This is a bowl even Spurrier wants!

I don’t know Steve Spurrier personally.  I can’t confirm or disprove “conventional wisdom” about him.  One of the most “accepted” premises about the Head Ball Coach is that he doesn’t care about “minor” bowls.  Is it true?  Probably not, but the team’s bowl performances in recent years feed into that assumption. 

When we went to the Pizza Bowl in Birmingham a couple of years ago, I did what I could staying at the team’s hotel to watch how they were handling the trip.  I don’t know what preparation was going on behind closed doors but what I witnessed in front of me led me to believe that the players and coaches were treating it as a vacation.  We arrived at that pit of a stadium and it was freezing.  They actually ran out of pizza in the first quarter at the Papa John’s Bowl!  (My older brother called Domino’s to get a pizza delivered.  True Story but I digress.)  As you know, the team sleepwalked through a game they had no interest in and we were beaten up by a disciplined and well-prepared Connecticut squad.  That team wanted to be there and it showed. 

Contrast that year to Lou Holtz’s first Outback Bowl team.  We were the underdog on paper to Ohio State.  Our starting running back was not on the trip and we had to go with a backup named Ryan Brewer from Ohio.  We were told for a month how much better the Buckeyes were and that we would be outclassed.  Ohio State was in the middle of turmoil and frankly didn’t want to be there.  A hungry and focused bunch of Gamecocks with a chip on their shoulders went out and danced all over the mighty Bucks 24-7.  Brewer scored three times on his home-state team and was carried off the field.  We wanted that bowl and it showed. 

Granted, effort doesn’t always decide bowl games.  We’ve lost a bowl I thought we played hard in-  the Gator Bowl in 1984.  We won a bowl we didn’t care about as well- the Liberty Bowl over Houston.  Of course the best bowls involve two good teams that want to be there.  I don’t know what Nebraska’s approach to the bowl will be but you get the sense that this one means something to Spurrier because of history.  Even he admits that history motivates him and that is a good sign for the Gamecocks.  We have never won 11 games in a season.  The Coach says that he wants the players to receive rings if they win to mark the achievement. 

In a perfect world the team would approach every game and every bowl with the exact same energy level and focus but that’s not reality.  You get the feeling this year is going to be one to remember for the Garnet and Black.  Assuming Nebraska feels that way, this is going to be a great bowl game to watch.  Merry Christmas!   

WISHING ALL GAMECOCK FANS A MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Oh... and we also wish our Clemson friends a Merry Christmas!

MOO U News: Top 10 Hottest Christmas Gifts at Moo U

THIS IS A "FAKE" STORY - DO NOT TAKE IT TOO SERIOUS!

AUTHOR: RUSTY CRANKSHAFT --

10.  The 2011 “We don’t care about the Rivalry anymore” Ornaments. (2010 and 2009 versions available)

9.  The “Snuggie” for Udders.  Keep the milk fresh while the Cows stay warm.

8.  Clemson Christmas songs on CD!!  Hits include Pete Yannity singing “I saw Will Merritt eating Santa Claus,” and Dabo Swinney’s version of “Dat Little Dumber Boy.” 

7.  A petition to make North Greenville Clemson’s new football rival. 

6.  The Ron Morris guide to Gamecock Football

5.  Steve Spurrier Dart Board             

4.  The special edition “Orange Bowl” cigarette cartons for sale at Wal Mart and the L’il Cricket

3.   New Clemson children’s book at Barnes & Noble:  “Heather has a Mommy and a Daddy but one of them says Moo.” 

2.  New holiday DVD:  “Elf on the Shelf (and other words people in Iva can spell)” 

1.  Danny Ford Collectible Plates (non-paper version cost extra)

MOO U News: Clemson offers Ray Tanner $10 million to Coach Tiger Baseball for 1 season

THIS IS A "FAKE" STORY - DO NOT TAKE IT TOO SERIOUS!

AUTHOR: RUSTY CRANKSHAFT --

In the spirit of the movie “Indecent Proposal,” Clemson has approached USC about borrowing Ray Tanner to coach Tiger baseball for one season in 2012, while in return sending ten million dollars to Columbia.  Clemson Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips explains.  “We really would like to win a national championship in a men’s major sport for the first time in 30 years, and if we could get Ray up here to get us one, we’d be happy.  Our plan in football is to ignore the annual rivalry beating and pretend being the 7th ACC team in 20 years to win the weakest BCS conference is more important.  So on top of that, we have to find a way to win a meaningful title too.  Baseball is our best bet.” 

Current Tiger Baseball Coach Jack Leggett is uncomfortable with the idea but knows how badly Clemson needs a championship.  “As long as it is only 1 season and I get to go back to getting us ‘almost there’ every few years we’ll make it work.”  Belton resident Monty Bennett, aka “Tiger Paw Pete,” says Clemson fans have secretly been in love with Tanner for a while anyway.  “We like old Jack Leggett.  He’s okay and does a good job for us.  But to be able to actually have a fling with a rock star like Ray would be a dream come true.”  If the arrangement with the Gamecocks works, Phillips says Clemson may consider a similar proposal for basketball with Mike Krzyzewski at Duke or Roy Williams in Chapel Hill.  “We’ll see how this goes with the real sports, and then we can talk about bucketball.”

Alshon going pro makes sense

Alshon Jeffery had me at St. Matthews.  Being from my hometown, I was on his bandwagon from the get-go.  Considering its small size, Calhoun County’s “biggest urban center” has produced several big Gamecock athletic figures.  Tatum Gressette and Bobby Gressette were brothers who were both captains on Carolina’s football team.  Zam Fredrick led the nation in scoring in 1980 and took the Gamecock Nation on a ride known as the “Zam Slam.”  

So will Alshon finish his final season in Columbia?  Of course I would love to see him come back.  Roughly 16 starters will be returning for Carolina in 2012, looking to build on the double-digit win success of this year’s campaign.  Who wouldn’t want to mop as much of it up as possible?  14 more games of running through the tunnel at Williams-Brice, piling up the wins, expanding the numbers in the records you already own, being adored by the entire state and making 1 more run at a National Championship?  And yes, being able to play a season with his little brother on the field with him would be pretty cool.  

As tempting as all of that is, my gut says and has said all along that Jeffery will go pro next year.  Who can blame him if he does?  His legacy is secure in Columbia right now.  Try and find me a better three year span in Gamecock football history.  If he does leave, Alshon departs Columbia owning most of the receiving records, some of the most spectacular plays in school history and the love and adulation of the entire fan base.  

Going into the bowl game against Nebraska, Jeffery has compiled 179 receptions, 2894 yards and 22 touchdowns over his career.  From his breakout performance against Kentucky in 2009 until this November, Alshon’s story has been chapter after chapter of total excitement.  Carolina has gone 26-13 during his career, captured its first division title and chalked a 9-3 tally against Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Clemson.  

Speaking of Clemson, there is no institution that will be happier to see Jeffery leave than Moo U.  Alshon has been a major factor in producing three lopsided wins against the rival kittens.  #1 caught 11 balls for 235 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Tigers.  The average score of the three games was 32.3-12.3 (a cumulative total of 97-37).  

The bottom line is that Jeffery can’t make a bad choice regarding the NFL.  If he stays it is 14 more games for us to enjoy him catching balls and winning games with the Gamecocks.  But he’s probably going to go, and when he leaves, Gamecock fans will understand.  After all, it doesn’t get much better than letting your final catch at Williams-Brice be a signature touchdown against Clemson in front of the student section.  Thanks for the memories #1.  

 You will always be a very special Gamecock!

Either have a playoff or go back to the old system

As a fan of a team in the conference that has benefitted the most from the “ESPN-ification” of college football, I probably shouldn’t care that the BCS is a ridiculous system.  If/when my team finishes the season with 1 loss and wins the conference we are automatically going to get a spot in the title game, earned or not.  I get that.  Also, there are conferences that benefit from the other extreme who should just be happy.  These “automatic” conference bids are laughable on their face. 

So whether BCS to your conference means “Because (of) Conference Strength” or “Because (your) Conference Stinks” is irrelevant to me.  Neither of those scenarios should have anything to do with who plays for the national title.  What was solved with the formation of the BCS again?  Why was the old bowl system scrapped?

No matter what else you say about the BCS formation, it was loudly proclaimed to be the system that was going to give us a #1 vs. #2 system and a “true National Champion.”  Conveniently now, the second part of that is dropped when folks on ESPN talk about the BCS but it was there at the time.  And no, we were NOT told that we would have to tweak the system over and over again to keep covering problem circumstances.    So let’s just fast-forward through all of the silliness and get to a playoff, or let’s go back to the way things were.  The only bad option is staying right where we are. 

The current system reeks of trying to be “a little bit pregnant.”  Don’t claim you have a system that can boast of yielding a true national champion when a third of the teams (or more) have no chance at all to earn their way into the mix, while other teams can get in automatically by beating up six or seven sisters of the poor. 

I understand that there will always be complaining about whatever playoff system is used.  Having said that, I would MUCH rather have the complaining coming from teams who feel they should have been the #4 or #8 seed as opposed to the #2 seed.  Would the “Plus-1” solution be the final tweak to the system?  I doubt it, but at least a team like Oklahoma State this year would be given a shot to play for the title. 

To me, the obvious choice is an 8-team format.  7 games on a rotating basis using the four BCS stadiums (Rose, Fiesta, Sugar and Orange), the Citrus, the Cotton and the Outback.  Shoot, make it 12 teams with the top 4 seeds having  a bye.  Or let’s just go back to the way things were and let the bowls have their traditional conference tie-ins again.  If we’re not going to fix what was wrong anyway, then let’s retrieve the baby from the bathwater.  Anything is better than what we have now.  

MOO U News: Clemson tired of sexism charges, adds three new women’s sports

THIS IS A "FAKE" STORY - DO NOT TAKE IT TOO SERIOUS!

AUTHOR: RUSTY CRANKSHAFT --

Clemson University’s Athletics Department has bristled at recent charges that it is a sexist institution that only cares about male sports, and the Tigers are taking action to correct the myth.  “We think the best way to stop all this talk about us being bad to these dames is to expand their opportunities,” said Clemson AD Terry Don Phillips.  “Maybe then these hens will stop their dadgum clucking!”  

The upstate university has come under fire in recent years for lacking some basic women’s sports including softball.  As a result, the Tigers will be adding three new options for female sports in an attempt to get more scholarships into their hands:  Foxy Boxing, Mud Wrestling and Swimsuit Modeling.  

Regular Cockabooster contributor and Belton resident Monty Bennett, aka “Tiger Paw Pete,” says Clemson has much to offer young girls looking for an education.  “We got a ton of hot chicks up here with great racks and they should be able to show them off in an academic way.  Never let it be said that a tomato with a great set of melons can’t wear tight jerseys and play sports at Clemson.”  

MOO U News: Clemson’s Chad Morris signs big contract extension. Gamecock fans celebrate!

THIS IS A "FAKE" STORY - DO NOT TAKE IT TOO SERIOUS!

AUTHOR: RUSTY CRANKSHAFT --

Clemson’s Offensive Coordinator Chad Morris has signed a long-term extension to stay with the Tigers this week, setting off a huge celebration in Columbia among Gamecock fans.  Morris’s offense got some attention early for running up big numbers against teams like Wofford, Troy and Maryland and took advantage of Florida State missing half its roster when they came to Death Valley.  When the boy genius brought his magical scheme to Columbia, he showed just what he could do against a real defense.  The Tigers rolled up a massive 153 yards of offense, including 83 electrifying yards through the air.  Rightful Heisman winner QB Tajh Boyd shredded the Gamecock defense all night, completing almost as many passes as times he was sacked and pressured.  The key to Morris’s success in Columbia though was balance.  Clemson marched through the Gamecock defense for a whopping 70 rushing yards, nearly a 1 to 1 match with the passing game.  After getting a Gatorade bath from Gamecock players after the game, Morris knew everyone in Garnet and Black would be lobbying for him to remain at Clemson.  Morris says he just may open up the other 30% of his offense in 2012, which will allow the Tigers to return to the 17 points against the Gamecocks they got in 2009. 

Are we getting comfortable in our own skin?

Last December, I remember vividly the moment I realized I was confident about the upcoming new year for Carolina sports.  Heading into 2011, I dare say I was actually <gasp> happy about the way things were in Columbia.  Not the fake, “I hope it will get better” stuff either.  I am talking about genuine optimism.  I can’t tell you the number of times I have headed into the Christmas season fed up, angry and depressed about Gamecock sports so this was new.  For the first time maybe ever, USC fans are getting comfortable in their own skin.  Okay, not ALL of us are, but those who choose to see the big picture are good with the way things are rolling.

I believe a big part of that is the change in the football rivalry.  When I was little, I used to try and find anything to try and deflect the fact that our rivals were tearing our rear ends up on the football field.  We would land great skill position players that would draw headlines.  We would pretend that we were now focused on the conference.  We would say that the rivalry was an aging relic to be moved or ignored.  We hired Coaches that were big on talk, motivation and publicity stunts, but low on wins against our in-state brethren. 

Meanwhile, the Tigers were a machine, landing unheralded linemen, defensive depth and filling what they actually needed.  They had a football program and we had a media carnival.  While we were out making fools of ourselves, desperate for attention and saying, “Hey yall watch this,” they were focused on consistency, running the football, controlling the lines of scrimmage and a ferocious defense.  They were beating us and letting the rest take care of itself.  In other words, we were the sizzle but they were the steak.  I am so glad that the roles have reversed themselves. 

Growing up in a small town, I would go to Yuletide get togethers.  I remember watching the body language on my Tiger friends as they would smile, watch us bend ourselves into pretzels explaining why it didn’t matter that they had just beaten us again.  Oh, the countless times I would be having some eggnog and I would get that condescending pat on the shoulder as one of my compadres of orange ilk would come up and say something nice about Robert Brooks, Kalimba Edwards or whoever the headline grabbing player of the day was for us. 

Now for the second straight Christmas, I will be listening to them make the case over and over that “other things” make up for three years of getting mauled by your rival.  They will point to recruiting with a hopeful longing.  (Just like we used to do over and over and over again.)  Meanwhile we can thankfully just smile or chuckle quietly and move on to the next Tiger friend, patting them on the back, complimenting Sammy Watkins and wishing them luck in their bowl game.  I have been where they are and I don’t want to go back.  It’s much better from this side of the Chrismas Cocktails. 

We will miss you Melvin Ingram! What a year!

I think almost every Gamecock fan has big #6, Melvin Ingram, as their choice for the team’s most valuable player in 2011.  I am sure a few might would choose Antonio Allen or Connor Shaw but honestly Ingram was the heart and soul of this year’s football team. 

 

M. Ingram scored touchdown on fake punt vs. Georgia.

Think about the adversity this team went through from where the year began until now.  USC came into the year perched on the preseason hype surrounding a 5th-year Senior QB, and two preseason All-American/Heisman Hopefuls at RB and WR.  Meanwhile, Ingram had to enter his senior campaign hearing all about a freshman recruit at his position in Jadeveon Clowney.   

Ingram didn’t whine or pout about the lack of attention and embraced the new young star into the fold.  He strapped on his helmet and started a journey that very quietly may be remembered as one of the finest seasons from a DL that has ever been played.  

An obvious place to start is the Georgia game in Athens.  Ask any Bulldog or Gamecock fan who saw that contest, “Who was the MVP?”  Outside of the drunk guy in the red pants who would answer “Herschel” everyone would point to #6.  Ingram introduced himself to the nation with a fake punt that electrified the Gamecock fans and changed the momentum of the game.  Late in the game, after Carolina had re-taken the lead, Ingram picked up a fumble and jogged into the end zone with the touchdown that gave the Gamecocks a 10-point lead and really put it away. 

Other “highlight” plays would follow including a big fumble recovery against Vandy for a Touchdown, but what started out as sizzle in Athens turned into filet mignon the rest of the way via sacks and QB pressures.  Ingram was a nightmare for any Offensive Coordinator having to gameplan against USC.  The patriarch of a front four that produced an almost manic intensity on the field, Ingram’s name was announced on the PA time after time following big moments when the defense needed a stop.  

The culmination came against Clemson on Senior Day.  Tiger QB Tajh Boyd is probably still waking up in cold sweats thanking the heavens that Ingram will be playing on Sunday next year.  Virginia Tech’s defense must have seemed like a stroll in the park by comparison after that beating.    

If Ingram is not named an All-American, then those who make that list have their collective heads in the sand.  I have watched Emmanuel Weaver, Rickey Hagood, Derrick Little, Andrew Provence, Frank Wright, Roy Hart, Cleveland Pinckney, George Gause and scores of others over the years in Columbia.  Find me a season from any of them that match the 2011 just produced by Ingram.  Can’t be done.  

We’ll miss you #6!!