For over two years now, we’ve made no secret of the unmitigated contempt we have for the progress (or lack thereof) being made by the University of South Carolina’s football program. Seriously, people … just type the words “Steve Spurrier” into our search box and you’ll feel the burn.
It’s pathetic people … and each year under the “Ball Coach” it’s gotten worse.
Honestly, we can’t fathom why USC’s utterly useless athletics director didn’t show Spurrier the door after his second consecutive late-season collapse in 2008 … except that perhaps the school’s sports marketing people told him not to. And God knows Eric Hyman does whatever the sports marketing people tell him to do …
Anyway, since there will no doubt be ample occasion for spleen-venting when football season finally kicks off six weeks from now, we figure we’ll keep our preseason bitching and moaning to a minimum. But we do want to go ahead an establish some benchmarks for “success” this year … or rather let you establish them for us.
Specifically, how many games does Spurrier need to win to hold onto his job?
First, here’s the twelve-game schedule, with USC’s seven home games in bold …
9/3/2009 – at NC State
9/12/2009 – at Georgia
9/19/2009 – Florida Atlantic
9/24/2009 – Mississippi (thursday night game)
10/3/2009 – SC State
10/10/2009 – Kentucky
10/17/2009 – at Alabama
10/24/2009 – Vanderbilt
10/31/2009 – at Tennessee
11/7/2009 – at Arkansas
11/14/2009 – Florida
11/21/2009 – Open Date
11/28/2009 – Clemson
Obviously, that’s no easy road to hoe. NC State, Florida Atlantic and SC State should all be “gimmes,” but Georgia, Alabama and Florida are all likely, if not guaranteed losses.
That leaves six games – Mississippi, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Arkansas and Clemson – as tossups, meaning USC could finish anywhere from 3-9 to 9-3.
First let’s get everybody’s thoughts on the record …
Loading ...Now, how many games do you think Spurrier needs to win in order to keep drawing his cush taxpayer-funded salary and sweet Under Armour endorsement deal?
Loading ...Pic: Travis Bell, Sideline Carolina
By Scene SC July 20, 2009 at 9:24 am
NC State won 3 big games in a row at the end of last season and has most everyone returning. Not saying we shouldn’t beat them, but it’s def. not a “gimme.”
By Jeffy01 July 20, 2009 at 10:06 am
Keep Spurrier regardless and have fun. It aint ever going to happen. We should just own it! We are in it for fun and tailgating, the wins and losses just don’t matter anymore. We have had the “hot” young coaching prospects, the former National Championship winners (3 times now right?). It never works, no matter who we hire. Let OBC stay as long as he wants and lets just enjoy. We will always be in the middle of the pack…some years up somes years down. (By the way….it wont ever work in Kitty town again either.) Hell….hire that know it all bitch BIN. See what she can do.
By HammerheadSC July 20, 2009 at 10:27 am
Def not a gimme with it being at Raleigh. 4- 8 wasn’t available on your poll so I was “nice” to spurrier by saying he would go 5-7. I think this is possibly going to be the worst year since we came into the SEC
By Tom July 20, 2009 at 11:12 am
All of USC’s non-conference fores played in the post-season last year, as did 6 of the 8 SEC teams on the schedule. Some experts are calling it the toughest college football schedule in 09. No matter who is coaching, USC should be happy if it gets pass .500.
By Darth July 20, 2009 at 11:17 am
The Lamecocks still suffer from being a campus analogous to Ft. Sumter that can be hit from the “battery block” housing the Statehouse by Jakie Knotts with a stone… if Clem and sons had the same level of meddling from the state house, they’d be as mediocre if not more so.
By CNSYD July 20, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Darth, Many years ago Sol Blatt offered to move USC out of downtown to a more spacious area with room to grow. USC said no. They didn’t want to give up the Horseshoe.
By Toyota Kawaski July 20, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Jeffy01 obviously you don’t fork out thousands of dollars to have watched Shyatt the oh past 20 years.But those of us who do are dam tired of it and he better do Citrus or better.Or may i suggest he move down the street from Coach Holtz and Tiger.BTW Congrats Coach Holtz on the Hall of Fame induction.Funny how he went in with Coach Cooper the very man Holtz cost his job.
By crush July 20, 2009 at 12:45 pm
NC State is not even close to a gimmie. I honestly think we stand a better chance at winning the second game in Athens.
By Not a Spurrier Fan July 20, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Your poll didn’t have 0-12, but then again….. even Spurrier isn’t that far gone yet…. or is he? He has a talent for taking a good program and making it fall apart…. ask Washington! Now take a lame program, add Spurrier, and the bottom is going to reach up and smack you. Look at his record. Oh, and for those of you still clinging to Florida’s past championship, just remember that even a blind hog can find a truffle once in a while, especially when another hog has already put it in front of him.
By Jeffy01 July 20, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Kawaski…..been sitting in the Zone since the day it opened. Ouch!!
By CNSYD July 20, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Jeffy01, best I can determine this article was about USC and Spurrier. What that has to do with what Clemson does or does not do would seem to matter not. As I understand it, USC plays in the SEC and therefore should focus on that. Being preoccupied with Clemson is a receipe for failure.
By SAY WHAT? July 20, 2009 at 7:07 pm
NOT AN EXPERT BUT A BORN OPTIMIST. I SAY 10-2 LOSING TO ALABAMA AND FLORIDA O-N-L-Y…..
By Jeffy July 20, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Agreed CNSYD….I was just planning ahead for the Taters to comment. They always do.
By hardbeingagamecockfan July 20, 2009 at 10:22 pm
man i have been a hardcore gamecock fan all my life and i have always been optimistic this time every year but that iowa game has still left a bad taste in my mouth and i honestly have no hope for them this season…to tell you the truth i would take dabo over spurrier any day
By Toyota Kawaski July 21, 2009 at 8:48 am
Jeffy01 been sitting in Section 5 since 1973.Only a person of questionable brain activity would pay top dollar to sit in the ENDZONE.
By Kevin Bryant (UGA '89) July 21, 2009 at 11:17 am
USC beat UGA. Dawgs always choke at least once in Athens.
By Tim July 21, 2009 at 11:31 am
I wanted to answer “12″, but it wasn’t on the ballot.
Check out this bumpersticker:
http://scloshistorian.blogspot.com/2007/08/remembering-days.html
By Mike July 21, 2009 at 11:33 am
Also available in your home town: http://local.yahoo.com/info-30943867-southern-patriot-shop-west-columbia
By Jeffy01 July 21, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Kawaski…..Jeffy likes his drinks to ease the pain. Invite me to your suite?
By Toyota Kawaski July 21, 2009 at 4:08 pm
no suite do have a new for this year place at Carolina Walk
By laugher July 21, 2009 at 4:16 pm
10, 12 wins? Watch where you step boys. You dropped your crack pipe.
The sad, sad fact is that the “Ole Ball Sack” has the worst offense in the conference – two years running and they are exactly one Budweiser and one more arrest – which would make frout I think, away from having NO quarterback at all, lest one that threw just as many interceptions as he did TD’s last season.
Dream on boys….. dream on.
By James the Foot Soldier July 23, 2009 at 4:56 pm
USC will win the national championship.
Oh, you mean usc as in university of south carolina?
I didn’t realize they played football.