GAMECOCKS DEFEAT CLEMSON...

USC - 34   Clemson - 13

USC finishes the regular season at 10-2.  They wait news on their bowl destination.  GO COCKS!

Tune in this week for more Cock-A-Booster news on the BIG GAMECOCK WIN! 

The Cock-A-Booster's Crystal Ball has spoken...

NOTE: My web guy got too busy eating turkey and dressing and did not post these until after the Arky/LSU game had started.  But to clarify, I had these picks turned in on Wednesday.  No cheating by the Cock-A-Booster!

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2011
LAST WEEK'S RECORD (7-1); OVERALL RECORD (21-6) - 77.8% WINNERS

Georgia at Georgia Tech

The Clarke County K-9s leave the Athens Kennel this weekend, hoping to bury their pigskin bones inside the Peach State’s Hornet’s nest. The home buzzers have other ideas, and plan to make gridiron honey early and often. Look for the home bees to lay plenty of stingers into the pups, but that will seem like a “nose-popping” compared to the Atlanta whipping the Hounds will take next week. The Cockabooster’s crystal ball says... Georgia Tech by 7.

Tennessee at Kentucky

The Knoxville Militia is on a Cat Hunt this weekend, and plan to declaw the Royal Blue Felines at their Bluegrass Scratching Post. The Lexington crowd has been focused on roundball for weeks at this point, and won’t even notice the hillbilly invasion. Old Smokey’s moonshine crew will head back to the hills with some full jugs. The Cockabooster’s crystal ball says... Tennessee by 12.

Vanderbilt at Wake Forest

The Pigskin Preachers from the Tarheel State are having a revival on Saturday, hoping to convert Nashville’s Sea Captains to their way of thinking. The Music City Skippers have found the gridiron seas a rough sail this fall, and the Bible-Thumpers just may get them to the altar after all. The Cockabooster’s crystal ball says... Vanderbilt by 3.

Florida State at Florida

Chief Osceola and his Tallahassee Tribe leave the Leon County Teepee on Saturday, ready to invade the murky bog at the Gainesville Lizard Farm. The Citrus Reptiles have dealt with these visitors before and this won’t be a friendly pow-wow. In the end, the Tomahawk Tossers will avoid a death roll and head home with many tails in tow. The Cockabooster’s crystal ball says... Florida State by 10.

Ole Miss at Mississippi State

The Oxford Plantation will be quiet this weekend, as the Southern Gentlemen will be sipping their mint juleps in Starkville. Dan Mullen and his Possum Rag Pups will be there when they arrive, and they’ll make sure the lawn party is over early. Changes are coming for Colonel Reb, and they want this last duel to end quickly. The Cockabooster’s crystal ball says... Mississippi State by 9.

Arkansas at LSU

The Scarlet Squealers from Ozark County roll into the Bayou on Friday, ready to put their tusks into the Yellow Bengals. The golden tiggers kept their claws in tact this year, but they know the oinkers won’t give up the pork without a fight. A post Turkey Day BBQ will happen, but it will be a tight one. The Cockabooster’s crystal ball says... LSU by 3.

Alabama at Auburn

The Eli Gold Elephants will be down on the plains this weekend, hoping to turn the iron bowl into a pachyderm parade. The Opelika Cat Farm will be meowing loudly, and taking some houndstooth ivory as a souvenir would put a “War Eagle” ending to the season. Tusks over Tails in this one. The Cockabooster’s crystal ball says... Alabama by 6.

Clemson at South Carolina

Steve Spurrier and his Richland County Roosters open up the Bluff Road Chicken Plant this weekend, hoping to put the spurs to some visiting purple kitties from the Upstate. The Cow Udder Cats come into Columbia meowing loud, talking proud and ready to do some pigskin plucking. The smart choice is the Piedmont Bovine Huggers but no one has ever accused me of being smart. The Cockabooster’s crystal ball says... South Carolina by 4.

Clemson and Carolina have MUCH to be thankful for

There will be a very happy winner and a very sad loser on Saturday night after the rivalry football game. Whichever team wins will make too much of it in a good way and the losing team will overreact in a negative way. That is just part of the game and part of a rivalry. But honestly, as we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, both Universities have so much to be thankful for and we very well may be in the middle of a golden era for sports in our state.

To start with football, both programs are up and consistently ranked. USC and the Orangies have rosters loaded with young stars and their futures look bright. Both teams return at least 15 starters next in 2012 coming off a 2011 campaign that landed at least 9 wins. Both programs regardless of Saturday could finish the season with double-digit wins. That would absolutely be the first time that has happened. Over the last six years, the head to head record has been 3-3. It all points to a pretty good situation on the gridiron in the Palmetto State. I doubt it will be another 24 years before the two teams are both ranked this high when they meet.

On the baseball diamond, you have had two of the nation’s elite programs in Sandlapper Country for a while. It may not “feel” that way for the Tigers due to Ray Tanner’s success in Columbia but truthfully they have been successful and will field another solid team in the spring. Carolina has won two straight national championships, has one of the best baseball stadiums in the country and has one of the finest pitching staffs in the nation ready to go for a three-peat. The rivalry matchups here have almost become, dare I say, enjoyable for both schools in recent years because it’s fun to watch two really good teams playing well and competing.

Then there is old basketball, the odd duck of men’s major sports in South Carolina. There is no question that nationally hoops is bigger and produces bookoodles more revenue for schools but it is the forgotten sport in Palmetto Land. Yes, yes, when one of the teams is in the big dance or making a run at a conference title, the temporary bandwagon fills up but basically this is football and baseball country. Neither team has actually done anything in the NCAA tournament in a while and the Gamecocks may not even win 10 games this season.

What this means is that in the two sports that matter the most, both schools have things pretty good. What a great time to be a Gamecock or a Tiger!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING...and GO GAMECOCKS!

Ted Felder and the staff of cockabooster.com want to wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! Oh, and go GAMECOCKS! BEAT CLEMSON!

Clemson needs a heavy dose of Alshon!

Top Ten signs Clemson is coming to town!

10.            Ron Morris is wearing his good dress to the game

9.                Will Merritt inhaling an extra plate of spare-ribs and pancakes at breakfast every day

8.                Tommy Moody now can ONLY talk about the greatness of Clemson

7.                Fans all over the state doing that annual “fake nice” act to each other

6.                Lou Holtz saying “University of Clem-zon” over and over on ESPN

5.                Spittoons being put in the women’s restrooms for our visitors

4.                Counselors being made available for Tiger fans who don’t realize the Farmers Market has moved

3.                Pete Yannity plotting a hit on Todd Ellis because no one knows who Pete Yannity is.

2.                Steve Spurrier imitating Tommy Bowden and prank-calling Dabo

1.                Parking spaces being realigned to accommodate tractors

Gamecocks and Moo U: Two Peas in a Pod?

South Carolina and Clemson head into this weekend’s rivalry game with a lot more in common than they want to admit.  Both teams have a conference loss that wasn’t really a surprise (Arkansas and GT) and one that was a surprise (Auburn and NC State); both teams have an early conference road win that ended up being the high point of their season (Georgia and Va. Tech); both teams are 9-2 and ranked in the top 20; both teams have had bigger dreams and expectations built and destroyed within the season; both teams go into Saturday with key injuries that have their fans nervous and on the edge. 

So yes, for the short-term issue of “this year’s game” you can see the similarities.  This comparison is also valid when you look past “who wins Saturday” as well.  The Gamecocks and Tigers have both risen to the top of their conference divisions, and based on a quick look at both teams’ depth charts, will return between 14-16 starters each for 2012. 

USC and Clemson fans should make peace with the reality that both programs are improving and will be good for a while.  If you’re breathing into a paper bag or sticking your fingers in your ears denying this fact, that’s a shame because the benefits to the state in having two top-level football programs far outweigh other considerations. 

If you don’t agree with me then please take a look at the state of baseball in South Carolina.  Run the statistics over the last decade and you will find that the Roosters and Tiggers are two of the nation’s elite programs.  This blog intends to pick on Jack Leggett mercilessly (and we will), and we would be fine with Emperor status for Ray Tanner.   Nevertheless, both teams have earned national status and respect and the rivalry has only gotten more focused and fun as a result.  Can you imagine that feeling only 1000 times more intense and energized?  That is where the rivalry is headed on the gridiron. 

Of course there is a premise among a lot of local media folks that the state of South Carolina isn’t “big enough” to handle two big, successful football programs due to our numbers.  Hogwash!  The key is keeping more and more of our high profile recruits from leaving the state and that is happening now.  The rampant “poaching” of our big-name kids by out of state schools used to be the rule, not the exception.  As USC and Clemson continue to grow that closing of the borders will continue as well. 

The BCS rankings for this week have Clemson at #17 and Carolina at #12.  The scene will be rowdy and wild on Saturday night in Columbia just like it was in 1987 when the two schools were #8 and #12 respectively.  Unlike that night a quarter of a century ago, you get the feeling that the rise of the Garnet and Orange is more “long-term” this time around.  Go Gamecocks!  

BREAKING NEWS: Coach Holtz previews upcoming USC & Clemson game...

If link above does not work click here.

IF YOU CANNOT HEAR THE AUDIO FILE...(here is the text):

Cock-A-Booster:   It is my pleasure to welcome in legendary former Gamecock Coach Lou Holtz to preview the upcoming rivalry game between Carolina and Clemson.  How you doing Coach? 

Lou:    That is personal Ted and I would appreciate you minding your own business. 

Cock-A-Booster:    Coach, you were involved in many rivalries over the years.  How does Carolina-Clemson rank in your mind?

Lou:    The University of Clemzon was always “rank.”  So much so I had to wear a filter over my nose to handle the odor.  You know that methane can be used for fuel now. 

Cock-A-Booster:    No, Coach I mean do you think the rivalry gets overheated sometimes?

Lou:     Well, Ted this is the Deep South.  You looking for penguins or something?

Cock-A-Booster:    Coach, who wins this year’s game, the Gamecocks or the Tigers?

Lou:   Well the real winners are always the good folks at Carolina Pride Hot Dogs.  Every bite is a touchdown strike with The Pride. 

Cock-A-Booster:    Okay Coach but which team will score more points next week?

Lou:    Notre Dame.

Cock-A-Booster:    Out of Carolina and Clemson Coach? 

Lou:    I don’t think either one of them is playing Notre Dame.  You really should do some research. 

Cock-A-Booster:   Coach is there anything you would like to say about the Gamecocks and Tigers. 

Lou:    Mark May is an idiot.  Just a true moron.  That’s all I have to say about that.

Cock-A-Booster:   That’s all the time we have today.  Join us next time when Coach Holtz will preview the bowl games and preview SEC basketball.

Lou:    They play basketball in the SEC? 

Time to address the Bouncing Garnet Elephant in the Corner

I will be 100% focused on the upcoming visit by Moo U’s Copenhagen Crowd next week, but for today I have to say a few words about our hoops situation. South Carolina is the worst basketball team within one of the worst basketball conferences in the country. That is not hyperbole or said for shock value. It is a fact and one that is rising like the Phoenix. The Elon Phoenix apparently. Carolina is the only “major” conference basketball program in the nation I know of with a road losing streak of more than 1 to the Southern Conference.

The problem is that statistic by itself doesn’t illustrate how bad we are in basketball. I haven’t done the research to back this up but I am confident that these statements will stand up to scrutiny:

• We are the only member of the SEC who has not sent a team to the Sweet 16 in the last 20 years.
• We are one of only a handful of schools from a major conference who hasn’t won an NCAA tournament game since 1973. 
• We have 1 conference winning season since I got engaged in 1998. 
• We have been to the NCAA tournament 2, maybe 3 times tops since I graduated from high school in 1989.

You get the idea- we stink. Why the heck did we get rid of the old Coliseum? Certainly the lighting needed an upgrade and some other minor tweaks could have given it a facelift, but those weren’t the bill of goods we were sold as to why we had to have the new arena. We were told that a new arena would allow us to host NCAA tournament games, Disney Ice Shows and Concerts. I will concede that the concerts and ice shows for the most part have happened, but thanks to the confederate flag we have never gotten an NCAA tournament game and in my opinion it has done NOTHING for our basketball programs. Nothing, nada, zilch.

So we are stuck with this empty tomb and a team that maybe could compete for a top seed in the Southern Conference in most years. That doesn’t fly with what we were promised to give up an iconic, historical home-court advantage at Frank McGuire Arena. For folks like my parents, who were self-described “Frank McGuire Groupies” during that heyday in hoops, it’s frankly an insult to that legacy.

Just like leaving the ACC was a choice we made that killed that program, so too was the choice to get rid of the House that Frank Built for a corporate nightmare of an empty building. But we are where we are and that is rock bottom. After North Carolina, Ohio State, Kentucky and others are finished shredding us into a pulp this year, the time will come to clean house, pick up the pieces and move forward. Maybe then we can start beating Wofford, Elon and Furman again.

Pretty Good YouTube Clip by Justin King...