Paging Dr. Spurrier ...
posted by David Cloninger, 10/24/2008 10:59:00 PM
-------- AEROSMITH
And here I thought I’d get a nice break from this, being the bye week and getting to go to SEC (Hoops) Media Days.
Should have known there’d be some news of the weird from USC football practice.
So I’m chilling in my hotel room in Birmingham, after churning out six or seven stories on the first day of the tipoff press gathering, and I’m reading my main man Scott Hood’s football practice report.
Now I owe the Vaio people a substantial amount of money for spitting a perfectly good mouthful of Dr. Pepper (thanks, SEC) all over my keyboard. I can’t type without working “K,” “C” and “T” keys.
Coach Steve Spurrier mentioned for two straight days that walk-on Zac Brindise could be the starting quarterback for next week’s game hosting Tennessee, because Stephen Garcia and Chris Smelley play better when coming off the bench. Then he said redshirting freshman Kenny Miles would be the starting tailback if the Gamecocks played this week, because Mike Davis, Eric Baker, Taylor Rank and Brian Maddox are on the mend.
Naturally, this fueled rampant discussion on our message boards, but I’m pleased to see that most of you think exactly what I think.
Spurrier’s comments this week hold about as much weight as the Olsen twins.
Starting Brindise and Miles makes about as much sense as an AC/DC song without a guitar solo. I know good and well that when I show up at Williams-Brice Stadium next week, Garcia will be starting and Miles will be in his usual perch on the sideline.
Because Spurrier is doing nothing but motivating his team. He’s playing amateur psychologist so his players will continue to practice hard, despite there being no game this week.
The reasons? Simple.
*Spurrier knows the Gamecocks should beat Tennessee. The Volunteers’ offense is awful, USC’s defense is great, and even if the Gamecocks’ offense struggles, it should still be able to score enough points to win.
*Spurrier wants to beat Phillip Fulmer and knows chances to do so at USC aren’t going to get any better than they are this year.
*Spurrier knows his players know they should beat Tennessee. He doesn’t want them thinking that, especially with a rare few days off and the slight chance the Vols might fool around and beat No. 2 Alabama on Saturday.
*Spurrier knows that Garcia is his best quarterback but doesn’t want him reading his press clippings about how good he is. That can only lead to trouble.
Throw all that in the stewpot, swirl it around for a while and DING! Instant solution.
Got to play a few mind games this week.
I completely understand where Spurrier’s coming from. His team rebounded from a 1-2 start to post four straight wins, the last two on the road in the SEC. The Gamecocks re-took their season, a good feeling even with last week’s loss to LSU.
Obviously, the next four games decide if 2008 will be a forgettable, bad, decent, good or great season. On paper, USC can be a very realistic 3-1 in those games and go to a very nice bowl game.
But games aren’t won on paper – Spurrier knows that as well as anybody after being in Columbia for four years. So he’s channeling Pedro Cerrano right now, looking for some extra ways to incite his team, although he won’t be sacrificing any chickens in the locker room. Maybe.
The bold declarations are something for his players to ponder as they enjoy a well-deserved weekend off, getting to re-introduce themselves to their families. Spurrier’s planning that when they come back to practice on Monday, there’ll be no rust or laziness.
Just a focus on winning the next game and continuing to save this season.
And if it works, you’ll know who to thank. Big guy with the visor over there.
Answers to “Sigmund.”
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“So I called up my headshrinker.”
-------- AEROSMITH
And here I thought I’d get a nice break from this, being the bye week and getting to go to SEC (Hoops) Media Days.
Should have known there’d be some news of the weird from USC football practice.
So I’m chilling in my hotel room in Birmingham, after churning out six or seven stories on the first day of the tipoff press gathering, and I’m reading my main man Scott Hood’s football practice report.
Now I owe the Vaio people a substantial amount of money for spitting a perfectly good mouthful of Dr. Pepper (thanks, SEC) all over my keyboard. I can’t type without working “K,” “C” and “T” keys.
Coach Steve Spurrier mentioned for two straight days that walk-on Zac Brindise could be the starting quarterback for next week’s game hosting Tennessee, because Stephen Garcia and Chris Smelley play better when coming off the bench. Then he said redshirting freshman Kenny Miles would be the starting tailback if the Gamecocks played this week, because Mike Davis, Eric Baker, Taylor Rank and Brian Maddox are on the mend.
Naturally, this fueled rampant discussion on our message boards, but I’m pleased to see that most of you think exactly what I think.
Spurrier’s comments this week hold about as much weight as the Olsen twins.
Starting Brindise and Miles makes about as much sense as an AC/DC song without a guitar solo. I know good and well that when I show up at Williams-Brice Stadium next week, Garcia will be starting and Miles will be in his usual perch on the sideline.
Because Spurrier is doing nothing but motivating his team. He’s playing amateur psychologist so his players will continue to practice hard, despite there being no game this week.
The reasons? Simple.
*Spurrier knows the Gamecocks should beat Tennessee. The Volunteers’ offense is awful, USC’s defense is great, and even if the Gamecocks’ offense struggles, it should still be able to score enough points to win.
*Spurrier wants to beat Phillip Fulmer and knows chances to do so at USC aren’t going to get any better than they are this year.
*Spurrier knows his players know they should beat Tennessee. He doesn’t want them thinking that, especially with a rare few days off and the slight chance the Vols might fool around and beat No. 2 Alabama on Saturday.
*Spurrier knows that Garcia is his best quarterback but doesn’t want him reading his press clippings about how good he is. That can only lead to trouble.
Throw all that in the stewpot, swirl it around for a while and DING! Instant solution.
Got to play a few mind games this week.
I completely understand where Spurrier’s coming from. His team rebounded from a 1-2 start to post four straight wins, the last two on the road in the SEC. The Gamecocks re-took their season, a good feeling even with last week’s loss to LSU.
Obviously, the next four games decide if 2008 will be a forgettable, bad, decent, good or great season. On paper, USC can be a very realistic 3-1 in those games and go to a very nice bowl game.
But games aren’t won on paper – Spurrier knows that as well as anybody after being in Columbia for four years. So he’s channeling Pedro Cerrano right now, looking for some extra ways to incite his team, although he won’t be sacrificing any chickens in the locker room. Maybe.
The bold declarations are something for his players to ponder as they enjoy a well-deserved weekend off, getting to re-introduce themselves to their families. Spurrier’s planning that when they come back to practice on Monday, there’ll be no rust or laziness.
Just a focus on winning the next game and continuing to save this season.
And if it works, you’ll know who to thank. Big guy with the visor over there.
Answers to “Sigmund.”
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
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David Cloninger. David is a full-time staff writer for GamecockCentral, and covers Gamecock football, men's basketball, baseball and recruiting. He may be reached by email at david(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.