Alright this is another great day of games. The New Year's Eve slate of college football games is on point. We have 4 really good looking match ups on the board. Now mind you, these are not all traditional match ups, but pretty good looking match ups none the less.
Friday December 31st:
#1 South Florida vs Clemson in the Car Care Bowl
(12/31) Noon ESPN
Clemson has had a tough year. Seems like ever since Kyle Parker took a shot in the back against Auburn earlier in the year, that something has not been right. Clemson is sitting on 6-6 and Dabo does not want to finish with a loosing record. Both teams roll into Charlotte having lost their last game. South Florida had a big time win over Miami in the Overtime thriller back on Thanksgiving weekend. Look for some turnovers and some otherwise sloppy play, but a thrilling game as there on athletes for both teams on both sides of the ball. Look for Clemson's Defensive front to be the difference.
#2 Notre Dame vs Miami in the Sun Bowl
(12/31) 2:00 PM CBS
Catholics vs Convicts renewed. The 2010 edition of this rivalry will propel Notre Dame into the national spotlight and keep them there for the next decade. Look for Brian Kelly to seize this golden opportunity. With Miami burning in the background the Golden Domers will step back up on stage. Since she took office, I've been very critical of the University President, Donna Shalala, and exactly who was behind the "Let's resign, then fire Coach Randy Shannon" decision is beyond me. Talk about a costly decision. But from the looks of the U from the outside, things to do not look they are being handled properly. Harris throws too many picks. Irish win.
#3 Georgia vs Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl
(12/31) 3:30 PM ESPN
What a difference selling a bowl jersey makes. Georgia really has to look in the mirror after this year and dig deep. The recruiting needs to step up. The defense needs to step up. The offense needs to learn to not fumble in the red zone. And the toughness (strength and conditioning) needs to return and reach new heights. Just a few things and this team is playing their bowl game on New Year's Day again. Mark Richt has "The Year" coming up next year with a kick off classic looming against Boise State, and Florida game with a new coach. Yeah Coach Richt is going to really want to go into the off season on a high note. A resounding win over Central Florida accomplishes that. There are still some really good recruits out there for the Dawgs to land, and this game is a big component of decisions to come. Plain and simple this is a trap game. Georgia has a ton to loose, and very little on the National Stage to gain outside of rebuilding respect. But Richt will have things in order. Look for Liberty Bowl records to be broken by Murray and Green. Dawgs win this one. Because Lord knows if they lose it, The Guns of Navarone will be pointing towards Athens.
#4 South Carolina vs Florida State in the Chick-fil-A Bowl
(12/31) 7:30 PM ESPN
This is the main event of the day. What a great match up. Which Garcia will show up? Will Spurrier find ways to get the ball to Lattimore throughout the game? Remember last year's bowl game where UCONN blew the doors of USC? Ouch! Yeah I love this match up. Jimbo Fisher has some really good mojo going on in Tallahassee, and Spurrier has the Gamecocks believing. Hope is something that has not been in Columbia's football discussion for an entire football season in some time. But its back now and the the SEC Championship game aside, these Gamecocks are really good. I know they wish they could have that 2nd Quarter back in Atlanta. They finally got Auburn to punt, and they did nothing with it. They finally got Cam to fumble and did nothing with it. If they convert those in 14, then maybe that game rolled out differently. Nah probably not, but it needs to be said. Look for the Gamecocks in this win. Spurrier loves beating the Seminoles and this year's no different.
Come back tomorrow, where we will have Part III in HERE COME THE GOOD BOWLS.
Please be safe out there and Happy New Years!!!!!
Follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cfdaily
Showing posts with label Garcia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Garcia. Show all posts
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
GAMECOCKS SEND THE TIDE PACKING WITH A 35-21 THRILLER IN COLUMBIA
Friends,
I want to start off by saying how blessed I was to be at this game. It was a historic win for the Gamecocks. Quite simply, it was the biggest win in the program's history. College Football always delivers, and yesterday with the ESPN GameDay and CBS Sports in town, Coach Spurrier's Gamecocks delivered by taking down the undefeated, defending National Champs.
It was clear leaving Charleston at 7 AM that something was in the air. A heavy fog covered I-26 for the majority of the drive to Columbia. While attending ESPN College GameDay, I noticed the pulse of Gamecock Nation was off the charts. Optimism and hope was abound, as a focused fan base knew what was at stake.
The game kicked off, and it was clear from the first drive that Bama was going to have their hands full, as the Gamecocks were prepared and well versed on what The Tide were trying to do. South Carolina held Alabama to an early field goal. Carolina got the ball and marched straight down the field and capped it off with a Lattimore score. Carolina never looked back from there, as they controlled the lead the rest of the afternoon. Carolina got the ball back and put up another 7 with a nasty play by Alshon Jeffery as he reeled in a 26 yard pass for a TD.
At the end of the first quarter it was USC 14 - Bama 3, and we were on our way. Out of the gate it was apparent Carolina had a little more pep in their step.
The second quarter started off with another Alshon Jeffrey touchdown, and it was quickly 21-3. Both teams battled for the remainder of the quarter, but it was not until the closing seconds until Bama officially got on the board with a TD. McElroy hit Julio Jones on a beauty. However Bama missed the PAT confirming that things were not clicking for the Tide, and there we were 21-9 at the half.
Carolina kicked first, so they got the ball to start of the second half. The opening kick was bobbled. The crowd started to get that "here we go again" feeling. Things got worse for Carolina as the opening snap resulted in Garcia chucking the ball out of the end zone to "avoid" the Tide, but it was a preemptive move that resulted in a safety. Carolina kicked off to Bama who was setup with great field position. The Gamecock D held the Tide to a field goal, and Coach Spurrier saw another opportunity missed. The Gamecocks basically spotted Alabama 5 points out of the gate, but they still had the lead. Midway through the 3rd it was 21-14.
Carolina put together another nice drive, which was capped off by another Marcus Lattimore TD. This was a close range TD that showcased an option right, that for all account and purposes looks unstoppable. My take away from this option play was anytime Carolina needs to get some yardage, then they need to look no further than an option play to Lattimore. If it is Lattimore versus any cornerback in the country 1 on 1, my money is on Lattimore. So there we had it at the close of the 3rd Quarter, with Carolina up 28-14.
The 4th started off with a quick Alabama score as McElroy hooked up with Darius Hanks for 51 yard TD strike. But that was it for Bama as they teetered on the comeback, but could not break through Carolina's stout play. The Gamecocks put up another Lattimore TD to bring the final to 35-21, just as the sunset on Columbia. It was a picturesque close to an amazing day in Columbia.
Carolina broke out of the post game prayer, and the entire team made a bee-line to the student section which was producing enough energy to power a nuclear reactor. The pandemonium continued into the street, as Gamecock Nation poured into the streets hooting and hollering and high-fiving everyone. It was all the police could do to keep joyful mayhem from ensuing. To describe the scene as anything less than memorable would be an understatement.
It was said earlier in the week on Bill King's Rivals Radio that Bama would have to play their worst game, and Carolina would have to play their best. Carolina certainly played their best, and they officially did not make anything easy for the Crimson Tide who ultimately never found their groove all day in Columbia.
A lot of credit has to go to Coach Spurrier. He called a great game. He withheld no punches and came out gunning for touchdowns from the outset. He knew field goals would not cut it and he called one heck of a gutsy game.
Garcia/Lattimore/Jeffrey also get game balls. They came out and put together one heck of an offensive showcase. The O line came together and gave Garcia time to do his job. Garcia finished 17-20 (18-20 in my book as the interception hit is receiver right in the hands, but he could not haul in the catch which resulted in an INT) with 3 TDs. Lattimore was stud. He racked up 93 hard fought yards and 2 TDs. Alshon Jeffery was unreal. He hauled in 7 catches for 127 yards and 2 TDs. All on a stout but young Alabama defense.
In addition, you have to give a ton of credit to the Carolina Defense. They had McElroy running for his life most of the day, as they got key sacks throughout the game. They also held the Ingram/Richardson duo to just 64 yards and 0 TDs. Alabama finished with a sub par 5-13 on 3rd Down conversions.
The College Football season is like a hurricane, and yesterday Columbia, SC was the eye of that hurricane.
Follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cfdaily
I want to start off by saying how blessed I was to be at this game. It was a historic win for the Gamecocks. Quite simply, it was the biggest win in the program's history. College Football always delivers, and yesterday with the ESPN GameDay and CBS Sports in town, Coach Spurrier's Gamecocks delivered by taking down the undefeated, defending National Champs.
It was clear leaving Charleston at 7 AM that something was in the air. A heavy fog covered I-26 for the majority of the drive to Columbia. While attending ESPN College GameDay, I noticed the pulse of Gamecock Nation was off the charts. Optimism and hope was abound, as a focused fan base knew what was at stake.
The game kicked off, and it was clear from the first drive that Bama was going to have their hands full, as the Gamecocks were prepared and well versed on what The Tide were trying to do. South Carolina held Alabama to an early field goal. Carolina got the ball and marched straight down the field and capped it off with a Lattimore score. Carolina never looked back from there, as they controlled the lead the rest of the afternoon. Carolina got the ball back and put up another 7 with a nasty play by Alshon Jeffery as he reeled in a 26 yard pass for a TD.
(Photo courtesy Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
At the end of the first quarter it was USC 14 - Bama 3, and we were on our way. Out of the gate it was apparent Carolina had a little more pep in their step.
The second quarter started off with another Alshon Jeffrey touchdown, and it was quickly 21-3. Both teams battled for the remainder of the quarter, but it was not until the closing seconds until Bama officially got on the board with a TD. McElroy hit Julio Jones on a beauty. However Bama missed the PAT confirming that things were not clicking for the Tide, and there we were 21-9 at the half.
Carolina kicked first, so they got the ball to start of the second half. The opening kick was bobbled. The crowd started to get that "here we go again" feeling. Things got worse for Carolina as the opening snap resulted in Garcia chucking the ball out of the end zone to "avoid" the Tide, but it was a preemptive move that resulted in a safety. Carolina kicked off to Bama who was setup with great field position. The Gamecock D held the Tide to a field goal, and Coach Spurrier saw another opportunity missed. The Gamecocks basically spotted Alabama 5 points out of the gate, but they still had the lead. Midway through the 3rd it was 21-14.
Carolina put together another nice drive, which was capped off by another Marcus Lattimore TD. This was a close range TD that showcased an option right, that for all account and purposes looks unstoppable. My take away from this option play was anytime Carolina needs to get some yardage, then they need to look no further than an option play to Lattimore. If it is Lattimore versus any cornerback in the country 1 on 1, my money is on Lattimore. So there we had it at the close of the 3rd Quarter, with Carolina up 28-14.
The 4th started off with a quick Alabama score as McElroy hooked up with Darius Hanks for 51 yard TD strike. But that was it for Bama as they teetered on the comeback, but could not break through Carolina's stout play. The Gamecocks put up another Lattimore TD to bring the final to 35-21, just as the sunset on Columbia. It was a picturesque close to an amazing day in Columbia.
Carolina broke out of the post game prayer, and the entire team made a bee-line to the student section which was producing enough energy to power a nuclear reactor. The pandemonium continued into the street, as Gamecock Nation poured into the streets hooting and hollering and high-fiving everyone. It was all the police could do to keep joyful mayhem from ensuing. To describe the scene as anything less than memorable would be an understatement.
It was said earlier in the week on Bill King's Rivals Radio that Bama would have to play their worst game, and Carolina would have to play their best. Carolina certainly played their best, and they officially did not make anything easy for the Crimson Tide who ultimately never found their groove all day in Columbia.
A lot of credit has to go to Coach Spurrier. He called a great game. He withheld no punches and came out gunning for touchdowns from the outset. He knew field goals would not cut it and he called one heck of a gutsy game.
(Photo courtesy Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
Garcia/Lattimore/Jeffrey also get game balls. They came out and put together one heck of an offensive showcase. The O line came together and gave Garcia time to do his job. Garcia finished 17-20 (18-20 in my book as the interception hit is receiver right in the hands, but he could not haul in the catch which resulted in an INT) with 3 TDs. Lattimore was stud. He racked up 93 hard fought yards and 2 TDs. Alshon Jeffery was unreal. He hauled in 7 catches for 127 yards and 2 TDs. All on a stout but young Alabama defense.
In addition, you have to give a ton of credit to the Carolina Defense. They had McElroy running for his life most of the day, as they got key sacks throughout the game. They also held the Ingram/Richardson duo to just 64 yards and 0 TDs. Alabama finished with a sub par 5-13 on 3rd Down conversions.
The College Football season is like a hurricane, and yesterday Columbia, SC was the eye of that hurricane.
Follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cfdaily
Sunday, September 12, 2010
GAMECOCKS DEFEAT THE DAWGS IN CONVINCING FASHION
With all eyes on Columbia yesterday at high noon, it was apparent early on that this this year's team is one of Spurrier's best at USC.
Carolina got the ball first and drove straight down the field putting up a TD off a 16 play drive. They set the tone early with the capabilities of this Carolina squad. They let everyone know they can grind it out -- something Carolina fans have wanted for years. With Lattimore in, it is very apparent that these Gamecocks have balance, prowess, and innate ability to get a first down. Lattimore changes everything in Columbia, and it is an exciting time for the Gamecock Nation.
A lot of credit has to go to Shawn Elliott. He had the Offensive Line looking amazing. He comes from Appalachian State, where he helped guide steer the Mountaineers to 3 straight National Championships (2005, 2006, & 2007). While there he coached up 3 consecutive SoCon Jacobs Blocking Trophy recipients. In his first year at USC Coach Elliott has Lattimore is running behind one well coached line.
Combine that with a senior QB in Garcia and you have one excellent foundation for an Offensive explosion.
The Defense was no joke either. USC controlled both lines of scrimmage all day, and while Washaun Ealey got the ball for 19 carries for UGA, he never broke one big, never saw paydirt and found the ball stripped from him by #21 DeVonte Holloman inside the 5 yard line late in the game. It was a huge blow to UGA, and an amazing lift for the Gamecocks. It was the play of the day as the score at the time was 14-6 (Gamecocks).
Garcia finished the day 12-17, 165 yards and no TDs in the air. It was all Lattimore. He got the ball 37 times, racked up a whopping 187 yards and 2 TDs. He will always be considered the crown jewel of the most recent recruiting class for USC, and yesterday's performance was ample evidence why he was so highly regarded. He makes everyone look better.
In a losing effort, Justin Houston made is presence felt on the Georgia Defense. He was one of the bright spots on the Georgia defense, as he brought in 3 sacks on the day. He will continue to terrorize opponents all year. Grantham's defense is still a work in progress, and they had a tall order yesterday trying to slow down the Carolina offense. Georgia seemed to be a bit timid and seriously lacking in fundamental tackling -- very reminiscent of last year's squad. Arm tackles were prevalent, but things should get better for UGA if they can focus on wrapping up and swarming to the ball.
Game Stats:
3rd Down Efficiency
Rushing Yards:
Passing Yards:
Carolina has Furman then a big test with a road trip to Auburn, then a week off, then Alabama.
Georgia has a huge home test with Arkansas coming to town, then they travel to Miss. State.
Expectations in Columbia could not be higher, and for good reason. If they Gamecocks can stay humble and hungry and focus on 1 week at a time, then they could be booking tickets to ATL. But that's another story for another day.
(Photo courtesy of Mike Zarrilli of Getty Images)
- UGA: 3-11
- USC: 9-14
- UGA: 61
- USC: 189
- UGA: 192
- USC: 165
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)