subject: NCAA Football – South Carolina is just stops from making history [print this page] NCAA Football South Carolina is just stops from making history
We covered South Carolina's story back in early October. Without much of a warning, the South Carolina Gamecocks had pulled off one of its most clever and memorable upsets in the program's history. The Gamecocks defeated at home the NCAA defending champions, the Alabama Crimson Tide. Not only did they won its first game ever against a No.1 ranked school, but -check this out- they outplayed the man who had ridiculed its defense on the previous season: Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram. Head Coach Steve Spurrier was finally able to break the spell and South Carolina defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 35 to 21.
The Gamecocks quarterback Stephen Garcia had one of his best nights ever. If you are into numbers, Garcia completed 17 of 20 for 201 yards and three touchdown-passes. Freshman Marcus Lattimore of South Carolina outplayed Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram. Lattimore completed 23 carriages and for 93 yards and 2 touchdowns. Ingram, on the other hand, went completed 11 for 41 yards and no touchdowns. This weekend, many things could change. The guys from South Carolina are going to head on to Florida and play their hearts for the SEC East Crown.
There has been 117 seasons of South Carolina football. Only once, back in 1969 had the people in Columbus, South Carolina celebrated an ACC Championship. Let it be noticed, that they haven't got this close to win again, since. Until this week, when the Gamecocks face the Florida Gators in what could be their second biggest upset of the season. Since its win over the No. 1 team in the nation, the Gamecocks have had a somewhat irregular series against 4 teams. The record since they crushed Alabama: 2-2.
The Gamecocks had to go into overdrive to leave behind Vanderbilt and Tennessee, and, let's be frank, their game against Arkansas last weekend, wasn't the prettiest showcase of football ever. But here is the key to this all. If South Carolina defeats Florida, it will have a Ticket to play the Auburn Tigers. Ok, I know its not official yet, but taking into account the marvelous season that the Auburn Tigers have had, there is a good chance that those boys are going to win the SEC West. So, if we take a quick look at the references, one could assume that whether Florida or South Carolina makes it to the SEC Championship Game, there is still a fairly good chance that either team could upset the Auburn Tigers.
Historically, the SEC West has been the weaker end of the conference. What we need to focus on here is on a simple fact: most any team in the SEC West has been much stronger then any other team in the SEC East this season. And here is where the Gamecocks have to react. South Carolina is not a big school. We have already talked about this issue on another blog entry. South Carolina is not one of those elite football program schools in the country we expect to see each year in the Bowl Games. The Florida Gators, on the other hand, is one of those teams. What's the difference? Well, the Gator will always have a better chance next year. For the Gamecocks this season might be as good as it gets for a long-long while. And if that is not enough motivation to go out there and put their hearts out on the field, then they probably don't deserve a chance at SEC Championship Game.
