USC Gamecocks: The Beginning of a New Tradition in College Football!

2011 is not just the year for the Gamecocks, but the beginning of a new winning tradition for them.

Usually when you talk college football with fans of other SEC teams, you are bombarded with the past performances of their beloved football team. However, the Gamecocks haven't had much to crow about in the past outside a few really good games during decent seasons, and some of the great players that have donned the Garnet and Black during dismal seasons.

Nevertheless, I believe the University of South Carolina football program has turned the corner en route to becoming one of the elite college football programs in the nation.

The recruiting has gotten much better while tapping into the talent the great state has to offer. The coaches are some of the best in USC history, and possibly on the way to being the best in college football.

The biggest roadblock in the past has been the ability to close games; to play well enough in all four quarters of the games to win them. This too, shall pass with the excellent coaching, talented players, and the leadership shown by some of the players.

The USC student athletes and fans have gotten a taste of what it’s like to win: Having a championship baseball team win back-to-back College World Series championships, and the football program making it to the SEC Championship game—for the first time ever—in 2010.

This shows that the Gamecocks can play with, and win against, the big boys. The Gamecock Nation has always supported their teams regardless of the win-loss records throughout the years. It’s time for the fans and players to get their due, and respect.

With recruiting, coaching, and winning attitudes, we are upon a change of the seasons in what is the beginning of another USC program becoming a school with a winning college football tradition.