TheState.com: GoGamecocks: Football

Norwood among final five on Butkus list

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:29 EST

Three years after arriving at South Carolina as a defensive end, Eric Norwood is among five finalists for the award that goes to the nation's best linebacker.

Norwood, a two-time All-SEC selection, is one of three SEC players among the final five linebackers in contention for the Butkus Award.

The other finalists are Alabama's Rolando McClain, Florida's Brandon Spikes, Texas' Sergia Kindle and Missouri's Sean Weatherspoon.

Norwood, a senior from Acworth, Ga., who was a defensive end his first two seasons at USC, is second in the SEC with seven sacks and is tied for third with 10.5 tackles for loss. He leads the team with two interceptions and has blocked three kicks.

Norwood is No. 1 on USC's career lists for sacks and tackles for loss, and is the SEC's active leader in both categories.

USC wary of Spiller on kickoffs

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:48 EST

For a South Carolina team that struggled with its kickoff coverage for much of the season, kicking it to Clemson's C.J. Spiller next week would seem to be the perfect storm.

Spiller, a Heisman Trophy candidate, is the nation's fourth-leading kick returner with a 33.9-yard average and has three returns for touchdowns.

So why even kick it to him?

Gamecocks special teams coordinator Shane Beamer said the other options are not that great, either. Kicking it out of bounds would give Clemson possession at its 40-yard line, increasing the Tigers' chances of scoring.

USC could squib-kick, but Clemson aligns tailback Andre Ellington and receiver Jacoby Ford, a sprinter on the Tigers' track team, in front of Spiller.

Emerson: Hold off on wait and see coaches

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:47 EST

OCCASIONALLY YOU HEAR a few rumblings that South Carolina should implement a succession plan for Steve Spurrier, like other schools have done. The idea, supposedly, is to have a smooth transition.

OK. Well let's see how that's working at other places, shall we?

Jimbo Fisher's presence as the designated successor at Florida State hasn't prevented the Bobby Bowden situation from becoming a disaster. Fisher may not be the problem - but how many people are sure he's the solution?

Maryland designated James Franklin as the successor to Ralph Friedgen in February. Now the Terps are 2-8. If Friedgen gets the boot, the school either lets Franklin (the man guiding the sputtering offense) take over, or gives him $1 million to go away. Nice choices.

The jury remains out on Wisconsin's Brett Bielema and Oregon's Chip Kelly. At Kentucky, Joker Phillips is on deck - but with Rich Brooks continuing to get it done, what's the hurry?

Gamecocks' bowl bid needs 1 for the road

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:08 EST

Unlike two years ago, South Carolina will not be left home for the holidays this year come bowl season.

Barring the unexpected - Florida losing to Florida International, Alabama falling to Chattanooga or Mississippi State beating Arkansas and Mississippi the next two weeks - the Gamecocks will snag one of the SEC's bowl slots regardless of how they fare against Clemson next weekend.

By defeating the Tigers, USC (6-5) could improve its bowl stock in a muddled middle-of-the-SEC pack. With the possibility that 10 conference teams could finish with at least seven wins, the Gamecocks would be headed to one of the SEC's bottom-run bowls - probably the Papajohns.com Bowl in Birmingham against a Big East team - if they finish the regular season 6-6.

But there should be a spot for them, which was not the case in 2007 when the Independence Bowl took 6-6 Alabama over a USC team with the same record.

USC's omission prompted SEC officials to line up a ninth bowl slot - the so-called Pizza Bowl in Birmingham, where the conference office is based.

Wolford optimistic about the future

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:08 EST

Eric Wolford tried to strike the right balance, playing for the present and the future, in his first season as offensive line coach.

The results for the present were far from what he or many other people wanted. He thinks the plan for the future is going better.

Three reasons Wolford feels good: He saved some red-shirts (on guards Nick Allison and Rokevius Watkins), the recruiting and the work the players are putting in the weight room under Craig Fitzgerald, also in his first year.

"We'll start to look like Florida's offensive line a little bit, as far as having some size to us and some guys that could play potentially pretty well," Wolford said.

The Gamecocks rank last in the SEC in sacks allowed and rushing offense. Wolford has said some of those stats are deceiving, but grants that overall the production of his line has been below par.

Vandals strike at Williams-Brice

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:08 EST

Whenever Clemson scores a touchdown, Tigers play-by-play announcer Pete Yanity makes his signature call, “There’s orange in the end zone.” A week and a half before the Clemson-USC game, vandals painted orange in the south end zone at Williams-Brice Stadium overnight Tuesday. USC equipment manager Chris Matlock saw an aerosol can and “a little orange paint” on the field Wednesday morning. Matlock said the damage was minimal and would not require workers to re-sod the grass before the rivalry game Nov. 28. Matlock said the graffiti message, which included a ‘C,’ appeared to be incomplete. The stadium vandalism has become a destructive part of the rivalry. Last year, vandals sprayed orange paint on the weight room windows at Williams-Brice. Matlock hopes officials can identify the culprits through surveillance videos.

Matthews will not be held back vs. Clemson

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:08 EST

Growing up in Cheraw, Cliff Matthews viewed the South Carolina-Clemson game as his native state's version of the Super Bowl.

And the USC defensive end said it would take "a lot more" than a shoulder injury to keep him out of next weekend's Palmetto Bowl CVII.

Like what, exactly?

"A knee maybe," Matthews said.

Or a broken leg?

Freshman sees both sides of USC-Clemson

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:08 EST

Had he stuck with his original decision, DeVonte Holloman would be on the other side of the USC-Clemson game next week.

Holloman, a freshman safety, committed to Clemson as a 10th-grader at Independence High in Charlotte. By his senior year, Holloman was at South Pointe in Rock Hill, and Clemson had a new coach.

So Holloman re-opened his recruitment, and ended up at South Carolina.

"I made a premature decision," Holloman said Tuesday. "Really didn't get to know the people I was going to be talking to, like the defensive coordinator. I kind of fell in love with coach (Billy) Napier, who was recruiting me at the time. But he coached offense.

"When I finally got to know the people I really was going to be dealing with, I figured out I didn't make the right decision. So I opened it back up."

Vols defensive back charged with shoplifting

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:52 EST

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. | A fourth Tennessee football player has been charged with breaking the law in the last two weeks.

Nyshier Oliver is facing a charge of shoplifting. The 18-year-old freshman defensive back was cited at 1:45 p.m. on Nov. 7, a few hours before the Volunteers hosted Memphis. He is scheduled to make a court appearance on Nov. 23.

According to court records, the Jersey City, N.J., native was spotted allegedly concealing a $110 brown polo shirt from Dillards in a shopping bag.

The court records were released Tuesday, a day after coach Lane Kiffin dismissed two of three players charged with attempted armed robbery. Kiffin says he will run a clean program.

A Tennessee spokeswoman did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Gamecocks thankful for bye

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:08 EST

The Bluff Road practice facility was quiet on a Monday night for the first time in three months. The usual inhabitants, the South Carolina football team, had the night off as they begin their first bye week of the season.

Having this weekend off gives the Gamecocks a chance to heal some injuries. But more importantly, it is a chance for a team on a three-game losing streak to regroup and regain some of its emotional energy.

“Eleven weeks straight of football and four games in a row of SEC football is pretty tough,” quarterback Stephen Garcia said after Saturday’s 24-14 loss to No. 1 Florida. “Playing against the competition we’ve been playing, it’s much needed. I think everybody is pretty excited about it.

“I think everybody needs the rest, the break for a little bit. We’ll come back and be ready for them.”

Them is Clemson, USC’s streaking archrival, which figures to enter Williams-Brice Stadium as a favorite Nov. 28. But before concentrating on the Tigers, the Gamecocks (6-5) will be looking inward this week.

Morris: Spurrier calling an audible

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:08 EST

STEVE SPURRIER FIRST talks about how South Carolina's woes on offense this season have little to do with play-calling. He says the problems are related more to execution and blocking.

Then Spurrier offers that he and his coaching staff likely will change play-calling duties beginning next season. It makes senses, he says, for quarterbacks coach G.A. Mangus to call plays.

So what to make of all this? My guess is Spurrier will not go the way of his predecessor, who threw his son in front of an 18-wheeler. Spurrier is doing the right thing by protecting his son Steve Spurrier Jr. from the heat fans have been applying during USC's recent slide.

That is why Spurrier often shoulders the blame when a botched play comes into question. When he first named his son the play-caller before the 2008 season, Spurrier said he would take responsibility for bad play-calls and Junior would get credit for good play-calls.

For the most part, Spurrier has stuck to that philosophy, saying Monday, "I don't need any credit if it's a good play."

Desktop wallpaper: USC vs. Florida

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:08 EST

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Right-click on the image and choose "Set as Wallpaper" to download the desktop image.

USC-Clemson time set

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:08 EST

The South Carolina-Clemson football game on Nov. 28 will kick off at noon at Williams-Brice Stadium.

In addition, the annual rivalry game will be broadcast on ESPN, the SEC announced Monday.

Clemson has defeated South Carolina the past two seasons.

In other rivalry games that weekend, Alabama and Auburn will play on Nov. 27 at 2:30 p.m. in a game televised by CBS and Florida will play Florida State on Nov. 28 at 3:30 p.m. in another CBS game.

Notes: Spurrier says video backs Garcia's decision

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:08 EST

Upon further video review, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said he could "sort of understand" what quarterback Stephen Garcia saw in the Florida secondary on the fourth-quarter interception that halted a Gamecocks' drive and essentially snuffed out their upset hopes.

Immediately after Florida's 24-14 win, Spurrier expressed frustration that Garcia threw a backside slant to Moe Brown rather than stick with primary receiver Jason Barnes, who was running a slant on the right side of the field.

Brown was not expecting the ball, which zipped past him, caromed off the helmet of Florida cornerback Markihe Anderson and into the arms of defensive end Justin Trattou, who returned it 53 yards to the USC 26.

Four plays later, Tim Tebow put the Gators up by 10 with a 1-yard touchdown run.

Garcia said he looked Brown's way because the Gators had "inside leverage" on Barnes, which Spurrier said Sunday appeared to be the case.

Commentary: Clemson same as any other game, only not

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:08 EST

THE BAD THING ABOUT losing before an open date, as Steve Spurrier noted Sunday, is your team has two weeks to think about the loss.

That's nothing.

If South Carolina cannot figure out a way to slay the Orange beast from the Upstate on Thanksgiving weekend, the Gamecocks and their fans will have 35 weeks before preseason practices starts in August to dwell on another season gone south.

Not long after USC's 24-14 loss to No. 1 Florida, thoughts turned to Clemson.

There was no reason for USC players to spout the "one game at a time" mantra. There is no scheduled game beyond Nov. 28 - as far as the regular season, anyway.

Gators sabotage USC's shot at upset

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:39 EST

South Carolina had the ball, the momentum and "2001" blasting through the speakers as the fourth quarter began.

Then it was gone.

All of it vanished into the clear night in a matter of seconds on a play that left Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier bent over on the sideline, his head in his hands.

Defensive end Justin Trattou ended the Gamecocks' scoring drive and their hopes of upsetting the nation's No. 1 team Saturday when he picked off Stephen Garcia on the first play of the final quarter and returned it 54 yards.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow barreled in for a 1-yard touchdown four plays later and the top-ranked Gators went on to a 24-14 victory to keep a second consecutive national championship in their sights.

3 Heisman winners converge at Williams-Brice

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:03 EST

The line of people standing in the sun at the State Fairgrounds, waiting to have their pictures taken with the Heisman Trophy, was modest Saturday afternoon in the hours leading up to the USC-Florida game. Nothing like the crowd nearby awaiting autographs from members of the Gamecocks baseball team.

No surprise for Jay Couch, part of the Nissan team that brought the world's most famous piece of football statuary to the Midlands, as part of a seasonlong road show to promote its alliance with John Heisman's award.

Most places, it's a bigger deal, Couch said. "People always ask, 'Can I touch it?' They're almost awestruck.

"This is the Holy Grail of college football, especially in the Southeast. It's one of the most coveted awards in all of sports."

All true, but rather irrelevant to South Carolina fans, who have had nearly three decades to get used to the presence of a living, breathing Heisman Trophy winner in their midst.

Morris: One mistake is all Gators need to escape

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:39 EST

WHEN YOU HAVE THE nation's top-ranked team on the ropes, you must deliver a knockout blow. South Carolina could not do it Saturday night at Williams-Brice Stadium. Instead, Florida came up with the haymaker that staggered the upset-minded Gamecocks.

One play turned the entire game.

"We had a chance. We had a chance," Steve Spurrier said following Florida's 24-14 victory. "At 17-14, we had a chance. (But) you've got to finish it off."

USC had driven 50 yards to the Florida 22 by the end of the third quarter. At the very least, the Gamecocks positioned themselves to tie the game with a field goal. To that point, USC had made mistakes, but none that proved too costly.

Then, on third-and-3, quarterback Stephen Garcia made what proved to be a fatal decision. The passing play was design to go to the right side of the field. Garcia thought he saw an advantage to his left.

After slow start, USC defense steps up

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:03 EST

Eric Norwood summed it up nicely for the USC defense. Well, not exactly nicely.

"We're not satisfied, because we lost. But ..." the Gamecocks star linebacker said, his voice trailing off. "There's no way to put it. We might've played good at times, but when you lose, it still sucks."

Yes, the Gamecocks defense had its share of the blame for a 24-14 loss to No. 1 Florida. Especially at the outset of the game, when the Gators scored on their first three possessions.

After that, however, the Gamecocks clamped down. And the final stats showed that.

Florida finished the game with 339 offensive yards, 100 below its average. It had 140 rushing, also 100 below its average, which led the SEC.

USC-Florida: Thumbs up, thumbs down

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:39 EST

THUMBS UP

Matt Grooms

The backup long snapper, 26 and a former Marines mechanic who served in the Iraq war, carried a U.S. flag over his head as he ran onto the field during "2001."

Weslye Saunders

The USC tight end's juggling, 9-yard touchdown catch in the back left corner of the end zone with 2:10 left in the first half pulled the Gamecocks within 17-14.