Tag: Gamecocks

Why South Carolina Football Fans are so Upset

By: Cooper Hill

This has been a disappointing year to say the least. As I am writing this, the Gamecocks currently sit at 3-5. The Gamecocks are struggling to even make a bowl game at this point. They have had so many chances to win certain games like Alabama and LSU. Whether it was a bad play call, fumble, or just not finishing games, this team has thrown away opportunities. Many people believe that many coaches such as the offensive coordinator, Mike Shula, and the head coach, Shane Beamer are on the hot seat. The Gamecocks also still have to play number 7 Ole Miss and number 3 Texas A&M. Both of these games are also away games which does not help our chances. I really do not know if we can make a bowl game because we would have to beat one of those teams. We also have to finish the year with a decent Coastal Carolina team, and Clemson who is struggling, but it could still be a toss up. This was one of the favorite teams at the beginning of the season to make the playoffs. Carolina fans, including me, need to see something change, whether it is play calling or staff changes. We need something to be different. This team has so much potential to be a playoff caliber team, but those dreams are now crushed. The Gamecocks do not have any chance anymore to make the playoffs.  At this point, do everything it takes to make a bowl game and regroup for next season. To be honest,  this is what it is like to be a South Carolina fan every single year. It is just let down after let down. Hopefully next year is our year, just like I say every year.

LaNorris Sellers is Him

By Milling Galloway

Let’s just say it loud and clear: LaNorris Sellers is HIM. Like, if you’ve watched this man play, you already know that he’s not merely good, he’s different. He’s got that special blend of talent, poise, and energy that just makes you stop whatever you are doing to watch him cook.

First of all, the arm talent is ridiculous. Guy throws lasers down the field as if it’s nothing. Off-platform, tight windows, in pressure situations, none of those things matter. He throws in ways that leave you wondering how that actually occurred. Then, just as the defense has him figured out, he trucks someone and takes off. Not only is he agile, he’s a threat in movement. But what sets LaNorris Sellers apart isn’t simply the physical skills; it’s how he conducts himself. Calm, assured, level-headed. Not too hot, not too cold. You can tell he’s made for big games. Pressure? No problem. It’s exuding “QB1 energy” every day.

Also, talk about leadership. Players gather around him. Coaches believe in him. Fans love him. There’s just something about the presence, you know, he’s going to be something special. The funny part is, he’s just getting started. We have not even seen him at his best yet, though. Give him some time, give him some practice, and then watch out. The rest of America needs to wake up because LaNorris Sellers is going to be trouble. So yeah, go ahead and remember the name. LaNorris Sellers. Star in the making. Future legend. He’s already so good it’s terrifying. This year, he has not really looked the part. The Gamecock O-line might be working at Target next week if they keep this up.  LaNorris needs to hit the draft and become a household name. If I were him, I would for sure not be a Gamecock next year. 

Is South Carolina Football in Trouble?

By: Cooper Hill

After a rough game against Vanderbilt, South Carolina needs a serious bounceback game against Missouri. The Gamecocks fell 31-7. It definitely felt worse than that score. Injuries definitely affected the outcome, but I do not believe it was by much. The Carolina offense looked very weak and did not show many signs of life. After Lanorris Sellers went down with a head injury after a targeting call is where it began to go downhill. Although he went down, a bright side was Luke Doty stepping up and taking command. He completed some tough passes and led a few drives. The Gamecocks do have pretty good quarterback depth this year with Cutter Woods, Air Noland, and Brandon Cunningham. All were very highly rated recruits in their respective classes. So if the Doty experiment does not work out, we have some help. Just like me, most Gamecock fans will be praying that Lanorris will be back so we do not have to worry about the quarterback situation. Also, Carolina does not have an easy schedule from here on out so they need to get the ship on the right path. The running game really needs to step up this week, especially with Lanorris being questionable as of the Wednesday injury report. Rashul Faison has rushed for 135 yards on 27 attempts and one touchdown. Oscar Adaway III has 86 yards for one touchdown on 22 attempts. These two need to have big rushing games if Sellers is out this week. As of right now, I think the Gamecocks are fine. They just need to win a big game this weekend. If not, I do believe that Carolina football will be in a bad spot, especially if they have playoff hopes like they did last year.

Why Lanorris Sellers Could Win the Heisman

By: Cooper Hill

Going into his second year as a starter for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, Sellers is a serious contender for the Heisman. As a redshirt freshman, he threw for 2,534 yards, 18 touchdowns, while rushing for 674 yards and 7 more touchdowns. Lanorris proved himself early on last year taking Carolina to a bowl game and going 9-4. With receiver weapons, Nyck Harbor, Mazeo Bennett Jr. and true freshman Donovan Murph, Sellers could see a lot of success. All receivers have extremely good potential to have breakout seasons due to Sellers. Not only can Sellers sling the rock, but he is a serious weapon on the ground. Defensive coordinators are going to have a time trying to prepare their team for the dual threat passing and running. Lanorris also has a connection with the new offensive coordinator, Mike Shula, due to the fact that he was the offensive analyst for the Gamecocks last year. In the week one game where the Gamecocks beat the Virginia Tech Hokies 24-11, Lanorris completed 12 of his 19 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown. He rushed for 25 yards and another touchdown. These stats are not eye catching, but the 25 yards on the ground are physical, hard runs that got the Gamecocks first downs to win the game. He also had a huge touchdown pass to the former track star, Nyck Harbor. Also, with many quarterbacks, such as Arch Manning and Cade Kulb Klubnik, who were in the preseason Heisman watch, not performing well week one, it gives Sellers an edge to win it. Lanorris just needs to be himself the rest of the year, and keep the mistakes to a minimum. Sellers is for sure a dark horse to win the Heisman trophy this year.

South Carolina v Virginia Tech Preview

By: Benson Elmore

On Sunday, August 31, The Gamecocks travel to Mercedes Benz stadium to play the Virginia Tech Hokies, so here is a breakdown of how I think this game will end up going. 

In this game, Carolina is the heavy favorite here by seven and a half points, which I think is pretty valid. I think that Carolina’s offense will be very hard to stop with Heisman candidate Lanorris Sellers, stud wide receivers Nyck Harbor and Mazeo Bennet, and new transfer Rahsul Faison. Also defensive studs like sophomore Dylan Stewart, Jalon Killgore, and Brandon Cisse are going to give Virginia Tech a very hard time moving the ball. 

With Mercedez Benz stadium being closer to South Carolina then Virginia, I think that more Carolina fans will be in attendance than Virginia tech. I think the energy will not be as high as a normal college football game, since the location is at a neutral site, and I do not think that this game will be entertaining at all if you are a Virginia Tech Hokies fan. I seriously think that Carolina is going to light Virginia Tech’s defense up and I do not think that Virginia Tech will move the ball well against Carolina either. 

Now, a little bit about why Carolina’s stud QB Lanorris Sellers could win the Heisman this year. Lanorris Sellers has a real shot at winning the Heisman this year. He’s got everything you need like crazy arm strength, fast legs, and the ability to make big plays when it counts. Sellers can make all the throws, but what sets him apart is how he moves in the pocket, avoiding pressure and creating chances out of nowhere. He’s a dual-threat QB, so defenses can’t just focus on one thing. If he keeps putting up big numbers and leads his team to wins, he could definitely be in the mix for the Heisman this season. He’s got the tools to be special.

WHY USC?

By: Carson Wilsey

The University of South Carolina (USC) is regarded as the best university in South Carolina for a variety of reasons, including its rich past, outstanding academic reputation, lively campus culture, and emphasis on student achievement. Being the state’s flagship university, USC is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a top-notch education. It has a lengthy history, founded in 1801, and has grown into a respected organization. USC, situated in Columbia, the state capital, students have access to internships and employment around a thriving city. Its excellent academic reputation and ranking as the top public university in the state, proves it the best for anyone looking to attend college in South Carolina.

USC provides a broad range of academic programs to accommodate the needs of a diverse student body. The institution offers more than 350 degree programs, including notable courses in public health, business, engineering, and education. For instance, the College of Engineering and Computing is well-known, while the Darla Moore School of Business is regarded as one of the best in the nation. Strong programs in the sciences and arts are also offered by USC, students can study pretty much any subject they are interested in because of this variety. 

Along with its excellent academic reputation, USC offers an exciting campus with lots of extracurricular activities. Students can participate in activities that interest them due to the organizations, which include academic clubs, sports teams, and cultural associations. Additionally, there are leadership programs and a decent Greek life (Frat/Sororities) on campus that support students’ personal and professional development. The stunning campus of USC, full of modern and ancient buildings, offers an ideal environment for learning and relaxation. Students can enjoy their college experience and meet new people in this welcoming environment created by the joyful campus life.

Why South Carolina will make the playoffs

By: Benson Elmore

South Carolina’s path to the College Football Playoffs is not the easiest, but it’s definitely possible with the right combination of clutch wins, good matchups, and the power of the team. Here’s how Carolina can and will make the CFP

1. Raw Offense

South Carolina’s offense has been stacked lately, with  Lanorris (him) Sellers, Nyck Harbor, Mazeo Bennet, and Joshua Simon, giving them a dangerous passing offense. The Gamecocks have been able to put up points against top-tier competition, and if they continue to develop their offense under Beamer, they’ll have the firepower to compete with any team in the SEC. And let’s not forget about Rocket Sanders who knows how to blow right through top tier defenses

2. Strong Coaching

Shane Beamer is a rising star in the coaching ranks. His energy, leadership, and ability to develop players have already shown results in his first few seasons at South Carolina. He’s built a solid foundation for the team and has proven that he can win big games, which is shown by South Carolina’s stunning upsets over a couple of ranked teams. With Beamer continuing to grow as a head coach, the Gamecocks could make a crazy statement in the future in the SEC.

3. SEC Scheduling Advantage

South Carolina plays in the SEC, which is without a doubt the most competitive conference in college football. While the schedule is tough, it also provides the Gamecocks with opportunities to get some big wins. If they can thrive in a tough schedule and pick off the last couple of teams on their schedule, it would give them no reason for the committee to keep them out of the playoffs. 

4. Defensive Improvement

South Carolina’s defense has been raw at least lately. People like Kyle Kennard and Dylan Stewart have dominated O-lines. Don’t even get me started on the defensive backs. This defense can beat any team in the league, no doubt about it. 

5. The College Football Playoff Expansion

The most important factor for South Carolina’s playoff chances in the future is the expansion of the CFP to 12 teams. With a larger field, the chances of South Carolina making them increases significantly. If they can keep winning games, they will make the playoffs. 

Should South Carolina have a good basketball season?

By: Milling Galloway

In the past, South Carolina has had a prodominantly decent basketball program. Our women’s team has been amazing, but the men on the other hand have been just ok. Last year brought a change to the program with the second year head coach Lamont Paris. The team went 26-8 with a new freshman super star that shocked many people. All though the team ended up losing in the first round of March Madness, they still proved so many people wrong. I truly believe that the attitude and respect of this team brought them close together.

This year, we have one of the best players in all of high school, Five star Cam Scott, who is supposed to be the next big one and done. In the scrimmage, he had a good showing, but did not make a lot of inside shots like he was supposed to make. He did end up making a lot of threes which is a great sign that he will help us a ton. I think our portal players and new up and coming freshman will add a sense of hope and a good feeling to many of the South carolina fans that have not had this feeling in a while. To be completely honest, I feel good before this season that we can make a run. I have not been able to say that about past years. In a sense, there is a sense of excitement which is truly crazy to think about. If the team can just go out and play for one another, we could be a scary team. We just can not be another traditional South Carolina team and go out and loose and loose more to mediocre teams. I am tired of just losing over and over again. The shame is unbearable. I just hope this year can be different.

Is South Carolina a good football team?

By Milling Galloway

Does South Carolina have a good football atmosphere? Yes. Does South Carolina have the resources to be a national ranked team? Yes. Once again the answers to all these questions are yes. Sure enough we are a mediocre team once again. I’m tired of this. Year after year it’s the same thing over and over again. Why can’t we ever be good? Only once in the program’s history has South Carolina ever been good.

The problem, in my opinion, is that our offense is terrible. Our defense could easily stand with the best offenses in the nation; Bama, Georgia, any of them to be honest. Our offense once again is holding us back. Sellers is a decent quarterback that can run: He is not the problem. Our receivers are trash and our offensive line is atrocious. Lets step away from the negatives and look at the positives. Rocket Sanders is one of the most talented running backs we have ever seen. He has turned what should be no yard gains into explosive plays for the offense. Our tight end core has some good true freshmen talent that I would like to see more of.

Shane in my opinion isn’t the coach for us. It’s time to go looking for new staff. He has been given too much leniency. The play calling has to change as well. That means it is time to get rid of Dowell Loggins as soon as possible. The only reason we played a good game against Alabama is because of the Defense led by Kyle Kenard. It certainly helps the team when you have the best defense of end in the country. I honestly can not take the embarrassment of being a fan of South Carolina. You just get to a point where you know we are gonna lose and just accept our fate. All I know is if Shane doesn’t get his act together, we are gonna have a lot of problems.

Why Lanorris Sellers may not be the Gamecocks Best Fit

By: Ford Wilder

To begin, the South Carolina Gamecocks are off to an okay start to the 2024 season.

They are 3-2 and their two losses have come to top fifteen-ranked SEC opponents LSU and Ole Miss. The Gamecocks are looking to at least become bowl-eligible and finish the season off strong. This will be tough though because they have a very tough October slate of games. They will face ranked SEC opponents Alabama, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma. To go along with that the Gamecocks defense looks quite strong, and is playing well. The problem is the offense.

The South Carolina offense has been led by Lanorris Sellers thus far who has shown great glimpses of what he can be, but also poor moments setting the offense back. Sellers has been productive on the ground game with 55 carries for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns. Where he has struggled though is in the pass game. Through four games he has completed 49 passes of 85 attempts with 555 yards,2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. This combines for a QBR of 43.4 which is 96th in the country. This struggle in the pass game has set the Gamecocks offense back tremendously causing them to only put up 3 points versus Ole Miss. To give Lanorris the benefit of the doubt the receiving core and offensive line have been sort of lackluster but this does not excuse the poor decisions and throws he has made consistently throughout the year. His lack of experience is showing against fast and physical SEC defenses. If this continues it may be time for the Gamecocks to look for a change.

Adjacently, this is where Robby Ashford comes into play. Ashford transferred to USC this year after playing at Auburn the previous years. Ashford has SEC starting experience under the Tigers and showed his great dual threat capabilities there where he rushed for 710 yards and 7 touchdowns at Auburn in 2022 and also threw for 9 touchdowns. Ashford has started one game this season for the Gamecocks this year against Akromn after Sellers suffered an ankle sprain against LSU. Akron may not be the greatest opponent but Ashford used this opportunity and showed out. He completed 15 of 21 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for an additional 133 rushing yards and a touchdown. This performance showed many that Ashford may be an option looking ahead for the Gamecocks.

Furthermore, Sellers is considered to be the future of USC as he is just a sophomore compared to Ashford being a senior. This may be true and all but if the Gamecocks want to win right now in the SEC; I believe they should consider starting Ashford due to his experience, and the capabilities he has shown thus far.