I told you guys last week that I would be back this week whether we won or lost.
I was at the game and first of all I would like to say how nice and courteous all of the Alabama fans were both before and after the game. As a matter of fact, we partied with some Alabama fans before the game and had a great time. We will treat you just as well when you come to Columbia next year. You guys also have a very nice stadium that any high school recruit would be proud to play in. If I were a recruit coming out of high school, I would have to give Alabama a long hard look but I would probably go to South Carolina or one of the other SEC schools after watching that game Saturday night. I would not want to play where the fans give up and leave midway through the 3rd quarter no matter what the tradition is.
You need to give credit where credit is due. Whether you think so or not, you did not lose to a bad team Saturday night. You will see at the end of the year where we will stand and you will look back on Saturday night and say we lost to a pretty good team. I don't know about Alabama but we are going bowling. Alabama has good players but I noticed Saturday night that Alabama had a lot on individual efforts, they were not all on the same page and not playing as a team. That has do do with coaching and preparation and the players buying into what the coaching staff is trying to do. On the other side of the field, Lou Holtz has gotten his players to buy into what he is trying to do. All of the players are on the same page and playing as a team like a well oiled machine. At one point in the game, I saw Holtz call Syvelle Newton over to the sideline and he really got in his face, chewed him up and spit him out. It must have worked because he scored two touchdowns shortly thereafter. I was waching Shula with my binoculars but I never saw him even speak to a player. He doesn't seem to be very hands on with the players.
The loss Saturday night was a lot worse than the score indicated. We fumbled twice in scoring position and at the end of the game Holtz chose not to run up the score the way Alabama did to Western Carolina. The score should have been like 41 - 3. You keeping talking about your problem is because Croyle got hurt and you are having to play with your second string quarterback. Well, Syvelle Newton happens to be our second string quarterback and he has only played in two games prior to this one but he was poised and confident as you saw for yourselves. He will be our quarteback for the next two years. You will have to deal with him again next year as well as our young defensive backs.
You guys made fun of Holtz last week on here with all the Granny pictures but I bet that you would love to have him as your coach. Alabama not only got outplayed but also outcoached Saturday night. Holtz could have taken the current Alabama team and motivated them to the point where they would have won that game. Alabama has some problems but they are not as bad as you think. What kind of signal do you think it sends to the players when they look up midway through the third quarter and see half the fans leaving. The players gave up Saturday night because, YOU, the fans gave up on them.
You didn't gain just 34 yards and 1 first down in the second half because you were missing Croyle, its because that is all we let you have. You never even crossed the 50 yard line in the second half. Give our defense some credit, how about it. Fred Bennett, USC's defensive back that had two of the FOUR interceptions said it best in Sunday's paper. He said, Alabama's quarterbacks were easier to read than a "Dick and Jane" book. Go to www.thestate.com to read his comments. He said they were telegraphing their passes exactly where they were looking. They were just teeing off on the quarterbacks. With your quarterbacks playing like that, I wouldn't chalk up a win against Kentucky just yet. I don't know who your quarterbacks coach is but he needs to teach them how to look off the defensive backs.
Eventhough we beat you soundly Saturday night, the "Gamecocks" will do the Tide fans a big favor this year. I promise you that we will beat Mr. Fulmer and Voluteers like a drum when they come to Columbia on October 30. You can take that to the bank. "Trick or Treat" Mr Fulmer! We don't like him either.
I truly hope you guys get things together and at least make a bowl game so you have something to build on for next year. The Alabama fans deserve it after what they have had to go through the past few years. The Gamecocks will be ready for you when you come to Columbia next year. Hopefully will make it three in a row.
Sunbear
I was at the game and first of all I would like to say how nice and courteous all of the Alabama fans were both before and after the game. As a matter of fact, we partied with some Alabama fans before the game and had a great time. We will treat you just as well when you come to Columbia next year. You guys also have a very nice stadium that any high school recruit would be proud to play in. If I were a recruit coming out of high school, I would have to give Alabama a long hard look but I would probably go to South Carolina or one of the other SEC schools after watching that game Saturday night. I would not want to play where the fans give up and leave midway through the 3rd quarter no matter what the tradition is.
You need to give credit where credit is due. Whether you think so or not, you did not lose to a bad team Saturday night. You will see at the end of the year where we will stand and you will look back on Saturday night and say we lost to a pretty good team. I don't know about Alabama but we are going bowling. Alabama has good players but I noticed Saturday night that Alabama had a lot on individual efforts, they were not all on the same page and not playing as a team. That has do do with coaching and preparation and the players buying into what the coaching staff is trying to do. On the other side of the field, Lou Holtz has gotten his players to buy into what he is trying to do. All of the players are on the same page and playing as a team like a well oiled machine. At one point in the game, I saw Holtz call Syvelle Newton over to the sideline and he really got in his face, chewed him up and spit him out. It must have worked because he scored two touchdowns shortly thereafter. I was waching Shula with my binoculars but I never saw him even speak to a player. He doesn't seem to be very hands on with the players.
The loss Saturday night was a lot worse than the score indicated. We fumbled twice in scoring position and at the end of the game Holtz chose not to run up the score the way Alabama did to Western Carolina. The score should have been like 41 - 3. You keeping talking about your problem is because Croyle got hurt and you are having to play with your second string quarterback. Well, Syvelle Newton happens to be our second string quarterback and he has only played in two games prior to this one but he was poised and confident as you saw for yourselves. He will be our quarteback for the next two years. You will have to deal with him again next year as well as our young defensive backs.
You guys made fun of Holtz last week on here with all the Granny pictures but I bet that you would love to have him as your coach. Alabama not only got outplayed but also outcoached Saturday night. Holtz could have taken the current Alabama team and motivated them to the point where they would have won that game. Alabama has some problems but they are not as bad as you think. What kind of signal do you think it sends to the players when they look up midway through the third quarter and see half the fans leaving. The players gave up Saturday night because, YOU, the fans gave up on them.
You didn't gain just 34 yards and 1 first down in the second half because you were missing Croyle, its because that is all we let you have. You never even crossed the 50 yard line in the second half. Give our defense some credit, how about it. Fred Bennett, USC's defensive back that had two of the FOUR interceptions said it best in Sunday's paper. He said, Alabama's quarterbacks were easier to read than a "Dick and Jane" book. Go to www.thestate.com to read his comments. He said they were telegraphing their passes exactly where they were looking. They were just teeing off on the quarterbacks. With your quarterbacks playing like that, I wouldn't chalk up a win against Kentucky just yet. I don't know who your quarterbacks coach is but he needs to teach them how to look off the defensive backs.
Eventhough we beat you soundly Saturday night, the "Gamecocks" will do the Tide fans a big favor this year. I promise you that we will beat Mr. Fulmer and Voluteers like a drum when they come to Columbia on October 30. You can take that to the bank. "Trick or Treat" Mr Fulmer! We don't like him either.
I truly hope you guys get things together and at least make a bowl game so you have something to build on for next year. The Alabama fans deserve it after what they have had to go through the past few years. The Gamecocks will be ready for you when you come to Columbia next year. Hopefully will make it three in a row.
Sunbear