The 2013 Graveyard Thread

[EveryThingGreen]

Originally Posted by DawginCola

A lot of people think he's best suited for Safety.

as does our DB Coach Grady Brown:

To be honest, I would prefer to play him at safety. I think he could be a really, really good safety but right now, it really just depends on who is available in regards to injury and things like that.

[seamus]

I do not profess to be a recruiting expert, but imho, you recruit to fill the needs of your team. Sure, it looks great to sign the 4/5 stars at the skilled positions,and that earns a high rating from the "services", but does it mean you are building a winning team? NO. You build a winning team by "balanced" recruiting. You recruit the "trenches", you recriut defense because this is where championships are won.

Let the Clemsuxs of the world keep trying to bring 2 qb and 5/6 wr recruits. They get a nice rating (for Dumbos ego) but it does not help them beat quality teams (non acc teams).

[MillerTime843]

Well who is the kid that got hurt in the Florida game on special teams?

[gotrice?]

Originally Posted by Carolina4Life

No I'm being serious. This is out 2nd 11-2 season. We went to SEC Championship couple years back. We've scored the number one recruits in the nation for couple years. Clemson has no problem doing well during recruiting, why cant we? Acting like having a bad recruiting class is ok is like when Columbia tried to ignore it's gang problems years ago. This will effect us in years to come if we dont do something about recruiting. You can't exspect to win a Nation Champinship if you can't recruit agaisnt the big boys or in this years case...the little boys (vandy)

If it were 2 back to back National Championships I'd agree with you. We have had weak instate classes the last couple years, thankfully the 2014 class should be stronger. With weak instate classes anything in the top 15 is a damn strong class unless we are coming off of a National Championship. We aren't the only team to put together back to back 11 win seasons. If you want to pretend to have any knowledge when it comes to recruiting understand the talent coming out of SC will determine where we can finish each year. In a weak year 15-20 is a damn solid class and that is what we have had the last couple years. Next year with a strong instate class top 10 should be expected.

[cockypanther]

Did Elder RS this season?

[GarnetArmy07]

Originally Posted by cockypanther

Did Elder RS this season?

Yep.

[cockyfreshman2014]

Originally Posted by MillerTime843

Well who is the kid that got hurt in the Florida game on special teams?

TJ Gurley

[Cock Kool-Aid]

Originally Posted by gotrice?

If it were 2 back to back National Championships I'd agree with you. We have had weak instate classes the last couple years, thankfully the 2014 class should be stronger. With weak instate classes anything in the top 15 is a damn strong class unless we are coming off of a National Championship. We aren't the only team to put together back to back 11 win seasons. If you want to pretend to have any knowledge when it comes to recruiting understand the talent coming out of SC will determine where we can finish each year. In a weak year 15-20 is a damn solid class and that is what we have had the last couple years. Next year with a strong instate class top 10 should be expected.

That's great, and very grounded/realistic thinking...

HOWEVER, there are also fans who want us to become an elite program. To become an elite program, you have to have elite recruiting. 80-90% of teams that have won the national championship in the last 30 years are programs that recruit top ten classes year in and year out regardless of their instate talent.

Fact of the matter is that the numbers show that we will not be able to win national championships regularly at any point unless we start recruiting top ten classes regularly. We could still steal one or two every couple decades or so if we happen to put it all together for a short span. I think that is the more realistic expectation for us unless some how our recruiting improves by a good margin.

[cofcgamecock9]

Originally Posted by Cock Kool-Aid

That's great, and very grounded/realistic thinking...

HOWEVER, there are also fans who want us to become an elite program. To become an elite program, you have to have elite recruiting. 80-90% of teams that have won the national championship in the last 30 years are programs that recruit top ten classes year in and year out regardless of their instate talent.

Fact of the matter is that the numbers show that we will not be able to win national championships regularly at any point unless we start recruiting top ten classes regularly. We could still steal one or two every couple decades or so if we happen to put it all together for a short span. I think that is the more realistic expectation for us unless some how our recruiting improves by a good margin.

The teams that have won the National Championship during that time also have Storied programs. This stuff doesn't just happen overnight... or not even in 8 years. You have to run before you can walk and, right now, we are just starting our walk. Two years doesn't constitute "ok, now we have walked for long enough, so we should be able to run." I know it has been 8 years since Spurrier arrived and I know some of you want "results now." But that just doesn't happen... As much as you want to have your "examples" of how this team is doing this or doing that, they certainly aren't winning National Titles.. Not teams that have any sort of history even remotely close to South Carolina's. Here are the teams that have won National Championships since 1992 (the year we joined the SEC) That is 20 years worth of teams. Please tell me what team in that list is even remotely comparable to what South Carolina is having to do to build a National Championship caliber team???? Give me just one..

Alabama
Auburn
Florida
LSU
Texas
Southern Cal
Ohio State
Miami
Oklahoma
Florida State
Tennessee
Michigan
Nebraska

Spurrier has us on the right track, but damn some of you expect the world in a short period of time.

[MillerTime843]

^^ Yes Gurley..What is his position

[Cock Kool-Aid]

Originally Posted by cofcgamecock9

80-90% of the teams that have won the National Championship during that time also have Storied programs. This stuff doesn't just happen overnight... or not even in 8 years. You have to run before you can walk and, right now, we are just starting our walk. Two years doesn't constitute "ok, now we have walked for long enough, so we should be able to run." I know it has been 8 years since Spurrier arrived and I know some of you want "results now." But that just doesn't happen... As much as you want to have your "examples" of how this team is doing this or doing that, they certainly aren't winning National Titles.. Not teams that have any sort of history even remotely close to South Carolina's. Here are the teams that have won National Championships since 1992 (the year we joined the SEC) That is 20 years worth of teams. Please tell me what team in that list is even remotely comparable to what South Carolina is having to do to build a National Championship caliber team???? Give me just one..

Alabama
Auburn
Florida
LSU
Texas
Southern Cal
Ohio State
Miami
Oklahoma
Florida State
Tennessee
Michigan
Nebraska

Spurrier has us on the right track, but damn some of you expect the world in a short period of time.

You basically agreed with me...

How do you become storied? By winning national championships. You can't do that without talent. Fact of the matter is that Spurrier's time and Clowney's time here is limited. Yes, we landed Clowney, but that was partially luck that he landed in our backyard. My honest feeling is that our window is closing quickly for the time being. Could it open again? Yes, but we have to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves or we will continue just being average. If we want to make a step to becoming truly and consistently elite any time soon or even within our lifetimes, I think we need to win big and soon.

In the meantime, I'm enjoying the ride and will be a Gamecock either way.

[garnet_black215]

Originally Posted by EveryThingGreen

as does our DB Coach Grady Brown:

I really like the fact that Elder can play both CB or S. Going to be interesting to see what the coaches do with him this spring, but wherever he ends up, he's going to be a good one, and it's nice to know that there's finally a little bit of depth in the secondary.

[IrishCoach]

Miller- Safety. Probably steps up into Swearinger's spot.

[cofcgamecock9]

Originally Posted by Cock Kool-Aid

You basically agreed with me...

How do you become storied? By winning national championships. You can't do that without talent. Fact of the matter is that Spurrier's time and Clowney's time here is limited. Yes, we landed Clowney, but that was partially luck that he landed in our backyard. My honest feeling is that our window is closing quickly for the time being. Could it open again? Yes, but we have to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves or we will continue just being average. If we want to make a step to becoming truly and consistently elite any time soon or even within our lifetimes, I think we need to win big and soon.

In the meantime, I'm enjoying the ride and will be a Gamecock either way.

But my point is that it doesn't happen that way. You say we need to win "big and soon." Why soon? Give me an example of another team that won the National Championship with a program as bad as ours was when Spurrier arrived (we were sub .500).
I guess you disagree with me and that is fine, but history shows that it just doesn't happen that way. We are in the process of walking now. There is nothing that I see that tells me that we are not going to continue to be a viable top 10 team for the near future. Once we are a top 10 team for a while, then we can take the next step. I just don't agree with you that there is some reason that we have to go from zero to 200 mph in 8 or 9 years. Could it happen? Sure. But it definitely would go against what history has taught us as far as who has won the National Championship.
I just don't see it as you do as far as when you say things like our "window is closing quickly." At least not in the sense that it means the next year or two. I have no reason to believe that a Spurrier lead team in four or five years is going to be worse than a Spurrier lead team next year. Our program has improved pretty consistently since he has been here. Maybe not as fast as some wanted, but it has improved very consistently.

But regardless, it is a great time to be a Gamecock... just as you said.

[henmania]

Originally Posted by MillerTime843

^^ Yes Gurley..What is his position

Safety and he will be a good one.

[gotrice?]

Originally Posted by Cock Kool-Aid

That's great, and very grounded/realistic thinking...

HOWEVER, there are also fans who want us to become an elite program. To become an elite program, you have to have elite recruiting. 80-90% of teams that have won the national championship in the last 30 years are programs that recruit top ten classes year in and year out regardless of their instate talent.

Fact of the matter is that the numbers show that we will not be able to win national championships regularly at any point unless we start recruiting top ten classes regularly. We could still steal one or two every couple decades or so if we happen to put it all together for a short span. I think that is the more realistic expectation for us unless some how our recruiting improves by a good margin.

Most of the teams to win the National Championship in the last couple decades not only are storied programs but have instate recruiting grounds that are consistently so much more fertile it isn't even comparable. What we have to do is lock up the state and work both the Atlanta metro area and the Charlotte are hard. Then steal a couple from the state of FL since there is more than enough to go around there and get a couple from the NE region. Still the #1 thing is going to be instate recruiting and there hasn't been much to go around the last couple years. Again next year our state has loads of talent that we look to be in great shape with and we've got a few studs in GA and NC we are in great shape with. Be very happy with this year's class and be extremely excited for what we can do in recruiting next year because it lines up nicely for us.

To sum this up if you don't know anything about recruiting stop whining that we don't have top 5 classes every year because it isn't realistic. (not directed at you just our fans in general)

[Cock Kool-Aid]

Originally Posted by cofcgamecock9

But my point is that it doesn't happen that way. You say we need to win "big and soon." Why soon? Give me an example of another team that won the National Championship with a program as bad as ours was when Spurrier arrived (we were sub .500).
I guess you disagree with me and that is fine, but history shows that it just doesn't happen that way. We are in the process of walking now. There is nothing that I see that tells me that we are not going to continue to be a viable top 10 team for the near future. Once we are a top 10 team for a while, then we can take the next step. I just don't agree with you that there is some reason that we have to go from zero to 200 mph in 8 or 9 years. Could it happen? Sure. But it definitely would go against what history has taught us as far as who has won the National Championship.
I just don't see it as you do as far as when you say things like our "window is closing quickly." At least not in the sense that it means the next year or two. I have no reason to believe that a Spurrier lead team in four or five years is going to be worse than a Spurrier lead team next year. Our program has improved pretty consistently since he has been here. Maybe not as fast as some wanted, but it has improved very consistently.

But regardless, it is a great time to be a Gamecock... just as you said.

I personally feel that we need to win big before Clowney leaves AKA next year. By win big, I mean the SEC or NC. Obviously we may have opportunities to win big again in the future, but I think it could be a while if we don't do it next year. We simply don't have the talent and are not bringing in the type of talent right now that makes me feel like we can contend at the highest level without a complete game changer like Clowney on the roster. Yeah, we are just learning to walk, ok, that's fine, but there comes a point when you have to start running and, in college football, those opportunities don't come around every year, not even every decade. Right now, we do have that opportunity and we need to take advantage of it or we will have to wait until the window opens again. It's not like you just "learn how to walk" then after ten years you "learn how to run" then you become elite, or whatever you are saying. I don't give a damn if you've only been "walking" for a season or two, if you are then presented the chance to run you better damn well take it when you are a program like ours in an environment like college football.

[Cock Kool-Aid]

Originally Posted by gotrice?

Most of the teams to win the National Championship in the last couple decades not only are storied programs but have instate recruiting grounds that are consistently so much more fertile it isn't even comparable. What we have to do is lock up the state and work both the Atlanta metro area and the Charlotte are hard. Then steal a couple from the state of FL since there is more than enough to go around there and get a couple from the NE region. Still the #1 thing is going to be instate recruiting and there hasn't been much to go around the last couple years. Again next year our state has loads of talent that we look to be in great shape with and we've got a few studs in GA and NC we are in great shape with. Be very happy with this year's class and be extremely excited for what we can do in recruiting next year because it lines up nicely for us.

To sum this up if you don't know anything about recruiting stop whining that we don't have top 5 classes every year because it isn't realistic. (not directed at you just our fans in general)

I agree with you. I'm just stating why some fans are not pleased. I think that your view is the most realistic one and that really the best we can hope for as South Carolina fans is to steal a national championship or two every couple decades because we simply don't have the resources that these stories programs do. This could eventually change, but hard for me to think it will in the foreseeable future as it would take decades of sustained success and national championships for us to start pulling top ten classes every year IMO.

[cofcgamecock9]

Originally Posted by Cock Kool-Aid

I personally feel that we need to win big before Clowney leaves AKA next year. By win big, I mean the SEC or NC. Obviously we may have opportunities to win big again in the future, but I think it could be a while if we don't do it next year. We simply don't have the talent and are not bringing in the type of talent right now that makes me feel like we can contend at the highest level without a complete game changer like Clowney on the roster. Yeah, we are just learning to walk, ok, that's fine, but there comes a point when you have to start running and, in college football, those opportunities don't come around every year, not even every decade. Right now, we do have that opportunity and we need to take advantage of it or we will have to wait until the window opens again. It's not like you just "learn how to walk" then after ten years you "learn how to run" then you become elite, or whatever you are saying. I don't give a damn if you've only been "walking" for a season or two, if you are then presented the chance to run you better damn well take it when you are a program like ours in an environment like college football.

We just have differing opinions. I don't think Clowney is the key any more than Marcus Lattimore was the key. Lattimore is my favorite Gamecock of all time, but we did just fine without him the last two seasons. We actually won more without him. I don't see ANYTHING that tells me we will not do just fine without Clowney. That is not the type of program Spurrier is building. Again, just a difference of opinion.

[gotrice?]

Originally Posted by Cock Kool-Aid

I agree with you. I'm just stating why some fans are not pleased. I think that your view is the most realistic one and that really the best we can hope for as South Carolina fans is to steal a national championship or two every couple decades because we simply don't have the resources that these stories programs do. This could eventually change, but hard for me to think it will in the foreseeable future as it would take decades of sustained success and national championships for us to start pulling top ten classes every year IMO.

If we can win big we can change it. Things stack up very nicely for us next year if we can get by UGA in week 2 so we will have to see what we can do but an SEC Title is definitely very possible. I'll worry about more after we've got that Title.