The Garnet Road
Any Gamecock fan will tell you that 2010 was the most victorious athletic year in the history of USC, especially for football. From the outside, this may be a little confusing, considering the Gamecocks came out of both post-season games empty handed, and they were not able to get the rare 10th win for the season. To fully grasp the overall significance of what may seem like just an above-average season, one must fully understand the plight through which Gamecock Nation has long persevered.
2010 – A SEASON OF FIRSTS
When all of Gamecock Nation awoke on the morning of September 2, 2010, the first gameday of the season, they found themselves in a much more colorful world, a world where anything was possible. It was going to be a long and difficult journey, but they were much more hopeful now than they had ever been in the past.
2010 was a season of “firsts” for South Carolina Football, and it was my first season on the field with the Gamecocks.
The season started off explosively. Before the season opener against Southern Mississippi, the last time Gamecocks fans saw the boys take the field, veteran QB Stephen Garcia led his team to a cold, embarrassing defeat against UCONN in the Papa John’s Bowl. Regardless, the Carolina faithful showed up in mass numbers and with high expectations, like they were the defending National Champions. Fortunately, so did the team. The Gamecocks put up an unusually high 41 points against Southern Mississippi. It was impossible not to get excited about the new star running back, Marcus Lattimore, who ran in 2 TDs, and right over everybody’s expectations.
One week later, the Gamecocks turned the heads of even the most skeptical critics with their painless and decisive victory over Georgia. The Ol’ Ball Coach had scrapped his typical pass attack, and built a very successful and explosive run game. The Bulldogs never saw it coming. Marcus Lattimore, in what was only his second college football game ever, had 37 carries for 182 yards, and 2 rushing touchdowns, the second of which was a 2-yarder that he ran in while carrying three defenders on his back. The Gamecocks outgained the Bulldogs by 100 yards, and Georgia was not even able to score a touchdown.
WHO SAYS WE CAN’T GO DOME??
December 4, 2010 – SEC Championship Game – Atlanta, GA
It was the Gamecocks’ first appearance in the Dome for the SECCG, and it was much anticipated. USC was playing for their first SEC Title in school history, but Auburn was playing for much more. In hindsight, there was no way Cam Newton and the Auburn Tigers were going to lose this game, and give up their chance to play for the National Championship. It seemed like the Gamecocks were going to be able to keep it a close game. They answered Auburn’s first TD with a TD on their next possession. Late in the 2nd, the Gamecocks were down 21-7, and they knew they had to score again before halftime to stay in the game. Using five different receivers , the Gamecocks had an 80-yard drive that resulted in an Alshon Jeffery TD to cut their deficit to 7 with 12 seconds left in the half. I had already started walking towards the tunnel for halftime when it happened. Cam Newton’s 51-yard Hail Mary pass was caught by Darvin Adams for a TD. Everything was downhill from that point forward. I will never forget this look on Coach Beamer’s face, and I can’t even imagine what was said in the locker room during halftime. I have heard many analysts say there is no such thing as momentum, that after you do something good, you just have to get back out there and do it again. I don’t believe that. I think a downward momentum can be stronger than human will, like quick sand.
For me, it was the first time I realized that some battles can’t be won just with positive thinking and sheer force of will. I had been saying the whole week that this battle would be won by the team that wanted it the most, and maybe that is still true. Maybe the Tigers did want it more since they knew it would lead them to so much more, but something tells me that Auburn just had the better team in 2010, and it was just their fate to be National Champions. Either way, it was a great experience, and I don’t think any of the Gamecocks regret being part of it.
This was also the first time I had to do locker room interviews after the game. I felt terrible asking any of them questions about such a huge loss, so I tried to give my questions a positive spin. I asked Patrick DiMarco, Spencer Lanning, and Stephen Garcia the same initial question, “is there anything positive you guys can take from this game?” Patrick and Spencer both had great answers about going over the mistakes they made, and hopefully learning from them in preparation for a bowl game. Stephen Garcia’s response was “No. Just no.”
BOWL GAME RICOCKULOUSNESS
December 31, 2010 – Chick-Fil-A Bowl – Atlanta, GA
This was the first time the Gamecocks played in the Bowl formerly known as the Peach Bowl, since 1969 when South Carolina won its first and only Conference Championship, in the ACC. Compared to the Papa John’s Bowl, this was like a trip to paradise. Bowl games are always fun because fans get to see the guys just be human for a few days, and it is just a very chill environment. Players, coaches, families and media were treated like royalty all week, and everybody had a great time. Chick-Fil-A did a fantastic job with this bowl. Everything was organized down to the second, the activities were fun and entertaining, they had amazing players’ lounges and media suites, and the best part was everything was catered with Chick-Fil-A. We even got to try the Spicy Chicken Biscuit before it was officially released, which by the way is amazing.
The game itself was not at all representative of the season, although it did slightly resemble the Kentucky game. Florida State knew just how to beat the Gamecocks, they took out Marcus Lattimore. From that point on, it was all defense for the Gamecocks. They were outstanding.
Probably my favorite photo all season, that is CB Brandan Davis and Special Teams Coach Shane Beamer with a mini celebration of awesomeness, after Brandan and Quin Smith forced a FSU fumble on a kickoff return.
This was the best pass defense the Gamecocks played all season. Unfortunately, it was probably the worst offense they played all season. The Gamecocks had 5 turnovers, and it cost them the game.
In the long run, losing the game did not matter all that much for the future of the team. The unfortunate side effect to losing this game is that analysts are now ranking FSU annoyingly high, and think they actually have a shot at a National Title.
In the post game press conference, Spurrier was asked if the team would be even better next year, and Spurrier said to ask him again in February. Well, it is now February, and Spurrier got all but one recruit they wanted, including Jadeveon Clowney.
This was the best year ever for Gamecock football, and fans must not forget that South Carolina plays in the best and toughest conference is the country. It takes time to build an empire, and the Gamecocks are well on their way to doing that. It is almost better that the Gamecocks did not win the SEC Championship. Not just because it allowed Auburn to win the 5th consecutive National Title for the SEC, but also because I strongly believe that when the Gamecocks do win the conference, they will go all the way. This year was just the beginning.
Although Atlanta was not kind to the Gamecocks this year, this story is far from over, they will be back because…well, there’s no place like dome.
Comment