Tape-gate, Day 2
Tape-gate rolled into its second day Wednesday, when Alabama coach Nick Saban accused half of the SEC teams of marking its kicks – a day after Steve Spurrier pointed out a piece of white tape he noticed the Crimson Tide using on their field goals and extra points last weekend.
Look, this obviously doesn’t rise to the level of UT coach Lane Kiffin falsely accusing Florida’s Urban Meyer of breaking NCAA recruiting rules last winter.
The penalty for using “any device or material used to mark the spot of a scrimmage place kick” is 5 yards for an illegal kick.
But if it’s against the rules, it’s against the rules – which is why Spurrier called the tape into question Tuesday at his weekly press conference.
Saban’s response: “We’ve done some research on it, and over half the teams in the league do something, whether they put grass there or a piece of mud or whatever it is, so the kicker knows where the ball’s going to be spotted. We even saw verification where last year South Carolina’s kicker did it.”
Ex-USC kicker Ryan Succop said he never used tape to mark a kick. Holder Stephen Flint said he would find a mark in the grass and point to it for Succop, which sounds a lot different than pulling a piece of tape out of your pants and putting it on the turf.
“We’d go out there and there’d be something like that,” said Flint, pointing to a small spot in the grass. “And I’d just put my finger there. Nothing like a piece of tape.”
Spurrier didn’t seem real pleased when asked about Saban’s claim.
“If we did that last year, why didn’t they turn us in if it was illegal?” Spurrier said. “Shoot, I’m available to be turned in for anything if it’s illegal.”
20 Comments to “Tape-gate, Day 2”
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USC football beat writer Joe Person has covered the Gamecocks since the start of the 2002 season. He's been on the college football beat since 1993. 
This is a little off subject but when tj was called 4 a chop block I believe it was arong I thought a chop block was when a dlineman was being blocked and another player cut him. That’s not what happened n the game tj just cut him whith noone else around. So what the right scenario.
Never liked chop-blocking, it makes it seem like you aren’t tough enough to block the right way.
Saban sounds like one of my kids when I catch them doing something wrong. “well, so and so did it too!”
Saban would be better off worrying about Tennessee this weekend than whining about being caught.
miles, I remember that call and they showed the reply of that call and tj did chopblock. The dl was being blocked by the center I believe and tj went low on him. Unfortunately, it was the right call. TJ is a good one but he is making some youthful mistakes lately.
hey tater84, why don’t you review the video yourself. That is unless you just really want to get into the pants of the Gamecock players?
Saban’s response is classic. You guys aren’t smart enough to recognize sarcasm when it is used perfectly. Saban only responded to this idiotic and childish accusation by Spurrier, true or not, because a reporter asked him about it. His response also included something about being glad that someone brought such a serious offense to his attention, because he would hate to get a 5 yard penalty. It was a stupid accusation by Spurrier and the attention it’s getting is even more stupid. Grow up! You lost the game.
tommy bowden fans are still around..lol
miles, I have watched that play several times and while I can see why the call was made in live time I do not think that it was the right call. The center was actually engaged with another defensive lineman and Cody was pushing Lem. TJ did go low, but Cody was not engaged by the center. However, I do agree with the other comment…quit chop blocking and hit ‘em in the mouth!
As for pocket in football pants…every pair of football pants I have ever seen has a couple of small pockets at the waistline that have an opening at the top and are concealed inside the pants. Not to mention the pads all go in pockets in the pants. Perhaps you should PLAY football before you say such dumb things. If not, just pick your pom poms back up…
I don’t think Saban is whining about anything, just pointing out some hypocrisy. Spurrier is the one doing all the whining; as usual.
Chop blocking is only a penalty if the person being chop blocked is currently engaged with another player. If it’s just one person chop blocking a guy that all by himself then it is ok and not a penalty.
Joe,
Tape-gate? Really? How original. You seem so much more interested in “he said, what’s your response” and only reporting drama than talking about Carolina football. I share Spurrier’s annoyed, aggitated and general look of disgust whenever he is asked a question by you. There is a reason Spurrier has called out the State so many times, often you specifically, pathetic journalism. Sorry.
Saturday the Tigers are going to lose to Miami.. 3-4 record waiting! GO CANES!
I watched that chop block call again last night during a replay on the U and although #55 did go low to undercut the bama lineman, he was not “being engaged” by another one of our players. He himself was engaging one of our players by holding him from his blocking assignment, but that is another story… The rule states that a chop block is when a player is being engaged by one offensive player and another offensive player cut blocks him. This is not the case. Take a look again…
If The State didn’t report ‘Tapegate’, then they wouldn’t be doing their job. The discussion is both interesting but gives insight into the intense attention to detail Spurrier & co. pay when reviewing these games. What is also newsworthy, though, is the great job a number of ex-Gamecocks are doing in the NFL (esp. Rice last week and Succop all season)
Get over it Spurrier; although you will never read this, I’ll say it anyway. Forget about some piece of tape; the Gamecocks couldn’t get the job done as expected. All that celebrating by the Gamecocks during the game; and yet no “W.” Steve, you seem like a real nice guy, and yes, you made it happen for Florida. But lets face it, ‘ain’t’ nothing ‘going on down here in S. Carolina. It’s been fun, but it’s time for you to pursue another job where the money is.
That’s right Gamecock fans, it doesn’t matter what coach come down here to lead the team. The Gamecock executives can very well use money that no one knew existed to go after some NFL coaches. But that won’t make any difference. The team can’t make it happen no matter hom much money is spent.
I formally denounce my Gamecock team loyalty; since attending the school in ’90, there has been little to be be excited about. Just go with this for a moment: if this team were in the NFL, this team would probably find a new home elsewhere. It’s time to close down the stadium and use it as a homeless shelter. Sell off all the rediculous memorabilia and send everything else to the Salvation Army.
Mark my words: Never in this lifetime will we see the Gamecocks win an SEC championship.
I paid for my SC education; and sometimes I ask myself, what was I thinking. I still can’t answer the question.
With all that said, I’m going to find myself a team that wins for a change; less anxiety, and more to be happy about. And the word Gamecock is no longer a part of my vocabulary.
Regards,
Gregory
One other thing before I leave to cheer on some other team; I don’t care who, just a real team that wins.
Before the stadium is used as a homeless shelter, I think in all fairness, we should bring those two racist politicians who called Jewish people penny pinchers into the stadium for a tomato throwing event; where the two politicians are the target, and everyone who comes into the stadium gets a free bucket of tomatoes (donated by a sponsor) to throw at them. Now to me that sounds better than any southern bbq event.
Regards,
Gregory
Goodbye, Gregory. Enjoy the bandwagon.
Regards,
A Real Fan
Good riddance, Gregory – college football is about supporting a school in competition with other schools. The NFL is all about football – COLLEGE is about getting an education, and intercollegiate sports are, for the non-student fans, about supporting your alma mater or hometown college team. Granted, the football programs at Division I schools bring in a lot of money to the Universities, and the schools, AD’s and even the fans get distracted by this, but it boils down to loyalty – win or lose. A pro team is all about winning, because it’s a for-profit business, period. Anyone who doesn’t know this, and understand the difference between pro and college sports, isn’t a “fan” to begin with and will not be missed – So Gregory, by all means go, and take all your ignorant “you gotta win or I ain’t gonna be a fan no more” garbage with you.
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