Five gameday storylines: USC vs. UAB
The quarterback conundrum
The Gamecocks go into a second straight game Saturday without knowing, or at least without announcing, who will start at quarterback. South Carolina plans to start sophomore Dylan Thompson for a second straight week, a source told The State on Friday. Junior Connor Shaw, the regular starter, will be available in case of emergency. The decision shouldn’t have any impact on the outcome of the game, but it could have longer-reaching implications. If Thompson has another impressive statistical outing, will Steve Spurrier give more thought to giving him more opportunities even when Shaw is healthy? What if Shaw plays and struggles throwing the football, as he did against Vanderbilt in the season-opener?
A shot at history
If Steve Spurrier does not become the 22nd major college football coach in history to win 200 collegiate games, it will be a major upset. Spurrier has downplayed the milestone all week, but his colleagues are impressed. “Just take a look at the history of the game and how many people have accomplished what that man has accomplished,” Arkansas coach John L. Smith said. “It’s special. That speaks volumes. And it says, ‘Hey, this guy’s good.’ ” Spurrier considers himself a 200-game winner already, he said, because he has won 47 professional games in the NFL and USFL. Still, expect it to be a TV topic this evening.
Sack attack
The Gamecocks’ six sacks are tied for 23rd in the country, which is impressive but the potential is there to add greatly to that number Saturday. South Carolina had five sacks in their opener but just one against East Carolina last week, thanks to the Pirates’ quick-passing game. UAB runs a much different system. The Blazers will try to throw the ball down the field. UAB coach Garrick McGee was Arkansas’ offensive coordinator the last two years, and the Razorbacks have had plenty of success throwing the ball against South Carolina in years past. However, UAB’s offensive line doesn’t figure to be able to block Jadeveon Clowney and Devin Taylor long enough to make that kind of offense work.
Holloman’s output
Senior spur DeVonte Holloman was a big part of South Carolina’s plans entering this season, but he has only three tackles in two games at his new position. He won’t be tested in any significant way in Saturday’s game, but this is his last chance to get comfortable. Missouri, which comes to town next week, runs a spread offense that will stress every part of South Carolina’s secondary, and Tigers quarterback James Franklin can exploit a weakness. Holloman needs to prove he can make some plays at the spur position if South Carolina is to reach its full potential on defense.
The end of the preseason
No offense to East Carolina and UAB, but after a tight opening win over conference opponent Vanderbilt to start the season, the last two weeks have seemed pretty slow. That won’t be the case starting Monday, when preparation begins for SEC newcomer Missouri. Spurrier says the Gamecocks are still a work in progress. That’s true of every team in the country, but a lot of that work needs to be done after Saturday. Missouri starts a string of seven straight conference games. After Missouri and then a road game against Kentucky, South Carolina will face five straight opponents who figure to be ranked at the time of the meeting (Georgia, at LSU, at Florida, Tennessee, Arkansas).
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Head to head
South Carolina cornerback Vic Hampton vs. UAB wide receiver Patrick Hearn
Hearn, a 6-foot-1, 203-pound senior is not the Blazers’ leading returning receiver, but he had a prolific game against Troy in UAB’s only other outing this season. If Hampton draws this assignment, it might be a chance for him to finally get in on some plays this year. The 5-10 sophomore has five tackles but no pass breakups or interceptions this year. That’s mostly because he hasn’t had many opportunities. In the past, Hampton said, that kind of inactivity would lead to him getting bored and out of position, but he has done a good job of covering his assignments this season, secondary coach Grady Brown said. “When you are a good player like he is and you want to get involved and you want to get your hands on balls, it’s tough when you don’t get those opportunities, but he and I talk about that every day,” Brown said.
This story was originally published September 14, 2012 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Five gameday storylines: USC vs. UAB."