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As reporters, my colleagues and I love nothing more than a good story. It doesn't matter if it's good or bad, scandalous or inspirational. A good story is a good story. Needless to say, reporters all over the country are drooling over what will be SEC football in 2005.
The buzz in Columbia is louder than ever before. With the return of coaching legend Steve Spurrier to the college game to coach USC, almost every weekend will provide a great story.
Week one is no exception as a national television audience will watch the ol' ball coach and Carolina play host to Notre Dame reject George O'Leary and the Central Florida Knights. All eyes will be on Columbia to see if Spurrier's cock 'n' fire offense is indeed firing on all cylinders.
Week two provides even more drama as Spurrier and the boys travel to Athens to take on the Georgia. In his only game as coach for Florida in Sanford Stadium, the fun 'n' gun offense embarrassed the home team to the tune of 54-17.
Mike Shula and his crew from Tuscaloosa, Ala., will invade Columbia in week three, as the son of a coaching legend will meet a living legend. Both coaches recruited well and both teams have high expectations for the season.
After a week off from the national spotlight, the Gamecocks will go down to the plains of Auburn, Ala., for a showdown with Tommy Tubberville's Tigers, who coincidently went 13-0 in 2004. The last time Spurrier was in Auburn, the Tigers defeated the then third-ranked Gators, possibly costing them a shot at the 2001 national championship.
After home contests with Vanderbilt and Kentucky, teams Spurrier never lost to at Florida, Carolina will travel to face its toughest test of the season, the Tennessee Volunteers. Besides his famous quote of "You can't spell Citrus without UT," there is definitely no love lost between the ol' ball coach and UT head man Phillip Fulmer. In addition, the game could set a record for most players facing criminal charges on one field in the history of college football.
On Nov. 12, again all eyes will turn to Columbia. ESPN GameDay, no need to look for any other games. Sportscenter, go ahead and mark this one on your calendar. For the first time in his life, Spurrier will be the coach on the opposite side of the field from his beloved Florida Gators. And if that wasn't enough of a story, you can throw in Urban Meyer, Florida's new coach who Gator fans are calling the "next Steve Spurrier." Add Chris Leak, who could be a Heisman candidate, and you've got a media juggernaut of a college football game.
Finally, the one USC fans have been waiting for since Nov. 20, 2004 - Clemson will travel to Columbia to wrap up the regular season. It's the same Clemson team that cost them a trip to a bowl game last season. It's the same Clemson team led by a Bowden, archrival of Spurrier.
Whew. I'm getting worked up just thinking about it. Whether it's good or bad for the folks wearing garnet and black, you can't say it won't be interesting. I can see the writers licking their chops as we speak.
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