The Sounds of Silence
posted by Scott Hood, Friday, October 19, 2007
Yes, I believe USC is being overlooked.
But I think that’s a good thing. For now.
I can assure you Steve Spurrier feels the same way.
Some USC fans point to the “love” being shown Kentucky during the last few weeks for an alleged bias against the Gamecocks.
Remember, coming into the USC-Kentucky game, the Wildcats were undefeated, were ranked in the Top 10 and had a Heisman Trophy candidate playing quarterback.
For TV folks covering college football, that’s the holy grail.
As we all know, USC beat Kentucky, 38-23, behind a strong defensive performance that harassed UK QB Andre Woodson all night.
After the loss, many people assumed Kentucky would fall off the map with upcoming home contests against LSU and Florida.
But a funny thing happened on the way towards obscurity for UK - they shocked the top-ranked Tigers, 43-37, in triple OT, reviving their season.
Now, they’ll face Florida at home on Saturday in nationally televised game. UK is back in the Top 10 and back in the national spotlight.
Kentucky won the big game when they had to. That’s why people are paying attention to them.
ESPN, in fact, will originate its ‘College GameDay’ show from Lexington on Saturday. Talk of Woodson capturing the Heisman in this wide-open year has returned.
Meanwhile, no one is supposedly talking about USC.
Should that bother Gamecock fans? No.
Why not? USC’s time will come. Specifically, next week when they travel to Knoxville to face Tennessee.
First, USC must take care of business Saturday against Vanderbilt, which nearly beat Georgia last week. In fact, the Commodores probably should have won the game.
If USC disposes of Vanderbilt, historically a poor road team, the Gamecocks will assuredly ascend into the Top 5 of the BCS standings, thanks to Rutgers’ 30-27 victory over No. 2 South Florida Thursday night.
A 7-1 USC team heading to Knoxville for a showdown with Tennessee, a traditional college football power, will garner plenty of publicity and talk.
In fact, it would likely be the national game of the week. Without question, it would be the biggest game in school history.
Of course, some in the national media will pick Tennessee to win the game. That’s not a sign of disrespect towards USC, just a nod of the head acknowledging how difficult it is for a road team to win at the big stadium on the banks of the Tennessee River.
Georgia found that out the hard way a couple of weeks ago when they were throttled by the Vols.
You want boatloads of positive publicity for USC? Beat Tennessee on their home field.
Pardon the French, but if that happens, all hell would break loose.
USC wouldn’t just be mentioned as a SEC title contender by the ESPN’s of the world but as a NATIONAL title contender, as well.
Then, USC would have all the “love” it could handle en route to Fayetteville and a meeting with the Arkansas Razorbacks.
It would be Love In The First Degree.
Indeed, the media would even begin asserting the Gamecocks controlled their own destiny in the SEC East.
I suspect that one of the reasons the national media may not be paying too much attention to USC right now is because they believe the Gamecocks will falter at some point over the final four games of the season.
It’s time for the Gamecocks to prove them wrong.
Tennessee is USC’s ‘Big Game,’ just like LSU was for Kentucky last week. You could also refer to it as a possible 'Breakthrough Game.’
Kentucky passed the test with flying colors when they outlasted LSU. Their reward is another nationally televised game with Florida.
Will USC pass the test when they play Tennessee? Ask me that question next week.
Right now, all the attention and focus is on beating Vanderbilt. Once that happens, we'll talk.
Spoken like a true football coach.
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Some South Carolina fans appear perplexed by the perceived snub from the national media despite USC’s No. 6 national ranking.
Yes, I believe USC is being overlooked.
But I think that’s a good thing. For now.
I can assure you Steve Spurrier feels the same way.
Some USC fans point to the “love” being shown Kentucky during the last few weeks for an alleged bias against the Gamecocks.
Remember, coming into the USC-Kentucky game, the Wildcats were undefeated, were ranked in the Top 10 and had a Heisman Trophy candidate playing quarterback.
For TV folks covering college football, that’s the holy grail.
As we all know, USC beat Kentucky, 38-23, behind a strong defensive performance that harassed UK QB Andre Woodson all night.
After the loss, many people assumed Kentucky would fall off the map with upcoming home contests against LSU and Florida.
But a funny thing happened on the way towards obscurity for UK - they shocked the top-ranked Tigers, 43-37, in triple OT, reviving their season.
Now, they’ll face Florida at home on Saturday in nationally televised game. UK is back in the Top 10 and back in the national spotlight.
Kentucky won the big game when they had to. That’s why people are paying attention to them.
ESPN, in fact, will originate its ‘College GameDay’ show from Lexington on Saturday. Talk of Woodson capturing the Heisman in this wide-open year has returned.
Meanwhile, no one is supposedly talking about USC.
Should that bother Gamecock fans? No.
Why not? USC’s time will come. Specifically, next week when they travel to Knoxville to face Tennessee.
First, USC must take care of business Saturday against Vanderbilt, which nearly beat Georgia last week. In fact, the Commodores probably should have won the game.
If USC disposes of Vanderbilt, historically a poor road team, the Gamecocks will assuredly ascend into the Top 5 of the BCS standings, thanks to Rutgers’ 30-27 victory over No. 2 South Florida Thursday night.
A 7-1 USC team heading to Knoxville for a showdown with Tennessee, a traditional college football power, will garner plenty of publicity and talk.
In fact, it would likely be the national game of the week. Without question, it would be the biggest game in school history.
Of course, some in the national media will pick Tennessee to win the game. That’s not a sign of disrespect towards USC, just a nod of the head acknowledging how difficult it is for a road team to win at the big stadium on the banks of the Tennessee River.
Georgia found that out the hard way a couple of weeks ago when they were throttled by the Vols.
You want boatloads of positive publicity for USC? Beat Tennessee on their home field.
Pardon the French, but if that happens, all hell would break loose.
USC wouldn’t just be mentioned as a SEC title contender by the ESPN’s of the world but as a NATIONAL title contender, as well.
Then, USC would have all the “love” it could handle en route to Fayetteville and a meeting with the Arkansas Razorbacks.
It would be Love In The First Degree.
Indeed, the media would even begin asserting the Gamecocks controlled their own destiny in the SEC East.
I suspect that one of the reasons the national media may not be paying too much attention to USC right now is because they believe the Gamecocks will falter at some point over the final four games of the season.
It’s time for the Gamecocks to prove them wrong.
Tennessee is USC’s ‘Big Game,’ just like LSU was for Kentucky last week. You could also refer to it as a possible 'Breakthrough Game.’
Kentucky passed the test with flying colors when they outlasted LSU. Their reward is another nationally televised game with Florida.
Will USC pass the test when they play Tennessee? Ask me that question next week.
Right now, all the attention and focus is on beating Vanderbilt. Once that happens, we'll talk.
Spoken like a true football coach.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to 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 @.