Join Seth Emerson as he blogs live Saturday from South Carolina vs. Arkansas.
Recent Updates RSS Hide threads | Keyboard Shortcuts
-
Gameday blog: USC vs. Arkansas
dmclemore
-
Tennessee applies the icing
semerson
Time to start pumping the gas – er, engines, for the South Carolina plane.
Chad Cunningham’s field goal from 39 yards seals it for Tennessee, which now leads 31-13.
At this point USC will end up outgaining the Vols, as the Gamecocks have a 340-323 advantage in that department and are taking possession again. So those four turnovers will officially be the overwhelming difference in the game.
Expect a lot of crowing from Tennessee fans, and some smugness from Lane Kiffin. And their team did play better than South Carolina.
It didn’t turn the ball over. And USC did. Four big times. And USC goes home, in need of some regrouping for Arkansas.
-
That might do it
semerson
Just when you think South Carolina still has a glimmer of hope …
The turnover strikes again.
On the first play of a drive that needed to be a touchdown, Stephen Garcia instead throws an interception. The quarterback, hurried in the pocket, tried a dump-off over the middle that was overthrown and landed smack in the hands of linebacker Greg King.
USC had just received a big break, as Tennessee star Eric Berry was called for an unsportsmanlik penalty on a punt – somehow Berry committed a face mask on a punt that wasn’t fielded.
There were about nine mintes left, USC only had half the field before the end zone … and once again it blew it.
Interestingly enough, when that drive started USC was out-gaining Tennessee by a 340-292 margin.
But those four turnovers, well, they’re more important.
-
BKG
Anybody have Sparkys number. Spurrier is done.
-
gregor
Someone tell Burger King Girl to stop posting (probably a clemson fan).
-
KTF
yeah, i don’t think there’s much of a doubt who bkg supports!
-
BKG
No am just sitting her with your momma watching the game. By the way you look just like Joe Dirt.
-
Chris
Yeh, not our night. Rocky Top will haunt my sleep tonight.
-
BigJoeisdumb
Are you people delusional? Do you really think Spurrier has this program any further than Dr Lou had it five or six years ago? The window is closing, the opportunity was there to move from the second tier SEC East and you blew it. 2 more years and you are battling Kentucky and Vandy again for 3 wins in conference. Spurrier is not interested in this program, no more than Holtz was. If you guys were smart you would hire someone like Dabo, but old school thinking leads to old school coaches which leads to six win seasons. The game has passed him by…Maybe Tanner can coach football too?
-
gregor
joe dirt, BKG? Joe Dirt had a mullet.
Nice try. Now, try not to impregnate your mother.
-
-
A stalemate that favors Tennessee
semerson
We seem to have entered the “freeze” portion of this game. We are stagnant – and obviously South Carolina needs more.
USC still trails 28-13, and has had to punt again. It was a good punt, and it was downed at the 5 – but time is dwindling.
There’s still 12:41 left, so if USC can do something on this defensive series – get a big turnover, or at least give the offense good field position – the Gamecocks still have a chance here.
But it’d help if the offense could put together more of a sustainable drive. It stalled on its last one, unable to get completions near midfield.
-
BKG
Tennesse is just running it down the Defenses throat now. This one is over.
-
BKG
Nice pass garcia. You su##.
-
BKG
Shamecocks finish the season 6-6. Mark it down.
-
BKG
The offensive genius is now the offensive moron.
-
drew
have all you got to do is sit here and write message after message after message about spurrier? if you think you can do a better job than him, go for it.
-
KTF
bkg is obviously a clemson fan. let him rant. spurrier has this team playing better than it has in a long while. this was just a really unlucky day for us.
-
CocktoTiger
I just authorized a client to donate 1 million dollars to Clemson because I am giving up 35 years of support for the “cocks!”. Garcia and offense sucks! Good luck Tigers!
-
Kurtis
Reporters need to ask if USC will get some hurry up offense going sometime before the season is over.
-
Kurtis
NOTICE HOW TENN doesn’t kneal down like USC….. competitive mind set.
-
Mark Shelley
Pray is all I can say! Patience USC fans! I am frustrated just as you are, but we are movinging and building here at USC. It takes time and that is hard for all of us. Hang in their everyone!
-
dee gray
All of you saying Spurrier has this team playing better than ever,need to look at the wins and loses ,it’s no better than Sweet Lou.I said it before ,and i’ll say it again,Spurrier sucks,he did’nt have this team prepared to play,his time coaching has ran out,his playcalling is awful.At Florida all he had to do was put athletes on the field and they took care of the rest.He proved his coaching ability in Washington,none.Then he gets his a$$ on the tv and says we need to coach’em up,and he never does.What an idiot !
-
-
The offense strikes back
semerson
For once, South Carolina’s offense provided just the answer it needed. And we’re back to a two-score game.
Three plays, 77 yards, in one minute and 12 seconds. Not too shabby.
Moe Brown makes a fantastic diving 31-yard touchdown catch near the right pylon, on a perfectly-placed pass by Stephen Garcia. That followed a long throw to Weslye Saunders, and a long run by Kenny Miles.
USC is back in it, at least for now, as it trails 28-13 late in the third quarter.
That’s the first touchdown allowed by the Tennessee in 175 minutes, or 10-plus quarters, dating back to the fourth quarter of the Auburn game on Oct. 3.
And after all that, USC has another short kickokff, and Tennessee starts at its own 43.
I’d say the Gamecock kickoff coverage remains abysmal.
-
BKG
Beamer has reduced special teams to a joke. Why doesn’t he go coach with his dad.
-
BKG
Get a real job Spurrier. Your coaching days are over.
-
KTF
wow. some of you folks have to be the lamest fair-weather fans around. a bad day with three straight direct helmet-on-ball fumbles and you give up on the coaches and the team. way to go.
-
Drew
You need to calm down…..don’t just go blame spurrier. play calling has been fine…its those 3 fumbles that has ruined this game
-
garnetblack&white
truth– carolina was in quick sand in the first quater but we got out !its not play calling its the attitude of carolina football . jimmy johnson couldnt help us
-
Kurtis
>>>>Fake<<<<< USC fans posting on here ……. anything better to do? 3 Force fumbles is the storyline of the game. Other than that USC has hung in there, hopefully they can get 2 quick scores here in the 2nd half.
-
Kurtis
KTF, agree there is a lot of USC haters pretending to be USC fans lol losers prb. clemsux fans. USC self-destructed by turnovers but have a chance to get some points in the 4th.
-
KTF
if we can just get another couple of defensive stops, garcia and co. look like they can crack the vols defense. of course if our D could get a turnover..
-
garnetblack&white
no turnover we win easy
-
Old Fan
Guess were back to our loosing ways! We mostlikely loose the rest of the games and go 6-6 after all we are at the end of the season!
-
Trigi
i agree with the writer from the previous post, where is the hurry up offense? It is a rap, game over. You get exactly what you deserve when you don’t ride on and rely on the BMAD (Brian Maddox) Express to get you to your final destination!
-
KTF
are you serious? you want maddox?! miles has run very well. 7 rushes for 40 yds, 5.7 yd avg!
-
garnetblack&white
another turnover
-
Kurtis
Well, USC tried but too many turnovers to get back in this one.
-
Kurtis
Now Tenn will get a late turnover which will make this look like a blowout. Still cannot get over the hump in the SEC.
-
KTF
i guess thats it for this game. hardesty’s going to run us out of the game. this is just a really unlucky day for us. it happens. i still think we have a great chance to beat arkansas, the gators and clemson this year. yes, i’m serious. this was a freak day.. although it’s still not over. we look much better than years past.
-
garnetblack&white
old fan is right season is over! real carolina fan just know when to say maybe next year. this hurt carolina from a recuriting standpoint . four tourovers tipical carolina .
-
garnetblack&white
pumpers pump it up. no more chicken curse.
-
Kurtis
….Game isn’t over. All of you CLEMSUX fans and haters suck on the gas too much.
-
Michael
This is rediculous!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been a Gamecock fan and supporter for 35 years and now i’m happy to say that i’m done! Good luck guys!
-
garnetblack&white
this team is weak ! o-line d-line is weak ! just like every year i was like you guys but i see the light. the future is bright for carolina ! but face it we are in for a rough road in the next four weeks! its ok to hope ! but just like evry year its hard to take!
-
garnetblack&white
our line coach said they are weak ! so much for the light contact drills in carolina !i guess we know witch one works better for the team!
-
garnetblack&white
i feel for you michael !it hurts when u know the truth of the hard years of a carolina fan. me 28 years but i know were u are in what you are saying . but i tell u what u will be back next week for some more punishment . just like me!!!!!!!!!
-
-
Never mind
semerson
Tennessee drives downfield in five short plays and Montario Hardesty finishes it off with a 7-yard run, cutting through the South Carolina defense like it was no big deal.
Tennessee 28, USC 6, and they’re playing “Rocky Top” at Neyland Stadium.
So to review: USC’s offense puts together some good drives over the past 15 minutes (including the tail end of the first half) but only has two field goals to account for it. Tennessee answers with five plays to get seven points, and reasserts itself.
USC just looks deflated in all areas right now. The defense, if it were as good as it’s sometimes made out to be, should have held firm there, given its offense another chance. But, perhaps suffering from the loss of Cliff Matthews – but also very poor tackling – it folded quickly.
-
Jason
Good job on self-destructing like usual. I guess all of us fans are use to this by now though.
-
Burke Cady
NEWS FLASH- Gary Patterson next Head Coach at South Carolina… Spurrier cannot communicate with young players…
-
jeff bassham
Wait until next year. Same old Gamecocks.
-
Bosie
>>There isn’t any intensity out there. Every game it seems as if they just play within the confines of the system without any spunk so to speak.
-
kurt
WHERE IS THE HURRY UP OFFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
-
Another Lanning field goal
semerson
South Carolina isn’t going to win this game with field goals. Still, better to get three than none, obviously.
Lanning’s second field goal of the game makes it a 21-6 game. USC had driven down to the 15, but three straight incompletions – all on the left side to Moe Brown – stalled the drive.
The first two throws were the identical route, into the left corner of the end zone. You know, this try-try-again thing isn’t working.
Worse news for South Carolina: The subsequent kickoff was … wait for it … short, and Tennessee started at its own 44. And soon enough it was in South Carolina territory.
Talk about derailing momentum. Again, South Carolina’s defense is going to have to do something big on its own, or USC will lose.
-
New face on the O-Line
semerson
Garrett Chisolm is in at left guard. Yup, you read that right.
The walk-on from Charleston is seeing his first action on offense as a Gamecock – he did play on defense at the end of the S.C. State game.
Chisolm replaces Lemuel Jeanpierre at left guard. Garrett Anderson remains at center.
-
The Quad
3 plays to Moe….way trick the D. Moe is great, but just like Alshon and the three passes to him you can’t run an O like that. Mix it up like you did driving down the field.
-
Daborules
Can BMAD offensive coordinate?
Lets see Steve Jr is to Steve as Skippy was to Dr Lou? Nice way for Dad to secure sons future yes?
Can I get some lottery tickets with that fill up Alshon?
-
-
Gamecocks need to score soon
semerson
No kidding, right?
Tennessee has had to punt on its first two possessions, going three-and-out both times. So the South Carolina defense is doing its job. Offense, you’re on the clock.
The Gamecocks did drive down to the 37 on their first drive, but a sack on third down ended that. Now the Gamecocks take over again with good field position, their own 42.
That said, the running game just doesn’t look like it’s there, so it may be all pass from here on. It wouldn’t hurt to try some Stephen Garcia keepers too.
Either way, at some point Lane Kiffin will figure out that he only needs to keep running the ball, and the game will soon be over. South Caroline needs to put some pressure on him, via the scoreboard. Passing situations for the Vols and Jonathan Crompton are just begging for a USC turnover.
-
Matthews out
semerson
Cliff Matthews will not return tonight, based on the fact that he’s in street clothes on the South Carolina sideline.
The junior defensive end hurt his left shoulder in the first quarter. Devin Taylor replaced him in the lineup.
-
BKG
I dont blame him fore wanting to get out of that uniform.
-
Gamecock1964
Three incomplete passes to the left – who is calling those plays? Why NO running plays? Why can’t we score when in the red zone? Why does our offense have NO imagination in play calling when in the red zone? Another LOSS with three more probable losses to end yet another very disappointing season. “Next year” – gee – at least the Brooklyn Dodgers finally did win a World Series one of those ‘next years’ – what of us? – will there ever be a ‘next year’ in which we actually win? It is so sickening and disheartening. YES – I know – you got to believe – BUT – years and years and years of losing sure makes one lose faith.
-
Dspoon 7:17 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
That does it……No wins the rest of the way out.
KTF 7:17 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
bad clock management again. well, this one’s over. but i didn’t think we looked so bad. take the lousy luck away on the first 3 turnovers and we come out on top. today just wasn’t our day. i like our chances the rest of the way.. yes, even against spurrier’s old team.
Roy 7:17 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
Lane Kiffin is a jerk.
Barry 7:18 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
South Carolina looked like they weren’t prepared at the start of the game. The offense – once again- put the defense in an almost no won situation with all the turnovers early in the game. Steve Spurrier’s offense has a habit of doing that – a multi year habit.
JK 7:20 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
oh well, guess there is always next year right??? I really hate saying that every year!!!!!!!
gb4usc 7:22 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
So much for ‘New Carolina”. It will always be same ole same ole Carolina!!!!
Go Spurrier 7:23 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
Spurrier just needs to get some players that want to play and don’t give up easily when things go bad.
Leo Nola 7:23 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
KTF, enough with the “ifs” already….
6-6.
BKG 7:24 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
Dream on and keep drinking the Spurrier koolaid.
KTF 7:27 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
leo nola: there’s no way it’s another 6-6. no way. we may lose to the gators, but i think we win the other two for an 8-4 at least.
KTF 7:31 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
go spurrier: i don’t think they gave up. they stayed in it even though they were down 21-0. we’ve had a few lucky breaks getting to 6-3. today the bounces went the vols’ way. we’ll be okay.
The Quad 7:32 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
Disgusted. It is the job of the coach to get the team ready and the O is never ready until the 2nd half. Mistake after mistake after mistake….the blame rests on the coach period. We need a new O coach period. The talent is there, that is easy to see. 5 years and our O still looks like a Deer in Headlights with a flash of briliance every now and then. Sloppy play-sloppy coaching.
KTF 7:32 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
jk: a lot to play for still. the INT was bad, but the other 3 were not mistakes we’ll make in every game. keep the faith!
KTF 7:35 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
7 different receivers had a per-catch avg of 10 yds. 365 yds of offense to 340 by UT. that’s not deer-in-headlights coaching or playing, Quad.
KTF 7:38 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
it’s true we didn’t get in the end zone enough. but neither did ‘bama against the vols (and we outscored and outgained them). scoring TDs on Monte’s defense hasn’t been easy for anyone.
Go Spurrier 7:39 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
The O has no poise. Panic and fear of failure sets in the minute something bad happens.
KTF 7:42 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
gs: what do you mean? where did you see that? garcia missed a open receivers a few times (4 times by my count). and he was throwing off the back foot a couple of those times. and miles and saunders both dropped passes they should’ve caught. but it didn’t look like panic had much to do with it.
TheChicken 7:45 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
Once again the November Collapse is a hand. How many times do we have to suffer this each year? The fact we out gained UT is of no concern, we lost.
The Quad 7:45 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
Garcia is tha man. He has carried this team and if we even had a high school O line, he would be blowing things out of the water.
Go Spurrier 7:50 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
The O plays tentative. The mistakes made by the O cause urgency in their play going forward. Where was Saunders tonight. Poor blocking and catching. Why can we not find a kicker that can kick the ball out of the end zone. It is hard for the defense to overcome such great starts for the opposition when they start on their 40 yard line or better.
The Quad 7:53 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
Our D is awesome and EJ should make more money then any other coach on the staff period. If we had a better O coach his D would be top 5 in the country easy. But how much can you ask of a D when you constanly put them in bad situations?
CD44 8:02 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
Chris Culliver is way overrated. Has anyone noticed how wants to go for the big hit or for the legs, but never wraps up? He did one of those two things on the first 3 TDs tonight. Our tackling has stunk for about 4 weeks.
scooter 8:10 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
the D played awesome? When the O turns the ball over, the D has to say “okay, let’s man up and hold them to FGs, not play ole defense and just let them score TDs. It’s a team game, and the offense, defense and special teams were not up to par. It they could have done the above, it still would have been a game. And why can’t our defense “ever” force turnovers? There ball awareness is terrible. I don’t know why they are always coached to go for the big hit, instead of focusing on the ball and getting some picks.
scooter 8:14 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
By the way. Ga. Tech scored 56 on Vande. Do you think our offense needs work? Our coaches have a hard time designing “explosive” plays! And without them it’s very hard to put together long drives and score TDs.
dee gray 8:24 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
Spurrier is an idiot,he did’nt have this team prepared to play at all.He showed his coaching ability in Washington,none.The game has passed him by.There’s a reason this idiot can’t land a decent qb,nobody wants to play for a coach who’s let the game pass him by.Coach’em up;PLEASE !
Chris 8:42 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
Everything I post is erased for honesty and being a true fan but yet dee gray and all these fair weather fans can post this nonsense and it sticks. Makes no sense to me. Send me an email why you cannot post my thoughts please.
letha 5:44 pm on November 1, 2009 Permalink
here comes the slid…maybe 6-6 will be enough to get the gamecocks to a bowl game
ProdigalGamecock 5:56 pm on November 1, 2009 Permalink
Coaching has some part to do with the fumbles, but not entirely. The first two by Cunningham and Miles were caused by good hits and lack of physical strength to hold on to the ball. Now Garcia’s fumble is directly related to coaching. How many times did Garcia fumble last year going in head first into a tackle? Several! Coach thinks it prevents injury, but it really increases the chances of fumbling. It would have been interesting to see how these teams really match up, but the turnovers blew that. Also Garcia is improving, but his accuracy is still terrible. Passes over the middle should always be kept low. I know that’s coached, he’s just got to execute better. He still rushes passes to much. I think that’s because he can’t count on the O-line. As for the tackling, the defensive players are guilty of thinking they’re better than they really are. This happens every year. We get to be about 5-1 or 6-2 and think we’re so great, when we haven’t beaten anybody of significance. You would think the coaches wouldn’t let this happen, year after year. Ever since we’ve been in the SEC. The coaches need to coach integrity and humility. Wasn’t it Culliver who said “what, aren’t they like 3-4 and we’e 6-2 i’m not impressed.” Are you impressed now Cully? Now shut up and play like a humble man with something to prove.
Gary 7:18 pm on November 1, 2009 Permalink
My Gamecocks have not been well-coached the last several years. “Sloppy” comes to mind along with “unpracticed”, “lazy” and maybe “dumb at times”. To avoid this, most schools go out and find a really high caliber coach, maybe pay him a couple of million a year, and get better results. What do you do when you have already tried that though?