‘Every game’s winnable.’ Don’t count the Gamecocks out, Nick Muse says
Nick Muse believes South Carolina can win all six games remaining on its schedule.
Just look at the national landscape, where perennial powers like Alabama, Clemson, Oregon and Ohio State have fallen by the season’s midpoint. The Gamecocks’ fifth-year tight end has taken notice.
“We’re 3-3, but we have a chance to win every single game out,” Muse told reporters Tuesday. “You’ve seen how college football is this year. Nobody’s unbeatable.”
South Carolina is at the midpoint of its first season under Shane Beamer. The Gamecocks are 3-3, with wins over Eastern Illinois, East Carolina and Troy. They’re winless in the Southeastern Conference, falling to Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee by a combined score of 101-43.
But Muse’s optimism can be seen across the entire football team — it’s an air of confidence that could be unexpected from a team trending toward the bottom of its conference in multiple offensive categories. USC is 13th of 14 SEC teams in total offense and points per game, 12th in passing yards and 11th in rushing yards.
Quarterback Luke Doty, at the helm of South Carolina’s offense since early in its third game, is the SEC’s 12th-ranked quarterback with a 119.4 quarterback rating. But he’s showing consistent improvement in various areas.
Doty had his best completion percentage of 2021 against Kentucky (68%), his most completions against Troy (20) and his best rushing total of the season against Tennessee (29 yards).
“Every week is just more exciting because it’s the next one,” Doty said “That’s something we always talk about, not only in the quarterback room, but in the offensive team room as well. It’s just putting whatever happened in the last week behind us and focusing on what’s next.
“I definitely think there’s some room for improvement as far as the offense goes, and obviously there’s going to be room for improvement every single week.”
Beamer said his goal for a successful season hasn’t changed since the preseason. He simply wants to “maximize the potential” of South Carolina football.
“If we can be the very best 2021 South Carolina football team, whatever that is, I’ll be happy,” Beamer said. “All you’ve got to do is watch the effort we play with every Saturday and know that these guys are playing their butts off and enjoying being a part of this.”
The Gamecocks play Vanderbilt at home this week in one of their best chances, on paper, to earn another win. From there, it’s a road meeting with Texas A&M, which just upset Alabama; an off week; a home game against Florida; a trip to Missouri; and then closing out with back-to-back home matchups with Auburn and Clemson.
But Muse doesn’t think South Carolina should be counted out.
“Every game’s winnable,” Muse said. “We know that. Whether we’re predicted to win three and a half games by Vegas, or we go to a bowl game 9-3, anything’s possible. So you’ve got to have the right mindset, positive attitude and gotta make our plays.”
