It's now or never for Spurrier at South Carolina

By Charles Drake | 5/1/10 | Email

November 23rd, 2004 was an exciting day in Columbia, South Carolina. A day filled with hope and anticipation of what was to come. The Gamecocks had just inked a SEC coaching legend to coach their football team. The "Fun 'n' Gun" was coming to save the day or at least make it better. Surely a coach that led Duke University to an ACC title could fix the little problems at South Carolina.

Five years, a sub .500 SEC record, and a 35-28 overall record at USC later, there are still problems to be fixed in Columbia. The past 5 years for Steve Spurrier have been tough, but they haven't gone by without progress. The talent level has improved, and the Gamecocks have been to four bowl games.

Heading into the 2010 season, the Gamecocks have a chance -- and that's all the ole' ball coach asks for. The schedule is a monster, as always; Georgia comes to Columbia on September 11th, a September 25th game at Auburn looms after that, USC gets Alabama and Tennessee at home in October, and travels to Florida a week after hosting Arkansas in November.

Nothing about that gauntlet screams out as a recipe for success, but this version of South Carolina football is trying to be different. "We're trying to get our team more accountable then they have been in the past." said a determined Spurrier three weeks ago.

That mindset and a few other variables including 17 returning starters, and a SEC East division in transition give a sense of hope in Columbia this spring that hasn't been seen in awhile. Why not the Gamecocks this year? The SEC East is as open as it will ever get -- at 4-11 against the big three in the East under Spurrier, South Carolina has had their problems against the big boys, but 2010 has a chance to be different. Florida is in the post-Tebow era -- trying to usher in a new starting quarterback while replacing defensive leadership and talent; all with a new defensive staff. Tennessee is still trying to get their ducks in a row -- the Lane Kiffin experiment over and likely leaving their 2010 chances in its wake. Georgia has a new defensive staff and a redshirt freshman quarterback. Why not USC?

South Carolina has the talent at key positions to challenge anyone in the East. On defense, USC has talent and experience all over the field. Senior defensive end Cliff Matthews and senior defensive back Chris Culliver hope to lead a unit that finished third in the SEC for the 2009 season in total defense. Last years freshman All-American, Stephon Gilmore is back as is 2009 tackles leader, junior linebacker Shaq Wilson.

On offense, they return a talented wide receiver corps, depth and a spring star in Justice Cunningham at tight end, Jarvis Giles, Brian Maddox, Kenny Miles, and the addition of stud recruit Marcus Lattimore looks like a solid stable at running back. The biggest questions entering 2010 on offense will be offensive line play (returning only 1 starter with offensive line coach Eric Wolford leaving as well) and the enigma that is Stephen Garcia at quarterback.

Garcia, a 22 year old junior that factors as the biggest key to the 2010 USC season, still has some growing to do and Spurrier knows it. Said Spurrier after the April 10th spring game: "I'm hoping Stephen Garcia will have a big summer of getting committed to re-learn how to play. We gotta get Stephen ready to play. Stephen should be our best player, but sometimes he doesn't completely act like it or perform like it."

Calling out your incumbent starting quarterback like that is a dicey situation, but Spurrier didn't stop there; "We keep thinking Stephen is going to really get better, but something happens to him and he performs pretty similarly to me. But he's got all summer to see if he can really iron out some things. We'll see how he (Garcia) does this summer and see how the other guys (redshirt freshman Andrew Clifford and true freshman Connor Shaw) and we'll play the best quarterback."

If, BIG if, Garcia or one of the two freshman can give the Gamecocks consistency and productivity at the quarterback position -- 2010 could be a big year in Columbia.

For five years Spurrier has been working to have a chance like this at South Carolina. Rival teams in transition, a talented and experienced group of players, and a renewed focus thanks to the ending of 2009. He ended last season apologizing to Gamecock fans after a 20-7 loss to Connecticut in the Papajohns.com Bowl. "The first thing I want to do, and hopefully half the team does, is apologize to about 30,000 Gamecocks that came down here to see a football game, and we couldn't put one on."

Fast forward to spring 2010 and that game fuels his offseason preparation. "The way we tried to perform against UConn in the Papa John's bowl. I can't get over it, that was an embarrassment. We're trying to hope that never happens again here at South Carolina, a game like that." said Spurrier after the Garnet and Black spring game on April 10th.

Now at 65 years old, Spurrier hopes history doesn't repeat itself in 2010 and the apologizing is over, but he isn't promising anything just yet; "We could have a chance, but not till we earn it. Don't sing many praises about us yet. We have a chance if some guys come through. Wait and see on the Gamecocks, ok."

With a contract that ends in 2012, which is likely his last. There isn't much more time to wait, coach.