COLUMBIA — Now that the droning coach-speak and hollow preseason predictions of Southeastern Conference media days are over, the college football world is one step closer to rendering all the bluster and prognostications meaningless with actual games.
Coming off a school-best 11-2 season in 2011, South Carolina opens the 2012 season Aug. 30, a Thursday night, at Vanderbilt. Can the Gamecocks start on a positive note as they try to eclipse last season? Might they navigate a relatively favorable first five games and be undefeated entering a tough October stretch (Georgia, LSU and Florida, with the latter two on the road)?
In a little more than a month, the answers to those questions will begin to arrive. Until then, here is a look at how USC’s schedule breaks down for its eighth season under coach Steve Spurrier.
Aug. 30 at Vanderbilt
James Franklin debuted with a 6-7 record last season — a vast improvement on 2-10 in 2010. The Commodores made just their second bowl since 1982.
Vanderbilt lost 21-3 at USC last season, a game that was indicative of the Commodores’ season. They ranked No. 98 nationally in total offense and No. 18 in total defense. But Vanderbilt found stability with quarterback Jordan Rodgers, now a senior, in the final seven regular season games. His older brother is Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Sept. 8 vs. East Carolina
USC had won just two of its previous seven games against the Pirates before last season’s 56-37 victory in the opener. Ruffin McNeill went 6-7 in his first season and 5-7 last season, though ECU improved from No. 120 nationally (last) in total defense in 2010 to No. 56 last year.
Sept. 15 vs. UAB
Alabama-Birmingham’s new coach is former Arkansas offensive coordinator Garrick McGee. Arkansas beat USC last season and gained 435 yards — the second-most the Gamecocks allowed in 2012 — though Arkansas has superior talent to UAB.
Sept. 22 vs. Missouri
The Tigers are the newest members of the SEC East. Missouri is 47-14 in the past five seasons, but the low mark of that span came last year (7-5).
Missouri ranked No. 12 nationally in total offense last season largely because of tailback Henry Josey, whose 8.1 yards per carry ranked second nationally. But he’s out for the year with a severe knee injury. Senior Kendial Lawrence must fill the void.
Sept. 29 at Kentucky
Joker Phillips went 5-7 last season, 2-6 in the SEC (for the second straight year), and missed a bowl after making one and going 6-7 in his first year in Lexington. USC beat Kentucky 54-3 last season — a convincing response to the 31-28 loss in Lexington in 2010. The Wildcats finished third-worst nationally in total offense last season.
Oct. 6 vs. Georgia
The Bulldogs are the media’s preseason pick, ahead of USC and Florida, to win the East.
Through two seasons, QB Aaron Murray has pretty impressive numbers — 60 percent completions, 6,198 yards, 59 TDs and 22 interceptions.
He threw four touchdowns and a pick against USC last season, but the Gamecocks won 45-42, yet still lost the East to Georgia.
Oct. 13 at LSU
The toughest game of the season. LSU lost to Alabama in the national championship game last season and brings back an absurdly deep backfield — juniors Michael Ford, Spencer Ware and Alfred Blue, and sophomore Kenny Hilliard. Their yards totals last season were 756, 707, 539 and 336. They should help new quarterback Zach Mettenberger ease his way in.
Oct. 20 at Florida
Spurrier has won two straight against his former employer after going just 1-4 against the Gators to start his tenure in Columbia. Florida coach Will Muschamp and new offensive coordinator Brent Pease, who came from Boise State, are still trying to determine their best quarterback option — Jacoby Brissett or Jeff Driskel. Both are sophomores.
Oct. 27 vs. Tennessee
Entering his third year, Derek Dooley is 11-14 and 4-12 in the SEC, including 1-7 in league play last season. Quarterback Tyler Bray will try to rebound from a rocky sophomore season in which he missed five games with a broken thumb. Bray, who is 6-6 and 215 pounds, could significantly help his already promising NFL draft stock this season — and Dooley’s job security.
Nov. 10 vs. Arkansas
A loss in Fayetteville last season sunk USC’s hopes of playing in a second straight SEC title game. Arkansas went 11-2, then endured the offseason firing of coach Bobby Petrino because of an extramarital affair.
John L. Smith is the new coach, but quarterback Tyler Wilson is still the same guy — which is to say, among the most talented offensive players in the country. And tailback Knile Davis (101.7 yards per game in 2010) returns after missing all of last season with a broken ankle.
Nov. 17 vs. Wofford
USC has won 15 straight games in the series dating to 1917. Wofford made the Championship Subdivision playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons last year.
Nov. 24 at Clemson
USC has won three straight in the series — something that hadn’t happened since 1968-70. Four straight hasn’t happened since 1951-54. Five straight for USC? Well, that’s never happened in a series that Clemson still leads 65-40-4.
Link: http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120721/PC20/120729824/1032/south-carolina-football-trying-to-build-on-school-record-2011-season
Coming off a school-best 11-2 season in 2011, South Carolina opens the 2012 season Aug. 30, a Thursday night, at Vanderbilt. Can the Gamecocks start on a positive note as they try to eclipse last season? Might they navigate a relatively favorable first five games and be undefeated entering a tough October stretch (Georgia, LSU and Florida, with the latter two on the road)?
In a little more than a month, the answers to those questions will begin to arrive. Until then, here is a look at how USC’s schedule breaks down for its eighth season under coach Steve Spurrier.
Aug. 30 at Vanderbilt
James Franklin debuted with a 6-7 record last season — a vast improvement on 2-10 in 2010. The Commodores made just their second bowl since 1982.
Vanderbilt lost 21-3 at USC last season, a game that was indicative of the Commodores’ season. They ranked No. 98 nationally in total offense and No. 18 in total defense. But Vanderbilt found stability with quarterback Jordan Rodgers, now a senior, in the final seven regular season games. His older brother is Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Sept. 8 vs. East Carolina
USC had won just two of its previous seven games against the Pirates before last season’s 56-37 victory in the opener. Ruffin McNeill went 6-7 in his first season and 5-7 last season, though ECU improved from No. 120 nationally (last) in total defense in 2010 to No. 56 last year.
Sept. 15 vs. UAB
Alabama-Birmingham’s new coach is former Arkansas offensive coordinator Garrick McGee. Arkansas beat USC last season and gained 435 yards — the second-most the Gamecocks allowed in 2012 — though Arkansas has superior talent to UAB.
Sept. 22 vs. Missouri
The Tigers are the newest members of the SEC East. Missouri is 47-14 in the past five seasons, but the low mark of that span came last year (7-5).
Missouri ranked No. 12 nationally in total offense last season largely because of tailback Henry Josey, whose 8.1 yards per carry ranked second nationally. But he’s out for the year with a severe knee injury. Senior Kendial Lawrence must fill the void.
Sept. 29 at Kentucky
Joker Phillips went 5-7 last season, 2-6 in the SEC (for the second straight year), and missed a bowl after making one and going 6-7 in his first year in Lexington. USC beat Kentucky 54-3 last season — a convincing response to the 31-28 loss in Lexington in 2010. The Wildcats finished third-worst nationally in total offense last season.
Oct. 6 vs. Georgia
The Bulldogs are the media’s preseason pick, ahead of USC and Florida, to win the East.
Through two seasons, QB Aaron Murray has pretty impressive numbers — 60 percent completions, 6,198 yards, 59 TDs and 22 interceptions.
He threw four touchdowns and a pick against USC last season, but the Gamecocks won 45-42, yet still lost the East to Georgia.
Oct. 13 at LSU
The toughest game of the season. LSU lost to Alabama in the national championship game last season and brings back an absurdly deep backfield — juniors Michael Ford, Spencer Ware and Alfred Blue, and sophomore Kenny Hilliard. Their yards totals last season were 756, 707, 539 and 336. They should help new quarterback Zach Mettenberger ease his way in.
Oct. 20 at Florida
Spurrier has won two straight against his former employer after going just 1-4 against the Gators to start his tenure in Columbia. Florida coach Will Muschamp and new offensive coordinator Brent Pease, who came from Boise State, are still trying to determine their best quarterback option — Jacoby Brissett or Jeff Driskel. Both are sophomores.
Oct. 27 vs. Tennessee
Entering his third year, Derek Dooley is 11-14 and 4-12 in the SEC, including 1-7 in league play last season. Quarterback Tyler Bray will try to rebound from a rocky sophomore season in which he missed five games with a broken thumb. Bray, who is 6-6 and 215 pounds, could significantly help his already promising NFL draft stock this season — and Dooley’s job security.
Nov. 10 vs. Arkansas
A loss in Fayetteville last season sunk USC’s hopes of playing in a second straight SEC title game. Arkansas went 11-2, then endured the offseason firing of coach Bobby Petrino because of an extramarital affair.
John L. Smith is the new coach, but quarterback Tyler Wilson is still the same guy — which is to say, among the most talented offensive players in the country. And tailback Knile Davis (101.7 yards per game in 2010) returns after missing all of last season with a broken ankle.
Nov. 17 vs. Wofford
USC has won 15 straight games in the series dating to 1917. Wofford made the Championship Subdivision playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons last year.
Nov. 24 at Clemson
USC has won three straight in the series — something that hadn’t happened since 1968-70. Four straight hasn’t happened since 1951-54. Five straight for USC? Well, that’s never happened in a series that Clemson still leads 65-40-4.
Link: http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120721/PC20/120729824/1032/south-carolina-football-trying-to-build-on-school-record-2011-season