Hope for a Nation -- A Gamecock Nation

These next two posts are actually things that I have already written and are posted on my Facebook, but I think they will sit here just as well, if not better. Both are sports related, specifically to the University of South Carolina football team; enjoy!

Hope for a Nation -- A Gamecock Nation

Does anybody else get excited when we have a post like this? Honestly, the fact that we're even able to talk about where the team is going in the future and be able to have posts on this message board like "we're fine in this category and will be great in a few years" or "we've got a good team..just need a little more time" really excites me. Why? Because it's true. This current class (in my opinion) is the first true HBC class where we have no inherited talent (I am not sure on the exact figure), and if you look at our recruiting classes the past few years, our red shirted players and how well we are currently doing: I think we're in good standings. Now, we may not be lighting up the field with 80 yards bombs, 20 yd dashes and huge plays which is typical HBC, however we've got the one thing that is going to push this team as a whole into the form it needs to be in order to compete -- our defense. "Offense wins game, Defense wins Championships."

So that's a little cliché and nobody really likes to hear it any more, but you cant argue with the statistics on this one. Take a look back at the past 5 years of BCS Championship games and you'll see a nice line up of SEC teams that have taken the title – LSU, Florida, LSU, and while this may be limited, it appears that this year we are looking at another SEC team going, weather it be UF or Alabama is still to be undecided ;) However, what's interesting about these games is that while yes, these teams did have great offensive teams, they were just plain stupid on defense (in a good way). Flash back time!

2004: LSU vs Oklahoma. LSU's defense held the nations best offense (some analysis said it was the best offensive squad to ever play, im sure we ALL remember that) which averaged 45.2 points and 461 yards a game to 154 yards and one TD which came at the end of the game with under a minuet left. Jason White of the Sooners went 13-37 on the night for 102 yards, was sacked 7 times and threw two interceptions.

2006: Florida vs Ohio State. Once again, the SEC topples the most prolific offense in the nation, only allowing 8 first downs, 82 TOTAL yards, allowing 1-9 first downs, and forcing 2 turnovers.

2007: LSU vs Ohio State. A little more even game, however the numbers are still strong for the SEC defense – allowing 352 yards, forced 3 turnovers, and here's the fun one; they allowed 3 out of 13 1st downs.

So, back to the Gamecocks and how this all relates. Well, considering all I have talked about is defensive production you can imagine where I am going with this. Our defense on average allows 207.4 yards a game, and roughly 18.2 points a game which is in the top 5 defenses in the nation. Honestly, I am happy with that and it gives me hope for the future of this team. Spurrier knows what it takes to compete with the big dogs, and as much emphasis as we put on his offensive production we cannot overlook the fact that he is laying the ground work for a great defensive powerhouse of a team. Hopefully with the success of this year's squad we'll be able to continue to recruit the best caliber players we can in the defensive spectrum, and as great talent comes in on one side of the ball, it should on the other side as well. However, let's not totally look over our offensive team either.

We've got a TON of potential in my honest opinion. When our receivers are on, they're golden, when our line gives Davis a hole, he can move. Our QB situation is an entire other article I am not going to take the time to get into, but Garcia is a play maker who, given another year, could be spectacular. And here's the best part about it: Spurrier knows we have potential. However he also knows that potential is about as much use as turd on a stick, it's what you DO with that potential that makes you great. And I believe that is why he has been so hard on our team. When they're on, they're spectacular, but they're just not consistent enough for his liking, or mine. Heck, look at him when he's on camera after a stupid mistake (interceptions, fumble, or just a missed opportunity in a big play) is made. He has this pathetic look of “Man, that would have never happened in practice.” Or, “We've run that so many times I dont understand how we missed it.” He knows that this team is capable of moving the ball, we just have the hardest time getting everybody running on all cylinders. Look at last night, during the first quarter of the TN game I couldnt help but exclaim “WOW! Where did our offensive line come from!” We moved the ball, they made holes, blocked down field, they did a great job. After that they fell off a little, but not exponentially (see 4th quarter of LSU game).

The point is – the South Carolina Gamecocks are not a superstar team, however, somewhere in that locker room and on that sideline there is a sleeping giant of a team waiting to be hatched (ok, bad pun I know). But seriously...we're the gamecocks, and right now we're incubating (yeah, another bad one but I couldnt resist) what could be, no what IS going to be a great team.