One of the rites of passage of college is attending a USC Gamecock football game. This season promises to be a good one too.
However, at USC, if you sign up to go and don’t show, you could be locked out the rest of the season. Evidently, so many students picked up tickets and didn’t use them last year (over a 1000 per game) that the school has implemented electronic tickets and loyalty points.
That means the more games you attend the more points you get towards the more popular sports at USC.
From now on, student no-shows who don’t cancel the ticket in advance will be locked out of seeing that sport for the rest of the season. That includes football.
Gone are the days of picking up your ticket and scalping them to make a few “beer buck”.
The UGA vs. USC game is quickly approaching….2 days according the the counter on this site. As this is a bitter rivalry between those of us who are alumni from both schools, I’d like to see if we can all get together to watch USC kick the crap out of UGA….
Any ideas on a good bar for everybody to head to. I’ll throw out the following:
1. The Derby: Johns Creek - Close to my house, and we can take a cab back. They have big TV’s all over the place. Food is good…not sure about the crowd.
2. Uptown Loft (used to be the English) - Close to Dave & Adams home. They have lots of TV’s, but not sure if they are going to have the game playing all night. They tend to get a band on Saturdays. Not sure about food or crowd. Dave and Adam can likely comment.
3. Diggers Sports Bar - They used to be Gamecock Friendly. However, that was a few years ago. They are off of Roswell RD, so not close to anybodies house. Good food….and ok crowd.
Anyway, throw out some ideas or let me know if you like one of these.
I’m from Canada. I’m a huge Gamecocks fan and I wanna show my girlfriend on Sept 3rd how Gamecock fans tailgate. She’s never heard of a tailgate party and I wanna give her an experience she’ll never forget. We don’t know where to set up shop and drink, eat, and bbq. We’re in town for a couple of days in Raleigh visiting family and then leaving!!
Any advice on who I should connect with or where the visiting gamecock fans will be tailgating?
We all know that unfounded optimism about the upcoming college football season is as deeply rooted in Gamecock tradition, as the Cockaboose, Tally Ho! and inexplicable losses to mid-major teams (see homecoming game against ECU circa 1994). Thus, I feel that I have as much a right to analyze the “keys” to a successful season, and in turn…underwrite optimism, as Stewart Mandel (SI) and all of the other pundits have to presume that the ‘Cocks will field a mediocre team (a cowardly prediction I might add, because predicting the Gamecocks will suck is no different than placing bets on both red AND black at the roulette table).
With that said, here are my five brilliant keys to a successful season:
1. Throw a few complete passes to the guys in garnet.
One of the worst kept secrets in the SEC is that if you stop the running game of USC, you have not only stopped the offense, but are going to also reap the benefits of the Gamecock Rotating Quarterback Cluster Fuck (GRQBCF) throwing beautiful spirals to your defensive backs. Honestly, who thought that we would look back on the Phil Petty seasons as the glory days of Gamecock quarterback play? What a completely unacceptable notion…
I know this key is a no-brainer (in fact, my worst kept secret is these are ALL no-brainers), but it is a bottom line issue that could continue to undermine the stronger aspects of the team–i.e. defense, Spurrier, my will to live. And, if the passing game can’t even manage to be average, it doesn’t matter how improved the offense line may be, or how talented the young running backs are, they won’t be able to run the ball with 8 million guys crowding the line of scrimmage.
Also, how many leads have the Gamecocks blown the past few years because they can’t chew up the clock?
If Chris Smelley and Stephen Garcia could have resisted the urge to throw ball into triple coverage just a few more times, perhaps last season would have ended differently. Considering how often the defense was forced back onto the field after making a great stop, they performed admirably, and did enough not to lose with marginally competent quarterback play.
If Garcia limits the mistakes, then maybe the Ol’ Ball Coach doesn’t feel the need to evoke the Stephen McCollum QB chimera, and the Gamecocks manage to steal a win or two–versus the other way around.
2. Survive the first last two games.
Historically,most college football teams that start the season strong, end up having a decent year, because they take care of a few teams that should be beaten, gain confidence, and have the opportunity to establish a chemistry among the starters. However, like most things Gamecock, this precedent does not hold true. Yes…yes..I know “Georgia is our bellwether game, and makes or breaks our season,” but it is time to move past this obsolete concept. The SEC has evolved since 1992, and the Gamecocks (and fans) need to move past this idea that Georgia is the Gatekeeper to their Keymaster for a successful season. While ideally they do start strong by taking care of the Wolf Pack, potentially upsetting Georgia (or at least being competitive) and avoid enabling that ass clown Howard Schnellenberger by virtue of an FAU upset, the key will be to someone how survive the “orange crush”.
By survive by no means am I suggesting that the ‘Cocks beat Florida and Clemson. I’m not even suggesting they split–what I mean is: don’t get outscored 87-20. While it would just be gravy to upset Florida and beat Clemson, we have to be realistic. USC is coming off a season that ended…well…horribly, and lost their best defensive backs and their best linebacker. Let’s temper our expectations, and hope for better play on both sides of the ball; even if the ‘Cocks are not quite at the same level of the SEC elite, and…ugh…Clemson.
I think the worst case scenario would be to barely qualify for bowl, after getting waxed at the end of the season–again.
3. Pray that Stephen Gilmore and Akeem Auguste are as good as advertised.
If there has been one consistent strength since Steve Spurrier lept into the deep abyss of Gamecock football, it has been the play of our defensive backs. From Ko Simpson and Jonathan Joseph to Captain Munnerlyn and Emmanual Cook, the ‘Cocks have remained one of the top 20 passing defenses in college football. I mean, imagine how ugly it could have gotten the past few years if opposing teams could not only run the ball on us, but also pick apart the secondary?
For the past three years, Munnerlyn and Cook provided NFL-level talent at the cornerback/safety positions, and almost completely shut down this year’s number one overall pick in the NFL draft, Matthew Stafford.
Now they are gone. I repeat: these guys are gone.
Stephen Gilmore and Akeem August–and now C.C. Whitlock after getting the opportunity to play more–show tremendous athletecism and promise as replacements. But, they are young and inexperienced, and will be facing Jevan Snead, Saint Timothy Tebow, Southern Cal-transfer Ryan Mallett (who the fuck wants to transfer from the beach to ass-backwards Arkansas, even if it means you get to start?) and the improved Russell Wilson–all complimented by the usual SEC speed at the skill positions.
If there is any single position beyond quarterback that could be the difference between finishing the season 8-4, or 5-7, it is cornerback/safety. These guys are young, so they are going to get torched or miss a tackle occassionally, but let’s hope that the learning curve is at a minimum.
4. Put your offensive playmakers on the field.
Heralded recruits Jarvis Giles and Alshon Jeffrey did what they needed to do–finished school and were granted early enrollment. These two players have it. They are the type of football players who have proven they know how to make plays, and have the athleticism to back it up. The Gamecocks are not defending a title, or bringing back group of offensive players who fueled a successful 2008 season. In fact, no one currently on the roster has proven they know how to win–there should be no veteran player loyalty, overcoaching or factors to stand in the way of getting Giles and Jeffrey on the field.
Brian Maddox? Come’on, he needs to get carries, but he is not a gamebreaker…he should be chewing up the clock in the 4th quarter.
[Insert receiver's name here] have proved absolutely nothing. When Smelley and Garcia weren’t getting sacked or telegraphing passes to the defense, they were watching serviceable throws being dropped by Dion Lecorn, Jason Barnes and Moe Brown–or worse falling futilely into the turf after a poorly run route. These players obviously have to be on the field, but until they indicate they can run the routes and make the critical plays necessary, then they should not stop Jeffries from being on the field.
5. Transcend the history of mediocrity, and learn how to fucking finish games.
The Gamecocks need to stop having moments like this. Period.
Duh, I know. I wrote this in non-linear pieces, between actual work, and over 6 hours…so cut me some slack.
The USC vs. UGA game is coming up quickly. This is a particularly important game in my life mostly because I’m a USC alumni who lives in Georgia. Ohhh, and my father and brother just happen to be UGA alums. ALL YEAR LONG I hear about how wonderful the Bulldogs are. This is especially bad when those friggin’ muts win - which sadly happens all too often.
I’m hoping for a good game this year. The fun part about this rivalry is that it’s always a close one. Since 1996, I can remember year after year of near wins and bad calls - keeping the Gamecocks from glory. Yeah, we’ve won a couple here and there during this time. The good news is that it certainly isn’t an expected win when we pull it off…..which makes all the more sweet. I think the Gamecocks are gonna have a good team this year, so I’m I’m praying for a win. We’ll find out in one month and 9 days.
Who is bringing the football? Do i need to bring mine. It is 2 days till game day so I figure we might as well get this very important question out of the way. I can bring mine if no one in Cola has one.
Okay we are three days away. We have a large group of us coming from Atlanta to Columbia for this shin dig and i’m pretty excited about it.
I’m gonna go ahead and step out and say we should all get our stuff together Friday night after we get into town. If anyone else thinks otherwise lets hear it. I’m just throwing that out there.
By this i mean lets go to the grocery/beer store and get all our supplies. It will be on everyone to make sure they have what they need. This is gonna be mostly a sausage fest tailgate it looks like so forget about side dishes, and desserts and all that bullshit. We can get together and everyone can grab some burgers, dogs, and brats to eat. Maybe some chips or and stuff. Lets plan on having all our shit Friday night? Does that sound good to everyone else? I say forget the wings because we would have to A) go pick them up and they may not be open early enough (more on that to come) B) heat them up and that would be a pain in the ass in the morning.
Admin you are bringing a little grill corect. So we will have a grill to cook our lunch on.
Now i know the time we get out there is always a bit of a struggle. So i’m just gonna throw a time out there. We might need to get there earlier or others might want to come later. I think 9am is a good start time. As in be there at 9am. As in be packed, locked, loaded and vacating Casa de Jones at 8:30. Now maybe this is early. Perhaps we should do 10am or maybe we should be there at 8am. I just wanted to throw out a time and we can bounce off ideas. I know that it has been mentioned some of us may go down there early and get the spot so others can stay in and come later.
I think everyone should plan ahead and bring some cash with them to help out with parking and splitting any food etc.
I hope you all enjoyed that little trip down memory lane. I know I did. Jasper Brinkley would like to invite all of the Georgia Players to the Roost this coming Saturday for a little blood and thunder.
OK, so unfortunately the mistress of Casa De Jones will not be in town for this weekend’s festivities. As such, she has appointed me, the maintenance and groundskeeker, as head liason for tennants. She will be greatly missed this weekend, and no doubt the accomodations will suffer due to her absense.
But, right now we have a reservation for 2 to stay in the “blue room.” Pregnant people always get the best accomodations, and this is the case at the Casa.
As usual, our leather sectional couch is still available, as well as the office for the finest in air-mattress living.
A new addition this year, and for this year only!!, is the “little one” room. The other bedroom upstairs between the “blue room” and the staff sleeping room will be available for air-mattress living as well! As an added bonus, we have kindly removed all cat litter and cat toys from this room (resulting in one pissed-off cat, so please beware when on the premises of the Casa). Unfortunately, this is the only sleeping room that does not have TV access.
As an additional service, the Casa de Jones staff would like to invite you to a potential post-tailgating event at the Casa, where we’ll throw up the tent and TV in the backyard for further tailgating during the Southern Cal - Ohio State game. This event will depend on the timing of our arrival back from Georgia’s demise.
As always, the Casa is byob and byo-air mattress. However, the fridge is currently stocked with a healthy supply of Fat Tire beer, and for a small bribe of the groundskeeper/maintenance worker, it might stay that way until your arrival.
Please forward any comments or questions either to our exclusing Casa De Jones email address, or by simply posting below.
I got news for you and anyone who watched the game last night will know this already. We don’t stand a fucking chance next week if our offense doesn’t play their game of the year next week and execute perfectly. Chris Smelly’s name is appropriate because he played like a pile of shit last night. Missing open receivers and throwing interceptions against the worst team in the SEC East (besides us obviously becasue we can’t beat them) will get you a loss every time.
They had some bad breaks but if you are a good team you can overcome bad breaks. Get ready to see all that talent on the Defense rush to the NFL after this season. This is why no one sticks around at South Carolina we are always building up to at best an 8-4 season but usually a more pedestrian 6 game win season. This year smacks of another one of those that we flounder around and play some teams tough but lose the big games and our season again will hang on if we can beat Clemson.
I’m not gonna stop rooting for the Gamecocks ever but goddamn if they don’t drive you to needing a drink. Honestly i thought we would go up to vandy the first half would be close and the second half we would come out and put it to them and get out of town with a win. Well that happened but it happened for Vandy not us. If we could have won i was almost feeling frisky enough to bet the gamecocks to upset the bulldogs in Columbia. Now forget about it. If our game shows up on our pool i’ll take the bulldogs and run. I’ll root like hell for us to win but as a Jets and Gamecocks fan i learned a long time ago in football you don’t bet with your heart.
PS Why the fuck do we have the Spur and our offense is our problem?
