Checking in with the Gamecocks

As the Coot Turns:

• Two Gamecocks have legal issues. One is a he said she said deal involving a running back, and nothing will come of that. The other involves Clifton Geathers, starting SC defensive end and brother of Dawgs Robert and Kwame Geathers, and a 3:10 am trip to jail:

  Geathers, 21, is charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness after Columbia police, responding to a fight between Geathers and a bouncer at Club Ice, struggled to detain the 6-foot-8, 281-pound Geathers.

  If Geathers were to be suspended for the UGA game (and I see that as unlikely given Spurrier's track record with punishment of starters), they would be without two of their top three defensive linemen for our game. Out of respect for the mom who produced two other Dawgs, I'm not posting his mug shot or taking my normal shots at the arrested. But allegedly getting in a fist fight with a bar's security guard at 3 in the morning is never a good thing.
  
  
• SC's New OL Coach - The Gamecock offensive line has been a constant source of frustration for Spurrier since his arrival in Columbia. Their new OL Coach has been getting rave reviews, but I did have to chuckle at this line from The State:

  But the line’s performance in general has been a constant problem since Steve Spurrier arrived five seasons ago. A lack of consistent protection has hindered the quarterbacks’ development, and a lack of running holes has prevented the team from having a 1,000-yard rusher.

  I don't think you can pin all of those woes just on the OL. Not recruiting a QB or RB worth a damn for five seasons is probably a large contributing factor, too. The last scary RB in Columbia was Derek Watson....unless you were ovulating...then probably Demetris Summers.
  
  
• The Garcia Saga Continues - The Gamecocks had a ray of hope as Garcia went 14 of 16 for 150 years and a TD in last Wednesday's scrimmage. On Saturday, he followed that up with a 10 of 23 performance for 100 yards. Spurrier calls him so-so and "very average", and he sees little difference between Garcia and Reid McCollum. I saw Reid play a game in HS. Athletically, I'd say he's a poor man's Greg Talley or a scholarship version of Brian Smith (some early to mid-90s Dawg comparisons). And yeah...that's a shot at Garcia and Reid. Last year, Chicken QBs combined to throw 27 QBs.
  
  
• A Trindon Holliday Type? - The Gamecocks may have found some offense with walk-on Bryce Sherman. Sherman is a Trindon Holliday type track star who has looked very good in scrimmages for the Chickens this year. This is one to keep an eye on. It'll be interesting to see how he performs when hit.
  
  
• Moe Brown Profile - Brown is a senior WR that's better known for his feet than hands; however, he did go for 7 catches and 130 yards against Georgia last year. Quick...name the last UGA opponent other than Brown to get 100 yards receiving? Hint: It's not Percy Harvin, Calvin Johnson or Robert Meachem. An autographed copy of my bar tab to the winner. Brown is the closet thing to a proven play maker on the SC defense.

You didn't ask, but I think this is a 7 win team if Spurrier does a fabulous job coaching. If not, who knows how bad it could get. The Fighting Poultry are notorious for imploding in the face of adversity.

See Also:
-- Steve Spurrier vs Ray Goff: A Comparison ('08) - GSB
-- Tickets: South Carolina at UGA

PWD