Misery Index: Dan Wolken in USAToday

[FeatheredCock]

Misery Index: From a National stand point. 

It seems like every summer Gamecock fans are fed a steady diet of misinformation. They are told, over and over again, that this is going to be the best Will Muschamp team ever. They are told the offense is finally ready to be unleashed. They are told South Carolina is right on the verge of competing with Georgia. And, of course, they are told wrong. Which is really the root of the problem.

Muschamp is running a respectable program at South Carolina, one that is going to make a bowl game pretty much every year, recruit well enough to be competitive in the SEC and generally not embarrass anyone with on or off-field issues. And he’s doing it with the added burden of sharing the state — and a spot on the schedule — with Clemson during the greatest period of its football history.

That should be enough to make fans realistic, but it’s not. A 34-14 loss at Missouri in which its offense gained just 270 yards has left South Carolina at 1-3, which is a tipping point for many fans who are ready to burn it to the ground. But Muschamp’s overall record is far from disastrous at 23-20, and he’s playing a freshman quarterback in Ryan Hilinski who has a chance to be very good. Muschamp’s teams may never be as good as the preseason hype, but maybe South Carolina should expect a little bit less.

 

[ShepCock]

Can't really argue with any of that!

 

[gamecock88]

Right.   We should lower our expectations.  

 

[FeatheredCock]

Right.   We should lower our expectations.  

No we should hold the AD and HC accountable and make changes where needed.  

 

[TKE226]

I’m gonna tell my boss that he should expect less and see what happens. 

 

[gamecock88]

No we should hold the AD and HC accountable and make changes where needed.  

Sorry man.  I was joking about the tone of that “article”

 

[cocky0]

No we should hold the AD and HC accountable and make changes where needed.  

This x this to the this power.

 

[JimG]

Misery Index: From a National stand point. 
Muschamp is running a respectable program at South Carolina...

That's ambiguous. It's respectable that we don't have guys getting into trouble, but disrespectable when it comes to losing games to teams we should beat. 

And if the fans should expect a little less, then maybe we can pay the coaches "a little less"?

Right now we're 1-3 with a $4.2 mil/yr HC.  

 

[Senior Rooster]

Muschamp’s teams may never be as good as the preseason hype, but maybe South Carolina should expect a little bit less.

Gamecocks are tired of a little bit less.

 

[Sporkgod50]

Muschamp’s teams may never be as good as the preseason hype, but maybe South Carolina should expect a little bit less.

Gamecocks are tired of a little bit less.

They also have memories that span 6 years. It's quite possible for a good coach to win here

 

[gamecock88]

They also have memories that span 6 years. It's quite possible for a good coach to win here

Valid point.  Looking back, Spurrier deserves a ton of credit through that run, obviously.  However - we did take advantage of the perfect storm of things going on at our rival instate and some SEC East foes out of state.  UT changed coaching staff, clemson did.  UNC was unc, UGA while they were still getting most of the GA top players weren't drawing as strong as they are now.  The coaching turnover then helped in landing of some instate players who were key.  Holloman & Gilmore come to mind.  We also got some generational players like Alshon, Lattimore, Clowney who were always huge leans to come here.  Somewhat surprise players like Melvin Ingram, Devin Taylor, Shaw, Ace.  Getting Garcia from out of state was big a the time.  All of those and many more key role players came through here in a relatively small window of time.  Mostly all instate players with some out of state sprinkled in from Florida, GA, NC.  My point is, with clemmons on their run and cherry picking to an extent top instate talent, UGA on their run, UNC possibly on the upswing, how does Champ replicate that or can he?  Maybe on occasion get close.  There just isn't enough of those top level instate guys now that we can get 3, 4, 5 years consecutively (we do get some, not enough)  We have a few guys that fit the bill, but not enough that overlap with the talent and depth needed.  Is it tougher now for Champ than it was then for Spurrier?  In some ways yes, but both started from scratch basically. Long rambling post and I'm sure someone with a better memory will refute some of my statements.  Looking back on that talent "run", with the few misses from instate guys we did have, what we could have been with the likes if Dunlap, AJ Green and a few others.....

 

[FeatheredCock]

Sorry man.  I was joking about the tone of that “article”

:-emoticon: No problem. 

 

[Homebrewcock]

I think Muschamp really needs to look at his coordinators.  I don't feel they are getting it done.

 

[Sporkgod50]

Valid point.  Looking back, Spurrier deserves a ton of credit through that run, obviously.  However - we did take advantage of the perfect storm of things going on at our rival instate and some SEC East foes out of state.  UT changed coaching staff, clemson did.  UNC was unc, UGA while they were still getting most of the GA top players weren't drawing as strong as they are now.  The coaching turnover then helped in landing of some instate players who were key.  Holloman & Gilmore come to mind.  We also got some generational players like Alshon, Lattimore, Clowney who were always huge leans to come here.  Somewhat surprise players like Melvin Ingram, Devin Taylor, Shaw, Ace.  Getting Garcia from out of state was big a the time.  All of those and many more key role players came through here in a relatively small window of time.  Mostly all instate players with some out of state sprinkled in from Florida, GA, NC.  My point is, with clemmons on their run and cherry picking to an extent top instate talent, UGA on their run, UNC possibly on the upswing, how does Champ replicate that or can he?  Maybe on occasion get close.  There just isn't enough of those top level instate guys now that we can get 3, 4, 5 years consecutively (we do get some, not enough)  We have a few guys that fit the bill, but not enough that overlap with the talent and depth needed.  Is it tougher now for Champ than it was then for Spurrier?  In some ways yes, but both started from scratch basically. Long rambling post and I'm sure someone with a better memory will refute some of my statements.  Looking back on that talent "run", with the few misses from instate guys we did have, what we could have been with the likes if Dunlap, AJ Green and a few others.....

When spurrier got here, we were definitely below all of the programs that we currently are below. the biggest exception is tennessee, who we are currently less of a dumpster fire than. similar, but worse situation when Lou took over. Obviously we are just talking about our opinions, but I just do not buy the idea that the cards are stacked against Champ in ways they weren't for the last two coaches. (Not to mention the improved infrastructure that Champ has at his disposal)

To put it another way, the last time we had a coach fail at USC I was in college. Now I have my doctorate plus 7 years of training and teach college students. With that perspective, it's hard to believe Champ entered a salvageable situation. 

 

[Mr Ed]

Good thoughts, 88. 

Curiously, the talent level in the state has tailed off while the state is growing in population. That may be more perception than reality - we get very little love from the recruiting services and scouts. A better test is to wait and see how the NFL rates the players as they leave college.

But you can make the argument that our QBs - OOS Hilinski and in-staters Joyner and Doty - compare favorably to OOS Shaw and in-state Dylan Thompson, the QBs behind our three 11 win seasons. In fact, our success was in Shaw's SO., JR. and SR years - which is where Hilinksi and Joyner will be in their careers, starting next year. So who is to say that we are not about to go on another tear?

I believe that Boom is stockpiling talent at an impressive rate. This year's class is chock-full of future stars and early contributors, headlined by Hilinski. And Clemson's success is actually a positive for us, because they are letting us get most of the in-state talent and are not chasing players as much in neaighboring states. Screwing the pooch in back to back games in Charlotte hurts - a lot - but it is not fatal, and we still have a strong recruiting staff that can sell proximity, first -rate facilities and (for now) fan interest.

But we have to start winning games - NOW.

I agree with all of this.   The concern though is what will happen to Muschamps recruiting if we go 5-7 or gulp, 4-8.  I’m on board as long as he can continue recruiting because eventually the talent will catch up.  But if the 2020 class (which could be his best) starts falling apart then I think his days will be numbered.  

 

[Mr Ed]

I agree, winning some games and getting positive buzz is key. Vegas had the over/under at 5.5, so getting to six wins would actually be exceeding expectations. But we have already missed on two winnable games and we cannot let UK get away also.

I thought 7-5 in the preseason.  Then we lost to UNC and I wanted to say 6-6.  But my 7-5 prediction was based on the thought that our defense was going to be improved.  It’s not (so far) and so 6-6 seems like a pipe dream.  It would take a pretty big turn around and be best case scenario to get to that.   We have to take 2 out of 3 against Kentucky, Florida and A&M and not screw up against the likely wins left on our schedule which is less statistically likely than it seems.  

So 4-8 or 5-7 seem the most likely scenario.  The question then is if he can hang on to this recruiting class.  Muschamp can’t be fired this year, his buyout is just way too big.  And that may work out in his favor and actually ours if he can somehow hold onto these recruits and then somehow get himself to the 2021 season when we should be pretty stocked.  

The rest of this season is all about saving face, finding a way to create some positive buzz (young players playing well) and keeping a pretty significant recruiting class together.