South Carolina Football: Time to Start Trusting Steve Spurrier and Connor Shaw

Bonny and Clyde. Bill and Ted. Obi-Wan and Luke. JB and Jabels. Tim and Eric. Dustin and Teppei (Props to anyone who gets those last three references). 

Connor and Steve?

Laugh all you want, but these two are reshaping the SEC one season at a time. 

Yet people are ready for Dylan Thompson to step in. I seriously can't believe what I continue to hear.  While I understand that Thompson is 2-0 as a starter and has played very well, Connor Shaw is the quarterback that has been the heart and soul of this team (along with Marcus Lattimore). 

Look, I get it.  You want to see the vertical passing game. You enjoyed the blasts of offense that "DT" provided against Clemson and ECU. 

I get it.

However, you don't throw away the accolades of a player who has been a consistent winner since he stepped into the role of starter for someone who had two great starts against two terrible defenses.  This is simply a knee-jerk reaction. 

I've already gone over my opinion in a head to head comparison. You can read that piece here.

I want to focus on Shaw. 

To begin with, he gutted through this season in pain. He took the field with injuries that would keep lesser men out. The team wanted him out there, and he played well. 

He actually improved this season. He threw for more yards, a higher completion percentage, more touchdowns and a higher passer rating in 2012 than 2011. He went 8-2 as a starter. You can't ask for your quarterback to do more. 

He's always in the film room studying and becoming a more cerebral quarterback. 

Is he perfect? 

No.

He needs to cut down on the picks and focus on the downfield passing a bit more. His feet tend to get the best of him at times. He'll take a three-yard gain on a run instead of see the wide open receiver 20 yards downfield. 

Imagine a healthy Connor Shaw entering his senior season as a third-year starter. Do you really want to give that up?

To further entrench Connor Shaw as the starter, he has the complete support of one of the greatest head coaches of all time in Steve Spurrier. Spurrier knows who the best bet for a national championship is, and he thinks its Connor Shaw. 

He sees something in him that some people seem to miss. I happen to see it as well.

He's a winning, tough, team first, multi-talented, warrior and hard worker. 

Connor Shaw is the Gamecock's starting quarterback. Period.

Case closed.