RIP, Skip Caray

Folks, some things are bigger than football. Last night, Skip Caray passed away, and today, hundreds of thousands of baseball fans feel like they have lost a friend. He will be missed.

Sunday Q&A

Folks, it's time for our weekly question and answer session. Leave all your college football-related questions here, and I'll answer them in Wdenesday's blog. That's how I'm going to do it from now on. Questions on Sunday, answers on Wednesday.

On Friday, I gave you my Power 20 poll. Today, I thought I would borrow an increasingly popular idea, at least in the southeast, and rank the ACC and SEC teams together.

1. Georgia
2. Florida
3. LSU
4. Auburn
5. Clemson
6. Tennessee
7. Wake Forest
8. Virginia Tech
9. Boston College
10. Alabama
11. Georgia Tech
12. Florida State
13. North Carolina
14. South Carolina
15. Ole Miss
16. Miss St.
17. Miami
18. Maryland
19. Arkansas
20. Virginia
21. NC State
22. Kentucky
23. Vanderbilt
24. Duke

Now MOAG.

In case you've been living under a rock for the past year and a half, South Carolina quarterback, Stephen Garcia, really likes getting arrested. He likes it so much, he's done it 3 times since setting foot on campus back in the spring of aught 7. After his 3rd such incident(for beer drinking), the University decided enough was enough. Garcia was suspended from the University until August 15, pending re-instatement from the administration. Most of us suspected he would be back sooner than that, especially after witnessing that abortion of a spring game, where gamecock quarterbacks combined to throw 8 interceptions. Fast forward to present day, and it is little surprise to anyone that Garcia has re-joined the team, a full 2 weeks ahead of his initial return date. His return also coincides with the start of fall camp. I'll let everyone draw their own conclusions on this matter(in fact, I encourage you to tell me what you think about the Garcia situation). Most gamecock fans seem pretty happy about it. But they aren't too happy with Ron Morris, local super-genius and sports writer for The State newspaper. His recently published editorial re: the quarterback's early return has left a sour taste in the mouths of people living in denial throughout the state of South Carolina. Here's a link to his article: http://www.thestate.com/gogamecocks/story/478914.html And here's a sampling of the rabble that followed.

On getting pissed and taking action:

- I didn't get past the first few sentences. Morris is an ass. Garcia has earned his way back onto campus. He has paid the price and has been given a second chance.

*editor's note: For those keeping count, this is Garcia's 4th chance.

- My guess is that Moron is probably a raging alcoholic.

- When was the last time that bag of dog poop has won award writing for
the state fish wrap? He is a sack of DOG POOP!!!

- According to this idiot, Carolina just cannot do anything right. We have screwed up at every possible place and time and will continue to screw up at every place and time in the future.

- What do you except from an idiot that doesn't even have a Journalism degree (he has an English degree)? Plus he graduated from a school that doesn't even have a football team (UNC Charlotte).

*editor's note: Ron Morris writes editorials.

- he is talking out of his azz...it should be obvious to all that the original Aug 15th date was some kind of mistake

- It's time to fight back guy's. I don't usually read it....never buy it.After reading the Garcia article...I am sick of it.It's a Columbia newspaper that bashes USC any chance it get's!We have to find a way to punch them in the mouth.

- i wish every gamecock fan and every gamecock advertiser would just stop buying the paper and advertising in the paper.if evevy gamecock would not purchase a papaer it would hurt.

- We need a list ...of company's that support them

- Look in the paper, call the advertisers and tell them you will no longer consider buying their products as long as they advertise in the paper. Like all things, including the almighty free press, money talks and Ron Morris walks.

- Here is what you do. Someone on this board list one MAJOR advertiser in The State Newspaper today along with phone number. Monday lets all call that business and let them know how we feel about the anti USC articles. If they continue to send their advertising dollars to The State Newspaper we will not do business with them.

On Clemson having closed practices:

- "Thousands of fans" at 1st USC practice per WIS(news). Clemson? Zero.
Tommy, there are medications for paranoia. You are actually afraid people will see the plays you and Spence call?

- Clemson and UGA were the 2 schools that were sending spies to all of USC's practices, I know for a fact although SOS never mentioned the names of the schools. Now TB has all practices closed b/c we pulled the same trick last year lol I love SOS.

- They do it so they can break the rules. WHy else would a team hold a closed practive? Par for the course in tatertown.

On the media's high expectations for Clemson:

- It must feel good knowing your team is gonna .........win the National Championship while at the same time your QB will win the Heisman. Taterville has to be on fire right now. They should give them the trophies now and not waste the time of any other schools. With James "crackle" Davis and CJ "pop" Spiller how can they lose??? The icing on the cake has to be Cullen "the beak" Harper and his strong arm throwing all over the talented ACC opponents. God....I am going to throw up.

Observations after one, I repeat ONE, practice........without pads:

- really think he have the best team since i have been following as closely as i do now am only 26 so wasnt around in the 80s

- It has finally come to pass. We have paid our dues. Enjoy the Golden Age of USC football.

- I was very pleasantly surprised at a lot of the improvements I saw in many areas of our team

- First let me say that I started my education at FSU in 96-97 and then transferred to USC. With that said we look like the 96 FSU team that only lost 1 game (to Spurrier).

- Saw J. King finally. Once this guy gets going he is going to be unstoppable. I remember him from a few years ago, and he mad Carlos Dunlop look like a 3rd stringer

Spot The Damn Ball!

Ah, folks, college football is officially here. This evening, the Tigers and Gamecocks will take to their respective fields for their first official practice(s) of the season. Clemson is playing for a conference title and BCS berth. South Carolina is playing because they have to. Regardless of the obvious, disparate outlooks for each team, the fans for each program are happy the wait is over. Clemson fans are happy because they are anxious to see if Tommy Bowden can bring their beloved program out of its nearly 20 year slumber. South Carolina fans are happy because they don't know any better. Clemson fans believe they can beat every team on their schedule. South Carolina fans believe than can beat every team on Clemson's schedule. Yeah it's that time of year again, folks. As per usual, you can expect the volume and ferocity of the MOAG to increase with each passing day from here on out. Once the season starts, it will likely be so out of control that most people, save me, can't hope to tame it. But I can, and I will, for you, my loyal readers.

In honor of the start of fall practice, I am releasing my official Preseason Power 20 Poll. I'd like to briefly explain my ranking process. This is a power poll. It isn't a projection of where I think teams will finish the season. I don't consider conference affiliation or schedule. I don't rank 25 teams. I don't let my own personal biases get in the way. Without further ado, here is Mind of a Gamecock's first pre-season Power 20:

1. Southern California
2. Georgia
3. Oklahoma
4. Ohio St.
5. Missouri
6. Florida
7. LSU
8. West Virginia
9. Wisconsin
10. Auburn
11. Clemson
12. Texas Tech
13. Kansas
14. Tennessee
15. Arizona St.
16. Brigham Young
17. Wake Forest
18. Virginia Tech
19. Illinois
20. Utah

Please feel free to leave any questions or comments you have re: my poll. I will do one more pre-season poll at the conclusion of fall practice.

Clown Shoes University

Folks, the gamecocks continue to circle the drain. In a recent blog, I commented on Steve Spurrier's famous "free shoes university" jab at Florida State. It was funny at the time, but it's about time the HBC coined a nickname for his own program down in Columbia, SC. If I may, I have a suggestion: Clown Shoes University. That is precisely into what Spurrier is turning South Carolina. For the 3rd consecutive day, Spurrier's comments to the media have left him looking less like the rightfully arrogant, badass coach he once was, and more like Cookie on Bozo's day off. In today's The State paper, SOS gave a retraction(of sorts) to yesterday's accusations made against Tigerillustrated.com's Cris Ard. The following is an excerpt from that article:

“There was a bunch of newspaper articles sent to several recruits out of Clemson. The word we got, it came from that guy. That’s just the word we got. We thought that’s who it was,” Spurrier said when reached by phone.
“We certainly didn’t think any Clemson coaches would send that stuff. There was just a packet of articles came out of Clemson. That’s what we were led to believe. That’s why I mentioned it, and hopefully I won’t have to mention it again.”

I gotta ask, Steve, who are you sending out to investigate these claims? Based on the way this thing has blown up in your face, it wouldn't surprise me to find out it was Stephen Garcia. Whoever it is, get someone else on the case. It sickens me to keep opening up the paper to yet another legacy-tarnishing pity party. What has happened to you?! Get it together, man. You're the Ol' Ball Coach. You used to strike fear into everyone. Now you're about as intimidating as Greg Norman on Sunday. I hate having to write about this, because we all know you deserve better. You should have taken the Alabama job, and gone out a winner. But, borrowing a really smart quote that really smart, clever people like to use, it is what it is.

You made a mistake when you accused Mr. Ard of mailing useful information to your recruits. But at least you were man enough to scapegoat "the word we got." That's a step in the right direction. A better step might be telling your players to stop getting arrested on a regular basis, but they're South Carolina football players. It's what they do. You'd rather trumpet the fact that "a lot of them" got their charges dropped, than try and take preventative measures to keep them out of trouble. You'd rather complain about The State covering all their misdeeds, than punish the players committing the crimes. It's a sad state of affairs. Even so, it isn't all bad news, at least for us Clemson fans. We've watched this type of stuff go on since Lou took the helm, and frankly, we've enjoyed the dynamic it's created in the rivalry. So lace up your size 28s, Steve, it's gonna be a long year.

Before I sign off for the day, I'll leave y'all with one more SOS quote from today's article:

“We have so many guys, I think the last four have been arrested and all charges dropped,” Spurrier said. “I just wish if you’re going to arrest somebody, make sure the guy’s guilty.”

Sweet Irony.

Now for some of today's best MOAG....

On the whole Spurrier/packet/Ard saga:

- The master is at work - and I am enjoying it.

- SOS is just being SOS and is only beginning to get into their heads, much like he occupies 90% of all uga's skulls

- Clemsons fan and coaches have a LONG history of this kind of stuff

- This is actually quite funny. Watching these Taters unravel like this. I look forward to seeing the further meltdown. Sometimes supporting a losing position till it blows up in your face is not so wise.

*editor's note: I swear to god someone actually said that

- The "truth" is the ongoing negative recruiting by tatersuck coaches and fans, been going on for thirty years now. It's the only way those people can sell themselves, they have to trashed other schools to recruits to make themselves look better, that's the truth!!!!

- The more I read about this stuff the angrier I get. I hope Spurrier and the cocks run Bowden and that overrated tater team of his out of the state come Nov. I cannot wait.

- Are they so worried about our team that they have to resort to these tactics?

On the rivalry with Clemson:

- In the Spurrier Era Clemsux in the rivalry has scored 62 points USC 61....If you start from the year Clemsux started playing football to present the taters average .6 more wins per year than USC. OH The Superiority....See you fellas in November where we are 4-4 our last 8 visits.

- clempsuks Alltime Rec ver SEC .......27-146

*editor's note: Clemson alltime record v. south carolina is 64-36-4. Clemson's record v. the rest of the SEC is 44-116-5

- They are really going to be upset when we make it two in a row in Dead Valley this season with the worst beating we have given them in a really long time. Even more upset in a few years when we have run off 3 or 4 in a row overall.

- SOS don't back down. While at Fl he called FSU "Free Shoes University" when some players got a free illegal shopping trip to foot Locker. Any questions??

- I honestly don't think he(Spurrier) will lose many more games to clemson.

- More than half my family members are taters. I grew up next to taterville...hell no! poor it on 'em coach! let 'em have it. We've been passive for WAY too long. I let 'em have it even when we lose.

- We are .500 or 4-4 at Death Valley vs. you guys since we joined the SEC. I wouldn't be talking so much $hit if someone came in my house and beat my ass on such a regular basis like that. Certain SEC teams can claim to call us thier bitch but it's not you guys.

*editor's note: Clemson is 7-1 at south carolina since they joined the SEC, and Clemson has won 9 of the last 11. I'm just throwin it out there, since they beat our ass in Clemson on such a regular basis.

- may I ask, gives you the idea that we can't take the next 3 or 4, or something like that? Don't bring up past history, this is a new time. Ya'll are 2-1 against us in the last 3, all of which could have gone either way. As much as ya'll say how you could be 3-0 the last 3 yrs, we say the same thing, we easily could be 3-0 against ya'll.Go ahead and believe you have a lot more talent. The last few years suggest otherwise. !!!!!!!--->As much as ya'll might be better this year, so are we.<---!!!!!!!It was nice, a couple of years ago, after spending the entire day at that rat hole of a town, to come away with the win. Looking forward to the same this year, and please, don't act shocked when it happens.

*editor's note: South Carolina hasn't won 2 in a row in this series since 1969-70. And I added the exclamation points and arrows in this quote. I just didn't want anyone to miss that orgy of prose.

- What I hear are the sounds of a kitty, getting a little nervous that the HBC is turning the table in this rivalry.

- You call us your bitch? Your bitch is going to claim a winning record over you in your house this year since conference expansion.
Your bitch is 5-11 overall vs. you since the conferences expanded in 92 and that includes two years when our program had the longest losing streak in the country.
If there's any team that we play this year that should call us their bitch it should be Ole Miss. They are the only team on our schedule that we are winless against since joining the SEC.

*editor's note: Even I am at a loss for words on this one, folks. I'm just......I don't know. But he wasn't finished digging.

- 5-11 is bad but it's not "owning" a team. That pretty much means we beat you one out of every three years plus we can actually claim a winning record at DV this year since joining the conference. Sorry but that's not "ownage". Florida is 15-1 vs. USC since 92, that's ownage. Tennessee is 14-2 vs. USC, that's ownage. Auburn and Ole Miss are both 6-0 vs. USC since 92', that's ownage. We are actually a little competitive against you guys. You guys have the upperhand but you don't own us.



On team speed:

- Anyone else worried about Defensive speed? I feel that we are either going to be incredibly fast or too slow.

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!!!!

Bonus Blog

I want to thank everyone for voting in my poll. By a pretty overwhelming margin, most people feel this site is not stupid at all. 1 was most stupid, 10 was least stupid. I hope everyone realized that when they were voting.

I will have a new poll up shortly.

The Head MOAG

Folks, I was going to blog about my thoughts on the ACC Coastal division today, but a certain gamecock fan has given me some better material to discuss today. Don't worry, I'll get to today's original topic some other time. Today I thought we could discuss a quote from the Ol' Ball Coach himself. Coach Spurrier is known for taking some pretty solid shots at his opponents. He coined the phrase, "You can't spell Citrus without UT." He called Florida State "free shoes university." When asked once if his Florida team would beat Georgia that year, he mockingly asked, "Is Ray Goff still the head coach there?" The man has never been short on words, and for the most part, he has backed it up. But 3 full years on Columbia, SC has begun to take its toll on Coach Spurrier. He hasn't enjoyed a winning record against any team South Carolina considers a rival. He's still taking his shots at other teams, but instead of landing with the force of a 1987 Mike Tyson uppercut, they feel like a guilt-ridden spanking from your grandmother. His latest attempt came yesterday. His target: Clemson.

“I wish one of the sportswriters, when they start picking everybody's record this year, would write how they'd do if Clemson played South Carolina's schedule and South Carolina played Clemson's schedule,” Spurrier says.

“They don't do that,” says Spurrier. “Clemson doesn't play Virginia Tech this season. Alabama. Alabama could be difficult. They don't play Georgia and Tennessee and Florida and LSU and those people we play.”

“But anyway, that's the way it is,” Spurrier says. “There's no big deal about it.”

No big deal about it, he says. Of course, that begs the obvious question, If there is no big deal about it, why mention it at all? His comments weren't goaded out of him by a reporter looking to stir up some guff. He simply made them, unprovoked, for no discernable reason at all. Well, folks, that's why I'm here. I'm going to tell you exactly why he made them. Earlier I said 3 years in Columbia has taken its toll on Coach Spurrier, and never has it been more evident than right now. Coach Spurrier has become one of them. MOAG is a powerful force, with its epicenter being Columbia, SC. The closer you get to the armpit of the state, the more it envelops you. Despite being a Hall of Fame coach, a proven winner, Spurrier is now officially a gamecock. He's making excuses before the season even starts. When he took the job at South Carolina, he made it a point to try and lessen the importance of the rivalry with Clemson. We all knew he full of it then, and the proof is in the pudding now.

Yes, Clemson does play an easier schedule than South Carolina. No rational person would dispute that fact. Then again, no confident person would spend a second worrying about another team's schedule. Yet everyday on gamecock message boards, all you see is people whining about Clemson's schedule, and bemoaning their own grueling slate of games. "If we didn't get so beat up each year we'd beat Clemson way more than they beat us." Blah, blah, blah. The last 2 national champions have come from the SEC. Those teams have played schedules at least as difficult as the gamecocks. The cold hard truth is, the schedules don't have nearly as much of an impact on the series record as gamecocks fans want to believe. It's the players that matter. Clemson simply has better players. They always have, and they always will.

Coach Spurrier can complain to the media all he wants about unfair schedules and, ironically, unfair media coverage. This wasn't the first time he's done it, and it certainly won't be the last. I'm sure he'll have plenty more to say after his South Carolina program falls to 1-3 against Clemson this November. When that happens, gamecocks fans, remember this quote from Spurrier. You have no call to be frustrated with him, for he is truly one of you now. Coach Spurrier has the Mind of a Gamecock.