Alabama Crimson Tide VS South Carolina Gamecocks

A lot of people in the run-up to the game between the Tide and the Gamecocks are happy to remind you the last time Bama lost to an SEC East team was nine years ago in Columbia, SC when the Cocks won 35-21.

That year the Gamecocks were led by “Head Ball Coach” Steve Spurrier; the pipsqueak  known as “Darth Visor” for throwing and stomping on his visor when he succumbed to fits of anger like a brat kicking and screaming on the floor of a toy store.  The same Steve Spurrier who left a successful Florida Gators program to coach in the NFL when somebody pissed him off.  The same Spurrier who left the Redskins to come crawling back to college ball when things got bad.

Three years before he resigned in the middle of his 11th season at South Carolina, Spurrier threw some shade at Nick Saban saying, “He’s got a nice little gig going.  A little bit like Calipari.  He tells guys, ‘Hey three years from now, you’re going to be a first-round pick and go.’  If he wants to be the greatest coach or one of the greatest coaches in college football, to me, he has to go somewhere besides Alabama and win, because they’ve always won there at Alabama.”

During his post-game press conference following Bama’s drubbing of New Mexico State, Saban was asked, “What do you get out of a game like this and do you think this level of competition can get you ready for an SEC game a week later?”

His response was, “ Well look, I’ve talked about this before.  We’ve tried to schedule the best teams we can schedule and we’re trying to do that in the future as well.  We can only play the people who are willing to play us. I’ve said my opinion about playing 12 Power-5 schools.  That’s what I would rather do, but a lot of other people don’t agree with that.  I’d rather play 10 SEC games and then play two other Power-5 schools, so all the games are exciting for the fans; all the games are good football.  You wouldn’t have to go undefeated to get into the playoffs because you’d play a more quality schedule.”

“I’ve been through and covered that ground a hundred times.  If you asked me if we should play 12 Power-5 teams my answer would be Yes,” Saban continued.

So…the Tide rolls into Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia to do battle with Coach Muschamp’s Gamecocks.  Muschamp took some heat for his decision to punt at midfield on fourth-and-one in the fourth quarter leading the Tarheels 20-17.  They ended up losing to the Heels 24-20.  Muschamp confessed, “ We played the percentages there with our defense, but I was obviously wrong.”

In that game, starting QB Jake Bentley suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury to his foot giving second string QB Ryan Hilinski the reins against Charleston Southern last Saturday.  Hilinksi completed 24 of 30 passes for 282 yards in their 72-10 victory.

Will Muschamp was an elite defensive coordinator back in the day, but as head coach he’s nowhere near solving the SEC.  It didn’t happen in four seasons at Florida and it hasn’t happened yet in Columbia.  He’s 12-12 through three seasons at South Carolina.

The atmosphere at Williams-Brice Stadium will be electric for Gamecocks fans.  I had tickets to the game but will not be able to attend.  My best friend was hospitalized in critical condition the day before Hurricane Dorian lashed the South Carolina coast and I have chosen to be with my friend.

I know, however, Coach Saban’s murderball will be too much for Muschamp to handle.  The game will be largely lopsided in favor of the Tide as Tua takes advantage of an inexperienced Gamecocks secondary.  Bama’s defense will undoubtedly force multiple turnovers giving Bama another blowout victory to start the 2019 season.

Funny Maine has disabled embedding his videos on other websites.  I hope you'll click on the link to watch "How Bama Fans Watched Week Two Games".

South Carolina Trophy case: pic.twitter.com/EIeM23Pixr

— Blake, hold the B (@lbosey7) August 23, 2019