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Morris: USC fans more realistic this year
Posted on 08.30.09
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survey:
How Morris fared
Ron Morris' previous seasons' predictions for USC and the Gamecocks' final record:
MORRIS . . . . USC
7-5 . . . . . . . . . TBD
9-4 . . . . . . . . . 7-6
9-4 . . . . . . . . . 6-6
8-5 . . . . . . . . . 8-5
6-5 . . . . . . . . . 7-5
8-3 . . . . . . . . . 6-5
7-5 . . . . . . . . . 5-7
For the first time in many a season, I sense reality has sunk in with South Carolina football fans. They are not nearly as unrealistic about their beloved Gamecocks and how they will fare this season.
Maybe USC fans have figured it out. Instead of believing USC will compete for the SEC East championship and play for the league title in Atlanta, my read is that fans have lowered the bar considerably for 2009.
Perhaps it was late-season collapses in each of the past two seasons. Or, maybe it is Steve Spurrier’s overhaul of his coaching staff. Or, it could be the boatload of question marks that hover around both the offense and defense that has fans taking more of a wait-and-see approach to the season.
More likely, fans have finally figured they do not want to be let down once again. Season after season, USC fans have had their visions of grandeur morph into recurring nightmares. It gets old after awhile, not to mention discouraging.
So, why not — for a change — believe USC is in for a so-so season? Then, when the Gamecocks win seven games, including a thrashing of Clemson, and add a Music City Bowl victory against Miami, their fan base will believe they have experienced a rare season of great satisfaction.
By tempering their expectations, USC fans will be following the lead of Steve Spurrier. Long able to boast of having a perennial national championship contender at Florida, Spurrier took a few years to recognize a different approach was needed at USC.
Just two seasons ago, you might recall, Spurrier got caught up in the Cock-a-mania that permeates the USC fan base every fall. Spurrier said his program was ready to challenge for SEC championships.
Spurrier based his thinking on five near misses against nationally-ranked teams in 2006. When you lose to eventual national champ Florida on a blocked field goal in the waning seconds, there is every reason to believe your program is inching closer to greatness.
Unfortunately for Spurrier and his fans, the signal that USC was close was a false alarm. Just as quickly as USC climbed to No. 6 in the national rankings to start the 2007 season, it lost five consecutive games and tumbled out of sight.
Now, Spurrier knows better. He has talked all offseason and through fall practice about how USC has been a so-so program under his watch. He might very well be sandbagging as he heads into his fifth season, but the likelihood is Spurrier fully recognizes the difficult road ahead this season.
There exists a bad combination of factors working against USC. Those folks who analyze such things have declared USC’s schedule the most difficult in the country. Mix in an inexperienced quarterback, no noteworthy running backs or receivers, and only a handful of starters on defense, and Spurrier’s caution is understandable.
Let’s address the defense first. It will be fine, although not nearly as solid as it was a season ago. It has a strong nucleus in All-SEC linebacker Eric Norwood, underrated strong safety Darian Stewart and emerging star end Cliff Matthews.
Strange as it might sound, the defense will be helped most this season by USC’s offense. Perhaps for the first time since Spurrier’s arrival, USC will place a greater emphasis on ball control.
That will begin with a newly established running game after USC finished last in the SEC in rushing each of the past two seasons. There might not be a star in the backfield, but a stable of solid running backs will give USC enough of a rushing attack to take much of the pressure off quarterback Stephen Garcia.
Bank on it — Garcia will have a big, big season. He will not be asked to be the offense, but rather to run the offense. He also will not be looking over his shoulder or to the sideline after every mistake. He is the quarterback, and I suspect will soon be the leader of the offense.
Of course, strong play by the defense and a more-balanced offense with a standout season from Garcia does not equate to an SEC East championship. A schedule that includes games against teams ranked Nos. 1, 5, 8 and 13 in the preseason does not bode well for USC.
Nevertheless, there remains some magic in Spurrier’s touch. Give him victories against Florida Atlantic, S.C. State, Kentucky and Vanderbilt. USC is not going to win at Arkansas or at home against Florida.
That leaves six other games that could go either way. USC will win one from the three against North Carolina State, Georgia and Mississippi. The Gamecocks also will steal another win out of Knoxville and defeat Clemson for only the third time over the past 13 seasons.
The seven-win regular season and a victory over Miami in the Music City Bowl will send USC fans into a familiar frenzied state heading into the 2010 season.
Listen to Morris Tuesdays from 4-5 p.m. on ESPN Radio 93.1 FM.
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