Congratulations to South Carolina

Submitted by Topher on

Michigan had more tradition and success before any of us was born than South Carolina has had up to this second. So I think it's an interesting experiment in perspective to consider their SEC East division-clinching win at the Swamp last night. 

While disclaiming that I'm not a southerner and thus have no dog in the fight, my hat is off to the Gamecocks. What's going on this season is uniquely special to that community - it could be once in a lifetime for them. It feels good to see it; I'm very excited for USC's team and fan base. Whatever happens down the stretch, they'll remember that win last night as one of the great ones in program history.

jcgold

November 14th, 2010 at 11:46 AM ^

Its nice to see one of the teams that have not made the SEC title game make it, e.g. not Florida.

They will have their hands full with Auburn.  For their sake, I hope we see the South Carolina we saw last night, and not the one we saw against Kentucky.

csam1490

November 14th, 2010 at 12:08 PM ^

Totally Agreed. I like it when hometown kids stay to help the local school achieve something it never has before - and it works out! I also like that its an attenuated dig at Holtz, Spurrier accomplishing something that Holtz never could at a place that seems institutionally disadvantaged.

SC Wolverine

November 14th, 2010 at 1:49 PM ^

They are probably going to get the #1 prospect out of this class -- Jadeveon Clowney from Rock Hill.  Living in South Carolina for the last three years, I have learned that they have pretty stout high school football.  If they are not going to come up to UM, it is nice to see them staying home.

Clarence Beeks

November 14th, 2010 at 2:20 PM ^

No doubt.  This is a state where if the best players "stay home" both Clemson and USC can have great success.  From everything I've seen here, Lattimore is a player who could forever change the USC program.  His decision to stay here (which, really, there wasn't any risk that he was going anywhere other than USC, no matter what Penn State and Auburn fans thought) is likely to result in many other homegrown kids considering USC more highly than they would have before, simply because they are going to be pretty good as long as he is there.  The big negative on this team has always been the QB play, but even that has turned the corner, recruiting-wise.  I would not be shocked to see this team be highly  competitive (like at national championship level at least two of the next three years).  So, with that in mind, the OP's assertion that this is likely to be a once in a lifetime experience for USC fans is probably pretty unlikely.  This is a team, and Lattimore is a player, to really look out for the next couple of years.

Jivas

November 14th, 2010 at 12:30 PM ^

Southern football fans could actually enjoy success beyond their historical level.  In two years if Spurrier falls back to 7-5 levels they'll be calling for his head and for a return to glory that never existed in the first place.

GoBlue007

November 14th, 2010 at 1:02 PM ^

SEC Football is a disgrace to collegiate athletics given their track-record.  Every conference has issues but they are both broader and more severe in the SEC.  They should merge with the Arena Football League and get out of the NCAA - they might even prefer it

SC Wolverine

November 14th, 2010 at 1:52 PM ^

I wrote a congratulation note to a USC grad friend, and his wrote back saying, "Yes, but Carolina will soon settle back into its habitual mediocrity whereas Michigan will soon rise back to its habitual dominance."  That was a nice vote of confidence from an outside source.