Sunday, June 28, 2015

A Shakespearian Tragedy...or Comedy

You may be the fate of Ophelia,
Sleeping and perchance to dream. 


To say that 2014 was a heartbreaking season for the Gamecocks would be a gross understatement. The SEC East favorite up until kickoff of the season opener, the Gamecocks were embarrassed in the Cockpit. Will the Gamecocks find redemption in 2015?

September 3rd vs North Carolina: The Gamecocks will prove themselves to be the “real” Carolina in the season opener. 28-17

September 12th vs Kentucky: Spurrier has never lost to the Wildcats at home, and this year will be no different. 38-10

September 19th @ Georgia: The Gamecocks won’t have Sandstorm for a psychological weapon between the hedges. This game will be an offensive shootout between the duo of David Williams and Cooper vs Georgia’s Chubb. This game is inconclusive.

September 26th vs Central Florida: Last time these two teams met on the gridiron, the first half looked as if the Knights might upset the Gamecocks. Won’t happen this time around. Williams and Cooper show out. 49-7

October 3rd @ Missouri: Missouri lost a ton of talent, last year was their last chance of a title for the forseeable future. The Gamecocks prevail in Connor Shaw stadium. 35-14

October 10th vs LSU: Last time these two played the #3 Gamecocks’ dream season was derailed by a last minute LSU touchdown and an intercepted Hail Mary. The Gamecocks will remember this, but will it be enough to upset the Tigers? Inconclusive

October 17th vs Vanderbilt: The Gamecocks’ haven’t lost to Vandy, let alone in Columbia, in many a moon. This year will be no different. Offense shows out and an improved defense flexes it’s muscle. 52-3

October 31st @ Texas A&M: Payback coming off the bye week. This game will be close, but a steady dose of David Williams and Cooper will wear out the Aggies. Gamecocks pull away in the fourth. 28-17

November 7th @ Tennessee: The Volunteers are one of the South’s hottest teams, but South Carolina will be coming to Knoxville with vengeance on the brain. These two teams will be evenly matched. Inconclusive.

November 14th vs Florida: It won’t take two special teams miracle plays and an overtime to pull this one off. Florida will be getting used to the new coach, and will look embarrassingly uncoordinated in Columbia. 17-7

November 21st vs The Citadel: Almost a repeat of UCF. The Gamecocks handily defeat the military academy. 42-7

November 28th vs Clemson: That team from upstate will be in the same position as the Gamecocks last year with their secondary having graduated. 28-7

Final regular season W/L prediction: 10-2. The Gamecocks will drop two out of three to LSU, Georgia, or Tennessee, but not all three. The defense will be much improved with some fresh help. The green quarterback, whether it’s Mitch or Nunez, will catch on quick.

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Some Good 'ol Fashioned MOAG

- Butch Jones and Tennessee are becoming the Dabo Sweeney and Clemson Tigers of the SEC. I fail to see how the Vols could be so much better than the Gamecocks when we had the same records last year with very similar schedules, we led by two touchdowns vs them late in the game and have in my humble opinion more upside this coming season. Much of the Tennessee love has been created by Jones's hype a lot like Sweeney. One poll lists our chance of winning the SEC 25/1WHILE Tennessee IS 8/1. Time for us to go to Rocky Top and return with a victory. I'm not much of a Jones fan and would love to stomp the Vols who are proclaiming greatness before they have accomplished anything much like the Pickens Paper Tigers.

Their fans will not be satisfied with only beating us this year so Butch will have pressure for once with the lofty pre-season expectations.

 

- It's all hype. You look at Tennessee since Fulmer and the highlights are three wins over us

 

- I do not believe I am sunshine pumping when I say I believe we can win 9 + games this year. Why? 
1. the offense can be somewhere from nearly as good to better than last year. I look for the defense to be quite a bit better.
a. OL should be solid though not quite as good as last yr. we do need to stay as healthy as possible. 
b. QB. CM more accurate DT. Longer ball control drives should be the norm. 
c. RB's will be a strength
d. WR Cooper is a stud. We have young talent that must step it up
e. TE. Considering Anderson had a year filled with injury, I look for us to be a little better than last yr.
summary: I expect a good O this yr. SOS will devoye 100% of efforts on the O.

2. Defense
a. DE significant talent up grades. Lewis & Sawyer. should have a solid rush this yr.
b. DT has size and depth. They should be better as a group solely due to experience.
c. LB. 3 high quality starters. should be a team strength.
d. CB. solid 2 deep with athletic talent.
e. S's. JUCO newcomers a real shot in the arm. Have experienced returners as well.
summary: Hole is a better DC than Whammy. He will find ways to put our best defenders in positions to excel.
The 4th qtr collapses vs UT, Mizzou, UK should not happen again. I could see us winning 9 games ... maybe 10.

 

- Pretty much agree on the D. We'll be significantly better overall (possibly a top 25 unit).


I'm with OP and think a 9 win season is in the cards. There's a reason SS hunted Hoke all those years. Maybe he's a Stoop in the wings. I am not a sunshine pumper either. I am a realist. Last season has been stewing on SS' mind since Jan. He wants revenge against those teams that Ward could not stop in the 4th qtrs. and against those nasty Clemson tigers.

 

I believe we will go undefeated at home.

 

- In all seriousness, the absolute best thing about our football team and our program overall is we don't wear urange and we aren't tiggers. Even if we're winless, I'd rather be Garnet than jailhouse urange.

 

- I like our helmets