Rome Is Burning

[Rixon Lane]

Eleven seasons after it started, the Steve Spurrier Era has come full circle.

And I don't mean that in a good way.

http://www.gamecockcereal.com/home/2015/9/16/rome-is-burning

 

[classof95#]

I agree with most, if not all, of this article. We've had a historically incredible run, and we're heading downhill fast. Not looking to fire anyone, or blame anyone. Very disappointed with current state, however, like others on this board, I'm willing to cheer for our Gamecocks under all circumstances. Those young men, and all of the coaches and staff, work extremely hard. I'm proud to be a Gamecock, rain or shine.

Go Gamecocks!

PS. Give GA all they can handle, and then some!

 

[Rixon Lane]

I agree with most, if not all, of this article. We've had a historically incredible run, and we're heading downhill fast. Not looking to fire anyone, or blame anyone. Very disappointed with current state, however, like others on this board, I'm willing to cheer for our Gamecocks under all circumstances. Those young men, and all of the coaches and staff, work extremely hard. I'm proud to be a Gamecock, rain or shine.

Go Gamecocks!

PS. Give GA all they can handle, and then some!

Stating what I feel is the obvious. Not making a case for any one particular action to be taken, but feel that it's to the point where something has to be done. Thanks for reading.

 

[umdterpcock]

We don't have Connor Shaw. He was our saving grace. He made up for bad play calls, bad offensive lines, and he kept our good defense on the bench by extending drives with his feet. Yeah our defense was good, had play makers and had good future NFL talent but they were better because of Connor Shaw.

And Whammy can say thank you to Connor as well for hiding him as long as he did.

Todays teams that win the most have a Connor Shaw type guy running the show, not always, but more do than don't.

 

[PalmTree85]

the article is best described as "meh". Rome is not burning. Sometimes you hit in recruiting and sometimes you don't. we were never going to be on the same level as UGA or Alabama, teams that consistently year in and year out seem to find new Herschel Walkers or David Greenes in on their roster.

Spurrier has never been a 90hour work week kind of coach, with his nose to the grind stone reviewing x's and o's and then hitting the recruiting trail. It isn't what he does, it never has been, this shouldn't be a revelation to anyone now.

Everyone is surprised that we are kind of a soft team? We've always been a soft team minus DJ Swearinger knocking the piss out of every WR and RB that ever gave him an opportunity. Spurrier conducts practice in a laid back type of way. He always has, as evidenced by our ass kicking by Iowa a few years ago in the bowl game. This should not be a revelation either.

Things will turn around this year and if they don't we'll move onto next season, with or without current coaching staff. Rome isn't burning, that'd suggest there was a Rome in the first place.

 

[Rixon Lane]

We don't have Connor Shaw. He was our saving grace. He made up for bad play calls, bad offensive lines, and he kept our good defense on the bench by extending drives with his feet. Yeah our defense was good, had play makers and had good future NFL talent but they were better because of Connor Shaw.

And Whammy can say thank you to Connor as well for hiding him as long as he did.

Todays teams that win the most have a Connor Shaw type guy running the show, not always, but more do than don't.

No denying that talent can hide a lot. Shaw certainly made life easier.

 

[Rixon Lane]

the article is best described as "meh". Rome is not burning. Sometimes you hit in recruiting and sometimes you don't. we were never going to be on the same level as UGA or Alabama, teams that consistently year in and year out seem to find new Herschel Walkers or David Greenes in on their roster.

Spurrier has never been a 90hour work week kind of coach, with his nose to the grind stone reviewing x's and o's and then hitting the recruiting trail. It isn't what he does, it never has been, this shouldn't be a revelation to anyone now.

Everyone is surprised that we are kind of a soft team? We've always been a soft team minus DJ Swearinger knocking the piss out of every WR and RB that ever gave him an opportunity. Spurrier conducts practice in a laid back type of way. He always has, as evidenced by our ass kicking by Iowa a few years ago in the bowl game. This should not be a revelation either.

Things will turn around this year and if they don't we'll move onto next season, with or without current coaching staff. Rome isn't burning, that'd suggest there was a Rome in the first place.

Appreciate you reading...I would disagree with the idea that South Carolina was a soft team from 2011-13 and I don't think the Iowa bowl game from 2009 has much to do with anything in the piece.

 

[G-C-Gamecock]

Cue the "hack journalist" posts. I agree with everything said except the statement "There is no simple answer to what turned this team back..." I feel it's very clear, nepotism and laziness.

 

[Rixon Lane]

Cue the "hack journalist" posts. I agree with everything said except the statement "There is no simple answer to what turned this team back..." I feel it's very clear, nepotism and laziness.

Thanks for taking time to read

 

[PalmTree85]

Appreciate you reading...I would disagree with the idea that South Carolina was a soft team from 2011-13 and I don't think the Iowa bowl game from 2009 has much to do with anything in the piece.

The story gives the impression that Spurrier has gone into Alzheimer's mode and the golden years are behind us. I disagree, I think people have an unrealistic vision of who Spurrier is and how he goes about his business.

It mentions about huge misses in recruiting which is somehow his fault. Sometimes kids don't work out and they transfer. They don't get their ass kissed the way they want, they aren't ready to work for it or they just get home sick and want to leave. We'll get new kids in and press on with the mission.

The story doesn't mention the team being soft or the Iowa game, but it mentions a lot of things that people bitch and complain about on a regular basis. People have talked about us not being focused in the first halves of the first two games. It's because we run a soft football program and don't light fires under these kids like other coaches do. It isn't a bad thing, just the way Spurrier goes about with his program.

I don't agree that the program is on fire.

 

[Rixon Lane]

The story gives the impression that Spurrier has gone into Alzheimer's mode and the golden years are behind us. I disagree, I think people have an unrealistic vision of who Spurrier is and how he goes about his business.

It mentions about huge misses in recruiting which is somehow his fault. Sometimes kids don't work out and they transfer. They don't get their ass kissed the way they want, they aren't ready to work for it or they just get home sick and want to leave. We'll get new kids in and press on with the mission.

The story doesn't mention the team being soft or the Iowa game, but it mentions a lot of things that people bitch and complain about on a regular basis. People have talked about us not being focused in the first halves of the first two games. It's because we run a soft football program and don't light fires under these kids like other coaches do. It isn't a bad thing, just the way Spurrier goes about with his program.

I don't agree that the program is on fire.

Not trying to put everything on Spurrier. This is a problem for the entire program, not just the head coach. Of course, he's going to get the majority of the blame because that comes with the job.

 

[Scuba_do]

I don't wear garnet colored glasses and yet I still disagree with you on many points. Yes, there appears to be a systemic issue with recruiting and Spurrier has acknowledged that.
Here's a few points I either disagree with or would like to make as a counter:

• Kentucky has a much better ball team than in the past. This remains to be seen by many, but if you couldn't see the difference last week in QB play, receiver quality, and capable running backs, you must have not been watching. We were not the only SEC win they will enjoy this year.
• Tennessee isn't as great as they have been billed. Their defense is improved but Dobbs isn't the second coming of Manning by any means. Regardless of the fact that he is an Aerospace engineering student, he is making frequent mistakes, and his accuracy isn't great. They are beatable.
• I predict we will beat Missouri this year. They are winning "ugly" again, and I think their luck will run out.
• How can you speak of Clemson's quality as a team when they haven't beaten a team with a pulse yet? I HONESTLY believe, we will beat them this year. they have a very week OL, and that will hurt them beginning tomorrow night at Louisville. By the time we play them, I predict they will have 3 or probably 4 losses, and they will be making posts such as your's.
• I believe our coaches will find a way to have our defense playing 60 minutes from now on.
• We are one of those teams that will improve exponentially (moreso than our competitors) as the season progresses.

Don't get me wrong, I am disappointed in where we are today, and to further disappoint, I don't see a miraculous turnaround by the start of next year.
Just consider this, everything you stated in your post was probably posted by someone at Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Clemson in the past years as we (the Gamecocks) began a rise in competitiveness. We were cellar dwellers of the SEC, along with Ky., and Vandy.. Our history or geographic location doesn't recruit for us the way Florida, Georgia, Ala., Auburn, .......even Clemson does them. We have to really work for it and come up with "legal" methods of attracting and retaining quality recruits. And for all those who don't believe there is value in start power, at least it is an indicator of how we are doing relative to our peers in recruiting. Right now, our lunch is being eaten by our competition.

 

[pepsicock]

The story gives the impression that Spurrier has gone into Alzheimer's mode and the golden years are behind us. I disagree, I think people have an unrealistic vision of who Spurrier is and how he goes about his business.

It mentions about huge misses in recruiting which is somehow his fault. Sometimes kids don't work out and they transfer. They don't get their ass kissed the way they want, they aren't ready to work for it or they just get home sick and want to leave. We'll get new kids in and press on with the mission.

The story doesn't mention the team being soft or the Iowa game, but it mentions a lot of things that people bitch and complain about on a regular basis. People have talked about us not being focused in the first halves of the first two games. It's because we run a soft football program and don't light fires under these kids like other coaches do. It isn't a bad thing, just the way Spurrier goes about with his program.

I don't agree that the program is on fire.

Plus 1 . I agree with most of it . I still believe Spurrier wants to coach 5 or 6 more years and I hope he does .He is still the best football coach we ever had even so most of our fans want him gone . I do believe he still has a burning desire to coach.

 

[G-C-Gamecock]

Not trying to put everything on Spurrier. This is a problem for the entire program, not just the head coach. Of course, he's going to get the majority of the blame because that comes with the job.

Yes, it does come with the job...along with a 4 mill paycheck. This is HIS problem, and HIS responsibility to fix it or go. We are not a tryout for his son and we shouldn't be paying for inadequate staff so he can see his grandkids grow up.

 

[umdterpcock]

People it's not just Gamecock fans and local media that sees all that is wrong.

I have listened to so many national guys that say that "Rome is burning" for the Gamecocks. They don't use those words but they are conveying the same message.

So are every single one of them wrong? I don't believe they are anti Gamecock or anti Spurrier, they are just telling it like it is and a lot of Gamecock loyalists don't like it.

 

[umdterpcock]

Yes, it does come with the job...along with a 4 mill paycheck. This is HIS problem, and HIS responsibility to fix it or go.

I agree 100%. Hoping he fixes it but I can't see it. Spurrier has faults, even as great as he is.

 

[JasonScottinSC]

Disagree with the piece. Yes, team is down compared to 2011-2013. I don't not think it is in as bad shape as it was when Spurrier arrived. Before Spurrier arrived the only "history" of USC football was that of mediocrity (at best) and only one ten-win season (which was soured by a loss to a horse-crap Navy team and a bowl loss). Before Spurrier, Gamecock fans hoped to be bowl eligible and beat Clemson (and not necessarily both). Since Spurrier arrived, he raised the bar of our fan's expectations. Prior to his arrival, nobody believed we would beat CU 5 years in a rown and UGA 4 out of 5. Now we're pissed if we're not in the hunt... which is awesome.

The truth is, USC will never be an Alabama type of team every year. For many reasons, including: Schools such as Alabama have a much greater endowment fund and more rescources to bring in top recruits. That's not going to change. Also, to win, you have to recruit your home state. When USC was winning 11 games per year, the best high school football players in SC were not only coming to USC but were talented kids who were recruited nationally. In the last few years, some of the best high school talent in SC is simply not as good (not recruited nationally the way the Lattimore's, Clowney's and GIlmore's were.) SC is a small state compared to our competition in FL and GA. So that will always be an uphill battle.

What Spurrier has done is prove that winning big here is possible, but it's not realistic to sustain it year after year based on the above factors. It's great that we can have the high expectations and be upset about the team's current status, but you're missing the boat in the point of your article.

Last year, Spurrier's offense was putting up record numbers while the defense failed. Before this season started, I truly believed SC was a 5 or 6 win team at best, and that this year was all about seeing what pieces would fit and what was needed for an 8 win type of season next year. I get tried of all the garbage I hear that Spurrier doesn't work hard etc. That's B.S. By all accounts from people who know him, he's one of the most competitive people out there. No he doesn't work 100 hours per week, but he never has. Your analogy that he's playing a fiddle while Rome is burning means you assume he's doing nothing to try to improve his team and doesn't care. Do you really think that? Really? If so, perhaps you should spend less time behind your keyboard, and actually go to a press conference and ask the man some intelligent questions.

I won't lie, I don't always agree with the play-calling, I also know it's all about execution and players have to be responsible there (wrap up on tackles, make a block on 4th and 1, don't get a 15 yard penalty when you're team is on the 2 yard line.)

Sorry dude, but I found your article to be nothing more than message board fodder... but you got people to respond, so congrats on that.

 

[Charlie Noble]

Plus 1 . I agree with most of it . I still believe Spurrier wants to coach 5 or 6 more years and I hope he does .He is still the best football coach we ever had even so most of our fans want him gone . to coach.

I do believe he still has a burning desire I don't know Pepsi, I think if Spurrier still had a burning desire, he would rid some of the deadwood on his staff..

 

[Rixon Lane]

Disagree with the piece. Yes, team is down compared to 2011-2013. I don't not think it is in as bad shape as it was when Spurrier arrived. Before Spurrier arrived the only "history" of USC football was that of mediocrity (at best) and only one ten-win season (which was soured by a loss to a horse-crap Navy team and a bowl loss). Before Spurrier, Gamecock fans hoped to be bowl eligible and beat Clemson (and not necessarily both). Since Spurrier arrived, he raised the bar of our fan's expectations. Prior to his arrival, nobody believed we would beat CU 5 years in a rown and UGA 4 out of 5. Now we're pissed if we're not in the hunt... which is awesome.

The truth is, USC will never be an Alabama type of team every year. For many reasons, including: Schools such as Alabama have a much greater endowment fund and more rescources to bring in top recruits. That's not going to change. Also, to win, you have to recruit your home state. When USC was winning 11 games per year, the best high school football players in SC were not only coming to USC but were talented kids who were recruited nationally. In the last few years, some of the best high school talent in SC is simply not as good (not recruited nationally the way the Lattimore's, Clowney's and GIlmore's were.) SC is a small state compared to our competition in FL and GA. So that will always be an uphill battle.

What Spurrier has done is prove that winning big here is possible, but it's not realistic to sustain it year after year based on the above factors. It's great that we can have the high expectations and be upset about the team's current status, but you're missing the boat in the point of your article.

Last year, Spurrier's offense was putting up record numbers while the defense failed. Before this season started, I truly believed SC was a 5 or 6 win team at best, and that this year was all about seeing what pieces would fit and what was needed for an 8 win type of season next year. I get tried of all the garbage I hear that Spurrier doesn't work hard etc. That's B.S. By all accounts from people who know him, he's one of the most competitive people out there. No he doesn't work 100 hours per week, but he never has. Your analogy that he's playing a fiddle while Rome is burning means you assume he's doing nothing to try to improve his team and doesn't care. Do you really think that? Really? If so, perhaps you should spend less time behind your keyboard, and actually go to a press conference and ask the man some intelligent questions.

I won't lie, I don't always agree with the play-calling, I also know it's all about execution and players have to be responsible there (wrap up on tackles, make a block on 4th and 1, don't get a 15 yard penalty when you're team is on the 2 yard line.)

Sorry dude, but I found your article to be nothing more than message board fodder... but you got people to respond, so congrats on that.

Appreciate you reading. Have been to press conferences and have asked questions...I'm not arguing that South Carolina should be or can be Alabama. That's unrealistic. But to fall from 33-6 and a perennial top-10 ranking to 8-7 with a .333 conference record and back-to-back losses to Kentucky in the span of less than two years is alarming. Analogy of Rome burning wasn't intended for Spurrier, but for those fans who are unwilling to admit that something is wrong (said so in the piece).

 

[ChairForceCock]

It mentions about huge misses in recruiting which is somehow his fault. Sometimes kids don't work out and they transfer. They don't get their ass kissed the way they want, they aren't ready to work for it or they just get home sick and want to leave. We'll get new kids in and press on with the mission.

Just head an interesting story about how the St Louis Rams are bringing in specialists to help with understanding and communication between coaches, players, and staff. The millennials ask "why", and some of the older folk on here was told "because I said so" when we were young. To them, they are not being disrespectful, the honestly want to understand why they are doing something. Language is the same, but different mind sets. In the day and age of social media controlling our youth, old dogs are having to learn new tricks. Spurrier just got on to twitter this past year. Other coaches are way ahead of the game. Their is a certain breed of coach that is swaying the recruits much better than others. I don't know about "kissing their ass", but they like to be "wanted". Don't know how much of that goes on here. I like SS and he is and has been our greatest coach ever here at SC, but you can't dismiss that the gloss is fading and he absolutely does not kiss recruits ass. I know many dismiss the Chubbs situation, but he was not the only one who made his type of remarks regarding our recruiting.

When asked which school was the biggest disappointment during the recruiting process, Chubb quickly responded, “South Carolina.”
“I had my date set (last spring) when I was going to commit to a school. All of sudden, I hear from South Carolina the next day, so I pushed my time back so I go down there and visit with those coaches. I pushed it back just for them. “When I go over there to visit, Coach Spurrier isn’t even there. So I waited a week and came back to visit again. And he’s still not there. I don’t know. I just didn’t feel like I was important to them.”

 

[umdterpcock]

The truth is, USC will never be an Alabama type of team every year. For many reasons, including: Schools such as Alabama have a much greater endowment fund and more rescources to bring in top recruits. That's not going to change. Also, to win, you have to recruit your home state. When USC was winning 11 games per year, the best high school football players in SC were not only coming to USC but were talented kids who were recruited nationally. In the last few years, some of the best high school talent in SC is simply not as good (not recruited nationally the way the Lattimore's, Clowney's and GIlmore's were.) SC is a small state compared to our competition in FL and GA. So that will always be an uphill battle.

My question is why play then IF we can't be an Alabama type team every year.

Too many people accept this, and I would too if I saw max effort to change and it didn't happen.

As far as resources go we have enough, maybe not as much, but we have enough to get better out of state recruits here than we are right now.

An all out effort to change our program isn't being made and I don't know who it's going to take to try and change it but I believe there is a coach out there who is willing to live and breathe Gamecock football and give us a chance at being part of the relevant teams in college football again.

 

[PalmTree85]

Just head an interesting story about how the St Louis Rams are bringing in specialists to help with understanding and communication between coaches, players, and staff. The millennials ask "why", and some of the older folk on here was told "because I said so" when we were young. To them, they are not being disrespectful, the honestly want to understand why they are doing something. Language is the same, but different mind sets. In the day and age of social media controlling our youth, old dogs are having to learn new tricks. Spurrier just got on to twitter this past year. Other coaches are way ahead of the game. Their is a certain breed of coach that is swaying the recruits much better than others. I don't know about "kissing their ass", but they like to be "wanted". Don't know how much of that goes on here. I like SS and he is and has been our greatest coach ever here at SC, but you can't dismiss that the gloss is fading and he absolutely does not kiss recruits ass. I know many dismiss the Chubbs situation, but he was not the only one who made his type of remarks regarding our recruiting.

When asked which school was the biggest disappointment during the recruiting process, Chubb quickly responded, “South Carolina.”
“I had my date set (last spring) when I was going to commit to a school. All of sudden, I hear from South Carolina the next day, so I pushed my time back so I go down there and visit with those coaches. I pushed it back just for them. “When I go over there to visit, Coach Spurrier isn’t even there. So I waited a week and came back to visit again. And he’s still not there. I don’t know. I just didn’t feel like I was important to them.”

I don't disagree with you on any of this. I will say that I expect the next coaching staff, whenever that happens, to be more in touch with the social media aspect of recruiting in today's landscape. I mean you look at Nick Saban and the guy finds loopholes in recruiting to get around NCAA rules for recruiting. I don't remember specifically, but one of the contact rules for talking to recruits didn't use verbage to rule out texting or email etc. So they jumped right on it and abused the hell out of it. I don't think that type of thing happens at Carolina just b/c Spurrier isn't in touch with that stuff.

I know that I really enjoyed the recruiting story about Spurrier dancing with Marcus Lattimore's mom during a recruiting visit his senior year. I thought, damn Steve is going all out, guess he didn't think Chubb was worth the dance.

 

[sanfordcock]

People it's not just Gamecock fans and local media that sees all that is wrong.

I have listened to so many national guys that say that "Rome is burning" for the Gamecocks. They don't use those words but they are conveying the same message.

So are every single one of them wrong? I don't believe they are anti Gamecock or anti Spurrier, they are just telling it like it is and a lot of Gamecock loyalists don't like it.

I agree. This isn't local, there is a National perception that Spurrier has lost it. I watched a little of the Finebaum show yesterday. He had a guest on who is writing a book on Spurrier to be released next year. He believes Spurrier will be here another 2-3 years because he wants to get SC to 100 wins during his tenure. It made me wonder if his stay is all about a personal record rather than the program? There is no question, he is the only one who can right the ship and it all falls on him.

 

[Anna_Nimmitty]

Eleven seasons after it started, the Steve Spurrier Era has come full circle.

And I don't mean that in a good way.

http://www.gamecockcereal.com/home/2015/9/16/rome-is-burning

Guess this means you just refuse to sit back and play your violin huh?

=;-p

 

[Titleist*]

Excellent article that captures the current state of the program. For those who fail to see it, ask yourselves this, in Spurrier's 11th year, do you think it's acceptable to lose to Kentucky...at home? For me, the answer is a resounding NO! We're talking about Kentucky! Hell, even Holtz only lost to them once at home, and that was his first year (1999) with Brad's players.

A few years ago, we had a top-quality "program". One that I thought could just re-stock talent, not have to rebuild the whole thing. Today, that's simply not the case. If things turn around this season, it will be a Christmas-miracle. That's not easy for me to say, because I'm usually a "glass half full", optimistic fan.

 

[ReadR00ster]

The problem is this: Spurrier can't land the talent we need to compete anymore. It's pretty much that simple. Even if he really tried as hard as he can dancing in everyone's living room, it wouldn't matter. He won't be able to do it. Too many people think he is too old and is soon to retire and there is a high probability that they are finally going to be right, because the recruits won't be coming and we are going to have rough seasons. Spurrier is a representative of the past and the future is what sells to recruits. He will have left us with a solid base I believe to rebuild, but that is where we stand, sad to say. So go ahead and lash out about it. Wave your fist in denial and defiance to those who don't still believe in Spurrier the way you still do if it makes you feel better. But the hard truth is, we can't win with Spurrier anymore like we used to. It's over. We need a new head coach.

 

[JasonScottinSC]

I don't take much stock in what pundits such as Finebaum say.... people like that watch highlights on on sportscenter but don't actually come to games or even sit down with head coaches and have any sort of conversation. They just read scores and pronounce people dead. (Mark May is the same kind of guy... since in the studio and blasts whomever loses without EVER visiting a campus).

I don't disagree that Spurrier's name doesn't carry like it used to, because kids today weren't alive when he was a Florida.

And there's one guy who wrote a biography about Spurrier without being authorized to do so (meaning, none of his accounts are first-hand). Yeeesh.

SC can be good again under Spurrier. It will take some rebuilding, but as stated earlier, there are reasons why SC will not be an 11 win team ever year. You have to understand the business of college athletics. It's not a level playing field for all schools, not even for all the schools in the SEC.

 

[ReadR00ster]

My goodness people WAKE UP! Our recruiting is in the toilet. We have a team that can't beat Kentucky. Spurrier can not fix it this time because HE is the problem. His time has passed. The recruits don't want to play for a 70 year old lame duck coach that can't beat Kentucky anymore. They aren't going to want to play for a 71 year old lame duck coach that can't beat Kentucky. It's time for him to stop dragging this out because it's only going to get worse. He's already had his last hurrah a few years ago. The clock has struck midnight. It sucks, but it's life! Everything comes to and end, and this is it.

 

[Charlie Noble]

My goodness people WAKE UP! Our recruiting is in the toilet. We have a team that can't beat Kentucky. Spurrier can not fix it this time because HE is the problem. His time has passed. The recruits don't want to play for a 70 year old lame duck coach that can't beat Kentucky anymore. They aren't going to want to play for a 71 year old lame duck coach that can't beat Kentucky. It's time for him to stop dragging this out because it's only going to get worse. He's already had his last hurrah a few years ago. The clock has struck midnight. It sucks, but it's life! Everything comes to and end, and this is it.

Why don't you write a nice letter to coach Spurrier and tell him all that you have said here??? Otherwise what you have to say is meaningless.

 

[Cocky4SC]

Eleven seasons after it started, the Steve Spurrier Era has come full circle.

And I don't mean that in a good way.

http://www.gamecockcereal.com/home/2015/9/16/rome-is-burning

Rixon- I believe this is a well written article that many should read. I was on the bus of denial a week ago after to barely beating UNC. I was thinking that it was only the first game. Mitch will be fine. The receivers will be fine. The D had one bad half. That was before I sat in a seat that I have sat in since I was five at Williams Brice. You see, I remember the Brad Scott years, I remember going to the games and watching losses pile up. I remember when we broke the losing streak when I was in High School and hanging on the goalpost to bring them down. And then hanging on them the very next week against Georgia... I remember sitting on the ten yard line at both Outback victories against Ohio State. I SAID OHIO STATE. I couldn't believe that we, South Carolina, could beat OHIO STATE! Then my freshman year at Carolina, I was walking out of the Russell house back to Laborde a.k.a "The Honeycombs" and doing a double take as Steve Spurrier was on campus. Twenty minutes later, he was being announced as the head football coach of SC. Then the "ride" went great for those three years, I felt like we are where we were suppose to be. SOS had proved Lee Corso wrong, that you could win at SC. We were an elite program. Flash forward to this past weekend...

We looked like a team with no identity. I felt like I was watching the "Little Giants" movie with SC jerseys on. This was suppose to be the season opener at home, the fans were going crazy, the band was loud, the television coverage was there... but someone forgot to tell the team that we were playing until halftime. I watched the qb look lost, throwing balls up for grabs, missing guys wide open, throwing them short, and spending more time by himself on the sideline. I saw receivers that couldn't take any pressure off Cooper and create space. Dropped balls. Missed blocking assignments. I saw the defense look weak. Arm tackles. Missed assignments. Missed opportunities for turnovers. Then the whistle blew and it was 24-7 at half. By then, we were fighting an uphill battle.

Start the second half, we got a quick stop. Marched down the field, got a fieldgoal...not bad, lets get going. Another stop, then we march down the field... another field goal. Another Stop!!! Where was the D in the first half? March down the field another FG. Points were great but coaching and penalties blew 12 possible points. At the final whistle, a loss in the column. You starting RB sounding like Marshawn Lynch regarding not getting the ball enough (and rightfully so). You starting QB out for a long period of time, with a walkon in his place. A Defense that proved they could stand up and fight, but had dug too big of a hole to get out of. We looked a lot like 2014 team in regards to results.

Can we turn this year around? Yes. Will we? It is up to the guys wearing the garnet and black on their jerseys and helmets. I am hopefully optimistic. The program seems more like the last two years of Lou Holtz era than a team on the march to greatness. I don't want Spurrier gone, but I feel like there are a few coaches that should be shown the door. We need guys that can recruit. We need guys that will put in the time and effort to nab those guys that we are missing out on. I hope Rome isn't burning, but I see the fire started...

 

[ReadR00ster]

Why don't you write a nice letter to coach Spurrier and tell him all that you have said here??? Otherwise what you have to say is meaningless.

I don't have to. He is starting to realize it himself. It will unfold before next year. Just everyone be ready for it and know that we are going to be okay. Right now, about half our fanbase is ready, and half of it is in for a really rough break up.

 

[lostcock]

I first came to USC in 1992, and I've seen a few people on FB, boards, etc...say (to whomever) do you forget the 90's? I surely don't, and while I still love a lot of those players, we have more talent now, a better Head Coach, and most importantly, more depth. Considering all that, I don't want USC to ever go back to that level. All the talk and press conferences mean nothing. While we are recruiting (even now) far better than years ago, we are losing ground overall. I would've never imagine that Spurrier in his 11 year would be facing a Brad/Sparky season as far as wins go. Ftr, in not saying he's as bad of a HC as they were. Calm down.

 

[Cock-Vader]

Look at the W-L records for Spurrier's first few years at USC. Unless you somehow think we are going to win more than the 7 we won last season, I'm not sure how you can argue our football team isn't pretty much the same team that Spurrier inherited when he got here.

 

[umdterpcock]

Appreciate you reading. Have been to press conferences and have asked questions...I'm not arguing that South Carolina should be or can be Alabama. That's unrealistic. But to fall from 33-6 and a perennial top-10 ranking to 8-7 with a .333 conference record and back-to-back losses to Kentucky in the span of less than two years is alarming. Analogy of Rome burning wasn't intended for Spurrier, but for those fans who are unwilling to admit that something is wrong (said so in the piece).

Hey Rixon I did like your article, thought it was excellent to shine that light, but I have to challenge you on something from your quoted post here if that's ok?

"I'm not arguing that South Carolina should be or can be Alabama. That's unrealistic. But to fall from 33-6 and a perennial top-10 ranking"

Isn't that being "Alabamaesque" if we were ranked perennially in the top 10? That's rare air to me.

Im pretty realistic when it comes to expectations, in my opinion, but I do think South Carolina can be more relevant in the landscape of college football, and I don't think we aren't capable of much better recruiting classes.

I agree we may not be capable of being Alabama, but we can be much closer than we are right now, and you only have to be close. If you get a few breaks you could have a big big year. But you have to be close for that to be possible and we are far from that right now.

 

[Number1pjones]

I don't wear garnet colored glasses and yet I still disagree with you on many points. Yes, there appears to be a systemic issue with recruiting and Spurrier has acknowledged that.
Here's a few points I either disagree with or would like to make as a counter:

• Kentucky has a much better ball team than in the past. This remains to be seen by many, but if you couldn't see the difference last week in QB play, receiver quality, and capable running backs, you must have not been watching. We were not the only SEC win they will enjoy this year.
• Tennessee isn't as great as they have been billed. Their defense is improved but Dobbs isn't the second coming of Manning by any means. Regardless of the fact that he is an Aerospace engineering student, he is making frequent mistakes, and his accuracy isn't great. They are beatable.
• I predict we will beat Missouri this year. They are winning "ugly" again, and I think their luck will run out.
• How can you speak of Clemson's quality as a team when they haven't beaten a team with a pulse yet? I HONESTLY believe, we will beat them this year. they have a very week OL, and that will hurt them beginning tomorrow night at Louisville. By the time we play them, I predict they will have 3 or probably 4 losses, and they will be making posts such as your's.
• I believe our coaches will find a way to have our defense playing 60 minutes from now on.
• We are one of those teams that will improve exponentially (moreso than our competitors) as the season progresses.

Don't get me wrong, I am disappointed in where we are today, and to further disappoint, I don't see a miraculous turnaround by the start of next year.
Just consider this, everything you stated in your post was probably posted by someone at Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Clemson in the past years as we (the Gamecocks) began a rise in competitiveness. We were cellar dwellers of the SEC, along with Ky., and Vandy.. Our history or geographic location doesn't recruit for us the way Florida, Georgia, Ala., Auburn, .......even Clemson does them. We have to really work for it and come up with "legal" methods of attracting and retaining quality recruits. And for all those who don't believe there is value in start power, at least it is an indicator of how we are doing relative to our peers in recruiting. Right now, our lunch is being eaten by our competition.

I don't trust this team in close games. Yes, they won against UNC, but that was very lucky. If the Gamecocks manage the game correctly, we win that game by 11pts. Instead, we had to rely on luck. Mizzou is always prepared. They don't make many mistakes and their teams are always on the same page. We would have to play well above our current level to beat MIzzou. The 2010 klempsun team was vastly inferior to the Gamecocks. We lit them up 29-7, with no concern about losing after the 1st quarter. I fear that klempsun will do the same to us this year. I just don't see us being able to contain them, while matching them score for score. No easy answers.

 

[G-C-Gamecock]

This was asked of Spurrier in his press conference and explains PRECISELY what is wrong and why it won't be fixed:

Nick Chubb said he thought you were in Florida getting an award when he visited. Said he thought he would go to Georgia anyway, but would have considered South Carolina more if he had met you. What do you remember about that?

I was out of town when he came. Sometimes I’m in town, sometimes I’m out. I think he visited when I was out. Like you said, I think he was going to Georgia anyway.

No regrets about that?

Oh, I can’t worry about all of that.

 

[atlanta cock#]

Eleven seasons after it started, the Steve Spurrier Era has come full circle.

And I don't mean that in a good way.

http://www.gamecockcereal.com/home/2015/9/16/rome-is-burning

Could not agree more. For the most part everyone cares very much, but we express it differently. However, some fans confuse support for the program with being blind to reality. The fact that after 11 seasons SOS is still unable to assemble a top-notch staff and still unwilling get ahead of the curve when it comes to recruiting tells me he isn't in charge.

We've paid the man over $40,000,000 since he's been here. That's enough.

 

[joedcock]

I agree. This isn't local, there is a National perception that Spurrier has lost it. I watched a little of the Finebaum show yesterday. He had a guest on who is writing a book on Spurrier to be released next year. He believes Spurrier will be here another 2-3 years because he wants to get SC to 100 wins during his tenure. It made me wonder if his stay is all about a personal record rather than the program? There is no question, he is the only one who can right the ship and it all falls on him.

THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[Rixon Lane]

Hey Rixon I did like your article, thought it was excellent to shine that light, but I have to challenge you on something from your quoted post here if that's ok?

"I'm not arguing that South Carolina should be or can be Alabama. That's unrealistic. But to fall from 33-6 and a perennial top-10 ranking"

Isn't that being "Alabamaesque" if we were ranked perennially in the top 10? That's rare air to me.

Im pretty realistic when it comes to expectations, in my opinion, but I do think South Carolina can be more relevant in the landscape of college football, and I don't think we aren't capable of much better recruiting classes.

I agree we may not be capable of being Alabama, but we can be much closer than we are right now, and you only have to be close. If you get a few breaks you could have a big big year. But you have to be close for that to be possible and we are far from that right now.

Appreciate you taking the time to read...I would say it wasn't "Alabamaesque" because none of those teams won a division or competed for a national title. That would be the difference in my opinion. Thanks for the comment.

 

[Quisp]

Hey Rixon I did like your article, thought it was excellent to shine that light, but I have to challenge you on something from your quoted post here if that's ok?

"I'm not arguing that South Carolina should be or can be Alabama. That's unrealistic. But to fall from 33-6 and a perennial top-10 ranking"

Isn't that being "Alabamaesque" if we were ranked perennially in the top 10? That's rare air to me.

Im pretty realistic when it comes to expectations, in my opinion, but I do think South Carolina can be more relevant in the landscape of college football, and I don't think we aren't capable of much better recruiting classes.

I agree we may not be capable of being Alabama, but we can be much closer than we are right now, and you only have to be close. If you get a few breaks you could have a big big year. But you have to be close for that to be possible and we are far from that right now.

I don't think you or the writer even understand what perennial means. A three year time frame is not perennial. The term doesn't even apply to Alabama as they stunk pretty bad during the Dubose and Shula years.