Sunday, August 1, 2010

2010 SEC Football Preview: South Carolina Gamecocks


By Dan Harralson

The 2010 Gamecock motto should be the Fighting Garcia's instead of the Fighting Gamecocks. Steve Spurrier can take this Carolina squad far if Garcia plays to his potential. Last season, Garcia threw for 2,862 yards (fourth all-time at USC), 239 completions (fourth all-time at USC), and threw 17 touchdown passes (tied for fifth all-time at USC.) South Carolina's mediocrity usually begins with Stephen Garcia. He has had his moments, but all the blame should not be pointed to him. Spurrier needs to find a running game that balances his passing attack. He has not had a balanced running game in his five seasons at Carolina. Spurrier is probably in the toughest coaching positions (other than Vanderbilt) in the SEC. More times than not, the few Palmetto state recruits usually go to other out-of-state teams. One trump card that plays in Coach Spurrier's advantage, is Marcus Lattimore. The homegrown Byrnes High School product, Lattimore, will step in during his first collegiate season. He is the most decorated high school prospect in South Carolina football history. The 5'11, 215 lbs. running back, recorded 6,375 yards and scored 104 touchdowns in his prep career. Lattimore should be showcased in Carolina's annual Thursday night opener against Southern Miss. There is no doubt Steve Spurrier is frustrated with the Gamecock program. As great as a coach that he is, Spurrier is only 35-28 since arriving in Columbia. He actually is serving towards the best coaching jobs South Carolina has seen in its football history. South Carolina is a football program that has only witnessed one ten win season (1984) and one nine win season (2001.) For a productive 2010 season to overlap conference games against Georgia, Auburn, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Florida; Shaq Wilson, Stephon Gilmore, Alshon Jeffry, Patrick DiMarco, and Cliff Mathews need to step up, too. Look for Spurrier to record 8 wins. Below are sound bytes from Media Days: