South Carolina Gamecocks 2011: Why SC Will Never Go Back to 5 Wins a Year

After having numerous discussions with the Georgia Bulldog and Florida Gator faithful, I have come to one conclusion. 

They truly believe that history and tradition are the reasons why South Carolina will never win the east again.  That a down east is the only reason that South Carolina won last year, and that they only have one good player. 

(By the way, those are all quotes from discussions I have had.  Yes... South Carolina, a team with three players currently on ESPN's mock first round draft for 2012 only has one good player). 

Dig a little deeper, and wise up.  Most Auburn and Alabama fans I have had the opportunity to speak with on B/R see things a little differently.  They actually see South Carolina as a threat to the SEC, and give them the respect they deserve.  Why don't the division foes? 

Easy. 

They are going through stage one of the seven stages of grief.  Denial.  After next year, when South Carolina shows that they are more than a one year wonder, there will be pain.  Although I see Georgia making a good run at the SEC East, South Carolina will prove its worth. 

So, what makes Gamecock fans so cocky now a days?  Plenty, actually.  Here are some of the doubters biggest doubts, and what makes them a bunch of crap.  

1.  History says you suck, so no matter who you have on the team, you will suck.

This one makes me laugh.  However, it seems to be the go-to argument.  Look, I am not here to argue South Carolina's mediocre (hovering right about .500) all time record.  There is no argument.  South Carolina has struggled. 

However, let's take a look at two periods...

From 1990 to 1999, South Carolina won 6, 6, 3, 5, 4, 7, 4, 6, 5, 1, and 0 games.  That is an average of 4.1 games per season.  Awful. 

Now, take a look at 2000-2010:

8, 9, 5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 6, 7, 7, and 9.  That is an average of 7.2 games per season. 

So in roughly a ten year span, the Gamecocks improved by three games a season.  Believe it or not, that is a HUGE historical jump, and the consistency towards the end shows even more growth. 

So what history actually tells us is that the team and program is getting better.

2.  You said the same thing during the Lou Holtz era, and look how that turned out.   

No, actually, we didn't.  After those two back to back Outback years, the intelligent Gamecock fan realized that we weren't recruiting sustainable talent. 

Take a look at the Lou Holtz era versus the Steve Spurrier era:

Coach:	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6
Lou Holtz	0	8	9	5	5	6
Steve Spurrier	7	8	6	7	7	9

South Carolina fans will tell you straight up that some of the best coaching that we have ever seen at our program happened to be years two and three of the Lou Holtz era.  However, that zero win season sat hard on many Gamecock fans hearts.

South Carolina fans want to see more than two years of bowl eligibility.   

Then three bowl-less years later, and Holtz makes way for Spurrier. 

Who promptly takes the team and makes them bowl eligible for six straight years.

I remember when I was young, South Carolina's goal every year was to "become bowl eligible".  This was even during the Holtz era. 

Now, it is something different.  Being bowl eligible is a given at South Carolina.  Now, we fight for bigger things. 

3. If you don't already have any significant championship wins, you can't win in the SEC. 

I am going to use Florida as a prime example of what can happen within a few years. 

From 1970-1990, Florida won 134 games in twenty years.  That is an average of 6.7.  Hardly the proud national championship history you would expect.  Then, Steve Spurrier took over and the rest is history. 

However, if you would have looked at Florida in 1991 and said, "Oh, well they are only a seven win team... they can't win a championship" you would have looked like a fool. 

They had a couple of 8-9 win seasons, but they also had a winless season in 1979 (0-10-1).  That all changed overnight.  So don't tell me it can't happen... because it has.  You don't have to have the history of a Georgia, Alabama, Auburn or LSU to be successful. 

4.  South Carolina only has ONE good player!  Marcus "Lattermore" (Lattimore, for those who aren't stupid). 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/688826-college-football-predictions-2011-10-bold-reasons-georgia-wins-sec

There is an interesting set of discussions going on at this article.  It is a well written piece stating why GA can win the east.  I can go along with it... but what I can't is the ignorant comments. 

South Carolina, according to other teams' fans, has only one good player.  REALLY?

Check this out:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/andrew_perloff/05/03/2012.mock.draft/index.html?sct=cf_wr_a2

That is a 2012 mock draft by Andrew Perloff of ESPN.  Check out numbers 12, 21, and 27.  That's right.  Three Gamecocks in the first round.  Stephon Gilmore, cornerback, Alshon Jeffery, wide receiver, and Devin Taylor, defensive end. 

Not to mention the plethora of young offensive talent and the two five star freshmen (Brandon Shell, 6'7 offensive tackle and some other "no name guy"... ummm... Clowner?  Clownsey?  Something like that...), a deep linebacker and defensive line group, and a settled offensive line for the first time since Travelle Wharton was the left tackle, and you have the makings of a powerful SEC group.

5.  Stephen Garcia is the worst quarterback in the SEC!  He sucks!  You guys have horrible quarterback problems. 

This one relates more to this current year... as opposed to history... but I have to attack the haters here too. 

A quote from an actual Georgia fan:

"I never said he wasn't strong. He just has no talent. C'mon Alex! 2007-2009 SC, under Garcia, didn't win more than 7 games in a season. And that is with arguably the best QB coach and offensive head coach in all of college football. Sure, he can throw the ball a mile, but he can only hit his target about 25% of the time - even a target like Jeffries (sic)".

This is not a lonely sentiment.  Many people, for whatever reason, think he has no accuracy.  Others, think he can't hit the deep ball.  Mostly, people have no idea what they are talking about and just spout out whatever they feel like. 

While I cannot argue the fact that he seems to choke under pressure, that isn't due to a lack of talent.  Garcia completed 64% of his passes last year, and historically is hitting 60% for his career.  He also has ten more touchdowns than interceptions, and has the third highest QB rating returning in the SEC.

While I do agree that Stephen Garcia needs to stay out of trouble and play better when the stakes are higher (bowl games), it is foolish to talk about him like he is a sub-par player.  

6.  Enjoy this now, because it will never happen again!

I give you the "go to" argument when there is nothing left to say.... and here is my response...

Sustained recruiting success.  That's right.  For the first time in South Carolina history, most of the players South Carolina wants, South Carolina gets.  Spurrier said he got 33 of 35 targets in recruiting.  Last year, he said he only missed out on 2 or 3 guys he really wanted.  

Our biggest recruits for 2012?  We already got one of them in offensive lineman  Brock Stadnick, a current member of ESPNU's top 150 and Tom Lemmings Top 100. 

For more info on Brock and his highly rated brother, see this story by Leftover Hot Dog... http://bleacherreport.com/articles/692081-college-football-recruiting-2012-stadnik-brothers-commit-to-south-carolina

The second is five star player Shaq Roland of Lexington High School.  This athlete is one of the most explosive to come out of South Carolina in years.  For more information on Shaq, please check out this article.  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/612999-shaq-roland-why-south-carolina-will-bring-in-another-mr-football-in-2012

This is how you sustain excellence.  This has never happened before.  Let's look at the wide receivers.  Troy Williamson was a star for South Carolina under Lou Holtz.  He was drafted 7th overall to the Minnesota Vikings.  Most schools lose a player like that and take a step back.  GREAT programs have someone waiting. 

Guess who was the replacement receiver?  A guy named Sidney Rice... now an NFL superstar.  When he got drafted, you would assume South Carolina would be terrible at wide receiver.  Well, not when you have Kenny McKinnley on your roster. 

Well, he got drafted.  So now you have no great starter, right?  Wrong.  Hello Alshon Jeffery.  Now, we bring in a potential replacement in star Shaq Roland (or is it four star recruits Ace Sanders, Damiere Byrd, or Alshon's brother Shamier Jeffery)?  This is how you sustain success... and it isn't just happening with the wide receivers. 

The South Carolina train is hardly set to derail.  Get use to it, SEC fans.  This program is built for the long haul.  

Whether you like it or not.