Cloninger Soundoff: Rewards starting to roll in for Martin’s Gamecocks

Frank Martin isn’t getting ahead of himself. He’s seen how this can boomerang right back to the land of 14 wins.

But it’s hard not to smile – this is what he has always known could happen.

The Gamecocks are only 6-3, but they’ve won four straight and blown out two major-conference opponents in a row, including in the rivalry game. They have an excellent chance to be 8-3 going into their final non-conference game, and then tackle the SEC.

His players, the ones he had to be so patient with as he rebuilt the entire roster, know his system now. They play defense like five Tasmanian devils. They’re finding ways to score even when their most talented player is locked up.

The howls from Charlotte and Akron seem so long ago, although it was less than a month. USC’s fan base has never been renowned for its patience, the very thing Martin had to keep pleading for, but the rewards are starting to roll in.

Long way to go. Anything can happen.

Anything can be good, you know.

This story was originally published December 19, 2014 at 11:35 PM with the headline "Cloninger Soundoff: Rewards starting to roll in for Martin’s Gamecocks."