2013 Reflections/2014 Predictions

[kozakid]

As a diehard SEC fan of course I wanted Auburn to defeat Florida State; however, since that didn't happen, I'm still able to find some solace in knowing that the trophy stays in the Deep South. At least Florida is an SEC state. (I’m just thankful that neither Clemson nor Ohio State lucked up and made it to the grand finale.) Obviously, Florida State is for real. My feeling is that they're at least the equal of any team in the SEC. It’s just their misfortune – but also their luck – that they play in the lowly ACC. Still, as good as they may be, I doubt they would’ve gone undefeated if they’d’ve had to play a full SEC schedule.

In the end, I didn’t really see any clear cut #1 team this year. I figure any of those in the final Top 5 (Top 10?) would’ve been very capable of winning the nationall championship, and when the teams are that close in overall quality, then it comes down to sheer luck. While luck certainly carried Auburn into the championship game, luck could just as easily have given the Gamecocks a title shot. (Now I wonder if Luck will win out over Brady this weekend.)

I believe that Jimbo Fisher may yet prove to be the second coming of Bobby Bowden. If he can recruit like Bowden, the Seminoles may end up dominating the ACC for a decade or so. On that note, I've always felt that if Coach Spurrier had stayed at Florida, by now he’d most likely be every bit as legendary as Bowden, Bryant, Paterno, or any of the other long-term successful coaches. Of course, when you consider what he's accomplished at Duke, Florida, and with our Gamecocks, he's already arguably the greatest college coach of all time. Let's keep his as long as we can!

This whole season long I kept noticing that neither the Gamecocks nor Shaw were getting the respect they deserved. The unfortunate loss to Tennessee obviously had a lot to do with that. In any event, even though we were in the Top 10 for most of the season, you never heard much from the national media about Spurrier’s team beyond Clowney and his nagging problems. At the same time, you heard an awful lot about Tajh Boyd, Sammy Watkins, & Dabo, not to mention Mariota, Manziel, Mettenberger, Murray, Missouri & Franklin, Ohio State & Miller, Baylor & Petty, Louisville & Bridgewater, etc., etc. Even as the ‘Cocks continued to win, their national coverage didn’t seem to increase. Instead, you heard more about how some of the “better” teams like Oregon, Georgia, and Florida (!) had started losing. Only at season’s end, after seeing how the bowls played out, did South Carolina finally get some begrudging respect from the “big boys,” which is reflected in our #4 final finish. Only after all was said and done did the national media come to realize just how solid the Gamecocks – and how great Shaw – had been.

The Gamecocks may be gradually getting better year-to-year, but they certainly don’t have much to show for it. Not yet, that is. No SEC title and not a single BCS bowl. It’s bizarre that we won the SEC East with a 9-win season, then followed that up with three consecutive 11-win seasons, but no East title, even though in each of those three years we managed to beat the eventual East champion. That’s really weird! Recent baseball success notwithstanding, don’t believe that the “Chicken Curse” has been completely eradicated! I'm confident that continued hard work – and, if needed, a certain amount of luck – will bring our football team its first-ever SEC title in 2014, which would certainly land us in the Final Four. Once we get there anything can happen. Having said that, though, I seriously doubt we’ll be favored by many to win even the SEC East this year. I’m afraid we have more respect yet to earn. It's extremely comforting to know that in Coach Spurrier we have the man who can get the job done.

GO COCKS!!!!!

[Gamecocks1137]

Originally Posted by kozakid

As a diehard SEC fan of course I wanted Auburn to defeat Florida State; however, since that didn't happen, I'm still able to find some solace in knowing that the trophy stays in the Deep South.* At least Florida is an SEC state.* (I’m just thankful that neither Clemson nor Ohio State lucked up and made it to the grand finale.)* Obviously, Florida State is for real. My feeling is that they're at least the equal of any team in the SEC.* It’s just their misfortune – but also their luck – that they play in the lowly ACC.* Still, as good as they may be, I doubt they would’ve gone undefeated if they’d’ve had to play a full SEC schedule.*
*
In the end, I didn’t really see any clear cut #1 team this year.* I figure any of those in the final Top 5 (Top 10?) would’ve been very capable of winning the nationall championship, and when the teams are that close in overall quality, then it comes down to sheer luck.* While luck certainly carried Auburn into the championship game, luck could just as easily have given the Gamecocks a title shot.* (Now I wonder if Luck will win out over Brady this weekend.)
*
I believe that Jimbo Fisher may yet prove to be the second coming of Bobby Bowden.* If he can recruit like Bowden, the Seminoles may end up dominating the ACC for a decade or so.* On that note, I've always felt that if Coach Spurrier had stayed at Florida, by now he’d most likely be every bit as legendary as Bowden, Bryant, Paterno, or any of the other long-term successful coaches. Of course, when you consider what he's accomplished at Duke, Florida, and with our Gamecocks, he's already arguably the greatest college coach of all time. Let's keep his as long as we can! ***
*
This whole season long I kept noticing that neither the Gamecocks nor Shaw were getting the respect they deserved.* The unfortunate loss to Tennessee obviously had a lot to do with that. In any event, even though we were in the Top 10 for most of the season, you never heard much from the national media about Spurrier’s team beyond Clowney and his nagging problems.* At the same time, you heard an awful lot about Tajh Boyd, Sammy Watkins, & Dabo, not to mention Mariota, Manziel, Mettenberger, Murray, Missouri & Franklin, Ohio State & Miller, Baylor & Petty, Louisville & Bridgewater, etc., etc.* Even as the ‘Cocks continued to win, their national coverage didn’t seem to increase.* Instead, you heard more about how some of the “better” teams like Oregon, Georgia, and Florida (!) had started losing.* Only at season’s end, after seeing how the bowls played out, did South Carolina finally get some begrudging respect from the “big boys,” which is reflected in our #4 final finish.* Only after all was said and done did the national media come to realize just how solid the Gamecocks – and how great Shaw – had been.
*
The Gamecocks may be gradually getting better year-to-year, but they certainly don’t have much to show for it.* Not yet, that is. No SEC title and not a single BCS bowl.* It’s bizarre that we won the SEC East with a 9-win season, then followed that up with three consecutive 11-win seasons, but no East title, even though in each of those three years we managed to beat the eventual East champion.* That’s really weird!* Recent baseball success notwithstanding, don’t believe that the “Chicken Curse” has been completely eradicated!* I'm confident that continued hard work – and, if needed, a certain amount of luck – will bring our football team its first-ever SEC title in 2014, which would certainly land us in the Final Four.* Once we get there anything can happen. Having said that, though, I seriously doubt we’ll be favored by many to win even the SEC East this year.* I’m afraid we have more respect yet to earn. It's extremely comforting to know that in Coach Spurrier we have the man who can get the job done.

GO COCKS!!!!!

It does not exist.

[Cockypantherfan]

*Wow, what a read.*

[kozakid]

Hey, man, where'd all them stars come from???!!!

[Red Devil]

My heart wants to agree but my head says otherwise. 2014 will not be THE year I don't think. We lose 3 out of 4 D linemen. It is inconceivable to me that we will be better defensively without Clowney, Quarles and Sutton.
Throw in the fact that we have virtually no experience at corner and it could be a long season.

[kozakid]

Originally Posted by Gamecocks1137

It does not exist.

Some sense its presence. Some don't. I do.

[kozakid]

Originally Posted by Red Devil

My heart wants to agree but my head says otherwise. 2014 will not be THE year I don't think. We lose 3 out of 4 D linemen. It is inconceivable to me that we will be better defensively without Clowney, Quarles and Sutton.
Throw in the fact that we have virtually no experience at corner and it could be a long season.

I realize that my optimism is a bit over-the-top. Actually, I'm simply going with my gut feeling that bowl momentum will carry over, thereby giving us an excellent chance to win the SEC. That may be expecting an awful lot. With the level of competition in the conference, my rosy prediction may turn out to have been nothing more than wishful thinking. As you noted, there are some major defensive gaps to fill, but at least our young linebacking corps will have a season of experience under their belts. At any rate, we should have another excellent team capable of going the distance. I just sense that this finally will be our year. After all, it's about time, ain't it??!!

[The Yancey]

Originally Posted by kozakid

I realize that my optimism is a bit over-the-top. Actually, I'm simply going with my gut feeling that bowl momentum will carry over, thereby giving us an excellent chance to win the SEC. That may be expecting an awful lot. With the level of competition in the conference, my rosy prediction may turn out to have been nothing more than wishful thinking. As you noted, there are some major defensive gaps to fill, but at least our young linebacking corps will have a season of experience under their belts. At any rate, we should have another excellent team capable of going the distance. I just sense that this finally will be our year. After all, it's about time, ain't it??!!

I had MUCH rather see any degree of optimism rather than the negative spewings of tater trolls and our own home grown petulant children.

[kozakid]

Originally Posted by The Yancey

I had MUCH rather see any degree of optimism rather than the negative spewings of tater trolls and our own home grown petulant children.

Roger that!

[FanofCarolina1]

Well, this upcoming football season we don't have three straight road games which is a plus. We don't have to play JM in week 1 and Tre Mason for Auburn declared for the draft. After saying that, you'd think the stars are beginning to align in our favor. Time will tell.

[lake-cityCOCK89]

The chicken curse is for losers, just saying. You won't win if you don't believe you are going to win.

[kozakid]

Originally Posted by lake-cityCOCK89

The chicken curse is for losers, just saying. You won't win if you don't believe you are going to win.

Myself never having been much of a believer in things supernatural, I would hope that our fanbase considers the notion of a so-called "chicken curse" to be all in good fun, nothing more than a source of amusement. In other words, nothing to take at all seriously.

I agree that it's very difficult, if not absolutely impossible, to win when you're preoccupied with negative thoughts. With that in mind, the only thing to worry about regarding the "curse" is that the coaches and players don't buy into it!!

[Goofyboy]

I spent most of this season yelling at the linebackers (on the TV), and eased off the last 3 games feeling they played better. I'm predicting a big improvement next season with the linebackers adding some strength and a little size, working on their diagnosing, and at least one or two bigger bodies getting into the mix. I wouldn't be surprised to see this crew become the needed anchor as the players and coaches at DL and DB work hard to fill the holes creates by our top players moving on (and hopefully upward).
I expect to see more total rushing yards with Davis leading the way, but getting needed relief from power (Wilds) and speed (Williams). I also think we will still get significant (but not large) rushing yardage from QB and some wildcat.

[b381l]

We have a much harder 2014 SEC west schedule with Auburn and A&M instead of Miss St and Arky.

[cockybreeyan]

It feels so odd to go into an offseason not knowing your QB situation.

[GSC2013]

Originally Posted by Red Devil

My heart wants to agree but my head says otherwise. 2014 will not be THE year I don't think. We lose 3 out of 4 D linemen. It is inconceivable to me that we will be better defensively without Clowney, Quarles and Sutton.
Throw in the fact that we have virtually no experience at corner and it could be a long season.

LSU and Florida State both lost most of their defense to the NFL last year, and didn't know how they'd replace them.

LSU won 10. FSU won it all.

But then again....UGA lost most of their D also. And they stumbled.

Should be fun and stressful to watch!

[rioninusc]

Originally Posted by GSC2013

LSU and Florida State both lost most of their defense to the NFL last year, and didn't know how they'd replace them.

LSU won 10. FSU won it all.

But then again....UGA lost most of their D also. And they stumbled.

Should be fun and stressful to watch!

Gotta coach the players up, and that is what FSU did well. This will determine USC's success next year. Will the players replacing the holes step up and perform really well.

[Red Devil]

With the current trend of players grabbing the cash and leaving early, it is really hard to get that senior leadership on a team. Over 100 players have jumped early this season.