TENNESSEE RALLIES PAST DEFENSELESS SOUTH CAROLINA
By FITSNEWS || For the third time this season, the University of South Carolina football team blew a double-digit lead in the waning moments of the fourth quarter. But this latest – and greatest – meltdown truly put the artistry in choking.
Up 42-28 after junior running back Brandon Wilds ripped off a 70-yard touchdown run with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Steve Spurrier‘s team somehow still managed to find a way to lose – leaving the head ball coach literally speechless.
“I don’t need to take any questions,” Spurrier said after the game. “You guys watched it, and I just need to get out of here.”
And with that, he left the podium … less than a minute after he got there.
Spurrier did manage to admit “I’ve done a lousy job of maximizing what we think we’ve got here,” adding “we can score a few points but we find a way to lose.”
Indeed they do. South Carolina – whose fans frequently mock arch-rival Clemson for its late-game collapses (a.k.a. “Clemsoning”) – has no room to talk after the Volunteers pulled off the most improbable of comebacks.
After Wilds’ touchdown run sent most Tennessee fans heading for the exits on a cold night at Williams-Brice Stadium, Volunteer quarterback Joshua Dobbs took over the game. Dobbs marched his team down the field on a 10-play, 70-yard drive that he capped with a three-yard touchdown run.
Tennessee failed to recover an onside kick, but head coach Butch Jones had three timeouts remaining – and used them on successive plays as his defense stuffed South Carolina.
Tennessee retook possession with 1:23 remaining and embarked on a nine-play, 85-yard drive – this one ending with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Dobbs to sophomore wide receiver Jason Croom that tied the game 42-42 with only eleven seconds left.
Dobbs completed 23 of 40 passes for 301 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for 166 yards and three scores in his first start of the season.
After a field goal on its overtime possession, Tennessee’s defense recorded back-to-back sacks of South Carolina quarterback Dylan Thompson – forcing South Carolina to attempt a 58-yard-field goal that never had a chance.
Thompson completed 20 of 32 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns – both of which went to Pharoh Cooper, who finished the game with eleven receptions for a career high 233 yards. Cooper also threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Wilds.
It wasn’t enough, though … not with South Carolina’s porous defense giving up a whopping 645 yards to the Volunteers.
Losers of four of their last five, with one more defeat the Gamecocks (4-5, 2-5 SEC) will have lost as many games this season as they lost in the previous three seasons combined.
That would mean a team that began the year ranked No. 9 in the nation might not even make a bowl game.
No wonder Spurrier was at a loss for words …
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90 comments
This loss may actually be my fault, and I’m sorry about that. I was watching with my group, and when USC was up by 14 with less than 2 minutes and everyone was jumping around like orangutans, I said, “Whoa, people! Don’t get too excited just yet! Hell, we may even be able to choke this one away…”
I won’t say that shit again.
Way too much showboating on defense. Guys are celebrating tackling a guy on 1st and 10 and stopping the guy after a gain of 8 yards like they just tackled him for an 8 yard loss. It’s like watching a team of Dion Sanders, without the talent.
You are absolutely right. All the Gamecocks like to tackle without wrapping up. Its like they don’t want to get entangled with the ball carrier as doing so might hinder their ability to spring up to their feet and strut. Anyone who knows anything about defense knows that the players on that unit are poorly positioned, poorly organized, and poorly conditioned. A better defensive coordinator could make a difference. The “they don’t have the talent” argument doesn’t wash. Its the coaches job to recruit talent. If they have not got it, the coaches must take the blame. Frankly, I believe the talent is adequate.
Mike, let you heart not be troubled : Pastides did it before you!
Check out hs twitter account!
I just saw that!!!! How embarrassing President Pastides
Don’t be so hard on yourself, M@TB.
It’s not ypur fault at all.
Your team just really really sucks.
True enough, amigo, but be very careful. Smack talking in advance of the USC-CU game is a dangerous exercise. If Klempsun does manage to Clemson on USC *this* year, people may begin to think Dabo will NEVER win that game.
It doesn’t really matter at this point; the CU admin in all their glory have managed to tie us to that boy for a long time to come.
We have an AD from Ga Tech and President from Va Tech. If we win 8 games a year (even in the ACC) they are doing somersaults in front of Sikes Hall.
True again…every school has their own special brand of bureaucratic and political drama, no?
If Klempsun does manage to Clemson on USC *this* year, people may begin to think Dabo will NEVER win that game.
It’s not going to happen this year.
It’s. Just. Not.
Whatever gets your head on that pillow, mi amigo…
Weird games are weird games…UGA…Syracuse…I’m keepin’ my mouth shut on the game. ;-)
Dabo still at the helm?
Don’t worry I said the same thing. Well, actually what I said was “this is the time our defense forgets how to stop anyone and our offense forgets how to get a first down.”
“Well, we could still potentially tie this up. Better get the QB sacked twice, get nowhere on third down, and let the kicker attempt a 58-yard FG on fourth.”
I knew we had lost the game as soon as we punted the ball after recovering the onside kick. Should’ve gone for it there no matter what. The D was never stopping TN on that last drive, everyone knew it.
The “chicken Curse” is alive and well. Thought for a minute there that y’all had finally “arrived”. Nope! False alarm.
USC-Clemson this year will be a wild game of who’s better at losing. I wouldn’t be surprised to see five lead changes in the fourth quarter and the winning team lamenting that they could’ve done more to throw the game.
Music speaks louder than words :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjj9Dgd6vRU
Haha coots that was a great show! It ain’t clmsoning its called Cooting and y’all got it down pat. The old sack sure do no how to call up some good ot plays don’t he? Dabo and the chad and Brent are gonna dig in that ass come November you red neck peices of shit!
Ah, South Carolina – where legendary coaches go to end their career in shame
Ah, South Carolina – where legendary coaches go to end their career in shame
FITS doubles down on his ignorant blaming of Spurrier. Only to have to eat a $#!t sandwich – later- when Spurrier lets the D-staff go, and fixes it again…
Teddy Heffner and Carey Rich got fired for being as stupid as you. When the plastic surgery outrage, salon openings and food allergy articles don’t rescue you….maybe you, Teddy and The Captain can open Dumb-@$$.com – that way your readers won’t be surprise when they log on and see you threes’ typical Dumb-@$$ery. LMAO…
So what did you have to say about it on your blog… I guess nobody will ever know. Maybe your mom will feel sorry for you and say something.
Actually my two pieces on the post-game blew up w/ hits. I posted them right after the game, when fans needed some correspondence to help deal wit it. Noramlly, if they are fans, they want to know what the best option fo move forward is. Too many “pundits” relish bashing Spurrier or SC. That is the lock-step mentality in local sports media.
Anyway: SC football is a BIG hit-getter, especially when you’re in touch w/ the fans, not the media pack-thinkers (see FITS.) My level of institutional of knowledge about the program – and genuine support – helps a lot too.
Normally FITS, and most of his devout, are different, just to be different (see RonPaul-Steve French.) It make you feel special, when you’re really milque·toast. When there is actual merit to see it more uniquely, FITS craps himself. Imagine that (: ….
That’s why his post are so pedestrian, and not really worth reading, except to just his level of inability.
“Actually my two pieces on the post-game blew up w/ hits.”…You must have been logging on as different users.
Tango, say what you will about who’s to blame, but your team melts down every week. Ultimately, that falls to the guy on top.
And he’ll fix it. I’m just pointing out what that entails, because he cannot say it, and not be attacked for it.
HOLEEE SHIT.
I went over there and read your “revelations and insight”. Got all that from your ” level of institutional of knowledge about the program” didya?
YOUR BLOG IS TERRIBLE! Did an 8th grader write that for you? Dude..stop with the advertising over here. This is perhaps the worst, well, anything I’ve ever read.
This (copied and pasted, spelling / grammar errors and all)
was it:
We all know what the anser is. But Spurrier cannot say it,
Head Coach Steve Spurrier did not take questions after the 45-42 loss to Tennessee.
If Spurrier did take questions, it may have gotten ugly.
Spurrier took the high road by not taking questions.
Everyone knows that Spurrier’s Gamecocks may have the worst defense in the country.
He said it never gets easy to stomach the total implosion of his defense, despite it happening twice before this year.
SC lost a two-TD lead with less than two minutes left.
If Spurrier said anything of value, he would say he is cleaning out the defensive staff as soon as he can.
Instead he took no questions. That was likely the best thing he could have done.
That’s what you get when a retarded woman tries to write about sports.
E Norma Scok, an 8th grader would also know that USC does not play UAB…we play South Alabama. In fact, my second-grade son knows that. So add fact checker to the list of needs for SCPD. Some institutional knowledge.
The Trojans are not playing S. Alabama. I think S. C does.
No, I had it right, but nice try.
Tired… ;-)
SCPD: Not even once.
And he’ll fix it.
Who broke it?
*asks innocently*
“My level of institutional of knowledge about the program”
Speaking of pedestrian posts…lulz
I’m doubting you’ve ever gotten closer than a sideline of a high school game, and couldn’t possibly possess any amount of knowledge that the average Madden XBOX player doesn’t have. You’ve certainly never played or coached football at any level.
I guess I’ll take your word for it.
“Blew up with hits”… so you’re seeing 100% increase? Did your dad log on too?
Did your dad log on too?
Not unless someone chucked a smartphone over the fence.
Ouch…
Ahahaha! Yeah, just look at all the comments!
Nailed it Squishy.
Surely you must own the rights to “Dumb@$$.com”, GT?
Epic collapse of a football program -mirrors other things happening at USC. New leadership from the president down is needed. Heard how highly ranked women’s basketball is? Pressure, pressure …Pastides is starting to tap dance in front of the board.
When you pay a defensive coordinator more than three times a full professor salary and that’s what you have to show for you have failed. When you build athletic palaces while a big part of the university building are falling apart you have failed to do your job as president. As a gamecock my anger and disappointment knows no limits.
Pastides hasn’t done a damn thing at USC except spend it’s money on construction and eliminating parking spots.
3x’s a full professor salary… there aren’t many outside the medical school or who aren’t deans that make $250k. Try 5-6x’s.
And promoting his wife’s cook books.
Your overheard paid for those puppies too….
They’re putting in a huge high dollar greenhouse behind the president’s house, I wonder who paid for that?
You are so right. Ray Tanner was an epic mistake that may take 20 years, if ever, to recover from. Pastides has zero vision. I sincerely hope you are correct about the board being unhappy. We returned to the good ole boy system rather than remaining committed to excellence and forging a new path.
To get over pastides will take a decade or more. Some of my colleagues don’t have that in their tank anymore.
To get over pastides will take a decade or more.
Puh-lease.
30 days on a powerful antibiotic IV drip, max.
PRO TIP:
Next time use a condom.
Tanner doesn’t fit in his jackets anymore…..give him more fried chicken!!!!!
“…and I just need to get out of here.”
I don’t think he was just talking about the room, I think he’s talking South Carolina. I truly expect him to announce his retirement after this season.
Big buildup and hopes for ’74 season. 4-7 record. Paul Dietzel resigns. You could be on to something.
I guess wearing black uniforms didn’t work out?
How desperate and pathetic !
A lesson in class Spurrier. Grow up!
What a game between two classy schools, Navy and Notre Dame!!! Especially when the Irish team stood respectfully behind the Navy team during the playing of the Navy alma mater after the game.
Go Navy and go Irish.
The lack of class flows down from the head coach to the players. There were maybe 10 players on the field during the playing of the alma mater. The rest are too self absorbed in their only career choice of being in the NFL going down the toilet. Guess there were a few people who realized they’re going to be pumping gas after their college career is over.
There’s a reason these players aren’t at Navy or Notre Dame… you have to be a legitimate student-athlete to attend either of those schools.
pumping gas? where?
Probably the Obama gas station on Bush River Rd.
And that’s why Pastides needs to go too. He tacitly promotes this crappy behavior as ”championship spirit”, ” no limits” and has no balls to call on a coach who does a 54 second press conference, while most of his team can’t honor the university that gives them this chance by singing the alma mater! Disgusting, self-serving and without class. Restore honor and heart and everything else will follow -no matter what color uniform you wear!
He’s come a long way since his year long suddenly approved “sabbatical” (or as everyone on campus knows as a nervous breakdown) shortly after he was appointed VP of Research by hard-ass President Sorenson. He’s now nothing more than a puppet for the Board of Directors. Which is why they keep pumping up his salary and offering 6-figure bonuses for staying on.
4 months only and in Cypres. But he has such a tough schedule …..like recently fundraising in Portugal with wifey in tow. Cruising for the next few years to pick up his check and then head for the NCAA – wants Emmerts job our pocket billiard specialist!
Coot fans in August: “This is our year.” i hear you, Bubba.
“Wait ’til next year!!!”… oh wait, next year is a scheduled rebuilding year and that could take a couple years… “Wait ’til 2017!!!”.
Pressure is really going to be on your boys to beat such a poor Gamecock team. The clock to that game, is ticking, literally. Your cheerleader coach staked his life on that game many months ago.
nah..they’ll be 9-2 going in..coaches don;t get fired for going 9-3. Hell, at USC they put up 80′ banners for it.
They do not deserve a Bowl Game this year.
Ahhh… don’t be so hard on them, let them ride the bus up to Charlotte.
Yall going to remove the spurrier banner from the side of the stadium now?
New CDC alert in Columbia: The entire Gamecock football team comes down with a case of “No-bowla”.
That hurts, but it’s a damn good one.
Many, many years ago TBG had a “HONK If You’ve Never Won A Bowl Game” sticker on his car.
Guessing it used to sound like NYC at rush hour around your car(quest)?
The HBC makes over a million a year. Embarrassing…..
Ward makes $750,000. That comes out to a little more than $60,000 per game.
Ward makes $750,000. That comes out to a little more than $60,000 per game.
TBG hopes that HBC shows DC LoWa the same loyalty that Tommy Bowden Showed OC Rob Spence year after year after year……
“I don’t need to take any questions,” Spurrier said after the game. “You guys watched it, and I just need to get out of here.”
Walking out, what a display of inept leadership when leadership is needed the most.
I’m still hurting from another bummer loss! The only positive thing that resulted from the loss is that Spurrier had a worse day than I had. Yesterday afternoon I went to Target and I was wearing a red shirt and people wouldn’t stop asking me where things were, and then at home I discovered I accidentally bought conditioner when I needed to buy more shampoo.
A friend of my neighbor was in college with Spurrier, he compared him to a cocky Manzell.
Damn, that’s like calling someone a dorky Steve Urkel.
At teh beginning of OT:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B1aA2GMIcAAChCv.jpg:large
TBG drifted off into Firewater/Ambien induced sleep when Sakerlina was up by 14.
Dammitalltohell!
The Defense left in the 4th Q with most of the fans. Bout time for the old balls coach to take some responsibility for Ward’s ineptitude.
One word, ward.
I think the word “Clemsoning” can officially been put to bed. The Tigers have had some bad chokes but blowing three double digit leads in the fourth quarter in five games takes choking to new heights.
The OBS is looking at retirement and he is now bringing it up during press meetings. Golf, sun, walks along the beach, relaxing, and no Chicken Curse sound good to the OBS.
assuming spurrier gets paid $2 million a year to win football games, what will it mean when he gets paid $2 million to lose? if the QB throws a couple interceptions he gets benched. if a lineman misses too many tackles he’s off the team in a heartbeat. why does the only guy getting paid to win get to keep his job.
Spurrier to retire in 2015?
Did Todd Ellis really drop an f-bomb during the broadcast Sat night? Oh my…
Lorenzo Ward should have been replaced after the Texas A&M disaster.
If Spurrier is so stupid on Defense these days as to not replace Ward, then Spurrier needs to retire. Because, he has completely lost all common football sense. As, a high school team could score against Ward’s 3 man Prevent Defense, which actually prevents you from winning.
WARD’S A COMPLETE IDIOT!!!
AND WILL GO DOWN IN USC HISTORY, AS HE IS NOW, THE WORSE DEFENSIVE COACH AT USC: EVER!!!
Steve spurrier is 69 years old.
My mom is 71 years old.
We don’t let her touch the remote control
She drools while asleep in the upright position
She doesn’t have all her faculties
She’s 18 months older than spurrier
Maybe it’s time to take a hint old man
Plus. Don’t put banners with MOST WINNINGEST COACH on your stadium
It’s called hubris
Spurrier has been smacked down to normal size. By God.