Gamecocks’ raggedness in openers continues. USC now in hard spot in unusual season
Two years ago, the South Carolina football team didn’t look sharp in its opener. But that was against Coastal Carolina, and the Gamecocks rolled to a win anyway.
To start 2019, the Gamecocks were again not sharp, and it cost them against a UNC team that proved more formidable than expected.
Coming into Saturday’s season opener against Tennessee, USC coach Will Muschamp had warned his team would have to be on its Ps and Qs. SEC games are, by nature, close. All signs pointed to a tight one between the Vols and Gamecocks, and the game delivered that.
Saturday’s 31-27 contest was one lost on the margins, a theme in the rockier moments of some key losses the past two seasons.
Set aside the final play where a Gamecock inadvertently touched the ball, an ill-fated punt that hit one of the gunners and was recovered by Tennessee. There were small moments that made a big difference, some that could’ve been prevented.
South Carolina had to dig out from an early hole. Why? The offense gave away seven points with a pick six, a ball that was dropped. Quarterback Collin Hill took blame for the interception while noting the ball was thrown a bit behind his target.
A missed block on the edge ... or a batted pass Hill caught himself for an 11-yard loss ... or some breakdowns in pass protection. They all seemed to put the Gamecocks behind the sticks. It ended with six scoreless possessions to end the half.
“Ok ... some bad breaks,” former Gamecock QB Erik Kimrey wrote on Twitter during the first half. “Gotta respond.”
On another play, Buck lineman J.J. Enagbare committed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that didn’t lead to a score but left the Gamecocks pinned. Defensive back Cam Smith had a pass interference so egregious it was called on an uncatchable ball just before a Vols field goal.
Asked about a series of blown-up screen plays that often put his team behind the chains, Muschamp referenced missed blocks on the edge. On a late drive for the potential game-tying score, a pass to tight end Nick Muse was maybe a little high, but also off his hands, in a crucial spot.
On a key third down, receiver Shi Smith had a tight lane to get the first on the outside. He reached as he stepped out of bounds and came up just short — an extra effort might’ve meant a better spot from the refs. (It was ruled fourth down; USC punted.)
To steal a line from the television show “The Wire”: a little slow, a little late.
This isn’t to say there wasn’t a reason for the Gamecocks not to have a lot to clean up after Game 1. The COVID-19 pandemic scrambled everything for everyone. The whole offseason was different, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if that had an effect.
But this was an evening where the Gamecocks simply couldn’t afford to be uneven. This schedule looked formidable even before opponents Ole Miss and Kentucky looked particularly spry and feisty in their openers.
Last year’s first game was a tone setter, in a way. The route to a .500 record could get notably easier or harder if USC banked a win in the first game.
The same could be said of Saturday. Now it will require an upset for the Gamecocks just to be 2-3 overall by the halfway mark of a 10-game, SEC-only season. A win was needed and would’ve been a momentum-booster in a year where every game will be hard-fought.
And a few too many times against the Vols, South Carolina found itself a little off, a little more ragged than it could afford to be.
South Carolina 2020 football schedule
Sept. 26: Tennessee 31, South Carolina 27
Oct. 3: at Florida, noon (ESPN)
Oct. 10: at Vanderbilt
Oct. 17: home vs. Auburn
Oct. 24: at LSU
Oct. 31: OPEN
Nov. 7: home vs. Texas A&M, 7:30 pm (ESPN or SEC Network)
Nov. 14: at Ole Miss
Nov. 21: home vs. Missouri
Nov. 28: home vs. Georgia
Dec. 5: at Kentucky
This story was originally published September 27, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
