Head Ball Coach Can't Believe South Carolina Lost To Mizzou

Early in the fourth quarter South Carolina wide receiver Pharoh Cooper caught a 23 yard touchdown
pass from Dylan Thompson to give the Gamecocks at 20-7 lead at home.



Though the 'Cocks nailed the extra point head coach Steve Spurrier's gut said go for two.

'I messed up on the two-point conversion, should have gone for it." Spurrier said.  "I wasn’t even thinking about it until I looked up and saw it was 20-7. I had something in my mind that 16-7 might be real good the way our defense was playing. All of a sudden Pharoh [Cooper] caught that [the touchdown pass] and nobody even on the bench thought about it [going for two points]. I looked up and said you know what we should have gone for two, too late now. That was a mistake on my part."

That's because Mizzou scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to stun South Carolina 21-20 leaving the head ball coach sick at his stomach.



"It was a tough night for us."  Spurrier said.

Meanwhile Gary Pinkel was thrilled.

"When things got tough, we just stayed positive." Pinkel said. "Big win for us."

It's big because Mizzou is the only team in the SEC East that's undefeated in conference play.

"We just have got to focus on getting better and the confidence level that you gain for something like this is significant."  Pinkel said.  "We’ve got to be a lot better football team. We’ve got to use this to make us better, not use this to make us feel good.”

Your South Carolina Football Rap Video of the Day

((ht: ajc.com))

Because we just like to share such things when we come upon them.

This one actually isn't too bad, it's a hip-hop video done by a local guy in Columbia trying to hype the South Carolina Gamecocks.

And as far as videos go, it's fairly well produced and edited. It features quite a few people and places around Columbia, along with multiple players and former star RB Marcus Lattimore.

The Gamecocks again will be very good in a very competitive SEC, this perhaps may serve as some extra motivation.

For them...or maybe their opponents....

Spurrier Says Clowney May Not Play In Season Opener VS North Carolina

The head ball coach did say it when reporters gathered around Steve Spurrier Monday night.



You heard right, Jadeveon Clowney might miss South Carolina's season opener against North Carolina because of a bruised shoulder.

You can just see the frustration on Steve Spurrier's face.  Perhaps the head ball coach will remind Clowney and the other players the difference between being hurt and injured.

The game is scheduled to be televised by ESPN.  You wonder if an four-letter executive is on the "bat phone" with South Carolina's athletic administration begging, pleading that Clowney can suit up.

Who else would the 4 - letter zone in on to sell that game.

Random Ruminations of Steve Spurrier

Hmmmm. And what folks is the age that you are required to be to vote again?

Uh...18?

Well, someone probably should, if they already haven't, remind South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier about that.

The 'ol ball coach was asked at his weekly press conference today about allowing his players extra time to go vote he answered "Our players that are 21?"

Oops.

Oh, by the way, we already know he's not fans of his local media. He got an opportunity today to answer a question about one of his players conditioning by answering "His body fat is very low, unlike a lot of you guys".

Haha! Guffaw, guffaw oh Steve, you are SO witty:

Thanks WACH-Tv for the clip:

Will Muschamp is intense

We're guessing Coach Boom (Will Muschamp of Florida) wasn't happy at halftime of his team's 44-11 drubbing of South Carolina.

He's an intense man. What else could explain this? Maybe he likes "Overcoming Adveristy"?

Steve Spurrier vs. Local Columnist: He really believes this is heat?

Whiny Bitch

We didn't really touch on this story last week, and maybe we should have. It appears that the man with the thinnest skin in College Football has made an issue over a critical columnist in his local paper.

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier thinks that The State (Columbia, SC) columnist Ron Morris has some sort of ax to grind with him. The latest reason: Spurrier taking umbrage with Morris critiquing some of Spurrier's decisions.

And Spurrier blew a gasket.

He's accused Morris of slandering him. He's accused him of having an ax to grind. He's accused Morris of trying to run him out of town. And he's blamed Morris for making him cancel a press conference before the Kentucky game two weeks ago.

(Note--This isn't the first time Spurrier took his ball and went home because of Morris's presence)

And Morris, who is perfectly in his rights to be critical of the coach, did something kind of stupid last week. In an attempt to explain what was happening, he compared Spurrier's power in Columbia to the Penn State scandal.

Bad move.

Anyone who has ever dealt with Spurrier knows how thin his skin is. He's the life of the party when his team wins and plays well. But he's also the "Guy who can laugh at others but not himself".

And he's using all of this to make stupid threats. Spurrier has gone on record, telling a local radio station that the University president and the publisher of the paper have talked and this will be taken care of. Spurrier has gone on to whine that "If Morris stays, I might have to just head to the beach". He also said that he wouldn't have taken the job if he knew he had to deal with Morris.

OKAY....ENOUGH!!!

We kind of summarized the alleged "Feud" here because it just gets stupider the more you read about it. Really, Spurrier is pissed because one columnist questions him? Boy he wouldn't last long in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Tuscaloosa, Knoxville or any other SEC outpost.

The problem is he has so much "Power" that everyone in Columbia is on his side. And he's wrong. It's not the Newspaper's job...or the public's job to agree with everything he says. Spurrier is taking advantage of the fact he's winning right now. And the Ass-Clowns in Columbia are ready to burn Morris at the stake because of it.

These days, it's a popular game to blame the media for everything that's wrong. From political candidates who say that the media is conspiring against them if they aren't winning, to poor-defenseless football coaches who think that nobody dare question them.

And the public buys into it. The fan base doesn't seem to care if their "Hero" does wrong. Heck, the hero doesn't even have to tell the truth anymore. The public wants their hero to be able to do whatever they want until they do something wrong. And then and only then do they want it to be reported on. All the "Fans" want is this: "We won!" "How great and perfect are we?"

If Spurrier had his way, the headline would be something like this:

"Spurrier Calls Perfect Game, Gamecocks Win 88-0"

Dateline: Columbia, SC

South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier, the greatest coach in football history called every play perfectly, leading his team to an 88-0 win over Georgia Saturday.

Carolina looked like they could score and did score every time they had the ball and held the Georgia defense to 3 and out on every series.

Said Spurrier, "We're getting better, but we still have some work to do to be perfect"

Georgia had only 3 yards rushing and 3 yards passing during the game.

Spurrier as he is wont to do, praised his offense as well. "We were great today" We did everything well" "I'm proud of our kids".

Faithful Gamecock fans stayed and cheered throughout the whole game, something Spurrier couldn't have been more happy about.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Possible Real Game story:

"Georgia Holds off Carolina 28-26"

The Georgia Bulldogs held off a mistake prone South Carolina Gamecock team that committed 10 turnovers. 

Said Bulldog coach Mark Richt: "We were fortunate they had trouble executing plays. And when we had the ball, they had trouble stopping us"

The Bulldogs ran up 527 yards of total offense against a Gamecock defense that had trouble stopping the run.

Richt: "We could have scored more if we held on to the ball"

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier stormed out of his press conference when a writer, not from Columbia, asked about his teams poor performance. Said Spurrier: "Why do you have such an ax to grind against us?" "Our kids played horribly, but you can't ask me about that."

By the end of the game, which was closer than it should have been, the Williams-Brice crowd had thinned to only a handful of supporters, eager to see if the home team could come back.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Which version sounds more likely here? If Spurrier were to be believed, Carolina fans would only hear about version 1--no matter what happened.

So think about it Gamecock fan. Do you really want the Sugar-Coated "Ain't we great" version every day, all the time? Or do you want the truth? Do you want someone to say, "Hey what happened? Why didn't we do this?"

We aren't saying Morris is perfect, but this is all about the premise and not anything else.

For you Steven Orr Spurrier:

TWTW Thursday: South Carolina, Vandy, UConn, UMass

Here's your Thursday recap...

South Carolina just got out of Vanderbilt alive 17-13
Here's the OBC talking about survival and Connor Shaw got out alive- although he gets a lot of bonus points for being a tough SOB...
((HT: ABCColumbia))
UConn welcomed UMass to Division I with a 37-0 shutout at Renschler Field. It was the first time the two schools played each other since 1999, when both schools were Division I-AA... it wasn't even close... ((HT: WTNH-TV))

UConn beats UMass 37-0 in renewal of rivalry

UNLV lost to Minnesota in three overtimes 30-27, the highlights are here fron 13 Action News/KTNV-TV
Other winners include Central Michigan (sorry, Wilkie), UCLA, and Utah
More fun tonight...

Ess-E-Cee Media Day One: Spurrier Goes Funny...Everyone Else Survives...

((HT: WLTX-TV Columbia))

The OBC was in rare form on Day One of Ess-E-Cee Media Days in Birmingham-slash-Hoover...

"If I made the schedule, Georgia would be playing LSU and we'd be playing Ole Miss," Spurrier said.

Spurrier later apologized to Ole Miss...

Here's Spurrier at the Wynfrey Hotel's version of the Chuckle Hut...
Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel stood there at the same podium and said there's a perception that "we play a bunch of high school teams." He says the Tigers know they have to earn respect in the SEC. Pinkel says Missouri fans have gone beyond excitement over playing in the SEC and "have become fanatical about it." Good luck with that one, coach... Vandy head coach had one thought for prospective recruits: "If you're truly the best and the brightest where else would you go?" Franklin led the Commodores to six wins and their second bowl appearance since 1982 in his first year at the helm... The HQ is thinking 5-7 ourselves, losing to Wake Forest on the last game of the year... Texas A&M has a new coach in Kevin Sumlin and he's ready to play in a damn, tough conference... ((HT: KBTX-TV Bryan/College Station)) But Missouri wide receiver T.J. Moe was the quote machine for the day: "It's like a zoo around here. Look at you guys. There's 1,100 media members here, I'm wearing a suit and tie for some reason, and I got escorted to an elevator by security when I got off the bus here. There were 15 people waiting for an autograph, so it's just different. It's way cooler here."
They're just lucky that they may not be around tomorrow...
That's when Alabama speaks and the world rotates off-kilter...

DEVELOPING: Frank Martin To South Carolina...(UPDATED and UPDATED AGAIN)

((HT: KCStar/Robinett))

Looks like Kansas State basketball coach Frank Martin is heading to Columbia, SC to be South Carolina’s next head coach- according to "sources close to the coach" a day after he denied interest in the job during CBS coverage of the regional finals.

That same "source" says Martin will be introduced tomorrow.

According to Robinett:

The State also reported that a trustees meeting had been called to discuss “a contractual matter.”

Earlier Monday, Martin’s agent, Richard Katz, said “we have had conversations” with South Carolina, but would not say a deal was done.

Darrin Horn went 10-21 last year for South Carolina...

Here's what Columbia may be getting for sound bites...
((HT: youtube))


1615 UPDATE: Martin has texted Andy Katz and is reportedly "weighing" the offer from South Carolina...

2015 UPDATE: Katz says it's a done deal...
He discusses...
((HT: ESPN))

More Hoops Carousel: Darrin Horn out at S. Carolina

And the carousel keeps spinning.

The University of South Carolina, long an SEC basketball doormat has parted ways with head coach Darrin Horn.

Horn a former Western Kentucky coach and star took over the program in 2008 and was 60-63 during that time. This season was particularly bad as the Gamecoks lost 12 of their final 13.

More on the firing RIGHT HERE

Speculation has already been rampant that Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall is next in line for the job. However, the Shockers are currently playing in the NCAA tournament.

Marshall does have the ties, he was the coach at Winthrop for several years when they were an NCAA Cinderella team.

We'll see who ends up with the job be it Marshall or someone else. Whomever does take it...and someone will, inherits a team with little major conference talent outside guard Bruce Ellington.

Needless to say, it is definitely a job for an optimist.

Coaching Carousel: Ellis Johnson to Southern Miss

Ellis Johnson

((ht: saturdaydownsouth.com))

It looks like the 'ol Ball Coach will need to find a new defensive coordinator and assistant Head Coach at the University of South Carolina.

Thats because Ellis Johnson will apparently be the new head coach at Southern Mississippi.

Johnson's work with the Gamecock defense has been widely praised as they've grown into a national "Top 10" group.

According to a reports, Johnson will stick around and coach the Gamecock "D" in the Capital One Bowl versus Nebraska.

Johnson takes over for the departing Larry Fedora, who led this years Golden Eagle squad to 11-wins. Fedora is moving on to take the reins and North Carolina.

TWTW Late Shift Part One: Alabama, VT, Sakerlina, NCState

Some highlights from the late shift...

Alabama's Trent Richardson ran for 203 yards (who knew, right?) as Alabama blew out Auburn 42-14...

That gave the fans who commuted from Tuscaloosa the chance to do this...
((HT: al.com))


Don't bet on either Gus Malzahn or Ted Roof hanging around next year...
One's a head coach and the other's looking for work. And see if Tracy Rocker will come home for a promotion...

Charlottesville fans thought, as did a lot of us, that the game with Vatech would be competitive...

Boy, were we all wrong... 38-0 VaTech...
And UVa fans were not happy about it...
((HT: Newsplex.com))


Connor Shaw had a good game for Sakerlina as they beat Clemson- whose season started well, and is circling the drain rather quickly...
((HT: WSPA-TV))


Is Randy Edsall that bad a head coach, or is Maryland that bad a football team to begin with...???

Could be some combination, but well leave the assessment to Brother Wilkie... Down 41-14 to win 56-41...

Awesome...

The Wolfpack scored 35 points in the fourth quarter as part of a rally surpassed in an ACC game only by Clemson's comeback from a 28-point deficit to beat Virginia 29-28 in 1992.

"It's the greatest thing I've ever been a part of," tight end George Bryan said.

Here's Tom O'Brien... Still Mister Excitement...
((HT: WRALSportsfan.com))

DEVELOPING: Lattimore Out For Season

Here's the injury... and it wasn't pretty...
((HT: youtube/SEC Network))


Initially called a left knee sprain, it's now Sakerlina head coach Steve Spurrier saying Marcus Lattimore has ligament and cartilage damage in his knee. Spurrier said doctors want the knee to stabilize for a few weeks before operating on it.

Lattimore had been the Southeastern Conference's top rusher most of the season until he was overtaken by Alabama's Trent Richardson. Lattimore had 39 yards in South Carolina's win.

More when we know more...

DEVELOPING: Garcia Dismissed From Sakerlina

South Carolina senior quarterback Stephen Garcia has been dismissed from the football team...

The University of South Carolina released this statement...

“Being a student-athlete at the University of South Carolina is a privilege, not a right,” said Athletics Director Eric Hyman, “and we remind all of our student-athletes that there are consequences for their actions. For Stephen to return to and remain with the football squad this fall, we agreed on several established guidelines. Unfortunately, he has not been able to abide by those guidelines and has therefore forfeited his position on the roster. We wish him the best of luck as he moves forward in life.”

“We are all saddened that this has occurred,” said head coach Steve Spurrier. “We all feel like we’ve given Stephen numerous opportunities to be a student-athlete here at South Carolina. Obviously, he has chosen not to follow the guidelines of his reinstatement contract. We wish him the best.”

Garcia finishes his career with 7,597 passing yards, completing almost 58 percent of his passes with 47 touchdowns along with 41 interceptions.

He became the third quarterback in school history to throw for more than 7,500 yards in a career. He is also ranks third on the all-time charts in pass attempts, pass completions and passing touchdowns.

Garcia posted a 20-14 record as a starting quarterback.

More when we know more...

TWTW: Sakerlina Wrap- Clemson For Real, Gamecocks Jury Still Out

((HT: WSPA-TV))

Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney is still winning ((much to the dismay of TBH after the smack he ran after beating Auburn earlier this season))... they're off to their best start since 2000 after going into Blacksburg and beating Va Tech Saturday...

Holding them to only 3 points, even...

Here's your post...


Over at the Fairgrounds, Auburn OC Gus Malzahn pulled the Lutzenkirchen throwback out of the rear of the playbook. It was good enough for a 16-13 upset win and it gave the OBC pause to reflect on his quarterback situation since Stephen Garcia went all of 9-for-23 in the loss.

Here's them talking as well... led off by Coach Spurrier himself...
Who is still looking for more time to be put on the clock...

South Carolina allegations made public

((ht:gogamecocks.com))

Whitney Hotel/Courtesy: thestate.com

Well, there goes Mike Slive's dream of having all his schools out of trouble with the NCAA. The latest addition to the list of school's with NCAA issues is South Carolina.

Monday evening, the school was served. With a "Notice of Allegations" by the NCAA that is.

They allege that multiple football and two women's track athlete's got rooms at highly reduced rates at the Whitney Hotel from May of 2009 through October of last year.

We reported on this story back in September of 2010, read that story RIGHT HERE

That was the primary violation according to investigators.

The other, involved a group called the Student-Athlete Mentoring Foundation. Investigators say the president and treasurer of the group provided recruiting inducements and other benefits to football players, a basketball player and members of the track and field team.

Tied in with this. The suspension of wide receiver Damiere Byrd. Byrd, who's father is the VP of the foundation, had 4 visits funded by the group and a variety of other illegal gifts. Byrd must repay $2,700 back to the foundation.

Read the entire story from gogamecocks.com RIGHT HERE

It sounds an awful lot like South Carolina has some problems. While the SAM Foundation issue is minor and somewhat nit-picky, the issue with the Whitney Hotel is a bit more problematic. Though yes, we know the NCAA considers them both potential major violations.

The bigger issue is that SC qualifies as a "Repeat Offender" because violations they were proven guilty of in 2005, are not 5-years removed from this current issue.

The school will be stating their case in front of the "Committee on Infractions" this coming February. Yes, they have the chance to impose some of their own sanctions beforehand and we are betting they will. They've already disassociated themselves (at least publicly) from the hotel and the SAM Foundation. To their credit, they've already gone on record saying they take the problems seriously and will work with the NCAA to resolve any issues. And that also is a good thing.

As always, there will be some repercussions from this, and it will affect current players, not those who committed most of the violations. There won't be much done to the coaches or administrators, there never are.

South Carolina will survive this, our guess is they lose some scholarships and are put on double-secret probation for awhile. That is pretty typical of an NCAA penalty for something like this.

WLTX-TV in Columbia gives you the TV version of this story: