SOUTH CAROLINA HUMILIATED BY FLORIDA IN THE SWAMP
Suddenly, the University of South Carolina’s dream football season seems more like a nightmare. Head coach Steve’s Spurrier’s program – which was supposed to have evolved into a national championship contender capable of beating anybody on its schedule – got steamrolled by No. 2 Florida in “The Swamp” this weekend.
The loss effectively ends USC’s hopes of winning the SEC Eastern Division championship – and leaves Gamecock fans scratching their heads as to what the rest of their team’s once-promising season will look like.
After spotting the Gators (7-0, 6-0 SEC) three touchdowns off of turnovers in the first half, the seventh-ranked Gamecocks (6-2, 4-2 SEC) laid down and died in the second half – putting up negative yardage until midway through the fourth quarter when the outcome of the game was no longer in question.
The end result? A 44-11 dismantling that had Gamecock fans recalling lopsided beat downs of previous years – humiliating defeats that this talented South Carolina team was supposed to be incapable of absorbing.
“It was embarrassing for us,” Spurrier said after the game. “Very embarrassing the way we lost. It could have been a heckuva game for everybody but instead we basically laid the ball on the ground and said we don’t want this thing bad enough.”
Two weeks ago, USC was the toast of the college football world after administering a 35-7 smack down at home against then-No. 5 Georgia – rising all the way to No. 3 in the nation. Last weekend, though, a loss on the road against LSU exposed serious weaknesses – mainly on offense.
This week? The wheels came off.
USC quarterback Connor Shaw fumbled on the Gamecocks’ opening play from scrimmage, giving the Gators a first-and-goal at the three-yard line. Three plays later Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel hooked up with tight end Jordan Reed for a touchdown – giving second-year head coach Will Muschamp’s team a lead it would never surrender.
In the second quarter – after several Florida defensive penalties helped the Gamecocks stop the bleeding – USC coughed up the ball on back-to-back kick returns. First, USC’s star punt returner Ace Sanders was stripped while returning a Kyle Christy punt midway through the second quarter – which the Gators quickly turned into a 14-3 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Damiere Byrd fumbled – setting the Gators up with a first-and-goal from the USC one-yard line. Two plays later it was 21-3 Florida – despite the fact that the Gators only accumulated 29 yards of total offense in the first half.
“The only thing we hoped our guys would give was their best shot and not just lay the ball on the ground and basically say ‘here … here Florida, we don’t want to win, you guys take this fumble and this fumble and this one and this one,'” Spurrier said after the game. “And away they went.”
Shaw – who was benched by Spurrier for the second half – completed just nine of 20 passes for 72 yards in losing for only the third time as USC’s starter. After throwing just eighteen incompletions through his first five games of 2011, Shaw has now misfired 26 times in his last two games.
Meanwhile one-time Heisman Trophy candidate Marcus Lattimore – who didn’t start the game after bruising his hip earlier in the week – was held to a career-low 13 yards on only three carries.
After the intermission, things went from embarrassing to downright shameful for South Carolina. Held in check offensively for the first two quarters, Florida embarked on a ten-play, 59-yard drive to open the third quarter – a drive that was capped by a 6-yard touchdown run from Omarius Hines. USC did block the extra point – with cornerback Vic Hampton taking it to the house for two points – but that was the last flash of life the Gamecocks’ showed.
USC went three and out on its first two possessions of the half with backup quarterback Dylan Thompson in the game, and Florida capitalized with a pair of scoring drives to extend their lead to 37-8 entering the final stanza.
Thompson finished the game with even worse stats than Shaw, completing only eight of 20 passes for 83 yards with one interception.
Who will start for USC next week? Spurrier says he hasn’t made up his mind yet.
Meanwhile Florida’s Driskel finished with only 93 yards passing – his third straight sub-100-yard game – but he matched his season total with four touchdown passes. USC also held the SEC’s No. 2 running back Mike Gillislee to a season-low 37 yards on 19 carries.
Despite the lopsided score, South Carolina actually outgained Florida 193-181 in this game – although USC picked up 86 of those yards against Florida’s second-team defense late in the fourth quarter.
Florida picked up the vast majority of its yardage during the pivotal third quarter.
The embarrassing loss in Gainesville was South Carolina’s first at the hands of an SEC East opponent since the middle of the 2010 season. USC also lost consecutive games for the first time since the end of the 2010 season.
So where do the Gamecocks go from here? That’s a good question … there were moments during the first half of Saturday’s game when USC’s defense looked absolutely unstoppable, but the Gamecock offense simply couldn’t capitalize on its early opportunities. And after the back-to-back special teams fumbles spotted the Gators an eighteen-point lead, USC basically gave up.
Not just on this game … but on its season.
That was the most depressing takeaway from this game – not necessarily the mistakes the Gamecocks made in the first half to put themselves in a hole, but the way they completely threw in the towel in the second half.
South Carolina has four games left to redeem itself – although at this point the best that Spurrier’s squad can hope for is to equal last year’s historic 11-2 season. Speaking of Spurrier, the Ol’ Ball Coach slipped to 3-5 against Florida – the team he led to six SEC titles and one national championship during a 12-year run from 1990-2001.
USC will try to get things back on track at home against Tennessee next weekend. After an open date the first weekend of November, the Gamecocks play Arkansas and Wofford at Williams Brice Stadium before heading on the road against arch-rival Clemson. Head coach Dabo Swinney’s Tigers are the lone ranked opponent remaining on USC’s schedule.
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USC vs. FLORIDA STATS (.pdf)
USC vs. FLORIDA PICS
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Pic: Travis Bell, Sideline Carolina
75 comments
New FITSNEWS Sport meme:
“ FLORIDA just scored again!”
Da Chicken Curse™ is partying like its 1984….
The Chicken Curse was just waiting, waiting for the perfect time to reappear. The way this team plays I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Gamecocks of old and go on their traditional October-November slide. I can see the losing every game except the Wofford game. Another 7-5 season.
You may call me a dreamer (but I’m not the only one), but I’ve got hopes that they lose to Wofford, too.
Next week will be better, just a bad week. Still have confidence in the ole ball coach and players.
One for the record books-
First team this century to allow a team to score 40+ points with less than 200 yards of offense, 197 to be exact. Yes, the Chicken Curse is alive and well in Cootville.
Hey Big T, et al, what’s happened to the greatest football team in the history of football?
Is Lattimore even a top 100 rusher this season? If he can’t go through an SEC season without sitting out at least one game each season what’s going to happen when guy who are 40 pounds heavier and twice as fast start pounding on him in the NFL.
just add Cock at the end Brad
Dammit, “T”!
Where you at, cuz???
His appetite for Gator and Tiger meat has been satiated. He’s more of a Terrier dog meat guy.
Humiliated. Dammit. Back to the drawing board with Spurrier. This was supposed to be our high water mark.
Careful there. As bad as the score was, Florida had less than 200 yards of total offense.
Yeah, but me and Muschamp* will tell that without some poor officiating (roughing the snapper, the late “hit” when Shaw was sliding etc), the score woulda been worse.
* A shout out to BigT’s “Me and Spurrier” comment a couple weeks ago.
Somebody should probably call T’s mom and get her to check the basemant to be sure he’s alright.
Big T, Romney, and USC are falling so fast.
Damn,
This one wasn’t even close. WTF Florida?
Total Domination
“Shaw – who was benched by Spurrier for the second half – completed nine of 20 passes for 72 yards. In fact after throwing just eighteen interceptions through his first five games of 2011, Shaw has now misfired 26 times in his last two games.”
Just curious, my man. What is the point you are trying to make with those statistics?
‘Just’ 18 interceptions in 5 games (Is 3.2 per game acceptable)? As compared to 26 misfires? Do you mean 26 incompletions?
I was once quoted as saying 3 things can happen when a ball is in the air and two of them are bad.
I think your sports writing is all bad, son.
Oh yea, I forgot. You got anything to say about my Tiger’s win today? Or, have the Gators and “Death Valley” Tigers (both Tigers and Valleys) got your tongue?
Yeah, I’ve got something to say abut your tigers, “they suck” and they have an easy schedule. They would be mince meat against Georgia, LSU, and Florida.
Damn Biggot,
I thought you and Spurrier were hand and hand and going to carry us. Maybe we are back to square one, perhaps now with a couple of more lineman. I’ve never been so disappointed.
Asshole.
This just in, Florida has scored yet again.
You Coot fans know what I’m saying.
Spurrier’s forehead must be sunburned by now. His visor was in his hand most of today’s game.
EXPOSED…Time to throw the visor
Frank, I’ll say a few things about the Tigers win. First, the game changed when the officials, who Clemson fans bitch about as a way of life, blew not one, but two calls when the game was close. Clemson would have won the game anyway, as Virgina Tech, like other JV teams in the ACC, was laughably bad. CU had better start putting back some cash — about $50 million as I understand it — to get out of the ACC.
Yeah, I could say a few things, too. The Gator fest began today on the first SC play from scrimmage when Shaw was stripped. It continued until Florida took a knee on their last 3 plays.
In the aftermath, Corey Miller threw OBC/SOS so far under the bus that he may never see the light of day again. Connor Shaw deserves better and Spurcock deserves a kick in the nuts.
By the way, Florida just scored again.
Will OBS/SOS now a throw a fit if Corey Miller is in the room? After what Miller said tonight, I expect OBS/SOS to be seen giving Ron Morris a hug. The OBS/SOS is being how much to regurgitate plays out of the 1990 UF playbook?
I pull for CU more than USC, but CU should not be celebrating just yet. Check my math, but I believe the combined record of the teams CU has beaten is 16-29.
Maybe USC should return to the ACC, at least they might be able to compete every week rather than appear as a prep team.
USC is going to lose two more games this season. Fans will travel 4-5 hours to a mid-tier bowl (likely a mid-afternoon during “Bowl Week”)which hopefully will be at least close. Then everyone can talk about next year.
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in Detroit here we come!!! Get your reservations made Coot fans, Detroit is lovely in December.
Bullshit, no more losses for the USC…Uniquely Spurriers Cocks
Ugh. I just phoned my doctor to see if I can get some Prozac. Suddenly, I feel as helpless as a lipless ballon blower at a birthday party :-(
It is (at times) as entertaining to watch all of the histrionic hand wringing and wailing that goes on about football seasons as it is to watch the games themselves. Some haters pray we’ll lose three of our last four, other whiners act like we’ve already dropped off of the map and are gone forever as an SEC program because we got our a$$es whipped by two of the best teams in college football. Maybe we’ll lose everything but Wofford- maybe we’ll win all four. Nobody knows, but that’s why we play the games. The fun is in watching it all unfold. I’m a little disappointed, sure, but I guess I am also easy to please; I just don’t think 11-2 (if we pull that off) with our schedule in the SEC is all that bad.
The way you can tell the Clemson fans are shaking in their boots about getting their a$$es handed to them this year by the Gamecocks is the way they have come out of the woodwork after USC’s last two games.
They know they won’t be able to talk any smack after they get their 4th whuppin’ in a row on Nov. 24th, so they’re blowing their wad now.
Cocks just need play a few of those patsies on Clemsucks ACC schedule. FITS did not see you write this much about Clemsucks when they “laid down” against FSU, the only team they have played thus far. Why do you have such a hard on for your alma mater? You give Clemsucks a pass and try to piss on USC weekly, even if you have to conjure up unfounded bullshit. You think by doing this Clemson grad, Nikki, will give you a little. If so, give it up. Nikki has too much pride than fuck around with a little ole dipshit blogger like you.
The only thing that could have made the HBC’s postgame comments better would have been for him to have used the word “diddley-poo”. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tie0tz7jGDI&sns=em
FITS problem: You were a HATER beforehand…so your analysis is Unfiit when there are struggles…
The media its best using Talent and insight to fairly and accurately assess.
FITS has neither…and nor does he have any crdibility.
This could happehn to any quality program. It’s how you respond that defines you.
Spellcheck is your friend.
Obama in the first debate could have beat this team.
Painful loss. I don’t think I saw a post-game handshake between the coaches. Anybody notice one? Anything said about it?
Announcers said that Ole Ball Sack had sprained his wrist from throwing his visor and couldn’t shake hands!
Point of interest for the taters. Want to know why the BCS had your ranking so low? Because not one single computer had you in the top 25. Your computer average was.000. Even after the win against VT, the power rankings dropped you to the 60’s. Beat your chest if you want, just keep in mind the Carolina just lost out on their top goal. Clemson just became the focus of the season. Taj Boyd may shit his pants on national tv that night, assuming they want to show two bad teams playing each other
Well then I guess Clemson will have some familiar company this week when USC settles into their new home.
Stevie you are correct. If you can’t run with the big dogs, you need to stay on the porch. Carolina needs to schedule more in state games besides the kitties.
Who do we lose to next?
Personally, the tapes do not lie. Thompson is good…and he needs to let that hair grow out some, the Todd Ellis look or something.
Connor is just banged up. He takes too many hits. He will be back….
This USC team may be shell shocked. I have seen it in soldiers before. The Gamecocks’ success will depend on how they are treated and perceived by the HBC and his staff. If Spurrier “beats them up” and drills them into the ground this team will become disjointed. Then it will be very hard to pull out of a downward spiral.
Two losses in a row and this team is now punch drunk. Hopefully Spurrier will get over his embarrassment and try to find this team’s core strength. He may have to dig deep and find some new team leaders and prune some deadwood. Deadwood might be staff or players.
Very uneasy situation here for Gamecock fans. Sort of like hearing the news that your teenage daughter is pregnant. Who do you slap or hug?
The Gators just scored again.
Time to change the sheets and throw the baby out with the bathwater…
Twenty-three skidoo!!!
Has Spurrier ever uttered the words “We just got out coached”? Florida never double teamed Clowney. He was free to take a shot every snap at the QB. The only problem was he ended up behind the ball so often he becomes innefective against the run. He basically plays to sack every snap. That very effective when you have someone on the other end of the line of similar talent. Not so good when the play unfolds behind you. Florida was very grateful for the LSU game film. Dabo is greatful for both. See you next month chickens!
Hmmmm….interesting
Well shit. The loss to LSU was disappointing, but this was downright bad. The extra point block was really the only good scoring play of the game for us. Awful…
It’s very interesting! Clowney is a Beast with the wingspan of a 737 and the speed of a gazelle. Would he not be effective at times dropping back in coverage and watching the play unfold in front of him? A QB on the dirt when w/o a ball is not much to crow about! No pun intended!
Here’s my opinion (for what it’s worth)… Steve Spurrier is great coach and I doubt the Gamecocks will lose another game this season. That said, he’s had a weakness for showing too much loyalty to his quarterbacks during his stay at USC. Whether Garcia or Shaw, he should have bailed on them earlier. Sorry Cory Miller, but regardless of how well Shaw can play at times, he’s never going to be a big time quarterback… never has been, never will be. Yep, he’s smart, he’s incredibly fast, and he’ll make a phenomenal coach. But, his biggest problem?… he’s too small and not extremely gifted with his throwing. Now, if Spurrier had had no other options, I’d just write this off as bad luck for the Cocks. However, and we all know this, earlier this season we saw a QB that played like a “real Spurrier QB”, you know, the kind he had at Florida and the kind of guy that we’ve all been waiting on. Yet, eerily, and true to the epic fail of Spurrier’s quarterback loyalty fetish at USC, he was strangely shelved about as fast as he began. Mr. Miller, it is my belief that had Spurrier played the other QB from that point onward, we’d likely be undefeated at this point. The other quarterback is the ONLY weapon we have to prevent a defense from stacking the line (which is what has happened over the past 2 weeks). Why? Because he is the only quarterback that can naturally and accurately throw the long ball, thus, taking pressure off of Lattimore, etc. Thankfully, I believe that Spurrier may have just figured this out. Just my two cents (which is probably what it’s worth).
Well said.
Probabaly need to jettison Steve Jr. as WR Coach…
The deficiency (in coaching) at that position manifests in BIG games…O-line is not as far along as we thought either…Likely still reeling a little from the days of Hunt.
Other than that..it’s not a big deal. You play that level of schedule, and have a HORRIBLE Game…it will smart.
Finish out the regulr season at 10-2..and all will be fine.
But this team does need to re-focus and challenge itself…
Spurrier’s never going to can his son and the six figure salary he’s receiving from SC taxpayers. If it wasn’t for dad, Jr. would be working the drive-thru at McDonalds.
Yet you P!$$ your pants w/ excitement over Obama as he spends Billions WRECKING our country….and McDonalds would NEVER hire Obama based on his work ethic and ability…
BigT – You think I’m an Obama supporter? You really are an idiot.
You’re as STUPID as one…oh wait a minute…let me guess: Ron Paul???…You’re one of those Dunb@$$#$ who thinks you’ve figured it out beause you’re smarter than er’body else…
Big T – Do you realize what most people on here want for Christmas this year? An Ignore button, if it happens you’ll be talking to yourself.
I guess I better take that Romney/Ryan sticker off my car… it’d be embarrassing to be seen with this since I’m a “Ron Paul supporter”, if nothing else I don’t think, but know that I’m smarter than you are.
South Carolina stumbles one weekend..and FITS Explodes w/ giddy keytrokes…
While the Obama Campaign IMPLODES daily, after FITS GURANTEED he could not lose, and this talent-less, and WRONG piece of $#!* sits silent…
FITS may see SC’s ugly loss a BIG reason to celebrate…but I will BUST his Wothless @$$ as he his god-idol crahes and burns on Election Day…
My country is SO MUCH more than ONE football game…and FITS claims this as a Politcal site…
Too bad he can only claim a win w/ a weekend Sports loss.
BigOT,
Just got through watching the Steve Superior show and I must say something about the Old Ball Sack and his use of the word “disgrace”. He said at the end of the show the team was a disgrace and I thought how can a person who has recruited and coached every member of this team call them disgraceful if he himself didn’t lend credence to their disgrace? A short reply to this question without the political rhetoric would be useful.
Yet, T, you put your hatred for Obama on a sports post?
first off carolina lost to 2 top 10 teams on the road. also, florida’s really not very good at all. as bad as georgia is, barely beating kentuck, they will KILL florida. its florida’s turn to feel HUGE disappointment. theyare OVERRATED and big time overachievers. murra will dissect that defense andgeorgia’s D will be inspired. georgia 47- 17. the real problem all along was that conner shaw’s early success blinded spurrier to the fact that he cant throw down the field. all the georgia game was 2 jumps balls that byrd and moore were lucky to come away with after horible underthrows to wide open receivers running away from the defense. against mediocre to good defenses, conner shaw can run effectively, but against top SEC defenses there is only one way to win: by opening up the running game via the passing game. i’ve said it all year: conner shaw is not a natural passer. he cant read the defense and adjust on the fly. he cant read the defense and determine where the open spaces on the field will be. he gets stuck on the primary receiver. his only hope is to scramble and hope someone gets open before the D gets to him. spurrier has failed to find and develop a qb that can read the defense and throw downfield, thus streching the defense and openin up the running game. in the sec you cant overpower certain teams by running straight at them. carolina has had the blueprint for success on offense: spread the field with the passing game, force the defense onto their heels, THEN run the ball, but shaw cant throw to the open spaces and open receivers to create the space for the running game. the season is over. wins againt craPPY TEAMS LIKE CLEMSON will have to do this year, but wont get anybody excited. looks like the outback bowl or chicken filleted.
Listen, u idiots.
I been writing about chicken curse for weeks and you all laughed at me. Now….listen.
. The curse is only the sum of low IQ, hubris, and the ability to not remember the past. In other words:
Our players are always the dumbest on the field ( in and out of school)’ they believe their own press, and worse yet, realitivly sane and intelligent people rooting for Carolina do the same, and none of them ever remember how easy it is for dumb ass college boys to go stupid.
Carolina will have a winning team when it’s I.q, reaches above retard level, the players are forced to act like humans and not rock stars, and when adults remember or learn that there are more important things in life that gamecock football.
Nuff said. Take it to the bank.
“OUCH” – who pulled the tailfeathers off my ass?!
In the immortal words of a Chinese warlord during the Japanese invasion of China, when asked what were his plans if the Chinese kept losing and retreating, his reply:
“We will fight to the last coolie”
……. and so shall we, the “Fighting Gamecocks”!
Hey, Clemson fans. The fact that we lost badly to a good team doesn’t make the fact that you won big over a shitty evidence you are better than us.
There’s a BIG difference between letting 44 points get put up, most on crappy mistakes, than having your D let 70 go by.
No evidence yet your D is better. Everybody has scored more than once on you this season. Even Furman.
The HATERS hated every week before this….They FINALLY got something to be happy about…
But how long will it take before SC moves ahead of Clemson…and Clemson is stuck wondering if Dabo is as big an Eff-up as they Know he is…but they cannot aford to fire him…and they know any ACC win is a joke…
Enjoy it. It’s a chance you take when you play in a REAL football conference…
Clemson will never know about that…
Brad…that’s Clempsins whole plan right? Play shitty games against shitty teams? No thanks. Ill take losing a few and playing in the toughest league.
My team stunk it up…..vs the #2 team.
You are right…..SC could have played Duke w no national audience….no game day….no interest and won. Instead they play the biggest game of the day. They got smoked! No doubt. But, it’s big time and its exciting.
Kitties keep winning in the minor league and that’s ok….I’d rather give it a shot in the majors.
2 teams have 2 completely different worlds.
The only way to tell who is better is the score board in November.
Last time I checked……SC won last time?
Jeffy – As if I’m a Clemson fan. I’m just someone in the Midlands who has to put up with the biggest bunch of bandwagon jumping fans in the nation. One week Spurrier should have his contract extended, the next they’re calling for his head. Gamecock fans are more about tailgating than football anyway… from what I’ve seen. Which explains why the stands start to clear out in the 3rd quarter, it’s been done for so long that it’s now tradition.
Face it, this was USC’s year to show something. Lattimore will be gone after this year, they still haven’t produced a quarterback who can play under pressure, Clowney has one year but teams are already understanding how to stop him or run plays that negate him. Spurrier hasn’t changed his playbook since he was in Florida. The East was down last year and this year, Georgia and Florida are rebounding, hell even Vanderbilt is getting better.
Um can everyone on here please post their age? If you are 21 and younger, okay I understand. But otherwise grow up!
Breaking news: Florida just scored!!