To the luckiest go the spoils
posted by David Cloninger, 10/11/2009 02:06:00 PM
-------------------------------------- JASON MRAZ
Lefty Gomez once said, “I’d rather be lucky than good.”
When it comes to South Carolina and Kentucky playing football, the Gamecocks ought to post it on the stadium walls and the Wildcats ought to have it tattooed on their behinds. It’s simply uncanny how much rolls USC’s way when the two get together.
“We had some good breaks,” coach Steve Spurrier said, still sweaty from the muggy afternoon.
Or maybe he was still feeling the heat of another narrow escape.
The Gamecocks didn’t play great, but they hit some big plays. And they walked out of Williams-Brice Stadium 5-1 at the halfway point and in sole possession of second place in the SEC East.
There was a lot to be excited about. Alshon Jeffery seemed to emerge as the Gamecocks’ long sought-after deep threat; Stephen Garcia continued to lead, not just quarterback; the defense had enough key stops to survive; and Chris Culliver brought some life to a dormant kick-return game. Sure, much could be improved but no one’s complaining about one measly four-point loss in the season’s first half.
The opposite sideline was yet another year of wondering what exactly has to happen for the Wildcats to win one of these. Alternate religions may be next on the list.
Because for yet another season, every Kentucky mistake became USC’s immediate benefit.
Consider:
· Randall Cobb dropped a slant that was right in his hands on third-and-5 from USC’s 18-yard-line. He had a bead to the end zone, too, which would have made it 7-0 instead of the 3-0 it became. The Gamecocks scored a touchdown on their next drive to erase that Kentucky lead – after Sam Maxwell dropped a Garcia pass that was right in his hands.
· Garcia hit Jeffery for three touchdowns. The final two were throws where Garcia said he threw them away because of the pass-rush and simply hoped Jeffery could get them. Big difference from throwing to him because he saw him open.
· For some reason, a play that was flagged before the snap was allowed to continue. It became Darian Stewart hitting Mike Hartline and Hartline’s leg getting caught in the turf. The injury knocked Hartline from a performance that, for one half, was one of his best career games.
· The Wildcats cut it to 21-17 in the third quarter and set up for a field goal at the Gamecocks’ 14. Cobb, in at holder, took the snap and ran left. C.C. Whitlock and Stewart nailed him for a 3-yard loss to get the ball back.
On the ensuing possession, Garcia fumbled and Kentucky recovered. The Wildcats didn’t fool around that time, kicking a field goal. Go through with the other one, and the Wildcats would have led instead of trailing 21-20.
And they wouldn’t have had to kick a field goal the second time, if T.C. Drake hadn’t let a wide-open touchdown bounce off his fingertips as he stretched in the back of the end zone.
· Kentucky was driving at the start of the fourth quarter when Cobb broke to the sideline, evading several tackles to get within the 5-yard line. Until the flag was spotted – holding, which gave the Wildcats a 9-yard gain.
The Wildcats faced fourth-and-3 and decided to go for it. Flag – false start. They had to punt instead.
Ryan Tydlacka shanked the kick. It went straight up, then hit the turf and bounced backward. Net gain – 5 yards.
The Gamecocks scored a touchdown for an eight-point lead on the next drive.
· Cobb “Wildcat”-ted Kentucky right down the field trying to tie the game and got the touchdown with 4:34 to go. But going for two points, the Wildcats went with Will Fidler under center after Cobb had gained 64 of the drive’s 70 yards. Fidler threw, Cliff Matthews batted it down – and the margin of victory was two points.
How many rabbits had to lose their feet to ensure this?
There’s nothing wrong with winning lucky. LSU won the 2007 national championship doing the same thing and I can remember a few Super Bowl champions who got to the big game without benefit of an offense.
The key is to play well enough so that luck is never depended on. It’s great to have, but it can’t be the only reason for winning.
Lefty Gomez had a way with words.
As did Louis Pasteur, who said, “Luck favors the prepared.”
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“Lucky to have been where I have been.”
-------------------------------------- JASON MRAZ
Lefty Gomez once said, “I’d rather be lucky than good.”
When it comes to South Carolina and Kentucky playing football, the Gamecocks ought to post it on the stadium walls and the Wildcats ought to have it tattooed on their behinds. It’s simply uncanny how much rolls USC’s way when the two get together.
“We had some good breaks,” coach Steve Spurrier said, still sweaty from the muggy afternoon.
Or maybe he was still feeling the heat of another narrow escape.
The Gamecocks didn’t play great, but they hit some big plays. And they walked out of Williams-Brice Stadium 5-1 at the halfway point and in sole possession of second place in the SEC East.
There was a lot to be excited about. Alshon Jeffery seemed to emerge as the Gamecocks’ long sought-after deep threat; Stephen Garcia continued to lead, not just quarterback; the defense had enough key stops to survive; and Chris Culliver brought some life to a dormant kick-return game. Sure, much could be improved but no one’s complaining about one measly four-point loss in the season’s first half.
The opposite sideline was yet another year of wondering what exactly has to happen for the Wildcats to win one of these. Alternate religions may be next on the list.
Because for yet another season, every Kentucky mistake became USC’s immediate benefit.
Consider:
· Randall Cobb dropped a slant that was right in his hands on third-and-5 from USC’s 18-yard-line. He had a bead to the end zone, too, which would have made it 7-0 instead of the 3-0 it became. The Gamecocks scored a touchdown on their next drive to erase that Kentucky lead – after Sam Maxwell dropped a Garcia pass that was right in his hands.
· Garcia hit Jeffery for three touchdowns. The final two were throws where Garcia said he threw them away because of the pass-rush and simply hoped Jeffery could get them. Big difference from throwing to him because he saw him open.
· For some reason, a play that was flagged before the snap was allowed to continue. It became Darian Stewart hitting Mike Hartline and Hartline’s leg getting caught in the turf. The injury knocked Hartline from a performance that, for one half, was one of his best career games.
· The Wildcats cut it to 21-17 in the third quarter and set up for a field goal at the Gamecocks’ 14. Cobb, in at holder, took the snap and ran left. C.C. Whitlock and Stewart nailed him for a 3-yard loss to get the ball back.
On the ensuing possession, Garcia fumbled and Kentucky recovered. The Wildcats didn’t fool around that time, kicking a field goal. Go through with the other one, and the Wildcats would have led instead of trailing 21-20.
And they wouldn’t have had to kick a field goal the second time, if T.C. Drake hadn’t let a wide-open touchdown bounce off his fingertips as he stretched in the back of the end zone.
· Kentucky was driving at the start of the fourth quarter when Cobb broke to the sideline, evading several tackles to get within the 5-yard line. Until the flag was spotted – holding, which gave the Wildcats a 9-yard gain.
The Wildcats faced fourth-and-3 and decided to go for it. Flag – false start. They had to punt instead.
Ryan Tydlacka shanked the kick. It went straight up, then hit the turf and bounced backward. Net gain – 5 yards.
The Gamecocks scored a touchdown for an eight-point lead on the next drive.
· Cobb “Wildcat”-ted Kentucky right down the field trying to tie the game and got the touchdown with 4:34 to go. But going for two points, the Wildcats went with Will Fidler under center after Cobb had gained 64 of the drive’s 70 yards. Fidler threw, Cliff Matthews batted it down – and the margin of victory was two points.
How many rabbits had to lose their feet to ensure this?
There’s nothing wrong with winning lucky. LSU won the 2007 national championship doing the same thing and I can remember a few Super Bowl champions who got to the big game without benefit of an offense.
The key is to play well enough so that luck is never depended on. It’s great to have, but it can’t be the only reason for winning.
Lefty Gomez had a way with words.
As did Louis Pasteur, who said, “Luck favors the prepared.”
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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 @.