Dusting off the ol' USC patience play

RALEIGH -- So these two guys walk into a bar …

And because they are Gamecocks fans and the bar was lowered, both went smack into the darn thing and flipped to the ground.

On the bright side, a summer full of modest expectations makes for a sweeter taste of opening-night victory.

In this case, 7-3 over N.C. State on Thursday night at Carter-Finley Stadium before the nation and Erin Andrews. Solidly favored N.C. State, that is.

Such is the progress as measured in Steve Spurrier's fifth season as Head Ball Coach.

Slowly, if not altogether surely.

A defensive struggle in which South Carolina held All-Atlantic Coast Conference quarterback Russell Wilson and the Wolfpack to 133 total yards.

Ugly?

No, the debacles at the end of the 2008 season at Daboville and in the Outback Bowl against Iowa were ugly.

The touchdown drive Thursday night was a beautiful thing, all 14 yards of it.

Garcia progress

Sure, you want more.

So does Spurrier.

"We have to find some offense, somehow," he said.

Or close, low-scoring games might be the win formula on a South Carolina schedule that only gets tougher.

"I hope not," Spurrier said. "I hope Stephen (Garcia) can hit some guys and I hope we pass-block better and I hope we'll stay in the pocket and throw the ball and not run out. But we haven't got that coached up yet. We have to coach him up better."

Garcia, South Carolina's redshirt sophomore quarterback, is small steps of progress personified. He did not play very well Thursday night but a lackluster performance in a win is what you get from a guy between an Outback Bowl full of big mistakes and his big-play potential.

42-39 someday?

Overall, here were plenty of South Carolina things to like.

This is one of the fastest Gamecocks' defenses.

"We made a statement," defensive end Cliff Matthews said.

Redshirt freshman defensive end Devin Taylor, a Beaufort High School grad, forced a fumble and blocked a punt. In the first 11 minutes.

Eric Norwood has refined his All-America tackling skills.

Cornerback C.C. Whitlock did not bite on Wilson's sweet pump fake and broke up what would have been a long touchdown pass.

The closing speed of true freshman safety DeVonte Holomon was almost as impressive as the game-saving pass deflection made by fellow true freshman Stephon Gilmore.

Offense?

Some of the same old bugaboos haunt the Gamecocks.

Start with the signature snag of the Spurrier Era: Well-conceived plays not properly executed.

It was so Spurrier -- you probably called it from your easy chair -- going for the end zone after Taylor's blocked punt.

Touchdown!

Except that wide receiver Tori Gurley was flagged for pushing off.

Spurrier pledged after the game to "get more involved in the offense."

So Gamecock fans will have to be patient, again.

But with a 1-0 record, it's a bit easier than 0-1.

"Hopefully, someday we can win a 42-39 game around here," Spurrier said. "We'll have to wait and see."

Reach Gene Sapakoff at gsapakoff@postandcourier.com or 843 937-5593.