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YouTube ref has quiet return to Columbia
Thomas starts ahead of Woodson at corner; Lanning matches Colquitt’s night
CommentsThere was a chance on Saturday for USC’s biggest YouTube football moment to be relived. And it almost happened.
Two weeks after his infamous collision with USC quarterback Stephen Garcia, umpire Wilbur Hackett Jr. once again was assigned to a Gamecocks’ home game.
In the first half against LSU, Garcia ran into Hackett, although many felt it was the other way around. While the play got national attention, the SEC and coach Steve Spurrier said Hackett did nothing wrong.
Hackett was almost involved in another play Saturday, in almost the same spot on the field.
But this time he ducked away from a pass Garcia threw right at him, and Mike Davis grabbed it and ran in for the 12-yard touchdown.
Cornerback shuffle. There was a change in starting cornerbacks for USC, but not the one that was expected.
After dealing with a virus in the days leading up to the game, junior Captain Munnerlyn started. He had to be helped off the field in the first quarter with an unknown injury but returned on the next series. He later had a 38-yard fumble return that set up USC’s second touchdown.
The Gamecocks did make a switch on the other side of the field, starting Carlos Thomas ahead of Stoney Woodson. It was far from a stunning move, however, as the two seniors have both played a lot, and Thomas entered with 20 career starts.
The benching didn’t affect Woodson much. He had a 68-yard interception return in the first minute of the second quarter for USC’s second touchdown.
What’s in a name. When a punter does just as good as a Colquitt, that means he had a good night. So it was for USC’s Spencer Lanning.
Lanning and Tennessee counterpart Britton Colquitt had almost identical nights. Colquitt averaged 45.3 yards on nine punts, while Lannings averaged 45 on eight. Colquitt was boosted by a career-high 71-yarder in the fourth quarter.
Lanning did beat Colquitt in one category, booting three inside the 20 while Colquitt had one.
Colquitt, the fourth member of his family to punt for the Volunteers, entered third on the school’s career list for punting average. Lanning is in his first year as USC’s starting punter.
Breaking the mold. Saturday’s game ended two unusual stats regarding USC’s SEC games.
In its previous five league games, the team leading at halftime had lost, and all five had been decided by five points.
Almost a record. Kenny McKinley finished the night 26 yards away from tying Sterling Sharpe as USC’s all-time leader in receiving yardage.
McKinley had 50 yards, all in the first half. Sharpe’s record is 2,497 yards. McKinley already holds the program record for receptions, which he broke three weeks ago at Kentucky.
Definitely a record. Eric Norwood broke the program record for tackles-for-a-loss, passing Andrew Provence, who played from 1980-82.
Norwood’s sack late in the game gave him 35.5 for his career. He entered with 34 and was credited with a half-sack earlier in the game.
Extra points. It was the eighth time this season that USC has held its opponent below its season average for points. Tennessee had averaged 18. The only team to do better against USC was Vanderbilt, which scored 24 points in its second game after scoring 21 the previous week. ... Spurrier improved his record against Tennessee to 11-7, including 2-2 at South Carolina.
Reach Emerson at (803) 771-8676.
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