Sports

Gamecock Football: Top Ten Again

CLEMSON ALSO IMPROVES ITS NATIONAL STANDING During its first 118 years of football competition, the University of South Carolina never finished a season ranked higher than No. 11 – and recorded ten wins just once. How times have changed … The Gamecocks – who knocked off Michigan in the 2013…

CLEMSON ALSO IMPROVES ITS NATIONAL STANDING

During its first 118 years of football competition, the University of South Carolina never finished a season ranked higher than No. 11 – and recorded ten wins just once.

How times have changed …

The Gamecocks – who knocked off Michigan in the 2013 Outback Bowl – finished the 2012 season ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press Top 25, and No. 7 in the USA Today/ Coaches’ poll. That’s a spot higher than they finished last season in both polls. Meanwhile Clemson – which nearly fell out of the Top 25 last year following its humiliating Orange Bowl loss to West Virginia – cracked the USA/Today Top 10 (No. 9) and finished No. 11 in the AP Top 25 on the strength of its big Chick-fil-A Bowl win over LSU.

It’s the first time in history both teams have finished a season ranked in the Top Ten.

Given its lengthy tradition of mediocrity – which extended through the first five years of head coach Steve Spurrier’s tenure – the Gamecocks’ turnaround is astounding. After posting an uninspiring 35-28 mark (including an 18-22 record against Southeastern Conference opponents) through Spurrier’s first five seasons, USC has quickly become one of the nation’s elite programs.

South Carolina is 31-9 over its last three seasons – including a 17-7 mark against the SEC.  The Gamecocks have also won four straight over their arch-rivals – as well as back-to-back bowl games over top tier opponents.

Clemson has seen its fortunes rise too, though. Despite the losses to South Carolina, the Tigers have posted back-to-back double-digit win seasons for the first time since 1987-90 – when the school won 10 games in four consecutive years.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25 (2012 FINAL)

ap top 25

1. Alabama (59) 13-1, 1475
2. Oregon 12-1, 1358
3. Ohio State 12-0, 1302
4. Notre Dame 12-1, 1288
5. Georgia 12-2, 1230
5. Texas A&M 11-2, 1230
7. Stanford 12-2, 1169
8. South Carolina 11-2, 1038
9. Florida 11-2, 933
10. Florida State 12-2, 922
11. Clemson 11-2, 889
12. Kansas State 11-2, 871
13. Louisville 11-2, 781
14. LSU 10-3, 756
15. Oklahoma 10-3, 615
16. Utah State 11-2, 456
17. Northwestern 10-3, 443
18. Boise State 11-2, 419
19. Texas 9-4, 358
20. Oregon State 9-4, 303
21. San Jose State 11-2, 243
22. Northern Illinois 12-2, 227
23. Vanderbilt 9-4, 180
24. Michigan 8-5, 147
25. Nebraska 10-4, 119

*Others receiving votes: Baylor 95, Penn State 90, Cincinnati 78, Oklahoma State 42, Tulsa 34, UCLA 31, Arkansas State 28, UCF 9, TCU 9, Wisconsin 6, North Dakota State 1.

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USA TODAY/ COACHES’ POLL (2012 FINAL)

usa today thumb

1. Alabama (56) 13-1, 1400
2. Oregon 12-1, 1322
3. Notre Dame 12-1, 1253
4. Georgia 12-2, 1213
5. Texas A&M 11-2, 1171
6. Stanford 12-2, 1167
7. South Carolina 11-2, 1064
8. Florida State 12-2, 942
9. Clemson 11-2, 916
10. Florida 11-2, 886
11. Kansas State 11-2, 841
12. LSU 10-3, 775
13. Louisville 11-2, 772
14. Boise State 11-2, 633
15. Oklahoma 10-3, 600
16. Northwestern 10-3, 580
17. Utah State 11-2, 444
18. Texas 9-4, 398
19. Oregon State 9-4, 366
20. Vanderbilt 9-4, 248
21. San Jose State 11-2, 244
22. Cincinnati 10-3, 186
23. Nebraska 10-4, 175
24. Northern Illinois 12-2, 156
25. Tulsa 11-3, 110

*Others receiving votes: Michigan 101, UCLA 75, Baylor 52, Oklahoma State 36, Wisconsin 18, UCF 15, Arkansas State 13, Arizona State 10, Rutgers 9, Kent State 5, Louisiana Tech 2, Arizona 1, Ohio 1.

***

Pic: Travis Bell, Sideline Carolina

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42 comments

rickie January 8, 2013 at 11:28 am

Texas A&M should be No. 2.

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Okay January 8, 2013 at 1:04 pm

Agreed.

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Original Good Old Boy January 8, 2013 at 1:17 pm

No they shouldn’t. One great game against Bama doesn’t erase their two losses to LSU and UF.

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Silvio Dante January 8, 2013 at 2:02 pm

Maybe not ranked #2, but at this point in time, in a playoff series, they would roll over Georgia and ND…and play a whopper vs. Oregon.

Bet Bama would like another shot at Johnny.

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VoiceofReason January 8, 2013 at 11:35 am

And before any of the tater SEC haters say only USC chants SEC after a win. The Alabama crowd was in fact chanting SEC as well last night. THE SEC, 6 bowl wins this year, 5 teams in the final top 10 both AP and Coaches, and now a 7th straight BCS championships and 9 since it started in 1998.

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Gamecock Hall of Fame January 8, 2013 at 11:45 am

And THAT is all I have to say about THAT.

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jeffy01 January 8, 2013 at 11:45 am

Dont hate on the ACC…they won National Championships…years ago. Hey….Taters beat the mad hatter! Cocks should have…but didnt…so they get credit for the big win.
After next season we cant kick them around anymore. They will all be part of the Western Atlantic Big American Mid Major Conference. The WABAMMC will have auto bids to all bowls carried by the lifetime channel.

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A Humble Chef January 8, 2013 at 1:01 pm

I hate Clemson as much as the next guy, but I agree that it looks good to see them finish strong against a good team. Our state is being well represented in football like never before. It’s one of the few shining victories we as South Carolinians can enjoy in our state right now while the inept government turns everything around us to rubbish. Between season kickoff and the outcome of the USC/CU game, I hate Tigers. During the rest of the year, as far as I’m concerned as long as we’re ahead of them in the polls I wish them the best!

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shifty henry January 8, 2013 at 1:34 pm

….. @chef – read and initialed

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BigT January 8, 2013 at 12:09 pm

Clemson may be the WORST Top 15 team EVER in the history of the poll…

LSU dropped off sharply after the loss to Bama…And Clemson was Still Very Lucky to P!$$ in that win over a team that quit…

And Clemson got their @$$ whipped by any good team (the 1, SC) they played…while feasting on the ACC and worse (if possible)….

I love SC finishing in the Top 10…but it is VERY damaged because Clemson (an embarrassment) is anywhere near them…

Clemson, and the ACC, is a disgrace to college football.

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Nave Segaw January 8, 2013 at 12:14 pm

FUCK CLEMSON

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BradWarthenSucks January 8, 2013 at 3:02 pm

Says the classy Gamecock fan.

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BigT January 8, 2013 at 12:24 pm

Every Top 25 team should feel the poll is Cheapened because ACC teams are in it…

The BCS GAVE FSU a Win (it could never earn) in the Orange Bowl by putting in a very lower level opponent. That was because of Clemson embarrassing the sport last year…

The ACC has not only Ruined legitimate programs like Miami, BC and VT, the ACC has Effed-up the Orange Bowl…It’s a joke now…

And now the AP and USA-Today poll is discounted because of Trash like Clemson in it…and FSU ranked as highly as it is…when it’s NOT deserved…

Wonder if ANY media people have the B@!!$ to editorialize on the Disgust level the ACC brings to College football…

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Al Sharpton Wears Orange January 8, 2013 at 12:34 pm

Yawn…a bunch of hoodlum kids getting too much attention. Everytime there’s a game, every goddamn cop in town is directing traffic and shit. Fuck football and jocks. I pay for police protection, not an athletic motorcade.

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VoiceofReason January 8, 2013 at 12:41 pm

I can see how your dumbass can’t understand that the directing of traffic is an actual safety issue by your tag name. With 80,000+ people driving into one area with only 3 ways in or out need to have police protection and direction to prevent any incidences. Preventative protection works so police handle it therefore the police direct the traffic to help with potential safety issues. Go bitch about something else you Dumbass

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Al Sharpton Wears Orange January 8, 2013 at 1:02 pm

I mostly witness fat fucks standing around…but Go Cocks!

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Al Sharpton Wears Orange January 8, 2013 at 1:06 pm

VOR
In all fairness, I’ll take your advice…since I hate meathead jocks, I’ll move on and bitch about more intellectual matters. You guys have this sports shit covered.

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BigT January 8, 2013 at 12:42 pm

If FITS really wanted to show some Intellectual Pulse, at all, he’d offer some insight on the Absolute JOKE Clemson and the ACC are…

But my guess is – if the lack of brightness elsewhere is an indicator – FITS likley does not get it….

But for ANY media to treat the ACC as an equal competitor, is ludicrous…It’s an example of Media Dullness, and the lack of any creativity….

And that is FITS biggest problem, if he’s trying to offer anything different from the rest of the Dull and Punch-Drunk Pack-think…

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T-bot 5000 January 8, 2013 at 2:12 pm

I was programmed at Clemson University.

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Phonebooth Bob January 8, 2013 at 12:53 pm

I am proud of my Gamecocks. FITS said the mediocrity extended to the first 5 years of Spurrier’s time here. That was the time for the hard work to make us winners: the mediocrity started to decline the moment he took the job. SUCCESS = HARD WORK / TIME.

I see Clemson doing the same. They are no joke, and their victory over LSU was not some fluke. They played with heart and discipline. In the fourth quarter, when it matters, LSU players were tired and dropping like flies.

Anyone who knows anything about football could see this.

People who comment based on loyalties don’t.

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Lance Riprock January 8, 2013 at 1:48 pm

I’m a big Gamecock fan, crazy about Spurrier; hate to be a buzz-kill, but let’s face it: the poll can’t mean that much when it says that we’re better than Florida and LSU. Probably some others ranked lower than the ‘Cocks are better teams: maybe Oklahoma, maybe Louisville. The poll is flawed; we need a 16-team playoff, based on what? That’s right, the poll. Go ‘Cocks!

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Silvio Dante January 8, 2013 at 2:09 pm

Lance, I agree, the poll is flawed, and I think the polls are always flawed. So I will add one more to your list: the poll can’t mean that much when it says that Georgia is better than us.

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Original Good Ole Boy January 8, 2013 at 10:05 pm

I guess Texas A&M should be ahead of Bama, and LSU and UF should be ahead of A&M.

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BigT January 8, 2013 at 2:44 pm

Ever go back and read FITS’ early (Blogger-based, pre-Mace) material…???

I wonder if he considered himself mired in mediocrity???

Point being: When FITS actually Had to be alternative, when he was begging to be heard, he may have actually offered a product worth lauding…

Just like I remember SC’s FG win over Fulmer’s Tenn. and beating Fla. w/ Mitchell-Rice. The Jad Dean Wide Right pandamonium. Those were the days of joy…because it was said that it could not be done…

Now: He just puts out cookie-cutter, safe pablum to keep the liberals coming back, w/o being offended…But Spurrier has taken it to the NEXT level, whereas FITS balked at excellence…

I wish he’d go back to the provocative stuff and challenge himself..

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semi January 8, 2013 at 2:54 pm

If ignorance was bliss you would be the happiest man alive.

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BigT January 8, 2013 at 3:22 pm

If the lack of creativity, or dearth of thought, was a crime, your stupid @$$ would be locked up for life…

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W.THOMPSON January 8, 2013 at 3:00 pm

SOME OF YOU PEOPLE SHOULD CLEAN UP YOUR LANGUAGE .IF YOU MUST TALK FILTH THEN PLEASE DON’T IDENTIFY YOURSELF WITH USC OR CLEMSON .
DUMB IS A FOUR LETTER

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BradWarthenSucks January 8, 2013 at 3:51 pm

KISS MY ASS. Clemson

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Saluda Rapids January 8, 2013 at 4:29 pm

Shocker from Brad the Knuckle Dragger.

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ceilidh10 January 8, 2013 at 3:10 pm

It’s looking more and more like you just can’t lick our Cocks

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toyota kawaski January 8, 2013 at 3:51 pm

who ever voted for ND State in the AP poll should no longer be allowed to vote FBS have their own poll

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BigT January 8, 2013 at 6:14 pm

ND St. would likely go undefeated in the ACC…

If you can vote Clemson or FSU in the Top 10…you should be forbidden from voting…

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Mike Traynor January 8, 2013 at 4:46 pm

Know how to keep Clemson students from Masturbating?

Paint a gamecock on their dick. They won’t bet it for 4 years.

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nice job, vandy January 8, 2013 at 7:18 pm

how about some love for vandy. 9 wins and 20th and 23rd final rankings. first nine win season since czar nicholas II ruled russia (1915) and first time ranked at end of season since strom thurmond ran for prez as a dixiecrat (1948) another reason to chant S-E-C!! S-E-C!!

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here, here January 9, 2013 at 9:50 am

Exactly nice job! Hats off to Vandy. Top 20 in one poll and top 25 in another. I remember earlier this year all of those tiger fans using Vandy as a staple when talking about a cupcake SEC team. Well they just finished higher than all but 2 ACC teams and beat an ACC team in the bowl, beat them badly too. I heard on here a Clemson fan try to say since Clemson beat LSU and the Gamecocks lost to LSU that Clemson was better than USC. Well using that tater logic Vandy beat NCstate which beat FSU which beat Clemson, so Vandy must be better than Clemson.

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SCBlues January 8, 2013 at 8:25 pm

Why no Ohio State in the USA Today/Coaches’ Poll?

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BigT January 9, 2013 at 8:45 am

It excludes CHEATERS….

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@I_R_Human January 9, 2013 at 4:08 am

The state of South Carolina needs positive news of any sort. Both of the major schools in state are doing well, so I say good job as a whole.

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BigT January 9, 2013 at 8:48 am

Promoting on ACC hype, not merit, is a dis-service…

And wishful thinking is the only reason Clemson (or FSU) got the ranking it did…if they played more than 2 or 3 legit teams, they’d get their @$$#$ kicked…

Social promotion is not good for SC, or anybody…it’s an insult to the smartest of us…

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CNSYD January 9, 2013 at 10:51 am

“it’s an insult to the smartest of us…”

little t, that is group to which you will never belong.

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Steve Spurious January 9, 2013 at 10:45 am

I’d like to thank my quote end quote friend Les Shit For Brains Miles for single handedly breathing life into Clemson’s second rate football program by going three and out with three incomplete passes when all he had to do was run the goddam ball three times to win the fucking Peach Bowl.

But we should still have their number until they get someone who can block JDC.

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BigT January 9, 2013 at 3:46 pm

Right on…

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