South Carolina’s recruiting class is bleeding. A 7-6 season had recruits worried, but a comment by head coach Steve Spurrier saying that he planned to be around for “two or three more [years]” sent recruits into a state of panic.
But despite all the shortcomings this season may have provided, the future is still very bright for Carolina, and it’s highlighted at the skill positions.
Three Clemson freshmen may have shown the Gamecock defense a glimpse of the next three years in the Tigers’ 35-17 beatdown over South Carolina.
They were the greatest five years in South Carolina football history. The 2009-2013 seasons encapsulated three-consecutive 11-win seasons, the longest streak of home victories in program history and the careers of Marcus Lattimore, Connor Shaw and Jadeveon Clowney, to name a few.
It took three quarters of the season, but the Gamecocks have finally seen some consistency from their defense.
1. Do you think Deshaun Watson plays Saturday against the Gamecocks? If not, how does the offense change with Cole Stoudt at quarterback?
If you asked any South Carolina football player, he'd almost certainly downplay the trip to No. 22 Clemson that the Gamecocks will make Saturday.
Auburn at Alabama The 2014 edition of the Iron Bowl was supposed to be a play-in game for the SEC championship. Alabama is still up at No. 1 in the country, but Auburn kind of blew it for all of us by losing back-to-back games against Texas A&M and Georgia.
2009: The Beginning Prior to this meeting, the 2000s had not been kind to the Gamecocks. South Carolina had lost seven of nine games in the century heading into the 2009 meeting.
In Clay Travis’ November 16th column on Fox’s Outkick The Coverage, he wrote about the injuries of Todd Gurley and Marcus Lattimore, and how it was “immoral” that the NFL’s age restrictions preventing them from going pro early.
Even with a 14-point lead, there is a reason South Carolina fans found themselves clutching to the nearest possible object in the second half against South Alabama.
South Carolina achieved bowl eligibility in sloppy fashion Saturday with a 37-12 victory over South Alabama in a contest that featured ten turnovers.
College football is very different from the NFL in a number of categories, but the most significant is probably player turnover. Every four years, give or take, athletes exhaust their eligibility and/or take off for the professional ranks, putting an end to their relatively short time in college football.
With some help from its special teams, the South Carolina defense played its most complete game of the season last week against Florida.
South Carolina has the second-most passing yards in the SEC and its quarterback leads the conference in individual yards through the air. That's all well and good, but all the Gamecocks have to show for it is a .500 record and the opportunity to qualify for a bowl game Saturday against South Alabama.
When the Gamecocks welcome South Alabama into the confines of Williams-Brice Stadium Saturday afternoon, they will do so with $900,000 in hand.
South Alabama sports editor Alyssa Newton talks this week's matchup.