 "Photo: Sam Bennett/The Daily Gamecock")
It's at that point in the college football season where only the strongest survive, and the weak are left out in the cold, wondering what could have been. Over the last two seasons, South Carolina faithful have watched their team struggle down the stretch - as the '07 and '08 campaigns have combined for eight consecutive losses to end the season.
Since 2005, USC coach Steve Spurrier and his Gamecocks are just 4-12 in games played after Nov. 1. Each year has its own set of promising victories, creating a new, hopeful outlook for the remainder of the season. But following Carolina’s almost yearly slide, the same bitter feeling remains in the stomachs of the fans, players and coaches who thought each year might end up being different.
But in 2009, there’s been a different vibe in Columbia that has the team looking like the wheels are in motion. Times are changing in South Carolina. With a stellar freshman class, another solid defensive unit and finally a consistent starting quarterback, things were looking up as the Gamecocks had a 6-2 record with a No. 21 national ranking following a much overdue victory over Vanderbilt.
But Carolina then traveled to Knoxville on Halloween weekend and suffered a 31-13 defeat to the Vols that felt eerily similar to the disappointments of the last four years. With three challenging games remaining, its gut-check time for Spurrier’s Gamecocks. Will USC end the season respectably by playing up to its full potential, or will it be yet another long, painful offseason in Columbia?
Senior wide receiver Moe Brown has experienced plenty of disappointment during his four years at Carolina. But unlike previous years, Brown believes that one key element is present that is needed to emerge victorious: chemistry. What’s missing? Execution.
“In the past its been chemistry problems and some players not buying into the system. That’s definitely not a problem this season. We’re all on the same page, having fun and enjoying playing football,” Brown said. “It’s the execution part … It’s not a problem with the chemistry part, it’s a problem with the execution.”
Coming off a brutal loss and heading into a road game against an SEC competitor in the Arkansas Razorbacks, Carolina will have its back up against the wall from here on out.
Simply executing will be easier said than done. If anyone knows that, it’s the captain and leader of the offense, who certainly has not underestimated the importance of the upcoming contest.
“In the past, its right around this time that our season starts going down hill. So we definitely have a test this week and we have to come ready to play … We need to keep moving forward,” Brown said. “To continue to do what we’re trying to accomplish this year, this is a must-win game for us. We have to bounce back and show our resiliency to not let one game determine our season.”
Despite speculation, one thing that didn’t contribute to Carolina’s Halloween weekend was a lack of intensity or emotion. It’s been evident in past Carolina teams, but hasn’t been and doesn’t look to be a factor in 2009.
“Each timeout, even when we were down 21 points, guys were still screaming, ‘let’s go, we’re not out of this, keep on fighting.’ I don’t know how outsiders looking in really get that [there was a lack of emotion] but I didn’t get that feel from my teammates at all,” Brown said.
Despite the hiccup suffered a week ago, the Gamecocks aren’t letting outsiders sway the team on how its season will end.
“Here we go again, also with six wins and three losses right now,” Spurrier said. “So we’re not as bad off as some of [the media] want to attempt to make us feel. We don’t feel bad. We’ve got a bunch of young guys playing, and we’re 6-3 and it could be worse.”
Redshirt freshman Tori Gurley also feels positive about the Gamecocks’ current position.
Much like Spurrier, he’s attempting to get the troops to stick together as the team closes on the final streth.
“We are just using [the Tennessee loss] as motivation for finishing strong. The coaches have really been hard on us, just telling us to stay focused,” Gurley said. “Don’t let any outsiders contribute to what is going on. Let us stick together and let us jell as a team so we can finish up strong, and let the rest of it takes care of itself.”
“Physically we are a little tired and we are trying to get through the season,” Gurley said. “But we just have to dig deep and be ready for these next games and hopefully go out and win.”
Defensive Coordinator Lorenzo Ward isn’t as much concerned with outsiders’ perspectives, but more with the lack of basic football fundamentals that he’s been seeing in the defense’s performance. If that doesn’t change, the rest of the season may not be kind to the Gamecocks.
“We’re not doing our part. We’re missing too many open field tackles. That’s causing big plays and that’s what killed us in the game on Saturday and will continue to kill us until we change that,” Ward said. “It’s getting in the proper alignment, taking the proper angle and wrapping guys up instead of trying to run through the legs or make shoulder tackles.”
One thing the Gamecocks must do to finish the season strong is shake off the demoralizing defeat suffered last weekend to head into Arkansas with a clear conscious.
Indeed, plenty of obstacles lie in the way of Carolina’s arduous task – playing well against Arkansas, Florida and Clemson to finish the season the way players mean for it to be finished. But the players seem prepared for that stretch, and don’t plan on the collapses of seasons past affecting the team this time around.
“It’s a very different mentality,” cornerback Akeem Auguste said. “I don’t know, I guess it’s really two different situations.”
