🏈 South Carolina looks about done

[alagator]

If Spurrier is such a great recruiter, why can't he at least get 1 good qb out of all of these years there. Isn't there at least 1 good qb in the whole state (not to mention NC, which doesn't have a good football program) that would want to play for Spurrier? I mean, come on, he never had great qbs at Florida, but at least they could play his system.

Actually, Spurrier is not considered a great recruiter. In fact, the one knock many Gator fans had against him was that he failed to devote the time and attention and energy to this part of his job and thus did not take complete advantage of the, well, advantages his game preparation and in-game skills afford him and the overwhelming advantages (I need a thesaurus to find another word to substitute here) University provided the program. It was thought that he could have achieved even more had he tackled recruiting like Bobby Bowden and Mack Brown. (And for the record, UA could have achieved much more too that decade had Gene Stallings not been so arrogant about recruiting.)

Spurrier is finding it difficult to maintain his level of 'genius' now that he cannot just throw out a University of Florida brochure and many talented players get in line to sign. He actually has to work and sell and beg players to come to USCe, and he is just not good at that part of the game - and dislikes it even more. Despite any public pronouncements to the contrary.

But, although not a traditional athlete, Danny Wuerrfel (sic? - never have been able to spell his name with certainty) was by all accounts a 'great QB.' True, he never would have attained the career numbers he did had he gone with his second choice, Alabama and Stallings. But he would have been a great QB - considering all the things a QB has to bring to the table, in any system.

I love Spurrier (and Junior). But in all frankness, and at the risk of losing my membership in the UF alumni ranks, I think his see-saw performance at USCe puts to rest any and all claim to him being 'the best coach in SEC history' and maybe even a ranking in the Top 5. A span of slightly more than 10 years at one school, a school with enormous advantages (darn, there is that word again) over every other conference foe is not a sign of all-time greatness. Despite how dominating those 10 years were.

 

[Nate]

WHO'S ONLINE: 967 South Carolina fans online, including 116 guests. (Record: 1582 on September 4, 2008)

Melt down mode????

 

[Guest]

I think Spurriers legacy has slipped a but too.

Id rank him as 3rd best coach in SEC history
1.)Bear
2.)General

 

[ExiledTidefan]

I'm not saying anyone on this forum would stoop so low as to kick a program when they are obviously in meltdown mode, but I will say that we have certainly been here before. La Monroe, et al can make even the proudest fans recoil in anger. Saban got a pass last year on it because of his newness to us, but any coach that loses a game to an opponent that they are SUPPOSED to beat is always game for these fair weather, next morning fans to curse and call for his head.

Spurrier's not had great success at SC compared to his level of success at UF. The rise of UGA, the improvement from 95-00 at Tennessee, and then the other West programs play has made the SEC a very challenging place to compete. I doubt we will even see another undefeated team come out of the conference. I still think Spurrier's a great coach, but recruiting is not his best trait, and frankly, I'm not sure his heart is in it anymore. I don't think he really wanted work again after Washington. I am glad that Bama didn't get him, despite all of the folks who claimed he already had a house picked out in Northport :lol:

 

[Mecklenburg Cock]

If Spurrier is such a great recruiter, why can't he at least get 1 good qb out of all of these years there. Isn't there at least 1 good qb in the whole state (not to mention NC, which doesn't have a good football program) that would want to play for Spurrier? I mean, come on, he never had great qbs at Florida, but at least they could play his system.

Sorry but I gotta defend this. Chris Smelley is from Tuscaloosa, Alabama and now holds many of the Alabama High School passing records that Brodie Croyle previously held. Also, once Tim Tebow picked UF over Alabama who did Alabama call and offer a scholarship to?

Not trying to argue with anyone, but it's not fair to say Smelley isn't a solid recruit considering what he accomplished in the state of Alabama.

 

[TerryP]

If Spurrier is such a great recruiter, why can't he at least get 1 good qb out of all of these years there. Isn't there at least 1 good qb in the whole state (not to mention NC, which doesn't have a good football program) that would want to play for Spurrier? I mean, come on, he never had great qbs at Florida, but at least they could play his system.

FWIW, of the 6 QB's they have on campus, only two of them are from out of the NC/SC area; Smelley and Garcia.

They have a red-shirt this year that has some potential along the lines of Garcia (minus the drinking, hopefully) in Reid McCollum.

 

[Mecklenburg Cock]

If Spurrier is such a great recruiter, why can't he at least get 1 good qb out of all of these years there. Isn't there at least 1 good qb in the whole state (not to mention NC, which doesn't have a good football program) that would want to play for Spurrier? I mean, come on, he never had great qbs at Florida, but at least they could play his system.

FWIW, of the 6 QB's they have on campus, only two of them are from out of the NC/SC area; Smelley and Garcia.

They have a red-shirt this year that has some potential along the lines of Garcia (minus the drinking, hopefully) in Reid McCollum.

Reid should be a good one. He came out of Summerville High and played for the winningest coach in the country. Nevertheless, his number 1 target at Summerville was A.J. Green (the freshman WR at Georgia).

 

[reger60]

If Spurrier is such a great recruiter, why can't he at least get 1 good qb out of all of these years there. Isn't there at least 1 good qb in the whole state (not to mention NC, which doesn't have a good football program) that would want to play for Spurrier? I mean, come on, he never had great qbs at Florida, but at least they could play his system.

FWIW, of the 6 QB's they have on campus, only two of them are from out of the NC/SC area; Smelley and Garcia.

They have a red-shirt this year that has some potential along the lines of Garcia (minus the drinking, hopefully) in Reid McCollum.

Reid should be a good one. He came out of Summerville High and played for the winningest coach in the country. Nevertheless, his number 1 target at Summerville was A.J. Green (the freshman WR at Georgia).

Welcome M-Cock. Thanks for dropping by. So, tell us, what are the expectations for SC vs UGA?

 

[TerryP]

If Spurrier is such a great recruiter, why can't he at least get 1 good qb out of all of these years there. Isn't there at least 1 good qb in the whole state (not to mention NC, which doesn't have a good football program) that would want to play for Spurrier? I mean, come on, he never had great qbs at Florida, but at least they could play his system.

FWIW, of the 6 QB's they have on campus, only two of them are from out of the NC/SC area; Smelley and Garcia.

They have a red-shirt this year that has some potential along the lines of Garcia (minus the drinking, hopefully) in Reid McCollum.

Reid should be a good one. He came out of Summerville High and played for the winningest coach in the country. Nevertheless, his number 1 target at Summerville was A.J. Green (the freshman WR at Georgia).

I'm very, very familiar with Coach McKissick as well as Reid and AJ. They've got a kid, DeAngelo Henderson, at Summerville that has the potential to make some waves in the recruiting circles.

I live in the LowCountry, and I assure you my posts aren't so much "beat USC down" as much as it is "good to see Vandy have some luck for a change."

 

[Mecklenburg Cock]

If Spurrier is such a great recruiter, why can't he at least get 1 good qb out of all of these years there. Isn't there at least 1 good qb in the whole state (not to mention NC, which doesn't have a good football program) that would want to play for Spurrier? I mean, come on, he never had great qbs at Florida, but at least they could play his system.

FWIW, of the 6 QB's they have on campus, only two of them are from out of the NC/SC area; Smelley and Garcia.

They have a red-shirt this year that has some potential along the lines of Garcia (minus the drinking, hopefully) in Reid McCollum.

Reid should be a good one. He came out of Summerville High and played for the winningest coach in the country. Nevertheless, his number 1 target at Summerville was A.J. Green (the freshman WR at Georgia).

Welcome M-Cock. Thanks for dropping by. So, tell us, what are the expectations for SC vs UGA?

Honestly, after last night that's a tough one.

I think the SC fans will settledown in a day or so and get ready for this game (It's still early. The season's not over by any stetch.) We all remember that we went into Georgia and beat them last year. Both teams basically return the same players....plus, regardless of rankings and/or talent levels this game is always a close one.

Personally, I expect to win the game. But I'm also a realist about it. I know Georgia is the better team and should be heavily favored, but that was also the case last year when we won.

If our defense can play from beginning to end like the did in the 1st half last night and against NC State last week then I think we have a fair shot. We are fast on D, we have some play makers and we have experience there so.....it'll be interesting.

Offense is obviously a huge concern. Our QB play is so up and down that it really makes me cringe. If we can make some holes and get Mike Davis going early then not should be perform better on offense. Plus, and as Alabama proved last week, an effective running game not only demoralizes a team, but also makes it hard for their playermakers to get anything going on offense (Congrats on the win by the way. You had a huge fanbase in the state of South Carolina last Saturday night.).

In the end we'll have to play our best game on both sides of the ball from beginning to end to have a shot. We can't have the mistakes and breakdowns that we did last night or it'll get out of hand quickly.

 

[Mecklenburg Cock]

If Spurrier is such a great recruiter, why can't he at least get 1 good qb out of all of these years there. Isn't there at least 1 good qb in the whole state (not to mention NC, which doesn't have a good football program) that would want to play for Spurrier? I mean, come on, he never had great qbs at Florida, but at least they could play his system.

FWIW, of the 6 QB's they have on campus, only two of them are from out of the NC/SC area; Smelley and Garcia.

They have a red-shirt this year that has some potential along the lines of Garcia (minus the drinking, hopefully) in Reid McCollum.

Reid should be a good one. He came out of Summerville High and played for the winningest coach in the country. Nevertheless, his number 1 target at Summerville was A.J. Green (the freshman WR at Georgia).

I'm very, very familiar with Coach McKissick as well as Reid and AJ. They've got a kid, DeAngelo Henderson, at Summerville that has the potential to make some waves in the recruiting circles.

I live in the LowCountry, and I assure you my posts aren't so much "beat USC down" as much as it is "good to see Vandy have some luck for a change."

No doubt and I completely agree with you. As much as I hated to lose that game last night, it's hard not to pull for Coach Johnson. He's a class guy and he really has an uphill battle against other SEC teams.

 

[ExiledTidefan]

Hey Mecklenburg...Thanks for stopping in to add your comments. It's great to hear from some of our rivals when they have a good head on their shoulders like you seem to have.

I saw your screen name and location in Charlotte and thought I'd do a shout out, since I lived in Charlotte from 99-2003. My wife and I both lived and worked around South Park. She for an investment bank, me for a very large Steel Company hq'd in Charlotte. You probably know who I'm talking about.

Great Tide fan contingent up there. We used to watch the games at Hickory Tavern down there south of town, but I can't remember if it was Johnston Road or Rea Road...

Back on SC....You guys are better off with Spurrier than Holtz, but that's two really good coaches who've had slow success there. Having an in-state rival that competes so hard in recruiting makes it tough...If Bama didn't have the history that we have, I'm sure Auburn would do better, and it's cyclical too.

I hope the Cocks beat Georgia. I really don't like the 'tude coming out of Athens these days. Waaaaayyy too much hype for a team that won a lot of close games last year, and was smashed by Tennessee.

 

[Mecklenburg Cock]

Hey Mecklenburg...Thanks for stopping in to add your comments. It's great to hear from some of our rivals when they have a good head on their shoulders like you seem to have.

I saw your screen name and location in Charlotte and thought I'd do a shout out, since I lived in Charlotte from 99-2003. My wife and I both lived and worked around South Park. She for an investment bank, me for a very large Steel Company hq'd in Charlotte. You probably know who I'm talking about.

Great Tide fan contingent up there. We used to watch the games at Hickory Tavern down there south of town, but I can't remember if it was Johnston Road or Rea Road...

Back on SC....You guys are better off with Spurrier than Holtz, but that's two really good coaches who've had slow success there. Having an in-state rival that competes so hard in recruiting makes it tough...If Bama didn't have the history that we have, I'm sure Auburn would do better, and it's cyclical too.

I hope the Cocks beat Georgia. I really don't like the 'tude coming out of Athens these days. Waaaaayyy too much hype for a team that won a lot of close games last year, and was smashed by Tennessee.

Exiled,

Thanks for the shout out! I live in Sedgefield and grew up in Dilworth so I'm very familiar with the Southpark area.

I think I know the steel company you're talking about. They were a client of mine for a couple of years. Also, I actually watched the NFL draft at that Hickory Tavern (on Providence Rd.) this past year. To say I spent more time watching our waitress than watching the draft is an understatement!

I haven't been on other boards in a while, but after last night and because of the full on meltdown in Gamecock Country I decide to venture out. I appreciate you all having me.

You're right about Holtz and Spurrier. Obviously, Lou gave us a couple of good years, but he really dropped the ball his last few years (not to mention getting us on probation). He didn't leave Spurrier with anything to work with leaving Spurrier to completely rebuild the team. We've got that talent now, but you know it still takes time to build that winning tradition and swagger.

Without a doubt, recruiting primarily against Georgia and Clemson is a challenge (Plus, Tommy Bowden is notoriously very shady with his recruiting methods). Both Clemson and Athens are beautiful towns that can offer that "small town/College town" feel that we can't in Columbia. As much as I dislike Clemson, the town, setting and campus are beautiful.

As for Georgia fans.....they amaze me. As much as I like Mark Richt the Georgia fans go out of their way to be as obnoxious as possible and as arrogant as possible. Richt is a class guy, but it's hard to pull for them when the fans are the way they are. Nevertheless, I will always pull for the SEC out of conference. And in general, I'm such a fan of the SEC and the culture that comes with it that I tend to have a fondness for most every school in the conference.

 

[firestorm]

* Firestorm, I told you watching that NFL game was a waste of time.

haha, You said it Terry. :wink:

RTR,