A LOOK AT THIS WEEK’S GAMECOCK MATCH-UP
By Liz Gunn || I don’t ever like to predict the outcome of a college football game in which my team is playing. For the Gamecocks, tomorrow’s game in Gainesville is maybe the biggest head-scratcher for me yet.
Earlier this season, Florida’s offense looked like a dumpster fire. It appeared they had more woes than our defense, if that’s possible. The difference is that Florida’s offense seems to have finally found their rhythm.
I’m not saying they’re great, but they have improved a lot, actually, unlike South Carolina’s defense which continues to be very frustrating to watch. If the Gators come out and play tomorrow like they did against Georgia, we’re in trouble. And to be fair – Florida’s only losses this season have come at the hands of Alabama, LSU and Missouri…not SEC bottom dwellers like Tennessee and Kentucky.
In my opinion Florida should have lost to Kentucky, too, but you can watch the replay of the clock ticking to zero and draw your own conclusion. They squeaked out a one point win against Tennessee, and after back to back to home losses went to Jacksonville and shocked us all by beating Georgia…pretty convincingly.
This is exactly why I love college football. There are NO transitive properties in this sport. It’s going to be an interesting match up tomorrow, for sure.
On paper, this game shouldn’t mean much to South Carolina, win or lose. We’re no longer playing for the East and if we can even become bowl eligible, I can assure you it won’t be a bowl to get excited about. Little Caesar’s Bowl – here we come!
Rumors of some coaching changes are swirling at both schools. If Muschamp pulls out a win, he will likely keep his job at Florida. If the Gators fall to South Carolina however, he could potentially end up here, ironically employed by the school that led to his firing. In order for that to happen though, South Carolina would have to fire Lorenzo Ward. And would they…if we beat Florida?
Ward has been hammered all season about the deplorable defense, and a win against Florida would definitely help him out. I personally think Muschamp is safe regardless of the outcome of tomorrow’s game, so none of it may matter. Again – these are nothing more than rumors at this time, but it’s worth pointing out.
I was in Gainesville two years ago for what went down as one of the best and worst road games of my life. The worst, not because we lost, but because of the way we lost and the hype that surrounded our team leading up to that game. We couldn’t do anything right that day.
I remember that it was a day game because I remember thinking I may actually perish in the stadium due to heat exhaustion. Please keep in mind that I have lived in Columbia for nearly 20 years, the “famously hot” capital city. There is a reason they call Ben Hill Griffin Stadium “The Swamp”; that’s precisely what it felt like. Luckily, tomorrow’s weather forecast in Gainesville is calling for 65 degrees and sunny at kick-off.
I was fortunate enough to attend said game with one of my best friends, who is a true Gator fan, through and through. She’s been going to games there literally since before she was born. When she and I went off to college, and parted ways, Florida was one of the best teams in the country and South Carolina was one of the worst. Lucky her.
The thing about away games that can really turn you off is the fans. My hatred for other SEC teams often stems from how nasty their fans were when I traveled to their stadium. I highly recommend going to an away game with someone from the home team, when possible. It made the whole experience a lot less troubling.
Even though we sat in the Florida section, no one really gave me a hard time because it was obvious I was the guest of one of their own. It also helped that I wasn’t being obnoxious. I’ve given obnoxious, opposing fans a hard time in Williams-Brice and they absolutely deserved it! (Don’t bark at me, you freak!)
The trip to Gainesville was a good time, aside from the actual game. The stadium was loud, their fans were relatively nice and I lost count of all the men in jorts I spotted. Really – I started the day sending pictures of them to my friends back home and before kick-off my phone was dead. It’s not just a stereotype – it’s true!
For those of you making the trip, I can recommend Dragonfly Sushi for…well…sushi, Burrito Bros for Mexican and The Swamp Restaurant for a really great burger or for drinks before and after the game. It’s a great little college town with lots of bars and eateries near the stadium to choose from. Safe travels, have fun and please come home with a win!
***
Liz Gunn is a wife, mom, travel enthusiast, food snob, daydreamer and lifelong Gamecock fan. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, she lives in Columbia, S.C. with her husband and daughter.
53 comments
Should they wear khaki shorts and pink shirts like the male Gamecock fans?
LOL!
Girls dig pastels
Good thing men are into women.
Apparently so do the men at USCe.
Yeah purple and orange just scream masculine. Or fucking Kool-Aid.
This coming from a guy who’s team’s mascot is a chicken.
Never been up there for a game and only been on the campus one time so I guess I’ll take your word for it.
That all you got, boy?
You forgot the requisite Croakies holding their Costas on a stupid fucking visor. It’s the redneck version of metrosexual.
Male Gamecocks dress like Grandma is still picking out a nice outfit for brunch. And they stay that way until it’s time for their dippy ass wives to keep the up the tradition.
Male Gamecock fans are mostly in garnet, black or white. Polos, khakis, jeans…some pledges have to wear ties. I don’t really see any pastels on game day. And yes ALL of this is preferable to jorts, to answer your question.
There’s a lady out there for every type of man. It ain’t much, but at least the boy Cocks have you.
And Gamecock fans have open drunken sex in a trashed parking lot.
Hell Yeah!
Nuthin’ better than drunk fuckin’ on top of some chicken bones and a beer can, huh?
Exactly, always set your standards low and never be disappointed.
He moaned, “Oh that feels good.”
She replied, “It’s not in. It’s in the mud. Hold on….I’ll put it in.”
He asked “Is it in, now?”
She purred, “Yessss…”
He reluctantly requested, “Ummm…Can you put it back in the mud?”
And those are the ones who actually attended USC.
Just think how nasty the local hotel rooms are when they choose a parking lot instead.
“My hatred for other SEC teams often stems from how nasty their fans were when I traveled to their stadium.”
Pot, meet Kettle.
no
Hate is a mighty strong word, one not to be tossed around willy nilly. Sounds like Liz is exactly the type of nasty fan she is railing against. Go home to your glass house Liz.
No
Disagreeing doesn’t mean this summation is incorrect. And simply saying “No” isn’t a very convincing argument in your defense.
I don’t waste time arguing with stupid people.
Like every other woman alive, when they are proven wrong in an argument, they just get mad.
The way to make a woman even madder is to catch them in a lie. That REALLY sets them off.
I don’t waste time arguing with stupid people.
TBG’s infamous Rule #3:
“Never argue with an idiot.”
Corollary # 1: “…people might not be able to tell who’s who.”
Corollary # 2: “…they drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.”
How is my original point the least bit “stupid”?
Think about how many brain cells are being damaged due to impact and other sudden or chronic injuries on the field while you are having such a great time!!!!!!
There are brain cells being damaged in the parking lot too…and across the street at the bar. ALL BY CHOICE mind you.
Walking example^^^
You are ABSOLUTELY wrong.
The football players are damaging themselves for fucking life and you attempt to pass it off as the dipshits getting drunk at tailgate parties.
By your endorsement of the shit (i.e. chronic brain damage and other life long injuries that is going on in college and professional football) you by way of social intercourse are even more to blame. You are no better than the crowds who cheered on the gladiators in Rome except that you are trying to capture some semblance of your youth 5-15 years ago (I know your type; It’s over sweetie, the bloom is off the rose but I know, your kind keeps on trying till around “40ish”- wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve seen it- pathetic really).
Sleep well Saturday into Sunday morning then look in the mirror and ask yourself: “How many of the players i cheerer/slammed on game day will be semi-vegetables in 5-15 years???
Chew on that sweet-cakes and tell me where I am wrong!!!!
God, you (and your kind) are so shallow!!!!
Omg I can’t stop laughing! Pahahahaha. You seriously need a chill. Not about this topic -just in general. You have major issues dude.
You’re right. Most of the commenters on this website need to chill.
There is a lot of hatin’ goin’ on.
It ain’t hate, I’m just speaking the truth and some people can’t handle the truth or don’t want to face what is in front of their very eyes.
Something tells me you are not laughing
“Chilling”?? Sorry, it ain’t in my DNA
Yeah, I’ve got “issues” because I give a shit and it ain’t about football (the “game” that is – not the players who have become nothing more than gladiators for the masses crammed into the stadiums and watching on the “boob tube”).
Again, you and supporters of a sport that is out of control on so many levels need to look into the mirror every Sunday & Monday morning and ask yourself this simple question:
“How many players that I cheered/slammed during the game(s) will suffer from the impact injuries they sustained for my misguided enjoyment 5-15 years from now”
Believe me, I’m laughing. Of all the things to take on as your “cause” —football injuries?? Last time I checked, none of these guys are being forced to play football. I do believe the Roman Gladiators were enslaved! That’s a pretty weak comparison. Especially in the NFL where they make millions.
Wrongo “sweet-cakes”
Actually some gladiators were free men The top gladaitors who might have been slaves were freed and/or could buy their freedom and had their choice of any Roman woman they wanted (much like your beloved NFL & NBA players including college players depending which MILF gets in line first).
“Cause” = WTF!!!
Just pointing out the hypocrisy that football has become and yes I do give a shit unlike your ilk whose mindset is “well, nobody is forced to play football and that being the case I’ll party on and be purposely blind ot the ramifications of high impact injuries”.
Making millions??? Ask a those who made millions and are now ass broke.
I know, I know, I can answer that for you………
“Well, that was their choice and I can’t be blamed for their being ignorant of how to control their finances”.
“Just as long as there are more to play at “Williams-Brice” so long as I have a reason to make the social scene next football season”
Long and short: You pay/they pay but you don’t want to know or (even worse) don’t care the end about result of the arrangement.
Since none of the G.I’s there days are being “forced into the military” go to a VA clinic or hospital and tell some Iraq/Afghanistan vet who has been blown all to hell and tell him/her “well, you volunteered for it and you are going to get lifetime disability so here’s your wheelchair/seeing eye/ dog and get on with it”
Tell you what honey, I’ll drive you there and record your comments – how about that?????
And no, you are not laughing. You are lying you and I both know that.
Typo: = “You pay they PLAY”
After the brain damage, they can come here and find a home amoungst peers.
My only trip to Athens began with a Georgia fan pulling a knife on my friend because of his tee-shirt on main street twenty yards away from two bicycle cops. We won the game and a second Georgia fan pulled a knife on both of us as were walking to our truck. He unfortunately didn’t really intend to use it and we gave him a good and thorough lesson in hospitality. Arriving at the truck we found it covered with bubble gum and beer cans. As it turns out we forgot to remove a magnet from the tailgate. As we waited for traffic to clear we watched as all of our team buses were pelted with beer bottles thrown from the railroad track as they hauled ass out of town. Fuck Georgia. Go Gamecocks.
Probably no worse than coming to the Columbia industrial park stadium and having the players and coaches spit on as they enter and exit the tunnel to the locker room.
A friend of mine got a mouthful of beer spit in her face at an Athens bar for wearing a Gamecock t-shirt while there for any away game against the Dawgs. Nasty fans.
Liz, you are invited to my annual fried chicken dinner party. GO GATORS!!
How was that chicken?
Choked on it.
South Carolina has been better in basketball,at one time(McGuire),and baseball,since the dawn of man.Gamecock Football sucks.Always has.Always will.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r216GoJHVlE
To quote Obiwan Kenobi, “I have a baaaaad feeling about this.” I know I’m the one who always says this is why they play the game, but I don’t see how the Cocks can win either FL or CU. Of course, there are miracles.
Well, Watson’s torn ACL is the miracle in Clemson for cocks
I don’t see how the Cocks can win either FL or CU. Of course, there are miracles.
Friggin’ Smokey Robinson on Line 1……
Indeed. What was the most fun about late Saturday afternoon, was listening to the”experts” yammer on about how this team or that team were doing or had done against Carolina, once the defense woke up.
Sincerely sorry about Watson. Knees are the weakness of contact sports.
Gotta admire Liz for coming in here on the comment threads and holding her own.
OK, I did not intend a pun there at all, but …
Do you think you could pull those off?