2011 or 2012 ?

[Spurticus]

Last year a thread went up a day after the Capitol 1 Bowl win over
Nebraska as to which was the better team. 2011 or 1984. It generated
a lot of really good discussion from members who were around to witness
the two different teams.

SO:
I'll pose a question that's a little bit tougher.
Now that we've had back to back 11 win seasons, which of the two would
you say was the better team, and Why ?

[Acockolypse Now]

I'm going to go with 2012.

Our defense was better overall, and I feel that while we pooped the bed against Florida, at least it was a decent team at their house. There's just NO excuse for losing to Auburn in 2011.

[roosterdave]

Originally Posted by Spurticus

Last year a thread went up a day after the Capitol 1 Bowl win over
Nebraska as to which was the better team. 2011 or 1984. It generated
a lot of really good discussion from members who were around to witness
the two different teams.

SO:
I'll pose a question that's a little bit tougher.
Now that we've had back to back 11 win seasons, which of the two would
you say was the better team, and Why ?

2011 may have had some more star players at certain positions, but 2012 had a better "team". Great group of leaders and everyone playing for the guy next to him.

[Mick Chicken]

Originally Posted by Acockolypse Now

I'm going to go with 2012.

Our defense was better overall, and I feel that while we pooped the bed against Florida, at least it was a decent team at their house. There's just NO excuse for losing to Auburn in 2011.

Pretty much what I was going to say. Plus beating uga at home like we did and then beating clemson at their house..this season had some really nice moments.

[Mr. Burns]

2012

Never would have thought how dirty our defense would still be after losing Ingram, Gilmore, Allen, and Ellis Johnson.

Same with our offense after losing Alshon. After seeing our team this year, I much prefer several short, quick receivers to one, gigantic stud that the QB locks on.

[catdaddy66]

Both teams had identical records. Both had crazy good defenses. But 2012 team offense had the best scoring average since the 2006 Liberty bowl team. The best teams are good or great in all phases, and this past season the Gamecocks were able to put together the best performance from all 3 phases in the game. The top to bottom quality play and laundry list of exceptional players make 2012 the best Gamecock team ever!

[Mick Chicken]

Originally Posted by Mr. Burns

2012

Never would have thought how dirty our defense would still be after losing Ingram, Gilmore, Allen, and Ellis Johnson.

Same with our offense after losing Alshon. After seeing our team this year, I much prefer several short, quick receivers to one, gigantic stud that the QB locks on.

so impressive

[CoverTwo]

2012, only because Special Teams are better.

2011's defense was better, but 2012's offense is better. So it kind of cancels it out, but 2012's Special Teams are night and day.

[Spurticus]

I really think the 2011 team was the better program.
Yes the defense was not as sound overall through the entire year,
and our offense was spotty and had to scrap and scrape for a lot of
wins, however, to me that was the foundation of what came this year
and I think the team came together at the end of they year and ended
as a very solid team.

I do think that our team from start to finish this year was better on both
sides of the ball, and Ace gave the Special teams reason to be proud
for the fist time in a decade or more. I just like the way our guys overcame
a lot of adversity last year and found ways to win ugly and ended up as
our best year ever (at that time). We are seeing this year, players molded
in the fires of last year. Myself, I like watching the fire and seeing the
finished product in the development.

Lost Lattimore for the season (the first time), Lost a three year starter
at QB halfway through the year, lost our Defensive Coordinator at the
end of they year, and lost some key players to injuries toward the end
of the year. ... yet we came out of it with our first ever 11 win season.

2011 gets my vote

[superfly]

2012 because we were expected to be better and we snuck up on no one. We also got more national attention this year across the board and we proved we could beat clemusx with bench players..lol.

[usc1]

Originally Posted by CoverTwo

2012, only because Special Teams are better.

2011's defense was better, but 2012's offense is better. So it kind of cancels it out, but 2012's Special Teams are night and day.

Right on C2. I think people forget how much better this team is on offense compared to last year's. There was a stretch of games last year that we struggled to score over 14 points every time out. Think we went under 20 once this year if I remember correctly.

[CoverTwo]

Twice .. 17 vs Vandy , 11 vs UF

4 times in 2011 .. 13 vs AU (have you guys seen Erik? Oh wait..), 14 vs MSU, 14 vs UT, 17 vs UF

[Coondog]

This is a tough one for me. Although the 2011 team won through adversity the Auburn game still turns my stomach to this day. I say to this day if Shaw had played the second half of that game we would have won the east and had a real shot at beating LSU for the title.

This year Lattimore went down again in a real ugly fashion that you could see in the players faces just how much it affected the whole team. Then our starting QB injured his throwing shoulder in the first quarter of the first game and then just when the shoulder is close to healed he injures his foot so he never was 100% healthy. They played what had to be the most brutal stretch of games in college football through October and into November. They were in it to the end at LSU at night which is the toughest enviroment in college football. Not only went undefeated at home but completely destroyed Georgia doing it. And to top it off they went into Clemson's house and dominated them for 3/4's of that game to make it 4 in a row!

[spareparts]

The 2012 team would have won every game on the 2011 schedule

[Flameout12]

Statistically, 2012 was the better team...played a tougher schedule and the points scored v. points allowed was the biggest margin since SOS has been here and likely ever.

Check my sig.

[sodacitynate]

2012 - the flu/injury bug in the middle was the thing hurt us, though.

[gamecockguy]

12 for me

Didn't have the slip up against an inferior opponent (auburn in 11)
Special teams were infinitely better
Tougher schedule having to go to LSU, UF and Auburn-lite
Handled adversity @UK and @Vandy
Game winning drive against Michigan
Nobody got kicked off mid-season

[cockypastor]

2012 team didn't have the inexplicable loss, ie Kentucky or Auburn.

[U-Dub Gamecock]

2012... Tougher schedule, and 2 top 10 wins(one on the road).... If you go by final polls.

[uscsandstorm85]

2012 played a tougher schedule.