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Yes, there was no passing game last year and yes the team was wildly inconsistent, but the end-of-the-year 63-17 debacle against Clemson made it easy to forget that the Gamecocks were five points and an overtime away from an 8-4 campaign.
The problem wasn't just that they lost seven games, it's that they were obliterated in four of them. They were good enough to blow out Virginia, take Tennessee to overtime and battle with Florida in a two-point loss, but they didn't look like they belonged on the same field with Georgia, LSU, Arkansas and Clemson. The 2001 Gamecocks won five games by a touchdown or less and battled hard in the three losses. The team hasn't always looked as tough week-in-and-week out over the last two years.
This year's team is no different with a good, but not elite, talent base and several fine athletes that have the potential to do very big things. Now the magic has to return and as impossible as that is to define, that has to come from Holtz. He has to find a way to get the chemistry back in Columbia and make this a more cohesive team. A few good bounces this year and it's a bowl bound team. A few breaks the wrong way and the Holtz tenure could be on its last legs.
The Schedule: Holtz has the returning starters and the overall experience to expect big things, and he has the schedule to keep the Gamecocks in the thick of the SEC race. With Georgia, Tennessee and Arkansas coming to Columbia, USC could be around 8-1 if it can hold serve at home before facing Florida and Clemson to finish. O.K., so that's asking for the world, but six wins and bowl eligibility by November is very doable.
Best Offensive Player: Sophomore RB Demetris Summers. One of the SEC's most talented backs, Summers was held down by a few injuries and the lack of a passing game to help take the heat off. He'll combine with Daccus Turman to give the Gamecocks a hard-nosed and talented ground attack.
Best Defensive Player: Junior DE Moe Thompson. Sometimes players are in the right place at the right time and sometimes players just make big things happen. Thompson is one who makes big plays making 60 tackles last year, with five sacks and eight quarterback hurries to go along with three recovered fumbles and an interception.
Key player to a successful season: There has to be more of a passing game and it has to come from QB Dondrial Pinkins. The senior had problems with his accuracy last year and defenses feasted off of it putting everyone up on the line and daring the Gamecocks to win through the air. If Pinkins can be even a little more effective, the outstanding ground game will take over.
The season will be a success if .... wins seven games and goes to a bowl game. There will need to be an upset or two along the way, but there's no reason this team can't pull off at least three of the league home games and go 2-2 in the SEC on the road.
Key game: Sept. 11 vs. Georgia. The Gamecocks gave the Dawgs all they could handle in a 13-7 loss in 2002 and were blasted 31-7 last year. A win of the mighty Dawgs would set the tone for the season and give the team a shot of sorely needed confidence early on. Lou Holtz has been known for getting his team jacked up for early games like this.
2003 Fun Stats:
- Fumbles: Opponents 28 (lost 15) - South Carolina 14 (lost 5)
- Sacks: South Carolina 15 - Opponents 10
- Teams only attempted nine field goals against South Carolina and made five
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