Bleacher Report - Articles by Colin Colverson

A Response to USC Homerism: Why the Gators Would Beat the Trojans

Colin Colverson — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 10:16:42 -0500

Congratulations to the Florida Gators! The 2009 BCS National Champions. The Gators emerged victorious in the title game after playing with an inspired defensive effort and enough offensive firepower to overcome what was initially a strong effort from the Oklahoma defense.

However, USC fans are now lighting up the blogosphere, B/R included, with shouts and jeers over the validity of this title game. The Trojans, they say, were the only deserving team to be in the title game.

In fact (and I have seen this one written, more or less, on B/R), why even have a title game? The Trojans should simply be given the NC every year, and not waste time with this silly little concept of seeding teams based on rank, merit and demonstrated success.

I will start off by saying that I am a Gator fan, and this sort of chatter bothers me. There are several things that I believe are evident about USC.

I believe USC is a great program, who consistently underperforms for the talent that they have.

I believe that Carroll is one of the best big game coaches in the game, who whines just like every other coach when the media/BCS/NCAA/anyone else slights his team in any perceived manner.

I believe that on paper, the USC Trojans have the best defense in the land, but for the life of me can't see where in this 2008 season they were actually challenged by any real offensive talent.

Here are several reasons why, if the amazing were to happen and Florida and USC took the pitch together in the 2008-09 season, the Gators would beat the Trojans.

1) Tim Tebow > Mark Sanchez - The scrambling ability, the leadership, and the fact that he has DEMOLISHED incredibly good defenses all year demonstrates quickly that Tim Tebow is a better QB than Sanchez.

Sanchez is a good pro-style QB, but he sits behind a great O-line playing against inferior defensive talent with one of the most skilled receiving corps in all of college football. Few people with much savy about college football would take Sanchez over Tebow as their QB, unless they are COMPLETE USC homers.

2) Florida RB Corps > USC RB Corps - Percy Harvin, Emmanuel Moody (USC transfer, no less), Chris Rainey, Jeffrey Demps, and Co. are quicker and more agile than Gable, Bradford, McKnight, Johnson and Co. The Gator RBs played better defensive competition all season than the Trojans, and put up similar numbers to the vaunted USC RBs.

In fact, Harvin's numbers when computed against an average per touch far exceed any of those put up by any USC player. Shame he couldn't stay healthy, because Harvin at 100% is hard to imagine.

3) Gators Played More Big Games - Looking at the schedule at the end of the year, and it is clear that USC, once again, had a schedule full of cupcakes. Ohio State and Penn State, the cream of the Big 10, were once again shown to be slow and uncoordinated against a faster and stronger team.

The rest of the Pac 10, although seemingly invincible in the bowl games, was middling at best when compared to the Trojans, and couldn't field a decent defense all season. The Gators, meanwhile, played big time games against Georgia, LSU, Alabama, and Florida State. Teams that could field a legitimate defense all season.

And the Gators demolished them. The lone loss, who at the time looked like a major upset, now looks like a loss to a disrespected Ole Miss team who lit up Texas Tech for 49 points at the end of the season.

4) Urban Meyer > Pete Carroll - Carroll has been sitting in Southern Cal now for 8 years, collecting the best talent around the country and amassing them in Los Angeles. His record since his start is an impressive 88-15, with one BCS national championship (and one AP consensus No. 1), three Heismans, a 34-game win streak, and number one recruiting classes for more years than I can remember.

Meyer has occupied his seat in Gainesville since 2004, amassing a 45-9 record, with two BCS national championships in a three year span, one Heisman, and several number one recruiting classes. While appearing to have similar accomplishments, Meyer has shown a faster ascent to college football greatness, along with a better record in big games with the Gators. They are both great coaches, but Meyer has the edge.

5) SEC > Pac 10 - I hear a TON about SEC homerism. But bottom line, looking at the SEC over the last few years, and it is hard to argue with the conferences dominance. Over the last 4 years, the SEC has controlled the BCS national championship picture. Unlike the Pac 10, there are 3-5 legitimately good programs occupying the conference, with several dark horses every year.

The Pac 10 has USC, and a bunch of other teams. It is no wonder at all that the Rose Bowl is a consolation prize for USC; they have no difficulty getting there every year because their conference schedule is like a warm up to bowl season. The Pac 10 homerism needs to end; if USC is your flagship, then you need to tend to the rest of the armada and field AT LEAST one other legitimate program.

Why the Florida Gators Will Beat the Oklahoma Sooners

Colin Colverson — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:52:48 -0500

1. Tim Tebow - At the beginning of Tebow's career in college football, he was a myth in Florida recruiting, with virtually every football fan who had a pulse for recruiting understanding the impact that he could have. 3 years into his Florida career, and Tebow has 2 SEC Championships, a strong supporting role in a national championship, and the first EVER sophomore to win the Heisman. Tebow is an incredibly efficient passer, who some would argue has a more accurate and stronger arm than Bradford. Tebow is tougher than Bradford, as he not only faces more pressure on a regular basis than the Sooner QB, but takes hits regularly when he tucks and runs. Regardless of the rest of the players on the field, Tebow alone could serve as the difference maker in this game. Fortunately, he doesn't have to...

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Dan Mullen to...Mississippi State? The First Gator of Many, Unfortunately...

Colin Colverson — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 07:41:57 -0500

Pat Forde has reported that Dan Mullen, the offensive coordinator of the Florida Gators, has accepted the position as the new head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

This is good news for the Bulldogs. They get a coach who is a good recruiter, has some great relationships in the Sunshine State with productive high schools, and has a proven offensive system in the SEC. If Mullen can assemble a good crew, he may have a chance in Starkville to at least make the program respectable if not a winner.

This may be disconcerting news for the Florida Gators, and I think it should be disconcerting news for Florida fans. Florida is preparing for the biggest game of the year. Florida's Heisman Trophy winning QB is debating whether or not to enter the NFL draft. Now is not the time for the distractions associated with a fragmenting coaching staff, and the unease about the future that accompanies the fracture.

Three other Florida assistants, Charlie Strong, Steve Addazio, and Dan McCarney, are all likely candidates for other positions in the wide world of college football. Speculation will likely swirl for the next few weeks about each of these assistants and their future with the Gators. I suppose success will always bring these sorts of distractions.

As a Gator fan, I hope that this does not serve as any sort of distraction from the necessary preparation for a REALLY good Sooner team. As a professional, I congratulate these gentlemen on excelling at their jobs, and essentially being talked about for "promotions."

It is debatable whether the HC job at Miss. State is a "better" job than the OC job at Florida; HC in the SEC is about as good as it gets, but when you look at what Mullen will have to work with vs. what he will have to work against, it looks like a very difficult task.

My only consolation in all of this is it looks as if Oklahoma is dealing with the very same distractions. OC Kevin Wilson and DC Brett Venables are apparently finalists for some pretty high profile HC positions themselves.

For a good article that breaks down the stats of teams that lose a coordinator before a bowl game, click here.

Why Tim Tebow Deserves The Heisman, And Why He Won't Get It

Colin Colverson — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 14:17:14 -0500

Tim Tebow is poised to lead the Gators to their 2nd National title in 3 years. Tebow is also in consideration for a second consecutive Heisman trophy. Only Archie Griffen from Ohio State has ever won the honor twice.

Tebow is deserving of his second consecutive Heisman. Although the three Big XII QBs who are also in contention are wonderful athletes, great leaders, and statistical freaks, they do not have the qualifications of Tebow.

However, the Heisman voters will award Sam Bradford or Colt McCoy with the award. Here are a few reasons why they will win this award, and why these reasons pale in comparison to the rationale for how Tebow should win a second consecutive Heisman. Lets walk through each candidate, using the Heisman statistics from ESPN's Heisman Watch:

Sam Bradford

As a sophmore, Bradford has tallied more than 60 points for the 5th straight game, a NCAA record. Further, he led his team to the MOST total points in the history of FBS. With 48 TDs and 6 picks, he has torched his opposition, while looking phenomenally talented the whole time.

2008 season stats:
Passing: 4,463 YDS | 48 TD
6 INT | 68.3 CMP%
Rushing: 5 TD

Downside

Bradford has played ONE legitimate defense that he beat this year. Bradford lost to the best defense that he played this year, even though he had good numbers. TCU has a good defense, and the Sooners put up the same points that they put up against Texas.

Bottom line, though, the Sooners have played suspect defenses all year, and Bradford is surrounded by SO much talent that it would be pretty pathetic if he didn't put up video-game statistics.

Colt McCoy

McCoy led a Texas team with less talent than his OU rivals to an ALMOST perfect record (but for Crabtree/Harrell spoiling the party). McCoy is the leader of his team, makes the UT offense click, and is really the reason for the Horns success this season.

McCoy will be hurt with the voters by not having the Big XII championship game to play in, which is a shame since the Horns deserved to be there; there is an argument to be made that some voters will recognize this disservice, and will award the Heisman to McCoy as a consolation prize.

2008 season stats:
Passing: 3,445 YDS | 32 TD
7 INT | 77.5 CMP%
Rushing: 576 YDS | 10 TD

Downside

McCoy did not win the Big XII. McCoy has not got the same numbers as either Harrell or Bradford. McCoy is not going to Miami for the BCS Championship game, so he may be out of the discussion for many voters to begin with.

From here, you can see that voters will have a couple of different metrics to vote against. Should Bradford get the votes due to his stats? Should McCoy get the votes because of his leadership?

Using either of these metrics, Tebow should win the Heisman. Here's why:

Stats

Tebow has 40 TDs this season, 28 throwing and 12 rushing. A significant decline from last years stats, to be sure, but nevertheless absolutely incredible in the face of the defensive competition the Gators have played.

The competition is SIGNIFICANTLY better than the defenses that Oklahoma played. Plus, Tebow has only thrown 2 picks. All year. Against SEC secondaries. Comparing apples to apples, Tebow would light up Big XII defenses for video-game like numbers if given the chance. It is likely that he will demonstrate this on Jan. 8th.

2008 season stats:
Passing: 2,515 YDS | 28 TD
2 INT | 66.2 CMP%
Rushing: 563 YDS | 12 TD

Leadership

Tebow came out after the Gators' only loss this season, and essentially guaranteed an unmatched effort from HIS team for the rest of the season. And boy has he delivered. Since that loss, and basically mid-way through the Arkansas game, the Gators have looked unstoppable.

In the biggest game of the season, against the mighty Tide, Tebow played at his best. In a 4th quarter that found the Gators down for the first time since their Ole Miss loss, Tebow drove the field twice for two great TDs, that punched the ticket to the big game. He is heralded by his teammates and coaches as the heart and soul of the Gator team, and there is no player in FBS that receives as much respect for his ability to lead.

The Heisman is designed to honor the most outstanding player in college football. The Big XII Qbs are great players for different reasons. Bradford has incredible stats, McCoy has incredible "moxie".

Tebow is arguably one of the greatest college football players to ever don pads. He is a one man wrecking crew with a strong arm, very quick feet, the strength of an NFL linebacker and incredible decision making abilities. Tebow has the heart and soul of a lion, and the character traits that define outstanding leaders.

Tebow should win the Heisman again. If either of these QBs from the Big XII get the award, it will not be undeserving. But the most deserving player, the most outstanding player in all of college football, is the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. It is Tim Tebow.

Five Reasons Why the Gators Will Beat the Tide: A Response to Mark Schlabach

Colin Colverson — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:37:30 -0500

Mark Schlabach, in his most recent column for ESPN.com's college football section, lays out an argument for why Alabama will beat Florida in the upcoming SEC Championship Game.

Let's walk through some of these rationales, one by one, and dispel them for the myths they are.

"Alabama has the necessary ingredients—a stifling, physical defense and a punishing, ball-control offense—to slow the Gators down."

1) Stifling Defense? Yes. Alabama has held its opponents to 15 touchdowns this year, allowing an average of only 248.5 yards per game. That is pretty impressive.

However, their opponents aren't exactly offensive juggernauts. In fact, besides Georgia and possibly Ole Miss, the Tide really haven't played anyone who has a legitimate offense all season.

The Gators have a legitimate offense. Teams that have been suggested as having GREAT SEC defenses (LSU, Georgia, South Carolina, to name a few) have been gashed for 51, 49, and 56 points, and 475, 398, and 519 yards, respectively. All three of these teams went into their games with the Gators ballyhooed as having great defenses. All three got smacked in the mouth.

2) Punishing, Ball-Control Offense? Yes. Alabama has a huge offensive line, two good backs, a competent QB and what seems like only one legitimate threat at wide-out. With Saban as the coach, it is a no-brainer that they run the ball all the time and very well. With close to 2500 yards on the ground (2418) and 30 rushing touchdowns, it would be my guess that Saban will pound the rock all night, to keep the Gators offense on the sideline and keep the clock running.

The Gators have a quietly GREAT defense. Opponents have averaged 12.25 points per game, to the Gators' six trillion. Very good offenses have looked VERY mediocre against this crew. If the Tide want to run the ball all night, they will have to outrun one of the fastest linebacking group in the country. When they find that they are down a couple of scores (which I think will be midway through the 2nd quarter), they will try to throw. And the Gator secondary will eat JP Wilson alive like he was JP Losman throwing on the Patriots.

3) "With Cody healthy again, Alabama's defense should have more than enough to slow the Gators down."

An interior lineman is going to slow down the Gator running backs? C'mon, Mark, that just doesn't make any sense. Sure, we may try and slip a few runs up the gut. But the most reasonable assumption is bouncing these track stars to the outside. Or better yet, let Tebow do some play-action to himself, then sidestep Mr. Cody on his way into the secondary. It would be fun to see Cody try and track down Demps or Rainey. They would have time to resuscitate the spirit of The Bear on a Ouija Board by the time he caught up with them.

4) "It's hard to find many coaches who are better than Saban at preparing a game plan."

Try Urban Meyer. No disrespect to Mr. Saban, who, although has no ethics. is definitely a hell of a coach. But Meyer is easily comparable, if not better, than Saban. With two bad teams playing, this would be a fun game to watch with the quality of coaches on either side of the field. With two GREAT teams playing, this is gonna be the most exciting game of the year.

The advantage that Meyer has, I believe, is in the assistant coaches. It is hard for me to understand why more teams aren't looking to the Gators' assistants as the next crop of GREAT head coaches for their teams. Charlie Strong, Dan Mullen and company are in my opinion some of the best in the business. With more time working with Meyer than the Tide assistants have had with Saban, and more big game experience (this coaching staff has been to a COUPLE of big games, while the Tide are making their debut with this coaching staff), the Gators have the edge.

5) "Alabama doesn't have to be as explosive on offense because its defense won't surrender many points."

This is the worst argument in the article. The defense won't surrender many points? Have you been watching ANY of the Gators games in the last month? They are going to score points. Lots of points. Whether Alabama's defense holds the Gators under their season averages is a reasonable thing to say. But it would be a miracle if the Gators don't put up at least 30.

And Finally, a Bonus Point:

"Senior quarterback John Parker Wilson attempted only 16 passes, completing eight throws for 134 yards with one touchdown."—referring to the Iron Bowl.

Wilson has not been called on to perform this season because he really hasn't needed to. In the games where the Tide played good defenses, Wilson has very bland statistics, throwing very few TDs and an uncomfortable number of INTs. If the Tide get down at any point in this game, and they have to call on Wilson, welll....rammer Jammer is not gonna echo through Atlanta.

ESPN Now A BCS Cheerleader

Colin Colverson — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:15:31 -0500

It has recently been announced that ESPN signed a new four-year deal with the Bowl Championship Series to all digital rights from 2011-2014. The purported price tag? $500 million.

For the first time, BCS football games will only be available live on pay television stations. More importantly, the signing of a rights deal could render the heated conversation about the needs for a playoff totally toothless.

This pisses me off.

Dave Curtis said it best recently in a piece on Sporting News.

Curtis reported on a statement by ESPN President, George Bodenheimer, who, in response to a question about whether or not his commentators would influence BCS decision, said "We have a church-and-state operation between our talent and the business side."

Pardon me for being skeptical. There are a variety of personalities on ESPN who I believe, influence voters as to their decisions with the AP and Coaches poll, which have an impact on BCS standings.

ESPN will now have a direct financial stake in the final makeup of BCS teams. So when it looks like one team with a great fan-base could use a boost to get into that final first or second position, doesn't it look a little weird for the Gameday crew to be rallying support for that team?

How is the "separation of church and state" maintained when one side actively benefits from the turnout on the other side?

Further, this will likely have a chilling effect on any real progress towards a playoff in the near future.

Continuity is the name of the game in these financial relationships, and neither side will want the boat rocked tremendously. Otherwise they will question whether they are actually getting what they bargained for.

The bottom line for me is, this season looks like we are heading towards another vicious, meaningless debate about at least three REALLY good football teams, to find that two of them that deserve a shot at the Big Cheese.

As with numerous seasons in the past 10 years, we are once again going to have a few teams left out that have very legitimate arguments for getting in. Without finding out who the best teams are on the field, we will never have the kind of championship that we can all truly believe in.

I think that many ESPN commentators believe this.

Needless to say, however, this team is run by "the moustaches" as Colin Cowherd likes to call them. The corporate corner office types have spoken, and it makes me truly believe that they don't want a playoff. Not now, and not ever.

If we can't get ESPN on board, no matter how much public or political pressure can be mounted, the road will be tougher for actual change. A change that we really need.

A Barack Obama Strategy to Change College Football

Colin Colverson — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:41:00 -0500

If any of you have seen the news in the last few months, or have not been living under a rock, you know that our President-elect is Barack Obama. Politics aside, his is a historic victory, and signals the start of a new day in American sports.

American sports? Yes, particularly college football. During the campaign, then-Senator Obama called for the use of a college football playoff. It resonated true with millions of American voters, the idea that instead of BCS computers, late season style points and stump speeches from coaches, we could see who the best teams were on the field.

Obama's call has been met a negative response from the big bosses of the BCS. Currently tied up in EXTREMELY lucrative TV deals, the bosses say the first real chance at reform won't come until 2014. Thanks but no thanks, Mr. President.

So what could a Pres. Obama actually do to influence the BCS? Well, legally, he has a couple of options. I think if these options were used in sequence, he could maybe "throw his weight around" and make some changes.

1. Title IX

With the adoption by the Federal government of the requirements of Title IX, which essentially guarantees that female athletes at colleges and universities who receive Federal funding will get equal athletic opportunities to their comparative mens sports.

On its face, it seems like Title IX has no relation to a college football playoff. But bear with me. It has been argued that the BCS is gutting Title IX. Smarter folks than I have shown that the guaranteed money that the 6 BCS conferences get from simply being in the BCS makes it possible for them to support both male and female athletics equitably.

Yet non-BCS schools are kept away from the BCS money, and are unable to financially support their women's athletic programs.

Here is where Obama comes in. With a comprehensive and systematic leveraging of all those non-BCS schools, Pres. Obama could bring ENORMOUS pressure on the NCAA and the college football world at large, by essentially requiring a reanalysis of the financial distributions within college football.

There are 60-70 BCS conference schools, and the rest of FBS would be under scrutiny for inadequately funding their schools, with full on Federal investigations exposing the incredible disparity in financial windfalls that each different "class" of schools is receiving.

I think the BCS bosses would be a lot less comfortable in their position with that many college presidents hammering at their door for some more of the money.

2. Anti-Trust Regulation

The Sherman Anti-Trust Act seeks to improve competition among US markets. College sports is no exception. Many have argued that the BCS violates the Act, and is an illegal monopoly; or at best, an uncompetitive system that needs significant correction to be legal. This gets really technical and complicated, but there is some fairly good opinion out there that the BCS is currently in violation of this law, and could be liable to a legal challenge.

President Obama should, after his Title IX investigations, bring an anti-trust action against the BCS. Find a good venue (a court with a judge that is a fan of a playoff system) and argue for the dissolution of the BCS through his attorney general.

At this point, the BCS would (likely) be facing public pressure from the Title IX investigations, legal pressure from the Attorney General, and political pressure from the President. In an effort to save themselves, the BCS turns to Congress. Big mistake.

Congress, knowing the President's inclination on this one, and understanding the enormous public support for a college playoff, forces the BCS hand. A resolution is adopted, and we have a Federally mandated playoff system, consistent with the rest of the NCAA sports, for college football.

This is a crazy idea. So crazy that it could work.

Will President Obama try to get a college football playoff? Personally, I hope he tackles some more serious issues first. But, if he were so inclined, I think there are a couple of ways that President Obama could influence the college football landscape, and finally knock the BCS bosses back into reality.

Why College Football Is Better Than Pro Football

Colin Colverson — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:11:01 -0500

My roommate is a huge sports fan. He is a Giants fan, and their recent run at greatness has really gotten him rabid about the NFL. The other day I asked him whether he liked college or pro football. He thought about the question for a second, then said pro.

I was shocked. I mean, c'mon. There is NOTHING like Saturdays in the fall. From a guy that grew up in South Carolina, the heart of the SEC, it was amazing to hear that the NFL had claimed his heart over the college game.

Me, I am so-so about the NFL, but I LOVE college football. For the cheesy reasons ("the passion and the pageantry"); for the sportsmanship reasons (these athletes REALLY care about their teams success, not about getting the right numbers for the next contract); and for the rivalries (no NFL game can compete with the intensity of Alabama-Auburn, Florida-Georgia or even OSU-Michigan).

And last but not least, the fans. College football fans, to me, truly represent some of the best attributes about sports fans (asides from the occasional violent confrontations that are deplorable). They travel long distances and endure tough home crowds to cheer their team on the road. They have the most elaborate tailgates you will ever see, all in preparation of their Saturday trip to their own personal temple of football. Especially in the SEC (and if you haven't been here, boy, you haven't lived), the constant factor of amazement is the amount of support the fans give their teams, and what they pour into savoring each fall Saturday.

My NFL experiences have not included polite fans. They have not included incredible tailgates. They have included fans who half-cheer for the players, while wondering about their fantasy numbers. And they have stadiums half full of fans, who show fleeting respect for their team.

But I wanted to see what the readers on this site thought. What do you prefer: College or Pro? Is is Saturdays or Sundays for you?

The Case for Second Best: Steve Spurrier's South Carolina Dilemma

Colin Colverson — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:06:26 -0500

A little bit of history...

To preface this article, I am a Gator fan. I approach Carolina sports, and specifically Gamecock Football, pretty much with mediocre gusto. I am happy to root for the team in my new hometown, but I am not attached to their success or failure.

I attended Florida as an undergraduate in the twilight of Spurrier's heyday. The feeling on every gameday was that we would win. Period. It didn't matter the opponent, the location of the game, or the fact that these were college kids who were still growing and developing. The Gator Nation expected a victory, and nothing else was acceptable.

I think, in many ways, it was the primary force that drove Spurrier from Gainesville and into the arms of Daniel Snyder and the Redskins (well, that and a HUGE PILE of money): the pressure of winning, the uninterrupted intrusion into his life by the local media, and the constant expectation that we were gonna go for the championship every season.

After Steve's basically disastrous attempt at coaching an NFL franchise (which I still think is a result of a couple of things which were way out of his control), and the Gators not welcoming him back to Gainesville with open arms, the opportunity at Carolina presented itself.

It seemed like a great fit: SEC school with a rabid fanbase, great alumni support, pretty good recruiting base, and an escape from the pressure cooker that had started as Gainesville and morphed into Washington, DC.

When Spurrier signed his contract, many thought that this, FINALLY, was the answer for South Carolina football. I think the Ol' Ball Coach said, FINALLY, an SEC school that is starting with low expectations and can grow into the next champion.

Four years later...

The Gamecocks sit at 7-3. They have won games against Arkansas, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Kentucky, UAB, Wofford, and North Carolina State. No signature wins. In fact, in their three losses, they have fallen by only a touchdown to their three best opponents: LSU, Georgia, and Vanderbilt.

This season follows last year's disappointing 6-6, where the Gamecocks only really beat one (maybe two) quality opponents, in Georgia (and Kentucky).

The previous two seasons were more successful, but they were considered by many outside of the Gamecock nation as the signs of a growing power in the SEC East—not the precursors of a disastrous slide that saw the Gamecocks go from 6-1 to 6-6.

The remaining games on the Gamecock schedule for this year include at Florida and at Clemson. Adding a certain bowl bid, I would predict that they will finish the regular season 8-4: the exact same record they had Spurrier's first and second season. No change in their relative position, really.

So where is the psyche of the Gamecock fan with four years of essentially the same results (ignoring last season)? Still hoping. Still believing that their team is making strides in the right direction. And still thinking, it seems, that, "We are gonna be really good NEXT year."

This attitude, this second-best acceptance, has baffled me. My undergraduate experience with football was one of blind acceptance that the Gators HAD to win. Winning was everything.

But in that obsessive attitude, the Gator Nation drove out the coach who had taken the program from nothing to something, from obscurity to prominence. The fans demanded everything, and Spurrier finally moved on.

The attitude here in Columbia is one of blind acceptance that, though the Gamecocks MAY or MAY NOT win this year, they WILL win in the future. The program ebbs and flows with no indication of improvement, but blind faith drives the Gamecock nation to still overflow Williams-Brice stadium, to adorn themselves in millions of dollars of schwag, and to proudly proclaim their allegiance to this second-place team.

What drives this attitude? It is one that perplexes the Ol' Ball Coach, one that he struggles with. He is used to winning, and he surrounds himself with winners. For however much he did not like the pressure at Florida, I think the lack of pressure at South Carolina is equally frustrating, in totally different ways.

Will the Gamecocks ever rise from second place in the SEC East? It will require a change in this second-place attitude—and it starts with the fans. The football team needs to feel the pressure from their supporters that anything less than their best effort is simply unacceptable. They need to know that as winners they will be heralded as kings, and as losers they will be ignored.

But is this the attitude South Carolina should carry? I remember this attitude well in Gainesville, and it did not serve to create a healthy fanbase. The addiction to winning under Spurrier created the very environment that drove him out. The game of football became less about the passion for the game, and more for the thrill of victory.

Carolina fans know both of these emotions, and they take them in stride. Sunday morning, win or lose, they carry on with their lives. They appreciate the team's efforts, they applaud the sacrifice and hard work, and they hope for next year.

Somewhere between these two attitudes lies the future of Carolina football. Somewhere between accepting the reality of your football team and demanding excellence lies the key to long-term success with the Gamecocks.

I fear that the Ol' Ball Coach will not stick around long to try to get this attitude from his team, and from the fans, unless it starts to emerge quickly.

To summarize, I am a Gator Fan (and damn proud of the Orange and Blue this year!). I have watched Carolina football remain in essentially the same place for the last four years. Without a significant shift in the attitude shown both within the Gamecock football program and the Gamecock nation, that position will not change.

But in that shift of attitude, beware the addiction of victory. From my experience in Gainesville, it can be bittersweet if it is all you know.