Columbia, SC VQ on site reporter...
The other day there was a post about SC jr. being a trap game, and it is. Even though we will be coming off a bye week it will be after a murderer's row in our schedule. What we do during that time is crucial to our success. Fail and all expectations may be shot, even though Butch is good at keeping the team motivated after thought losses, witness last year.
We win and are on top of the world. right now it is impossible for us to know the mentality of the team but remember we were the trap game for the Cocks a couple of years ago. They were on their way to the SEC east title, and rolling. But during game week national honors started coming their way, especially to Connor Shaw. There is no doubt in my mind that those factored into our victory. Not to take anything away from our Vols, but we needed some help, and they gave it to us by not taking us seriously.
Now the tables are reversed. Spurrier left the program in a shambles and we are the team with the athletes and experience. To beat Tennessee would make their season, regardless of how their season plays out. Having to live with these braggarts who have nothing to brag about, I always worry about this game, regardless of the circumstances.
Now on to Muschamp, Coach Boom to the faithful. He was not a popular choice by any stretch and down the list as others looked at the program and backed off. For outsiders, the tirades from the sideline are what we think of him. And, his record at UF. But a close look at UF shows he did clean up a mess and he did have major injuries to key players. Not trying to defend the guy--I DO NOT LIKE HIM, and will never forgive his remarks after the game at Neyland.
Having said that, there is certainly another side to the guy when you see and hear him every day. The media here is not so much homer as just plain soft so it is easy for him to the soft ball questions and make himself look good. But he has pretty much made all the right moves since his arrival and has turned the fan base around. He can be funny, engaging, and if you did not know his darker side even charming. Now, don't give me any grief but he understands PR and while not Butch, has really got them crowing again.
The cocks are going to be short handed just about everywhere, with little to no depth and inexperienced at most positions. Even many of their returning starters were bad last year so if and how they improve is big ?. The State newspaper has been running articles about how beastly some of the incoming frosh and returning players are but in reality the frosh were not highly recruited by other SEC teams and Clemson did not offer or did not push for them. Some were real head scratchers, and these guys are going to be counted on. It is much like Butch when he arrived. The main difference is Butch recruited better so SC has to rely on lesser players to make an impact. BTW, Orth will probably start against Vandy only because of his experience but look for Mcilwain, the frosh, to start against us. They will bring him on as fast as possible. The kid is good--athletic, good arm, good runner, and seems to be mature beyond his years. He is the future of any offensive success they may have. He appears to be the real deal.
If there is a major mistake that Muschamp has made it is probably that he started out early and often saying they would be contenders in the East. This may have excited the home boys but it also set unrealistic expectations. He has backed off that some of late but the aftermath is there. In a recent local poll, which was about as unscientific as it comes, something like 80% of fans (obviously it was taken in Columbia sports bars) felt that SC jr. would achieve more then UGA this season. I have no idea what that means--they will win more than the Dawgs? They will beat the Dawgs?
Games are not won with summer quotes and bravado but that is what is happening here. I only hope all those things go down the drain when Vandy beats them to open the season. I think it will happen too. Can't believe I will be pulling for the anchor boys.
Over and out from hot as hell Columbia.
The other day there was a post about SC jr. being a trap game, and it is. Even though we will be coming off a bye week it will be after a murderer's row in our schedule. What we do during that time is crucial to our success. Fail and all expectations may be shot, even though Butch is good at keeping the team motivated after thought losses, witness last year.
We win and are on top of the world. right now it is impossible for us to know the mentality of the team but remember we were the trap game for the Cocks a couple of years ago. They were on their way to the SEC east title, and rolling. But during game week national honors started coming their way, especially to Connor Shaw. There is no doubt in my mind that those factored into our victory. Not to take anything away from our Vols, but we needed some help, and they gave it to us by not taking us seriously.
Now the tables are reversed. Spurrier left the program in a shambles and we are the team with the athletes and experience. To beat Tennessee would make their season, regardless of how their season plays out. Having to live with these braggarts who have nothing to brag about, I always worry about this game, regardless of the circumstances.
Now on to Muschamp, Coach Boom to the faithful. He was not a popular choice by any stretch and down the list as others looked at the program and backed off. For outsiders, the tirades from the sideline are what we think of him. And, his record at UF. But a close look at UF shows he did clean up a mess and he did have major injuries to key players. Not trying to defend the guy--I DO NOT LIKE HIM, and will never forgive his remarks after the game at Neyland.
Having said that, there is certainly another side to the guy when you see and hear him every day. The media here is not so much homer as just plain soft so it is easy for him to the soft ball questions and make himself look good. But he has pretty much made all the right moves since his arrival and has turned the fan base around. He can be funny, engaging, and if you did not know his darker side even charming. Now, don't give me any grief but he understands PR and while not Butch, has really got them crowing again.
The cocks are going to be short handed just about everywhere, with little to no depth and inexperienced at most positions. Even many of their returning starters were bad last year so if and how they improve is big ?. The State newspaper has been running articles about how beastly some of the incoming frosh and returning players are but in reality the frosh were not highly recruited by other SEC teams and Clemson did not offer or did not push for them. Some were real head scratchers, and these guys are going to be counted on. It is much like Butch when he arrived. The main difference is Butch recruited better so SC has to rely on lesser players to make an impact. BTW, Orth will probably start against Vandy only because of his experience but look for Mcilwain, the frosh, to start against us. They will bring him on as fast as possible. The kid is good--athletic, good arm, good runner, and seems to be mature beyond his years. He is the future of any offensive success they may have. He appears to be the real deal.
If there is a major mistake that Muschamp has made it is probably that he started out early and often saying they would be contenders in the East. This may have excited the home boys but it also set unrealistic expectations. He has backed off that some of late but the aftermath is there. In a recent local poll, which was about as unscientific as it comes, something like 80% of fans (obviously it was taken in Columbia sports bars) felt that SC jr. would achieve more then UGA this season. I have no idea what that means--they will win more than the Dawgs? They will beat the Dawgs?
Games are not won with summer quotes and bravado but that is what is happening here. I only hope all those things go down the drain when Vandy beats them to open the season. I think it will happen too. Can't believe I will be pulling for the anchor boys.
Over and out from hot as hell Columbia.
