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
shane
December 4th, 2010
3:28 pm
Go cocks! RTR
shane
December 4th, 2010
3:30 pm
Mark,
In his pregame warmups does Garcia look full speed? I know he was injured coming in.
reebok
December 4th, 2010
3:31 pm
Cam kind of reminds me of that big QB from Texas, Vince Young.
Cobb Dawg
December 4th, 2010
3:36 pm
More USC fans in the stands, and many, many, many more at home watching. I’d say the only fans pulling for *AU are *AU fans. The rest of the country seeks justice! Go Cocks! Demolish *Awbarn!!
Mark Bradley
December 4th, 2010
3:39 pm
Stephen Garcia is throwing the ball now. Looks OK to me.
headley lamar
December 4th, 2010
3:41 pm
USC did make it to the title game.
It only took what, 20 years in the leauge and the SEC East being at its worst.
Mark Bradley
December 4th, 2010
3:41 pm
Cam Newton’s face just shown on the message board. Lots of cheers. Also many boos.
Ventura Boulevard
December 4th, 2010
3:43 pm
If karma is equitable, the Cocks win. But it probably isn’t, so they probably won’t. Mellow out.
Mark Bradley
December 4th, 2010
3:46 pm
Band’s half-hour now. Auburn first. They do the stab the ground with sabers thing.
AFVetinPCFL
December 4th, 2010
3:47 pm
Hard to stab the turf in the dome don’t you think there, Mark?!
AFVetinPCFL
December 4th, 2010
3:48 pm
One good thing about Auburn coming back to win so many games this year is if SC goes up big early, everyone will still be watching the game…
Mark Bradley
December 4th, 2010
3:49 pm
Might have left the sabers at home. Didn’t see them today.
Mark Bradley
December 4th, 2010
3:49 pm
Auburn’s band is done. Now it’s South Carolina’s turn.
AFVetinPCFL
December 4th, 2010
3:50 pm
Hey, it’s battle for the coolest uniform day in Corvalis, OR…
Mark Bradley
December 4th, 2010
3:50 pm
A crowd estimate: 59 percent Auburn, 41 percent South Carolina
Mobile Dawg
December 4th, 2010
3:51 pm
Congrats USC alumni and fans. Still can’t stand the OBC but this is good for Carolina. That said, War Eagle, SEC, Glendale, and a better 2011 for the Dawgs. Let’s go eat the crawfish ! ! !
Willy
December 4th, 2010
3:52 pm
R.I.P. James Dickey
A day to commemorate
December 4th, 2010
3:58 pm
Attention, everyone, especially dawgtards. Today is the second anniversary of Saint Jan Kemp’s death. To commemorate her life, we will now observe a moment of silence in memory of Saint Jan, who exposed the shameful practices at UGA that were initiated and carried out by slimeball Vince Dooley. Dooley’s image as a coach and a nice guy were forever shattered during the trial, not to mention the one million dollars that dawgtards had to pay Saint Jan. These practices of recruiting morons and coddling them for four years, them tossing them out like garbage, are still going on, but at least the world knows what’s happening in Athens now.
And now, the moment of silence…
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Thank you, you may resume your normal activities now.
Mark Bradley
December 4th, 2010
3:59 pm
Auburn’s band is better, FYI.
Nobody’s band is better than LSU’s, however.
DD
December 4th, 2010
4:00 pm
I hate SC but I hate the AU worse!
Lets go Gamecocks, win one for the Ol’ ball coach!
Mark Bradley
December 4th, 2010
4:00 pm
Ben Zambiasi is Georgia’s “Legend” this year. Just introduced.
The Blair Miss Project
December 4th, 2010
4:00 pm
HeyAuburn fans…….
If Nick Fairley played for Bama, would he then be a cheap shot artist?
If Cam Newton still played for Bama and all these allegations came out, would he still be innocent??
Ponder for a few mins before answering…….
Mark Bradley
December 4th, 2010
4:01 pm
I have to admit: I’ve never heard of the Ole Miss legend.
The Blair Miss Project
December 4th, 2010
4:01 pm
If Cam newton “played for” Bama……
I wasabout to say Florida, but figured you’d hate him more if he played for Bama…..
The Blair Miss Project
December 4th, 2010
4:03 pm
The first words out of Verne Lundquists mouth on the TV broadcast were “Cam Newton’s father”
todd grantham
December 4th, 2010
4:03 pm
Mark, no way on earth Cam didn’t have knowledge of what elder Newton was doing.
it’s called: An accessory is a person who assists in the commission of a crime, but who does not actually participate in the commission of the crime as a joint principal.
The Blair Miss Project
December 4th, 2010
4:04 pm
and Gary Danielson just admitted he is a little league coach, despite not having a son in little league………
parents, you should attend practice……
todd grantham
December 4th, 2010
4:04 pm
I hope you will be able to tell us where the fans are from that catch the extra points.
Mark Bradley
December 4th, 2010
4:06 pm
Things I like about Auburn: Aubie the mascot’s feet. Look like house shoes.
Mark Bradley
December 4th, 2010
4:07 pm
Guess who leads the Tigers on the field.
todd grantham
December 4th, 2010
4:07 pm
and to quote what has been said thousands of times: Meyer would have never let Cam get away if he weren’t already damaged goods. And Meyer is the infamous guy that will play an eye gouger.
The Blair Miss Project
December 4th, 2010
4:08 pm
oh my…. Chizik isa “face talker” with Tracy Wolfson. ……. but if she interviewed me, I would be too.
todd grantham
December 4th, 2010
4:08 pm
no more cam comments. old story about Zambiasi was he got so hyped up before games he threw up before going on the field. true story.
Mark Bradley
December 4th, 2010
4:08 pm
Auburn wins the toss. Takes the ball.
South Carolina wants the wind at its back. (Heh, heh.)
The Blair Miss Project
December 4th, 2010
4:09 pm
Oregon State – 7 Oregon- 0
Mark Bradley
December 4th, 2010
4:10 pm
I once heard Roy Exum of the Chattanooga paper ask Zambiasi if it was true that, before games, “you lost your groceries.” SEC Sky-Writers Tour, 1977.
todd grantham
December 4th, 2010
4:10 pm
onsides kick??
The Blair Miss Project
December 4th, 2010
4:10 pm
Anybody know whata semi-truck and Scott Blair have in common???
<————– WIDE LEFT<—————–
hahahahahahaha!!!! (((((42-34)))))
DD
December 4th, 2010
4:10 pm
Things I like about Auburn:
The female cheerleaders but most of them are from georgia
Mark Bradley
December 4th, 2010
4:11 pm
If Auburn and Oregon lose, does Georgia go to Glendale, Ariz.?
Buck Hayek
December 4th, 2010
4:11 pm
How great would it be if Auburn and Oregon both lost?
BCS Chaos!
Mark Bradley
December 4th, 2010
4:11 pm
Never has the SEC title tilt started with an onside kick.
M
December 4th, 2010
4:11 pm
Let’s go chickens!!!!
todd grantham
December 4th, 2010
4:12 pm
As i recall, didnt you ask Coach Dooley if he noticed which way the wind was blowing when Goff’s kicker blew a chance at a game winner? And he responded “yes’.
Mark Bradley
December 4th, 2010
4:12 pm
Teams are ready. The rights-holding network, not so much
Mark Bradley
December 4th, 2010
4:13 pm
Yes I did. It was the the Auburn game of 1995. Goff had his team going into the wind in the fourth quarter.
Mark Bradley
December 4th, 2010
4:13 pm
No onside kick. McAlebb to the 23. And here we go
The Blair Miss Project
December 4th, 2010
4:13 pm
$cam Newton……. i hope you get a boo boo early.
Mark Bradley
December 4th, 2010
4:14 pm
Cam Newton showing me nothing so far.
todd grantham
December 4th, 2010
4:14 pm
Mark, is it true that Scott Blair said after he missed that extra point that he wished the goal posts were has wide as Wes Durham’s pants?