Steve Spurrier brought up No. 6 South Carolina's last trip to Lexington, Ky., this week, but he also pointed out that it didn't destroy the Gamecocks' season as they went on to win their first ever SEC East title in 2010 anyway.
Still, linebacker Quin Smith wanted that game two years ago against Kentucky to be history.
"It's been talked about, but it's in the past," he said. "We're taking precautions to make sure we have our best game when we go down there, just like any other SEC team."
Running back Marcus Lattimore said the Wildcats "embarrassed us."
"We were on a good roll. I got hurt and (the ending) was real bad," he said. "They're the only Eastern team in the last three years that has beat us. It's stayed in our minds, it's been in our minds the last two years that we could've done more if we had not lost that game."
Obviously, that 31-28 loss stung. USC built a 28-10 halftime lead behind over 200 total yards from Lattimore, who rolled an ankle in the third quarter and missed the rest of the game.
UK stormed back behind three Mike Hartline TD passes in the second half, including the go-ahead score to Randall Cobb with 1:15 left in the game. The Wildcats celebrated in a way the Gamecocks didn't appreciate at the time.
"Every team's different, every year's different," Spurrier said. "This is two years ago. We're talking about a game that we had under control. We were ready to play, but they completely outplayed us the second half, out-coached us completely the second half. We ended up losing the game. But that game's history, just as our game with them last year's history, and the team that plays the best this week has the best chance of being the winner."
What made it so memorable?
That Gamecock loss came a week after they beat No. 1 Alabama in one of the biggest wins in the program's history.
"I felt like we were ready (in 2010)," fullback Qua Gilchrist said. "We try to emphasize to the young guys that it's an SEC road game. It's not about Kentucky. Every opponent's going to be tough for us so we just stay focused and work on us first. Then we'll take care of Kentucky."
Revenge might be on some minds when USC (4-0, 2-0 SEC) visits Kentucky (1-3, 0-1) today at 7 p.m. on ESPN2, but neither team is in the same situation as two years ago.
The Gamecocks dominated the Wildcats in Columbia in 2011, winning 54-3 in quarterback Connor Shaw's breakout performance.
"All of them stick with you," UK coach Joker Phillips said about last year's loss. "You never lose that feeling. So all of them stick with you. It's just one of them."
Now, USC is coming off a 31-10 victory over Missouri, which wasn't ranked, to earn its highest ranking in the poll since 2007.
"South Carolina is one of those teams that has always been a tough challenge for us," UK center Matt Smith said. "They have a great defensive line and are a top-10 team this year. Obviously they are very good and we've seen them play so we've got a big challenge ahead of us. We are looking forward to it."
Kentucky's already had a train wreck of a season. The Wildcats lost to Western Kentucky before getting routed, 38-0, by Florida last week.
"They are struggling a bit right now. Hopefully they will struggle one more week before they get it turned around," Spurrier said. "They are a team that is very capable. I think we are better than them, but if we don't play better than them, they can certainly beat us. It's a huge game for us being a division game, and hopefully we can go up there and play without some of the errors we had last week."
The caveat today is actually next week.
The No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs loom for what could be a monumental showdown, but USC looks to stay focused despite being favored by the most points ever in an SEC game.
"I think the only reason the guys know who we play next week is we have it on our board," Spurrier said about looking ahead. "In the team meeting room, we have the entire schedule on there.
"We know that upsets happen, and we know why they happen, usually when a team is not ready to play, simple as that. Then, we've not done that much yet. We've beaten the teams that we're supposed to beat. We know that the meat of the schedule is down the road, but this is a game this week that's one of 12, and we're going to try to play our best."
Shaw will be looking to build on last week's performance in which he completed 20 consecutive passes; he'll enter today's game four completions shy of tying the SEC record. Despite a hairline fracture on his right shoulder, Shaw said he feels 100 percent, and the only time that injury causes him pain is after games.
UK quarterback Maxwell Smith can sympathize. He expects to play today with a separated shoulder after missing last week's game against Florida.
Smith will have his work cut out for him against a USC unit that ranks third in the league in rushing defense at 67 yards per game, second in scoring defense at 9.8 points per game and second in sacks with 15.
And the Gamecocks get a formidable pair in the secondary returning to action. Cornerback Akeem Auguste (thigh) is expected to play his first game of the season while D.J. Swearinger is back after serving a one-game SEC suspension for an illegal hit against UAB.
"I won't be overexcited, I'll be ready to play football," Swearinger said. "I'll just be playing my game. I'll be targeting a little lower,but I won't stop playing how I play."
link: http://www.independentmail.com/news/2012/sep/29/usc-tries-to-focus-on-present-not-past-or-future/
Still, linebacker Quin Smith wanted that game two years ago against Kentucky to be history.
"It's been talked about, but it's in the past," he said. "We're taking precautions to make sure we have our best game when we go down there, just like any other SEC team."
Running back Marcus Lattimore said the Wildcats "embarrassed us."
"We were on a good roll. I got hurt and (the ending) was real bad," he said. "They're the only Eastern team in the last three years that has beat us. It's stayed in our minds, it's been in our minds the last two years that we could've done more if we had not lost that game."
Obviously, that 31-28 loss stung. USC built a 28-10 halftime lead behind over 200 total yards from Lattimore, who rolled an ankle in the third quarter and missed the rest of the game.
UK stormed back behind three Mike Hartline TD passes in the second half, including the go-ahead score to Randall Cobb with 1:15 left in the game. The Wildcats celebrated in a way the Gamecocks didn't appreciate at the time.
"Every team's different, every year's different," Spurrier said. "This is two years ago. We're talking about a game that we had under control. We were ready to play, but they completely outplayed us the second half, out-coached us completely the second half. We ended up losing the game. But that game's history, just as our game with them last year's history, and the team that plays the best this week has the best chance of being the winner."
What made it so memorable?
That Gamecock loss came a week after they beat No. 1 Alabama in one of the biggest wins in the program's history.
"I felt like we were ready (in 2010)," fullback Qua Gilchrist said. "We try to emphasize to the young guys that it's an SEC road game. It's not about Kentucky. Every opponent's going to be tough for us so we just stay focused and work on us first. Then we'll take care of Kentucky."
Revenge might be on some minds when USC (4-0, 2-0 SEC) visits Kentucky (1-3, 0-1) today at 7 p.m. on ESPN2, but neither team is in the same situation as two years ago.
The Gamecocks dominated the Wildcats in Columbia in 2011, winning 54-3 in quarterback Connor Shaw's breakout performance.
"All of them stick with you," UK coach Joker Phillips said about last year's loss. "You never lose that feeling. So all of them stick with you. It's just one of them."
Now, USC is coming off a 31-10 victory over Missouri, which wasn't ranked, to earn its highest ranking in the poll since 2007.
"South Carolina is one of those teams that has always been a tough challenge for us," UK center Matt Smith said. "They have a great defensive line and are a top-10 team this year. Obviously they are very good and we've seen them play so we've got a big challenge ahead of us. We are looking forward to it."
Kentucky's already had a train wreck of a season. The Wildcats lost to Western Kentucky before getting routed, 38-0, by Florida last week.
"They are struggling a bit right now. Hopefully they will struggle one more week before they get it turned around," Spurrier said. "They are a team that is very capable. I think we are better than them, but if we don't play better than them, they can certainly beat us. It's a huge game for us being a division game, and hopefully we can go up there and play without some of the errors we had last week."
The caveat today is actually next week.
The No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs loom for what could be a monumental showdown, but USC looks to stay focused despite being favored by the most points ever in an SEC game.
"I think the only reason the guys know who we play next week is we have it on our board," Spurrier said about looking ahead. "In the team meeting room, we have the entire schedule on there.
"We know that upsets happen, and we know why they happen, usually when a team is not ready to play, simple as that. Then, we've not done that much yet. We've beaten the teams that we're supposed to beat. We know that the meat of the schedule is down the road, but this is a game this week that's one of 12, and we're going to try to play our best."
Shaw will be looking to build on last week's performance in which he completed 20 consecutive passes; he'll enter today's game four completions shy of tying the SEC record. Despite a hairline fracture on his right shoulder, Shaw said he feels 100 percent, and the only time that injury causes him pain is after games.
UK quarterback Maxwell Smith can sympathize. He expects to play today with a separated shoulder after missing last week's game against Florida.
Smith will have his work cut out for him against a USC unit that ranks third in the league in rushing defense at 67 yards per game, second in scoring defense at 9.8 points per game and second in sacks with 15.
And the Gamecocks get a formidable pair in the secondary returning to action. Cornerback Akeem Auguste (thigh) is expected to play his first game of the season while D.J. Swearinger is back after serving a one-game SEC suspension for an illegal hit against UAB.
"I won't be overexcited, I'll be ready to play football," Swearinger said. "I'll just be playing my game. I'll be targeting a little lower,but I won't stop playing how I play."
link: http://www.independentmail.com/news/2012/sep/29/usc-tries-to-focus-on-present-not-past-or-future/
