South Carolina Football: Injuries Finally Catch Up to Gamecocks

2011, which was such a season of promise, is quickly falling down into what has become a nightmare season.  Yes, the Gamecocks are still 7-2 and can win the SEC East with a win and a Georgia loss, but no one will ever be able to shake the feeling that a fully loaded South Carolina team could have done so much more. 

With Connor Shaw potentially missing time due to a concussion, per Spurrier during his post-game press conference, the Gamecocks are now down to their third-string quarterback to hand the ball to their fifth-string running back. 

No, I am not using this as an excuse.  There is no team in America, including No. 1 LSU, that could lose its top four backs and its top two quarterbacks in one season and remain competitive...and that's just the tip of the iceberg for a decimated Gamecock team.

If you try to argue otherwise, you are a couple of cards short of a full deck. 

It doesn't stop with the backfield (which, by the way, is also missing a fullback, Matt Coffee, brother of ex-49er Glenn Coffee). 

There are huge injuries all over the team.  How bad has it been?  Take a look. 

Connor Shaw, Quarterback: Concussion

Connor Shaw is the most recent addition to the list of casualities. 

The passing game for South Carolina is already struggling.  Now, they must rely on Dylan Thompson, a redshirt freshman, and Bruce Ellington, a wide receiver, if Connor is unable to go. 

Sigh. 

Antonio Allen, Defensive Back: Neck

Antonio Allen is an All-SEC candidate and possible All-American player who was a last-minute scratch for the Arkansas game.

He has been key in the Gamecocks pass defense playing so well and against the best pass team they play, then he was out.  You saw the results. 

He is still listed as day to day. 

Marcus Lattimore, Running Back: Knee

Of course, we all know about the crushing season-ending injury to Marcus Lattimore. 

The All-American player was the heart and soul of the offense, and his loss caught up to the Gamecocks in a big way against Arkansas.

Bruce Ellington, Wide Receiver/Quarterback/Runningback: Hamstring

Bruce Ellington is back on the field, but since his injury, he hasn't been as explosive as usual. 

He doesn't look 100 percent and has not been on the field nearly as much. 

He hasn't been taking back kicks, either, which was something he was excelling at. 

Corey Addison, Safety: Concussion

Corey has missed the last three games due to his concussion symptoms. 

He played very well in the defensive backfield before injury, and his absence has been felt. 

Kyle Nunn, Offensive Tackle: Back

This is the injury that has destroyed the Gamecocks the most.  He is an All-SEC tackle and was playing at an All-American level before he went down. 

This loss caused a great chain of events.  Two freshmen have been rotated in his spot and have proven to not have been ready, which is the case for most freshman linemen. 

This caused Spurrier to run more wildcat with Ellington, which led to the Marcus injury.  The offensive line has been woeful without him. 

Stephen Garcia, Quarterback: Dismissal

Probably one of the strangest stories of the season, Stephen Garcia regressed in a huge way, after being named to most preseason All-SEC teams. 

He had a good-to-great junior campaign, and all indications was that he would be the senior quarterback that would lead this team to victory. 

Instead, he looked like an sketchy freshman.  He will go down as the biggest dissapointment in Gamecock history, right along with this season as a whole.

Stephen Garcia's Brain: Body Part, Missing

Need I say more?

Shon Carson, Running Back: Knee

Carson was supposed to be Lattimore's No. 2 coming into the season.  He was playing fast, tough and smart football throughout the spring. 

Two carries in and he tears an ACL.  He has since been granted a medical redshirt and should be ready for next season. 

Akeem Auguste, Corner: Foot

A starter at corner, and one of the hardest hitting players on the team, Akeem Aguste was supposed to revert back to his 2009 form, where he was one of the SEC's best corners.  He has been out since October 15th and will not return. 

Devonte Holloman, Defensive Back: Foot

Holloman has been struggling with a foot injury that was aggravated during the Arkansas game.  He missed two early-season games because of it.

That's Not All, Folks

The Post and Courier said it best... "Keeping up with South Carolina injuries is a chore." 

Seven starters are either out for the season, missed some time this season or is questionable for Saturday's Florida game.  Eight, if you include the all-everything player Bruce Ellington, who at one point was basically a starter. 

That doesn't include role players like Brison Williams, Vic Hampton, Kenny Miles and Eric Baker.  There are others as well. 

The point is, there has never been a Carolina team so decimated with injuries. 

The fact of the matter is, it was impressive that they were even competitive against Arkansas (28-30 in the fourth quarter). 

If Spurrier can somehow do the miraculous and win the SEC East with second and third-stringers, then he should get serious consideration for the SEC coach of the year. 

Just the fact that the team is 7-2 (and guaranteed at least eight wins with the Citadel still on the schedule) is great...disappointing, but great.  The team is still fighting, which is new to the Carolina program. 

However, it isn't enough for a season that was supposed to end in Atlanta. 

It's looking less and less likely.