With the news the the Gamecocks will possibly open the 2012 season on ESPN's Thursday night kickoff at Vanderbilt, the pack of "woe is me" Gamecock fans have come forth from hibernation. Radio stations are flooded with calls detailing the poor record of Thursday night road teams. Why open with a conference game on the road? It is an eastern division rival, they say! Well whoopdedo. It is Vanderbilt. Yes, they have played you tough recently. Yes, they may be better under Coach Franklin. It is still Vanderbilt. The Thursday night game to open the season gets you in front of every college football fan who has been salivating for any game, not to mention all the voters. What a excellent opportunity to drive home your position as a 2012 team to reckon with by drubbing Vandy on national TV. Remember Gamecock fans, you did beat NC State in Raleigh a few years back to open the year. It can be done. The national exposure the program has received from opening the year in the season's first game so many times recently cannot be understated. Take the game, and go whip em. Fill the other half of the "glass is half empty' Gamecock contingent.
