@Woodwerkz .... how you feeling?
I expected this game to either be a blowout by Clemson or a close win by Clemson. I was leaning toward close game because of them losing to Citadel last week, it being a chance to play spoiler, it being senior day and Elliott and them coaching for their jobs.
After seeing the play calling on the first series I realized that the whole team was playing tight which I figured would be the case after reading an article earlier this week saying how they realized they were playing for more than just the rivalry game. That told me that they weren't as focused as they needed to be...OC and players mainly. I figured that as long as Clemson weathered their best then it was nothing to worry about. This was a game that the old Clemson teams [sorry Tajh...but you would have froze up] would have lost and I'm happy to get the win vs a team that played like they had nothing lose and gave it their all. With that said...the Turnovers worry me because it tells me they aren't focused til the end of the whistle. Scott fumbled twice [losing 1], Gallman fumbled trying to do too much again, Watson fumbled on the Read option exchange. The fact that we still won in spite of that convinced me that we are a very good team but we can't spot UNC with the same opportunities because they are a pretty hot team right now with hella weapons.
But overall I feel that this game is a blessing in disguise [like the Syracuse game] b/c it won't allow the team to look at the record and feel things will be easy. I can tell the team is just tired...period. That's 9 straight weeks of playing football and if I'm the coaching staff I'm telling them "Win 1 more and you get 3 things....1. The ACC title 2. A chance for the playoffs and 3. REST. The TO's let the Gamecocks stay in the game and basically make a game of it when on each of those we were moving the ball effectively and probably score on each. They threw the slant route for about 80% of their pass plays and some of the biggest plays came on WTF calls [Like the last play...wtf all out blitz with the clock running and knowing they need to throw to the endzone or game is over] [Boulware messing up his assignment on the Cooper TD slant] [again all out blitzing on 3rd and like 21]...it almost seemed like they were calling some of that shyt to have something to argue with the team about next week. I feel like we still have the talent to win it all...but these nagging injuries and fatigue have seemed to take the fire out of the team that was there prior to the FSU game.
With all that said... the Gamecocks played a hell of a game and wouldn't quit and I can't knock them for that...hats off to them. They played like a team that didn't want the loss to Citadel to be what defined their team this season and they played with pride and determination. The fans on the other hand...fukk em... flicking players off, throwing stuff at them and just being classless.