Steve Spurrier was right. After another narrow loss last season, against Tennessee in this case, Spurrier was quoted as saying, “We’re good enough to scare people and that’s about it.” As of today, nothing has changed. In Year 4 of the Spurrier era in Columbia, South Carolina’s most memorable moments are still occurring in losses. Saturday’s game vs. LSU was only the latest example of this, as the Gamecocks played good enough defense to win, were good enough on special teams to win and, at least in the first half, moved the ball good enough on offense to win the game. The only problem is, the Gamecocks didn’t win the game.
The curious part is that if you look at the juniors and seniors on this team—on offense, that is—you’re wondering, “Where did the coaches use the scholarships those two years?” At least when Lou Holtz was recruiting in Columbia there was a regular infusion of ultra-talented players at skill positions. Guys like Derek Watson and Demetrius Summers … OK, those probably aren’t the two best examples, but you get my point. Somehow, it seems to have taken this staff two years to finally hit the bull’s eye on running backs and wide receivers and even a quarterback.
And it’s not just the speed and size factor that the team has been missing on offense. When it’s the fourth quarter and the team needs a first down to move the chains and run out the clock, when the team is down two scores with six minutes left and somebody has to step up and make a big play, at that point it goes beyond simply being bigger, stronger and faster. You need leadership and experience and at the most critical positions … on offense … the Gamecocks simply don’t have it at this point. But …
LOOKING AHEAD
I still believe the future is bright for South Carolina. Redshirt freshman Stephen Garcia appears to be the answer Spurrier and his staff have spent four years searching for. Freshman Eric Baker is the first tailback the coaches have brought in that evokes words like, “explosive” and “dynamic” and “game-changer.” There are others, as well.
Charles Whitlock is only a freshman, but is promising enough that the pending departure of Kenny McKinley doesn’t completely horrify garnet-and-black faithful. While pass protection has been a house of horrors for South Carolina, a slew of sophomores and redshirt freshman dot the two-deep. It ain’t been good for the ‘Cocks in that phase during 2008, but there is promise for better things in Garcia’s sophomore season and beyond.
And improvement to the offense is the only variable here. Ryan Succop is among the nation’s best placekickers. The defense has been good since Spurrier’s debut three seasons ago and he’s now added defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson to the staff. While the mountain in the SEC East just keeps getting higher, it appears South Carolina is finally putting some of the pieces in place to compete. Just not this year.
Oliver can be heard on 790 The Zone’s “Afternoon Saloon” weekdays from 4-7 p.m. and can be reached at king@790thezone.com.
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