Some Thoughts After A Weekend On The Plains
posted by Scott Hood, 4/14/2008 01:10:00 PM
FOOTBALL: I didn’t see it live myself, but Lee Corso’s prediction Saturday on the “Spring Game” version of ESPN’s College Football Game Day show that South Carolina would be the surprise team in the entire nation did catch me a little by surprise.
In the past, Corso has always exclaimed how difficult it would be for USC to enjoy consistent success in the SEC. I know he loves Spurrier, so that helps. In the past, he’s seen Florida, Georgia and Tennessee sitting there and he’s wondered how the Gamecocks were going to get it done.
I think his prediction for this season is based primarily on two factors: 1) most of the starters on defense return next season, including, most importantly, MLB Jasper Brinkley; and 2) the schedule.
Of course, a number of things must occur for Corso’s prediction to come true. First, the run defense must show substantial improvement over last season. Yes, the stats were probably skewered by the abysmal showings against Arkansas and Florida, but all the game count.
Frankly, if the run defense finishes in the top half of the SEC (that is Spurrier’s hope) and the secondary stays healthy (the injury to Captain Munnerlyn hurt USC immeasurably in the Florida and Clemson games last year) and plays well again, then there’s no reason why the defense couldn’t finish among the Top 20 in the nation.
Second, Spurrier and John Hunt must settle on a starting five for the offensive line and let the unit develop some chemistry. Several of the players must develop a mean streak, as well.
I know Spurrier feels some of the O-Lineman aren’t tough enough. But when we’ve spoken with John Hunt this spring, he’s been optimistic about the line and the fact they’re playing better than they did last year. We’ll see come Aug. 28.
Third, USC must decide on a starting quarterback. I realize it’s a close battle right now between Chris Smelley and Tommy Beecher, but someone must emerge. I’ve never been a big fan of two quarterback systems, and I hope Spurrier doesn’t go in that direction.
Finally, USC has to start making plays late in close football games when the outcome is in doubt. That didn’t happen last season, with the Tennessee and Clemson games serving as the most glaring examples. If the Gamecocks develop some playmakers, I think they’ll be fine.
That’s important because I expect every conference game plus the N.C. State and Clemson contests to be extremely close, hard-fought games. With so many questions on offense, USC won’t blow anybody out, but with a potentially great defense, no one will blow USC out either. When it comes to exciting finishes, it might be tough to top the 2008 season.
As far as the schedule is concerned, USC will likely be favored in six of its first seven games. The only exception is Georgia. After that, it gets dicey. But LSU loses most of their defense, Arkansas doesn’t have Darren McFadden and Felix Jones anymore and Tennessee is sliding downward after a few years of mediocre recruiting and now they’ve lost quarterback Erik Ainge after being the starter for four years.
Moreover, all three of those games will be at home.
As far as the last two games on the schedule are concerned, USC lost by a mere point the last time they ventured to the Swamp and every USC fan knows what happened the last time the Gamecocks faced Clemson in the Upstate.
BASEBALL: Eight days ago, few USC baseball fans could have envisioned the week that was about to unfold. The Gamecocks had just been swept by Georgia in a three-game series at Athens to fall to 6-6 in the SEC and they faced the prospect of playing arch-rival Clemson and then hitting the road again to Auburn.
But a funny thing happened. They started winning again. They beat Western Carolina and Clemson on back-to-back nights before sweeping Auburn on the Plains, no small feat. Once the conference schedule starts, 5-0 weeks are rare commodities.
I’m sometimes asked why the USC baseball team succeeds while the other big sports struggle. One of the most important differences I see is the mental toughness of the baseball team as a whole. Ray Tanner demands it, and USC usually responds.
Of course, baseball plays four or five times per week, so they can get back out on the field quicker than some of the other sports. The nature of baseball is such that no team is going to go undefeated. But you have to be able to bounce back when the going gets tough. The best teams are the ones that are able to forget losses and move on.
I was extremely impressed by what I saw at Auburn this past weekend. USC held on to win in all three games despite the fact Auburn had the winning run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth in all three games.
Friday’s game ended on a double play grounder with two runners on base. Saturday, USC trailed by two runs heading into the seventh inning and it took some two-out lightning in the eighth to score the go-ahead run Saturday. Yesterday, USC trailed 3-2 in the sixth inning before scoring in each of its last four at-bats.
In short, USC made plays at the end of games to win.
Was the football team was paying attention?
Some thoughts following a successful three-day trip to the Plains of Alabama:
FOOTBALL: I didn’t see it live myself, but Lee Corso’s prediction Saturday on the “Spring Game” version of ESPN’s College Football Game Day show that South Carolina would be the surprise team in the entire nation did catch me a little by surprise.
In the past, Corso has always exclaimed how difficult it would be for USC to enjoy consistent success in the SEC. I know he loves Spurrier, so that helps. In the past, he’s seen Florida, Georgia and Tennessee sitting there and he’s wondered how the Gamecocks were going to get it done.
I think his prediction for this season is based primarily on two factors: 1) most of the starters on defense return next season, including, most importantly, MLB Jasper Brinkley; and 2) the schedule.
Of course, a number of things must occur for Corso’s prediction to come true. First, the run defense must show substantial improvement over last season. Yes, the stats were probably skewered by the abysmal showings against Arkansas and Florida, but all the game count.
Frankly, if the run defense finishes in the top half of the SEC (that is Spurrier’s hope) and the secondary stays healthy (the injury to Captain Munnerlyn hurt USC immeasurably in the Florida and Clemson games last year) and plays well again, then there’s no reason why the defense couldn’t finish among the Top 20 in the nation.
Second, Spurrier and John Hunt must settle on a starting five for the offensive line and let the unit develop some chemistry. Several of the players must develop a mean streak, as well.
I know Spurrier feels some of the O-Lineman aren’t tough enough. But when we’ve spoken with John Hunt this spring, he’s been optimistic about the line and the fact they’re playing better than they did last year. We’ll see come Aug. 28.
Third, USC must decide on a starting quarterback. I realize it’s a close battle right now between Chris Smelley and Tommy Beecher, but someone must emerge. I’ve never been a big fan of two quarterback systems, and I hope Spurrier doesn’t go in that direction.
Finally, USC has to start making plays late in close football games when the outcome is in doubt. That didn’t happen last season, with the Tennessee and Clemson games serving as the most glaring examples. If the Gamecocks develop some playmakers, I think they’ll be fine.
That’s important because I expect every conference game plus the N.C. State and Clemson contests to be extremely close, hard-fought games. With so many questions on offense, USC won’t blow anybody out, but with a potentially great defense, no one will blow USC out either. When it comes to exciting finishes, it might be tough to top the 2008 season.
As far as the schedule is concerned, USC will likely be favored in six of its first seven games. The only exception is Georgia. After that, it gets dicey. But LSU loses most of their defense, Arkansas doesn’t have Darren McFadden and Felix Jones anymore and Tennessee is sliding downward after a few years of mediocre recruiting and now they’ve lost quarterback Erik Ainge after being the starter for four years.
Moreover, all three of those games will be at home.
As far as the last two games on the schedule are concerned, USC lost by a mere point the last time they ventured to the Swamp and every USC fan knows what happened the last time the Gamecocks faced Clemson in the Upstate.
BASEBALL: Eight days ago, few USC baseball fans could have envisioned the week that was about to unfold. The Gamecocks had just been swept by Georgia in a three-game series at Athens to fall to 6-6 in the SEC and they faced the prospect of playing arch-rival Clemson and then hitting the road again to Auburn.
But a funny thing happened. They started winning again. They beat Western Carolina and Clemson on back-to-back nights before sweeping Auburn on the Plains, no small feat. Once the conference schedule starts, 5-0 weeks are rare commodities.
I’m sometimes asked why the USC baseball team succeeds while the other big sports struggle. One of the most important differences I see is the mental toughness of the baseball team as a whole. Ray Tanner demands it, and USC usually responds.
Of course, baseball plays four or five times per week, so they can get back out on the field quicker than some of the other sports. The nature of baseball is such that no team is going to go undefeated. But you have to be able to bounce back when the going gets tough. The best teams are the ones that are able to forget losses and move on.
I was extremely impressed by what I saw at Auburn this past weekend. USC held on to win in all three games despite the fact Auburn had the winning run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth in all three games.
Friday’s game ended on a double play grounder with two runners on base. Saturday, USC trailed by two runs heading into the seventh inning and it took some two-out lightning in the eighth to score the go-ahead run Saturday. Yesterday, USC trailed 3-2 in the sixth inning before scoring in each of its last four at-bats.
In short, USC made plays at the end of games to win.
Was the football team was paying attention?
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