The Daily Gamecock

Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: Sports

For the South Carolina Gamecocks, last year's victory over the Kentucky Wildcats stands out because it was the team's last SEC victory for a full year. But for junior defensive end/linebacker Eric Norwood, different memories are rekindled when the Wildcats are mentioned. It was during that Kentucky game that Norwood caught fire and did what only three other Division I-A players have ever done: return two fumble recoveries for touchdowns. In addition to the fumble returns, which came from two and 53 yards out, Norwood also recorded five tackles and two pass deflections. After the nationally televised Thursday night game, he spoke with ESPN reporter Erin Andrews.

"We just got after them. I told you we were going to get back there and get him," Norwood told Andrews. "Tell the SEC to get ready for us, because we're coming strong."

Looking back on the game a year later, Norwood says that the two touchdowns were more of a "right place at the right time" deal. Although it earned him SEC Defensive Player of the Week and the Master Coaches National Defensive Player of the Week, he does not consider it his career best. He now has other goals in mind that differ from recovering fumbles.

"I feel like it was an average game because anybody could have picked up those fumbles and ran them back. It's not like I hit the quarterback and took the ball." Norwood said.

Although many things have changed since the win last year, the Gamecocks are still flying under the radar of the SEC teams, sitting in fourth place with a mediocre conference record of 1-2. But with a win against Kentucky, USC will have won two consecutive conference games, both on the road.

"It's a must-win game, no doubt. But so are the rest of them," Norwood said after Monday night's practice. "We just have to go out there and execute."

Currently in his junior year, the versatile 6-foot-1, 267 pounder has been rather quiet in comparison to his first two years. Last season, his 19.5 tackles for loss set a team record and were good for seventh in the nation. This year, at the season halfway mark, Norwood has four tackles for loss - not even on pace for half of last year's total. Also, Norwood's 2.0 sacks on the year, which tie him for the team lead with senior cornerback Captain Munnerlyn, fall behind the pace of his 6.0 sacks last year and 7.0 sacks in 2006. The reason for Norwood's statistical mediocrity is unknown, but with an important game on Saturday against a team that he has already gashed, a breakout game is foreshadowed.

Continued...

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