…and they’re ridiculous.

This video was made following Saturday night’s game. It’s making the rounds on the internet, and if you haven’t seen it yet, you’re missing out.

Some of the high – make that low – lights:

“Ten times out of ten, you’re going to beat us at least once.” – WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

“You people wantin’ me to eat crow, I don’t eat crow. It doesn’t really taste that good. Maybe if it was squirrel or somethin’, I’d eat it.” – I JUST CAN’T.

“I’m still gon’ hate you people 365 days out of the year…” - 2012 is a leap year, so will you like us on the 366th day?

“And by the way, Steve Spurrier, if you’re watching this, I heard you say that you’re gonna give a game ball to yourself. How much egotistical can you get as a head coach? You’re supposed to give it to the kids, not give the daggum game ball to yourself. That just shows what kinda class you got: none. No class, whatsoever. But you know what you do have in class? It’s an ass. And that’s you, Spurrier.” – I’m so sure this breaks Steve’s heart. Really. Also, I’m impressed this dude can spell “class”.

“You couldn’t even beat all the worst teams in the SEC East.” – Uh, we actually swept the East (and were the only team to do so), but obviously facts aren’t important to this fellow.

“IPTAY all day.”- No way.

I showed this to my mom, who would have no rooting interest in the rivalry, except for the fact that I went to USC. After seeing it, she said:

“I just lost way too many brain cells. And 10 times out of 10, this man will still be pathetic.”

Mother knows best.

Some news and notes from around Gamecock football today:

• It was announced today that junior DE Devin Taylor will return to Carolina for his senior season. This is obviously great news for the Gamecocks. The defense was an almost constant strength for USC this season, and Taylor was a key component. He’ll be able to provide leadership and experience, two things a team can never have enough of. It now remains to be seen whether Stephon Gilmore and Alshon Jeffery will return for their senior seasons, too. Jeffery broke a bone in his hand during Saturday’s game, but still managed to catch a touchdown pass. He had surgery yesterday and should be good to go for the bowl game. 

• As for that bowl game, the Gamecocks will find out on Sunday where and when they’ll be playing in the post-season. The front runners are the Outback, Capital One, and Cotton Bowls, and each is the “most likely”, depending on who you ask. The Outback Bowl features a matchup between a team from the SEC and one from the Big Ten. It’s held in Tampa, Florida, at Raymond James Stadium (home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), and will be played on January 2nd, 2012, at 1 ET. The Cotton Bowl is played in Dallas at JerryWorld (aka Cowboys Stadium) and pits an SEC team against one from the Big XII. It will be played on January 6, 2012 at 8 ET. The Capital One Bowl is held in Orlando at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium and features an SEC team against one from the Big Ten. It will be played at 1 ET on January 2nd, 2012. Seeing as how our last two appearances in the Outback Bowl have been less than memorable (at least for positive things), it would be nice to get to go somewhere else. With a solid, fairly decent offense (minus the o-line, sometimes), and a capable QB at the helm, though, things should be different (read: we should win) no matter where we end up.

» Continue reading “Gamecocks Football Round-up: Taylor Staying, Bowl Business, Shaw Joins Twitter, and BEAST MODE”

Welcome to one of the last installments of Cocky Country’s weekly summary of SEC football action. This was rivalry week, so winning was that much sweeter, and losing hurt that much more. Now that all is said and done, there will only be two SEC teams playing next weekend – No. 1 LSU and No. 13. UGA. They’ll meet at the Atlanta Dome to decide the SEC championship Saturday night. Six teams finished with overall winning records, while only five finished with winning conference records. Only four SEC teams will not go bowling, while two will almost certainly play for the national championship.

(3) Arkansas at (1) LSU

Had Arkansas pulled off a win Friday in Baton Rouge, the BCS would have been sent into chaos. Luckily for the BCS, that didn’t happen. After getting off to a slow start, LSU rallied to soundly defeat the Razorbacks 41-17. The Hogs got off to a good start, taking a 14-0 lead in the second quarter, and one of those TDs came from a Tigers fumble. They couldn’t keep up with a resilient and powerful LSU team, though, who had taken the lead by halftime. Arkansas scored only once more, a third quarter field goal, pulling them within four points of tying the game. The Tigers went on to score 20 answered points, though, completing their perfect regular season and almost certainly knocking the Razorbacks out of BCS bowl contention. The Tigers’ Honey Badger, Tyrann Mathieu, had a great game, highlighted by his 92-yard punt return for a touchdown. LSU QB Jordan Jefferson was 18 of 29 for 208 yards on the day. He threw his first interception of the year, but also threw for a touchdown and ran for one. The five Tigers TDs were scored by five different players. LSU had 26 first downs to Arkansas’ 11, and had 286 yards on the ground, compared to the Hogs’ 47. The non-football storyline from this game was Razorbacks coach Bobby Petrino’s apparent disrespect of Tigers coach Les Miles. Petrino pointed at Miles from across the field and appeared to have a few choice words for his opposition. He then pretty much blew off the post-game handshake at midfield. I’m no Miles fan, but that’s just not appropriate. Stay classy, Bobby.

Arkansas falls to 10-2 overall and 6-2 in the SEC. They will await a bid, potentially from the Cotton Bowl . LSU improves to 12-0 on the season and 8-0 in conference play. They’ll travel to Atlanta to take on SEC East champ Georgia in the SEC title game, then will either play for the national championship or, should they lose to UGA, possibly be selected for another bowl.

» Continue reading “SEC Summary: Week Thirteen”

Three-peat! (photo via @ericnichols)

VICTORY IS OURS!

For the first time since 1968-1970, the Gamecocks have defeated Clemson three years in a row.

For the seniors and whoever else might have played their last game at Williams-Brice this year, it was a sweet, sweet way to go out. With tonight’s 34-13 Palmetto Bowl victory, No. 12 South Carolina also reached 10 wins, something they’ve only done one other time in the history of the program. They have the chance to win 11 this year, a goal Steve Spurrier said after the game would be added to the list.

The Cocks scored first for the second game in a row, and they also never trailed, though the game was tied for a while in the second quarter. Connor Shaw was a stud, completing 14 of 20 passes for 210 yards, three touchdowns, and no picks. He also had 108 rushing yards on 19 carries, including one for a TD. In his post-game comments, Spurrier praised Shaw repeatedly, and added that he, “doesn’t have very many stupid plays,” which basically means he’s the opposite of Stephen Garcia. Connor also got a shout out from ESPN’s College Football twitter account, who gave him a helmet sticker for his performance. I’m not even going to lie, I am an enormous fan of Shaw, personally and athletically. I have a crush on the guy, and I’m not sorry about it.

Elsewhere on the offense, Kenny Miles, who was playing in possibly his last game at home as a Gamecock, gave us all something to remember him by. He had 21 carries for 71 yards, and led all rushers other than Shaw. Bruce Ellington was the top receiver with three catches for 71 yards, including his first career receiving TD. Alshon Jeffery, who was also playing possibly his last game in Columbia, had only two receptions for 29 yards, but one was a fantastic touchdown grab late in the game to seal the win. The Gamecocks did not turn the ball over once.

» Continue reading “Cocks Crush Clemson, Reach Ten Wins”

It’s finally here: the Carolina-Clemson game. The meaning, emotion, and passion contained in those four words is serious business in the state of South Carolina, and for fans of both teams everywhere.

This is the game we all circled on our calendars months ago. At that point we had no idea that both teams would be coming into the annual Palmetto State rivalry game with matching 9-2 records. We had no idea that the Gamecocks would be without Stephen Garcia and Marcus Lattimore. And yet, here we are. USC fell just short of a division title, while the Tigers are the ACC Atlantic Division champs. None of that matters tomorrow night, though. When No. 12 Carolina and No. 17 Clemson take the field, the rest of the season is temporarily irrelevant.

The game will get underway tomorrow night at 7:45 ET on ESPN, and the Gamecocks will be looking to beat the Tigers for the third year in a row. The last time that happened? 1968-1970. South Carolina is also looking for a 10-win season, something that has only happened one other time in the program’s 118 seasons. CU hasn’t had a 10-win season in over 20 years, something they’re also hoping to change. The last time both teams were ranked coming into the game was 11 years ago, and this is one of the highest ranking matchups in the history of the rivalry. It’s also the first time that Carolina comes in ranked higher than Clemson.

The Tigers are averaging about 35 points a game, while South Carolina is scoring just under 30. Clemson is giving up just under 27, though, while USC allows less than 20 on average. The Cocks will need to limit Tajh Boyd and contain Sammy Watkins  if they want to end the regular season with a win. Boyd started the season strong, but has slumped a bit in the past few games, including last week’s surprising loss at NC State. The Tigers have also turned the ball over a lot recently, something coach Dabo Swinney cited as a major problem (he’s a smart man, guys). If the defense can get enough pressure on Boyd, he’s likely to struggle.

» Continue reading “Time To Take Down The Tigers: USC – Clemson Preview”

Sir Big Spur is simply thankful that we eat turkey on Thanksgiving, not chicken.

Being that Thanksgiving is tomorrow, I figured now was as good a time as any to show some appreciation for our beloved Gamecocks. They may break our hearts and drive us crazy, but at the end of the day, I’m proud to say I’m a part of Gamecock Nation, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

First, I’m thankful for our back to back baseball national championships, as well as Coach Tanner and the entire baseball team. This group of guys brought Carolina into uncharted territory, and gave us plenty of joy (and more than a little stress) en route to the university’s first (and second) national title in a major sport.

The team developed connections with fans in Columbia and in Omaha, and I can’t think of a group of people who more embody the word “team”. They battled, won anyway, and proved that they loved playing baseball just as much as we loved watching them do it. They also are hilarious on twitter.

Second, I’m thankful for Alshon Jeffery, Marcus Lattimore, Stephon Gilmore, Jadeveon Clowney, and all the other recruits who chose to stay in state and come to USC. Obviously their on-field talent is important, but the fact that they chose to be a part of a program that isn’t a powerhouse, when they had the opportunity to join a perennial contender, says a lot. They’re laying the foundation to help put South Carolina in the top tier, and they’re doing it by winning games and representing the university in a positive way.

» Continue reading “Why I’m Thankful For The Gamecocks”

Hi, Darrin,

Loose lips sink ships, poor coaching sinks basketball programs.

Before we get started here, let me tell you that I’m not really a fan of basketball. I know you obviously are, and don’t take this the wrong way, but I just find it kind of uninteresting. That’s not the point of this letter, though. The point is that there is a problem with South Carolina basketball, and it needs to be remedied. I attended four games in as many years at USC. I watched maybe 10 games on television during those years. If our team had been amazing, I might have watched more, but they’ve yet to really be amazing, and therein lies the problem.

Since you took over at Carolina in 2008, the Gamecocks have gone downhill, not up. The first year was pretty good – a 21-10 overall record, 10-6 in the SEC, and co-champions of the SEC East. Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse after that. You know what happened, so there’s no need for me to give you all the stats (plus, that would be boring to read). Players left, either because they graduated, were dismissed, decided to transfer, or, in Bruce Ellington’s case, decided to play two sports (though he’ll be back with you relatively soon) and the number in the wins column got smaller and smaller.

And now, here we are. The Gamecocks are 1-2 on the season, with back to back losses coming on the road against Elon and at home versus Tennessee State. Every team has a bad game here and there, but many fans are pushing the panic button, afraid these two losses are indicative of a bigger problem, Darrin. That problem, I’m sorry to say, is you.

» Continue reading “An Open Letter To Darrin Horn”

Welcome to the Week Twelve breakdown of what went on in SEC football this weekend. There’s only one week left in the regular season, and a few teams are still battling to become bowl eligible. LSU remains the only unbeaten team (in and out of the conference), while Ole Miss is the only team without an SEC victory. There are seven bowl eligible teams (South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, LSU, Alabama, Arkansas, and Auburn), three teams still hoping for eligibility (Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Mississippi State), and two teams who will not go bowling (Kentucky and Ole Miss). As the regular seasons comes to an end, it’s now rivalry week for many schools. Read on for recaps on commentary on this weekend’s SEC action. 

Kentucky at (14) Georgia

This game was for all the marbles, at least in Georgia’s case. A win would send them to the SEC title game, a loss would send South Carolina. Lucky for the Dawgs, they were playing the Wildcats, who have only one conference win. The 19-10 score was a lot closer than I thought it would be, but UGA certainly didn’t care, as they punched their ticket to Atlanta and ensured Mark Richt’s time in Athens will last at least one more year. UK took an early lead and Georgia wasn’t even all that sharp offensively, but their defense and kicker Blair Walsh, combined with Kentucky’s general ineptitude, was enough to secure a victory. The only bad news for the Bulldogs was that they lost RB Isaiah Crowell to an ankle injury. He sat out most of the game and his status for the future is unknown. Turnovers plagues both teams (each had four), but the Wildcats also couldn’t develop any sort of ground game (23 yards total) and had almost no first downs in the second half. QB Maxwell Smith was also left the game but was able to return.

Georgia improves to 9-2 overall and 7-1 in the SEC. They’ll travel to take on Georgia Tech in the rivalry game to end the regular season. Kentucky falls to 4-7 on the season and 1-6 in conference play. They will play their final game of the season at home against Tennessee.

» Continue reading “SEC Summary: Week Twelve”

Military Appreciation Day festivities at Williams-Brice (photo via @flynnbowie)

Connor Shaw rushed for one touchdown and threw for three more as South Carolina defeated The Citadel 41-20 this afternoon in Columbia.

The Cocks got off to a good start, scoring first for the first time this season, thanks to a Brandon Wilds TD. The Bulldogs got a TD of their own about five and a half minutes later, though, when Shaw was picked off on a bad pass. Carolina answered with another Wilds touchdown early in the second quarter, but The Citadel wouldn’t back down, and got a field goal. Both teams got on the board once more before the half, USC on an incredible 60 yard run to the house by Shaw (Jay Wooten missed the PAT), and The Citadel with a 41 yard field goal, the longest of kicker Ryan Sellers’ career, making it a 20-13 game heading into the locker room.

The only scoring done in the third quarter was by the Gamecocks, when Ace Sanders hauled in a 25 yard TD pass. In the fourth quarter, Alshon Jeffery, who hadn’t scored since the Mississippi State game about a month ago, pulled in a touchdown pass of his own, a jump ball that he caught with a backhanded grab. The Bulldogs were able to add one more touchdown, but so were the Cocks, and Rory “Buster” Anderson’s 20 yarder sealed the win for Carolina.

The No. 12 Gamecocks and Bulldogs will kick off tomorrow at noon ET at Williams-Brice. The game will be available through pay-per-view as well as on ESPN3 (though it will be blacked out in South Carolina).

Tomorrow is also Military Appreciation Day at Willy B, which is why there was no flyover or anything at last week’s game, even though it was the day after Veteran’s Day. It’s weird, I know, but the schedule doesn’t always make complete sense.

USC will have DeVonte Holloman back from his concussion, and all other starters should be good to go as well. Everyone’s been saying it for weeks, but maybe this will finally be the game where Alshon gets to have a big day. He set the school record for receiving yards last weekend, but he only had two catches for 17 yards. Since The Citadel is not exactly a powerhouse team, this may be the perfect opportunity to get Jeffery some grabs, yards, and scores. The offensive line situation being what it is, the run game is still probably going to be important, but hopefully Connor Shaw will get time to move around in the pocket and find Alshon, instead of having to run towards the sidelines for his life. As for the Bulldogs’ offensive players, they’re probably going to have nightmares about the Carolina D.

The Citadel is struggling this year, and is currently 4-6 overall and 2-6 in the Southern Conference. They’re second to last in the conference, above only Western Carolina, who is 0-8 in SoCon play. This is also the last game of the season for the Bulldogs, and the Gamecocks are the only “big” team on their schedule. What level is The Citadel at? RB Darien Robinson leads the team with 774 yards and eight touchdowns. Compare that with Marcus Lattimore, who played about six and a half games this season, and still leads USC with 818 yards and 10 TDs.

» Continue reading “We Appreciate Ya, But We Want To Beat Ya: USC – The Citadel Preview”