Norwood returns for senior year

After declaring for the NFL Draft immediately after South Carolina's 31-10 bowl loss Jan. 1, junior linebacker Eric Norwood has decided to come back and finish his college career at USC.

Norwood, who the NFL's Early Draft Advisory Committee projected as a 4th-7th rounder, will return as the Gamecocks top defensive player. Norwood said his situation is similar to Wake Forest's Aaron Curry. Curry came back for his senior season and is now expected to be taken in the Top 5 in this year's draft after being named the nation's top linebacker.

Signing Day Countdown: UNCP and SCAR

I hope readers of my blog didn’t think I gave up on my 7-6 Steve Spurrier-led Gamecocks . . .

What’s done is done for 2008 season. As disappointing as it may have been, it’s time to shed light on a few positives we have to look forward to for next year and beyond.

South Carolina Gamecocks

As Captain Munnerlyn, Eric Norwood, Jasper Brinkley, Jared Cook and Emmanuel Cook played their last games for the Garnet and Black on Jan. 1st in Tampa, a few soon-to-be USC standouts watched from workouts at the Under Armour All-America Game in Orlando.

As it stands according to ESPNU Recruiting, South Carolina has five players in the Top 90, headlined by South Point High stars Devonte Holloman and Stephon Gilmore. Both are expected to compete for playing time at the safety positions alongside returners Chris Culliver and Darian Stewart. I’d like to see Gilmore put at the Spur position in Ellis Johnson’s 3-3-5 look.

Both Holloman and Gilmore played fantastic in last night’s all-star game. Holloman collected three tackles and a pass deflection while Gilmore made a diving interception in the north endzone in the third quarter. Safety Damario Jeffrey for the Gamecocks also got an invitation, but was in street clothes on the sidelines due to injury.

The Gamecocks are set to have a Top 10 class it looks like, if all 25 high school senior commits indeed sign the dotted line in February. ESPNU’s No. 2 all-purpose player, Jarvis Giles from Tampa, Fla., is enrolling at South Carolina this week and will certainly challenge RBs Eric Baker and Bryan Maddox for the starting nod next season.

Giles wasn’t much of a factor in the UA game, tallying six carries for 12 yards unofficially. Giles’ squad lost to Holloman and Gilmore 27-16. He chose the Gamecocks over offers from Tennessee and Nebraska.


UNC-Pembroke Braves

ATTN: Fayetteville State, you’ve been warned. Division-II’s newest college football rivalry won’t kickoff till September, but UNCP has staked its claim as the new recruiting behemoth in the I-95 rivalry. Pete Shinnick and the Braves are expected to reload this offseason with much talent if everything goes according to plan on signing day. Following a 9-1 record and NCAA Independents coach-of-the-year accolades in 2008, Shinnick has the Braves geared up for a possible postseason berth in 2009 with nearly every starter returning on both sides of the ball.

Last season’s diamond in the rough, Jamal Williams, saw extensive action on offense and special teams for the Braves and accounted for nine total touchdowns. I’ll call him the Devin Hester of Pembroke if I may. At 5’6, Williams darted his way through defenses and averaged nearly 30 yards-per-touch as a return threat.

Wonder who this year’s Jamal Williams will be?

A New Year's Day Blooming Onion

The Outback Bowl it is for South Carolina.

But didn't we know this about a month ago? Oh well, the Iowa Hawkeyes and Gamecocks will go to battle at 11am in Tampa, Jan. 1st 2009.

Palmetto State Rivalry Renewed Nov. 29

No need to circle this game on calendars in August for football fans in the state of South Carolina. Throw out the records, throw out the stats. Just call it the Palmetto War.

In recent memory, this matchup has been one-sided. In 2005, Clemson's Charlie Whitehurst became the only QB in the rivalry to win all four games in a career. Since 2002, South Carolina has beaten the Tigers once, an unforgettable win in Death Valley in 2006.

Gamecocks fans will never forget Jad Dean's FG miss that season in USC's slim 31-28 win. Saturday will mark the Gamecocks return trip to Howard Rock and hopefully second consecutive victory on the road vs. the Tigers.

WHAT's AT STAKE, BRAGGIN RIGHTS

Clemson - A win makes the Tigers bowl eligible. Clemson has won three in a row for head coach Dabo Swinney and a win against the Gamecocks may give Swinney the head coaching job for next season.

South Carolina - Eight wins and a New Year's Day bowl. Steve Spurrier is 1-2 against Clemson in his first three years as the Gamecocks' head coach and South Carolina would love to shake off the Florida loss with a win at Clemson.

KEY FOR A GAMECOCKS WIN

Turnovers. Turnovers. Turnovers. Oh, and Mike Davis. If South Carolina can show some balance on offense and throw it around without interceptions, the Gamecocks could roll over the Tigers. But we all know that's not the case with a senior back averaging 3 yards a carry and a sophomore QB (Smelley) that has a habit of throwing it to the wrong team.

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH

One of the nation's most underrated rivalries (insert Brawl in 2004) will almost certainly be a game coming down to the wire. Between your leftover turkey and glass of sweet tea, check out the Gamecocks and Tigers in Death Valley.


CJ Spiller, pictured, will be Clemson's main weapon against the Garnet and Black defese. Can the Gamecocks stop the 1-2 punch and speed of Spiller and senior James Davis? It'll be a dog fight in the trenches.

WHO WILL WIN

Based on history, Clemson wins this game. Based on recent ineptitude on offense for USC, Clemson wins this game. Based on a gut feeling and SOS's record in Death Valley, I'm going with the Gamecocks 23-20.

Outback or Chick-Fil-A Destiny

I'm going to say one thing about Saturday's 56-6 loss to Florida as I try to forget that I watched it. That 50-point defeat just set our program back about 10 years. Here I am thinking the Gamecocks may have turned the corner and all that loss proves is that we are the same middle of the road team as advertised. The loss even sparked rumors of SOS's retirement. Can you blame him? Comments anyone?

Onto the big game in two weeks. The Clemson game. Is an underachieving 5-6 Clemson squad going to ruin another USC season? I sure hope not. A win in Death Valley assures us of an Outback bowl berth vs. Michigan State, Iowa or Northwestern. A loss, means the Chick-Fil-A bowl in Atlanta against possibly, North Carolina. For USC's sake, we need to beat Clemson and then get to 9-4 in Tampa. After the poor showing against Florida though, I doubt I'll be paying money to see the Gamecocks play on 12/31 or New Year's Day.

Next season's football recruiting class looks good . . . on defense (Holloman's recent verbal). While we have a talented, fast D, Spurrier needs to recruit some offense now. We have ZERO weapons on offense and both quarterbacks can't play any worse. I myself can not wait till Mike Davis graduates. Anyone in agreeance?

Hey the Gamecocks' basketball team is 2-0 and faces USC Upstate on Saturday. Hopefully I can make the game against College of Charleston next Friday night Charleston, if I go back home for Thanksgiving. The emergence of C Mike Holmes has really helped the Gamecocks in the early going.

Reservations to Florida? Let's go Bowling!

I know there are a few Gamecocks fans out there reading this blog and this one's for you. Here we are going into the Arkansas weekend with a 6-3 record and an EXCELLENT shot at a New Year's Day Bowl in Florida.

It looks like USC will have to beat Arkansas and Clemson to play in the Capitol One Bowl in Orlando. On the other hand, a win against Arkansas this weekend almost assures the Gamecocks of a spot in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, a bowl we're getting accustomed to (remember the back-to-back Ohio State wins?) If we win this week, start eyeing hotels in the Sunshine State.

As it stands, USC wins on Saturday over Arkansas 24-14.

In ACC action, the Georgia Tech/UNC game in Chapel Hill this weekend may decide a representative in the ACC Championship Game Dec. 1 in Tampa. Who would've thought in Butch Davis' second year that he could've have pushed the Heels to the conference title game?

Gamecocks 6-3, Braves improve to 8-1

Breathe easy Gamecocks fans, Stephen Garcia's knee is OK.

Just a deep knee bruise according to Spurrier, but Jean Pierre looks to be done for the season with his knee injury.

USC beats Tennessee 27-6 and UNCP wins 57-0 over Concord. Great day for college football.