Bowl Game - My thoughts and observations ...

After the Clemson calamity in late November I couldn’t muster the energy or enthusiasm for putting together “My thoughts and observations” … Actually, I just parlayed the old adage of “if you don’t have anything nice to say about anyone then don’t say anything at all” by keeping my comments to myself … So, for the first time in eight or nine years I did not put together a synopsis of the ‘Death Valley Debacle’ … Not so today as I make the way home from Tampa, Fla., - site of the Outback Blowout! … Iowa 31-10 South Carolina ? and it wasn’t that close (much like the Clemson contest).

Tough Month - The result of the Outback Bowl punctuated what has been a sad month for Gamecock Nation … Along with routs in football by Florida, Clemson, and Iowa, USC fans have had to read about: academic casualties; coaching carousels; players not loving the University; NFL overtures by underclassmen; Williams-Brice Stadium expansion; and men’s basketball losses to Charleston and Clemson … I will address each of these issues below along with some other comments.

From 7-3 to 7-6 - For the second consecutive year the Gamecocks turn in a good first half of the season record into a very mediocre year … In 2007 it was from 6-1 to five straight losses … This year it was a 7-3 mark that winds up one game above .500 for a two-year tally of 13-12 … Sure the competition vs. Florida is a steep one as the Gators will try to reign in their second National Championship in the past three years vs. Oklahoma ? UF is simply in another class altogether athletically and that gap won’t be closing anytime soon in Columbia … The Clemson loss was inexplicable ? a terrible display of competitiveness and sportsmanship by the Gamecocks and a performance that left me bemoaning the fact that I have always stated that “I will never complain about a seven win football team at USC” … Then, South Carolina somehow manages to backdoor its way into a bigger challenge with a date vs. a much better Iowa gridiron crew in Tampa in a bowl that the Gamecocks did not deserve in 2008 … A trip to Nashville, Atlanta, or Memphis would have been a better fit this season than playing a hot and hungry Iowa squad … But, chances are that the result would have been the same because Carolina just has not played with any fire or gumption since the Tennessee game ? even the Arkansas victory in Columbia saw a lethargic Garnet & Black crew hold off the Hogs … Something is not right chemistry wise with the Gamecocks … I don’t know what it is except for the lack of leadership from key personnel members ? mainly upperclassmen … There seems to be a lack of ‘ownership’ with this unit and no one willingly to accept the role as ‘this is my team’ … Sure there are some decent individual players at South Carolina, but none exceptional in any specific category … Kenny McKinley is the one player that leaves it all on the field but no one else really exemplifies that kind of character game-in and game-out ? not Eric Norwood, not Jasper Brinkley, not Ryan Succop, etc. … A guy that seemingly loves the game of football and playing at Carolina is Pat DiMarco, but after that no one comes to mind … That, in a nutshell, is the problem in my eyes.

Bowl Fun - KCock93 and I drove down from Cayce via I-95 on Tuesday around 9:45 a.m. … \Following our protocol from the Florida trip a month earlier, we stopped in Pooler, Ga., at a Western Sizzlin’ and had a 6 ounce sirloin (medium) with a salad, baked potato, texas toast, and a chocolate/vanilla swirl ice cream … Then, we sat on I-95 for at least an hour ? literally a standstill on the interstate due to road construction on this strip of southeastern Georgia … Eventually we got moving again and got gas in Jacksonville, Fla., and made the trek across to Lake City where we picked up I-75 south into Tampa … We arrived around seven o’clock that evening and checked into the InterContinental (very nice hotel) in the Westshore district ? about two miles from the stadium and in a nice area … Our parents flew down from Columbia to Tampa and we met them for drinks and dinner at Shula’s Steakhouse in the lobby of the InterContinental … Excellent meal! … I tried the Ybor Gold lager during Happy Hour but opted for several Coronas at dinner (parents had red wine) … A 12 ounce filet mignon (medium) accompanied by deliciously seasoned mushrooms and steamed green beans made for a great meal … On Wednesday we all loaded into the Ford Explorer Sport Trac and made our way across Tampa Bay to St. Petersburg where we drove around sightseeing ? what a beautiful place! … I had visited this area during the first Outback Bowl Carolina played in 2000, but it was so cold then that we didn’t get out to enjoy the area … With perfect conditions (75 degrees and clear blue skies) we parked at The Pier and waltzed through a series of eclectic shops and restaurants known as BayWalk … The whole area is very clean and pleasing to the eye with lots of color everywhere … We happened upon a restaurant called Gratzi’s, which is an Italian eatery ? it was outstanding! … Our table devoured the house salads and bread that accompanied the entrees of chicken marsala, chicken parmigiana, and shrimp/angel hair pasta … The pasta was out of this world ? fresh as cold be ? and we washed it down with a couple of Peroni’s out on their covered terrace on the upper level of BayWalk … After lunch we returned to the InterContinental to rest before heading down to Ybor City for the bowl parade and dinner at Columbia’s ? a famed Cuban restaurant … One thing about Tampa and the Outback Bowl ? they put on a great show for the visiting teams and fans … We took a taxi from the hotel in anticipation of a crowded New Year’s Eve in Ybor and the cost was about $25 during rush hour … Once down on 7th Street we ran into some well traveled Gamecocks (Alex, Bill, Bobby, Kurt, Rhonda, etc.) that are everywhere USC plays … Then while drinking Coronas waiting on the parade to start our friends (Brad, Joni & Tanner / Brian & Stephanie) found us on the street despite the throng of Iowa fans in attendance ? everywhere you looked there was a sea of yellow and black … By the way, they spent four hours stopped in traffic Tuesday afternoon just south of Walterboro on I-95 and it took them 8 ½ hours to drive from Columbia to Jacksonville … I swear, the entire city of Iowa City (home of the Hawkeyes) must have moved south for the Outback Bowl … The call of “Let’s go Hawks” was a popular cry and one that drowned out any chants of “Let’s go Cocks” … The parade was a fun event but the actual flow was uneven due to a lot of wide gaps in between the performers … It lasted right at an hour and around 7:30 we mulled around the main drag of Ybor City until reporting to Columbia’s for drinks and our reservations at 8:30 … Wow! … This place was definitely one of the places to be on New Year’s Eve because it was absolutely packed with locals and bowl game visitors … Saw a bunch of the Carolina faithful in attendance and some guy from Atlanta, Ga., that is an Iowa fan and a dead-ringer look-alike of former Hawkeye football coach Hayden Fry … In fact, his poor excuse of a rug on his head was a carbon copy of the Hayden-esque look that I am positive many Iowans tried to emulate during the Hawkeye heyday of the 1980s … He was dead set that Iowa was going to bowl over South Carolina (no pun intended) and didn’t think the game would be close … When he asked my prediction and I responded with 31-6 Iowa he was amazed that a Gamecock fan would think that way ? I just told him that I was a realist and would be pleasantly surprised to be wrong (truth be known, I knew Carolina would have to play perfect just to be in the game) … My Dad didn’t seem to care much for the blabbermouth but I found him intriguing, especially with that atrocious toupe he so proudly displayed … Anyway, dinner was outstanding and worth the ½ hour wait despite having reservations … I had the Snapper Atlantica and my brother tried the Pompano (fish in a bag), while my parents dishes were of similar cuisine ? they were all super! … We wrapped it up and got a return taxi just outside the restaurant and to our surprise that besides Columbia’s, Ybor City looked deserted … Sharp contrast from earlier in the decade as it seems the 30s crowd of ChannelSide, the fireworks display elsewhere, and the fact that it was a weeknight meant that Ybor City has lost some of its luster to the native Tampans ? hard not to notice all of the closed businesses on the main street of the area as well … I didn’t even stay up to ring in the New Year in preparation of the next day’s bowl game.

Outback Bowl - We had breakfast at Shula’s and drove over to Raymond James Stadium around 9:30 a.m. ? the earliest we have ever gone over to the Outback Bowl … Glad we did! ... The place was jammed with Iowans everywhere and if I had to guess there must have been 25,000 Hawkeye fans (in retreat of the 5 degree weather back home) and probably around 15,000 Gamecock fans … The place was surprisingly busy for a pre-game bowl kicking off at 11 a.m. … We downed a couple of Natural Lights at the truck before heading in as we parked ($25) about 15 minutes from the stadium ? close in sight but a long and winding walk to the grounds … One thing you can say about the Tampa police, they were out in full force and very thorough in their street and parking lot patrols ? nice and comforting … One patrolman even hollered at us along with some other Carolina fans, “Come on Gamecock fans, the Hawkeyes are beating you across the street” ? that should have been a tell-tale sign of what we were about to witness … If I was attending the Outback Bowl as a neutral party ? i.e., some of the Florida, Texas, Michigan, or Ohio State fans that were in attendance in their team’s colors ? then it would have been hard not to cheer for the Black & Gold … Their fans were fired up and you could sense that this team ? and its fans ? were on a high after reeling off five wins in their final six regular season games including an upset of previously undefeated Penn State and a 55-0 drubbing at Minnesota (a bowl team) … The RJS personnel made us turn in our seat cushions at the gate and I knew that would be the last I ever saw of those battle tested foams … The facility is gorgeous and an envy of what modern stadia need to pattern themselves after ? from the walkways, restrooms, concession stands, chairback seats, signage, scoreboard, video boards, proximity to field, etc. … It really is a treat to watch a game in that kind of venue … Our seats were excellent ? Section 136, Row J (10 rows from the field) at the 42 yards line behind the Carolina bench … The weather was perfect ? 68 degrees, clear skies, and a good breeze … Then the game started! … After Iowa confirmed my worst fears ? an eight minute drive on its opening possession that saw the Hawkeyes pick up three long third downs thanks to the lack of coverage on a tight end ? plays covered by Marvin Sapp and Dion Lecorn (twice) … The ease in which Iowa moved the ball was frightening and quickly it was 7-0 … Then, Tampa’s prodigal son Stephen Garcia took the first snap under center and handed off to Mike Davis for a typical first down of negative yardage ? the surge by the Iowa defensive line left me shaking my head … This was promptly followed with Garcia missing a wide open Weslye Saunders down the middle of the field as he found the Iowa free safety who hauled in the pass like a center fielder positioning under a line drive … I looked at my Mom and said, “that’s the ballgame” … Minutes later it was 14-0 and the rout was on … Dating back to Florida that meant Carolina had dug itself into deficits of 21-0, 10-0, and 14-0 in the opening stanza alone ? won’t win (m)any games playing that kind of football … USC looked like it had spent its bowl preparation on vacation while Iowa looked sharp, fluid, and confident … The exclamation point of the game in my opinion was when Ryan Succop hit a very long field goal and yet South Carolina gets called for not having enough players on the line of scrimmage … Are you kidding me? … That is the most basic formation of football ? placekicking … Totally unprepared! … And to see Ray Rychleski’s histrionics on the sideline from Row J was sickening ? almost like he had been shot on spot and was being tormented to his death … Just a simple example of a terribly prepared team.

Failing Grades - I’m not going to call anyone out here as a student-athlete (I use that term loosely here), but to become ineligible ? for whatever reason ? in this day and age of college football is absurd … I am an alum of the University of South Carolina and I’m not knocking its academic reputation, but Ivy League standards it does not ? and never will ? possess … Show up to class and you are just about guaranteed a ‘C’ grade … Truthfully, I didn’t put a lot of effort into my studies while a student in the early 1990s, but I knew what I had to do to ‘get out’ in four years with a diploma in hand ? it wasn’t that hard! … Throw in the fact that every scholarship football player (everything paid for across the board) and even the squad members have unbelievable resources in terms of academic support … All that tells me is that some where, some how, and some way the message is not getting across to certain players on the football team … Maybe ‘The Dodie’ will address some of these issues, but I have a hard time believing a $15 million academic enrichment facility is needed to pass African-American studies, Interdisciplinary studies (whatever that is), or any other football generated majors … I just hope the light comes on for some of these guys because to have the opportunity to earn a college degree based on their football exploits (half of them never see the field anyway) is a waste if they don’t take care of the main reason you are in school.

Coming & Going - I was a little more than perplexed as to why former strength coach Mark Smith was on the sideline during the Outback Bowl in his customary long sleeve shirt (on a 70-degree and sun-splashed day at Raymond James Stadium) … Isn’t this guy an employee at the University of Tennessee now? … Well, maybe it was fitting for him to endure the up close dismantling of his troops as Iowa physically manhandled South Carolina for 60 minutes … USC looked so small and weak compared to the corn fed boys of the Midwest ? maybe he will turn the Volunteers into a similar style squad … And, the Gamecocks certainly have no speed to balance out the equation as Iowa was superior in all facets of a football team … One guy that wasn’t around to enjoy the football ‘vacation’ (which is what USC has looked like it was on since the bye week after the Florida game) was former recruiting coordinator David Reaves … All I have to say is that after seeing the Gators, Tigers, and Hawkeyes make mincemeat of the Gamecocks, I honestly believe that USC has very little talent across the board … It used to be that South Carolina could attract the skill positions, but the fact that the Gamecocks have had only two 1,000-yard rushers since joining the SEC leaves me thinking that Carolina is going to have to reevaluate who and where they recruit from … The local and in-state kids cannot cut it when you have to share the dozen or so Division I prospects with Clemson and anyone else who comes into raid the Palmetto State … The lines of scrimmage are sorely undersized, under developed, and under talented ? especially along the woeful offensive front … The recruiting gurus can give all of the high marks and praise that they want to come February, but it matters little each fall ? more busts than surprises at USC! … I am sure Coach Spurrier was a little perturbed by some of the comments by Reaves upon his departure from Columbia, especially after taking care of that family amidst his father’s drug addiction and David’s known issues of nightly carousing and bar hopping … I am all for having a good time, but the younger Reaves did not seem to grasp that his actions are watched closely by many that follow college football and the Gamecocks … There is another coach or two on the staff that better get their ducks in a row and straighten up in terms of the night life and such ? fans/administration can stomach it when things are rosy, but won’t put up with it when it comes down to wins and losses … I haven’t even mentioned the departed John Hunt who failed in about every way possible with the offensive line in his four years at USC … In fact, his best performance was when a pair of walk-ons came on strong for Carolina down the stretch in 2005 that propelled the Gamecocks to the Independence Bowl … The lack of development in this unit just typifies the entire offense’s problems … Defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson, who received a very ill-timed raise and contract extension earlier in the season, floated overtures of head coaching possibilities at Army and Mississippi State, respectively … I just don’t see the lure of Johnson as a head coach unless it is at the I-AA level and his desire to stay in Columbia appears to be in a state of flux considering that he (and his wife) had pined for a return to their native state for so long … With an overhauled defensive unit next season, I suspect Carolina will have a tough time matching its early 2008 success and if the last three outings are any indication of what to expect more next year, then yikes! … I expected more with the arrival of Ray Rychleski and maybe a year in the Capital City will pay better dividends in 2009, but I didn’t notice too much improvement in the special teams ? not like I thought I would … It has been mentioned that Coach Spurrier has approached former USC standout Duce Staley about joining the Gamecocks coaching staff in some capacity … No doubt the West Columbia native and Airport High School graduate has the football credentials to serve as a link to the current players but the lack of a college degree seems to be a hurdle for that to happen … Staley, who co-hosts a sports radio talk show in Columbia, appears to have a passion much like USC fans in general ? for that he is popular … I don’t listen too much to the show due to work commitments and usually just pick it up while in my SUV, but he has agitated me a bit with his ‘homerism’ at times ? maybe that will parlay well into coaching ... I don’t know who will be hired/fired over the next few weeks but it will certainly be interesting ? and critical for the direction of this program.

No Love - Why can’t the current group of Gamecocks show some love for the University of South Carolina? … I saw that passion and pride on road trips to Oxford, Mississippi and Lexington, Kentucky, but something happened midway through this season and I have not been able to put my finger on it? … Was the defense’s lack of confidence in the offense too much of a toll to handle all year? … Could the pitiful quarterback play have left the offense in such a stalemate ? no matter who was the signal caller, USC gunslingers seemed to find the other team’s players as much as the ones on their own squad … The coaching shuffle of play calling between Coach Spurrier and his son, Junior, appeared to have been corrected but just 30 points in the final three games leaves a lot to be desired … The players complained that Coach Spurrier & Company were too hard on them ? are you kidding me? … That in itself is a fundamental problem if a guy at the collegiate level can’t take constructive criticism ? be better or get out! … The constant substitution patterns on the defensive line seemed to disrupt the continuity of that unit ? why sub a guy after two snaps? … The mass exodus of underclassmen on defense for the NFL ? Emmanuel Cook, Captain Munnerlyn, and Eric Norwood to name a few ? surely had an effect with this group … Is the NFL that watered down to warrant the caliber of these players? … Throw in the known departures of Jasper Brinkley, Jordin Lindsey, Dustin Lindsey, Carlos Thomas, Jonathan Williams, Stoney Woodson, etc., and it’s going to be a different look for USC in 2009 … Knowing the depth chart I wince at the thought of those guys waiting in the wings, but could they possibly be any worse than what Carolina has done the past three games ? 118 points allowed for a 39 point per game average … The off season is when leaders make themselves accountable and it’s time for USC’s players to step up in the weight room, classroom, and in their off the field actions ? fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life.

Say No to YES - The USC Athletic Department has promoted the ‘Garnet Way’ to Gamecock Nation and the YES program for football seating … You know what ? put a product on the field that is worthy of such contributions and you may find people ponying up for such an investment … And folks, that is what it is ? an investment … Don’t give me any of this crap about ‘your love of the University’ and such is what warrants those financial measures ? B.S.! … This is 2009 not 1979 when I started attending Carolina football games … It’s a business and the bottom line in sports is wins and losses ? period … As a Gamecock Club member I expect a “return on investment” and losing to Clemson annually and Vanderbilt two years in a row does not sit well with me … I’ve attended every home and away football game except one (Arkansas 2005) since 2004 and have missed only two home games since 1979 (Clemson 1981 and Ball State 1998) … I have been to every venue in the SEC, have missed only one bowl game (Liberty 1988) of Carolina’s 10 since 1979, and consider myself a pretty knowledgeable college football fan … I know what kinds of facilities, fan bases, and economic influx the other schools have that South Carolina competes with on an annual basis ? I would put USC dead middle in the SEC ? that’s not bad considering the five above you win at an elite level in several sports while Carolina has zero football divisional titles, one SEC basketball championship, and no SEC East Division crowns in baseball in at least five years … Men’s soccer has not advanced to the postseason the past three years, the women’s basketball program is atrocious and is going to take some time to get better, softball seems to have enjoyed its better years, volleyball was better this fall but failed to make the postseason … I could go on and on, but it’s time for the coaches, players, and administration at South Carolina to give Gamecock fans something to crow about … Throwing money at the same problems has not worked in the past so with the riches of SEC membership that should allow USC to address some issues without relying on “Joe Fan” … Start with an internal healing and an admittance that some things need fixing and Carolina might find out that some fans are willing to help financially … Until then, I’m not contributing anything more than I am already doing … I will continue to support USC through the Gamecock Club, but many of my friends have already dropped their memberships in favor of flat screen home TVs and the creature comforts of their living rooms … The W-B is going to become a haven for aluminum reflections due to no fannies in the seats as long as a mediocre product is offered on the gridiron … It is time to do more with less at USC ? Carolina has already done less with more … It is time for our coaches to earn their keep and the sacred cows of their professions to wake up and stop living off the gravy train known as USC Athletics … Adjustments need\ to be made in the selling of the program all the way from the football announcing crew, to the marketing department, to the cheesy home basketball game presentation, etc. … Time for some changes!

Recruiting Rah-Rah - For the next month we will hear the rhetoric of recruiting gurus on local sports talk radio shows and in their writings on Gamecock message boards … I just ask to stop with the praising of these high school football players … Just report their facts ? heights, weights, 40 times, and what other schools actually offered scholarship papers to them … Nothing more! … I don’t need to hear any hype or B.S., about the “next great hope” ? there is no such thing … Give me guys that want to work hard, do right, love the fact that they are at USC, and enjoy playing football ? the rest is immaterial … Iowa proved that to me ? those guys rebounded from a 6-6 season a year ago and posted a 9-4 record in 2008 … I never see Iowa mentioned in the Top 20 when it comes to recruiting … However, they were the second best team I saw in person this year vs. Carolina ? the only one better was Florida … Iowa doesn’t try to out-cute you either ? it’s just line it up and play football on both sides of the ball ? how refreshing.

Winter Doldrums - I used to love college basketball … I remember the Independent days, the Metro Conference battles, and of course, the SEC encounters … However, with the season starting so dadgum early in the fall and taking so long to play a season, it just doesn’t interest me until January or so … I have been to four home games this year and sit in my Section 205 seats ? despite the ushers trying to get the upper deck faithful to move to the lower bowl where unused faculty, students, and corporate seats are awash in availability … The parking situation is pathetic as the University whores out its parking around Colonial Life Arena for ridiculous amounts over the course of an entire season … So, we make the trek from the bank parking lot across from Todd & Moore or through the Vista all the while passing empty parking lots … It is more like a chore watching USC these days … College basketball is supposed to be fun, but the way that Carolina promotes this sport is nauseating … Some local yokel television personality bounces around the arena asking people “to give it up” while yelling into the microphone … The silly promotions, the endless number of timeouts in the game today, the movement of chairs to mid-court for each USC pep talk, the lack of consistency in scoreboard names or players actually in the game, the reverberation of the loud sound system around an empty arena, etc., it’s just enough to turn you off of Gamecock Basketball … Throw in the fact that Carolina will be fortunate to win five league contests and it’s going to be a long winter for hardwood fans … At least there are some good restaurants in the Vista and surrounding area to make the trip worthwhile.

Good luck to you and yours in the New Year of 2009 and Go Cocks!