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You almost have to feel sorry for the USC football players after listening to their head coach, Lou Holtz, talk about preparing them for the upcoming season:
"I've been tougher and more demanding this year than I ever have been," he said, "and that's a long time."
Thirty years, to be exact, and in every one of those years, Holtz has been an intense, and at times, intimidating presence on the sidelines.
It's hard to imagine Holtz being any more fiery than he has before. After all, this is the same man who put a referee in a headlock during a game while coaching at Notre Dame.
But don't cry for the Gamecocks — Holtz is hard on them because he believes in their ability to win an SEC Championship.
"I will not undersell this football team," Holtz said. "I think we can win the (SEC) Championship."
USC is coming off two of its best seasons ever. After finishing with an 8-4 record in 2000, the Gamecocks finished last season 9-3 and beat Ohio State in the Outback Bowl for the second-straight year. In the final polls, the Gamecocks were ranked No. 13 in the country.
With the tremendous turnaround the team has had since its depressing 0-11 season in 1999, there is reason to believe that the Gamecocks can take the next step and win their first conference title.
"Our fans think we're going to win the championship," Holtz said. "They should feel that way. It's exciting."
For all his optimism, however, Holtz issues a warning: "There are some reasons to be excited, but there are also some question marks."
The Gamecocks lost 13 starters from last year's team, including quarterback Phil Petty, whose leadership and dependability steadied an offense that was the worst in the nation three years ago. Other talented starters gone are running back Derek Watson, go-to wide receiver Brian Scott, center Larrell Johnson, tackle Melvin Paige, linebacker Kalimba Edwards, defensive end John Stamper and defensive backs Sheldon Brown, Andre Goodman and Willie Offord.
Watson was dismissed from the team in the spring after being arrested on a drug charge. Edwards, Stamper and the defensive backs were all taken in the NFL Draft.
"Who do we have coming back?" Holtz asked at the SEC Media Days in Hoover, Alabama. "No real receiver. We lost our center, lost our tackle, lost our quarterback, lost our linebackers, lost our secondary. This is realism. But I love the attitude and the work habits, and this football team is going to make the people in the state of South Carolina very proud."
Corey Jenkins, a 25-year-old senior, will take over for Petty, and, given the nature of the position, has the most attention going into the season. But Holtz says he's excited to see what Jenkins will bring to the team.
"I'm anxious to see Corey Jenkins," he said. "He's an unknown, but, based on what I have seen, I'm anxious to see him."
Jenkins, a Columbia native, came to Carolina last season after playing two years at Garden City Community College in Kansas. For four years prior to that, he played minor league baseball.
He saw a good share of snaps last season as a change of pace from Petty and rushed for 313 yards and 3 touchdowns. His last touchdown of the season was the game-winning score against Clemson.
Until Jenkins gets settled, look for a lot of the offense to flow through power running back Andrew Pinnock, who should get more carries with Watson out of the way.
Pinnock, a senior who has been compared by many to the Pittsburgh Steelers' Jerome Bettis, bruised his way to 622 rushing yards last season and 12 touchdowns.
"Andrew Pinnock is as good a back as you'll find," Holtz said.
Senior Rashad Faison will try to compensate for all of the defense's departures from his spur position, a hybrid of linebacker and strong safety. He's only 5-foot-9, but he makes up for his lack of size with his hard-hitting, aggressive style of play. Linebacker Jermaine Lemon and linemen Langston Moore and Dennis Quinn will also be expected to lead as seniors.
"This is the fastest defense I have ever been associated with, top to bottom," Holtz said. "The big thing is going to be depth."
Even with the question marks, the Gamecocks are ranked No. 22 in both preseason polls, a testament to the team's recent success. But Holtz is quick to point out that doesn't mean anything now.
"Like I tell the players, I believe they are going to vote again," Holtz joked.
"We've been in (the polls) for most of the past two years, and it's a compliment. It's not an evaluation of your program; it's just one poll. The question is - 'are you satisfied with where you are?' I don't believe the team is, and I know I'm not."
USC kicks off its season Aug. 31, at home against New Mexico State. The team has 12 games on the schedule this season, half of which will be played at Williams-Brice Stadium.
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