South Carolina Georgia

From: Austin

A win is a win, and for those Fighting Gamecock fans who have seen this game before, this is how the other side feels. How many times have the Garnet and Black thoroughly beaten an opponent, only to lose in the end due to a big play from an opposing playmaker? Not anymore! My friend turned and said, "This is how LSU wins"! Some thoughts from the game:
1) Blair Walsh's missed FG in the first quarter turned out to be much larger than thought at the time.
2) Who was Justice Cunningham supposed to block on the fake punt? He lined up behind Ingram and trailed him the entire play.
3) Our Spur backers, Allen and Holloman, completely shut down the Dogs best player, TE Orson Charles.
4) Gotta feel good about Jay Wooten
5) The Dogs found success running up the middle until Bryon "Chocolate Chip" Jerideau got in the game.
6) Need a second and third receiver badly. Barnes, Moore, anyone?
7) Never said this under this staff, but they were outcoached. shouldn't happen again.

A win is a win. Next victim......Navy

Ace Sanders takes a punt back for a TD

From: Benjamin

Ace Sanders nearly gave me the Big One last night when he notched the Gamecocks' first punt return for a TD since Chavez Donnings ran one back against Florida in 2003. Talk about a shocker, rarely have the Gamecock returners even been close to the endzone. Everytime they do, there is a flag. Thankfully, the officials did not flag freshman Kadetrix Marcus for a block in the back that occurred well behind the play and gave Sanders no advantage. That would've have been doubly bad for Marcus, who was already flagged for one special teams penalty. Special teams wins championships, and success there has been sorely lacking for a long time. Now, if we can just not fumble any more punts-Sanders seems be the answer there as well. Next up, a kick return TD. Mathew Thomas has the last one at Virginia in 2002.

Jersey numbers for the new Gamecocks

From: Elliott
The numbers for the new Gamecocks are below. How long until the idiot know it all sitting next to you argues till he's blue in the face that Clowney is in at running back. Doesn't matter that it is a 5'8" buzz cut fella. Nope, it's Clowney. You politely suggest that Clowney is 6'7" and has dreadlocks, but nothing. He knows football. Kind of like Garcia and Gilmore both wearing #5 you offer. He doesn't care. It's Clowney and you are an idiot for questioning a genius like him. They are all over. Don't be that guy.


Tanner McEvoy: 18
Shon Carson: 7
Brandon Wilds: 22
Drew Owens: 88
Rory Anderson: 81
Brandon Shell: 71
Mike Matulis: 76
Kaleb Broome: 74
Will Sport: 75
Kyle Harris: 70
Damiere Byrd: 3
Shamier Jeffery: 8
Bruce Ellington: 23
K.J. Brent: 80
Jadeveon Clowney: 7
Phillip Dukes: 52
Gerald Dixon: 44
Gerald Dixon Jr.: 95
Kelcy Quarles: 99
Deon Green: 93
Mason Harris: 34
Cedrick Cooper: 18
Marcquis Roberts: 48
Angelo Watley: 17
Edward Muldrow: 20
Ahmed Christian: 1
Sheldon Royster: 4
Martay Maddox: 8
Brison Williams: 11
Kadetrix Marcus: 25
Landon Ard: 47

Prospect update: Tramel Terry

From: Austin

Tramel Terry led his Goose Creek Gators into Columbia last Friday to battle the traditional Midlands powerhouse, the Irmo Yellow Jackets. We arrived a bit late, but that is not unusual as we had no dog in the fight. Unfortunately, Goose Creek was up 44-7 at the point in the 2nd quarter when we took our seat. Terry did not see the field again. All we saw was him scampering for a touchdown on the local news highlights. He did put on a show however. The Junior WR caught a 60 TD on a post pattern, took a 50 yard end around into the endzone, and scored again on a 30 yard run from tailback. Not too bad for half a night's work. Terry is the real deal.

Rule Change: Celebration Rule for College Football 2011

From: Cole

In quite possibly to dumbest move all year, the NCAA will now allow points to be taken off of the board due to excessive celebration. Starting this season, the penalty is now a spot foul and so, if the receiver begins to celebrate at the 5----BOOM, no points for you. The problem here is the same as always. There is no consistency in enforcement. Some crews let it slide and some throw the flag for nothing, just ask A.J. Green. Anyone remember Zola Davis getting the call because he dropped to a knee to pray in the endzone? This gives the officials the chance to directly effect the outcomes, and that is bad for college football. Will they be scared to throw the flag late in games as we see in basketball? The moment points are removed and the winner is switched, the calls of a fix will be flying in. These are kids playing a game. Let them play, and put the excessive back in excessive celebration.

South Carolina High School State Champion Predictions

From: Benjamin
Unlike preseason predictions, we actually like to watch some games before making a claim. Thus, after the first full week of high school action, here are our likely State Champions:

AAAA Big 16. Gaffney. Yes, a lot of Clarys played for Gaffney, but there is no bias here. I never lived there. The Indians destroyed Dorman 35-14 last Friday, and it wasn't that close. Nobody does that. Gaffney is the stongest AAAA team right now and we'd take em straight up over Byrnes. Look out for Goose Creek. Low Country teams don't get a lot of love or respect, but the Gators are huge and fast. Both good things on the football field. With Lexington carrying the Midlands, the Big 16 is not the upstate lock it has been for so long.

AAAA Division 2: Byrnes. Don't need to say much more

AAA: The most difficult to pick. Tough to go against South Pointe, but we are taking Myrtle Beach

AA: Dillon should march undefeated through the entire season

A: The greatest Gamecock, Steve Taneyhill, will get his umpteenth state title at Chesterfield. No idea of Division 2 class A.

South Carolina Kick Returner

From: Austin

The safety position was, how shall we say it, a struggle for the Gamecock defense in 2010. Both major starters have changed positions, Holloman to Spur and Auguste back to cornerback. DJ Swearinger is the only returner with any significant reps. Jimmy Legree was buried down the depth chart at cornerback. Corey Addison saw limited action, giving up a late TD pass against Southern Miss. Sharod Golightly was redshirted, while Sheldon Royster, and Kadetrix Marcus played on Friday nights. Brison Williams is on the shelf for at least 8 weeks. Seeing this, the news of DJ Swearinger injuring his hamstring is unsettling, no matter how minor. His loss would be devastating with a pass happy East Carolina awaiting. This brings the question: Should Bruce Ellington be the kick returner to decrease Swearinger's injury chances? Yes, most educated folks say you have to play to win. But, is DJ that much better than the others? If not, would it make more sense to hold him back for defense only because he is going to need all of his energy for the 60 plus passes the Pirates are expected to unleash.