Front Porch FootballWelcome Back to Reality, South Carolina Fans.
by Chris Paschal
One of my best friends growing up came over to the Paschal Home this past Saturday to watch some college football. At 7:30 we flipped over to the South Carolina game. As is tradition, the Paschal’s always turn down the TV volume and turn on the radio to listen to the South Carolina Radio Announcers. We have done this since I was little with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the North Carolina Tarheels. It has made me love and appreciate the “radio guys”. There are some great TV broadcasters out there, don’t get me wrong, but Eli Gold, John Ward, Don Criqui, Woody Durham, and Larry Munson give you just as much of a cultural experience as you get a sports experience.The South Carolina Radio Team consists of Todd Ellis and Tommy Suggs. They’re great. They feel like South Carolina. Both are considered to be some of the best Gamecock quarterbacks in program history. My dad, my brother, and I all love listening to them.
Todd Ellis is a legend in Columbia. Image from Post and Courier.
Our friend got a taste of them this past weekend, and I think he liked them. But what he was most struck by was the amount of alcohol related sponsorships the radio broadcast had. I think by the end of the game we counted four separate sponsorships that involved alcohol. This timeout was brought to you by Miller Lite, this replay was brought to you by Jameson Irish Whiskey, and this touchdown was brought to you by Budweiser – you get the picture. He started laughing after the third one and said, “this is remarkable.” I responded that they knew their fanbase. The only way you can get through some of these South Carolina football games is with a frosty beverage in hand.
Last Saturday against the Kentucky Wildcats was no different. It was a tough game to watch. It wasn’t tough because the other team just beat South Carolina to a pulp. But rather because South Carolina couldn’t get out of its own way.
During the first drive of the game, the biggest playmaker on the team, Deebo Samuel, dropped a first down throw with room to run. It’s almost as if that drop set the tone for the rest of the game. Later in the first quarter, Rico Dowdle, the featured running back in this offense, fumbled the ball deep in South Carolina territory. Throughout the first half, the defense played undisciplined football. They were all trying to be heroes. Instead they all looked overmatched. Kentucky scored 21 unanswered points in the second quarter. To South Carolina’s credit, they never gave up, especially on defense.
South Carolina struggled to hold onto any ball against Kentucky. Image from South Carolina Athletics.
After what was one of the worst quarters of football I have ever seen, the defense calmed down and played sound, fundamental, Will Muschamp football. The Gamecocks gave up a mere 75 yards in the second half, held Benny Snell to under 100 yards rushing, and more importantly did not surrender a single point in the second half. If you told me before the game that South Carolina’s defense gave up 75 yards in the second half and Kentucky didn’t score a single point, I would have told you South Carolina won the game by at least two scores.
But that’s also because I would’ve assumed that the offense would have showed up. Instead, multiple receivers dropped wide open balls (a couple of which might have gone for touchdowns), the rushing attack never got going, and Jake Bentley threw three interceptions. Two of which were on crucial drives into Kentucky territory. There is definitely a feeling of desperation creeping into Columbia. The Gamecocks have now lost to Kentucky five times in a row. That wasn’t supposed to happen this year. It was also yet another loss to a top 25 opponent. South Carolina has only beaten one top 25 opponent during the Will Muschamp era. It’s kind of tough to be a South Carolina fan right now. Here’s why.
1. Steve Spurrier
Spurrier set the standard. He showed what could be accomplished at South Carolina. Spurrier finished his time in Columbia with a winning record over Clemson (including five straight wins from 2009-2013), he won four straight bowl games, he finished the season with the Gamecocks ranked fourth nationally in 2013, he dominated the state of South Carolina in recruiting (Alshon Jeffrey, Marcus Lattimore, Jadeveon Clowney, Shaq Roland, Zack Bailey, Stephon Gillmore, and many others picked South Carolina over Clemson), and he beat teams like Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and… Kentucky. Spurrier showed what was possible. Yes, he is a Hall-of-Fame Coach, and yes, he may be the greatest play-caller in college football history, but he also raised the bar for what is expected at South Carolina.
Spurrier raised expectations for South Carolina fans. Image from USA Today.
2. The Rivals Have Ascended to the Top of College Football
This lull in South Carolina football coincided with what might turn out to be the greatest eras of Georgia and Clemson football. It’s tough to be happy with seven, eight, or even nine wins, when your two biggest rivals are playing in the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and National Title Game. What makes it worse is when you were horse-whipped by those same rivals earlier in the season. It’s hard to believe that just four years ago to this very day, Clemson had not beaten South Carolina since 2008 and Georgia had only won once against the Gamecocks since 2010. The tables have quickly turned, and Gamecock fans don’t really know when they will flip back.
Both Georgia and Clemson have risen to the top of college football. Image from Online Athens.
3. The East is Better
Forget Georgia, I mean the entire rest of the East is better. South Carolina fans feel like they should’ve asserted themselves as the clear-cut second best team in the East, and why shouldn’t they have? Following the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Gamecock fans saw the SEC East as a land of misfit toys. The Gators were reeling. Tennessee looked to be worse off than they did during the Dooley years. Vanderbilt was Vanderbilt. Missouri is not a legitimate threat in the East. And Kentucky, despite winning four in a row, does not have the same caliber of recruites than the Gamecocks. This was the time to bury the other SEC East teams and to establish themselves as a legitimate contender in the SEC. Only South Carolina didn’t do that. After getting obliterated by Georgia, the Gamecocks then turned around and flopped against Kentucky. Not only that, but it’s pretty clear to me that Tennessee and Florida are moving towards the top of the SEC East, as well. Maybe not this year, especially for Tennessee, but I can feel them starting to gain momentum. Florida’s defense is playing at a high level, Tennessee is playing with some passion, and both are starting to heat up on the recruiting trail. Georgia isn’t going anywhere, and Kentucky is currently ranked inside the top 15. A loss to Missouri, and South Carolina might be near the bottom of the SEC East. After the momentum South Carolina had, and the dumpster fires the rest of the SEC East had following the 2016 and especially 2017 season, it feels as if South Carolina has squandered that away.
Mark Stoops has taken Kentucky to a whole new level. Image from UK Athletics.
Why Not To Panic
1. Spurrier Floundered for Years.
Everyone (except for the losers that focus on 2015) remembers 2010-2014 Spurrier. The type of Spurrier that made opposing team’s mad, and the South Carolina fans jubilant. But don’t forget, from 2005-2009, Spurrier’s South Carolina teams were painfully pedestrian. His first five win-loss records went 7-5, 8-5, 6-6, 7-6, 7-6. He only won one bowl game, he only beat Clemson twice, and he averaged near the bottom of the East every season. Will Muschamp took over a 3-9 football team and has gone 6-7 and 9-4. It took Spurrier a while to get going. It was unrealistic for some fans to expect Muschamp to win 10+ games in year three.
2. Recruiting
South Carolina is doing well on the recruiting path. Each class finishes higher and higher in the rankings. Currently, the Gamecocks have a slew of elite prospects committed to playing in Columbia. Many of these guys were recruited by Clemson, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and even Ohio State, Southern Cal, and Notre Dame. The crown jewel of the class, while not the highest ranked, is Ryan Hilinski, the #1 Pocket Passing Quarterback in the ESPN Prospect Rankings. Hilinski was courted by all the big-time programs, but ultimately decided he wanted to build a class at South Carolina. Along with two elite defensive ends, two top-end cornerbacks, some freakishly fast linebackers, a solid offensive line class, and three 4-star wide receiver/tight ends, this class is just a few commitments away from cracking the top 15. And next year’s class is already starting off strong with all four commitments considered to be 4-star talent.
Ryan Hilinski is one of the top quarterbacks in the 2019 Recruiting Class. Image From USA Today.
3. The Line of Scrimmage
The one area that South Carolina is inadequate at times is along the line of scrimmage. Yes, Jake Bentley also plays horrifically at times, but the SEC is won in the trenches. South Carolina has recruited well here. Regarded as one of the best offensive line classes in the country last season, the Gamecocks should be bolstered there for years to come. South Carolina has three prospects currently committed to the Gamecocks in this year’s class. Next year, South Carolina already holds commitments from two 4-star prospects. South Carolina’s offensive line is already improved this year, and with an influx in talent joining, it should get only better.
The defensive line is where Gamecock fans should be most excited. South Carolina has recruited well here, despite missing out on some key prospects. Last year’s class consisting of Rick Sandidge, JJ Enagbare, Jesus Gibbs, and Jabari Ellis are all future contributors. Heck, Sandidge and Enagbare are both already seeing playing time. Add into the mix top-rated defensive tackle Josh Belk, a Clemson signee who transferred to South Carolina for family matters, and the Gamecocks have a solid group of defensive linemen. In this year’s class, the Gamecocks have the top-ranked defensive end in the country in Zacch Pickens. The five-star commitment is (6-5, 270) and is so athletic that he also plays a little running back in high school. Besides Pickens, the Gamecocks also hold commitments from four-star defensive end, Joseph Anderson, pass rushing specialist, Rodricus Fitten, and a couple of JUCO behemoths. Don’t be surprised if the Gameocks also land Jaquaze Sorrells who is one of the top defensive tackles in the country and who is also considering Florida and Alabama.
