South Carolina players and coaches said this bye week couldn't have come at a better time.
As cliché as that saying has become over the years, it's really the truth.
After nine consecutive weeks of football, the No. 11 Gamecocks are physically and mentally exhausted.
USC coach Steve Spurrier said earlier this week that the trainer handed him an injury report that was as long as any he's seen since taking over the program in 2005.
Quarterback Connor Shaw has been seen on campus this week wearing a protective boot for a sprained foot. Star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is nursing a bruised foot that he almost didn't play through last week, according to D-line coach Brad Lawing. Had he not, USC might have lost to Tennessee as Clowney made the game-saving play late in the fourth quarter on a forced fumble.
Three other defensive linemen are banged up and are hopeful to return soon.
The Gamecocks will heal physically, and likely in time for Arkansas on Nov. 3, but they may take some time emotionally. The loss of star running back Marcus Lattimore for the rest of the season with a severe knee injury hit this team hard; that was evident by the reactions in last week's game.
However, USC has been in this situation before, and it went 5-1 after Lattimore was lost with a knee injury last year.
The Gamecocks have a lot to work on as well. The secondary was torched by Tennessee a week ago and seemed out of sorts all with Vol. receivers constantly open. They're also looking for a new running back; Kenny Miles will get the first shot, but Mike Davis and Brandon Wilds, who hasn't played this season, should be in the mix. The offensive line is still in the evolution stages and has yet to put it all together. Shaw will need to heal up and get to work on his passing game, which could be featured more now that Lattimore is gone. Teams will certainly try to take away the running game and force Shaw to beat them with his arm.
USC still has to play Arkansas, Wofford and at Clemson, so there's no reason to say that the season is over.
After the Gamecocks lost two weeks ago at Florida, the SEC East title was essentially lost, and Spurrier gave up hope; UF has to lose to Missouri and Georgia must fall against Ole Miss or Auburn for USC to be back in the mix.
The final three games are all important in their own right.
The Razorbacks are a team the Gamecocks have struggled with for years. And they might want to get Arkansas while its down and having to come to Columbia.
The Terriers have given USC trouble in the past, but that's a game that young guys can get reps and veterans can get rest heading into the most important game left on the schedule.
The trip to Death Valley will have the entire state in a fever pitch. Both teams could be ranked in the top 10 for the first occasion in the rivalry's history by the time they meet. Throw in the witty banter that's been traded back and forth between the coaches since last year's matchup and the fact that the Gamecocks have won the last three against the Tigers, and it could be the best atmosphere ever between these schools.
And, as crazy as it sounds, USC winning out could put it in the hunt for a BCS bowl bid; just look at the BCS standings.
The Gamecocks are ranked eighth and are the only team in the top 11 with two losses. That speaks a lot of how far this program's come and some of about the teams ahead of them.
Plenty of zaniness would still need to happen for USC to capture its first at-large bid to the BCS, but, with whatever bowl it goes to still months away, it's something else to ponder during the bye week.
"I think we started the season (ranked) Number 8 in the preseason and we're actually Number 8 in the BCS right now," Spurrier said. "So we've had a good year. Not a great year, but not a bad year, just sort of a good year right now. We certainly hope to finish strong the last four games."
link: http://www.independentmail.com/news/2012/nov/01/after-bye-week-gamecocks-season-isnt-over/
As cliché as that saying has become over the years, it's really the truth.
After nine consecutive weeks of football, the No. 11 Gamecocks are physically and mentally exhausted.
USC coach Steve Spurrier said earlier this week that the trainer handed him an injury report that was as long as any he's seen since taking over the program in 2005.
Quarterback Connor Shaw has been seen on campus this week wearing a protective boot for a sprained foot. Star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is nursing a bruised foot that he almost didn't play through last week, according to D-line coach Brad Lawing. Had he not, USC might have lost to Tennessee as Clowney made the game-saving play late in the fourth quarter on a forced fumble.
Three other defensive linemen are banged up and are hopeful to return soon.
The Gamecocks will heal physically, and likely in time for Arkansas on Nov. 3, but they may take some time emotionally. The loss of star running back Marcus Lattimore for the rest of the season with a severe knee injury hit this team hard; that was evident by the reactions in last week's game.
However, USC has been in this situation before, and it went 5-1 after Lattimore was lost with a knee injury last year.
The Gamecocks have a lot to work on as well. The secondary was torched by Tennessee a week ago and seemed out of sorts all with Vol. receivers constantly open. They're also looking for a new running back; Kenny Miles will get the first shot, but Mike Davis and Brandon Wilds, who hasn't played this season, should be in the mix. The offensive line is still in the evolution stages and has yet to put it all together. Shaw will need to heal up and get to work on his passing game, which could be featured more now that Lattimore is gone. Teams will certainly try to take away the running game and force Shaw to beat them with his arm.
USC still has to play Arkansas, Wofford and at Clemson, so there's no reason to say that the season is over.
After the Gamecocks lost two weeks ago at Florida, the SEC East title was essentially lost, and Spurrier gave up hope; UF has to lose to Missouri and Georgia must fall against Ole Miss or Auburn for USC to be back in the mix.
The final three games are all important in their own right.
The Razorbacks are a team the Gamecocks have struggled with for years. And they might want to get Arkansas while its down and having to come to Columbia.
The Terriers have given USC trouble in the past, but that's a game that young guys can get reps and veterans can get rest heading into the most important game left on the schedule.
The trip to Death Valley will have the entire state in a fever pitch. Both teams could be ranked in the top 10 for the first occasion in the rivalry's history by the time they meet. Throw in the witty banter that's been traded back and forth between the coaches since last year's matchup and the fact that the Gamecocks have won the last three against the Tigers, and it could be the best atmosphere ever between these schools.
And, as crazy as it sounds, USC winning out could put it in the hunt for a BCS bowl bid; just look at the BCS standings.
The Gamecocks are ranked eighth and are the only team in the top 11 with two losses. That speaks a lot of how far this program's come and some of about the teams ahead of them.
Plenty of zaniness would still need to happen for USC to capture its first at-large bid to the BCS, but, with whatever bowl it goes to still months away, it's something else to ponder during the bye week.
"I think we started the season (ranked) Number 8 in the preseason and we're actually Number 8 in the BCS right now," Spurrier said. "So we've had a good year. Not a great year, but not a bad year, just sort of a good year right now. We certainly hope to finish strong the last four games."
link: http://www.independentmail.com/news/2012/nov/01/after-bye-week-gamecocks-season-isnt-over/