Widespread Panic

Folks, it's panic time. Another haymaker has been fired from Columbia, SC. They are becoming more frequent these days, but it isn't surprising to this blogger. This time, the center of the controversy is recruiting. We all know recruiting is a cut throat side of college football, a side most of us never get the opportunity to see first-hand. But we all got a front row seat for Columbia radio host, Kevin McCrary's melt down yesterday. McCrary decided to accuse the owner of a popular Clemson recruiting website of sending packets of information, containing the laundry list of recent criminal behavior that has occured within the S. Carolina football team, to an unknown number of recruits, for whom Clemson and South Carolina may be battling. The fact that these truth packets were sent is not in question. What is in question, is what information does Mr. McCrary have that led him to his accusatory rant. Sadly, it all comes back, again, to Coach Steve Spurrier.

Yesterday Coach Spurrier held a press conference, during which he announced he knew exactly who had sent out the truth packets. While he did not name any names, a clear inference can be drawn from the fact that a short time later, this particular website host was being slammed and defamed as the guilty party, all without the slightest disclosure of evidence. I'm not particularly concerned with Kevin McCrary's role in this saga. I am concerned with what led to such an irresponsible, and unprofessional, cry session on the air. As in most of these cases, it all comes back to the mind of a gamecock.

Anyone who follows recruiting knows that South Carolina is being handed its proverbial hat this year on the recruiting trail. They are barely beating out the likes of Buffalo and Akron for their players. They are getting beaten by the likes of Duke. And they are getting absolutely crushed by their in-state rival, as well as several other key SEC rivals. It's panic time. And why shouldn't it be? Coach Spurrier came here to save South Carolina football. To raise the bar to the likes of Georgia, Florida, LSU, and Tennessee. As most of us predicted, that hasn't happened. This fact, combined with a decades long inferiority complex, has led to genuine paranoia. They can't keep up with the big boys, so it has to be someone else's fault. It doesn't matter who. Just pick someone and blame him. A sense of impending doom will do that to a person, or group of people. This particular group of people is the South Carolina fanbase, and it's spreading like wildfire. Spurrier won't be around much longer, and they know if they don't win now, they likely won't have another chance for a long, long time. It doesn't help that Clemson's program, when compared to their own, is on the rise in every way imaginable. Media, local and national, is covering the Tigers in a way we haven't enjoyed for almost 2 decades. Recruiting is at an all time high. Our facilities are better. Our team is better. Our coaching staff is better. We've beaten them 9 of the last 11. It's panic time indeed, and the cocks are pulling out all the stops.

We don't know yet what will become of this latest fracas. We might not ever know. We likely won't ever know the identity of the person, or persons, responsible for sending out the truth packets to recruits. Honestly, it really doesn't matter. What we do know, is that those with the mind of a gamecock, from the lowliest Lexington resident to the HBC himself, are grasping at straws, desperately seeking someone to blame for their own ineptitude. One of their trusted own has even told them that the accused is not guilty of the charges. But it won't matter. They'll continue to repeat it until it just becomes accepted as fact. To all Clemson fans, I say just sit back and enjoy the finger pointing. Don't get riled up over these frivolous accusations. Let them waste their time and energy on it. Come November, we'll beat them again. They'll finish their season in the skids again. Come February, we'll sign a better recruiting class again. Come next July, we will be the target of more baseless, desperate mud-slinging again. The sun will rise and set. Gamecock players will get arrested in 5 Points. Coach Spurrier will complain to anyone who will listen, and continue the painful transformation into a caricature of himself. Life will go on. But most importantly, MOAG will go on.....and on.......and on. In my book, that is no reason to panic.

Now, to celebrate this latest dumpster fire, let's check out some of their thoughts on the issue:

- Frankly, over the years, I don't like anybody from Clemson as I believe they are all liars and cheats. Since the 70's, they have been either paying players, paying parents, using their county agricultural agents or doing things like this. They are the masters of deception and guile. I am sorry that they are in this state.

- its one of the clemson coaches

- i think it's ingenious, tiggers triple-douche, er deuce...get the investigators chasing packages around the southeast and they might not notice all the new cars...or stacks of $20's...or booster recruiting...

- who would you believe? A guy that writes for a website (Clemson website, whether its Tigernet, Tiger Illustrated, or the Scout site) or: A former Heisman trophy winner, Hall of Fame Football Coach; who's won a National Title? Hmmm, I think the latter has a "little" bit more credibility than some "journalist" of a fan's website.

- It is a fact they are being sent. Perhaps you Cheatas see what is coming and you are trying to stem the tide. History is clear you cannot get anything worth mentioning done without breaking the rules. When the going gets tough the cheatas start cheating. SOS is about to own you Cheatas.

- clempsCUm continues to prove/show that they are the Sewage of the Universe
when it comes to recruiting. Instigatated the "DEATH PENALTY' in 81' 7 they are just diein' to join SMU!!!!