Posted by Chili

Well, shit.

I could leave it at that, but I’ll extrapolate on the issue a bit the best I can. I only caught updates of the game on my phone as I trudged through Istanbul (not Constantinople), and the one of us who actually saw the game is too busy to get to the wrap-up right now.

First off, forgive me for using football cliches, but Sakerlina came to play. Either Clemson didn’t or was completely taken out of their game by the Cocks. I tend to think it was the former, as several Clemson players have since said they thought the team had gone through the motions in weeks before and simply thought they could put on their pads and be better than Sakerlina. Obviously not. Blame that on the players and coaches for not taking the game seriously enough. We had concerns over whether the GT matchup in the ACCCG would be a distraction, and apparently it was. Dabo said in his phoner yesterday that Clemson had beaten the Cocks many times in the past but hadn’t won an ACC title in years, so the latter took precedence. Well we could’ve done both this year damnit.

Carolina was right there to capitalize on each of Clemson’s many mistakes. Their offensive line, which was viewed as being mismatched against Clemson’s defensive front, had their way for the most part with our D. The Carolina offense had clearly studied how the QB draw and similar mild misdirection plays had worked against Clemson’s scheme throughout the year and executed some similar schemes. The formidable Sakerlina defense proved worth the hype as they held Clemson to its lowest point total in months.While a bout with the flu certainly put the clamps on CJ Spiller, the Sakerlina defense did a good job in the limited time CJ went against them.

As an aside, there’s been plenty of times this football season that I’ve been bummed about missing some great Clemson football moments by being over here in Europe. This was one of the times I was damned glad. Happy not to hear the Whiner Line callers, happy not to see the retards flying Gamecock flags on their cars for a month after the game, happy not to see images or replays of the game unless I choose to seek them out. Thanks for that.

EXCUSES

To help you deal with the loss, I’ve prepared a list of excuses for you to whip out:

- Dabo and crew were focused on the Georgia Tech game.

- CJ Spiller had the flu. This is more of a factual excuse than bullshit, but Gamecock fans will still probably claim that he was skeered by their defense or some garbage.

- Nike’s new uniforms; the titanium D-rings were only 60% lighter than previous steel rings, clearly not enough of a weight differential. Back to the drawing board, fellas.

- The Gamecocks, yet again, had two weeks to prepare for the game.

- To use a claim that Sakerlina fans have pointed our way in the past, the game just meant more to them. You heard it coming from their camp the past two weeks. They set about preparing for this game with way more urgency than did Clemson. There were rumors of a coaching staff shakeup if they dropped this game.

BULLSHIT

Excuses aside, you’ll hear a lot of things from your Gamecock co-workers/friends/gas station attendants:

- Spurrier has got Clemson “figured out.”

- This is a turning point in the rivalry.

- All your recruits are belong to us.

- Hurf a durf SEC.

None but the last point really mean anything. (Not that the last one really means shit either, but it’s complicated) Nobody knows what, if anything, this game means to the rivalry. Also, Sakerlina has had no trouble recruiting for years and it hasn’t necessarily shown on the field. The SEC is no doubt a stronger conference and showed it over the weekend. Not a lot we can do about that. With the billions poured into the conference from TV deals and no less than two networks attached at the hip to the conference, it’s only going to get worse.

Everything else aside, it was a good ol’ fashioned ass whipping. We’ve given plenty to Sakerlina in our day, and now’s out turn to take one. Swallow the bitter pill and move on.

Posted by Willy Mac

The coming week is the home stretch. Pick well friends, next Sunday someone will be promised sweet nectar.

Posted by Chili

We’ll get to the abomination that was Saturday’s game soon, but for now we wanted to share with you guys a new Clemson blog, Rally Death Valley, created by our friends Thedabokoolaid and A770Tiger. Check it out here.

Posted by Block-C Staff

#15 Clemson (8-3, 6-2) @ South Carolina (6-5, 3-5) Noon EST, 6 PM Central Europe, Saturday, November 28th.

ESPNHD, ESPN 360, XM 144 (Yannity) & 141 (Ellis), Sirius 123 (Yannity) & 121 (Ellis), WCCPFM Live Feed.

Forecast: Mostly sunny with a few clouds

Previews: CUAD | ESPN | Stat Sheet | USCAD

Block-C Forums Open Thread

Sign up here to join the forums.

Line: Clemson -3

Edge goes to:

Clemson offense vs. Sakerlina defense: Clemson

Clemson defense vs. Sakerlina offense: Clemson

Special teams: Push – They more than likely won’t kick it right at us, and our kicking isn’t so hot right now

Intangibles: Carolina – The game determines where they land in the Bowlosphere.

Our Panel of XXX Brand Moonshine Drinkers Says:

Chili: Ooh. Got a bad feeling about this one. The mantra down in Columbia for the losers was always "Clemson cares about it more than us" which was a bullshit excuse. I’ve seen this statement validated in a couple recent articles covering the Cocks where they say they’re going to try and start putting more focus on the game. The fact that they’ve had bye weeks several times lately just before the Clemson game is a little too convenient to be a coincidence. I think the last time they had one before us was ’07, a Tiger victory, so it’s not like the extra week of reset and preparation is a cure all to their suckitude. However, I think this year they have everything riding on this game and while Clemson is surely focused on it as well despite our ACCCG appearance looming in the horizon, they’ll be coming to play more so than they have in the past. Sakerlina fans have been acting like this is the biggest game in the program’s history; a real turning point. Win or lose, it isn’t.  Maybe I’m underestimating Dabo’s ability to focus the team here. I hope that I am, but I think some guys will still be looking ahead to Tampa. Sakerlina has a dangerous defense. Perhaps the best we’ve faced thus far other than TCU’s. Kyle Parker is due for a stumble (That’s a bullshit made up statement to support my case. Yeah…) and our kicking game still isn’t the least bit confidence-inspiring. On the plus side, the Cocks sport a questionable offensive line that should have our defense salivating. I think it’ll be a real battle, but I think we have match up advantages on defense and the return game to take this one.

Clemson 17, Sakerlina 15

Willy Mac: Not to sound too homerish, but people are far too worried about this game than they should be. The players and coaches know how important this game is. Dabo & company “get it.” Dabo went to Bama so he’s not going to let a rivalry game go ill-prepared. The players know what’s ahead and they’ve been saying all week how much more focused they are this week than any of the previous. Carolina has a crap offense and a darn good defense. We have a pretty good offense and a hell of a defense. They’ve got the weapons to beat us, but I think Spurrier is just too stubborn and strictly still doesn’t care about South Carolina as long as they keep paying him the big money. It will be close on the field, but not as much on the scored board. People are saying that this game is more important this year for the Cocks than it is for Clemson. To that I respond that it was the same story when Lou Holtz constantly dragged a five win team seeking a bowl berth into this game. Same old Gamecock story.

Clemson 24, Sakerlina 14

Posted by Willy Mac

This week we actually ran across the mine field laden no man’s land that is the tension of the Clemson/Sakerlina rivalry and traded super secret, feignedly barbed, double secret probation questions with Garnet And Black Attack over at SB Nation. I’ve got hate in my heart, but them folks is cordial-assed people. I’ll bite my tongue. Our answers over there.

1) Can you offensive troubles be solely placed on your offensive line this year? If yes, we need a reason. Surely it still takes a team effort to reflect a bad final score. How do they match up against our defensive line?

No. The offensive line is part of the problem and is perhaps the biggest one, but it’s not the only problem. In fact, I think the offensive line is much better than a year ago, particularly when blocking the run. Pass protection continues to be a problem, but is also in general more competent than last year. The line also commits way too many penalties, which along with the sacks has often stunted drives.

We have other problems, though. The play calling has gotten a lot of press lately, and I’m in the camp that believes it has been suspect. I would like to see us commit more to the run. Spurrier and his staff said this would be a focus this year, and to some degree it has been, as we have a better running game than a year ago. However, we seem to abandon the run completely at times, and I’ve been disappointed that Spurrier hasn’t founded ways to get speedsters Jarvis Giles and Bryce Sherman opportunities to carry the ball. I also don’t like our tendency to go straight for the big play every time we cross midfield. Don’t get me wrong; I think a well-timed 40-yard fade is a great idea. However, at least since Alshon Jeffrey emerged as our top receiver, we seem to go for the big play every single time we get within striking distance. Teams know it’s coming now, so they know to have their safeties on alert and to blitz Garcia hard. In these situations, we seem to completely forget not only about the run but also about our mid-range passing game, particularly our talented TE Wesley Saunders.

Field position has also affected this team’s ability to score. Our defense is good, but, unlike a year ago, it doesn’t force many turnovers. Our return units are also very average, again unlike a year ago. That has contributed to a situation in which an offense that is seemingly better than the one we had a year ago has failed to score as much as last year’s version did.

Not all Gamecocks fans will agree with everything I’ve just said. Some will blame our failures on offensive line play and lack of execution. My two cents, though, are that Spurrier and his staff have improved the offense in some ways but are still failing to maximize its potential, particularly when we get in scoring position, which is when it counts. I should stress, though, that we have often moved the ball much better than the score would suggest, and a few more plays here and there could have made a major difference in our year. That means that success could be right around the corner. I feel like I’ve had to say that too many times over the past few years, though, so I’ll believe it when I see it.

2) What’s the number one thing about your team that we have to worry about come Saturday? Who’s the game changing player?

I’m going to say our push on the defensive line. If we’re getting pressure on Kyle Parker and getting to C. J. Spiller before he gets to the line of scrimmage, it could be a long day for your offense. When we’ve been able to do this, such as against N. C. State, Ole Miss, Alabama, and Florida, our defense has been really tough. When we haven’t, though, it’s much more pedestrian. The guys to watch here Eric Norwood (of course), Clifton Geathers, and Cliff Matthews.

3) Statistically, you guys have some of the worst kickoff/punt coverage teams in the nation. Do you think Spurrier’s game plan involves kicking directly at Spiller since he’s so stubborn?

I hope not, but maybe. Shane Beamer said that we didn’t have any special plans for dealing with Spiller this weekend, that we were just going to try to do the basics well, play good coverage, fill our lanes, etc. I hope that’s just coach speak. Even teams with good coverage units should plan around players like Spiller, and a team with questionable units should be extra careful. We’ll see what we actually do. I will say that we’ve been playing a little better on coverage over the last few games than we did at the beginning of the year, so there’s that.

4) I want your honest opinion. I’ve noticed that there are a few Gamecocks making a case against CJ Spiller. Why is this happening? Spiller is one of the most dangerous players in all of college football and he’s changed our future through his play this season. What’s the problem? Is it the fact that he’s less likely to be doing rails off of the trophy sometime later in his life that disturbs your fan base? Get it? Get it? A George Rogers joke! Get it?

Personally, I think Spiller has a quality case for the Heisman. As you say, he’s one of the most dangerous players in the game, and he contributes in so many ways. I think it’s a serious blow to the Heisman’s credibility that he’s not getting more of a look. It says a lot about the Heisman, really; basically, what you’re seeing is that a greater burden of proof is being placed on Spiller than on name-brand guys like Tim Tebow, who is clearly having an inferior season, IMO. The Heisman should be about rewarding the best player in the game, not the guy that ESPN plasters all over their website. Sadly, that’s not the case.

As far as why some Gamecocks disrespect Spiller, I guess it’s just the nature of rivalry. Lots of people just hate to see their rivals succeed. You might have also heard that there are lots of Gamecocks fans that don’t think the ACC is up to par with the other major conferences. Some of the Spiller-hatred comes from that angle, from the idea that Spillers’ numbers are inflated because he plays weak competition. Personally, I disagree with this idea. The ACC has lacked an elite team for some time now, but from where I’m sitting, the conference has a fairly deep set of teams that are pretty good even if they’re not national title contenders. I think some Gamecocks fans console themselves with the idea that being in the SEC makes us better than ACC teams. I’d prefer to console myself with actual wins over those teams, particularly Clemson, when and if those wins start coming.

5) Put into words for us what a win against us would do for you guys.

I think this team–and particularly its coach–needs a good showing in this game to earn back the respect of parts of the fanbase. Another debacle like last year’s, and I think you’ll see a lot of fans lose faith in Spurrier.

More to the point, if we win we’ll go crazy and burn down Five Points. Seriously; I will have the worst headache in the history of mankind Sunday morning if we win. Any win against a rival is a cause for celebration and since we haven’t won many games against you guys lately we’ll have all the more reason to throw down.