South Carolina Football 2013 Previews: North Carolina Tarheels

Source: Garnet And Black Attack by Gamecock Man

This post begins a series previewing each of our 2013 opponents. We begin with our opening contest, which is against the North Carolina Tarheels.

This game is of interest primarily because of the colors the opponent is wearing, not how good it is. USC fans have been clamoring for a return visit from our former ACC rivals ever since UNC won a narrow contest in Chapel Hill during the 2007 season, so fan interest should be relatively high for this game. However, USC should win this one. We're currently a 12 1/2-point favorite in the game, which should give you an idea of how the two teams stack up against each other.

That's not to say that UNC is chopped liver. In

Track. Lampe Qualifies at School-Record Pace, Five Gamecocks Advance

Source: Gamecocks Official Site

Sophomore Kayla Lampe broke her own 10,000-meter school record with a time of 33:43.95 to qualify for the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Championships and five Gamecocks advanced to quarterfinals on the first day of the NCAA East Preliminary Round at Irwin Belk Track.

South Carolina Football: Reliving George Rogers' 1980 Heisman Trophy March

Source: Bleacher Report NCAAF

In 1980, South Carolina running back George Rogers ran his way to the Heisman Trophy and a place in college football history.  

With Rogers stampeding all over the field, the Gamecocks put together a good season with a final record of 8-4.  

At the start of the year, South Carolina returned a lot of talent, although no one carried as much hype and pressure as Rogers.

Rogers became a standout player during his junior year when he ran for 1,681 yards, which vaulted him onto the national scene. The senior running back entered the 1980 season with high expectations as a Heisman hopeful.

South Carolina not only thought it

M. Tennis. Mihov Reaches Round of 16 at NCAA Singles Championship

Source: Gamecocks Official Site

South Carolina junior Tsvetan Mihov continued his steady play in the NCAA Men's Tennis Singles Championship Thursday afternoon, reaching the round of 16 with a convincing straight-set victory that will earn him All-America honors at the conclusion of the tournament. Mihov and doubles partner Chip Cox dropped their opening-round match in the Doubles Championship.

W. Golf. Gamecocks 22nd Heading Into Final Round of NCAA Championship

Source: Gamecocks Official Site

The South Carolina women's golf team posted its best round of the NCAA Championship on Thursday, shooting a 4-over 292 in the third round at the University of Georgia Golf Course.

Baseball. Baseball Eliminated At SEC Tournament In 4-3 Loss To Vanderbilt

Source: Gamecocks Official Site

For the second consecutive day, 12th ranked South Carolina rallied from three runs down, however top ranked Vanderbilt loaded the bases in the 10th inning and with one out a RBI base hit from Conrad Gregor lifted the Commodores to a 4-3 win over the Gamecocks in an elimination game on Thursday afternoon at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

W. Tennis. Alawi, Kanakova Fall in NCAA Doubles Championship

Source: Gamecocks Official Site

Senior Jaklin Alawi and junior Dominika Kanakova from the South Carolina women's tennis team lost in the opening round of the 32-team NCAA Doubles Championship on Thursday in Urbana, Ill.

SEC on the tube in 2013

Source: SEC Football Blog

We now know a few more TV times for SEC games next fall. Here's a glance at what's already been set for the 2013 season: Aug. 29 (Thursday) North Carolina at South Carolina, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN Ole Miss at Vanderbilt, 9:15 p.m. ET, ESPN Aug. 31 Alabama vs. Virginia Tech (in Atlanta), 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN Georgia at Clemson, 8 p.m. ET, ABC LSU vs. TCU (in Arlington, Texas), 9 p.m. ET, ESPN Sept. 14 Alabama at Texas A&M, 3:30 p.m.

Softball. Effie Manahan Joins 2014 Incoming Freshmen for Gamecock Softball

Source: Gamecocks Official Site

Gamecock head softball coach Beverly Smith added to her stellar incoming freshman group for the 2014 season with Effie Manahan, a catcher/third baseman from Brooklet, Ga., during the spring signing period.

The Weekly GABAbag

Source: Garnet And Black Attack by Gamecock'n'Balls

Greetings! Tise week's questions were few in quantity but hearty in value. As always, we welcome you to give your own opinions in the comments section.

@Gamecock1998 asks, "How good a player is recent 2015 commit Shameik Blackshear?"

Funny you ask, as 247 Sports just released its initial 2015 player rankings. They've slapped 5 FAT STARS on Blackshear. The 6'4", 235 lb. 15-year-old (!!!) currently projects as the state's top player in the 2015 cycle. Get excited! BUT NOT TOO EXCITED ARE YOU CRAZY? We're still 21 months removed from Blackshear's signing day and it would be foolish to assume his myriad suitors will be all that

Paul Finebaum joining ESPN

Source: SEC Football Blog

Paul Finebaum, who's been a fixture covering the SEC for the last three decades, is coming to ESPN and the SEC Network. ESPN announced Thursday that Finebaum will host a daily radio show from Charlotte, N.C., starting in August. He will also make appearances on other platforms for the network. The SEC Network, scheduled to launch in August 2014, will simulcast Finebaum's afternoon show. Finebaum had previously been based in Birmingham, Ala., and his show provided a lively debate between Alabama and Auburn fans on a daily basis.

RecruitingNation links: SEC edition

Source: SEC Football Blog

DawgNation From Kipp Adams : Georgia has done well on the recruiting trail this season and these 10 prospects could commit soon. GatorNation From Derek Tyson : With big plans beyond football, ESPN 150 OLB Jacob Pugh is set on the road to success. GeauxTigerNation From Gary Laney : This week's LSU mailbag tackles the question of just how far away the Tigers are from winning a national title.

Incoming impact freshmen in the SEC

Source: SEC Football Blog

ESPN's Tom Luginbill has selected five freshmen who are enrolling this summer that he thinks will make an immediate impact in the fall. Two of the players on his list will be playing in the SEC -- Ole Miss defensive end Robert Nkemdiche and Auburn defensive end Carl Lawson. Nkemdiche was ESPN's No. 1 prospect nationally in the 2013 class. He was also the No. 1 defensive end. Lawson was the No. 2 defensive end nationally. Ole Miss and Auburn were both in the bottom half of the league last season in pass efficiency defense, so adding a couple of dynamic pass-rushers should help both the Rebels and Tigers.

SEC lunch links

Source: SEC Football Blog

A check of what's shaking in the SEC: It's time for the SEC to take a long, hard look at scheduling, writes Matt Hayes of The Sporting News. The NCAA should transfer some of its power to the athletes, writes Pat Dooley of The Gainesville Sun. Alabama's Nick Saban is tough to say no to during the recruiting process. There's no looking back for Saban and the Tide. The only one that matters is the "next one." Will Georgia have the SEC's best offense in 2013?

Video: If the season started tomorrow

Source: SEC Football Blog

If the season started tomorrow a number of SEC teams would have to figure out who would be their starters under center.

Video: A&M's Manziel working to get better

Source: SEC Football Blog

Kirk Herbstreit visits Johnny Manziel as he trains with QB specialist George Whitfield this offseason.

Out of nowhere - South Carolina (Rivals)

Source: Yahoo! NCAAF

FREE: Sleeper OL Malik Young's Gamecock offer has him thinking about making an early pledge to USC.

Kentucky joins top 25 recruiting classes

Source: SEC Football Blog

Kentucky has entered the ranks of ESPN's top 25 recruiting classes for 2014, giving the SEC 10 teams in the top 25. Keep in mind that these rankings are extremely fluid and will certainly change as we get closer to the 2014 signing day. Prospects will invariably change their minds, while other schools will move up the rankings as they add ESPN 150 players. Still, to see the Wildcats sitting there at No. 23 at this point tells you all you need to know about the the job Mark Stoops and his staff have done in selling that program.

Kentucky joins top 25 signing classes

Source: SEC Football Blog

Kentucky has entered the ranks of ESPN's top 25 recruiting classes for 2014, giving the SEC 10 teams in the top 25. Keep in mind that these rankings are extremely fluid and will certainly change as we get closer to the 2014 signing day. Prospects will invariably change their minds, while other schools will move up the rankings as they add ESPN 150 players. Still, to see the Wildcats sitting there at No. 23 at this point tells you all you need to know about the the job Mark Stoops and his staff have done in selling that program.

W. Golf. Gamecocks 23rd Through Two Rounds at NCAA Championship

Source: Gamecocks Official Site

The South Carolina women's golf team shot a 17-over 305 on Wednesday in the second round of the NCAA Championship at the University of Georgia Golf Course.

New Tournament Format, Same Result

Source: Leftover Hot Dog

The SEC tournament has a new format, but the Gamecocks are having a very familiar experience.  In Carolina's first game of the 2013 tournament they got off to a rough start and ended up in the losers' bracket.

Nolan Belcher clearly didn't have his best stuff and he didn't get enough run support to overcome it.  After giving up 2 in the first and another in the third Belcher battled into the 7th inning.  The offense showed some life in the fourth and tied the game at three.  That was about it.

For the rest of the game the offense squandered every opportunity it generated.  In the 5th, Carolina had runners on 1st and 3rd with one out; they got no runs.  In the 6th they couldn't move a lead off single.  In the

Ray Tanner Q and A Preview, Part I: Spurrier, football scheduling and Clemson

Source: Post and Courier

Gene Sapakoff’s Q and A with South Carolina Athletic Director Ray Tanner will run in Sunday’s Post and Courier print edition with a longer version at www.postandcourier.com

Baseball. Baseball Falls 5-3 To Mississippi State At SEC Tournament

Source: Gamecocks Official Site

After 12th ranked South Carolina rallied from three runs down to tie the game in the fourth inning, 13th ranked Mississippi State scored twice in the ninth inning with RBI base hits from Wes Rea and DeMarcus Henderson as the Bulldogs defeated South Carolina 5-3 in SEC Tournament action on Wednesday night. Mississippi State is 42-16 on the year with South Carolina falling to 39-17 on the year. South Carolina will face No. 1 Vanderbilt in an elimination game on Thursday beginning 30 minutes after the conclusion of the 10:30 a.m. ET contest.

South Carolina falls, 5-3, to Mississippi State in SEC tournament

Source: Post and Courier

HOOVER, ALA. – After South Carolina rallied from three runs down to tie the game in the fourth inning, Mississippi State scored twice in the ninth with RBI base hits from Wes Rea and DeMarcus Henderson as the Bulldogs defeated South Carolina, 5-3, in the SEC tournament late Wednesday.

Clemson, South Carolina receive football commitments

Source: Post and Courier

Clemson and South Carolina each received recent football commitments.

Gamecocks Hopefully Making Strides in Lowcountry with Blackshear Commitment

Source: Garnet And Black Attack by Gamecock Man

The recent commitment of Shamiek Blackshear brought up a conversation regarding the players we've missed out on from the Lowcountry. This got me thinking about some of those players.

The two who come to mind most quickly are Carlos Dunlap and A.J. Green, who went to Florida and Georgia, respectively. Both were high five-star players who ended up having excellent careers at their respective schools and going high in the NFL Draft. We pursued

Legacy offer - South Carolina [$$] (Rivals)

Source: Yahoo! NCAAF

W. Golf. Second-Round Play Suspended at NCAA Championship

Source: Gamecocks Official Site

The South Carolina women's golf team shot a 17-over 305 on Wednesday in the second round of the NCAA Championship at the University of Georgia Golf Course, but team standings were incomplete at the end of the day as two lightning delays kept teams from finishing their rounds.

M. Tennis. Mihov Powers Past Nation's No. 2 in NCAA Singles Championship

Source: Gamecocks Official Site

South Carolina junior Tsvetan Mihov advanced to the second round of the NCAA Singles Championship at Khan Outdoor Tennis Complex at the University of Illinois with a three-set win over No. 2 Alex Domijan of Virginia. It marked just the sixth time in program history that a Gamecock defeated an opponent ranked among the top two in the nation, the last coming in 2009.

Gamecocks play Miss State ... Again

Source: Leftover Hot Dog

Carolina starts the SEC tournament tonight against Mississippi State. You may recall that the Gamecocks just played a three game set against the Bulldogs and lost two of three. Tonight's game will be on CSS or ESPN3 and will start 30 minutes after the Vandy - Texas A&M game concludes. The Dores and Aggies play at 5:30 eastern. USC will send their #1 pitcher, Nolan Belcher, to the mound.

This year's SEC tournament has a new format. On the first day 8 teams play 4 games. The losers are eliminated, and the winners join the top 4 seeds in the main bracket. The 8 teams that remain are divided into two (predetermined) sides of 4. Those 4 teams play a traditional double elimination tournament with one exception. Usually

In-depth with Crosby - South Carolina [$$] (Rivals)

Source: Yahoo! NCAAF

The SEC's bowl schedule for 2013

Source: SEC Football Blog

The bowl schedule for the 2013 season is out, so let's take a look at those games with SEC tie-ins. And, yes, we're including the VIZIO BCS National Championship in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 6 since the SEC has had a standing spot in the title game (and won it) each of the past seven years. The same goes for the Allstate Sugar Bowl, which has had an SEC team play in its game 12 of the past 13 years. Jan. 6 VIZIO BCS National Championship: BCS No.

RecruitingNation links: SEC edition

Source: SEC Football Blog

DawgNation From Radi Nabulsi : With a ranking in the ESPN 150, close to 40 offers and the SEC’s best among his favorites, Lorenzo Carter is all smiles about his recruiting this spring. From Kipp Adams : With his decision looming, Nick Chubb is taking a few visits to help decide things. GatorNation From Derek Tyson : With big plans beyond football, ESPN 150 OLB Jacob Pugh is set on the road to success. GeauxTigerNation From Gary Laney : Even at a school with the storied tradition of New Orleans St.

Video: One good thing -- Vanderbilt

Source: SEC Football Blog

Vanderbilt likes its improved depth in both lines of scrimmage coming out of the spring.

M. Golf. Sturgeon Named to SEC Community Service Team

Source: Gamecocks Official Site

South Carolina sophomore Caleb Sturgeon has been named to the SEC Community Service team, the conference office announced Wednesday.

Clowney checks in as top 'Freak'

Source: SEC Football Blog

Bruce Feldman has unveiled his annual list of "Freaks," which is his look at the 20 craziest athletes in college football. Guess who's No. 1 on that list? South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney has redefined what a "freak" is in football. As Feldman notes, Clowney ran a 4.54 40-yard dash this spring weighing 275 pounds and also recorded a 38-inch vertical leap. There just aren't many of those guys walking around on the planet anywhere. But what sets Clowney apart is his explosive first step, especially at that size.

Video: Steve Spurrier wants SEC title

Source: SEC Football Blog

Steve Spurrier discusses South Carolina's preparations and goals for the upcoming season, and talks about how important defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is to the defense.

JUCO Bandits ride high at USC - South Carolina (Rivals)

Source: Yahoo! NCAAB

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - LB Dantzler remembered the first time he walked into the South Carolina locker room and started stowing his gear. Someone noticed the tattered, dirt-encrusted batting gloves that he removed from his duffel and put away.

Spurrier’s Days Far From Numbered

Source: The Rubber Chicken by buck

There is a familiar refrain from the Steve Spurrier era at South Carolina that has become much less familiar recently:

“Don’t worry, Spurrier ain’t going to be there long.”

When the HBC took over at USC in 2005, conventional wisdom said he would stick around 5-7 years and then head off into the sunset for endless rounds of golf. Now, as he prepares to start his ninth year as the Gamecocks’ head man, the end of his tenure is nowhere in sight.

Maybe the greatest evidence has come in the last week, with the commitments of

Alabama-Texas A&M kickoff set

Source: SEC Football Blog

The much anticipated Alabama-Texas A&M game on Sept. 14 at Kyle Field will be nationally televised by CBS and kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET. It will be Alabama's first trip to College Station since 1988. The two teams played a classic game in Tuscaloosa last season with the Aggies holding on to win 29-24 over the then No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide. That game was played in November. The two teams will be opening SEC play against each other next season.

SEC lunch links

Source: SEC Football Blog

Spreading a little "propaganda" in the SEC: Vanderbilt offensive line coach Herb Hand calls out a profane Tennessee fan on Twitter. Prominent Vanderbilt booster John Rich dies. He was 85. Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart is ahead of schedule with his hires, writes John Adams of The Knoxville News-Sentinel. There's no need for LSU fans to worry about the decommitment of top junior college prospect D'haquille Williams, writes Scott Rabalais of The Baton Rouge Advocate.

Official Visit: Bronson, Florida part ways

Source: SEC Football Blog

In this episode of the Official Visit, touted receiver Ryeshene Bronson and Florida part ways, ESPN 150 linebacker Jacob Pugh names a top three, and more.

W. Tennis. Alawi, Kanakova Set to Compete in NCAA Doubles Championship

Source: Gamecocks Official Site

Senior Jaklin Alawi and junior Dominika Kanakova from the South Carolina women's tennis team begin play in the 32-team NCAA Doubles Championship on Thursday in Urbana, Ill.

SEC Baseball: South Carolina to play Mississippi State in late game tonight

Source: Post and Courier

Hoover, Ala. — South Carolina begins SEC baseball tournament action tonight as the No. 4 seed and will face fifth-seeded Mississippi State in a game that is expected to start after 9 p.m.

Coach's corner: Blackshear - South Carolina [$$] (Rivals)

Source: Yahoo! NCAAF

Track. Gamecocks Seek NCAA Championship Bids at East Preliminary

Source: Gamecocks Official Site

NCAA East Preliminary | Greensboro, N.C. | Thursday - Saturday | Live Results| Schedule | Meet Notes

Hope springs in the SEC

Source: SEC Football Blog

Monday, we took a look at the 100-days checklist for the SEC. Today, we're taking a look back at what the SEC was able to do during the BCS era. In short, the conference has had a ton of success and is hoping to close out the BCS the way it began it -- with yet another national championship. Here's a look at the best and worst for the SEC during the BCS era: Best 1. Rings/crystals for days: The SEC and the BCS have had a great relationship. The SEC kicked the BCS era off with a bang in 1998 when Tennessee took home the first BCS national championship with its 23-16 win over Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl.

Sapakoff: Super Regional forecast has Gamecocks at FSU, Clemson at LSU

Source: Post and Courier

The NCAA Tournament Selection Show is not until Monday but the seeding speculation show starts early for everyone interested in college baseball.

Baseball. Baseball To Face Mississippi State In SEC Tournament Action On Wednesday

Source: Gamecocks Official Site

Baseball vs. Mississippi State | Wednesday May 22, 30 minutes following conclusion of 5:30 p.m. ET game| Radio: Gamecock IMG Sports Network/107.5 The Game| @GamecockBasebll

Baseball. Baseball Begins SEC Tournament Action On Wednesday

Source: Gamecocks Official Site

Baseball vs. TBA | Wednesday May 22, 30 minutes following conclusion of 5:30 p.m. ET game| Radio: Gamecock IMG Sports Network/107.5 The Game| @GamecockBasebll