MOO U News: Dabo asks Spurrier to step outside

Tired of getting humiliated every time he gets in a verbal exchange with Steve Spurrier, Dabo Swinney has decided to focus on age.  “He may whip my fanny every year, and I may look like an idiot when I try and exchange barbs with him, but I can kick that old man’s fanny, I tell you what.”  

Swinney says Spurrier can meet him behind the Li’l Cricket in Pelzer anytime he wants to settle things.  “I’ll even buy him a moon pie and an RC.  That old man wants none of this greatness.  Football wins or not.”

When asked who got the best of things this year between the two of them, Dabo sat in deep thought for a second before saying “SHUT UP,” shooting us the bird and storming out of the room. 

"Hey Steve...You wanna' a piece of me??"

MOO U News: Everyone un$ure why Vic Bea$ley i$ coming back to Clem$on

In a $urpri$e move, Clem$on wa$ able to “convince” Vic Bea$ley to remain in Tigertown for another $ea$on.  The my$tery i$ why Bea$ley would do $o when it wa$ clear he wa$ headed to becoming a high draft pick in the NFL draft.  

$ounding le$$ than believable, Bea$ley $ay$ he ju$t changed hi$ mind and wanted to come back.  I gue$$ we’ll never know what the real rea$on i$. 

$tay tuned!

CLAWS vs. PAWS - FINAL SCORE - 2013 Season!

CLEMSON'S WIN RESULTS IN A TIGER SWAG DEFEAT!

Going into the bowl games, The Tiger Swag held onto a 9 point advantage in our CLAWS vs. PAWS contest.  The Tiger Swag picked USC to win and cover the spread.  They did.  This gave The Tiger Swag 10 points.  His final score for the season was 139.  However, he picked against his beloved Tigers and went with the Buckeyes to cover the spread and win the game.  Clemson won...The Tiger Swag lost (although I am sure he is not too sad about this particular defeat). 

On the other hand, The Cock-A-Booster went with both in-state schools to win and cover the spread.  Both USC and Clemson won giving The Cock-A-Booster a late 20 point surge to pull out the victory!

What a game!  Congrats to both the Gamecocks and the Tigers on great seasons and great bowl wins.

The only thing left to debate is which conference brings home the crystal trophy tonight...the ACC (FSU) or the SEC (Auburn).  I bet most of the TIGERS are pulling for the NOLES and most of the GAMECOCKS are pulling for the TIGERS!??!?!? 

Be patient with us “Oldies” you Young Gamecocks. We’ll get there!

I have said many times that I am grateful my 7-year old is growing up a different kind of Gamecock.  His perspective on USC athletics is the polar opposite of his Daddy’s, and that’s a GOOD thing.  But it does lead to some natural conflict between the generations.  

Let’s start with football.  If you want to know why I am so negative about things, consider 1976-2008 on the gridiron.  I had the pleasure of witnessing 2 football seasons of more than 8 wins in those 33 seasons.  2.  Shoot, throw in the 8-win years and it only “grows” to 7 seasons I think.  Maybe 6, maybe 8, but you get the idea.  Not many!  Add in that Carolina’s record against Clemson in that span was 8-24-1.  Go look it up youngsters if you don’t believe it.  I had only seen 8 wins over our rivals when I turned 38.  

Hoops was no better.  The McGuire years were ending badly when I started going to games I can remember on a regular basis.  Yes, we have won an SEC title in hoops and I enjoyed that.  Yes, we won the NIT twice.  Enjoyed those as well.  But we have not won an NCAA tournament game since 1973.  Yuck.  And my Mother and I drove to Pittsburgh via Big Otter, West Virginia one time just to say that I finally saw one!  Thanks, Coppin State.  

Baseball was the best option for me growing up, no doubt about it.  We did make the College World Series a few times and June Raines had an okay program but nothing to scream about.  Even the first big success of the Tanner era in 2000 ended with the sad losses to U-La-La.  And yes, we had the run to the Title game in 2002 and knocked Clemson out of Omaha the 1^st time then which was fun.  But even with baseball I had to wait until 2010 before we won the national title in a men’s major sport.  

So you’ll have to forgive us “older” fans for wanting to stop and smell the recent roses a bit before “demanding” more from our program.  Sure we want more moving forward, but things are a heck of a lot better than they used to be.  

My son has lived through 8 football seasons so far.  None of them have landed a losing record.  4 of them have garnered at least 9 wins.  Three 11-win campaigns.  A 6-2 mark against Clemson.  The school’s two biggest bowl wins in history.  An SEC East Championship.  I get it why he sees things differently.  And I’m happy.  

Baseball for him is even better:  2 national titles, 2 SEC titles, constant Super Regionals and Regionals, a domination of Clemson’s Jack Leggett, always ranked in the top 10 and watching games in that beautiful new stadium.  Hoops obviously is not fixed yet but you get the idea Frank Martin will get there if we’re patient.  

So I know you young whipper-snappers want more and you’re hungry for it. Good for you.  The rest of us in our 40s will get there too.  Just be paitent with us. 

 LOL  It’s a great time to be a Gamecock!

CLAWS vs. PAWS - Bowl Games - The Final Picks!

 

THE TIGERSWAG:

Since we were last together, I have been given quite the anatomical lesson on the thumb. And deservedly so as Spurrier has appeared to take up permanent residence in Dabo's mind, which is quite funny considering the size of Spurrier's ego and Dabo's brain (according to some intelligent internet authors)...

In taking my thumb lesson like a man, I was able to glean a few uses for the thumb that I never knew existed. In fact, here are my Top 5 uses for the thumb - one for each win:

1. Hailing a Cab in Orlando
Nothing is worse than driving alongside some overzealous momma and her three tired kids while you are trying to get from the mall food court to the Citrus, I mean Capital One, Bowl
2. Paying for Pizza
It’s almost impossible to take a stack of ones and roll off a few bills to the pizza man without a thumb – just ask Johnny Football. It’s so important to him that he made it his call sign, and now South Carolina fans can too.
3. Doing the Disco
South Carolina fans have been waiting their entire lives to have something to dance about, and a few wins over Clemson and another Citrus, I mean Capital One, Bowl is enough to get them dancing in the streets
4. Biting
According to Shakespeare, biting your thumb at someone was the greatest of all insults. Just imagine the way the Clemson players will be treated now that South Carolina fans realize something is worse than the finger...
5. Peeling an Orange
I hear they are quite plentiful in South Florida this time of year...

Unfortunately, Clowney has not figured out the thumb is also the primary digit used to activate the cruise control...

In all seriousness, South Carolina will spend New Year's Day entertaining some large corn-fed boys from Wisconsin who like to run the ball, then run it some more, then run it again, just for fun. Is South Carolina capable of staying as committed to stopping the run as Wisconsin will be to continue running it? Will the South Carolina players entering the NFL Draft be willing to sacrifice life and limb to take on blocks and attack the ball on every play? Will Spurrier find enough time between rounds of golf to put together a gameplan consisting of more than just screens and rollout passes?

I don't know, and to be honest, no one does. But here are three quick reasons why South Carolina will win:

1. Wisconsin is in the Big 10
South Carolina has six total bowl victories, five of which are against BCS conference teams. Of those five BCS conference teams, four are from the Big 10. In fact, South Carolina is 4-2 against the Big 10 and 2-10 against all other conferences.
2. South Carolina is in the SEC
Over the last three seasons, the SEC is 7-2 against the Big 10 in New Year's Day bowl games, including wins by South Carolina each of the last two years.
3. Connor Shaw
All Connor Shaw does is win, which is something this Clemson man can acknowledge and respect. I would expect the same from him against a team that gave up 30+ points in each of their three losses.

But as Shakespeare will tell you, every good story needs a good villain. Here are three reasons why Wisconsin will win:

1. Wisconsin Runs the Ball
Wisconsin set a new team record for rushing yards this season under new coach Gary Anderson, which is pretty remarkable considering their previous talent at running back, including guys like Ron Dayne and Anthony Davis.

2. Lack of Motivation
To be honest, South Carolina deserves better than this game. They deserve to be playing in a BCS game. But they didn't get one, and you have to wonder how they respond. Add in Spurrier Jr. shopping for a new job and multiple players trying not to get hurt in advance of the NFL Combine and Draft, and you wonder will South Carolina be ready to play.
3. Spurrier Tired from Watching Duke the Night Before
There's something about your first love that never leaves you, and for Spurrier, that love is Duke. Plus, we couldn't think of another legitimate reason South Carolina should lose.

What actually happens: South Carolina struggles out of the gate, but so does Wisconsin. The teams are even at the half, but South Carolina makes a few plays late to pull it out.

South Carolina 27
Wisconsin 23 


THE COCKABOOSTER:

Unlike the Klimpletons, the Gamecocks will be facing an opponent who is HIGHLY motivated, ready to play well, and wanting to be at their bowl game. Meanwhile Carolina comes to Orlando with just a pinch of "been there, done that" on their minds. Add in that they pulverized the Tigers for the 5th straight year and you can see why we'll be a bit flat at kickoff.

The Badgers are well-coached and have a strong running game. No one questions that. Will they be able to take advantage of the early lackluster look for the Gamecocks and build a lead? Because if Carolina can get ahead and force Wisconsin off their game plan it will be all over.

Every instinct I have points to picking the Big 10 rodents, and I wouldn't be "stunned" if we lose. They are favored by a point so Vegas agrees with that. But for fun I will cut against the gran and cut against my gut feeling. Gamecocks win pulling away late.

USC 31
Wisconsin 20

 

THE TIGERSWAG:

In our last interaction, I gave five keys for Clemson to end the streak against South Carolina. Paramount of those keys: turnovers. By the time South Carolina fans finally figured out how to count to five, Clemson gave them an advanced math problem by giving the ball away six times. The embarrassment was so much it sent this Clemson man into a month of depression. A depression so deep only some time with family and a BCS bowl could overcome it.

With that embarrassment in the past, it's time to focus on the task at hand: Ohio State. With a win, Clemson has a chance at back-to-back 11 win seasons and their first ever official BCS Bowl win. Additionally, it would help validate the season for many Clemson faithful and the Orange Bowl in selecting the Tigers.

Here are three reasons why Clemson will beat Ohio State:

1. Matchups
Where Clemson excels, Ohio State struggles. Where Clemson is comfortable, Ohio State is uncomfortable. Where Clemson is confident, Ohio State is nervous. Sammy Watkins and Martavis Bryant should find plenty of open space in Ohio State's porous secondary. Add to that Ohio State leaving Noah Spence in Columbus and the loss of two other key defensive players and it could spell points aplenty for the Tigers.
2. See Williams, Andre and Davis, Mike
While Braxton Miller can make plays in the passing game, both he and Carlos Hyde make their hay on the ground. Ohio State's last four games has seen both Miller and Hyde cross the 100 yard mark, something only three players have done all season against Clemson. And each of those three games featured one thing: a 65+ yard touchdown run. Conversely, the ACC and SEC rushing leaders combined for 92 yards on 39 carries.
3. Ohio State's Motivation
Let's be honest, the Orange Bowl is a bigger deal for Clemson than it is for Ohio State. Heading into Ohio State's last game, they had visions of the BCS National Championship game while Clemson was hoping to back into this game. In the end, Clemson got its wish while Ohio State had to settle. Whether or not Ohio State can shake that feeling will be a big determining factor Friday night.

But like any Clemson game, it can't be without some drama. Here are three reasons Ohio State will walk out of Miami with a win.

1. See Shaw, Connor and Winston, Jameis
A history of Clemson will tell you many things. Unfortunately, one of them is Clemson's propensity to struggle against teams with a running quarterback. My first recollection of this was Charlie Ward, though I'm sure it goes back further. Ohio State's Braxton Miller may the best running quarterback Clemson has faced since Michael Vick's day at Va Tech.

2. Experience
The list of teams with the most BCS berth's does not start with an SEC team, but with Ohio State (in fact, the top 4 teams with the most BCS appearances are not SEC teams). The Orange Bowl will be their 10th BCS game and will make them only the second school to have played in every BCS bowl, and a win would make them the only school to win every BCS bowl at least once. Needless to say, Ohio State won't be nervous...
3. Ohio State's Motivation
There is a legitimate concern that Ohio State may not be motivated for this game; however, there is also a legitimate expectation that an Urban Meyer led team will be ready to play, regardless of the situation. Ohio State can validate their season and get their first win in Florida since the 1985 Citrus Bowl.

What actually happens: Clemson and Ohio State take their first few drives to get reacclimated to high level football before the defensive sieves are exposed. By halftime, the offenses are getting warmed up. The teams stay close through the second half until the Ohio State ground game begins to wear the Tigers down. In the end Ohio State walks out with a slim, well earned victory.

Ohio State 34
Clemson 30


THE COCKABOOSTER:

Motivation matters more than anything else in most bowl games.  So may examples are there to back that up like Utah against Alabama, UConn vs. the Gamecocks and last year's Clemson-LSU game.  Serendipity has landed on the Tigers again, as they are desperately hungry to get a win as quickly as possible to forget about another loss to USC.  Helping that cause is the fact that Ohio State is deflated, disappointed, and disinterested in the matchup since they were expecting to be in Pasadena.

Ohio State is a better team than Clemson.  No question.  But this is not a contest to pick who the better team is, only find out who the winning team will be.  When you put that factor into the equation it makes for interesting theater.

Both teams expect to score points and I am sure they will.  But look at Ohio State's record over the years in bowl games against teams from the Palmetto State (0-2 vs. USC and 0-1 against Clemson) and you get the feeling this one ends with some happy cousin-kissers from Pickens County.

The Tigers need it more, want it more, and they aren't gacing that much of a fight from the Buckeyes.  Go with the Tiggers.

Clemson 33
Ohio State 24

_______________________________________________________________

READ MORE FROM THE COCK-A-BOOSTER HERE.

READ MORE FROM THE TIGER SWAG HERE.

_______________________________________________________________

CLAWS vs. PAWS - Bowl Games

This is the final CLAWS vs. PAWS for the 2013-2014 season.  Currently, The TigerSwag holds a 9 point advantage over The Cock-A-Booster. 

Here are the bowl games and the current point spreads (12/18/13)...

The state of the Gamecocks: Dadgum Good!

There seem to be some folks out there who just can’t understand why Carolina fans are perfectly happy with the program right now. After all, we lost at Tennessee this year right? All I can say to those folks who want to believe that is that they must not understand our history. This especially holds true for our friends in Orange from the Upstate. I have actually been surprised at how many are almost obsessed with proving that we shouldn’t be content.

That is strange because history is the only thing I hear coming from their mouths when I want to discuss the win streak we have over the Tigers. They cling to history like a baby kangaroo on the pouch nipple. But history is supposed to be COMPLETELY ignored by USC fans? Okay. Whatever makes you feel better.

So I will play along a bit and say this: Yes, this is by far the worst 32-5 streak I have ever lived through as a Carolina fan! It’s just been a nightmare! See how stupid it looks when you actually type it out? Following the 2008 season, we had managed to land all of 2 nine or more win seasons in our history. 2!

Add in that from 1976-2008, we had gone 8-24-1 against Clemson and were hardly an afterthought in the SEC East. Not good. Since then we have landed an SEC East title, have gone 5-0 against the Tiggers, and have more wins against the SEC than we have ever seen. Also, we have had 4 straight seasons of nine or more wins, including 41 wins. Three of those seasons grabbed at least 10 victories with 2 of them at 11. A win in the Citrus Bowl would mean three straight 11-win campaigns as well.

That’s the past and present, so what about the future? We are losing all of 8 names off the roster and 7 scholarship players counting the juniors leaving early. 8. We have a much more manageable schedule as well in 2014. Yes, we have road trips to Fla-duh and Auburn but you don’t play in the SEC without at least a tough road game or 2. This ain’t the ACC after all. And the good news is that our other 3 road games are against Vandy, UK and the Upstate Udders.

If there is one lingering doubt I have, and it’s not a big one, it’s whether or not we will be “fired up” enough for the upcoming bowl game. I think we will, but I am always preaching about how important motivation is for these contests. Are we the better team? Yes. But we were also the better team than UConn in Birmingham. As I always say I don’t care if the best team wins. I want my team to win. So fans of other schools, please continue to spend whatever energy you like poking holes in our results. Especially my friends in O-range. I will continue to just chuckle and stare at you like a zoo exhibit. I waited a long time and sat through a whole lot of bad football to have a program like this one. Bring on those old Badgers in Orlando!

It’s a great time to be a Gamecock!

Clemson fans hate it that Connor Shaw is right

In response to getting double-digit pistol-whipped by the Gamecocks for the fifth year in a row, many Clemson fans are hoping their Orange Bowl bid will help soothe the annual hiney-burn they are now used to receiving from Carolina.  And you bet I can remember many times back when we used to lose to them all the time doing something similar.  I would just want to find anything at all to avoid the reality of losing to them year after year.  

Enter the press conference for this year’s Citrus/Capital One Bowl in Orlando.  Steve Spurrier and Connor Shaw were there taking questions about the matchup with Wisconsin and Shaw was asked if he was upset that Carolina had beaten teams in two of the BCS games (Central Florida and the Klimpletons) but weren’t going themselves?  Shaw’s response was just perfect and so true.  He said he would rather be in the Gamecocks situation:  a team that had beaten 2 BCS teams while not playing in one of those bowls…instead of the reverse. He’s right.  My Clemson friends may stick their heads in the sand and pretend he’s wrong but deep down, below the garnet burn, they know they would gladly trade in that Orange Bowl bid for a win over us.  

But aside from my friends of Orange ilk, you may wonder why I’m so happy with “only” getting another Citrus Bowl bid.  Well, there are several reasons. First, I felt like we gave up the right to expect more when we vomited all over the field in Knoxville.  Second, considering we only have 5 seniors on the roster and only 8 names are leaving Columbia period this season, 10-2 and ranked #8 is fine with me.  Finally, there was that old win #5 in a row (31-17 over the Trademarked Tigers in case you forgot).  So yep, count the old Cockabooster as being quite content with things.  Meanwhile, as our rivals head to Miami in the disappointment/denial bowl, they will keep on pretending they don’t care about the rivalry anymore.  And while they are doing that, Shaw’s comment will be eating away at their insides the whole time.  Can you imagine how happy they are he is graduating?  

Now in terms of the matchups themselves, the Tiggers appear to have fallen rear end-backwards into another fortunate game similar to their Peach Bowl wins over LSU and Tennessee.  Ohio State, like the Bayou Bengals and UT, has absolutely no incentive or interest in this game.  Think of how Alabama felt about playing Utah a few years back in the Sugar.  And to their credit, Clemson does seem to take advantage of opponent’s disinterest.  They likely will again.  After all, as Mark May points out, Clemson wilts when a physical team hits them in the mouth, but Ohio State ain’t that kind of squad.

And of course the opposite is true for the Gamecocks.  We will be facing a hungry team with tons of incentive and much to prove.  Wisconsin is well-coached, has a salty defense and a strong running game.  At first glance, I think of the Iowa team we faced in the Outback Bowl a few years back.  We will have to play at a high level for 60 minutes against a focused opponent to land another bowl win.  So yes, it isn’t what we hoped for this year, and the bowls may not go our way.  But just like my main man Connor Shaw was saying, we’d still rather have #5 in a row.  And so would the Tigers!     

It’s a great time to be a Gamecock!

CLAWS vs. PAWS - Week 14 Scoreboard

Both The Cock-A-Booster and The TigerSwag took the points and picked Clemson to win as a road dog.  As a result they both received 2 points (a safety for each) since they both did not pick the winner.

We will have one more CLAWS vs. PAWS for the forthcoming bowl games.  Stay tuned!

The TigerSwag continues to maintain his 9 point lead.

The Highlights!