PREVIEW: Gamecocks Looking For 5th Straight Win

Spurrier: “We feel that we can certainly play with them”

by Matt Deville
Tiger Rag Senior Editor

Steve Spurrier is known for his desire to win.

He is also known for the frustration that follows when he fails to do so.

Needless to say, when it comes to LSU, he is rarely frustrated.

Spurrier was 3-0 against the Tigers as a player during his Heisman Trophy career at the University of Florida.

In 12 seasons as coach of the Gators, his record held only one blemish, a seven-point loss at LSU in 1997. The Tigers upset then No. 1 Florida 28-21, marking LSU’s first-ever win over a No. 1 ranked team.

Spurrier’s last visit to Tiger Stadium as coach of the Gators ended in a rout with Florida trouncing LSU 44-15 in 2001.

The Ole Ball Coach returned to Death Valley last season, this time as coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks. Colt David’s legendary fake field goal highlighted the Tigers 26-18 win over South Carolina as LSU went on to win the BCS National Title.

David’s run was played and replayed on national television, as was Spurrier’s smile veiled in disgust on the opposing sideline.

The loss was the beginning of the end for the Gamecocks last season. After leaving Tiger Stadium, South Carolina plummeted from the top 10 to a 6-6 finish and Spurrier’s team missed the postseason.

Entering the 2008 campaign, two successful recruiting classes were expected to finally begin paying off. Could the Gamecocks now compete for the SEC Eastern Division title?

After a season opening win over North Carolina State, South Carolina dropped back to back decisions. The Gamecocks lost at Vanderbilt 24-17 before dropping a hard fought 14-7 decision versus Georgia.

At 1-2, morale was low in Columbia.

And the following week when South Carolina eased past Wofford 23-13, things really looked bleak.

But don’t count out the Gamecocks.

South Carolina (5-2, 2-2 SEC) has now won four straight games, including back-to-back road contests at Ole Miss and Kentucky.

The Gamecocks return home for the first time since Sept. 27 to host the LSU Tigers Saturday night in Williams-Brice Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. ET. and will be televised nationally on ESPN.

LSU’s last trip to Columbia came in 2003 when the Tigers beat South Carolina 33-7.
Spurrier became notorious for his high-octane passing attacks during his days at Florida. But at South Carolina, Spurrier has changed his tune.

The Gamecocks lead the SEC in passing defense (132 yards per game) and total defense (240 ypg) and will be looking to continue their stingy ways against the No. 13 ranked LSU Tigers.

“We are a happy bunch of Gamecocks,” Spurrier said following South Carolina’s 24-17 win at Kentucky last Saturday. “We’ll try to get ready to play LSU, try to play without all these errors. If we do that, we feel that we can certainly play with them.”

Captain Munnerlyn returned a blocked field goal 81 yards for a touchdown and set up another score with an 84-yard kickoff return as South Carolina won its ninth consecutive meeting against Kentucky.

Stephen Garcia replaced a struggling Chris Smelley and led four consecutive drives into Wildcat territory, which the Gamecocks turned into 10 points.

“Stephen surprised us all and threw the ball where guys could catch it,” Spurrier said. “Pretty good for a first meaningful playing time ever.”

It could have been more if not for three missed second-half field goal attempts by Ryan Succop.

“We made eight of seventeen third downs and they were one of sixteen. So I guess that’s where the ball game was won right there,” Spurrier said.

With the game tied at 17, South Carolina took the lead for good when Garcia found Weslye Saunders open in the end zone off a play action pass from 8 yards out. The play was set up by a 37-yard post pattern from Garcia to Jason Barnes. Garcia completed 10 of 14 passes for 169 yards in limited duty.

“Stephen came through for us and Jason Barnes made some big, big catches over and over for us,” Spurrier said. “Jason got another game ball this week. It was a good victory, even though we played lousy offensively.”

Kentucky got the ball back with an opportunity to tie the game, but an interception by Chris Culliver, who leads South Carolina with two picks, clinched it for the Gamecocks.

Obviously Spurrier is critical of his offense and pulling a quarterback midseason is nothing new for the Ole Ball coach.

The Gamecocks passing attack is actually ranked third in the SEC as South Carolina quarterbacks are averaging 243 yards per game. But the Gamecock running game is what hurts them offensively. South Carolina is 104th in the nation in rushing offense putting up just 109 yards per game on the ground.

“It’s looked ugly at times,” Spurrier said of his team’s offense. “I’m thankful it’s not as ugly as some of these other schools out there. There’s a lot of ugly offenses out there.”

It will likely be Garcia who gets the start against LSU on Saturday. But Smelley, who had a career outing in the win at Ole Miss, could see the field as well.

“My philosophy of coaching is to always give the next guy a chance if the guy in there’s not getting it done,” Spurrier said. “You always try to bring the other guy back. Anytime a guy’s been benched we say ‘Hey, you’ll probably get your chance to come back in.’”

Notes on the Gamecocks:
WR Kenny McKinley became the Gamecocks’ career reception leader in the Kentucky contest … McKinley caught a team-high seven passes for 88 yards and a TD against Kentucky and now has 173 career catches for 2,345 yards … Captain Munnerlyn returned a kickoff for 84 yards - the longest of the season for Carolina .. . It was also the longest of his career, and the longest Gamecock kickoff return since Matthew Thomas returned one 95 yards for a touchdown against Virginia in 2002 … QB Stephen Garcia came off the bench to complete 10-of-14 passes for 169 yards and also had 22 yards rushing on six attempts.

Notes on the Tigers:
DE Tyson Jackson recorded two sacks against Florida and has 16.5 for his career … WR Brandon LaFell has caught a pass in 20 straight games dating back to the 2007 Sugar Bowl vs. Notre Dame … LaFell leads the SEC with 5.8 catches per game … WR Demetrius Byrd has a 14-game consecutive game catch streak … DT Drake Nevis made his first career start for the Tigers against Florida … Richard Dickson is tied for second at LSU in career TD catches by a tight end with seven (Brad Boyd holds the record with 10) … Jr. Trindon Holliday leads the nation in punt returns, averaging 25.1 yards on seven returns.