The Road Warrior Mentality
posted by Scott Hood on Thursday, October 25, 2007
Oh, really? Someone forgot to tell South Carolina that.
The most puzzling aspect of Steve Spurrier’s first three seasons is the unparalleled road success the Gamecocks have enjoyed, while struggling at home at the same time.
In my opinion, the issue came to the forefront again with last week’s abysmal showing by the USC offense in the 17-6 loss to Vanderbilt.
The Gamecocks have played five games at Williams-Brice Stadium this season. You can make the argument that they have played one solid game (Kentucky), one good game (Miss. State), two mediocre games (Louisiana-Lafayette and S.C.State) and one game so poor it’s beyond even Albert Einstein’s comprehension (Vanderbilt).
Last season, USC went 0-4 at home against SEC opponents. Yes, I understand they were four difficult foes (Georgia, Auburn, Tennessee, Arkansas), but I’ve always believed that if you fancy yourself as a respectable SEC program, you have to defend your home turf, even against the so-called ‘big boys.’
Besides the four SEC games in 2006, there was also the near-disaster against Wofford. USC won it, 27-20, but the I-AA Terriers were knocking on the door in the final seconds.
This year, USC has already won at Georgia and North Carolina. A year ago, they were 4-1 on the road with victories at Mississippi State, Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Clemson. In 2005, the Gamecocks posted wins at Tennessee and Arkansas.
Overall, USC has won eight of its last 10 road games under Spurrier since the middle portion of the 2005 schedule.
But this is not a phenomenon that began with Spurrier. In Holtz’s final season, USC trounced Alabama, 20-3, in Tuscaloosa before returning home to drop a 31-28 decision to a dreadful Ole Miss team. The next week? USC went to Lexington and beat Kentucky, 12-7.
Here’s the key question: Why has USC been so successful on the road while struggling to compete with teams like Vanderbilt, Wofford and Louisiana-Lafayette at home?
I’ve attended every USC game, home and road, since the start of the 2005 season. There’s no question in my mind USC plays with more enthusiasm, energy and confidence on the road.
Overall, they seem to play more relaxed in the stadiums of their opponents. At home, they tense up to the point it looks like they’re being “lackadaisical,” a term used by Spurrier to describe the performance by USC’s offense last weekend.
Why? Do they just enjoy sticking it to the opposing team’s home fans?
Are they afraid of being booed at home?
Are they so afraid of disappointing the legions of loyal USC fans that they play not to lose at home?
I’ve asked Steve Spurrier on a number of occasions why his team seems to play better on the road.
He just shakes his head.
Linebacker Cody Wells will be graduating soon with a degree in psychology. Maybe I should ask him.
It is all in the mind? I don’t know for sure but it sure seems that way.
It just goes to show that when you’re dealing with 18-to-22 year old players, anything and everything is possible.
In other words, the best explanation might be no explanation. Don’t try to figure it out.
Based on the level of success USC has enjoyed on the road the last three seasons, I’m convinced the Gamecock players will go into Neyland Stadium in Knoxville Saturday night and play their hearts out.
The game will unquestionably be close and hard-fought throughout.
In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if USC beat Tennessee, and got their season back on track.
It would fit the script of the past three years.
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Dorothy in the “Wizard of Oz’ said there’s no place like home.
Oh, really? Someone forgot to tell South Carolina that.
The most puzzling aspect of Steve Spurrier’s first three seasons is the unparalleled road success the Gamecocks have enjoyed, while struggling at home at the same time.
In my opinion, the issue came to the forefront again with last week’s abysmal showing by the USC offense in the 17-6 loss to Vanderbilt.
The Gamecocks have played five games at Williams-Brice Stadium this season. You can make the argument that they have played one solid game (Kentucky), one good game (Miss. State), two mediocre games (Louisiana-Lafayette and S.C.State) and one game so poor it’s beyond even Albert Einstein’s comprehension (Vanderbilt).
Last season, USC went 0-4 at home against SEC opponents. Yes, I understand they were four difficult foes (Georgia, Auburn, Tennessee, Arkansas), but I’ve always believed that if you fancy yourself as a respectable SEC program, you have to defend your home turf, even against the so-called ‘big boys.’
Besides the four SEC games in 2006, there was also the near-disaster against Wofford. USC won it, 27-20, but the I-AA Terriers were knocking on the door in the final seconds.
This year, USC has already won at Georgia and North Carolina. A year ago, they were 4-1 on the road with victories at Mississippi State, Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Clemson. In 2005, the Gamecocks posted wins at Tennessee and Arkansas.
Overall, USC has won eight of its last 10 road games under Spurrier since the middle portion of the 2005 schedule.
But this is not a phenomenon that began with Spurrier. In Holtz’s final season, USC trounced Alabama, 20-3, in Tuscaloosa before returning home to drop a 31-28 decision to a dreadful Ole Miss team. The next week? USC went to Lexington and beat Kentucky, 12-7.
Here’s the key question: Why has USC been so successful on the road while struggling to compete with teams like Vanderbilt, Wofford and Louisiana-Lafayette at home?
I’ve attended every USC game, home and road, since the start of the 2005 season. There’s no question in my mind USC plays with more enthusiasm, energy and confidence on the road.
Overall, they seem to play more relaxed in the stadiums of their opponents. At home, they tense up to the point it looks like they’re being “lackadaisical,” a term used by Spurrier to describe the performance by USC’s offense last weekend.
Why? Do they just enjoy sticking it to the opposing team’s home fans?
Are they afraid of being booed at home?
Are they so afraid of disappointing the legions of loyal USC fans that they play not to lose at home?
I’ve asked Steve Spurrier on a number of occasions why his team seems to play better on the road.
He just shakes his head.
Linebacker Cody Wells will be graduating soon with a degree in psychology. Maybe I should ask him.
It is all in the mind? I don’t know for sure but it sure seems that way.
It just goes to show that when you’re dealing with 18-to-22 year old players, anything and everything is possible.
In other words, the best explanation might be no explanation. Don’t try to figure it out.
Based on the level of success USC has enjoyed on the road the last three seasons, I’m convinced the Gamecock players will go into Neyland Stadium in Knoxville Saturday night and play their hearts out.
The game will unquestionably be close and hard-fought throughout.
In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if USC beat Tennessee, and got their season back on track.
It would fit the script of the past three years.
- Permalink, Discuss, Blog Home
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Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.