Spurrier's just branching out y'all

It peaked our curiosity this week when Richt mentioned that Steve Spurrier counseled him as to which job to avoid. Now he's managing a local Columbia newspaper's roster.

“The publisher of the paper has removed Ron from any coverage of the football program, which down there is akin to the Washington Post not letting Dan Balz write about government,” one of Morris’s former colleagues told me. “Effectively, he’s being forced out at the behest of the football coach, with the publisher not standing up for him.”

I get the angst over all this. A football coach shouldn't be editing newsprint. God knows I don't need the shadow of his visor over my keyboard.

But look, y'all've got this all wrong. Spurrier has evidently always wanted to be a career counselor. Why do you think he really got upset when Kiffin offered career analytical data for the top recruits in South Carolina?

It's just that the Ol' Ball Coach is not good enough at it to quit his day job. Yet.

"Do not under any circumstance take the Georgia job."

The Ol' Ball Coach to a youthful Mark Richt back in the day.

It was at the 1991 Heisman Trophy ceremony. Richt coached runner-up Casey Weldon as quarterbacks coach at Florida State and Spurrier coached finalist Shane Matthews as Florida’s head man.

 “He told me: ‘Do not under any circumstance take the Georgia job,’” Richt said when he met spoke to the Touchdown Club of Athens on Monday. “That was the one bit of coaching advice he gave me.”

Of course, if KiffyBaby had been old enough to speak back then he'd've said all Richt would ever amount to in Athens is a gas station attendant.

In all seriousness, Richt goes on to talk about why he respects the man so many Georgia fans find it so easy to hate. Good read by Kramer. Check it out.

Clowney falls, yet still scores

Saturday marked the date for both the Clemson and South Carolina spring games and I was in South Carolina for the weekend, so my Sunday reading had a decidedly palmetto slant. I pulled a couple lines to share with you. First I'd like to look at something I pulled from the Gamecock write up.

MAN among boys

Late in the game, Clowney snuck off the bench to catch a pass from freshman quarterback Connor Mitch.

Clowney caught the pass, but immediately fell down on the five-yard line. He got up, ran into the endzone and was awarded a touchdown by the officials. He then threw the ball into the stands.

Let's start from  the beginning shall we.

• How does Jadeveon Clowney "sneak" anywhere in Columbia SC? After that play in the Outback Bowl the guy is a household name across the nation. The only place that should be a surprise to see him is in a classroom...ahem!...anyway...
• Ok, so Steve Spurrier is using his top commodity, a defensive player that will go #1 in next year's draft and one day kill an NFL tackle just by breathing on him, on a trick play...in the spring game! We all knew the Ol' Ball Coach was brazen, but this goes beyond what I would've expected. Even from him.
• Wait, South Carolina has another quarterback named "Connor"?
• Of course Clowney caught the pass. Probably with just his left pinky finger too.
• The article repeatedly reminds readers that this spring game was tailored for the offense and existed solely to entertain the fans, so of course basic rules of tackle football go out the window. Like falling to the ground due to gravity and stuff. Because that's right in Spurrier's wheelhouse.
• Evidently Clowney would like some time at quarterback. I applaud this. Heartily.

The basic summary of the Gamecock spring game was that it was entertaining. There were 35,000 fans there and the Black team won 44-30. Also of note, sophomore Mike Davis appears to be the front runner to replace Lattimore as their key back. But according to Spurrier the halftime show was the highlight.

I guess Clowney played the tuba or something,

Head Cock still crowing

Ol' Ball Coach gets an extension. Chris Low puts in a historical perspective.

Spurrier is 54-35 in seven seasons at South Carolina, which places him second all-time in wins at South Carolina. 

Rex Enright is the Gamecocks’ all-time winningest coach with 64 victories. It’s certainly possible that Spurrier could catch Enright next season, although it may take two seasons to pass him. 

It took Enright 15 seasons to rack up 64 wins. He was the Gamecocks’ head coach from 1938-42 and again from 1946-55, and he actually finished with a losing record (64-67-9). 

Spurrier’s going to ascend to the top of the South Carolina coaching mountain in a little more than half the time that it took Enright. 

And that ain't all folks...

Not only that, but he’ll walk away as the all-time winningest coach at two different SEC schools. He was 122-27-1 in 12 seasons at Florida. 

It’s difficult to imagine when we’ll ever see that happen again in this league. 

Here’s the other thing to remember when assessing where Spurrier ranks among the best coaches in college football history: He did it at two schools in the SEC that had little or no tradition before he arrived. 

Florida had never won an SEC championship before Spurrier returned to his alma mater as head coach in 1990. Before he was done, the Gators had added six SEC championship trophies to their mantle. 

What’s more, Florida had won just eight bowl games in its history before Spurrier arrived. During his 12 years there, the Gators won six. 

Spurrier’s success at South Carolina didn’t come quite as quickly, but the Gamecocks burst through last season and made their first-ever trip to the SEC championship game.  

Now that it's a gaping wound, Low adds some salt.

And in the last two seasons, South Carolina has swept Eastern Division rivals Florida, Georgia and Tennessee with a perfect 6-0 record. 

For perspective, prior to Spurrier’s arrival, South Carolina was 0-13 against Florida in SEC play, 4-9 against Georgia and 1-12 against Tennessee.  

In a word, Ouch. 

Connor Shaw put together a respectable pretty darn good season once Garcia's bong water dried up. If he is indeed the answer, he might be the last piece of the puzzle the Gamecocks need once Lattimore returns.


So once that 2012 schedule finally gets finalized (hopefully this week), I'll be officially circling the game in Chickumbia on the calendar as an away trip. Who's joining me?

Monday's Meatloaf - Let's get Rivalrous

Let's talk about rivalry. One of the greatest debates I see Dawg fans enter into is whether Florida or Georgia Tech is our biggest rival. I always give the jort heads the nod here since they're both a conference and divisional foe. 

But is Georgia/Florida still a rivalry? We haven't been much of a competitor in Jacksonville (and on respective campuses for the 1994-95 seasons) the last two decades. And before that Georgia really dominated the series overall, 44-22-2. So along that line, has it ever been a rivalry?


To answer the question I enlisted the help of something called a dictionary. Rivalry: the act of rivaling : the state of being a rival : competition. Ok. That wasn't much help. Let's look up the word Rival: 1. One who attempts to equal or surpass another, or who pursues the same object as another; a competitor. So far so good. But there's another definition as well.... 2. One that equals or almost equals another in a particular respect. 


Phooie. We "equaled" the gators for four quarters last year. Other than that, not so much over the last 21 competitions. So by definition the WLOCP is barely hanging on as a rivalry, on the field. Kind of depressing I know. I hate those sumsabitches and now some ancient tome that no one even uses anymore is telling me we're not a rival of floriDuh. We're not worthy of the party and barely have been stirring our cocktails with fake juice.


But stay with me now, cuz here's where I think this gets interesting heading into the 2011 season. Are the team and its fans on the same page as far as Jacksonville? Do we share the same investment? Do we all have the same mindset? Questions I intend to explore deeper in the coming weeks.

Beat. The. Gators.

Easy to think. Easier to say. Just rolls off the tongue. But not so easy to do. Alfred Hitchcock once said, "The more successful the villain, the more successful the picture." Georgia, as a whole, needs to do a better job of getting in the picture.



Today's Ingredients

• Was perusing SicemDawgs' TV schedule posting and lo and behold, Tuesday afternoon there is Georgia-Florida, 2004. Greene, Pollack go out on top in Jax.
• As the good feelings fade ever so slowly from the Rangers drafting Johnathan Taylor, the former Georgia outfielder is holding steady to his goal of playing again.
• Isner v Mahut, the sequel starts tomorrow. Make sure you pay the power bill. It could take awhile.
• As Crowell settles into Coach T's idea of conditioning, Garbin looks at the program's top 10 impact freshmen. 
• Mackie looks back fondly at the 2002 meeting with Bama. After all, he was man enough to see it from the student section.
• As usual, really enjoyed Hedges to Hardwood's countdown posts this weekend: a tribute to Trinton and a look back at 1976.
• Martin van Dawgin also plans to have hoops star Jordan Adams' commitment ceremony live on their blog. (But you'll still have to attend in person if you want cake.)
• Bill King entertains some fan talk, including whether or not the Dawgs should run the spread.
• Given our great need for offensive linemen in this upcoming recruiting class, in his latest recruiting update Socrates takes a look at where things stand with John Theus.
• Meanwhile, Chad Simmons reports ($$) that Chaz Elder should be committing sometime in August.
• Catch em if you can...PWD points out that the NCAA is well behind the times when it comes to playing the game with cheaters. 
• Paschall has a new series on Sundays. Yesterday he tackled the 3 most intriguing OCs in the SEC. (Warning: picture of Charlie Weis in size 63 shorts)
• the Senator found some more fowl afoul of the law. Spurrier will surely toss and turn over this one.
• Barrett Sallee ranks the top SEC non-conference games and has Georgia losing its opener.
• "This is Tyler Bray's team now." Year2 continues TeamSpeedKills' look at the HillBillys.
• Lastly, I've long been a big supporter of the SCAN Foundation. Saturday is their annual Save Our Skin 5K Walk/Run. Great event for a great cause.

I trust everyone had a nice Father's Day. I'm sure it was somewhere short of the one Rory's dad enjoyed, but good nonetheless. I was reminded yesterday that hugs are always welcome. But they're even better after the kids have showered.


I've long enjoyed watching the US Open on Father's Day afternoon. One of the fondest was the day I also took Mrs. Bernie to meet the folks for the first time. While she finished a shift at Georgia Square Mall I reclined and watched Corey Pavin hit the finest 4 wood Shinnecock has ever seen. By the time she was ready to impress my parents Pavin had Norman in his rear view mirror by a slim two strokes...and the margaritas were more than ready to be poured.


A few years later the tournament was at Pinehurst and I had a chance to go. Unfortunately the logistics just refused to allow it. While the media jumped all over Mickelson's expectant wife, Payne Stewart put together a fantastic Sunday...and a spectacular putt on 18 to win his second US Open trophy. Logistics should've been a minor hurdle.


Of course, a few months later Payne left us wanting much more, dying in a freak plane incident. But not before he helped breathe new life into the Ryder Cup rivalry with Europe. Maybe Coach Richt should have the players dress in knickerbockers...


I'm kidding! C'mon, that's fake juice. But this napkin is for real. You've got lunch all over your face Reader. Have a great Monday!


Bernie

A Cock that has nine lives

Of course Stephen Garcia is back for his final season. We all knew this. But ESPNs Chris Low tells us that there are some that weren't so sure a couple months ago.

His most recent suspension came after he became disruptive and was asked to leave an SEC-mandated life skills/leadership seminar in April. Garcia admitted to Spurrier that he’d been drinking prior to the event while celebrating a teammate’s birthday.

At the time, there were several associated with the program who felt Spurrier might send Garcia packing for good, especially considering how much Spurrier has publicly lamented Garcia’s lack of commitment and flimsy work ethic the past two years.

Some thought Garcia might be done? Really? Spurrier's 28 year old quarterback could take a dump on Jesse Palmer's frosted tips and he'd still start the first game against East Carolina. He could call Danny Wuerffel a dumbass peckerwood to the ol' ball coach's face and he'd still be introduced as Carolina's starting QB 'tween the hedges September 10th.


I don't know who these several associated with the program are, but they need to wake the hell up. Steve Spurrier has some moobs and he's always ready to win at all costs.

Big John is pissed!!

h/t ecdawg

As the academic rumor mill churned last week, John Jenkins found himself at the center of speculation as to whether he would even be in Athens much less challenge Kwame Geathers at nose tackle. In an effort to find the source of the rumor, I used my cellular device to call the old ball coach on the golf course...

Moob over Garcia. You're sittin'
on my Banquets.

"Heywho'sthis?!?...oh, that Bernie fella. No, there's no truth to it. I was just sick of hearing about my drunk nekkid quarterback. Thought I'd shine the spotlight some where else." 

Then with a little chuckle..."And HEY! It worked, for a little while at least. Kinda like that draw play we'd run back in '96 when Wuerffel was there. We'd hand that thing to Fred Taylor..."

The rest trailed off as I hung up. Besides, I could tell the Visor was well into his case of Banquet Beer. But I share all that because Chip Towers has gone directly to the source (why didn't I think of that?) and spoken to Jenkins and his coach. The bottomline is that Jenkins is in no academic trouble or turmoil. He didn't stop going to classes and isn't going to fail out of school before he even sends his first dinner picture to Coach T.


He's good. No problems. However, September 10th 'tween the hedges...you might not wanna be standing between him and the Carolina quarterback. I hear Big John likes chicken almost as much as totin' his backpack full of #2 pencils to class. And after reading this he's probably gonna be mighty pissed at the gamechickens.


Say it with me Reader, State Trooper Fist Bump! GATA!

Spurrier speaks on Garcia's "winning"

h/t Leftover HotDog

That both says nothing...and everything all at the same time.

Stephen Garcia, batting a very cool .600

Couple weeks ago I wondered if I was starting to respect Stephen Garcia a little too much. And now that we know his pre-Chick-Fil-A Bowl hotel party was indeed a reinactment of a Penthouse forum letter that Steve Tanneyhill wrote back in 1993, I will only restate that I simply no longer believe him to be a total douchebag. 

Sources told ESPN.com that Garcia's latest suspension stems from a curfew violation at the team hotel in Atlanta the week of South Carolina's 26-17 loss to Florida State last season in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

The incident occurred a few nights before the game, and Spurrier considered at the time suspending Garcia for a portion of the bowl game. But backup quarterback Connor Shaw was ill and running a fever, and the Gamecocks weren't sure he would be able to play.

Following the script, it seems the ol' BC feels even less of his starting QB, if that were possible.

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has suspended senior quarterback Stephen Garcia for the first week of spring practice.

The Gamecocks opened spring practice Tuesday, and Garcia was not present. Spurrier confirmed Garcia's suspension after practice Tuesday. Reserve quarterback Andrew Clifford has also been suspended for the first part of spring practice. Spurrier said both players should be back next week.

"This was something that happened earlier that we're finally getting around to handling," Spurrier said. "[Garcia's] actually been pretty good this semester. This is something that happened in the past. We just got around to handling it. It's just a violation of team rules. He'll be back next week to answer all [the media's] questions." 

Garcia's fifth spring in Chickumbia and this is the third time he's been suspended for part of it.  Tanneyhill never came close to those kind of numbers.

Ol' Ball Coach loses Beamer

Just hours after getting the signature of the nation's number one player, Spurrier and South Carolina announced that Shane Beamer will be leaving Columbia to join his father at Virginia Tech.

Shane Beamer, who played a key role in elevating South Carolina's recruiting over the past three years, is leaving the Gamecocks' staff to join his father, Frank Beamer, at Virginia Tech.

The younger Beamer had served as the Gamecocks' recruiting coordinator since the conclusion of the 2008 season. He'd also coached safeties, Spur linebackers, cornerbacks, outside linebackers and special teams at different points during his four seasons in Columbia. At Virginia Tech, he will coach running backs.

"I'm extremely excited about the opportunity to return to Virginia Tech," said Beamer, who was the Hokies' long snapper when he played for his father. "I've been gone 11 years and during that time I've been around a number of great coaches and great programs and had the opportunity to learn a lot. Now, I look forward to returning to Blacksburg and helping Virginia Tech continue to win championships."

Spurrier said his emphasis in replacing Beamer will be finding the best special teams coach he can find. 

Coach Spurrier...look no further than Mr. Jon Fabris. Trust us on this one.

Monday's Meatloaf - This is the Sound a Fan Makes When He Vomits

On the 8th day, God created Cammy Cam... - Cecil Newton, Holy Zion Center of Revulsion

And it was a little too sweet. - Tracy Wolfson

When it's not my team out there I always at least attempt to view the events on the field through my what if it was my team that sold its soul for this championship glasses. Maybe you have a pair as well. And luckily Saturday night we had a little shin-dig that kept me otherwise occupied for most of the SECCG. But as the game wore on and the adoration for all things Cameron reached St. Tebow proportions, I tried to put myself in the shoes of the CBS producer who had to teeter between a game that was eternally boring and the circus that was the Abuurn sideline.

I paid that kid how much for this?

I love college football, but thank goodness for remote controls and satellite signals. I mean, I thought having to choose a side between the cheatin' barners and the lousy lamecocks was going to be the hard part to stomach. But Wolfson swallowing Cam's concoction while he jumped up and down and made out with Trooper was the icing on the crapcake.

I just hope Slive got everything he bargained for.


Today's Ingredients

• The Senator thinks Wolfson missed an opportunity to audition for a cameo role on CSI: Plainsmen.
• Of course, it's official now...we're Liberty Bowl bound! Memphis, Beale Street...George O'Leary's typerwriter.
• Big Muddy is ready to turn Memphis into a football town. If you want to join him, here's the official bowl website and here's the UGA ticket home page.
• If you're having trouble getting excited about Memphis, or Central Florida...Lugnut runs down the matchup and the bowl with an early preview.
• And Coach Magill remembers the previous visits to the Liberty Bowl.
• Chris Low has the SEC Bowl schedule. 
• Meanwhile some of the bowl names have Dawgola Tesla a little sick to his stomach.
• Congrats to Abuurn! They are not only heading to the BCS Wonderland, they also catapulted the nearly idle Ducks in the poll. 
• In related news, The Anti-Orange Page has a Holy Zion Center of Deliverance update (link corrected).
• And Lucid Idiocy is just confused by more War Tiglesmen antics.
• But if nothing else, Awwbarn's greatest contribution to college football this season will always be allowing us to see the Visor opt for a field goal attempt when down by 35. Awesome!
• Colorado's new coach is John Embree, Redskins' TE coach.
• There's a reason tailgaters aren't starting quarterbacks. Leave it to a bunch of Pac-Ten puppies to bring a pigskin to a knife fight.
• DaugMan has an update on former Dawg hoopster Troy Brewer.
• And a big shout-out to my 6 year old, who got up Saturday and adorned herself in red and black then found me to ask: Daddy...what time does Georgia play today?

Normally, my heart would've sunk to a new low. But this season was so exasperating, I could only look at her and thankfully tell her that it would be a few weeks. 

While some of the surprise has faded from the Joe Tereshinki appointment, Rex weighs in on the decision with a first hand endorsement. I'll admit to being more than a little shocked to hear of the S & C change. But I'm certainly not fretting over it like many others are. From reading Coach T's comments to the media I think we're going to get accountability and responsibility in the weight room.

“The whole culture that we’re going with is we’re going to prepare this team for the fourth quarter. Georgia used to be known that in the fourth quarter they won. That’s what’s going to be the culture. We’re going to press and challenge these kids every day to overcome.”

And that's been the greatest eyesore from my seat this season. So many games were lost in the final 15 minutes when we couldn't seem to muster the energy to play half of it. I'm sure we'll hear lots of positives of about the changes in the off-season. We always do. But we'll know in the Dome against Boise if the change is gonna provide results.

I expect it to. Just as I expect this Monday to cower in my supremacy's shadow. Here's your fork Reader. You have a good one too.

Bernie

Monday's Laborious and Somewhat Sour Meatloaf

Happy Labor Day to you and yours Reader. Some big bites today, so we're using the everyday china in lieu of of styrofoam. You just can't get ready for Chickumbia with disposable goods.

courtesy David Manning

You know how when you pour a tall glass of sweet tea on a hot summer day? The ice crackles a bit as the brewed sugary goodness cascades over the cubes and fills the glass from the bottom to the top. A full 16 ounces of liquid refreshment that is just as eager to satisfy you and you are eager to gulp!

That's the feeling coming away from Saturday's effort. The entire team seemed eager to thrill, played with an ardent desire to do bodily harm and refused to remove their cleat from a lesser opponent's throat lest the cleat marks fade away too soon.

And as satisfying as that was, there's still a sour taste. Yes, this tea was left out too long and soured a touch. AJ Green's stats are nil. His silver britches were practice shorts. As much as I want to bark from my rooftop, I can't get past this. I'm sour myself. Bitter.

And in times like these I always find it wise to focus on that which we can control. I've seen some people refer to AJ as suspended. He was lumped into a category with Tavarres King and Washaun Ealey by numerous people who wear red and black. They even made such an egregious error on the post game call in show.

Some California fruits and nuts entertainment site and the NCAA have done enough to sully AJs good name. Let's not add to that within our own ranks.

Today's Ingredients

courtesy David Manning

• Lotssa reactions to Saturday, let's start with Cousin Walter over at Football on the Brain who saw some things he didn't see last year.
• Exile runs down the good, the bad...but runs short on the ugly.
• Lucid Idiocy wonders who holds the NCAA accountable for their actions. You beat guys...y'all been doing that, right? Cuz we have.
• Herschel Blogger was just as unimpressed as I was in Tebow 2.0.
• Former Dawg Ben Dukes enjoyed the taste, but is ready for SEC football.
• Aaron Murray's goal was to have fun, and he did on Saturday.
• Forget cocks, Spurrier has Grantham envy. 
• Carvell says Hutson Mason and USC (the other one) are changing GAs rep for QB talent.
• New to the Dawg beat, Gentry Estes runs down the eligibility uncertainties in the SEC opener.
• No, I didn't chuckle at the post-game caller who criticized Grantham for the post defensive lapse (notice, singular...) tirade. But you can count me among those in this category.
• "I saw guys running to the ball, I saw guys playing physical. I think overall it was a solid performance." My...what Rennie Curran coulda done under Coach Grantham.
• I didn't expect Drew Butler to actually get better in the off season. But he may have done just that. As Hamp explained to me, it's like a howitzer. A perfect, LONG shot off the foot that is always on target. Here's his other impressions from Saturday.
• In regards to Murray Saturday, perhaps the Senator put it best: Murray is going to have to think about what Ellis Johnson will throw at him, but it’s not as if he didn’t give Johnson a few things to think about from yesterday’s game, either.  He’s got a live arm, even if it isn’t Staffordesque, and he’s mobile enough that South Carolina is going to have to stay focused on containment with its pass rush...
• Simmons catches up with Carver's Isaiah Crowell after a dramatic win Friday night over Buford.
• Raise your hand if you're surprised Les Miles could be outcoached by Butch Davis who couldn't even fill his own three deep? No one?....no one? Me either. Always good to get a W, even if you have to steal it I guess.
• Lastly, really...what's the difference in me buying a 6pack of PBR tallboys Saturday morning at 6:30am and 7:01am? With all these early kicks, the only person I feel more sorry for than myself was the little check out girl at Kroger that has to explain this silly GA law over and over again on Saturday mornings.

If there's a silver-britched lining to the NCAA/AJ mess, it's that he should be cleared in time for Saturday's SEC opener. And if so, I'm sure he'll be especially hungry for catches, yards and points.

On a happier note, it was really nice to get back to Athens this weekend. I hope you were able to as well Reader. And as a result, I'd like to give some tailgate shout-outs to wrap-up this end of the main course.


First of all, Nama. The only thing he does better than tailgating is vlawg'n. He'll have video evidence of how badly my cornholin' training camp was later this week. Chuck...for kicking Cord out of his car...otherwise I wouldn't have been subjected to a 45 minute TCU-OSU preview at 7am. Awesome.


Donna from Dacula. Yet another great Cedar Shoals graduate. Chuck from Milledgeville and the Wrangler for having a great Dawg tailor. Cohen, for his great taste in beer and his mom for her quick hands. Cord for the duck sausage...if that ain't cajun, I don't know what is. And Tanner and the Wrangler for the cornhole lessons. I can't remember the last time y'all lost.


For the rest of you, it's chicken week. Shove a beer can up it's ass nether region and let's GATA!




Bernie

Monday's Meatloaf - Summer's Over, Let's Fall In

So we're down to one hand Reader; just five solitary days until it's finally here. But it's not all smiles and giggles. No, we have our own responsibilities too. The team needs our hearts, our barks and our commitment.

Honey-do lists are a heap of ashes on the back burner. Golf clubs a side item awaiting a spare moment. The lawn gets mowed on a weekday until next spring. Football is here. Beer is even colder. Welcome, unfold your chair.

Tailgate tales are full of legendary heroics from fans.  The one I'd like to inspire you with today exemplifies fan commitment. Back in August of 2000 Nama dunked on a former AAU player at the local YMCA, but as he returned to Earth his knee ligaments became tissue shrapnel. Surgery was needed but would've meant sitting out the season. I love the guy, but I'm not carrying an extra 2+ bills from the tailgate to Sanford Stadium each home game.

Instead, Nama put the doctor on hold, waited until the Monday after Jacksonville to go under the knife, recouped during a bye week and an away game on the plains, then returned to Glory, Glory and used his crutches to signal touchdowns as the Dawgs pounded the Rebels 32-14. Nama's heroics weren't enough to save Donnan's job...but it was one for the UGA Fandom Record Books.

Nama knows where his seat is. His bark measures up to his bite. The rest of us have just a short time to fall in line.

Today's Ingredients

• This weekend kicked my butt. I'm very glad Cord HamDog only turns 40 once. As Zach Galifianakis would say, I think I African-American'd out.
• With the Ealey suspension, the 3-4 offense will not be unveiled until Chickumbia at the earliest. But the 3-4 defense is primed and ready for Saturday.
• One guy who has completed his 2010 predictions is Mackie. 
• BullDawg Josh gave us Terry Hoage in the B'nE countdown yesterday.
• Exile projects out the Dawgs' tv schedule.
• Hamp's back, and gives us a run down of what to expect from Aaron Murray.
• Ton of stuff in the ABHs football preview. I particularly enjoyed Clarkson's piece on Clint Boling.
• Carvell posted a video of Dawg recruit Jay Rome. No highlights, but you can get to know him a little better.
• Speaking of recruiting, Friday Night Lights have been lit! And Scott and Martin Van Dawgin each took in a future Dawg's performance. Hedges has a wrap-up of Sterling Bailey's performance for East Hall and Stuff of Legend has North Paulding's Chris Conley covered. Not an easy task.
• Also from Hedges, Dawgola Tesla had the privilege of attending Saturday morning's practice.
• Akeem Dent's nearly ready to put a dent in opposing running backs.
• Much of my hangup on the direction this season takes rides on the contest in Chickumbia. Where else right? The Senator points out my one thread of optimism in the season's second game: Spurrier's choice between a true freshman QB against Coach Grantham's aggressive defense, OR...a junior QB still searching for an identity and drowning in The Visor's sea of turbulence. I'll take a little of both, and let it ride.
• Speaking of the head chicken, he ain't skeer'd of playing potentially pro players.
• Surrounded by green hornets, Rex remembered an important motto, a mantra of his 1980 team.
• Lastly, I've seen some crazy things happen on a golf course. But I've never had to let a Cessna twosome play through.

Lemme come clean. And while I'm at it, I should also apologize. 

I typed a couple weeks ago that I would have a season preview out, and I failed to live up to it. It's not because I slacked off. Honest. I just can't help but be torn. I feel like the little kid on the edge of a swimming pool's diving board for the first time. I desperately want the thrill of jumping into the cool depths of refreshment, but I'm also afraid to take the leap.

I'm typically a homer, and think the Dawgs win every game. But last season that didn't work out too well. This season I can honestly see the team heading into Atlanta in December sporting one single loss. The hesitations of a redshirt freshman QB seemingly laughable. The cautiousness of accepting Grantham's 3-4 ludicrous in retrospect. 

On the other hand...this could also be a 4 or 5 loss team, riddled with injuries and struggling to accept an identity. I can see them limping through September, then gain some momentum before stumbling through the season's midpoint. 

So I'm sorry. I should've just stuck with a thought process and not talked myself out of it. August is no time for indecision dammit! Toe meets leather in 5. So long La-Z-Boy Saturdays, hello tailgate chair heroics. I'll post my prognostications on Wednesday.

For now though, enjoy the lunch Reader. Here's an extra napkin.

Bernie

Cocks' Saunders Suspended, QBs Remain in Tight Battle

Weslye Saunders has been suspended indefinitely from the South Carolina football team, according to multiple reports. From what I gather there are also some untruths floating out there as to what took place at yesterday's practice and I certainly don't have a source inside Chickumbia. But stick close to Travis Haney on this one is my best advice. 

Normally this wouldn't jolt the interest meter too much. But this smells different than the usual Spurrier suspension song and dance of indefinite suspension during August only to have his offensive weapon suit up against us. I could certainly be wrong. We'll see.

We should continue to follow this one closely. Why? Because Saunders is the type of player that could make our brand new 3-4 defense fail its very first test.

In other news, The Visor has his QBs in an all too familiar position. It's looking more and more like Coach Grantham's charges will be up against a duo of signal callers when SEC play opens in two and a half weeks. Connor Shaw had another good scrimmage Saturday, outplaying incumbent car keyer starter Stephen Garcia.

I don't expect either QB to distance themselves from the other in what's left of camp. And a Thursday night game against Southern Miss isn't likely to tilt the depth chart either. So the ol' Ball Coach may still be in a quandary as to who his best option is under center when the Dawgs come barkin'.

And that certainly brings back memories.

Homeless Cocks Distracted...Disrupted

Party's over. Now get out!

On Thursday, South Crackalacky had a few more players, including two or three starters according to DC Ellis Johnson, move out of the Whitney hotel.

The Visor is taking things in stride considering his players' recent homelessness:

But all of our guys are going to pay their bill and hopefully go live somewhere else. That's what we hope happens — that they pay their bills up and go live somewhere else. That's about all I can say about it.

But Johnson seemed perturbed:

Distractions, disruptions, distractions, disruptions. You know, girlfriends are distractions. Classes are distractions. Everything's a distraction. We've got to learn how to grow up and get past that, and focus when it's time to focus.

Sounds like Johnson and I had the same Biology 101 class...twice.

In other Chickumbia news, Spurrier also said that he expects potentially pro TE Weslye Saunders (a central figure in WhitneyGate) to play in the opener September 2nd as the investigation and possible rulings should be done by then. And he also said freshman Connor Shaw will play in the opener as he has outplayed junior Stephen Garcia. Shaw started Thursday's scrimmage with the first team offense.

No word on if Garcia's just been distracted...by packing boxes...or parked cars...or girlfriends.

Saunders and the Suite Life

You remember last September when South Carolina's Weslye Saunders nearly single-handedly beat the Dawgs? It was such an incredible performance, he evidently decided he deserved some perks.

Tight end Weslye Saunders, who has been the focus of the NCAA’s investigation of USC, is one of at least three players with rooms at the Whitney... 

What's the Whitney you ask?

According to the hotel website, nightly rates range from $93 to $154 for a two-bedroom suite. A hotel employee said extended-stay rates are available, including a $57-a-night rate for one- or two-bedroom reservations of three months or longer. The $57 rate would equate to a monthly bill of about $1,710, or $855 if split between two people.

Now, South Crackalacky has a $500/month stipend for players who live off campus. So as long as Saunders could foot the remaining $355...he could sit in the lap of luxury. Chicken ranchers just better hope he kept the receipts (h/t Matt Hinton). Saunders is a huge part of the lamecocks' offense. But I wonder how thrilled the ol' Ball Coach would be at risking playing a potentially ineligible player if the investigation lingers...

Does Garcia Read Frost?

A couple weeks ago we wondered how much criticism Stephen Garcia's pysche could withstand. Now Scott Hood of GamecockCentral sees the added pressure from the Head Cock as a way for the QB to get on the right path.

Granted, Hood acknowledges that there is much reason to wonder if this will be a turning point season for Garcia. The main reason may be the lack of competition he's seen in recent years.

Really, when was the last time Garcia truly had to battle for his job as a starting quarterback? Not at USC. He redshirted in 2007 and entered 2008 not expecting to play that much. He ended up starting three games because Tommy Beecher fizzled out and Chris Smelley struggled in key spots.

In the wake of the transfers by Beecher and Smelley, even Spurrier acknowledged Garcia didn't face serious competition from his cohorts in 2009 and was the only QB prepared to play - the principal reason he took almost every snap - a first for Spurrier in his head coaching career.

And as Hood points out, the competition is only going to get more rigorous as Shaw ages in the system and with the athletic Martay Mattox set to come onboard in Garcia's senior year. 

Any SEC fan knows this is all an old play from Spurrier's manual. And while the Grossmans, Wuerrfels and even the Palmers eventually chose the road more traveled and has their day in the sun, do we know how well read Garcia is? More precisely, will he diverge from the Visor's Express Lane?