Typical Carolina Football … And 10 Ways To Fix It
PERPETUAL MEDIOCRITY DEMANDS RADICAL CHANGES
FITSNews - November 24, 2007 - Having cheered for the University of South Carolina football team from the womb, tonight’s last-second 23-21 loss to arch-rival Clemson really wasn’t all that bitter. After all, it’s tough to feel too much pain when you know what’s coming in advance, and when you’ve been numbed by three decades of disappointment and mediocrity.
Six weeks ago, South Carolina was 6-1 and ranked No. 6 in the nation. It seemed like things had finally come together under third-year head coach Steve Spurrier, and a New Year’s Day Bowl and BCS bid finally appeared to be within reach for legions of long-suffering Gamecock fans.
Of course, Carolina proceeded to choke against Vanderbilt and Tennessee, get blown out by Arkansas and Florida, and do what they always do against Clemson … find a way lose. At 6-6, the Gamecocks will now be lucky to get a bid to the toilet bowl, marking the end of yet another mediocre season for a program that has literally defined the word over the past century. “Even Spurrier Produces Nothing,” read a sign carried by a Clemson fan into Williams-Brice stadium tonight, and it’s hard to argue the point.
Frankly, we’ve had it. We’re not fairweather fans or anything (ahem, did you sit until the very last second of Florida State’s 59-0 drubbing of the Gamecocks back in 1988???), we’re just of the opinion that if something has never worked, you try something different. Which is why tonight our very own Sic Willie is unveiling his ‘Ten Ways To Fix South Carolina Football.’ Here we go …
10. STOP CELEBRATING FIRST DOWNS
This is college football, people. First downs are supposed to happen, and the fact that the public address announcer at Williams-Brice Stadium makes such a big deal when the Gamecocks actually get one is kind of embarrassing. So here’s a thought … the next time the home team gets a first down and you hear the idiot in the press box yell out “That’s another Carolina …” (and you’re supposed to yell back “first down!”) how about yell “shut up!” and insist on a touchdown instead.
9. START PLAYING “BEAMER BALL”
South Carolina’s special teams sucked this year, which really wasn’t a huge surprise because South Carolina’s special teams suck every year. Sort of like our offense and defense. At Virginia Tech, head coach Frank Beamer focuses on special teams, which is a big reason Virginia Tech wins a lot more football games than we do. Hmmm … is he onto something?
8. STOP CHANGING HELMETS, JERSEYS
We’re not talking about the big $$$$ that Nike, Addidas, Under Armor or Russell Athletic shell out to plaster their logos all over the place, we’re talking about South Carolina’s chronic fashion schizophrenia. Seriously, we’ve tried every combination of garnet, black and white known to man and nothing has worked. More on this in a little bit, though …
7. START PLAYING OPPONENTS’ FIGHT SONGS
Why not? We hate Clemson, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida’s obnoxious fight songs as much as the next South Carolina fan, but who knows? Playing our own lame ass fight song obviously isn’t working out, and maybe having our band strike up the other team’s tunes will freak our opponents out …
6. GET RID OF THE ‘2001’ ENTRANCE
Sure it’s the coolest entrance in all of college football, but so what? When you’re better known for the way you come out onto the football field than the way you play when you get there, that says a lot about your program.
5. SHUT UP AND PLAY
We used to think it was just the Miami Hurricanes and Clemson Tigers that acted like a bunch of arrogant, trash-talking punks on the football field, but South Carolina has gotten just as bad in recent years. Of course, we can’t afford stupid personal fouls and jackass celebration penalties because we’re not that good, which makes you wonder why so much showboating is going on here in the first place.
4. BETTER FAN SUPPORT
You heard us. Carolina fans fill the stands, but how many are still there when the fourth quarter starts and the Gamecocks are down by two scores? Of course it’s hard to blame them since we never actually come back and win those games, but still …
3. HIRE A YOUNG (BLACK?) COACH & STICK WITH HIM
We’re not saying Steve Spurrier should be fired this year, but if he doesn’t win nine games next year they ought to seriously consider it. Besides, nothing could do more to reverse our rebel flag stigma than to hire a talented young black coach and give him a chance. What Would Tony Dungy Do, people?
2. RECRUIT SOME BIGGER PLAYERS
South Carolina has historically recruited good skill position players but its teams have been chronically undersized on the offensive and defensive lines - which is where football games are won or lost. This isn’t rocket science, people. Oh, and that Tim Tebow guy is pretty good, so while we’re at it, a big quarterback who can run and throw the ball wouldn’t hurt either.
1. DITCH THE CHICKEN
That’s right. It’s not just players, coaches, jerseys, and entrances that need changing, it’s the whole ball of wax. Seriously, if you don’t believe there’s a “chicken curse” at this point, you need to have your head examined. This would be a professional marketer’s worst nightmare, but maybe we could keep the colors and just ditch the “Gamecock” name. Garnet Knights, anybody?
Comments
By Tim on November 25th, 2007 at 9:23 am
I’m for dumping the old ballsack. His preseason rant about a rebel flag recruiting problem convinced me that I’d rather see a black coach—and leave the flag alone.
A lot of the things you say need to be changed are probably part of what contributed to the real problem: stupid and lazy players. They have the biggest heads of any college football team in existence, and they are just plain LAZY. And isn’t motivation usually something that can be traced back to the coach? Dump Spurrier now!
By King Richard on November 25th, 2007 at 10:23 am
Just maybe Willie should be a coach and not a writer. He thinks he knows what to do.!!!!!!!!!!!
By Gamecocks_suck on November 25th, 2007 at 11:08 am
This is phenomenol. You said the gamecocks entrance is “the coolest entrance in College Football”? What a joke. Every highschool team in the country comes into their stadium with fire extinguisher smoke. The only difference is they break through paper and have an updated fight song. 2001 is old and 6 years past “the ironic cool stage”.
Let’s face it. Gamecocks suck. They always have and always will. It’s the chicken curse. You can get rid of the chicken, but not the curse.
This ain’t no rivalry with Clemson it is a domination. Every year I hear a new interesting stat. Did you know that SCAR hasn’t beaten Clemson two years in a row since 1968-1969? That’s almost 40 years!
Columbia is nothing more than a place where “ole ball coaches” go to die. Maybe Lou Holtz should come down and do a pep talk. He’ll have to “wait til next year” cuz the chickens ain’t goin to no bowl game.
By OOOOOOOOOcrap on November 25th, 2007 at 11:56 am
There was a game last night?
The only way to lose the chicken curse is to get a life, and forget about that over-blown bunch of dumbasses we call a football team.
Life is short…go do something…and stop placing your lives in the hands of idiots.
By Some one who cares on November 25th, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Comment three is further proof that some where a village is missing it’s idiot…. shouldn’t you go back to tigernet or something….
By Spartanburger on November 25th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Much like everything else in this state, Sic, you don’t mess with “tradition.” I don’t give a rat’s ass if it’s broken, dammit, that’s just the way it’s done. Don’t you go tryin’ to change things, you whippersnapper.
</rant>
By Bob on November 26th, 2007 at 9:46 am
There is a coffin waiting for Spurrier as well…you’ll never get talented football players to a place where backwards thinking people fly hateful rebel flags and fly over the stadium in planes with a huge confederate battle emblem attached.
The fans of Gamecock football deserve what they get. Even Spurrier cannot overcome backwards thinking and ignorance that lives amongst the SC faithful.
By Had Enough For Sho on November 26th, 2007 at 9:53 am
I think there are some things that can be done in the long term to right the ship other than attempting a pass on 3rd and 4 to win the game and giving a true freshman some help when covering Clemson’s biggest wideout.
1. Look for innovative coaches (young). USC has become the Las vegas for coaches looking to end their careers with Holtz and Spurrier. While other schools bring in the freshest most innvative coaches (mayer, mangino, Miles…mmmm maybe we need a coach with an ‘m’) we go with names. We get Fat Elvis ending his career and only a shadow of his old self.
2. Get the F out of the SEC. We have no shot to compete in the only sport that matters. Year in and year out we cannot compete with the facilities, tradition, and recruiting pipelines that Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia have. We should have never left the ACC since that is where all our traditional rivals reside. Let’s swap with FSU.
3. Quit playing on ESPN. One it costs us all our family friendly day games. Second I know exposure helps recruting but how many high school seniors need to see us lose each week. We are beginning to look like the Washington Generals - loveable losers.
4. Quit the gouging. It is bad enough to lose. It is worse to pay a couple hundred bucks for the privilege. We are risking to losing the backbone of a fan base that has always been considered the most loyal in the country (82,000 for an 0-11 team) but now the AD wants us to have a highest bidder mentality that will turn Williams Brice into the same crowd that sits on their hands to watch the Panthers. Plus the money isn’t going to make that much of a difference as noted in #2. I would accept a contingency fee arrangement. All tickets are $20. If we win, USC sends a bill to the season ticket holder for 35-40 bucks for the win. A bill I would happily pay.
I have vented. I am done. I am waiting for next year.
By Palmetto Pulse on November 26th, 2007 at 9:59 am
Ahhhh….a list of ways to fix Carolina’s ball team - don’t know if it’ll work Sic. Course, I understand why you spent time writing this… to deflect attention from the meat of the matter, ya’ll lost!!! Again.
Alas, this post would be much better though if the Tigers were headed to Jax this weekend. Matt Ryan…Hate Hate Hate!
By GO COCKS! on November 26th, 2007 at 11:24 am
We’re in the toughest division of the best football conference in America. We can and do compete in the SEC: (i.e.: we defeated Georgia between the hedges this year; lost to Tennessee on a long field goal at Neland Stadium) We just have to be patient with Spurrier who is a proven winner and who will recruit the players we need to begin winning consistently. Sic is correct that we need to recruit bigger linemen and improve special teams play. However, the mascot, helmets, and 2001 team entry are mere symbols and have nothing to do with the team’s on-the-field performance.
By Crooner on November 26th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Ditch the “Gamecocks” appellation? How dare you even suggest such a thing. Where else can you sit in polite company and engage in the call-and-response that begins “GAME” with nary a disapproving glance in your direction?
By Pick 4 Numbers =6566 on November 26th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Got to #6, lost 5 games in a row, ended up 6-6. Man, I love Carolina football and I’m a Clemson fan. If it wern’t for Carolina’s perpetual crappiness, Clemson would really look bad.
By barry on November 27th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
you could always hire butch davis.
By Buck on December 14th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
Bowden sent Lou packing,now its Eves opps Steves turn to have his ass handed to him so-long Steve Spurs-u-where.Go up north and
cry…
By Sara on January 26th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
I dont understand you people!!! I was rasied a Gamecock Fan from the get go..Garnet and Black have been running through my family’s bones for generations. We have seen worse times then the recent season. This is the problem with our team. The fans (so - called as long as we are winning ) dont take pride in our team..It is a win lose thing…You have to remember that football is a game…it is a time for our children, friends, and just good ol boys to get out there and show there stuff. These guys playing football out there..well they are doing there best..it might not seem it..but I wanna see one of you people get out there and show us your coaching…and football skills…I think the fans are a big park of the loses we have..how would you feel if you were addressing a company and because you messed up one time..they got up and left..you would go all to he** also…well that is how our players feel…like everyone is giving up on them…as far as giving up on the Chicken…..I think you are nutts….we were all about the chicken..when we won the bowl games 2 years in a row…I know I was there…and when the season started and we were undefeated ….Go Gamecocks…..it was all about the chicken….well yall are crazy….it aint the coach, it aint the players…it is the attitude filtering in the stands…from the fans….no spirt…no fight…Spurrier is a great coach…we have great players…and i have to say about 20% are great fans…you increase the support …I bet you will see a different team…..When the stands are in silence…and you can hear the coaches hollar…that is bad…I have been to that game also…I just feel our Gamecocks is missing more than what everyone says is bad coaching or a chicken curse….I say it is poor fans…who talk smack…and give crap….but dont support our players like they need…PRIDE TO THE END!!!!!!!
By joe on March 27th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
I agree with hiring a young coach. We always seem to hire someone in the twilight of their career. Spurrier was a great coach but from another era. We need someone who can inspire discipline and confidence in his players. Many of our players are undisciplined goof offs who end up in 5 Points bar fights or get arrested for drunkeness or drug posssession. The university needs to up the ante and provide no second chances for idiots. This level of discipline will recruit players who want to play and learn.
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