Former University of South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders will miss the first four games of the 2012 National Football League season after violating the league’s ban against performance-enhancing drugs.

The 6-foot-5, 270-pound tight end – who caught four passes for 29 yards and a touchdown during his rookie season with the Pittsburgh Steelers – will be able to practice with the team and play in the postseason, but he won’t be paid for the four weeks that he’s suspended.

It’s not immediately clear whether Saunders knowingly violated league policy, but few are cutting him any slack given the off-field issues he encountered during his time with the Gamecocks.

“This isn’t the first time Saunders has run into trouble, which should raise a red flag for the Steelers,” ESPN’s Jamison Hensley wrote.

This website covered every aspect of the Saunders’ saga at USC – from the initial NCAA allegations against him in the summer of 2010 to his eventual dismissal from the team to his high-profile bid for reinstatement.

After initially denying any wrongdoing, Saunders later admitted that he lied to the NCAA about his dealings with a “runner” for an agent.

Pic: via Daylife

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Supermodel Gisele Bundchen – wife of New England Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady – had some harsh words for her husband’s teammates following their loss to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI.

“My husband can not f*cking throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time,” Bundchen said after the game while being heckled by Giants fans. “I can’t believe they dropped the ball so many times.”

Bundchen has a point. Patriot receivers Wes Welker and Deion Branch (and tight end Aaron Hernandez) had crucial fourth quarter drops against the Giants – including Welker’s failure to come up with a big grab that could have put the game away for New England.

Take a look …

Brady defended Welker, who was inconsolable after the game.

“Wes is a phenomenal player and a teammate,” he said. “I love that guy.”

And in Welker’s defense, Brady’s pass was thrown a little bit behind him – although it’s clearly a grab the four-time Pro Bowler should have come up with, especially in such a critical situation.

Anyway, we’re calling this one for Gisele … and no, these pictures have nothing to do with it.

(Click to enlarge)

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S.C. Rep. Nathan Ballentine (R-Irmo) has sponsored legislation that would require the University of South Carolina and Clemson University to continue their football rivalry indefinitely.

Actually Ballentine sponsored the bill two months ago, but nobody noticed it until this week …

“The Division I varsity football teams of the University of South Carolina and Clemson University shall annually play on a home and home basis under such terms and conditions as the respective boards of trustees may decide,” Ballentine’s legislation states.

Hmmmmm-kay.

The USC-Clemson rivalry is the second-longest uninterrupted college football series in the nation – boasting a streak of continuous meetings dating all the way back to 1909. That streak was almost broken in 1952 when the Southern Conference tried to force Clemson not to play South Carolina after the Tigers participated in a bowl game without conference approval.

State lawmakers waded into that dispute – passing a resolution mandating that the game be played. We were under the impression that the law remained in effect, but Ballentine told The (Columbia, S.C.) State newspaper “it’s not.”

Either way, this legislation is as patently ridiculous – and proof positive of the need for a shorter legislative session.

As we have noted on previous occasions, the Palmetto State has plenty of real issues that need to be addressed.This is not anywhere close to being one of them, and a “reformer” like Ballentine should know better.

Pic: Travis Bell, Sideline Carolina

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When it isn’t drawing crowds that barely crack four figures, the University of South Carolina is busy turning its cavernous Colonial Life Arena into a the equivalent of a home court for ranked opponents.

You know … programs which enjoy (imagine this) a national fan base.

Wait … you’ve been trusting the University of South Carolina’s official announced attendance figures – the ones that show crowds of 7,000 or more per home game? Um … yeah … that’s like trusting a North Korean ballot box, people.

But even if those figures were accurate, we’re talking about an 18,000-seat arena (do the math … well, assuming you weren’t educated in a South Carolina public school).

Saturday’s game against Kentucky drew an announced crowd of 16,527 to the “Colonial Cavern” – a season-high crowd – although as was the case when 13,654 fans showed up for USC’s loss to No. 2 Ohio State in December, Gamecock supporters were outnumbered in their home arena.

“A safe majority of the fans wore blue, both in the upper and lower decks,” reported Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Daily Gamecock. “As the clock wound down on the Wildcats’ 33-point victory, Big Blue Nation loudly chanted, ‘Go, Big Blue!’”

Ouch …

Meanwhile the Associated Press reported that Wildcat fans made up “at least half” of the attendees at Saturday’s game.

Kentucky took full advantage of the support, too, administering an 86-52 beat down on the hapless Gamecocks, who fell to 9-13 overall and just 1-7 in conference play.

Sad …

Things weren’t supposed to be like this. USC head coach Darrin Horn arrived in Columbia four years ago having led Western Kentucky to 111 wins in five seasons – including an appearance in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. Expectations were high … and they hit the stratosphere when Horn’s Gamecocks throttled Kentucky 77-59 at home during his first year to improve to 20-6 on the season.

The program has gone downhill ever since then, though.

USC choked down the stretch in 2009, losing four of its final five games and missing out on an NCAA bid. The Gamecocks haven’t come close to the postseason since then. In fact, they haven’t posted a winning record since then, going 15-16 in Horn’s second season, 14-16 last year and 9-13 this season.

In fact we’re pretty sure Horn would have been fired already were the University not looking to save money on his contract’s buyout provision.

That’s too bad … we genuinely like Horn, and we had hoped that he would be the guy to get USC its first NCAA tournament win since 1974 (yes, it’s been that long). It wasn’t meant to be, though.

Making things even harder on Horn? The success that  USC’s other historically-mediocre programs are enjoying. The Gamecocks have experienced a renaissance in both baseball and football, and USC’s Lady Gamecock basketball team even pulled off a historic upset of the University of Tennessee earlier this year.

By comparison the accomplishments of Horn’s program look … well, empty.

Pic: Travis Bell, Sideline Carolina

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As lifelong Indianapolis Colts fans, it’s in our DNA to hate Tom Brady. He’s a pretty boy … and we have long reveled in mocking him and his supermodel wife Gisele Bundchen (referring to him derisively as “Poopie“).

So … naturally we savored the defeat of Brady’s New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, right? Especially seeing how hard Brady took the loss, right?

Wrong …

As much as we hate to say this … it’s simply impossible not to respect Brady. And while Sunday night’s 21-17 Patriot loss to the New York Giants was sweet Schadenfreude for some New England haters, it wasn’t for us.

Don’t get us wrong … our man crush on Colts’ quarterback Peyton Manning will continue unabated (no matter where No. 18 winds up playing in 2012). And as far as the Patriots are concerned, we will continue clinging to our hope that Bundchen really is playoff Kryptonite.

But in losing his second Super Bowl in a row, Brady turned in yet another solid performance – one befitting his legacy as one of the top ten (possibly even top five) quarterbacks of all-time. He completed 27 of 41 passes for 276 yards, two touchdowns and one interception against the Giants this go-round – not a bad night, although he did have an intentional grounding penalty called against him on the Patriots opening drive that resulted in a 2-0 lead for New York.

Brady played well against the G-Men in Super Bowl XLII, too, completing 29 of 48 passes for 266 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in that game.

Both times, though, he fell victim to the last-minute heroics of Eli Manning … who followed up Super Bowl XLII’s “Helmet Catch” completion to David Tyree with a pinpoint sideline strike to wide receiver Mario Manningham that set up the Giants’ game-winning score on Sunday night.

Brady got the ball back with 57 seconds left on the clock, but after converting a big fourth down play he simply ran out of time – with a ‘Hail Mary’ pass on the game’s final play coming up short.

Of course a pair of close losses to the Giants won’t erase Brady’s three previous Super Bowl victories (or his two Super Bowl MVP awards). And seriously, stop and think for a moment what the press would be writing about Brady had the Patriots defense managed to stop the Giants on their final drive?

Greatest quarterback ever?

There would have been a vigorous debate … and there may still be one (Brady’s just 34 years old, after all).

After the game Brady was reportedly inconsolable … unable to be comforted by his teammates, his owner or his supermodel wife. That’s understandable. In addition to being one of the game’s best quarterbacks ever … he’s one of its toughest competitors.

That’s why our hats are off to Brady … even though we’re supposed to hate him.

Pic: via Daylife

Both Clemson University and the University of South Carolina landed solid recruiting classes in 2012, with the Tigers inking the nation’s No. 13 class and the Gamecocks coming in not far behind at No. 18.

Neither school landed a five-star recruit this year, according to Rivals.com, but Clemson scored nine four-star prospects and South Carolina bagged eight.

February 1 was national signing day, when high school football recruits determine which college they are planning to attend (or follow up on their verbal commitments) by submitting signed letters of intent.

Clemson’s class was led by 6-foot-1, 195-pound Tallahassee, Florida defensive back Travis Blanks – who is rated by ESPN as the No. 2 safety in the nation. Already enrolled in school, Blanks will likely make an immediate impact in the Tigers’ secondary. Running back/ wide receiver Zac Brooks – a 6-foot-2, 190-pound speedster from Jonesville, Arkansas – is another early enrollee who is expected to contribute immediately.

For a thorough recap of the Tigers class courtesy of the blog Shakin the Southland, click here.

South Carolina’s class was headlined by a pair of offensive weapons – 6-foot-1, 173-pound wide receiver Shaq Roland (Lexington, S.C.) and 5-foot-9, 216-pound running back Mike Davis (Stone Mountain, Georgia).

Roland is the fourth straight “Mr. Football” in South Carolina to choose the Gamecocks, following in the footsteps of defensive back Stephon Gilmore (2008), running back Marcus Lattimore (2009) and last year’s national No. 1 recruit Jadeveon Clowney.

To read more about the Gamecocks’ incoming recruits, click here.

Obviously it’s one thing to land quality talent – which both Carolina and Clemson have done in recent years – its another thing altogether to translate that talent into wins.

Fortunately for fans of both institutions, their programs have taken positive steps in recent years. After posting just 35 wins through his first five seasons in Columbia, S.C., Gamecock head coach Steve Spurrier has reeled off 20 wins in the last two seasons (including a school-record 11 victories last season). Meanwhile Clemson – which was expected to have a mediocre year in 2011 – reeled off ten wins of its own and captured the school’s first Atlantic Coast Conference championship in twenty years under fourth-year head coach Dabo Swinney.

Nationally, defending national champion Alabama recorded the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class, following by Texas, Florida, Ohio State and Stanford.

Florida State and Miami of Florida had the No. 8 and No. 9 classes, respectively, while Auburn (which will play Clemson in the 2012 season opener) had the nation’s eleventh-ranked class. Other SEC schools to boast top classes were LSU (No. 16), Tennessee (No. 17) and Georgia (No. 19).

Pic: Travis Bell, Sideline Carolina

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Clemson University wide receiver/ track star Joe Craig was booted from the Tiger football team on Thursday, head coach Dabo Swinney announced.

“Joe Craig has been permanently dismissed from the Clemson football team for a violation of team rules,” Swinney said in a statement released by the Clemson athletics department. “We wish him the best as he continues his academic and athletic career.”

Hours after Swinney’s announcement, Travis Sawchick of The Charleston Post and Courier reported that Craig had been served with an arrest warrant for criminal domestic violence stemming from an incident that occurred on the Clemson campus early Sunday morning.

According to police, it was another incident involving a fight between Craig and a female. Last May, Craig was involved in a particularly violent encounter with his then-girlfriend Marlena Wesh, a member of Clemson’s track team.

According to police reports from the  incident, Craig and Wesh had a dispute at a pool party that resulted in Wesh gashing Craig’s arm with a “six-inch razor equipped with a serrated blade.” Craig responded by beating Wesh repeatedly with a metal towel bar – leaving both athletes battered and bloodied when the cops arrived.

Craig was suspended immediately from the Clemson track team as a result of the incident but it took the football program two weeks to suspend him … for one game. Swinney later upped the suspension to three games.

Craig played sparingly for Clemson in 2011 – catching just three passes for 18 yards on the year.

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Eager to rebound from a disappointing 2011 season, head coach Will Muschamp’s Florida Gator football team is stocking up on new talent …

The Gators are poised to land one of the nation’s top recruiting classes in 2012, including  a trio of five-star players – 6-foot-5, 265-pound offensive lineman D.J. Humphries of Charlotte, N.C. (the nation’s No. 2 recruit), 6-foot-4, 255-pound Shelby, N.C. defensive end Jonathan Bullard (the nation’s No. 6 recruit) and 6-foot-3, 233-pound St. Petersburg, Florida defensive end Dante Fowler Jr., who had previously committed to play at Florida State.

While the Seminoles are no doubt displeased by that development, they’re en route to landing a top five recruiting class – while Miami is on the cusp of a top ten recruiting haul.

The nation’s top recruit – 6-foot-6, 220-pound wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham of Springfield, Missouri – has signed with Missouri Tigers, one of two new members of the Southeastern Conference.

Meanwhile defending national champion Alabama – which captured the SEC’s sixth straight national title last month – currently owns the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class.

Florida – which won national championships in 2006 and 2008 – has posted a modest 15-11 record over its last two seasons including back-to-back losses to South Carolina and arch-rival Florida State.

How did Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks and Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers fare on national signing day? We’ll have a report on their recruiting classes soon …

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Bob Jones University’s decision to bring back intercollegiate athletics has the school pumped up, people. In fact, according to its vice president for academic affairs the Upstate, S.C. Christian institution is looking for a new mascot that embodies its teams’ (holy) spirit.

From The Collegian:

Dr. (Gary) Weier said that no mascot has been chosen yet, but that BJU is looking for a mascot that will portray the qualities of the University and will be fresh and exciting.

“We would like to have a mascot that fits us,” he said.

He also added that student input is important to the mascot selection process, and that the mascot should be revealed well before the end of second semester. In the coming weeks, students will learn more about how they can help in choosing the University’s mascot.

Can you stand the excitement? We can’t … and given what passes for “fun” at BJU we’re guessing this is best news to hit the campus since female students were permitted to wear clothing that revealed their wrists.

Our recommendation? The Hummingbird. Because nothing says BJU quite like a hummer …

UPDATE: You know, so long as it’s not interracial.

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University of South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier has relieved third-year assistant coach Johnson “Jeep” Hunter III of his duties.

Hunter – who coached USC’s safeties in 2011 – was returning from a recruiting trip when Spurrier informed him of the decision. No reason was immediately given for his firing.

“We wish Coach Hunter and his family the very best,” Spurrier said in a terse statement issued by the University late Friday. Without elaborating, the statement indicated that Spurrier felt USC “needed a more experienced secondary coach.”

Huh?

Along with recently departed USC assistant head coach Ellis Johnson (now head coach at Southern Mississippi) and new USC defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward, Hunter is among those most responsible for helping turn the Gamecocks’ defense – and particularly its secondary – into one of the nation’s most feared units.

South Carolina ranked second in the nation in passing defense in 2011 – giving up just 133 yards through the air per game. USC also ranked second nationally in pass efficiency defense – helping lead the Gamecocks to their first-ever 11-win season and national Top Ten finish.

During his first two years with the Gamecocks Hunter coached tight ends and was a special teams assistant. Prior to coming to joining Spurrier’s staff in February 2009 the Duncan, N.C. native spent two years at Georgia Tech and three years at Memphis – where he coached All-America running back DeAngelo Williams.

UPDATE: Here’s USC’s statement on Jeep Hunter’s dismissal.

UPDATE II: Here’s a story from GamecockCentral.com that features an exclusive interview with Hunter.

Pics: Laurie Giarratano

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