By FITSNews || Watching junior outfielder Whit Merrifield’s single fall into the lush, green rightfield grass of Johnny Rosenblatt stadium on Tuesday night (the last hit in the 62-year history of the ballpark) was one of the most satisfying moments of our adult lives.
Against all odds, the Gamecocks had finally done it.
The much-maligned University of South Carolina athletic program – which has defined uninspired mediocrity for more than a century – had finally won a national championship in a major sport (i.e. one where the competitors don’t outnumber the onlookers).
There was boundless enthusiasm, unbridled ecstasy … and even a few “man tears” shed by our founding editor (at least when Mrs. Sic Willie wasn’t looking).
Our joy was complete.
Well, it was almost complete. Leave it to ESPN (whose announcers had been poo-pooing the Gamecocks throughout the tournament) to pan their cameras up to Rosenblatt’s luxury boxes where, of all people, USC head football coach Steve Spurrier stood clapping. And then leave it to ESPN’s cameras to pan back up to Spurrier again – and then again, and again.
Four times.
WTF?
Spurrier? The Head Ball Coach (a.k.a. Old Ball Sack)? Why him? Why then? Seriously … at the pinnacle of the University’s athletic achievement, why did ESPN deem it necessary to remind us of the program’s biggest bust?
Seriously, Spurrier doesn’t coach baseball. And the last time we checked Sergio … sorry Stephen Garcia … was no Kyle Parker. So what the hell?
Also, it’s important to note that this was a national championship game. It was not some third-rate bowl named after a pizza delivery website – a game in which USC got its ass handed to it by a basketball team from a fourth-rate conference.
Anyway, we certainly hope Spurrier was there on his own dime. We also hope he was taking notes on how to win f*cking games … you know, for a change.
Pic: Travis Bell, Sideline Carolina
By Tank McNamara June 30, 2010 at 4:27 pm
damn, sic! only a miserable sack of shit like you could take the biggest moment ever in South Carolina Gamecock sports history and start bitching about something else that is completely unrelated! why the hell can’t you enjoy this wonderful moment like the rest of us Gamecock fans?? i was extremely happy to see Spurrier in Omaha supporting his fellow coaches and i don’t give a rat’s ass whose dime he flew out there on. regardless of what you think, Spurrier is still respected around the country as a damn fine football coach. but if you notice, he wasn’t sitting in the stands like UCLA’s football coach Rick Neuheisel, he was in the box so as not to take away the spotlight from Tanner. South Carolina has no need for a fan like you!
By Todd June 30, 2010 at 4:53 pm
For all of Spurrier’s faults, he was a first rate guy to refuse to be interviewed in Omaha. He couldn’t help it the ESPN guys were such clowns. Let it go, Will. Get down to the Colonial Center with Shorty and enjoy the day!!!!! Now, ass. Get up and go!
By countryboy June 30, 2010 at 5:01 pm
WTF is your problem with SS ? Just because he hasn’t won SEC and national titles at USC doesn’t deserve your scorn, dimwit. To have big winning seasons and titles is a long building project at USC, or any school without a winning history. His resume has gotten and will continue to get better and better players, which should lead to improvement, if he sticks long enough to get the quality athletes needed throughout a team to win titles.
By Duck Snorts June 30, 2010 at 5:05 pm
I b*tched about ESPN announcers for days, I’m over it..wondered about the Spurrier shots, heard he wouldn’t speak to someone in the mens room..(only 2 there)..he didn’t want to be the story.. UCLA’s football coach flew in when he saw Spurrier there. I did hear he is Inspired, excited and ready to win in football. Not as green eyed jealousy but happy for the team and wanting some for his team. Maybe he needs to find boys that won’t go to 5pts, make grades almost as good as equestrian team and get inspired by someone like Bayler…something bigger than themselves.
Keys to Winners
By fitsnews June 30, 2010 at 5:21 pm
Our problem w/ Spurrier?
1- His 18-22 record against the Southeastern Conference
2- His 1-4 record against Georgia and Florida
3- His 1-3 record in bowls
4- His 2-3 mark against both Tennessee and Clemson – a pair of teams that South Carolina should have owned over the past five seasons.
He does pretty well against Wofford, though. I mean … it’s close, but USC does end up winning.
By countryboy June 30, 2010 at 7:19 pm
FITS – Have you ever actually looked at Spurriers resume?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Spurrier#Head_coaching_record
By Catherine June 30, 2010 at 8:52 pm
The fact that Spurrier still thinks the fat guy aka Garcia can be a quarterback is enough to totally nullify anything Spurrier has ever accomplished previously. Obviously Spurrier is smoking crack if he thinks Garcia is a leader beyond the pee-wee ranks (and Garcia stopped being “pee-wee” sized before he was potty-trained most likely).
That stint in the pros destroyed Spurrier. He was done then. Only Carolina would think they had a “find” with him.
Why doesn’t Carolina look to young, FRESH faces when getting a coach? — Instead of “Old Guys That Have Already Run The Gamut and Just Want Something to Support Their Golf Habit With”
By C20H26N2O June 30, 2010 at 11:20 pm
Do you think you could recruit better players for a “beautiful” campus composed of old buildings and asphalt – chaotically sprinkled across 20 square miles? Must be the weather they come for. If I hadn’t been born a Gamecock and suffered taunting by Clempson fans my whole life, I would have found a new team years ago. For now I have to tough it out with the retired coaches program, mediocre recruiting, and those occasional sweet victories.
By Hal Barnes July 1, 2010 at 12:07 am
Hey Catherine, stick to your cows and sheep at Clem Tech and don’t try to talk about things you know nothing about like football.
By Joe July 1, 2010 at 12:35 am
“To have big winning seasons and titles is a long building project at USC”
Hahaha….yeah, no kidding! 100+ years later, they are still “building”! LOL
By CNSYD July 1, 2010 at 7:27 am
Hal Barnes, you cock boys always like to think you are putting Clemson down by referring to agriculture. You think you are building USC up by touting doctors, lawyers and international business. Tell you what. Lets make a wager. I will forego doctors, lawyers and international business and you forgo food. Whoever cries UNCLE first loses. You up to the challenge?
By CNSYD July 1, 2010 at 8:51 am
However, I do agree that FITS sucks for his inability to resist being negative about his alma mater even in its greatest moment of accomplishment. This article is a testament to his intrinsic inability to be happy, a condition likely stemming from the same mental illness that motivates him to sabotage his journalistic integrity by using this forum to advocate falsehoods.
By CNSYD July 1, 2010 at 8:55 am
One final comment, Hal Barnes. In addition to forgoing food, how about terminating the growth of tobacco and making all smokers go cold-turkey, including the President? That’s right, millions of Americans would melt-down if our farmers in the South, where very little of the nation’s food supply is produced, stopped growing tobacco!
By bud man July 1, 2010 at 9:11 am
Six years in and the Ole Ball Sack is one Budweiser away from having NO QUARTERBACK AT ALL.
One Busweiser away.
He’s got a thrice-arrested QB with a penchant for playing video games the night before bowl games, a “last-in-the-league” running game for three years in a row and he’s coming off an ass-whupping from that powerhouse COnnecticut.
Oh yeah, he’s rebuilding the program. Wink, wink.
By Catherine July 1, 2010 at 9:36 am
Maybe they should let Tanner coach the football team? Just a thought…it couldn’t get much worse.
Oh and Hal Barnes — At least Clemson doesn’t just embarass the shit out of their fans year and after year. At least the Clemson people have something to be proud of in an ordinary year and a whole lot to be proud of some years. Hell, Clemson even beats Carolina in the tailgating category. They throw some awesome parties up there.
And BTW — I’m not a “fan” really of either school. I’m a transplant to South Carolina — but I do LOVE cows — “Hook ‘Em Horns”!!!!
By Spaniel July 1, 2010 at 10:13 am
cnsyd
Only a Clemson fan would need to go to a 4 year University to learn how to grow food!
As for the “old ball” comment, only a tater wannabe would call a legend that! If you have differences, fine, state them, but only children and taters eat their own!
By 803andy July 1, 2010 at 11:49 am
“Anyway, we certainly hope Spurrier was there on his own dime.”
I don’t see why this should matter, he is a big part of the school sports faction.
By BlackMagic84 July 1, 2010 at 12:00 pm
I could not agree more. Spurrier is a worn out coach looking for a nice place to relax and play golf while his boys get some on the job training at the expense of the Gamecocks. Tanner should take Spurrier to the tool shed and beat some sense into the Old Ball Sack. Spurrier will leave the Gamecocks the same way Holtz did. I just hope it is quickly so the team can get a new coach in here that actually cares about winning and not padding his kids resumes.
By Richard July 1, 2010 at 12:05 pm
Hopefully Tanner can provide SS with some tips as to how to treat players without berating them in public. It is obvious Tanner loves his players. SS is only concerned about his legacy and who he has to bully to preserve what little is left of it!
By Michael P. July 1, 2010 at 1:37 pm
Spaniel – So how many pieces of equipment/machinery do you own that cost over $100,000 each and use for one or two weeks per year? How much food do you grow? How much land do you have?
It doesn’t mean much to many just being a metrosexual lawyer from a 3rd Tier Law School (there is no 4th Tier Law School) and living in a downtown condo. I mean to others who aren’t in your same shoes.
By countryboy July 1, 2010 at 2:46 pm
34-17
By CNSYD July 1, 2010 at 3:43 pm
Modern Clemson is on the cutting edge (blackface parties aside)! For example, the president of a homosexual advocacy group of which I am a member — The South Carolina Equality Coaltion — is a graduate of Clemson:
“NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR SCEC
The South Carolina Equality Coalition (SCEC) has announced the appointment of C. Ray Drew as its Executive Director. Drew is a longtime leader in national and local politics with LGBT communities. Previously, he served as the first Executive Director of the Family Pride Coalition, the national organization devoted to the public policy issues of LGBT parents and their families. He also worked for AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts and the LGBT Center of San Diego. During the last six years, he has worked in San Diego, Calif. on campaign management, strategic consulting and political fundraising, working for local and state candidates and ballot measures.
In a recent statement from SCEC, Linda Ketner, one of the organization’s founders, said “Ray has that rare combination of political intuition, nonprofit management, experience and leadership skills that our organization needs to make SCEC a force for equality in South Carolina politics.” Drew has raised more than $8 million in political contributions in recent years, primarily in the LGBT community. A South Carolina native, he graduated from Clemson University and went on to build a remarkable career in nonprofit and political organizing. Drew stated, “We simply won’t accept second class citizenship in this state or in this country. We are not asking for equality from anyone. It’s not theirs to give. It is our birthright and we will accept nothing less than full equality.” With all of the work accomplished so far this year, including pro-gay legislation in the statehouse for the first time in our history, SCEC is poised, with Drew at the helm, to make significant change in the state of equality for years to come.
The South Carolina Equality Coalition and the South Carolina Equality Foundation are nonprofit organizations, working to achieve LGBT equality in the state through advocacy and education, supporting local, state and federal efforts to advance the civil and human rights for LGBT South Carolinians.”
By I wrote the trick book July 2, 2010 at 11:25 am
The “chicken curse” isn’t over…remember, its based on Williams Brice’s placement on an Indian burial ground… “you will lose for many moons white man”
And as far as Spurrier goes, he’s “unfireable”, so no matter your feelings about him or his performance, he’s here to stay until he gets tired of playin golf and cashing his check from the state of SC.
It really doesn’t matter though, bc USC will just find another legendary coach and run his career into the ground (if they had the power to resurrect Bear Bryant, they’d do it; and even he couldn’t win in championship in Columbia with a team of angels)…USC, the “place where great coaches go to die”.
By BlackMagic84 July 2, 2010 at 1:28 pm
By I wrote the trick book on July 2nd, 2010 at 11:25 am, stated that “USC, the place where great coaches go to die”.
I think the actual statement is “South Carolina the place where former great football coaches go to die”.
By Moonpie Magpie Eggnog July 2, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Forget all this baseball talk, inquiring minds want to know how Nikki is in the sack. Well?
By CNSYD July 3, 2010 at 8:05 pm
The ONLY post I made was at 7:21 AM on July 1. All other subsequent ones (except this one) are fakes by the little sissy boys that are afraid to use their own names and hide behind other ones. I guess that is what they teach at USC east.
Spaniel, so are you up to my wager or not?
Legend? I have not said anything about a legend. But that word covers a lot of ground. Pee Wee Gaskins is a legend. Is that what you mean?