Fanhouse NCAA Football Blog - South-Carolina

SEC Dominates National Signing Day

Clay Travis — 2010-02-04T11:04:00 00:00

Filed under: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, SEC, Recruiting, National Signing Day 2010

National signing day is close to a regional holiday in the South. Nowhere else in the country is recruiting followed so obsessively. Maybe that's the reason the SEC continues to crush other conferences when it comes to signing the top football classes in the country, fans simply demand it. As Wednesday wound down, the top of the recruiting boards looked awfully similar to the top of the recruiting boards for the past six years: the SEC dominated.

How much so? Tennessee's class finished ninth in the country.

That sounds pretty good, right?

Unfortunately for the Vols, that only put them at fifth in the SEC.

Fifth!

That's because Florida clocked in at No. 1, with a class that some are already calling the greatest in college football history. Auburn pulled in a No. 4 class, Alabama fifth and LSU took seventh. Rounding out the list, per Rivals, Georgia and Ole Miss were 16 and 17, giving the SEC seven of the top 17 classes in America. South Carolina clocked in at 25, Arkansas and Kentucky were 48 and 49, and Vanderbilt was 60.

If Rivals isn't your speed, ESPN had similar class rankings, with five of the top nine classes in the country in the SEC and seven of the top 18.

What does all this mean for the balance of power in the country?

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My USC Is Better Than Your USC

Jon Weinbach — 2010-01-21T12:52:00 00:00

by Jon Weinbach

Filed under: South Carolina, USC, Sports Business and Media

Forget about American Needle vs. the National Football League or the looming legal fight over college athletes' right to be paid. In the world of sports law, USC v USC -- you know, Univeristy of South Carolina versus University of Southern California -- might be the juiciest case of them all.

The dispute is over South Carolina's attempt to trademark an "SC" logo -- featuring an interlocking S and C -- that the school planned to put on its baseball team's new uniforms. The logo is similar, though not identical, to the "SC" logo that has long been identified with Southern Cal's sports teams and is also featured on the Trojans' official baseball hats.

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Sources: Big East Bowls Set

Brett McMurphy — 2009-12-06T15:31:00 00:00

by Brett McMurphy

Filed under: Connecticut, Ohio, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, South Carolina, Temple, UCF, UNC, Big East

PITTSBURGH -- With Cincinnati locking up a BCS bowl bid Saturday, most likely the Sugar Bowl, and West Virginia headed to the Gator Bowl, the biggest question remaining was where the Big East's other four bowl teams would land.

Bowl sources told FanHouse this is how the rest of the Big East bowl lineup will shake out:

Pittsburgh (9-3) is headed to the Meineke Car Care Bowl, where the Panthers will play North Carolina.

UConn (7-5) is headed to the Papajohns.com Bowl, where the Huskies will play South Carolina.

South Florida (7-5) is headed to the International Bowl, where the Bulls will face Northern Illinois.

Rutgers (8-4) will play UCF in the St. Petersburg Bowl.

The Big East's official bowl announcement is expected later today.

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SEC Notebook: South's Oldest Rivalry

Jim Henry — 2009-11-13T08:00:00 00:00

by Jim Henry

Filed under: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, South Carolina, SEC

Georgia vs. Auburn.

It doesn't get any better, or older, than this for these two schools. Known as the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry, the series began in 1892 and is the seventh-most played in the country. The mutual disdain has been passed down through the generations, and the 113th meeting Saturday isn't expected to be any different.

"Everybody has their team," Georgia coach Mark Richt said.

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SEC Notebook: Polls Not Tide's Concern

Jim Henry — 2009-10-23T13:15:00 00:00

by Jim Henry

Filed under: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, SEC

When it comes to debating rankings, Alabama head coach Nick Saban is a fuddy-duddy.

So there's no need to waste your time, even if the Crimson Tide leapfrogged SEC rival Florida into the top spot of this week's Associated Press poll. Of course, Alabama is also ranked second behind the Gators in the initial installment of the weekly BCS poll that will determine national title invites by early December.

Saban doesn't mean to be a killjoy -- or does he? -- but his game-at-a-time mantra is focused on Saturday's showdown against visiting Tennessee.

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SEC Notebook: Rolling With Tide

Jim Henry — 2009-10-08T19:25:00 00:00

by Jim Henry

Filed under: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, South Carolina, SEC

Alabama coach Nick Saban certainly likes the Crimson Tide's offensive efficiency.

Alabama has stepped it up through the first five games this year, compared to the first give games in 2008. Alabama is averaging three points more points per game more and 86 more total yards per game above last season. The passing offense is where the major improvement has been, with the Tide throwing for 1,173 yards and nine touchdowns compared to 808 yards and six scores last season.

That's not all. For the first time since 1979, and just the third time in school history, No. 3 Alabama has opened the season with five straight games of 30 points or more. The Tide looks to extend that streak to six games on Saturday at No. 20 Mississippi.

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SEC Notebook: LSU a Tale of 2 Tigers

Jim Henry — 2009-10-01T12:30:00 00:00

by Jim Henry

Filed under: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, South Carolina, SEC

Will the real LSU please stand up?

Fourth-ranked LSU is between the hedges Saturday at No. 18 Georgia in a pivotal SEC showdown. Not only are the Tigers looking for their first victory in Athens, Ga., since 1986, they are facing their first ranked opponent of the season. Both challenges expect to test a LSU team still in search of its identity a month into the season.

"We're fortunate to be 4-0; we'd like to be 5-0, and only the next opponent stands between us and that goal," said LSU coach Les Miles, who will be making his first trip to Athens.

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Game South Carolina Silences Ole Miss

Ray Holloman — 2009-09-25T01:06:00 00:00

by Ray Holloman

Filed under: Mississippi, South Carolina, SEC

This is where Steve Spurrier would've stopped to take a team photo, or cracked a one-liner with the same brutal intent as Eric Norwood hunting Jevan Snead Thursday night, assuming the coach wasn't busy writing his name in the sky, challenging the opposing mascot to a duel, or something else larger than life but not larger than the Ol' Ball Coach.

In previous years, this is where Spurrier's head would've swollen so big it would've popped the visor right off his skull like a broken rubber band.

But, on Saturday night, in the wake of his biggest win at South Carolina, a 16-10 upset of No. 4 Ole Miss, there was as little trace of that Spurrier churlishness as there was Snead's Heisman hype.

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South Carolina Upsets No. 4 Ole Miss

Brian Grummell — 2009-09-24T23:44:00 00:00

by Brian Grummell

Filed under: Mississippi, South Carolina, SEC

South Carolina had the honors of getting college football's fourth week off in high fashion, toppling preseason darling Mississippi 16-10 Thursday. Coming on the heels of Miami topping Georgia Tech last week, Thursday is fast becoming college football's version of Halloween, where underdogs dress up like contenders and make weird and wild things happen.

The win didn't come easy for South Carolina, however. Gamecock coach Steve Spurrier was the picture of agonized helplessness in the game's final period, alternating between shrugs, uncomfortable grins and palms-to-the-face while nursing a 16-3 lead. Relief finally came after his defense repelled Ole Miss' final charge at the Gamecocks' 41 yard line.

(Not to brag, but we told you so. Sort of. Ole Miss was ripe for an upset, with our only error being the assumption that they'd get through a few more weeks of play before reality set in. Apologies for that.)

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Gosh Almighty, Is Ole Miss Really No. 4?

Clay Travis — 2009-09-24T11:00:00 00:00

by Clay Travis

Filed under: Mississippi, South Carolina

The biggest, best, and most intriguing game of the college football weekend is tonight -- Ole Miss at South Carolina. There are storylines aplenty, and we'll dive in to them all in a moment, but first, let's consider just how big of a game this is for Houston Nutt's Ole Miss, the stealthy No. 4 team in the country.

Let me repeat that, Ole Miss is now the No. 4 team in the country! You're shocked, right?

That's because the Rebels have only played twice, an opener on Sunday -- followed by the always frustrating second week bye -- and then last week against Southeast Louisiana. Chances are you didn't notice either game. So this game represents Ole Miss's debut on the national stage. Will it wilt or will it prove that Ole Miss can be known for something more than women in sundresses and the civil rights movement?

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SEC Notebook: Ole Miss Is Ready for the Ol' Ball Coach

Jim Henry — 2009-09-24T09:09:00 00:00

by Jim Henry

Filed under: Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, South Carolina, SEC

Many are skeptical of Mississippi's No. 4 ranking in the AP Top-25 poll because its wins so far have been against Memphis and Southeastern Louisiana. For trivia buffs, however, the Rebels last reached No. 4 in the rankings on Oct. 12, 1970.

Of course, the country will get a better idea about Ole Miss on Thursday night when it visits the Ol' Ball Coach and South Carolina in its SEC opener on national television.

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SEC Notebook: Joe Cox's Many Maladies

Jim Henry — 2009-09-16T11:00:00 00:00

by Jim Henry

Filed under: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, SEC

Week 1 was the flu. Week 2 was shoulder soreness. OK, what's going on in Week 3?

The health of Georgia quarterback Joe Cox has been discussed, dissected and debated so much this young season that he could be a regular on General Hospital. Despite a jammed finger on his left non-throwing hand this week, Cox is in one piece -- and in good spirits. The rumors were so rampant last week that some believed Cox wouldn't start against South Carolina.

"It's definitely been interesting to see how crazy it can get just based off of what somebody says, but it hasn't been something that has been a distraction," said Cox, who injured his finger on an attempted tackle following an interception in the Bulldogs' win over South Carolina last Saturday.

"It's honestly something that we've all kind of laughed about."

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Georgia State Troopers Celebrate as Steve Spurrier Loses

Michael David Smith — 2009-09-14T09:30:00 00:00

by Michael David Smith

Filed under: Georgia, South Carolina

As is the case at college football games across the country, state troopers were on the sidelines when South Carolina played at Georgia Saturday night. But the officers from the Georgia Department of Public Safety who were on hand to get South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier off the field safely didn't just stand by to keep the peace: They also celebrated on the South Carolina sideline when Georgia clinched its 41-37 victory.

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South Carolina Grinds Out 7-3 Victory Over North Carolina State

Brian Grummell — 2009-09-03T22:13:00 00:00

by Brian Grummell

Filed under: NC State, South Carolina, ACC, SEC

The dead ball era came to college football, at least for a night as South Carolina played ball control just a little bit better than North Carolina State. Both contributed woeful offensive performances, South Carolina finishing with 255 yards and North Carolina State just 133 in an ugly, sleepy affair.

A first half touchdown several plays after recovering a Toney Baker fumble deep in Wolfpack territory was all South Carolina needed. They actually missed a field goal and mishandled the snap on another but were never made to pay for their mistakes. North Carolina State receivers dropped endless passes, providing little help to quarterback Russel Wilson.

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Thursday Night FanHouse College Football Chat and Experts' Twitter Feed

Brian Grummell — 2009-09-03T18:47:00 00:00

by Brian Grummell

Filed under: Boise State, NC State, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah

College football is B - A - C - K so grab a seat, pop on ESPN or some other network if you're watching one of the undercard games (Coastal Carolina at Kent State, perhaps?), and lets talk college football's opening night starting at 7 PM Eastern.

A team of FanHouse writers will be your hosts and we'll have updated Twitter feeds from various sources related to the involved teams updating within the chat software. See it all ... after the jump!

Live Scoreboard | South Carolina Grinds Out Win
David Whitley: Erin Andrews Watch

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Erin Andrews Watch, the Live Blog

David Whitley — 2009-09-03T18:04:00 00:00

by David Whitley

Filed under: South Carolina, Media Watch

RALEIGH, N.C. -- If your money was on a burqa, you lose.

Erin Andrews showed up Thursday night in black tights, sleeveless cream-colored vest over a patterned shirt. Thus was answered the hottest question going into the college football season:

What would ESPN's sideline siren wear in her first public appearance since her last public appearance?

Almost everybody with a computer and a curiosity knows what Andrews was wearing in that one. The NC State-South Carolina is her first assignment since the peephole video propelled Andrews into Internet voyeurism history.

How will that affect college football's favorite sideshow? At the risk of sounding like a peephole pervert, we'll be tracking her every move to find out.

Read David Whitley's liveblog about Erin Andrews after the jump.

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Prepare the Visor Toss, South Carolina Might Not Survive September

Clay Travis — 2009-09-03T17:00:00 00:00

by Clay Travis

Filed under: Boise State, NC State, Oregon, South Carolina, SEC

Did the air smell crisper to you last night? This morning did you beat your chest and bellow as loud as you could while staring at the heavens? I did. College football is back. Thank the Lord. But for some of us, such as South Carolina fans, the season is not getting off to a nice, easy start. Nope, they're traveling north and taking on N.C. State in a game that they're expected to lose. That's despite the 34-0 walloping they put on N.C. State on a Thursday night to start last season. In fact, of the four teams playing tonight on ESPN, South Carolina has more at stake than any of them. Yep, more than Boise State, Oregon, or the Woflpack.

Why?

Because South Carolina has to survive September or their season is going to implode in a hurry. Let's dive in to the college football bonanza and I'll tell you why Gamecock fans are covering their eyes with their visor lids. And it has nothing to do with the debut of the Wild Cock formation. Seriously, am I the only person who can't wait to here Verne Lundquist/Benjamin Franklin talk about the Wild Cock?

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Erin Andrews to Discuss Peeping Tom Incident on Oprah

Brian Grummell — 2009-09-01T00:45:00 00:00

by Brian Grummell

Filed under: NC State, South Carolina, Media Watch, General CFB Insanity

Erin, Oprah. Oprah, Erin. Yes that Letterman skit was years ago but more timely is ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews' appearance on Oprah. She'll break her silence in an interview on the Oprah Winfrey Show the morning of September 11th.

Sports Illustrated broke the news Monday, offering few other details besides time and date. If you're an American male you know the details but for everyone else late to the story, video of a naked Andrews shot through what appeared to be a peep hole surfaced several weeks ago. Its release prompted swift action by her attorneys and ESPN to suppress the video and seek action against whoever perpetrated the invasion of privacy crime against her.

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Thursday Is the New ... Something for College Football

Brian Grummell — 2009-08-31T13:30:00 00:00

by Brian Grummell

Filed under: Boise State, NC State, Oregon, South Carolina

Fill in the blank of that now-cliche setup. The new Monday Night Football. The new black. The new upset machine. The new everything. Thursday has long been a quiet part of the college football landscape but with ESPN's growing presence as a business partner, it is now kind of a big deal.

In a sport where Saturday is king, Thursday night is grabbing an increasing share of the starring role as the home to nine season-opening games including two that will be nationally televised. For several years now at FanHouse we've been live blogging Thursday night games and it's apparent they've gained a certain cult status for the football-mad folks who can't quite wait a week until their next fix -- this after waiting through a torturous eight month offseason.

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Long Odds? A Dozen SEC Predictions That Might Come True

Clay Travis — 2009-08-24T10:30:00 00:00

by Clay Travis

Filed under: South Carolina, SEC, General CFB Insanity

I spent the weekend in Las Vegas, city of sin, sun, boobs and boobs who gamble on sports. And I did what I do every time I go to Las Vegas, step up to the window and place a $100 wager on a team that I follow to win the championship. Every one of these bets has been a loser, and, to be honest, most of the time I lose my ticket anyway. This year I laid down money on the Tennessee Titans. Inevitably they'll fall short of the Super Bowl, just like your team will, but at least I'll have the opportunity to talk about my bet all season long.

And that's exactly what I'm going to do if my wild and wacky SEC predictions turn out to be true as well.

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