Chick-fil-A Bowl 2010 South Carolina vs. Florida State: What We Learned Monday
As Bleacher Report's official media representative at this week's Chick-fil-A Bowl between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Florida State Seminoles, it will be my pleasure to share with you all what's going on behind the scenes this week.
Monday was the second day of Bowl Week for the two teams and it was filled with fun, learning opportunities and practice throughout the day.
Read on to see just what we learned on Monday about the Bowl game.
The Extracurriculars
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When they weren't practicing or talking to the media, the South Carolina and Florida State players and coaches were exploring the wonderful city of Atlanta, Georgia.
Both teams met up with Congressman and civil rights activist John Lewis at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center. Lewis talked to them about Dr. King and Atlanta's history in the civil rights movement after a tour of the Center.
Later on, the teams competed in the second leg of the Battle for Bowl Week. They went out to Fogo de Chao and had a meat eating contest. South Carolina tied the contest up 1-1 after out-eating the Seminoles.
The contest will continue with a go-kart race tomorrow.
Christian Ponder
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Christian Ponder wasn't as big a focus during the Florida State practice as he was on Sunday, but Jimbo Fisher still took time to comment on his progress.
As the head coach said, "He had a good day today. The rest of his body is probably more sore than his elbow because he's been sitting around for a month."
There continues to be nothing but good news on the progress of the Seminoles' stud quarterback.
We'll see how the rest of the week goes.
Defending South Carolina's Offense
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Stopping Stephen Garcia, Alshon Jeffery and Marcus Lattimore is always a difficult thing to do.
Jimbo Fisher agreed, saying, "If you research Steve Spurrier's teams, you'll be surprised how much he ran. He has always been 50-50 on running and passing, and he has had a few 1,000 yard rushers. He has a few playmakers. A two-headed monster that can beat you with the run or the pass is tough to stop. We've got to mix up our looks on defense."
In my opinion, the Florida State defense is going to be the biggest predictor of success. If they play well, Florida State should win this game. If not, the offense may not be able to pick the team up.
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Covering Alshon Jeffery
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Terrance Parks, the Florida State safety, also spoke to us during the practice about the importance of slowing down South Carolina's star receiver Alshon Jeffery.
Jeffery has had a true breakout season this year, catching 79 balls for 1,387 yards and nine touchdowns.
Parks said about him, "He is big, strong and fast. He'll make his plays, but it's on us to slow him down. It's a matter of getting into great position and using your eyes correctly."
Xavier Rhodes, the cornerback who will be matching up with Jeffery, added, "I've never played against a receiver that big. He's a physical guy, and he'll use his frame to push corners out of the way. I have to work on my technique—staying balanced and keeping my feet under me. I'm excited to match up with him. This game will help me a lot."
While stopping the South Carolina offense is key, the key to doing that is shutting down Jeffery and having the ability to focus on Marcus Lattimore.
The Bowl Experience
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Florida State's linebacker Kendall Smith, pictured here, provided the best quote for describing the Gamecocks' Bowl experience.
He said, "During the regular season, we don't get to do things as a team much. Everyone goes their own way with school and life off the field. This is like a vacation for us. At the end of the day, we are here for football and we take that seriously. But we feel like we earned this experience and want to enjoy it."
Jimbo Fisher agreed with him while stressing the importance of maintaining focus: "The way our schedule is set up allows us to have some fun. The Bowl does a good job of setting up activities. We're focused on football and have to get into our practices, but there has to be time to relax your mind. Our team has earned some time to enjoy it."
Terrance Parks has particularly enjoyed the experience since he's playing in his home city. "It's good to be back home. I haven't been here in a while. I'm excited to play in front of that crowd, since I never got to play in the Dome during high school. I've got 30-40 people trying to get into the game, and I've been asking teammates for extra tickets for a few weeks. It's a big game."
Defending Florida State's Offense
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As defensive coordinator for the South Carolina Gamecocks, it's going to be Lorenzo Ward's goal to stop the Seminoles' offense.
About doing so, he said, "They are a complete team. They do a great job of attacking the edge. Their receivers are big and fast enough to go downfield, but they can also turn a hitch route into a 60 yard gain. When Ponder is back there, he can change the game in a few different ways."
Sounding confident, safety DeVonte Holloman said, "Florida State is fast. They know how to get open and make plays. As long as we stay with our assignments and communicate, we'll be alright."
Rebounding From The SEC Championship
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South Carolina is going to need to play with confidence and put the SEC Championship Game behind them.
Commenting on that, DeVonte Holloman said, "We went into the Auburn game not knowing what to expect. Having played in this stadium and in front of this crowd helps. We want to win this game, and we'll need to maintain the same intensity we had in the regular season. We've had some time to correct our mistakes, and we're looking forward to another chance to prove ourselves."
Stephon Gilmore, a cornerback for the Gamecocks, agreed with him. "We have to shake it off. We've had some time to leave it behind us and get ready for the next game."
Punting
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Spencer Lanning, in a rare occurrence for punters, also had a chance to deliver a few quotes.
He talked about the science of punting, saying, "When I go to punt, the only thing I worry about is catching the ball. That's what my dad always told me: make sure you catch the ball. Having confidence back there is key. If you have a shred of doubt, it will be exposed. We are all mental cases, but once we get set in our routines, everyone can do their job."
Lanning also commented on his future. "If I get the opportunity to play at the next level, I'll take it. I want to take a shot at the NFL and will take next semester to train. I'm not putting all my eggs in one basket. I'm also looking into med school once I finish my last class."
Tomorrow's Events
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The teams will meet up for a breakfast tomorrow morning with Bobby Bowden at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Breakfast tomorrow.
Following that, press conferences will be held and then both teams will practice for two hours at the Georgia Dome.
In the late afternoon, they'll take turns going to Andretti Karting and participating in some kart races.
Make Sure to Check Back
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I'll be posting a summary of each and every day leading up to the Chick-fil-A Bowl, so make sure you check back to keep up to date.
Until then, leave some comments with your thoughts on the Bowl game.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
