USC fans, don't stop believing
I know it's tough picking up the pieces after a loss following another disappointing season. But you've done it before and you know you'll probably have to do it again.
You're Gamecock fans, and with that title comes a responsibility to maintain the faith, the belief, the undying hope that the University of South Carolina football program will someday excel.
It's not easy. You're well aware of that. You were reminded of it again Saturday afternoon in the Upstate when your archrival, Clemson, won yet another big game, 31-14, on a day that fit your mood perfectly — gray, gloomy, drab.
I've watched you over the years, smiling in the face of adversity, wearing your garnet and black colors with pride, filling the stadiums and yelling your head off.
You are the most optimistic people I know. You pay a premium price with your money and your heart, and seldom do you get a similar return on your investment.
I admire your determination, your dedication and your spirit.
Law of averages
After a loss that showed so little promise, there are those who are ready to quit. They line up every year at the return window, eager to cash in their season tickets and turn in their pom-poms.
The Post and Courier
South Carolina football fan Rusty Jordan of Columbia had little to smile about Saturday.
They've had enough. Seen it before. Again and again.
Every year the story seems the same. There's always a new coach, new players, new hope, new hype. This will be the season it all falls your way. Fumbles. Interceptions. Third-down conversions. Touchdowns. Celebrations.
Other schools always seem to have their day. Every now and then the effort pays off. Your ship comes in. The championship is yours.
South Carolina fans don't ask for much. They only want what is fair.
But despite playing this game for more than a century, since 1892, they have but one tattered pennant waving in the breeze to show for it: the ACC title of 1969.
Indeed, it seems the law of averages does not apply when it comes to Gamecocks football.
Higher calling
Four years into Steve Spurrier's tenure, it appears USC is no further along than it was with Lou Holtz, or Brad Scott, or Sparky Woods, etc.
Seven wins and an Outback Bowl. Not quite what the big donors had in mind.
But tailgate talk reminds us they were just a touchdown shy of beating Vanderbilt, Georgia and LSU. A break here, a bounce there, and it's a totally different season.
No one, of course, is more frustrated by all this than Spurrier himself. You can see it in his face, hear it in his voice.
He is not accustomed to failure, mediocrity, underachievement, call it what you will.
Best guess is that he'll give it three more years, through Stephen Garcia's career, to see if he can deliver what Gamecock fans have longed for — respectability.
While some may walk away, shaking their heads, licking their wounds, you will not because you still believe in next year.
To give up now would betray all those who came before you, generations of Gamecocks who lived and died for September, October and November, who came to every game, cheered for every play, and loved their team no matter what.
To be a South Carolina football fan is to believe in the power of believing, the highest calling of all.
Reach Ken Burger at kburger@postandcourier.com or (843) 937-5598.
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Comments
islandbenzbc (anonymous) says...
I for one will keep on hoping...GO COCKS!
December 1, 2008 at 7:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Nonsense (anonymous) says...
Spurrier could have avoided this had he not been so stubborn and started his little goodie-two-shoes quarterback who is not worth diddley. Could he not see this coming when he started Smelley in the Florida game? I predicted that we might as well have spotted Clemson 21 points because all of Smelley's passes are floaters - they are up for grabs - mostly for the other team to grab. I hope Smelley transfers because USC students will probably have no mercy for him on campus. Spurrier needs to do himself a favor and resign if he can't even see what everybody that I've talked to knew what was going to happen Saturday. It all could have been avoided if not for the ole ball coaches' ego, which we Gamecock fans were already tired of an old coach with a big ego when Holtz finally left. Get a young guy, preferably an alumnus, who knows the meaning of the rivalry and maybe one day we'll start winning these games and show some emotion on the field.
December 1, 2008 at 8 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
PAO1 (anonymous) says...
NON...I concur..poor coaching all around on USC's part....QBs not prepared....Ole Ball Coach fault.....defense totally embarrassied last two games....come on even Ellis admitted his defense as fallen away in the last month....offensive line...no running game or blocking....offense line coach fires.....
Ole ball coach stating players tired of playing football and need to move on......do we see a theme here..of coaching.......or lack there of.......
bottomline..Clemson wanted that game more than USC.....and it showed on the field with effort and intensity....
December 1, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tigerbdog (anonymous) says...
please....usc could have started johnny unitas and lost that game
December 1, 2008 at 10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Whopper (anonymous) says...
It's hard to believe in the future when Scar lost to Vanderbilt and a pretender 12-0 Clemson program. Spurrier got outcoached by a nobody and the fans will have to listen to all the dribble coming from hot air U and their redneck fanbase. Good Grief.
December 1, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigriver1 (anonymous) says...
I almost feel sorry for them. Nah, just kidding.
Next legend please.
December 1, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stanggt5pt0 (anonymous) says...
LMAO. Lyrics to the new alma mater?
James Davis: this isn't really a rivalry, man...we've been beating these guys since we've been here.
One school, two hall of fame coaches down in flames.
Our wide receivers coach beat your legend.
GO TIGERS!!!!
December 1, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fjms (anonymous) says...
How come beacher (sp?) did not want to play in the game? I thought that was kind of interesting.
December 1, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rebel1 (anonymous) says...
smelly and sos lost that game not USC. aNY IDIOT COULD SEE THAT. We had to beat the tiggers, smelly and sos. While the tiggers would have been easy, we couldnt beat sos and smelly. Tiggers had 1 short drive for a touchdown and the rest (24)was sos and smelly. wake up tiggers. sos should be fired and smelly should quit.
December 1, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rggr (anonymous) says...
Rebel1, do you know why Smelley kept throwing into coverage? Because your receivers were covered all day long.
December 1, 2008 at 1:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sptiger (anonymous) says...
hey rebel - excuses are for losers. look no further than your coach who admitted the better team won and he was outcoached. you don't help the cause of your fanbase by being a poor loser and only contribute to the perception that carolina's football program is a joke.
December 1, 2008 at 2:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
softbatch (anonymous) says...
its people like rebel1 that give USC fans a bad name. most coot fans were classy after saturday's loss, there are always a few P.O.S. like rebel1 that ruin it for the rest of them. enjoy the next 360 days loser.
31-14 says it all. Go Tigers.
December 1, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stanggt5pt0 (anonymous) says...
Rebel,
Who is "we", if it does not include Spurrier and Smelley? Who is running the show, if it is not Spurrier? You seem to imply that there are two USC's: one with Spurrier and one without. Where is the one without? WHO is the one without? Who is it that could have actually won the game? This seems to be a new low, and a new luxury, to be able to say, "yeah, well, our team could have beat you if it wasn't for our team." Just who in the heck plays the game if it is not YOUR team? Who in the heck lost the game if it is not YOUR team? Does a game like that get an asterisk placed next to it on a team's record? I agree with you that Smelley was Clemson's MVP, but do the interceptions he threw say more about his decision-making or the coverage/defense that he was facing? You talk as if he had simple decisions to make and he just happened to make the wrong ones. I love how you think it's so obvious that your team lost the game for you, but that you fail to acknowledge the most obvious: Clemson deserves credit for whoopin' your stinkin' tail up and DOWN the field on Saturday. I would love to have heard your explanation for the score of infamy: 63-17.
December 1, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TTBoy (anonymous) says...
rebel must be related to #78 of usuck. instead of shaking hands at the end of the game he put up his best fight! he didn't show that much fire the entire game. when his own teammates tried to hold him back he was pushing and shoving. both of you (rebel/#78) are the great examples of poor sportsmanship.
December 1, 2008 at 2:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigriver1 (anonymous) says...
Hey rebel only 363 days till it happens all over again. LMAO. sc is lucky it was not worse. That game could have been REALLY ugly for the lamecocks.
December 1, 2008 at 3:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
magoo (anonymous) says...
go hawkeyes iowa will probably play usc in outback
December 1, 2008 at 9:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
magoo (anonymous) says...
The Tampa Tribune believes it, I believe it, and you should believe it, Iowa will play Steve Spurrier's South Carolina... go hawkeyes
December 1, 2008 at 9:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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