand what we are expericing now. It was just super, super huge just because when I'm meeting someome I look up to so much, I get extremely nervous. My mom was like, 'you need to just say hi, you need to just go for it. She's not going to bite.' It was a good conversation. She was just how she is all the time. It is something I think about a lot just because it is kind of a full circle moment."

On her official visit being at the tournament last year:
"It's weird because the hotel we're staying at now for the tournament is the same hotel that I stayed at with the team last weekend. It's just super weird, hoenstly, but it's like a good weird."

On if Dawn has lived up to her expectations:
"Oh yeah, definitely. She's great. I'm happy that I'm here. She's a great coach and a great person, and she's everything like how she is. There's nothing difdferent about her, she's her genuine self."

Bree Hall:
"I think a lot of the mindset last year comes into play this year. I think our mentality last year was to just take it game by game and not look too far ahead at the end of them. I think also our drive and how focused we are is really the same as last year. We want to go back-to-back, we're an udnefeated team, so I think having that perfect record would be the perfect life for us. And winning it for the seniors would also be just unimaginable."

On being undefeated:
As an undefeated team we don't talk about it at all. As a team we don't talk about the streak or anything. We just shut out all the accolades and awards that we've got going on and just focus on the team aspect of it.

On excitement:
"I'm very excited. I think we're all really fresh bodies and we're just mentally prepared for the game. We've been practicing really, really good as a team. We're just getting excited."

Bree was also talking about just playing big games, and she told a story of a buzzer-beater she hit in a big high school game:

"It was against Fairmont in Ohio, and it was a really big matchup. That's a really known rivalry in the Dayton area. I don't exactly remember what the score was, but I remember I just did a little spin move and a little jumper right in front of the rim and I made it, and that was game."

Raven Johnson:
"I'm very excited. There is no better way you'd want to end your season than playing with the seniors and the upperclassmen."

On what can translate from last year:
Knowing that it's win or lose we know that we have to bring our all and we can't take any team for granted because teams come out and bring everything at us. We know that we have to bring our all every night."

"Honestly. I'm just happy. I'm very excited. We have six more games. I know the feeling of winning it, and I want to have that feeling again."

Laeticia Amihere:
On the environment:
"I'm ready to get it shaking. Once it starts it doesn't stop, and we're just ready to get it rolling."

On what can carry over from last year:
"The mindset and preparation is all going to be the same. The teams are going to be different, but it's all the same battle."

Sania Feagin:
Said she had class on her birthday but they went out to eat as a team last night.

On excitement to get going:
I'm really excited. I love the energy from our FAMs, and knowing that we're home meaning a lot more FAMs will come, the team has a lot more energy and great chemistry. I just love it all.

Talaysia Cooper:
On excitement:
"I'm excited. This is my first year at the NCAA Tournament as a freshman, so I don't have any feeling but excitement."

Olivia Thompson:
On the feeling:
"It's different. We have an undefeated season behind us now, and that's definitely some extra motivation to keep it going. Coming in last year off a loss that gave us an extra little boost to do our thing in the tournament, but now coming in undefeated I think it gives us an extra level of motivation."

On the rest:
"I think we're feeling good, but I think we're all at a level where we understand what we need to do. Even if we don't get much rest, we're all locked in. It's six games left, we just have to give it our all for six more games. We can definitely make it happen, we've done it before."

On one last weekend at CLA:
I think now when I think about it it's going to be a little emotional, but in the moment I'm going to be thinking about winning a National Championship again. It is sad here that my time here is coming to an end, but I'm also really excited for what's ahead and hopefully having another national championship."

Hey fans, any where to get a good quality gamecock rooster crow sound like the one they blast in the stadium? Ive looked all over the internet and only found lame crows or old dead links from 10 years ago. I want to blast a rooster call from stereo on my screen porch on lake Murray. I know the sound will carry far.
Help me out!

Live updates on the last game before SEC play.

Same nine position players as usual with Matthew Becker making his second start of the season on the mound.

Story on the position battle at center with some quotes from Shane Beamer, Dowell Loggains and Nick Gargiulo.

Game story from Founders Park on the last game before SEC play. Quotes in here from Mark Kingston about midweeks, from Eli Jones about how he is feeling on his role and Ethan Petry about how hitting behind Gavin Casas and Cole Messina is helping his own growth. As always, thanks for reading!

Spring football is underway and we'll hear from the three coordinators shortly.

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Notably he was scheduled to visit today, along with WR Micah Gilbert and RB Anthony Carrie.

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Quotes from Dawn Staley and Brea Beal on the bracket reveal:

"I know we're not the same teams, but there's some familiarity as you go down the bracket,"

The first Rivals250 for the 2025 class, and the Gamecocks are in the game with #1 overall recruit out of Savannah, GA Elijah Griffin.

In addition to Griffin, there are several South Carolina High School players that made the list, many of which we will keep their eye on for future offers.

#28 Overall, DT Amare Adams (already has a Gamecock offer, and I'd say SC leads early)

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#146 Overall, ATH Armoni Weaver (actually doesn't have a Gamecock offer yet, but probably will soon)

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#161 Overall (Weaver's teammate at Byrnes) ATH Chamarryus Bomar (another one without an offer yet, but to keep an eye on)

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#216 Overall, QB Kaegan Chambers (it'll be interesting to see if the Gamecocks do eventually offer, they already have a couple of other 2025 QBs on their list)

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#229 Overall, RB Marquise Henderson (Vandy was recently his first SEC offer, and Justin Stepp is following him on Twitter, so one to monitor)

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Getting ready to hear from Beamer to recap the first day of spring practice.

As Perry alluded to this morning when he tried to predict how the roster might change once the portal opens, both Tre'Vaughn Minott and Javon Benson are headed to the portal,

Tramel: Why a nine-game SEC football schedule is no sure thing when OU, Texas join​

Berry Tramel
Oklahoman

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Arkansas or Missouri? Florida or Louisiana State? Any way to get Vanderbilt? Any way to avoid Alabama?
Lots of questions, lots of angst, over the Southeastern Conference schedule as OU and Texas prepare to join the league in 16 months. Three permanent football opponents for each school will be necessary if the SEC adopts a nine-game conference schedule.
And the nine-game format has been cast as the likely SEC decision. But hold your Boomer and Sooner.
Both OU and Texas sources say the eight-game schedule could emerge as the SEC decision.
“I don’t think we’ll have a definitive direction until we go to those meetings and figure out specifics,” UT athletic director Chris Del Conte said of SEC spring meetings, which come in May at Destin, Florida.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey confirmed that belief with his comments Friday in Nashville, during the SEC basketball tournament.
Sankey said the debate revolves around fairness and balance. Not all rivalries are equal. The SEC will consider eliminating the likes of Alabama-Tennessee and Georgia-Auburn in the name of equity.
“There are a number of factors,” Sankey said. “One certainly is competitive. We want to be respectful there.”
The decision will have massive ramifications for both the Sooners and Longhorns.
Mainly this. Instead of four SEC home games each year, OU and Texas would alternately have three or four home games each season, thanks to their century-long tradition of playing each other in Dallas every October.
Seven SEC home games, instead of eight, over each two-year period is no small thing.
An enhanced home schedule is the second-biggest reason behind the SEC’s allure. The lucrative television contract is No. 1; the season-ticket value is No. 2.
“You want more teams coming to your place,” Del Conte said. “You should want variety.”

The Gamecocks released their Pro Day Numbers from today. A total of 13 players participated, although not everybody did every drill and test. Here are the numbers, per the university:

Based on the press conferences last night following the loss, it would seem that Meechie Johnson, Josh Gray, and Jacobi Wright all have plans to return next season. Also don’t forget about transfer Ibrima Dibba who plans to come back after his off-season injury.

The jury is obviously still out on G. G. Jackson. I’d still tend to lean on him not returning, and trying his hand at the NBA draft, but will keep you folks updated as I get new information.

Hayden Brown is the only player out of eligibility.

The portal should get going here in the next week and we will have updates on who might seek new horizons and who the Gamecocks are targeting from around the country.