Question for the board

[BigSpur]

Let me say up front that I'm an optimistic Gamecock fan and think this team is very capable of winning out the rest of the season.

1. Have we lost credibility and momentum as a program during the first 3 weeks of the season in your opinion? It seems like we were really built up before the season led by the Clowney hype, favorable schedule...etc. In my opinion, it seems like the perception of us has been damaged for the following reasons 1. loss to uga while the defense got dominated. 2. Clowney not putting up huge numbers after the crazy hype 3. Coaches fighting on national TV spotlight game 4. The loss of our identity as a fearsome defense.

5. Public bashing of coaches persistent throughout all Gamecock forums.

My personal take is that we are a significantly improved offensive football team that has played a much more difficult schedule so far than most other teams. Our defense has taken a step back almost exclusively due to a combination of really bad LB play, nagging injuries to JJ Marcus and Hampton, and a poor defensive gameplan against uga.

2. Do you think our weak areas can be improved enough to win three SEC games on the road in a row, beat UF, and beat clemson by the time we play them?

3. Is it safe to say that all of our perception issues will be eliminated by winning or has the damage already been done?

 

[FeatheredCock]

Let me say up front that I'm an optimistic Gamecock fan and think this team is very capable of winning out the rest of the season.

1. Have we lost credibility and momentum as a program during the first 3 weeks of the season in your opinion? It seems like we were really built up before the season led by the Clowney hype, favorable schedule...etc. In my opinion, it seems like the perception of us has been damaged for the following reasons 1. loss to uga while the defense got dominated. 2. Clowney not putting up huge numbers after the crazy hype 3. Coaches fighting on national TV spotlight game 4. The loss of our identity as a fearsome defense.

5. Public bashing of coaches persistent throughout all Gamecock forums.

My personal take is that we are a significantly improved offensive football team that has played a much more difficult schedule so far than most other teams. Our defense has taken a step back almost exclusively due to a combination of really bad LB play, nagging injuries to JJ Marcus and Hampton, and a poor defensive gameplan against uga.

2. Do you think our weak areas can be improved enough to win three SEC games on the road in a row, beat UF, and beat clemson by the time we play them?

3. Is it safe to say that all of our perception issues will be eliminated by winning or has the damage already been done?

It's one loss, on the road, to a top team - and it could have gone either way. UGA got crushed by South Carolina on the road last year, and at a later point in the season, and was one win away from playing, and likely then winning, the national title.

South Carolina will improve. Every game stands on its own merit though. There will be matchups and mismatches and injuries and mistakes - no way to know if they'll win all their games, but the offense should keep them in all the games and the defense will improve as the season progresses, barring injuries.

I believe you're putting way too much stock into one loss.