GAMECOCKS PULL IT TOGETHER LATE TO BEAT WOFFORD
What is the University of South Carolina football team’s problem with Wofford? Seriously … the ninth-ranked Gamecocks play Division I-A (a.k.a. FBS) ball in a stadium that holds nearly 85,000. The Terriers play Division I-AA (a.k.a. FCS) ball in a stadium that seats around 13,000.
Yet this rivalry – in which Wofford ought to be collecting a nice paycheck for the indignity it suffers at the hands of a superior opponent – continues to prove that size doesn’t matter. Especially not when the “big boys” play sloppy.
In 2006, USC withstood a late rally to preserve a 27-20 win over the Terriers. In 2008, the Gamecocks needed a late touchdown to secure a 23-13 win. This year? Head coach Steve Spurrier’s squad once again went down to the wire against Wofford – entering the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game tied 7-7.
And while South Carolina (9-2, 6-2 SEC) managed to reel off 17 unanswered points to claim a 24-7 win – Gamecock fans can’t be pleased with their team’s performance. Wofford actually managed to put up 330 yards of offense to the Gamecocks’ 293 – but were done in by three turnovers at crucial moments of the game.
“This game was about like every time we’ve played Wofford,” Spurrier said. “It was very close and then something good happened for us in the fourth quarter.”
That “something good?”
A 31-yard fumble return for a touchdown by senior cornerback Akeem Auguste that finally put the Terriers (8-3, 6-2 Southern Conference) down. Auguste was one of twenty-nine seniors playing their final home game at USC. Another? Kenny Miles – who ran for a career-high 127 yards and one touchdown on 27 carries. Miles also caught four passes for 27 yards.
“He’s always been a good back here,” Spurrier said of Miles. “His average per carry is very good. It’s probably the best of all the backs that played here.”
“He can catch it and run with it and block,” Spurrier added. “He’ll get a chance in the NFL, somebody is going to give him a chance, and maybe he’ll even be drafted in the middle rounds.
With the win, Spurrier tied Rex Enright’s school record of 64 wins. If he can get a fourth consecutive victory over arch-rival Clemson next week, Spurrier would become the Gamecocks’ winningest coach of all-time. In addition to his 64 victories at USC, Spurrier won 122 games from 1990-2001 at Florida and 20 games from 1987-89 at Duke.
After posting a 35-28 record through his first five years at USC, Spurrier’s teams have gone 29-9 over the last three seasons.
“The next one will be a little bigger,” Spurrier said. “I’m just tied right now. Ties are whatever, but the next one will be a little bit more special.”
South Carolina is looking to equal its school record of 11 victories – set last season. To do that, they’ll have to contain a Clemson offense that put up 62 points and 754 yards against N.C. State this weekend. Then they’ll have to win a second consecutive bowl game against a top tier opponent.
USC will get superstar defensive lineman Jadeveon Clowney back in the lineup next weekend against the Tigers. The 6-foot-6, 256-pound Lombardi and Nagurski Award finalist missed this weekend’s game with a sprained foot.
“He couldn’t play, he couldn’t practice all week,” Spurrier said of his talented sophomore. “He was hurting. Hopefully he’ll be ready Wednesday or Thursday.”
Picking up the slack for Clowney on defense was senior D.J. Swearinger – who recorded a career-high 12 tackles in his final home game at USC. Swearinger also forced -and recovered – a fumble. Seniors Shaq Wilson and Byron Jerideau also went out on a high note in their final home games – recording ten tackles apiece.
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Pics: Laurie Giarratano
38 comments
It’s what good teams do…
By this late in the Season, SEC teams have been beaten to death…Only the FITTEST survive…
The teams playing a slate of No-bodies, and you never understand….
The others play little boy football..and they find out what Big Boy footbnall is, when they get the the $#!* slapped out of them…
You’ll see…
Did you even go to college? Do not disrespect, you moron!
Next week the world’s toughest chicken meets the world’s largest midgets in Death Valley. I can see the yard-dog rooster pecking the eyes out of the midgets, but then again I can see these midgets gettiin’ a saddle on the rooster real quick like and slappin’ the chicken around like it owes them money.
I ain’t betting on this one. Gonna’ be one sad day for the loser.
BigT, if Clemson does win I just don’t see how you will make it after suffering through Obama’s win, too. Talk about one’s world turned upside down.
I don’t what the future holds…but I know WHO holds the future…He is light…regardless of your evil world…
That said, the gods you worship will always lead to darkness and rot…it may take a while, and you may think you are immortal…I just pray you figure out what i’m telling you…there are many who never get it…
Good Game!!!
I want 4 in a row, but I do not have good feeling about next week.
……hands of a superior opponent…….
I don’t think there are many out there, other than those drinking the maroon kool aide that believes this. It’s pretty evident, from this year’s performance, that SCar might be better than some but superior to none.
Clem scored 62 but gave up 48 to State. Gonna be a hell of a game.
Hate to be an Odds Maker on this one. Who ever wins this one deserves braggin’ rights.
If SC plays poorly, they could possibly lose…
Otherwise, SC should make it 4 in a row….
It’s almost like Div. 1 SC vs Div. 2..the ACC….
SC plays big-boy football and Clemson plays midget…
Some of the “big-boy” football from 2012.
E. Carolina
UAB
Kentucky
Tenn.
Arkansas
Missouri
Wofford
Can always count on the obligatory, simplistic response from CNSYD the shitkicker.
Count on a concise, logical, factual, post from CNSYD.
Count on an ad hominem attack on CNSYD from some Sakerlina fan.
list who Clemson played this year then CNSYD.
thats right, no one. nice list
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9XEkXtQMbA
and just what teams has clemosn played? anyone? anyone?
No Im sorry the correct answer is no one.
Rapid Saluda,
Simplicity is all that chickens can understand and even then they are not very good at it.
Still didnt answer the simple question there CNSYD, who has clemson played? Or did the non answer speak for its self? that is simple! why answer no one when you can just say nothing and it means the same thing. I figured you out you clever tater you.
clemsonsux,
your simple mind can not seem to grap the concept summed up in common expressions such as those about glass houses or pots and kettles. I guess I will have to go real slow for you. You see, your cock boys have touted the big bad teams you play while belittling the teams Clemson played. You failed to look at your schedule before you ran your mouth. Not unusual for cock boys. Other than UGA, LSU and UF who are all these elite teams you played? I have not touted Clemson’s schedule. It is what it is. Clemson (and also USCe) are only responsible for themselves, not their opponents’ strength and weakness.
blah blah blah blah you couldn’t even find one team to put in there and the way generalize all gamecock fans for saying how we all say how strong of schedule we have is BS. This is the 1st I have done it so I guess I’ll help you by going ahead and doing it again. Yes, we do have a strong schedule and only an idiot can’t see it. With Clemsux we would have played 4 top ten teams. That’s 1/3 of our schedule in the top ten of the nation. Not too many out there can say that so kiss my ass on not playing anyone. I’ll repeat so you can understand up there on the farm 1/3 of the teams we play are in the top 10 nationally so again, why does our schedule feel over rated or that we don’t play anyone? Not many play 1/3 of the games all in the top 10. How is our schedule easy? And please don’t give me the conspiracy BS of the media. The BCS is more than the media. The harris poll, the computers, and the AP all make it up not the media or ESPN. And guess what, it has 6 SEC team in the top 10 and we played 3 of them and the taters will be the 4th. Clemson is #10( i think, maybe 11 after what Stanford did) and they are only the 4th best team we play. that’s our SOS right there. The top 10 team is only the 4th best team we play. So, yes it’s there but your orange glasses can’t and won’t see it I guess. Name 5 teams that play 4 top 10 teams? 4? Can you. I cant but there might be, so I am asking. I know 3Florida LSU Texas A&m, but I don’t know of a 4th so that’s what I ask you. There could be but I don’t know and don’t want to research it. And keep in mind the 4 we played were not only at the time we played them, so far they are also there 12 weeks into the season. There is your rebuttal as to the SOS.
BigT says: “If SC plays poorly, they could possibly lose…”
Man, you starting to sound like Will Folks. I thought you were our USC cheerleader. Negativity starting to set in? Of course, I certainly understand after what happened at the polls last week. I’m kinda’ depressed, too.
Judy Chop…after 4 years of the Most-FAILED and WORST presidency in my Lifetime…but you’ve Got Brain-Dead Idiots, who would Vote against Everything Good, themselves and their country to put that Solcialist POS-god back in Greedy power…Anything is Possible…
If you cannot understand that…you are not respecting Reality…
PS: Having SEC officials is the MVP vs Clemson…Clemson plays Tiny-Boy football..and they still have to get a lot of Favorable Calls to win in the kiddy ACC…
Hopefully we’ll get a fair game…if so, SC will have to pull a “Clemson” to lose…
Don’t think that happens…
Does anyone know if the entire Clemson secondary will be realeased from the Oconee General Hospital Burn Unit in time to play against Sakerlina.
I, for one, am really happy that Alshon is playing in the NFL now.
Dabo is gonna hang 70 on the old cock sucker! Bet y’all will know where Death Valley. No geography lesson will be needed! ;)
Sparkle,
I assume that John G Ludwig is one of your Furman roses. Don’t know who he is? Check google and then the SC Judicial web site.
Like I posted some time back………..
Furman BEAT University of South Carolina!!!
So did Ball State!!!
So what if it was around 1987-1988!!!
Go VOLS/PALIDANS/TERRIERS&TIGERS!!!!
FURMAN = “A ROSE BETWEEN TWO THORNS”
thats the dumbest post ever. furman has alos beat clemsux on 10 seperate occasions. tied them 4 times. did you forget that?
My post above was supposed to be under your rose comment but you will get the idea.
Dooley got his ass fired after the loss to Vandy.
Now it is time to rebild the dyanasty that is Vol football………….
Go Vols!!!!!
Say whatever you want about teams in the state of South Carolina but you ain’t been anywhere till you’ve been to Neyland Stadium & sang “Rockey Top”!!!!
However I do like a great rivalry so I always look forward to the game between Clemson & U. of South Carolina no matter if that prick Spurrier says “it’s not a big game in his mind’
The difference between God and Steve Spurrier:
“God dosen’t think he is Steve Spurrier”
Go Orange!!! (no matter what the shade)
What do Clemson and Joe Wilson have in common? Both just SUCK.
Go Cocks!
Old Timer,
and here all this time I thought it was Jim Holderman that sucked cocks. Did he ever give you a bathrobe?
Simple, simple, petty CNSYD.
CNSYD:
Sadly there is hardly a college football team these days that dosen’t have someone on the team roster or a team alumni who hasen’t had a run in with the law.
And certainly the South Carolina football team is above it all – right?
So what is your point??
So if you want to eat the peanuts out of chicken shit help yourself.
Here’s something for you to munch on:
Watch ANY Furman athlete (no matter what the sport) being interviewed on TV. Please note that he/she can speak more than two syllables and you can clearly understand what he/she is talking about in addition to having no difficulity identifying their mothers & fathers on Thanksgiving.
CNSYD:
It appears that I might have gotten got your postings confused as supporting U. of South Carolina.
If that is the case, I regret the error.
That being said, I stand by the other portions of the retort to your comment about Ludwig and Furman University sports programs.
Without checking the SC Judicial website (SC Judicial = now that is an oxymoron if there EVER was one). Ain’t he the guy who ran his Italian sports car into someone’s house?
If that is the individual you are refering to, the guy is an alumni and again, so what?
That’s like assoicating all military veterans with Timothy Mcveigh or Lee Harvey Oswald with all Marines.
My favorite threads to read are in the sports section. You guys say the same thing over, and over, and over, and over again underneath every story FITS puts up. Shake things up a bit people!
Were gonna kill the coots! ahahaha
yabba dabba doodoo dabo gunna luz 2 dem coots