Hyman on the state of things
USC athletics director Eric Hyman was on 107.5 FM this afternoon. If you had to sum it up, I guess the phrase “everyone calm down” would apply.
There has been considerable fan angst out there since the loss at Tennessee, a combination of people unhappy with the Gamecocks’ performance and fearing another late-season slide.
Hyman seemed to be aware of some of that. While he doesn’t listen to talk radio, he said his wife Pauline does and passes along some of the sentiments.
Earlier this week, coach Steve Spurrier ascribed some of the team’s situation with the amount of young players on the field. Hyman piggy-packed on that.
He started his appearance by bringing up Gary Patterson, the coach he hired at Texas Christian (and whose team is now close to a BCS berth.) Patterson once told him that for every freshman you play, you lose a game.
“Say what you want, but we’re a really young football team,” Hyman said. “I think it’s the youngest or second-youngest in the country. And people say that’s not an excuse, but that’s reality.”
(In fact Arkansas and Vanderbilt are the SEC’s two youngest teams, according to ESPN.com’s Chris Low.)
“I think a program has got to create hope. As far as hope concerned if you look o the future, if you look to where we currently are, I think it’s pretty impressive.”
He acknowledged that the team wasn’t yet “a well-oiled machine.” He alluded to mistakes that had been made, but without calling anybody out.
“We sound right now like the sky is falling. Like we’re on the edge,” Hyman said. “Again I go back to we’re 6-3.”
What if, Hyman asked, the team goes on to win down the stretch? What then?
At a Gator Bowl welcome dinner on Tuesday, Hyman had several counterparts congratulate him on being bowl-eligible.
He also told G.A. Mangus coming off the field that he thought their offensive game plan was very good. Hyman made the same comment, within earshot of reporters, as he left the postgame news conference.
“Are we where we want to be?” Hyman said. “No, we’re not where we want to be? A 6-3 record, I think a lot of people would give their eye to be 6-3.”
It was almost a little bit unnecessary for Hyman to even have to calm the waters. This team was in the top 25 last week, and has yet to lose a home game.
Then again, if anyone thinks the angst is bad now, think of how much worse it will be if and when the team does finish 7-5 or 6-6.
6 Comments to “Hyman on the state of things”
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State newspaper sports writer Seth Emerson blogs on University of South Carolina basketball and baseball.
FYI – Chris Lowe’s article said that Arkansas and Vandy started the most number of freshmen and sophomores (including redshirts) last week – doesn’t necessarily equate to youngest team – USC has a lot of true and redshirt freshmen and not a lot of seniors.
Arkansas is a must win. And Clemson is a must win. Lose to Arkansas, and the Clemson game doubles in importance, and it is already off the charts in importance.
The fans sounded the alarm after the Tennessee game. Let’s hope the team heard it.
I have alot more confidence in this team than from teams from the past. I dont think were going to get blown out like we used to. We need a couple of breaks going our way saturday and against clem and we will win two of the last three. 8 and 4 that would be excelent…GO COCKS!!
If you had told USC fans before the season that they would be 6-3 after nine games, a lot of them (including me) would have been satisfied. The 6-3 record isnt the thing. The thing is HOW the team lost to Bama and UT. They didnt even give themselves a chance. And given the team’s late season track record, it is a worrysome trend. That is what is frustrating a lot of folks.
Wake Forest red shirts all of its freshman recruits so that they always have a mixture of seniors, juniors, sophomores playing – of course it helps when there are 15 plus returning seniors always on the team,. NOTHING wrong with true freshman playing IF they are really good players. Having the same good offensive linemen playing together for a couple of years helps. The other USC is NOT afraid to start freshmen – of course they are 5 star recruits. We have some very good freshmen on this team – NOT sure they are being properly utilized? IF we cannot / do not beat Arkansas – I see NO hope in beating Florida or even an improving and very good Clemson.
@sacbouy-Talk about fairweather. The better team on that day won those games you stated. What do you mean they didn’t give themselves a chance? A lot of folks aren’t frustrated with the program just the same ole arm chair coaches who think they have the answer. I’m sure you are one the guys who want top notch facilities but don’t want to pay extra…so you and your minority just $itch and COMPLAIN about everything you can.