Do They Believe?
posted by David Cloninger, 11/26/2009 08:21:00 PM
Break all the ------- rules and
Go to hell with Superman.”
----------- BAD RELIGION
One time I saw a bunch of American college kids barely old enough to wipe the stubble off their chins beat an unbeatable team in the Olympics. Another time I viewed a group of never-woulds from Raleigh win a national championship. Still another time I watched a pack of players who finished with the worst record in the National League for three straight years capture a pennant in the fourth.
Call me old-fashioned and behind the times, but I truly believe that heart and belief can win a game. No matter what kind of talent is represented on the other side of the scoreboard, if a team wants to win bad enough, it can overcome.
Clemson is a very talented team and one that is playing extremely well. After being written off after a shocking loss to a bad, bad Maryland team, the Tigers reeled off six straight wins, claimed their division title and looked great doing it.
Of course they seem to have the edge. They’ve won six straight; South Carolina has lost three straight. The Tigers have been scoring with little trouble; the Gamecocks get the ball to the red zone, then begin going backwards.
But this game won’t come down to statistics and who has the better team. It hardly ever does.
It comes down to who wants it the most.
I made a point of talking to upperclassmen this week about their emotions for the game, and each responded that they’re taking Clemson very seriously physically and mentally. The seniors, especially, vowed that the Gamecocks would be up for this game.
Much of that stems from last year’s debacle, when a visibly flat USC team feebly puttered around on a nasty gray day until they could get it over with and look forward to sunny Florida. That brought up the same complaints about Steve Spurrier – great coach, but how serious does he take the rivalry?
Spurrier yanked down all of the “Beat Clemson” signs at Williams-Brice Stadium upon his arrival, saying he wanted to beat everybody, not just the Tigers. It was a curious move – not like the signs were doing that much good anyway – but when Spurrier turned in a 1-3 record against Clemson in four years, some wondered if the Head Ball Coach was taking the game as seriously as he needed to.
Spurrier has said – and repeated this week – that if the Gamecocks weren’t playing for the SEC championship, Clemson becomes the biggest game. I have devoted this space numerous times to that approach, saying it’s a good one, but the players needed to have a lot more motivation for Clemson than they previously had.
Because in my eye, this rivalry comes down to heart and belief much more than X’s and O’s. From having covered both sides of the game, I know Clemson puts a large emphasis on beating USC, going so far as to put a huge poster outside of their locker room.
The Gamecocks seem to get up for the game only when the previous game is done.
This year, it seems to have changed. The situation of last year’s awful performance and the difference between a .500 and respectable 7-5 season this year seems to have played a part in that.
I hope the players truly believe what they’ve said all week, because this rivalry deserves it. The Tigers seem to win most every year because they’re not allowed to lose to the Gamecocks; USC has always seemed to be content with what it could get.
Perhaps that changes beginning Saturday. I can dream of USC’s coaches showing films of past USC-Clemson games and seeing the rampant enthusiasm from all of the Gamecocks after the most routine plays. I can see everyone in garnet channeling their inner Taneyhill and bringing everything for one game, one moment.
I can also see the opposite happening and Clemson extending yet another rivalry winning streak.
But I don’t have to believe that will happen, and neither do the Gamecocks.
They just have to ask themselves what they believe in, and then make it happen.
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“Say what you must, do all you can,
Break all the ------- rules and
Go to hell with Superman.”
----------- BAD RELIGION
One time I saw a bunch of American college kids barely old enough to wipe the stubble off their chins beat an unbeatable team in the Olympics. Another time I viewed a group of never-woulds from Raleigh win a national championship. Still another time I watched a pack of players who finished with the worst record in the National League for three straight years capture a pennant in the fourth.
Call me old-fashioned and behind the times, but I truly believe that heart and belief can win a game. No matter what kind of talent is represented on the other side of the scoreboard, if a team wants to win bad enough, it can overcome.
Clemson is a very talented team and one that is playing extremely well. After being written off after a shocking loss to a bad, bad Maryland team, the Tigers reeled off six straight wins, claimed their division title and looked great doing it.
Of course they seem to have the edge. They’ve won six straight; South Carolina has lost three straight. The Tigers have been scoring with little trouble; the Gamecocks get the ball to the red zone, then begin going backwards.
But this game won’t come down to statistics and who has the better team. It hardly ever does.
It comes down to who wants it the most.
I made a point of talking to upperclassmen this week about their emotions for the game, and each responded that they’re taking Clemson very seriously physically and mentally. The seniors, especially, vowed that the Gamecocks would be up for this game.
Much of that stems from last year’s debacle, when a visibly flat USC team feebly puttered around on a nasty gray day until they could get it over with and look forward to sunny Florida. That brought up the same complaints about Steve Spurrier – great coach, but how serious does he take the rivalry?
Spurrier yanked down all of the “Beat Clemson” signs at Williams-Brice Stadium upon his arrival, saying he wanted to beat everybody, not just the Tigers. It was a curious move – not like the signs were doing that much good anyway – but when Spurrier turned in a 1-3 record against Clemson in four years, some wondered if the Head Ball Coach was taking the game as seriously as he needed to.
Spurrier has said – and repeated this week – that if the Gamecocks weren’t playing for the SEC championship, Clemson becomes the biggest game. I have devoted this space numerous times to that approach, saying it’s a good one, but the players needed to have a lot more motivation for Clemson than they previously had.
Because in my eye, this rivalry comes down to heart and belief much more than X’s and O’s. From having covered both sides of the game, I know Clemson puts a large emphasis on beating USC, going so far as to put a huge poster outside of their locker room.
The Gamecocks seem to get up for the game only when the previous game is done.
This year, it seems to have changed. The situation of last year’s awful performance and the difference between a .500 and respectable 7-5 season this year seems to have played a part in that.
I hope the players truly believe what they’ve said all week, because this rivalry deserves it. The Tigers seem to win most every year because they’re not allowed to lose to the Gamecocks; USC has always seemed to be content with what it could get.
Perhaps that changes beginning Saturday. I can dream of USC’s coaches showing films of past USC-Clemson games and seeing the rampant enthusiasm from all of the Gamecocks after the most routine plays. I can see everyone in garnet channeling their inner Taneyhill and bringing everything for one game, one moment.
I can also see the opposite happening and Clemson extending yet another rivalry winning streak.
But I don’t have to believe that will happen, and neither do the Gamecocks.
They just have to ask themselves what they believe in, and then make it happen.
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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 @.