Carolina Wins “Battle Of The Curses”
Apparently the “Chicken Curse” is nothing compared to the Sports Illustrated cover jinx, as South Carolina rode a career performance by much-maligned quarterback Chris Smelley to defeat the Ole Miss Rebels and claim their first SEC victory in exactly one year.
Prior to today’s win, the Gamecocks’ last Southeastern Conference victory came on Oct. 4, 2007 against Kentucky. Carolina had lost six straight SEC games over that one-year stretch - to Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, Tennessee and Vanderbilt (twice).
Smelley, cast to the curb by many South Carolina fans in favor of heralded freshman Stephen Garcia, had a career day - connecting on 22 of 32 passes for a career-high 327 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those touchdown strikes went to freshman wide receiver Jason Barnes, who caught seven passes for a career-high 76 yards.
Ole Miss (3-3, 1-2 SEC) came into the game riding a wave of momentum - and a Sports Illustrated cover - after knocking off No. 4 Florida in Gainesville last week.
But the legendary SI Cover Curse (and Smelley’s surprising performance) proved too much for the Rebels.
Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead made two key mistakes - a fumble in the first half that USC defensive lineman Nathan Pepper returned 29 yards for a touchdown, and a game-ending interception thrown into the waiting arms of Gamecock defensive back Carlos Thomas.
South Carolina (4-2, 1-2 SEC) goes on the road again next week against Kentucky.
Comments
By Tippachair and Tyler Too on October 4th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
So, Billy. Finding it hard to rant against the cocks when they show up and play. Come on, just say it: GO COCKS!
By Don Johnson on October 4th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
That Vandy loss isn’t looking so bad after tonight.
By Toyota Kawaski on October 7th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Return to your seats in sec 515
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