If Fresno State Can Do It. . .

Fresno State’s improbable run to the College World Series title in baseball reinforced - again – a couple of important viewpoints I hold when it comes to college athletics.

One of them is this: While talent alone can carry a team a long way, the ones with the best intangibles typically climb to the forefront during the post-season.

Was Fresno State the most talented team in the nation? Heck, no. Not even close. They lost 31 games, yet still managed to find a way to get the job done when they had to.

Georgia, the team they beat in the final best-of-three series, had better players overall. The Bulldogs (the ones from Athens) had two of the best players in all of college baseball in shortstop Gordon Beckham and closer Joshua Fields.

But, in my opinion, Fresno State walked away with the championship trophy because they won the battle of the things that ultimately matter most.

Night after night, the Fresno players displayed superiority over their opponents in the following areas:

-- Team chemistry
-- Senior leadership
-- Mental toughness
-- Ability to Make Clutch Plays
-- Great coaching

You could tell the FSU players had remarkable togetherness, as if they all knew beforehand they were a team of destiny. They all seemed to like each other. There was no evidence of jealousy, no spitefulness, no envy.

I’ve been a big believer for a long time in strong senior leadership, and Fresno State showed everyone why it’s such an important asset. Younger players usually need someone older – not a coach, but a peer - to point them in the right direction and make sure they stay on course.

Further, no team came from the depths Fresno State did (they were the No. 4 seed in the Long Beach Regional) without an incredible amount of mental toughness. They had a refuse to lose mentality.

They also did it all on the road, including the Super Regional victory at No. 3 national seed Arizona State.

ESPN had a great graphic Wednesday night showing all the ranked teams Fresno State had beaten on the long road to the title. It was a Who’s Who of college baseball.

But FSU didn’t care about reputations or whom they were facing; they went out and won anyways. Bottom line, they weren’t intimidated by the name of the opponent on the front of the jersey.

Of course, Fresno State isn’t the first team to make a magical run to a national title, as the four-letter network kindly reminded us on numerous occasions.

But they share many of the same characteristics with those clubs.

What lessons can South Carolina’s football team learn from Fresno State’s ‘miracle’ run to the national title? Plenty.

Steve Spurrier has already said on multiple occasions that USC has the players to contend with the best teams in the SEC. So, as the start of the 2008 season approaches, USC fans should be confident the Gamecocks possess enough physical talent.

But, what about the all-important intangibles? Will the Gamecock players mesh? Will they get along? Will they refuse to allow petty feuds to get in the way of progress, unlike some USC teams in the past?

Will seniors like Jasper Brinkley, Kenny McKinley, Mike Davis, Marque Hall, and Stoney Woodson step up and become the vocal leaders of the team? Or will they surrender that responsibility to the younger players?

Will USC achieve a refuse to lose mentality? Will they show the internal fortitude to overcome adversity? Will they allow one poor game to bleed over into the following week’s game?

Finally, will they show the ability to make plays when the games are on the line? Will the defense rise up and stop the opponent on third and fourth downs with the outcome in doubt? Will they fall on the football when there’s a critical fumble? Can the offense go on a time-consuming drive in the fourth quarter to kill the clock?

Those are all important questions. The answers will shape the course of the 2008 season. In the past, unfortunately, we’ve received the wrong responses.

All those questions boil down to the most important one – has USC learned how to compete? Unless the answer is in the affirmative, the Gamecocks will likely struggle again.

That’s a point Spurrier has made in the past, and one he’ll probably make again before the season starts Aug. 28.

Here’s a suggestion: If USC’s players ever need a gentle reminder that it takes far more than physical talent to win, Spurrier should just have his players watch Fresno State’s CWS highlights.

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The National Media Has Done It Again

I always look forward to this time of the year.

Why?

Late June and July is when many national writers come out of the closest with their pre-season predictions for college football, most of which turn out wrong. Typically, they get around to talking about coaches on the hot seat or those most likely to resign or be fired at the end of the season.

More often than not, the discussion eventually comes around to Steve Spurrier, the favorite topic, it seems, of many star-struck journalists.

Since his first season in 2005, we’ve been treated to annual forecasts of how long Spurrier would last at South Carolina. Many of these national writers have confidently asserted it was only a matter of time before he threw up his hands in frustration and walked away.

Frankly, some of their predictions have been laughable, which is why I enjoy them so much.

In my opinion, the national media still fails to understand the reasons Spurrier came to USC, or that he chose USC and not vice versa. Then, to compound their horror, Spurrier ignored the overtures of Alabama and Miami in 2006 and decided to remain in Columbia.

The latest to fall into the trap of prognosticating Spurrier could leave USC prematurely is ESPN’s Pat Forde, who posted a column on the four-letter network's web site this week predicting either Spurrier or Tennessee’s Phil Fulmer were the most likely coaches to leave their respective schools when the 2008 season is complete.

Spurrier won’t be fired, so he’ll have to leave on his own volition. But, barring a total catastrophe, that’s not going to happen either, even if USC puts up another 6-6 record this season.

As I’ve said before, Spurrier knew exactly what he was getting into when he arrived in Columbia. He was well aware of the lack of a winning tradition in Columbia (remember, he joked about the lack of hardware in the trophy case) and the challenge he faced trying to pull the Gamecocks up to the level of Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.

Has he succeeded? Not yet. Sure, he’s beaten all three of those SEC East foes once and lost a heartbreaker to each as well, so USC has been competitive.

But, we should’ve all grasped the concept by now that it’s all about winning. Close doesn’t count. Giving a great effort doesn’t count. I can assure you no one understands that better than Spurrier, who emphatically reminded USC fans in 2006 that it’s not cool to cheer the players when they walkoff the field after a close loss.

However, insisting Spurrier won’t leave after this season doesn’t minimize the importance of the 2008 season. This is a vital year for the HBC and the entire football program. The Gamecock Nation is restless.

Few expected USC would finish only .500 and fail to earn a bowl berth in Spurrier’s third year. As a result, the pressure is building. USC plans to impose seat licenses at Williams-Brice Stadium in 2009. There is a major capital campaign going on.

It would certainly help convince USC fans to pull out their checkbooks if the football team had a successful season in 2008. The opportunity for an eight or nine win season is right in front of them with Arkansas and Tennessee sliding, and contests against Georgia (that one is always close) and LSU (major quarterback issues) at home.

Spurrier said repeatedly on this past spring’s Gamecock Club tour that USC has enough quality players on its roster right now to contend in the SEC. That's true, especially on defense, where I expect new defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson will make a major impact.

His recent statements certainly suggest Spurrier believes that if USC plays to its potential and makes plays in the clutch (a major problem in the past), they’ll have a very good season.

Forde is correct, though, when he says that there are two many top-shelf coaches in the SEC to keep everybody happy. Five current coaches (Spurrier, Miles, Meyer, Fulmer, Saban) have won a national championship.

Unfortunately, somebody has to lose every game. But tell that to the millions of frenzied football fans around the conference. My guess is Tennessee will finish around 7-5 and cut ties with Fulmer at the end of the season, no matter how costly the buyout will be. They can afford it.

Another coach or two could feel the pain, as well. But you can rest easy that one of them won’t be Spurrier. His contract runs through 2012 and the Board of Trustees approved a $1 million lump-sum annuity for him last year provided he remains with the Gamecocks through the 2011 season.

Here’s the twist: Spurrier has put a lot of faith in the highly-ranked 2007 signing class. He points to those players and proclaims USC is still building. Well, 2011 is when most of those players will be fifth-year seniors.

If USC enjoys a historically successful season in 2011, will Spurrier leave on a high note or will he stick around through the end of his contract or beyond?

That’s the relevant question.

Until then, USC fans can look forward to Spurrier strolling the Gamecocks for at least four more seasons, no matter what the national media says.

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Seat Licenses Mean It's Go Time For USC Athletics

Now that South Carolina athletic officials have taken the historic step of imposing annual seat licenses at the new baseball stadium – a decision that’s a precursor to the upcoming Williams-Brice Stadium drama of 2009 – it’s time for Gamecock Nation to respond.

How? With higher expectations, of course.

By holding coaches, players and administrators accountable for what happens on and off the field.

By not just hoping for success, but joining many of their SEC brethren in demanding it.

By informing Athletic Director Eric Hyman that you, the long-time suffering USC fan, are, from this point forward, expecting a healthy return on your investment.

And that’s actually what your Gamecock Club dues, tickets and, starting later this year, seat licenses are: an investment.

Hyman likes to say college athletics is a business. So, it’s time for fans to treat it like one too. Business is all about profit and loss.

Hey, capitalism rocks.

How many of you have called your stockholder in the past and complained about the lack of a sufficient return on your investments? It’s the same thing with Hyman.

He’s merely the conduit through with USC fans are investing their hard-earned dollars in Gamecock athletics. Of course, you can’t fire Hyman like you could your stockbroker, but the theory is the same.

Here’s a sobering statistic: The only sports in which USC has won national team titles are women’s track and equestrian. Georgia has won two national titles this spring in men’s tennis and gymnastics.

And they will play for a third in baseball starting Monday night when the Bulldogs face the, well, Bulldogs of Fresno State in the best-of-three national championship series in Omaha.

But Georgia isn’t the only SEC East foe that’s enjoyed success in recent years. Florida has recently won two national championships in basketball and one in football to go along with numerous past titles in the Olympic sports. Tennessee has won the last two national championships in women’s basketball in addition to that football trophy in 1998.

It’s time for USC to join the party.

Yes, winning national championships is not easy. If it was, everybody would do it. But USC’s lack of titles over the years is, to put it bluntly, unacceptable and downright embarrassing.

So here’s what I suggest USC fans do: when you send in your check to pay your seat license fees for the new baseball stadium, include a handwritten note addressed to Hyman stating in unequivocal terms that, while you’re happy to support the schools’ athletic endeavors, you’re putting him and the entire USC athletic department on notice.

The message should be short and powerful: Mediocrity will no longer be tolerated. It's win or else.

Know what? I have a feeling every athletic administrator and coach employed by USC would welcome the higher expectations from Gamecock fans.

Hyman and all of USC’s head coaches are being paid a lot of money to win, and that’s exactly what they need to do. Yes, I know facilities and all that other stuff factor into it, but the excuses have to stop at some point.

Hyman isn’t stupid or naive, nor does he shrink from his responsibility of building a successful athletics program across the board at USC. He understands the business (I repeat, again, college athletics is first and foremost a business) of NCAA sports very well.

He knows the introduction of annual seat license fees will cause more Gamecock fans to demand greater on-field success. He should view that as a positive thing, because it is. And I'm sure he will.

One thing I’ve always admired about Ray Tanner is that when USC fans voice their displeasure with how the team is playing, he doesn’t back down or offer excuses.

He knows he created a monster by advancing to the CWS three consecutive years from 2002-04, and that’s what fans expect every year. He welcomes the pressure, just like every other great coach out there.

Tanner understands high goals are a good thing. But goals are just empty words on a piece of paper or chalkboard until they become reality.

The important thing is to set goals AND achieve them.

Hopefully, we’re on the brink of a new enlightened era in USC athletics when it comes to how seriously people around the program, including fans, approach winning.

Truly, winning IS everything.

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How Steep Is The Price For Excellence?

You might have missed it, but June 18th was an important day in the history of the South Carolina athletic department.

The Intercollegiate Athletics Committee of the University’s Board of Trustees approved Wednesday a plan to charge a seat license fee for each of the planned 5,700 available seats in the new baseball stadium.

The vote marked the first time in school history fans will have to pay an additional fee above and beyond the cost of tickets and Gamecocks Club dues to watch the Gamecocks play.

It may have marked the first time, but I can assure you it won’t be the last.

What’s going on now at the baseball stadium is child’s play compared to what will happen early next year when USC tells us what fans will have to pay to simply gain the right to renew their football season tickets.

Here’s a prediction: It won’t be cheap.

Armageddon? Probably not, but it might be close.

The prices USC set for the baseball stadium (most fans will pay $25.00 to $115.00 per seat as an annual license fee) will pale in comparison to what the school will likely charge at Williams-Brice beginning in 2009.

Granted, as interim Gamecock Club director Patrick McFarland told me recently, every season ticket-holder, no matter their Gamecock Club donation level, will be given an opportunity to keep their current seats.

But they must agree to pay the seat license fee for each and every ticket.

Once Darrin Horn gets the struggling men’s basketball program on its feet, will the Colonial Center be the next target? Could USC hoop fans face the prospect of paying an annual seat license fee as well to watch the Gamecocks play?

Yes and yes.

In this world, nothing is off-limits.

Steadily, USC administrators and the long-suffering fans are learning that the price is mighty steep indeed if you want to compete with the Big Boys, both in the SEC and nationally.

Athletic Director Eric Hyman has proclaimed dozens of times in the past that there’s "a price for excellence.” He said it again on Wednesday when he met with the media following the seat license vote.

Is it true? Well, if you follow the recent trends in Div. I college athletics, the answer is again yes. There are a lot of schools, many of them in the SEC, frantically building new facilities, or planning to do so, to keep pace in the “arms race” that’s engulfing many institutions of higher learning.

Just think of it as college athletics’ version of the Cold War.

The incredible amount of money schools are spending on facilities is filtering down to coaches. Every day, it seems, another coach sets a new salary standard that seemed far-fetched only a few years ago.

College administrators refer to it as “the marketplace.”

That’s why Hyman bumped up Steve Spurrier’s guaranteed annual compensation to $1.75 million per year following the 2006 season.

It’s also why he gave huge contracts to Darrin Horn ($800,000 per year) and Dawn Staley ($650,000 per year minus what she owes the school for buying out her Temple contract), and why USC is currently in the early stages of a $200 million capital campaign.

Construction of the new $36 million baseball stadium is nearly 50 percent complete. The renovation of the football training area underneath Williams-Brice Stadium, which is costing $2.5 million by the way, is ongoing and should be finished in 2-3 months.

Still to come is the start of construction of the new academic enrichment center and the long-awaited and much-needed expansion of Williams-Brice.

The price tag for all of these projects – remember this is just the first stage of a decade long effort – is in the tens of millions of dollars.

Who will ultimately pay the bill? You, the fan, of course. In the form of skyrocketing Gamecock Club dues, higher ticket prices and, now, annual seat licenses.

And you're still going to have to pay $4.00 or more for a gallon of gas.

Welcome to the world of big-time college athletics.

There may be a price for excellence, but here’s the important question: Are USC fans willing to pay that price?

I have no doubt that some fans will throw up their arms and wave the white flag of surrender, refusing to pay whatever large sum of money the USC athletic department wants them to pay.

Others may embrace the idea of paying more for the privilege of attending USC games, pleased that the athletic department is finally doing all it can to field a competitive program in the hyper-competitive SEC.

If you’re in the latter group, then it may be wise to purchase a bigger wallet.

You’re going to need it.

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The NEXT 10 Most Important Players For 2008

Monday, we identified the 10 Most Important Players For South Carolina. Some of those players were seen as “no-brainers,” which, of course, is why they’re on the list. Great players have a habit of showing up on Top 10 lists. But, football is a team made up of 22 starters on both sides of the ball, so there’s plenty of players USC will be counting on in order to have a successful season. Here are the next 10 most important players for the Gamecocks this season:

1. Eric Norwood: One of the more intriguing stories heading into the start of the new campaign is how Norwood will handle the move from defensive end to outside linebacker following two highly productive season at the former position. He’ll still be counted on to provide relentless pressure on the quarterback, which is his specialty. The only difference is where he’ll be on the field when he starts his pass rush. Once he masters dropping back into pass coverage, he’ll be a complete linebacker, and a full-fledged NFL prospect

2. Garrett Anderson, Justin Sorensen, Heath Batchelor, Lemuel Jeanpierre (Tie): This quartet represents the probable starters on the offensive line in addition to LT Hutch Eckerson, who made the cut for the first Top 10. Without question, the offensive line will be the most scrutinized unit on the Gamecocks this season following a disappointing performance in 2007. OL Coach John Hunt and his players will be under the microscope. Steve Spurrier often said this spring he expects the O-line will be improved in 2008.

3. Emanuel Cook: Pound-for-pound, the junior strong safety from Riviera Beach, Fla. may be USC’s best defender. He certainly was last year after Jasper Brinkley went down with a season-ending injury when he led USC in tackles by a wide margin despite playing just 10 full games. Cook is sensational in run support and has made several game-changing tackles on fourth down in his career. Once he improves his pass coverage, he’ll be a complete defensive back. It will be fun watching Cook and free safety Darian Stewart patrol the middle of the field this season.

4. Moe Brown/Dion Lecorn: Someone has to step up as the No. 2 receiver behind Kenny McKinley and one of these guys is the most likely to emerge in that role. Brown has just 22 receptions in his first two seasons, while Lecorn had 27 as a true freshman. Brown showed signs in the spring of finally breaking out and fulfilling the promise he displayed in high school. Lecorn had some legal issues to overcome, but came on in the final two weeks of spring practice. McKinley is hoping one or both of these guys catch some passes so he won’t see double teams all the time.

5. Chris Culliver: The lightning-fast safety from North Carolina moved over to defense in the spring after not catching a pass in 2007. But he made an important contribution on special team by emerging as USC’s top kickoff returner. The special teams unit is on the verge of a revival under new coordinator Ray Rychleski, and Culliver should be at the forefront. He nearly broke loose for a couple of TD returns last season. The Gamecocks haven’t had a kickoff returned for TD since 2002. This could be the year Culliver snaps that streak and finally takes one to the house.

6. Patrick DiMarco: DiMarco made his presence felt last season as a true freshman with a rugged, physical style of play at fullback that caught the eye of the coaches. In fact, he played so well the coaches spent the spring figuring out ways to get him on the field more this season. As a result, DiMarco will be employed as a blocking tight end to help out Jared Cook and Weslye Saunders in that capacity, as well as the personal protector on punts. He’ll be a busy guy this fall.

7. Rodney Paulk/Gerrod Sinclair: Two of the three linebacker spots are claimed by Jasper Brinkley and Eric Norwood. Who will fill the other outside linebacker spot? It could be either Paulk or Sinclair. Paulk is one of the most rugged players on the team and has started 22 games in his first two seasons, while Sinclair is finally emerging after two seasons performing mostly on special teams. But his playing time at LB increased as last season went along.

8. Spencer Lanning/Ryan Doerr: Special teams coordinator Ray Rychleski made it plain during the spring that he doesn’t want Ryan Succop filling all three major kicking roles. He wants Succop to stick with placekicking – field goals and kickoffs. That means USC should have a new punter in 2008, and either Lanning or Doerr should claim the job. Lanning was inconsistent in the spring, but showed potential, while Doerr brings impressive credentials from Katy, Tex.

9. Marque Hall: The fifth-year senior from Wingate, N.C. will look to anchor the defensive tackle spot opposite Ladi Ajiboye. Hall had a subpar season in 2007 as he struggled to return from knee surgery the previous season. He should be completely healthy this time around and ready to make his mark in his final season. Hall will be counted on to plug up the middle and help out stopping the running game, something that didn’t happen often enough last season. Hall was USC’s best defensive tackle when he was injured early in the 2006 season. DL coach Brad Lawing hopes he finds the magic one more time.

10. Carlos Thomas: Possibly the most enigmatic player on the team, Thomas can make any coach leap for joy on one play and then bury his head in his hands the next. But there’s no denying his raw physical skills. If USC wants to finish first in the SEC in passing defense again, it needs Thomas to perform. Captain Munnerlyn has one CB job sewed up, so Thomas will be counted on to watch the opposite side of the field. But he felt the heat in the spring from Akeem Auguste and Stoney Woodson, so he’ll have to battle to keep his job.

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The 10 Most Important Players For USC In 2008

If South Carolina wants to attain a successful season (7+ wins) in 2008, these are the 10 players (OK, 11) that must show the way. Of course, since football is the consummate team game, there are numerous other players on both sides of the ball that must play well also in order for USC to register its fifth consecutive season of .500 or better. But these are the 10 players that absolutely need to perform at their best each and every week to give USC a chance to win.

1. Tommy Beecher/Chris Smelley: The quarterback is the most important player on most Div. I football teams, especially when the head coach is Steve Spurrier and he wants to throw the ball vertically downfield. Right now, Beecher is 1A and Smelley is 1B heading into the start of fall camp. Beecher has a slight lead, but it’s nothing Smelley can’t overcome with a strong summer and then a solid pre-season camp. Whoever the starting QB is, they must play well for USC to win a majority of its games. More performances like the one we saw against Vanderbilt and it will be a long, long season. I’m a firm believer in the concept that a football team is only as good as its QB. USC doesn’t need either QB to be spectacular, just consistently productive.

2. Jasper Brinkley: The USC defense wasn’t the same after Brinkley went down with torn knee ligaments in the fourth game of last season at LSU. USC must dramatically improve its run defense this season and the man in the middle always hold the key. Brinkley must stay healthy for USC to stay in the hunt for a bowl game. Players like Marvin Sapp and Melvin Ingram are capable, but they don’t bring Brinkley’s rare combination of size and speed to the table. It’s not a coincidence that Spurrier’s most successful season at USC came in 2006 when Brinkley was a beast with 107 tackles.

3. Kenny McKinley: Unless another wide receiver emerges from the pack, McKinley will be USC’s primary, and possibly only, deep threat. He’s also the Gamecocks’ best wide receiver by wide margin. McKinley needs to have another monster season to keep defenses honest. If Dion Lecorn improves from last season and another receiver or two steps up, USC’s passing offense should generate enough yardage to keep Spurrier happy. But it all begins with McKinley. By the close of the season, he should hold nearly every major USC pass receiving record.

4. Captain Munnerlyn: USC had the top passing defense in the SEC last season and Munnerlyn gets a large share of the credit for that. Many scouts consider him the best cover corner in the conference. His absence was certainly felt in the final two games against Florida and Clemson when USC’s passing defense struggled in key situations. If Munnerlyn regains his form prior to suffering the broken foot, the Gamecocks should be in good shape again when it comes to stopping the passing games of opposing offenses.

5. Hutch Eckerson: The left tackle position is the most important along the offensive line because he protects the quarterback’s blind side. Jamon Meredith has started 18 consecutive games at LT over the last two seasons but he’ll miss the first two games as a result of a NCAA ruling two years ago granting him an additional year of eligibility. That means the burden falls to Eckerson to block the right defensive end and keep him away from USC’s QB. If Eckerson is able to perform his job adequately, Beecher and/or Smelley won’t have to worry about getting bushwhacked from behind.

6. Ryan Succop: An effective field goal kicker is one of the best weapons a football team can possess. Succop is nearly perfect in his career from inside 40 yards and he’s downright dangerous from beyond 40 yards as well. His extended range (55+ yards) means the Gamecocks are a threat to score every time they cross the opponent’s 40-yard line. Succop was 13 of 17 on field goals last season. He needs to come up big again because I’m predicting most of USC’s games this season will be hard-fought, close affairs and could come down to a kick or two at the end.

7. Mike Davis: The most productive season of Davis’ career came in 2005 when as a freshman he rushed for 666 yards. Last year, however, he hurtled off the track and ended up carrying the ball just four times in the last two games. With Cory Boyd now in Tampa and his backups largely inexperienced, it’s up to Davis to ignite USC’s rushing attack for this season. He’ll certainly get help from Brian Maddox and Eric Baker, but Davis must at least reach his career-high for a single season if USC wants to have a respectable rushing attack. It didn’t last season when the Gamecocks finished 12th in the SEC in rushing offense.

8. Jared Cook: Steve Spurrier exclaimed in the spring that Cook and fellow tight end Weslye Saunders were the second and third best pass catchers on USC. Cook had 30 receptions in 2007 and he could easily double that number this season. If Cook emerges as a legitimate threat, it could take some pressure off McKinley and make opponents think twice about double-teaming USC’s top pass-catcher. Cook is too fast for most SEC linebackers to cover, so opponents would likely have to dedicate a defensive back to cover him and hope for the best.

9. Ladi Ajiboye: USC’s last-place finish in 2007 among the 12 SEC teams in rushing defense was embarrassing. A strong season from Ajiboye would go a long ways towards sealing up the inside when opponents want to run the football between the tackles. Ajiboye is USC’s top defensive tackle, as he showed time and again in the spring, and he must play like it this season.

10. Cliff Matthews: USC DL coach Brad Lawing loves this guy, and for good reason. Matthews had a splendid season at outside linebacker in 2007, but was shifted back to defensive end in the spring to take advantage of his height and pass rushing skills. If Matthews, along with Eric Norwood, is able to bring the heat upon opposing QB’s, the USC defense could be primed for a special season. Matthews knows how to play fast, something some of his fellow players on defense need to learn. Once they do, watch out.

The biggest omissions? Norwood will be a critical player on defense, as well, from his outside linebacker position. Emanuel Cook and Darian Stewart are two stalwarts at the strong safety and free positions, respectively. Dion Lecorn needs to have another solid season as USC’s No. 2 wide receiver.

Spurrier was correct when he proclaimed during the Gamecock Club tour that USC had plenty of good players to compete in the SEC.

Now they just need to go out on the field and prove it.

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An Early, Early Look At USC's 2008 Schedule

The 2008 season is clearly the most important of the Steve Spurrier Era since it comes on the heels of a season-ending five-game losing streak in 2007 and a recruiting cycle seen by many as less than stellar. Although there’s still more than two months to go before the first game is played, here’s how I would categorize each of the 12 games on the schedule RIGHT NOW:

DEFINITE WINS: These are the games where, in my opinion, South Carolina will have a significant talent advantage and should come out of the game with a victory:

Vanderbilt (Thu. 9/4): Forget last season’s disaster in Columbia. USC is still the more talented team. The Gamecocks had no business losing that game, and I’m taking the same approach this season. Frankly, I can’t see the entire USC offense playing that poorly again. And not just against the Commodores, but against any team. There’s a reason Spurrier called it the worst performance by an offense that he had been a part of in his long coaching career. Not only do I think USC will win, I think they will do it convincingly.

Wofford (Sat. 9/20): Hopefully, the scare in 2006 means the Gamecocks will take this game a little bit more seriously. The USC defense looked helpless trying to stop the Wofford triple option attack in that game. It’s an offense they probably won’t see again this season, so they need to buckle down and play assignment football, something they didn’t do two years ago. Talent-wise, USC should win this game by three or four touchdowns. But, the option is the great equalizer. Nonetheless, the Gamecocks should win the game.

UAB (Sat. 9/27): The Blazers were awful in Neil Calloway’s first season as head coach by finishing with a 2-10 mark. By all accounts. UAB got worse as the year went along. Yes, all those young players are a year older, but are they better? USC should romp in this one. Even if the Gamecock offense isn’t firing on all cylinders, it should still score at least 28 points, which should be more than enough to win.

PROBABLE WINS: These are the games USC has, in my opinion, a very good chance to win as long as the Gamecocks bring their ‘A” game. Every team listed here is capable of beating USC if it plays poorly.

N.C. State (Thu. 8/28): The Wolfpack will arrive in Columbia for the season opener with huge holes to fill on defense and offensive line, and question marks at quarterback. Some early prognostications say the N.C. Stat will be hard pressed to repeat last season’s 5-7 mark. In short, it sounds like the Wolfpack won’t be a very good football team in Tom O’Brien’s second season as head coach. Should a mediocre (at best) ACC team walk into Williams-Brice Stadium and beat the Gamecocks? No. Shame on USC if they drop this game.

Ole Miss (Sat. 10/4): The reunion with former defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix should be a memorable one. New Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt is a good, if not great, football coach and should have the Rebels moving in the right direction in the always tough SEC West in a couple of years. So, USC may be catching Ole Miss at an opportune time in Nutt’s tenure. If USC shows up ready to play, they should win this one. The Ole Miss stadium is one of the smallest in the league, so USC shouldn’t be intimidated.

Kentucky (Sat. 10/11): Steve Spurrier has never lost to Kentucky as a head coach. USC has won eight in a row and 10 of 12 over the Wildcats. The trend should continue this year. UK’s best chance to finally end the losing streak came last season when it has Andre Woodson at QB. But the USC defense played one of its best games of the season in the Thursday night 38-23 win. Rich Brooks is starting over at some of the skill position spots. USC hung on in Lexington two years ago to pull out a win. This one could be close again, but I expect USC to prevail.

TOSS UP GAMES: These are the games that will determine how successful USC’s season will turn out. If USC wants to finish 6-6 again, just win the six aforementioned games and they’re in business. But if they want to progress and move the program forward, winning two or more of these games is critical:

Georgia (Sat. 9/13): Last year’s 16-12 win by USC in Athens should offer hope to Gamecock fans in this one. It will likely be the same type of game this year: low-scoring, physical, sometimes brutal slugfest. Most of the games between the Gamecocks and Bulldogs have been tight, hard-fought affairs going backto the 1980’s. For some reason, USC seems to enjoy more success historically against Georgia than they do against Florida and Tennessee. UGA will have more talent, but a heroic performance by the USC defense could tip the scales in the Gamecocks’ favor.

LSU (Sat. 10/18): The primary reason USC has a chance to win this game against the defending national champions is the Tigers’ huge void at quarterback following the dismissal of the enigmatic Ryan Perrilloux. LSU enjoyed a substantial talent advantage last season in Baton Rouge, but the gap will be diminished this year. It would have been interesting to see how last year’s game would have turned out if Jasper Brinkley had played the whole game and Emanuel Cook has hung on to that potential Pick-6. This one is at Williams-Brice Stadium. This one could go down to the wire.

Tennessee (Sat. 11/1): USC should be entering this year’s clash with Tennessee riding a three-game winning streak over the Volunteers. But a pair of gift-wrapped touchdowns in 2006 and a complete meltdown by USC in the final two minutes and overtime in last season’s meeting means the Gamecocks have lost two straight. Seven of the last eight meetings between the schools have been decided by eight points or less. Unfortunately, USC has found itself on the wrong end of the score too many times.

Arkansas (Sat. 11/8): Goodbye Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, USC is glad to see you go. Without the best running back combination in the nation, the Razorbacks should return to earth, and a repeat of last season’s debacle in Fayetteville is unlikely. Bobby Petrino is a good football coach (his candor, though, is another issue), but it will take time to implement his passing system into a program that’s familiar with smash mouth football. USC must take advantage and beat the Razorbacks this season.

Clemson (Sat. 11/29): Since Steve Spurrier’s arrival, this rivalry has gotten a lot closer. But getting close doesn’t count unless you win. In the last three years, the games have been decided by four, three and two points. In both losses, USC had plenty of opportunities to win, but couldn’t close the deal. Clemson still has more talent than USC, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. But we thought that way two years ago on the eve of USC’s first trip to the Upstate under Spurrier. This game should be a tight again.

UPHILL BATTLES: This is a game that, in my opinion, USC has less than a 50-50 chance of winning. The reasons could be varied. If the Gamecocks prevail, it will probably be considered a major upset.

Florida (Sat. 11/15): Florida QB Tim Tebow may have won the Heisman Trophy with last season’s brilliant performance in Williams-Brice Stadium. Beating the Gators at the Swamp will be incredibly difficult. This game is, in my opinion, USC”s most difficult road test of the year. And you need binoculars to find the game in second place. The boisterous atmosphere at the Swamp can overwhelm you, and it may have cost USC a victory there in 2006. Can USC win this game? Yes. But it will take a A-plus performance by USC with a less than a perfect outing by the Gators. And, even that might not be good enough. USC has to hope Tebow is off his game. The mental mistakes that occurred in 2006 can’t be repeated.

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Charity Starts At Home, Except In The SEC

The more I look at South Carolina’s 2008 schedule, the more I’m convinced the four home games against SEC opponents will tell the tale of Steve Spurrier’s fourth season as head coach.

Although the start of the season is still 2-1/2 months away, I’m comfortable in predicting that USC will be favored in six of their first seven games of the season.

Other than Georgia, I see no opponent among the first seven that has more talent than the Gamecocks. So, does that mean USC will be 6-1 in those games? No, it just means if USC plays the way they’re capable of and brings their ‘A’ game from the opening kickoff, they shouldn’t lose any of those games.

So, here we go again. USC should be 6-1 with the much-discussed five-game gauntlet remaining.

Last season, the Gamecocks handled the final five games poorly, failing to make plays in the clutch when multiple games were there for the taking.

In my opinion, the entire season will turn on the stretch of three consecutive home games against LSU (10/18), Tennessee (11/1) and Arkansas (11/8).

In order for this upcoming season to be declared successful, I believe USC has to win two of those three games. No, it won’t be easy, but it’s high time the Gamecocks cop an attitude and start defending their home turf.

In 2006, USC went 0-4 at home against SEC opponents, seemingly inventing new ways to fall short each time out. Last year, they were 2-2 in the friendly confines with victories over Kentucky and Mississippi State and losses to Vanderbilt (don’t remind me) and Florida.

Doing the math, that means the Gamecocks are 2-6 against SEC foes at Williams-Brice Stadium in the past two years.

I have two words for that: totally unacceptable.

I don’t care who the opponent is or where they’re ranked in the Top 25 or how many fans an opponent brings with them or how much money the opposing head coach is earning annually. Win the bleeping game.

Will Georgia be the No. 1 team in the country when they come to Williams-Brice Stadium on Sept. 13? As far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t matter.

Win the game anyway.

Refuse to lose.

Great teams (i.e. great programs) don’t care whom they’re squaring off against inside their own stadiums. They defend their home turf with a passion. Winning at home is the foundation of every relevant college football program.

More importantly, great teams take immense PRIDE in defending their home turf.

It’s time for USC to start doing the same.

Will the Gamecocks win every home game this season? Probably not. But anything less than a 5-2 mark won’t cut it in the SEC and shouldn’t cut it with Gamecock Nation unless the fan base is happy playing in the Independence Bowl again.

Unfortunately, USC’s struggles at home against SEC opponents didn’t start in the last two seasons. Since the beginning of the 2002 season, a stretch of six seasons, USC is just 9-15 when they play a SEC team at Williams-Brice Stadium. Here’s the season-by-season breakdown:

2007: 2-2
2006: 0-4
2005: 3-1
2004: 1-3
2003: 2-2
2002: 1-3

Only once (2005) during that span have the Gamecocks won three or more games against conference opponents in a single season. USC has never finished undefeated at home against conference opponents since joining the SEC in 1992.

Even if you take the 3-1 home marks in 2000 and 2001 into consideration, that still means USC is under .500 (15-17) at home in conference clashes over the last eight seasons.

Still not good enough.

That has to change if USC fancies itself as a possible contender in the SEC East race, whether it’s this year or future years.

Make no mistake, USC will not become a serious threat to win the SEC Eastern Division until it begins winning its conference home games on a consistent basis.

From this point forward, years like 2006 are completely out of the question.

The 2008 edition of the Gamecocks have an excellent opportunity to alter the disturbing recent history of USC losing far too many SEC home games.

Charity may start at home, but not in the SEC.

Success in the conference demands USC learn that valuable lesson.

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Two Ways To Improve College Football

Do you want to see the NCAA take steps to make college football a better sport? Good, so do I.

Well, here’s two things it needs to do as soon as possible: 1) Give players five years of eligibility; 2) Establish an early signing period.

The more I look into it, the more the five-year rule makes sense.

First, with some teams now playing as many as 14 games per season, it would reduce attrition caused by injuries throughout the long campaign.

Thank about it. Let’s say a school like South Carolina signs 25 recruits per year. Since most head coaches seek to redshirt a large percentage of the first-year players, that typically leaves about 60 to 70 of the 85 scholarship players available for active duty during the season.

In my opinion, that’s not enough.

The five-year rule would eliminate redshirting and make all 85 scholarship players available to play each season. Coaches wouldn’t have to be concerned with “burning” a year of a player’s eligibility for the sake of a few plays here and there.

That’s a good thing.

It would also eliminate some of the bureaucracy surrounding the NCAA’s mammoth organization. No longer would schools have to file for medical hardships or other types of appeals in order to obtain an additional year of eligibility when circumstances warrant.

It would avoid the “Jamon Meredith” scenario in which a player steps onto the field for a few plays, then has to file an emergency petition years later to get that year back.

Now, USC is faced with a situation where one of its top offensive linemen has to sit out the first two games of the season? Who’s the winner in that situation? No one.

Everything would be cut and dried – once the player steps on campus, the five-year clock would start.

The major advocate of the five-year rule is Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe, who’s currently a member of the NCAA’s Football Enhancement working group.

I hope Mr. Beebe uses the bully pulpit of his position to convince others of the sensibility of the five-tear rule.

One of the major arguments I’ve heard against giving players five years of eligibility is that it would lead to more scholarships being revoked by coaches before the end of the five-year term.

In other words, critics of the five-year rule fear it would lead to more instances of coaches running off players. Well, guess what? That happens already.

If anything, the number of cases of players being run off would increase only marginally, since no Division I head coach wants a reputation on the recruiting trail as someone who gets rid of players on a whim.

Hence, coaches would essentially police themselves.

While the early signing period appears to be a bit more controversial, it’s no less necessary.

The proposal that the SEC coaches recently approved by a 9-3 vote at the league’s summer meetings provided for a 24-hour period prior to Dec. 1 for players to sign a binding letter of intent.

However, the proposal had a fatal flaw as far as the SEC’s Presidents and Athletic Directors were concerned. It would have permitted players who had not taken official visits to sign early.

There was also some concern that the Dec. 1 date would have resulted in coaches focusing less attention on their current teams and more on recruiting during the September-December playing season.

That’s easily fixed. Make August 1 the early signing date and allow juniors to take official visits during the summer prior to their senior years.

In my opinion, an early signing period is needed in major college football. Players are verbally committing to schools earlier and earlier. Coaches waste valuable energy every year just trying to hold onto players that had verbally committed to their teams months before.

Unfortunately, since both the five-year rule and the early signing period make too much sense, the chances of either rule being passed are slim.

The NCAA rarely considers the best interests of student athletes when it passes new legislation and I don’t think that’s going to change anytime soon.

Hopefully, though, it will.

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Good Riddance To 2007-2008

When the final out was recorded in South Carolina’s 2-1 loss to N.C. State on Sunday night, the 2007-2008 athletic year finally came to an end for the Gamecock athletic department.

Thank God.

By any standard of measure, the last seven months have been largely unfulfilling for USC fans. I know, because I attended many of the games.

There have been a few flashes of success, for sure. But, there have been simply too many losses. Far too many losses.

And not just losses, mind you. Close losses. You know, the excruciating kind that kick you in the gut and break your heart, then smirk and laugh and refuse to apologize.

It all began, of course, with the Vanderbilt debacle last October 20 at Williams-Brice Stadium, and continued through the next month or so with the overtime loss at Tennessee and the last second field goal by Clemson.

Looking back, it’s quite reasonable to argue USC should have won all three games. But that’s something you’ve heard from me before.

The gut-wrenching defeats continued during basketball season when USC inexplicably lost to Mississippi State and Vanderbilt, two of the most painful endings I’ve witnessed in recent years.

The phrase “snatching defeat from the jaws of victory” certainly applied to those losses.

Finally, we saw a pair of one-run setbacks to N.C. State in the just completed NCAA Baseball Regional.

Even some of the so-called “Olympic sports” like softball and men’s golf were afflicted as well.

Too many losses that should have been victories.

I got the impression that when “win time” arrived, USC often failed to deliver, as well as the sense the five straight losses by the football team to close out the season set the tone for the balance of the athletic calendar.

After the last nine months, I’m convinced more than ever that the entire South Carolina athletic department – administrators, coaches and athletes – is still learning how to win in the SEC.

As I’ve said before, you need more than just physical talent to win in this conference. You also need the proper mental approach, a belief and an expectation that you will win every time you take the field of battle.

In short, it takes a killer instinct, one that few USC athletic teams have demonstrated in the past. Once they get it, and hold onto it, the Gamecocks will experience more success.

I thought Ray Tanner said something profound following Sunday night’s loss to the Wolfpack. Asked to evaluate the season, here’s what he said in part:

There were too many close games in there. . .We gave up some leads and we weren’t able to battle back in some close games. That’s one of the things I’m most disappointed about. We didn’t battle back well enough. We didn’t win many games coming from behind.

Essentially, he’s saying USC lacked a killer instinct in some situations when the outcome of the game was on the line. They blew huge leads late against Arkansas and LSU, and smaller leads in several other games, and it ended up costing them dearly.

So, what can USC do to make sure there’s no repeat of what we saw in 2007-2008?

Right now, I’m not sure what USC can do except recruit better, more confident players. Players who are willing to take the bull by the horns. Players who are willing to lay it on the line when the games start.

Cory Boyd was a leader. But a football team needs more than one guy.

I’ve said for years that one of the Gamecock football team’s major deficiencies has been a lack of overall senior leadership. Leaders typically are the most productive players. It’s tough being a leader when your butt is on the bench.

USC also needs great vocal leaders to emerge. The baseball team had that problem this past season. Justin Smoak, Reese Havens and James Darnell were all great players, but they weren’t vocal enough.

That’s not me speaking, but Ray Tanner, who wished out loud one day a couple of weeks ago for someone like former Gamecock Trey Dyson to come along.

For the sake of Gamecock Nation, I sincerely hope the 2008-2009 athletic year is a lot more successful than the one we just went through.

Really, it’s not an option.

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Raleigh Regional - Day 3 (USC-N.C. State Updates)

10:12 - Wingo is last hope. 0-2. 5-3 groundout. NCS wins the Regional. 2-1 Final. USC had just 3 hits, 2 in the final 8 innings. USC finishes 40-23. Not what they expected.

10:10 - Lail, Enders, Wingo due here in the B9. They'll try to get it to Havens at the top of the order. Lail K's for the first out. No question he's had a disappointing season at the plate. There's a P-4 by Enders. 2 outs.

10:05 - NCS down 1-2-3 in the T9. Farotto retired all 6 batters he faced. A great job by him. We go to the B9 with USC trailing, 2-1. They need to score or the 2008 season will come to an end.

10:00 - USC down 1-2-3 in the B8, two by K. WE GO TO THE NINTH WITH USC TRAILING 2-1. USC has just 3 hits.

9:55 - We have a pitching change for NCS in the B* with 2 outs and nobody on. New pitcher is Alex Sogard, a LHP. He's a transfer from Oregon State.

9:50 - Farotto does the job in the T8 by retiring NCS in order. We go to the B8 with NCS leading 2-1. Darnell, Disher, Mack due.

9:45 - Smoak F-8 for the 3rd out. USC doesn't score in the B7, so we go to the T8 with USC trailing, 2-1. Alex Farotto is the new pitcher for USC.

9:40 - We're still in the B7. USC has runners at the corners for Smoak. Not surprisingly, the NCS pitching coach is out to the mound for a chat with the pitcher Drew Taylor.

9:30 - We have a pitching change for NCS here in the B7. Enders on 2B, 1 out. Havens up.

9:20 - NCS has taken a 2-1 lead in the T7 with an infield single to SS with the bases loaded off Bangs. U-5 force at 3B for the final out. We go to the B7 with NCS leading 2-1. Enders, Wingo, Havens due.

9:15 - We have a pitching change for USC here in the T7 with 2 outs, 2 on. Parker Bangs is the new pitcher. He's 3-3 with a 4.67 ERA in 27.0 IP with 34 strikeouts and 14 BB.

9:05 - Nice play by the NCS SS to end the B6. Crisp was thrown out. We go to the T7 with the score tied at 1-1. The two teams have combined for just 5 hits. NCS has three and USC two. One oof those USC hits was a solo HR by Havens in the B1. That's accounted for USC's only run. Lail playing RF for USC.

9:00 - NCS is held scoreless in the T6 despite getting 2 baserunenrs on. But a 6-4 FC ended the inning. Bangs is back up in the bullpen. We'll see if Atwood comes out for the 7th. Right now, we're going to the B6 with the score tied at 1-1. Great game so far.

8:55 - Parker Bangs is warming up in the USC bullpen as we start the T6.

8:50 - USC down 1-2-3 in the B5. 6 of the last 7 USC hitters have been retired. We go to the T6 with the score tied at 1-1. It's over in Athens. UGA has blanked Ga. tech, 8-0. Those two rivals will play Mon. for the right to advance to the Super Regional. That's the regional that's matched up with this one, so USC fans should pay close attention to the happenings there provided USC can win this game here.

8:45 - Sam Brown is pitching for NC State as we resume action. He replaces Surkamp. Time of the delay was 1:19.

8:40 - NC State has takent he field. We're about to resume. The score is tied at 1-1 in the B5. Merrifield at the plate. It looks like UGA is about the beat GT and force a winner-take-all game on Monday in Athens.

8:35 - When play resumes, here's the situation: we're in the bottom of the fifth inning. Whit Merrifield, the first batter of the inning, is at the plate with a 2-1 count. We've had not been told of an official resumptiontime. It looks like it will happen in the next 5-10 ninutes. It's probably up to the pitchers right now.

8:30 - Both teams continue to warm up here to resume the game. The fans are filing back into the ballpark. I've been checking the results of games involving SEC teams and it appears 4 of the 9 conference teams that started the NCAA Tournament are still alive. Florida and Arkansas were eliminated Saturday. Ole Miss, Alabama and Vanderbilt have been eliminated Sunday, Vandy lost a tough 11-10 game to Oklahoma on 2 runs in the B9. The four teams left right now are USC, Kentucky (playing Arizona), Georgia (playing Ga. Tech) and LSU (playing So. Miss). The SEC's NCAA Tourney record is currently 11-13 with four games ongoing right now.

8:25 - Will Atwood is warming up in the bullpen under the watchful eye of pitching coach Mark Calvi. It looks he will try to come back following the delay. I can't see the NCS bullpen, so I don't know if the Wolfpack starter is down there.

8:20 - The tarp is being taken off the field now. We're told that the game should resume in about 20 minutes after a warm-up period. The USC players are headed to the outfield to start throwing.

8:00 - It's raining here in Raleigh and the tarp is still on the field. It looks like it will be another 30-60 minutes at least before we resume play. The biggest question is what will happen to the pitchers when play resumes. I see Tanner and the N.C. Coach meeting with the NCAA Regional Director down on the field. I see about 10-12 USC players in the dugout.

7:25 - WE HAVE A LIGHTNING/SEVER WEATHER DELAY HERE IN RALEIGH. THE TARP IS BEING PUT ON THE FIELD. THIS LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BE A LENGTHY DELAY.

7:20 - NCS has tied the score at 1-1 with a solo HR in the T5 by Synan. The two batters got on with a single and walk but Atwood worked out of trouble. We go to the B5 with the score tied at 1-1. Merrifield, Smoak, Darnell due.

7:10 - USC down in the B4 without much going on. Wingo reached on a two-out HBP but that was all. Except for Havens' HR in the B1, not much has happened offensively for either team. We have a full-fledged pitchers' duel going on right on. Atwood has set down 12 of 13.

7:05 - Another great defensive play by USC in the T4. Merrifield chased down a deep fly in the LCF gap off the bat of Matt Payne. A walk ended Atwood's streak at 10 batters but that's all NCS got. We go to the B4 with USC leading, 1-0. USC is playing very well tonight. They look sharp and focused.

6:55 - USC left a pair of runners on base after 2 HBP with 2 outs in the B3. That's 5 LOB for USC through 3 Inn. We go to the T4 with USC leading, 1-0. Atwood is perfect through 3 Inn. We'll see how long it lasts.

6:45 - Havens is doing with his glove too. He made a sensational play in the hole for the first out in the T3. That might be the top defensive play of the year for the Gamecocks. He scooped up the ball and flipped it across the diamond for the out. Unbelievable play. K ends it. 9 up, 9 down for Atwood. We go to the B3 with USC leading, 1-0.

6:35 - Enders picks up a 1-out single in the B2 but that's it for USC. Havens flied deep to CF for the final out. He almost had his third HR in three trips to the plate.

6:25 - Atwood looks impressive again in the T2. He sets down the Wolfpack in order for the second straight inning. 6 up, 6 down so far. We go to the B2 with USC leading 1-0.

6:15 - Reese Havens does it again! He leads off the B1 with a HR down the RF line. USC leads 1-0. Havens is 4-for-11 in the regional with 2 HR and 4 RBI. Smoak grounded out and he's 7-for-12. Darnell and Disher walked with 2 outs, sending up Mack. He fanned. We go to the T2 with USC leading 1-0. The Gamecocks are 24-8 when they score in the 1st inning and 30-10 when they score first.

6:05 - Very good start for Atwood. The junior LHP retired all 3 NCS batters ro come to the plate. We're scoreless as we go to the B2. Another LHP, Eric Surkamp takes the hill for the Wolfpack.

6:00 - We're about ready to go here inthe second game of the day for USC. Again, this is a must-win situation for the Gamecocks. USC is the home team.

5:45 - Here is USC's starting linup with current stats. Atwood will be the starting pitcher.

Havens - 6 (.361-17 HR-56 RBI)
Merrifield - 8 (.330-3-26)
Smoak - 3 (.390-23-72)
Darnell - 5 (.308-19-81)
Disher - DH (.299-19-57)
Mack - 7 (.294-7-21)
Crisp - 9 (.301-2-23)
Enders - 2 (.255-5-25)
Wingo - 4 (.234-6-17)

Atwood - P (5-3, 5.47 ERA, 75.2 IP, 77 hits, 50 runs, 61 K, 31 BB,.272 OBA)

Eric Surkamp (5-2, 4.39 ERA in 69.2 IP) is the starting pitcher for USC.

5:40 - We're back in the press box following a short break between games. USC will face N.C. State starting at 6 p.m. USC is wearing its all-white uniforms with the white caps and garnet brim. We're still awaiting the starting lineups. We're told Will Atwood will start for USC, but I don't see anybody warming up in the bullpen yet.

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3:45 - Wingo opened the B9 with a single for his second hit of the afternoon. Havens up. He has 2 BB and a Sac. today. 3-2. THERE IT GOES!! ANOTHER WALK-OFF HOMER FOR HAVENS!!! USC WINS 7-5!! USC WILL PLAY N.C. STATE AT 6 P.M.

3:40 - P-6 ends the T9. We're tied at 5-5. USC will try to winit here. Wingo, Havens, Merrifield up.

3:35 - Bloop single to RF. 2 outs. Two runners on against Cisco. There's a ball into the gap! One run scores. Here comes the other runner. He's safe. We have a tie ball game. Ouch. It's 5-5. USC was one strike away from wrapping up the victory, but they'll need to hang on here.

3:30 - One out in the T9. There's a single. Here comes Tanner. That's it for Cooper. Craig Thomas is coming in. JMU goes to a PH. Strike three!!! 2 outs. Here comes Tanner again. Mike Cisco is coming in from the bullpen. He'll try to record his third career save right here.

3:25 - USC down in order in the B8. The good news, though, is Lail has returned to active duty, He replaced Crisp in the 7th. He grounded to 2B. WE GO TO THE NINTH WITH USC LEADING 5-3.

3:20 - Cooper sets a new career high in K's with his 9th of the game in the T8 and sets down JMU in order. He;s given up just 6 hits through 8 Inn. We go to the B8 with USC leading, 5-3. Another insurance run or two would be nice here.

3:15 - USC adds a run in the B7 ona RBI single by Merrifield but they could havehad more but Disher lined into a double play. The JMU 3B snagged the liner and beat Merrifield back to the bag to complete the twin-killing. We go to the T8 with USC leading, 5-3.

3:00 - Cooper just whipped through a quick 1-2-3 T7 on a K and two groundouts. We go to the B7 with USC leading, 4-3. There has been no scoring in this game since the T4. It's moving along fairly quickly, which is something I would not have predicted before the game.

2:55 - Crisp and Enders are quickly retired to end the B6 and two runners on base. It's still a tight 4-3 game as we go to the T7. Cooper still pitching for USC. Cisco is up in the bullpen.

2:50 - We have a pitching change for JMU in the B6 with 2 runners aboard for USC. Mack just singled to left for his 6th hit of the Regional. Crisp up.

2:40 - A well-executed 1-6-3 DP ends the T6 for JMU. It's still a tight game here in Raleigh. Cooper recorded another K to give him 7 for the game. He's' pitched well today except for that three-batter sequence in the T4. Darnell leads off for USC as we go to the B6 with USC leading, 4-3.

2:35 - USC is set down in order again in the B5. JMU's starter has set down 8 in a row. He retired Smoak on a P-6 for the final out. This was is close as we head to the T6. USC leads 4-3.

2:25 - Leadoff 2B by JMU doesn't amount to anything as we go to the B5 with USC still leading, 4-3. The runner was thrown out 6-5 on a grounder to Havens. Cooper picked up his 6th K of the game. Havens leads off for USC.

2:15 - USC down in order in the B4 on 2K's and a F-7. We go to the T5 with USC leading, 4-3. I'm sure this contest is closer than a lot of people imagined before the game.

2:10 - Well, Cooper was cruising along. But an error by Havens and than three straight 2-out hits by JMU scored three runs. It's 4-3 as we go to the B4. Both teams have 4 hits through 3.5 innings. Cooper has 5 K's.

2:05 - Ole Miss is trailing Missouri 4-3 in the B5, while Alabama trails ECU, 6-0, in the T3. Both SEC schools are trying to stay alive in the NCAA Tourney.

2:00 - Smoak's solo HR is all the scoring for USC in the B3. We head to the T4 with USC leading, 4-0. Cooper has been cruising along.

1:50 - Another bomb by Smoak!! It's 4-0 USC in the B3. Smoak set a new season high in HR with 23. It was also his 246nd career hit, giving him sole possession of 7th place on USC's all-time hits list. The 23 HR matches Joe Datin for the second highest single season total behind the 29 HR by Yaron Peters in 2002.

1:45 - Another 1-2-3 inning for Cooper in the T3. The ball didn't leave the infield. He's set down 9 of the first 10 JMU batters. We go to the B3 with USC leading, 3-0.

1:40 - USC expands its lead to 3-0 in the B2 on the third SF of the year by Wingo. It scored Crisp, who had reached on a FC grounder and advanced to third on a single by Enders, who is making his first start of the NCAA Tourney at catcher. We go to the T3 with USC leading, 3-0.

1:30 - 2 K's for Cooper in the T2 and a groundout. Good, quick inning for him. We go to the B2 with USC ahead, 2-0.

:25 - Justin Smoak hit a bomb to LF for a 2-run HR in the B1 to give USC a 2-0 lead. The inning ended on a 5-4-3 DP by Disher. The HR was the 61st of Smoak's career. He's now tied for 5th place on the all-time SEC list with Will Clatk and Andy Phillips.

1:10 - Cooper gave up a 2-out single in the T1, but that's all for JMU. 2 flyouts and a comebacker. We go to the B1 with the score 0-0. Havens, Merrifield, Smoak due.

1:00 - We're almost ready for baseball here at Doak Field in Raleigh. Blake Cooper is going through his final warm-ups. There's the throw down to second. We're almost underway. There's the first pitch.

12:30 - USC comes into today's game coming off a 5-4 loss to N.C. State Sat. night. JMU won a slugfest with Charlotte, 13-12. Here is USC's starting lineup with current stats:

Havens - 6 (.360-16 HR-54 RBI)
Merrifield - 8 (.332-3-25)
Smoak - 3 (.386-21-69)
Darnell - 5 (.307-19-81)
Disher - DH (.304-19-57)
Mack - 7 (.293-7-21)
Crisp - 9 (.306-2-23)
Enders - 2 (.255-5-25)
Wingo - 4 (.223-6-16)

Cooper - P (5-6, 4.22 ERA, 85.1 IP, 94 hits, 47 runs, 50 K, 23 BB, .282 OBA)

Kyle Enders makes his first start of the NCAA Tourney. James Madison's starting pitcher (Alex Valadja) is 0-0 with a 13.78 ERA in 16.1 IP. He's allowed 30 hits with 12 K and 12 BB. His OBA is .405. He's started 4 games.

12:05 - We're back at Doak Field in Raleigh for today's elimination game between USC and James Madison. First pitch at 1 p.m. Blake Cooper will be the starting pitcher for the Gamecocks. Right now, I'm not sure who is going to pitch for JMU. I keep hearing JMU has "run out of pitching," so we'll see. USC will be the home team for the game today. In fact, if USC wins today, they'll be the home team tonight against N.C. State, since the Wolfpack were the home team last night. There are a bunch of elimination games early Sunday afternoon. Besides USC-JMU, here they are:

Missouri-Ole Miss (Coral Gables)
Michigan-Kentucky (Ann Arbor)
Lipscomb-Georgia (Athens)
Cal-State Fullerton-Virginia (Fullerton)
USC-Davis-Stanford (Stanford)
Oklahoma State-TCU (Stillwater)
Bucknell-Florida State (Tallahassee)
UNC-Wilmington-Elon (Cary)
Alabama-East Carolina (Conway)
Nebraska-Oral Roberts (Lincoln)
So. Miss-New Orleans (Baton Rouge)
St. John's-Texas (Houston)
Houston-Ill. Chicago (College Station)
San Diego-Long Beach State (Long Beach)
Oklahoma-Vanderbilt (Tempe)

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