Live from the SEC title game, now a place for Gamecocks
If I knew words to the South Carolina fight song, I'd sing it now. (Photo by M. Bradley)
Not that I have anything against Auburn fans — like I always say, Auburn fans are the best in the world! — but I begin today’s live proceedings with a special shout-out to the folks in garnet and black.
South Carolina, you are here.
I didn’t think your team could make it. Lee Corso didn’t think your team could make it. I’m sure there were times — probably in 2007 and 2008 when he was losing to Vandy — when Steve Spurrier didn’t think his team could make it. But here I sit in Ye Olde Dome, and there it is down below: “Carolina” painted in one end zone. (If you don’t believe, photographic evidence is supplied above.)
Auburn has been here before — three times, winning once. Arkansas has made it twice. Mississippi State has even graced this game, but until today the SEC East has always been represented by Florida, Tennessee or Georgia. (Most often the former, as I’m guessing you’re aware.) South Carolina taking its division isn’t quite like the Mets winning the World Series in 1969, but it’s not far off.
Fun with numbers: In its football, which dates to 1892, South Carolina has won 10 games in a season once — in 1984 under Joe Morrison, when it won at Notre Dame and Clemson but lost at Navy. It has won nine games twice — in 2001 under Lou Holtz and this season. It has won as many bowl games as a program (four) as Jim Donnan won in five seasons as Georgia’s coach. (And Donnan got fired, not long after Quincy Carter threw five interceptions and the Bulldogs lost at, ahem, South Carolina.)
The Gamecocks have won only one league championship — the ACC in 1969 — and they’re on their third league. Even this year they cut it close, nearly squandering a strong start by losing to Kentucky, which is difficult to do in any season, and then to Arkansas at home.
But they made it. The Evil Genius and his minions went to Gainesville and whomped the Urban Crier, and the other USC now finds itself in the A-T-L. And the nicest part about that is that long-suffering Gamecock fans suffer no longer.
It was one of life’s great mysteries, right up there with the riddle of Stonehenge and the popularity of Jay Leno: Why did Gamecock fans keep coming back? Their team was the unchallenged master of the cosmic flop, and yet Williams-Brice Stadium was always full. Any neutral who suggested a given year might actually be different for the garnet and black was met with a sneering dismissal from every SEC outpost save Columbia: “Have you never heard of the Chicken Curse?”
Turns out it took an Evil Genius to override the Chicken Curse. Turns out Spurrier knew what he was doing, even if it did take him a while to do it. Turns out South Carolina is playing today to win the conference that prides itself as the nation’s finest.
The Gamecocks aren’t supposed to win this game — I think they’ll prevail, not that I’m ever right about anything — but I’m guessing they don’t much care about perception. They weren’t supposed to get here at all.
And with that, the floor is again open for questions, comments and nominations for Gene Chizik as quipster of the year. I’ll be here all day, and I’d be obliged if you’d join me. And just so my Auburn pals don’t think I’m ignoring them … here’s a photo of the other end zone. War Eagle!
"War Eagle, fly down the field, ever to conquer, never to yield." (Photo by M. Bradley)
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983 comments Add your comment
Real American
December 4th, 2010
7:41 pm
Tell’em Cam
http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lbzsgvnDVP1qexr4ro1_500.jpg
Mark Bradley
December 4th, 2010
7:41 pm
I picked South Carolina, too. Hard to believe, eh?
Maybe not so hard.
Real American
December 4th, 2010
7:41 pm
Poor Bama…you still mad huh?
Bosshog
December 4th, 2010
7:42 pm
Free drinks at all the bars in CP.
Nova Roars
December 4th, 2010
7:42 pm
The best thing Cammy Cam could do was let EVERYONE on the sideline drink his juice OR there certainly would have been “what’s in the bottle” conspiracies! No steroids, no drugs, nothing questionable. Just a young kid having fun! WAR EAGLE!!!
Mark Bradley
December 4th, 2010
7:42 pm
Headed downstairs. Let me know if anything happens.
Dumbo
December 4th, 2010
7:43 pm
5150 P.O.A.D….butthead from Tech, you must love the SEC, because you are always on UGA or SEC blogs
A Former Auburn Fan
December 4th, 2010
7:43 pm
From an old time Auburn fan, I hate this AU team with a passion.
PMC
December 4th, 2010
7:44 pm
This may be the best game on the whole Auburn has played all year. They were awesome.
It’s ashamed with the worthless garbage system we have it will be almost mid January before a relevant worthwhile College Football game worth watching will be played.
DodgerDAWG
December 4th, 2010
7:45 pm
SAD day for the SEC…after Mike Slives promise to deliver us from the “cash in the barrel as you walk out” days to “180K for a QB”. CMR may be struggling, and yes we may have driving issues but when you look at the $cam issues he alone erases the UGA trangressions. Looking for to a JYDAWG Defense next year (go CTG) a 4th Quarter that makes us remember Irk (GO CJT) and an offenense that makes uf forget Hershel…GOD BLESS UGA
PMC
December 4th, 2010
7:46 pm
But thanks Gordon Gee for all this wonderous…. non tradition since you guys have sullied January 1st as well.
Nova Roars
December 4th, 2010
7:46 pm
Nurse Rachet
December 4th, 2010
7:27 pm
Nova Roars Why do you barners think everyone on here is either for Ga or Bama. As I said you aren’t very smart are you???
**********************
Let’s see, we are 13 and 0 while you’re still whining about 49-31 and 28-27. As for the lovefest between Leg Humpers and Bammers, misery loves company. waaaaahhh.
5150 P.O.A.D
December 4th, 2010
7:47 pm
DUMBO
I am on all the Football Blogs. I love to read Mark and Jeff’s postings. The AJC should cover the ACC and SEC equally. I hate on Miami and Va TECH as much as the MUTTS and the VOLS.
Good Luck
December 4th, 2010
7:47 pm
Nova Roars;
Good luck to Auburn in the NC. Don’t let the ankle biters (aka GA bulldogs) bother you. They are just jealous that they are not going to be there.
Ramguy
December 4th, 2010
7:47 pm
I will say congrats to Auburn, they deserve it. They beat some good teams and went undefeated.
Orange10
December 4th, 2010
7:48 pm
The wheels really came off for SC this game. I expected it to be a little closer then the final.
bobo
December 4th, 2010
7:48 pm
alot of people that picked SC was doing so because they didn’t like Auburn..They knew better but………
DodgerDAWG
December 4th, 2010
7:48 pm
best thing about Cam…Georgia bred…But after he left nothing good can be said……………………
Football fans
December 4th, 2010
7:48 pm
will have the last laugh when the investigation is complete and AU is stripped of all the wins.
Reggie Bush ……anyone???
ATHENS POLICE
December 4th, 2010
7:48 pm
Scam Newton will destroy Auburn after the season wait and see.
PMC
December 4th, 2010
7:49 pm
Dear Lee Ziemba,… please come suit up for the Falcons next year.
Football fans
December 4th, 2010
7:49 pm
Thank God and $180,000……………..
TCCB
December 4th, 2010
7:50 pm
CAM NEWTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CAM NEWTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CAM NEWTON!!!!!
NFL BOUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CAM NEWTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CAM NEWTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5150 P.O.A.D
December 4th, 2010
7:50 pm
DUMBO
Do you anly watch SEC games? Do you only watch the Falcons. Do you just follow 1 player, a team, a league, or ALL FOOTBALL? I watch FOOTBALL. I cheer for some teams and Boo other teams.
Football fans
December 4th, 2010
7:52 pm
NCAA—-FBI—–WILL GET TO THE REAL TRUTH AND AUBURN WILL PAY.
DA
December 4th, 2010
7:53 pm
No proof=Innocent..get alife you dawgs
Jeff
December 4th, 2010
7:53 pm
On the blogs and the radio shows, UGA fans are the biggest whinners in the Country! I know a lot of UGA fans who agree with me. Get over it you losers.
JJhonson
December 4th, 2010
7:54 pm
MB- you probably missed the Auburn football team lifting Cam Newton on their shoulders before the game was over… oh, and you missed Cam running around the field smiling and showing his lack of class in another post game taunt.
I hope there are more people like “A Former Auburn Fan” that understand this Auburn team and how they have carried themselves on and off the field this year.
What goes around comes around Auburn… you can believe that.
DodgerDAWG
December 4th, 2010
7:54 pm
As a Georgia Native, I will interrupt Cam’s remarks….I am thankful to God, and I am really thankful to the people that gave money to my Daddy to rebuild his church that forced me to play at ALLBARN (when I really wanted to play at MSU for my former FL coach…but Daddy knows best). I will continue to play until I get drafted and can make money in the NFL. ALLBARN thank you for a year in the best conference in the Nation to increase my ability to be drafted higher than I could have ever been coming from a JUCO. Coach Mark Richt, I must say I, one day, will be sorry that I could not meet your standards to be recruited as a player at the University of Georgia….NOW I AM OFF TO THE NFL (Maybe Daddy can broker a deal between the owners and players to ensure that there is no lockout..PLEASE DADDY)….
tiger lady
December 4th, 2010
7:54 pm
Auburn thanks the preacher man……sorry you couldn’t join us at the game.
Football fans
December 4th, 2010
7:55 pm
REGGIE BUSH = SCAM NEWTON
REGGIE BUSH = SCAM NEWTON
REGGIE BUSH = SCAM NEWTON
REGGIE BUSH = SCAM NEWTON
REGGIE BUSH = SCAM NEWTON
REGGIE BUSH = SCAM NEWTON
REGGIE BUSH = SCAM NEWTON
REGGIE BUSH = SCAM NEWTON
Nurse Rachet
December 4th, 2010
7:55 pm
Nova Roars Just revel in the thought that only the Barners agree with the NCAA decision- the rest of the national college football community think it was a terrible decision. So most of us are not Ga or Bama fans- can your pea brain grasp that???
Jeff
December 4th, 2010
7:55 pm
JJhonson, you are one of the biggest whinners. What’s wrong with celebrating the SEC championship, other than your team won’t in the next 10 years.
DA
December 4th, 2010
7:55 pm
Dodger dawg is stupid…#1 is nothing?
NCAA
December 4th, 2010
7:56 pm
Scam Netwon paid us off with the 250,000 he got from Auburn.
Double Zero Eight
December 4th, 2010
7:56 pm
I am a longtime Georgia fan but I am not delusional. It is time to man up and stop crying like babies. Auburn is the best team in the country and Cameron Newton is the best player. The outcome was almost exactly as I predicted in previous blogs. If the citizens of Georgia and South Carolina were as passionate about politics as football, the philandering governor of SC would have been impeached, and the corrupt congressman would not be the governor elect of GA. Stop the “holier than thou” crap and grow up.
DodgerDAWG
December 4th, 2010
7:56 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiL5UJmkfco
Ramguy
December 4th, 2010
7:57 pm
Nurse Rachet
December 4th, 2010
7:55 pm
Nova Roars Just revel in the thought that only the Barners agree with the NCAA decision- the rest of the national college football community think it was a terrible decision.
Yeah Pat Haden the AD at USC was livid.
Smoke
December 4th, 2010
7:58 pm
DaodgerDawg…so let me get this straight…Cam smiling is bad, and you consider that taunting. However, your DC can give the choke sign and curse an opposing player and that’s ok?
Jeff
December 4th, 2010
7:58 pm
UGA 6-6, now go cry to yourself.
DA
December 4th, 2010
7:58 pm
JJohnson is the one with no class……….what a joke for a person.
Football fans
December 4th, 2010
7:59 pm
I’M GONNA GO THROW UP. AU FANS WILL TO WHEN THE VERDICT COMES DOWN.
TCCB
December 4th, 2010
7:59 pm
D@mn that crazy pay for play Sh!t!!!!!!!!!! pay them all, play them all!!!! CAN NEWTON!!!
CAM NEWTON!!!!!!!! CAM NEWTON!!!!!!!!!!!!! NFL BOUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOW SCAN THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CAM NEWTON!!!!!!! CAM NEWTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Smoke
December 4th, 2010
7:59 pm
Football fans…do you know for sure what the verdict will be? Please share
NCAA
December 4th, 2010
8:01 pm
Cam is good for college football. It will bring us the most viewers and he will bring us the most money. Money talks and we all know that.
DA
December 4th, 2010
8:01 pm
FSU 3 and VT o in 1st.
JJhonson
December 4th, 2010
8:01 pm
Jeff- you have no idea who i root for so stop showing your stupidity by assuming.
I am a fan of class and humility. Something Cam Newton (and his family) and most of Auburn fans do not have.
Mark Bradley the Bulldog Homer
December 4th, 2010
8:01 pm
Hey Thuga fans, we don’t care what you think! Go Whine some place else and have fun at the Liberty Bowl! 6 and 6! Good job!
JSS
December 4th, 2010
8:01 pm
Well I would say “Behave like you have some home training;” but that ship has sailed!
Wonder how many of you fools are going to act the fool and get banned tonight?
That is how
December 4th, 2010
8:01 pm
dog fans are. When they are up, they sneer at everyone below them. When they are down, they denigrate everyone above them.