Another angle on Garcia INT
Upon further (video) review, USC coach Steve Spurrier said he can “sort of understand” what QB Stephen Garcia saw in the Florida secondary on the fourth-quarter interception that halted the Gamecocks’ drive and essentially snuffed out their upset hopes.
Immediately after Florida’s 24-14 win, Spurrier seemed perplexed that Garcia would throw a backside slant to Moe Brown rather than stick with primary receiver Jason Barnes, who was running a slant on the right side of the field.
Brown was not expecting the ball, which zipped past him (it actually never hit him as many of us reported Saturday night), caromed off a Florida D-back and into the arms of DE Justin Trattou, who returned it 53 yards to the USC 26.
Tebow delivered the dagger with a 1-yard TD run four plays later.
Here was Spurrier’s take on the interception Sunday:
“Actually the guy covering Moe Brown was a little bit on his outside shoulder. And the guy covering Jason was a little bit on his inside. So he chose to go over there, and I think the ball sort of snuck up on Moe somehow or another. It went right past his facemask and actually hit the Florida guy’s facemask and ricocheted to the D-linemen there. Just an unfortunate thing. Hopefully, we can learn from it to execute that play a little better.”
Spurrier also said:
–He liked the way TB Brian Maddox ran the ball. Maddox ran hard between the tackles and finished with more than 80 yards rushing after basically serving as a situational back for the past six weeks.
–His involvement in the offensive play-calling was not much different than in previous weeks, despite signs to the contrary (a much more involved Spurrier on the sideline, etc.).
“I’ve been calling plays. It wasn’t anything hugely different than what we’ve been doing. I wish I’d let someone else call ‘em, how’s that?” said Spurrier, laughing. “It wasn’t much different than what I’ve been doing really all year.”
–The atmosphere at W-B Stadium was big-time and created a favorable impression for the recruits at the game (although he noted that most of them had visited other, big, loud stadiums). Said the “Carolina Walk” from the bus to the locker room was the best during his time at USC.
13 Comments to “Another angle on Garcia INT”
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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. 
well gamecocks fans here comes another loss from clemclunk and have to hear al trash talk from them for another year. Thanks Spurrier. Keep up the good work.
dear joel, u r dumb.
The Hindsight Special: Jarvis Giles should have been redshirted. Seldom used. Not an SEC body at this point. A wasted year of eligibility.
Bummer.
please get some wide bodies on both D AND O Line,,,,,how about Linebackers,,??
down 17-14 late in the third qtr..3rd & 2 inside the 25 and you pass?? You’re FIRED.
[...] plays. Last week, he said he’d get more involved in calling the plays. Now he says that things weren’t “much different than what I’ve been doing all year.” Whatever.5. On the hardwood, Darrin [...]
It was 4th Quarter bad call. But yes it was a bad call
Moe Brown is a great asset to our team a fine team leader,that is why it is so surprising to here he did not expect to at least be the 2nd option an to be expecting to get the ball.
bad call? please….it was a bad call cause it didn’t work. if you think we could just step up and run it against their d then you aren’t as bright as you think.
And for disappointed – the play did go to Moe and he wasn’t even looking for it. if you are a leader and you are in the game then run your route and expect the ball. Who cares if you are secondary or tertiary? Run your route and look for the ball.
It will all come down to blocking again in two weeks…if we can’t do it nothing else really matters…the few times we were able to do it against fla. we look great and it opens up the entire play book and we move the ball and score. Our D is good enough but the achilles heel is the O line. Improve the primary and secondary blocks we would seriously be in the hunt…thats the difference from us and Fla/Texas/Ala. they all get on somebody and put them on their butts, we don’t do that yet.
If you don’t make the first JT you at least have another down or even a shot at a FG to tie it up at 17. Momentum switched and the game was over..
well yes. but spurrier was probably thinking if it’s incomplete we still tie the game. i mean it bounced off of a face mask and into a DL’s hands who then stumbled like 60 yards down the field. kind of a wierd play.
plus running the ball is not a turnover free propostion either. They could fumble the exchange for example.
The point your are missing, BC is why was the game over with 14 min remaining, down by 3, and you had scored more offensive TDs on them than anyone all year? Then, 13 mins left, and you are only down by 10. Do you really want a silly “tater” to answer that? Was it lack of heart, or coaching? Did the real Gator team suddenly show up, or did the cocks QUIT, again? Kinda’ hard to compete in the “tough” SEC with a team of heartless quitters.