TheState.com: GoGamecocks

Coming unraveled: Hogs handle Gamecocks

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:05 EST

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. | About the only positive to come from Arkansas' 33-16 thrashing of South Carolina on Saturday was there was no evidence of finger-pointing outside the losing locker room.

This was the epitome of a team loss.

USC's defense gave up a season-high in passing yards and total yards, and the offense unraveled in the third quarter. Throw in a botched extra point and a couple of questionable coaching decisions, and there was plenty of blame to go around following the Gamecocks' third loss in four games.

"We're just not real good right now. I don't know how else to say it," USC coach Steve Spurrier said. "Coaches are coaching their butts off, just not getting much results right now. Maybe all the good fortune we had earlier is catching up with us a bit. ... We're not quite good enough to beat a good team like Arkansas."

USC (6-4, 3-4 SEC) managed 16 points against an Arkansas defense that entered the game giving up 27 per game, next to last in the SEC. It was the fewest points surrendered by the Razorbacks (5-4, 2-4) in an SEC game in Bobby Petrino's first two seasons.

Morris: Lack of progress maddening for USC

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:05 EST

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. | THERE IS A SURE-FIRE WAY to judge teams this late in the college football season. Some appear to get better from week to week. Others seem to regress.

Put South Carolina in the latter category after Saturday's demoralizing 33-16 loss to Arkansas. It followed a disheartening 31-13 loss at Tennessee.

What makes both losses difficult for USC faithful to swallow is that while the Gamecocks appear to be heading south, Tennessee and Arkansas looked to be much improved from early in the season.

"We're just not real good right now," Steve Spurrier said. "I don't know how to say it. Coaches are coaching their butts off. We're just not getting results right now."

Garrett Anderson is a senior who has made 26 starts in his four seasons at USC. He knows all about frustration. Yet even he was at a loss for the precise words to describe just how maddening the past two games have been to him, the USC offense and the team as a whole.

Saunders speaks out: Targets a concern

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:05 EST

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - South Carolina's Weslye Saunders kept looking at his counterpart at Arkansas, and feeling envious.

D.J. Williams, the Arkansas tight end, was the featured receiver for the Razorbacks, catching seven passes for 145 yards.

Saunders, meanwhile, was absent from the Gamecock passing game in the first half of USC's 33-16 loss. He emerged in the second half, catching three passes for 55 yards, but also dropping a touchdown pass on the final drive.

Saunders hoped it was a sign that his involvement in the offense was going to increase again. But he sounded unsure.

Twice, the junior pointed out that Steve Spurrier Jr., the main play-caller on offense, coaches the receivers, who in Saunders' words are Spurrier Jr.'s "priority."

QBs aim to be elite company

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:05 EST

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Stephen Garcia has known Arkansas' Ryan Mallett since the two attended the Elite Eleven quarterback camp in 2006.

Having witnessed Mallett's arm strength for a week in California, Garcia is not surprised by his success.

"He's got a cannon. I saw that when I first met him. He throws the ball as hard and as well as I've ever seen anybody throw it," Garcia said. "It's very impressive to watch. He's a good player."

Mallett and Garcia entered Saturday's game ranked 1-2 in the SEC in passing yardage, and neither did anything to hurt his standing in the Razorbacks' 33-16 victory.

Mallett set a school record with a .852 completion percentage (23 of 27) and finished with 329 yards. Garcia completed 20 of 34 passes for a career-high 327 yards and one touchdown.

Oh, snap: O-line's crumble continues

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:05 EST

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - It was another poor day for the South Carolina offensive line.

Once again, the troubles of the Gamecocks mirrored those of their front five. After a solid first half, the offensive fell apart in the 33-16 loss at Arkansas.

The line committed four false-start penalties.

It yielded two sacks and several other pressures.

Then there was the play that seemed to signal the team's demise.

Nichols' job: Marketing USC in down economy

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:55 EST

Eric Nichols spent 10 years at Vanderbilt, the final four as the athletic department's marketing director. But ask him if he's still got any black and gold in the closet and he demurs.

"I might still have a tie," he said. "But it certainly doesn't have a Vanderbilt logo on it."

Eighteen months after taking over as the South Carolina athletics department's director of marketing, Nichols is a full-fledged Gamecock.

From his office in the Colonial Life Arena, the 36-year-old Nichols oversees every aspect of athletics marketing and the game-day experience while serving as a liaison to the ticket office, Web site and video production.

He's also learned a few things in a short time: The "2001" intro at Williams-Brice Stadium is sacred. The city seems ready to embrace a new energy in the two basketball programs. Gamecock fans are passionate about their teams.

USC poised to make soccer history

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:55 EST

ORANGE BEACH, Fla. - South Carolina's women's soccer team will play for its first SEC championship today against LSU at 3:30 p.m. on ESPNU.

USC is the fourth seed in the tournament, while LSU is the second seed. LSU won the regular-season meeting between the teams, 1-0, two weeks ago.

South Carolina advanced to the championship game with a 1-0 victory against Florida on Friday night in the semifinals. Kim Miller scored on a penalty kick in the 11th minute while Mollie Patton recorded her 13th shutout of the season.

Two nights earlier in the quarterfinals, USC scored twice in the final 10 minutes to beat Georgia, 3-2.

Both of USC's victories avenged losses in the regular season. Friday's victory was USC's second ever against Florida. Wednesday's quarterfinal victory against Georgia was the first against the Bulldogs since 2006.

Gameday blog: USC vs. Arkansas

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:05 EST

Join Seth Emerson as he blogs live Saturday from South Carolina vs. Arkansas.

http://blogs.thestateonline.net/gameday/

Postgame comments: Spurrier, Garcia, Johnson

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:05 EST

Steve Spurrier

Stephen Garcia

Ellis Johnson

USC-Arkansas: Thumbs up, thumbs down

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:05 EST

THUMBS UP

Walking on the team over the summer

Garrett Chisolm started and played throughout at left guard. Tailback Bryce Sherman saw his first significant action, returning three kicks for 69 yards and catching a 48-yard pass on the final drive.

Defensive tackles

Reserve Melvin Ingram had a shoulder-rattling tackle behind the line. Nathan Pepper had a 10-yard sack. Ladi Ajiboye had five tackles.

Alabama beats LSU to move into SEC title game

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:18 EST

Julio Jones left defenders grasping at his heels and Alabama's defense was typically immovable. The Crimson Tide is riding that combination to the SEC championship game for the second consecutive season.

The popular Jones made the biggest play of what has been a relatively quiet sophomore season, breaking free for a 73-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, and No. 3 Alabama locked down No. 9 LSU in a 24-15 victory Saturday.

Leigh Tiffin booted a 40-yard field goal with 3:04 left to seal it and the Tide (9-0, 6-0 Southeastern Conference) earned a rematch with No. 1 Florida for the league championship.

The hard-hitting affair left the Tigers (7-2, 4-2) without injured quarterback Jordan Jefferson and running back Charles Scott for most of the second half.

"It was a tough, physical game," said Alabama coach Nick Saban, who beat his former team for the second straight year. "Man, those games are fun to be a part of."

Newton leads Kentucky past Eastern Kentucky 37-12

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:12 EST

Morgan Newton threw his first two career touchdown passes and three other Wildcats ran for scores as Kentucky dominated Eastern Kentucky 37-12 Saturday, extending its nonconference winning streak to a school-record 18 games.

Newton, a true freshman starting his fourth game in place of the injured Mike Hartline, threw the first scoring passes of his brief Wildcats career just over a minute apart late in the third quarter.

First, he connected with Maurice Grinter from 14 yards out. Then, after an interception by Sam Maxwell gave the Wildcats the ball right back deep in Eastern Kentucky territory, Newton found Chris Matthews in the corner of the end zone on an 18-yard timing play.

Reeling from a loss to Mississippi State a week earlier in which Anthony Dixon set a Bulldogs single-game rushing mark, the Wildcats (5-4) needed to win this game and at least one of their final three SEC contests to become the first Kentucky team to qualify for a fourth straight bowl appearance. Coach Rich Brooks and the players had set an even loftier goal of improving their postseason destination this year after winning two Music City Bowls and one Liberty Bowl the previous three seasons.

Newton, who completed 20 of 29 passes for a career-high 187 yards and no interceptions, wasn't the only offensive playmaker replacing an injured teammate against the overmatched Colonels (5-4).

Ealey, Georgia run past Tennessee Tech 38-0

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:15 EST

Washaun Ealey ran for two touchdowns as Georgia focused on its running game to beat Tennessee Tech 38-0 on Saturday for its first shutout in three years.

The game provided boosts for Georgia's running offense and scoring defense. Each ranked last in the Southeastern Conference.

Georgia (5-4) posted its first shutout since a 34-0 win over Alabama-Birmingham, coached by current Tennessee Tech coach Watson Brown in 2006.

Ealey had touchdown runs of 7 and 44 yards and led the Bulldogs with 89 yards rushing on seven carries. Georgia, which led 31-0 at halftime, had a season-high 304 yards rushing.

Tennessee Tech (5-4), a FCS team, suffered its second lopsided loss of the year to a FBS team, following a 49-7 loss at Kansas State.

USC advances to SEC soccer finals

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:17 EST

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. - Kim Miller converted a penalty kick in the 11th minute, and South Carolina shut out top-seeded Florida 1-0 to advance to the program's first SEC tournament championship game.

The win was the second ever against the Gators.

A first-time champion will be crowned Sunday when second-seeded LSU faces the Gamecocks in the nationally televised game at 3:30 p.m. Neither program has played for the title, and South Carolina will look to knock off the third and final team during the tournament that earned a victory against USC in the regular season.

Miller hit her penalty kick at 10:36 after Lindsay Small was taken down in the box. The penalty kick was her second in as many games; senior All-SEC performer had one blocked in the first half against Georgia in the quarterfinals.

"Lindsay Small did a good job to get in the box," Miller said. "I missed a PK yesterday when (Georgia's) Michelle Betos made a great save. Today I had confidence in myself and so did my teammates. I knew I'd get it in. I knew how much this one means to the team. I was focused and hit it where I wanted it to go."

Norwood not satisfied, eyes strong finish

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:01 EST

South Carolina launched a Web site this week to promote senior linebacker Eric Norwood.

Now the All-American hopeful intends to add some new highlight videos and records.

Norwood, a two-time All-SEC selection and USC's all-time sacks leader, has been mired in a midseason drought, from a statistical standpoint.

Norwood has gone more than five weeks without a sack, dating to the Gamecocks' 16-10 victory against Mississippi on Sept. 24. He had two sacks that night to give him 28 for his career and move past Andrew Provence atop the school's career list.

Since the Ole Miss game that was televised nationally for every SEC offensive coordinator to see, Norwood has faced a number of double teams, chip blocks from running backs and offenses on the lookout for where the Gamecocks' No. 40 lines up.

Joe Person's gameday forecast, prediction

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:01 EST

Speaking with reporters after Thursday’s practice, Ellis Johnson downplayed the loss of free safety Chris Culliver, who was benched because of a shoulder injury and an incident Monday when he walked out of practice.

“Cully didn’t play well last week,” said Johnson, USC’s assistant head coach for defense. “So you say we’re going to miss him. We ain’t going to miss him with a bad shoulder.”

Johnson did not try to minimize the absence of defensive end Cliff Matthews.

No one around the Gamecocks’ program has tried to.

USC will wake up Saturday morning in Fayetteville, roll out of bed for the 11:21 a.m. local kickoff, and prepare to face a quarterback Johnson called the SEC’s best pocket passer running a “well-conceived” offense – again, Johnson’s words – that averages just under 300 passing yards a game.

Gameday preview: USC vs. Arkansas

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:01 EST

Injury report; five game storylines; five questions with wide receiver Tori Gurley; and more.

---------------------

Injuries

USC - DE Cliff Matthews (shoulder), FS Chris Culliver (shoulder), FS Jarrett Burns (finger) and OT Jarriel King (concussion) are out.

Arkansas - CB Ramon Broadway (hamstring) is questionable; RB Michael Smith (hamstring) is probable.

[Video] Pep rally sends off Gamecocks

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:01 EST

Gamecock Club members organized a pep rally/send-off event for the South Carolina football team Friday before the players and coaches headed to Arkansas.

SEC fines Meyer $30,000 for criticizing officials

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:13 EST

Urban Meyer of Florida became the first coach to be disciplined under the Southeastern Conference's new policy regarding criticizing officials.

The league fined Meyer $30,000 on Friday, two days after he said referees missed a late hit against quarterback Tim Tebow in No. 1 Florida's 41-17 win against Georgia. Meyer sent video of the play to the SEC office, but his mistake was telling reporters refs missed the call.

Last week, the SEC changed its policy about coaches publicly criticizing officials, making the punishment either a fine or a suspension and doing away with reprimands. The change came after Tennessee's Lane Kiffin, Mississippi State's Dan Mullen and Arkansas' Bobby Petrino were reprimanded after they publicly questioned officiating.

"Coach Meyer has violated the Southeastern Conference Code of Ethics," SEC commissioner Mike Slive said in a statement. "SEC bylaw 10.5.4 clearly states that the coaches, players and support personnel shall refrain from public criticism of officials. The league's athletics directors and presidents and chancellors have made it clear that negative public comments on officiating are not acceptable."

Meyer apologized following the fine.

Walk-on Chisolm impresses USC staff

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:25 EST

As a walk-on who could not begin practicing until preseason drills were nearly over, it took offensive lineman Garrett Chisolm several weeks to get the attention of South Carolina coaches.

It is not like he was going to speak up.

While kick returner Bryce Sherman was the walk-on generating the buzz in August, the quiet Chisolm kept showing up and making life miserable for the Gamecocks' starting defensive linemen.

As injuries and defections began to take their toll on USC's offensive line depth, Chisolm continued to climb the depth chart. The transfer from Pikeville, an NAIA school in Kentucky, will make his first start at left guard Saturday at Arkansas after playing most of the second half last week at Tennessee.

The next interview he grants will be his first.