Bye-bye, bye week!

[18IsTheMan]

If any team in college football needed a reset, it was us. Now we have 7 straight weeks of football on the slate. For as brutal as our opening stretch was, with 3 out of 5 games being on the road at ranked opponents (with a combined 15-1 record), our final stretch of 7 games features 1 currently-ranked opponent, though my hunch is they will not be ranked when we play them. Our two most difficult games, Mizzou and A&M, also happen to be our only 2 remaining road games. The 5 remaining home games all appear winnable. Not guarantees, but winnable. If we can beat UF, even if we lose to Mizzou and A&M, we'll return to WB for our 4 final games with a 3-5 record. Assuming we beat Vandy and Jax, we have to pick up a win from UK or Clemson to go bowling. Winning our final 5 home games and losing to A&M and Mizzou to go 7-5 would seem like a total coup at this point.

But it all starts this week. We find ourselves back where we were prior to the MSU game. Lose to UF and we'll be circling the drain.

Looking forward to seeing how this staff used the bye week to make adjustments. In both of his first 2 seasons, Beamer has shown a knack for making something from nothing. Let's hope that continues.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Man, stone cold.

Really worked hard on the thread title, too.

 

[Prestonyte]

If any team in college football needed a reset, it was us. Now we have 7 straight weeks of football on the slate. For as brutal as our opening stretch was, with 3 out of 5 games being on the road at ranked opponents (with a combined 15-1 record), our final stretch of 7 games features 1 currently-ranked opponent, though my hunch is they will not be ranked when we play them. Our two most difficult games, Mizzou and A&M, also happen to be our only 2 remaining road games. The 5 remaining home games all appear winnable. Not guarantees, but winnable. If we can beat UF, even if we lose to Mizzou and A&M, we'll return to WB for our 4 final games with a 3-5 record. Assuming we beat Vandy and Jax, we have to pick up a win from UK or Clemson to go bowling. Winning our final 5 home games and losing to A&M and Mizzou to go 7-5 would seem like a total coup at this point.

But it all starts this week. We find ourselves back where we were prior to the MSU game. Lose to UF and we'll be circling the drain.

Looking forward to seeing how this staff used the bye week to make adjustments. In both of his first 2 seasons, Beamer has shown a knack for making something from nothing. Let's hope that continues.

Trophy points for the thread title. lol
I like your thought process and summation of potential outcomes and 7-5 would be quite a salvage job.
A road win to go 8-4 with an upset would make the year for me if this is possible with an improved post off-week team.

Another thought to consider for a 7-5 record - Would you be willing to trade a road win over Mizzu or TAM for a loss to KY?
That's a tough one for me because I really don't want to lose to Mizzu or KY.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Trophy points for the thread title. lol
I like your thought process and summation of potential outcomes and 7-5 would be quite a salvage job.
A road win to go 8-4 with an upset would make the year for me if this is possible with an improved post off-week team.

Another thought to consider for a 7-5 record - Would you be willing to trade a road win over Mizzu or TAM for a loss to KY?
That's a tough one for me because I really don't want to lose to Mizzu or KY.

UK was my “absolutely have to win this game” game last year. This year, that’s Mizzou. No way we can let Mizzou put up a five-peat on us. That’s just unthinkable.

But, yeah, I think a road win at Mizzou or A&M would be viewed more positively than a home loss to UK would be viewed negatively.

 

[Beanerball]

So it’s all on Rattler, he’s all we have. I think it’s a big ask the way we play defense. I’m not getting my hopes up, but it’s week to week at this point. Let’s please not go for it just because it’s 4th down or try to create something with just a minute left when deep in our own territory. That being said, try some stuff, but not when the risk/reward makes it too risky. We are not so bad that we have to go for gambles all the damn time!

 

[KingWard]

UK was my “absolutely have to win this game” game last year. This year, that’s Mizzou. No way we can let Mizzou put up a five-peat on us. That’s just unthinkable.

But, yeah, I think a road win at Mizzou or A&M would be viewed more positively than a home loss to UK would be viewed negatively.

I didn't realize they have owned us to that extent. Yes, the team so many of our fans are ultra contemptuous of (you know who you are) is vying to relegate us to "b!__ch" status. That's rich.

Disclaimer: we COULD win it. They aren't THAT good.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I didn't realize they have owned us to that extent. Yes, the team so many of our fans are ultra contemptuous of (you know who you are) is vying to relegate us to "b!__ch" status. That's rich.

Disclaimer: we COULD win it. They aren't THAT good.

Last time we beat Mizzou, it was Michael Scarnecchia under center. Feels like a lifetime ago.

 

[KingWard]

Last time we beat Mizzou, it was Michael Scarnecchia under center. Feels like a lifetime ago.

Well, a lot of people HAVE died since then.

 

[Uscg1984]

Well, a lot of people HAVE died since then.

I'm a glass half full kind of guy. Think how many people were BORN since Scarnecchia guided us to that win.

 

[KingWard]

I'm a glass half full kind of guy. Think how many people were BORN since Scarnecchia guided us to that win.

But they don't remember, so...

 

[Deleted11512]

I didn't realize they have owned us to that extent. Yes, the team so many of our fans are ultra contemptuous of (you know who you are) is vying to relegate us to "b!__ch" status. That's rich.

Disclaimer: we COULD win it. They aren't THAT good.

William P Muschamp could have hired Drink as his OC. He passed, and Drink has coached this game with a chip on his shoulder ever since.

 

[Deleted11512]

If any team in college football needed a reset, it was us. Now we have 7 straight weeks of football on the slate. For as brutal as our opening stretch was, with 3 out of 5 games being on the road at ranked opponents (with a combined 15-1 record), our final stretch of 7 games features 1 currently-ranked opponent, though my hunch is they will not be ranked when we play them. Our two most difficult games, Mizzou and A&M, also happen to be our only 2 remaining road games. The 5 remaining home games all appear winnable. Not guarantees, but winnable. If we can beat UF, even if we lose to Mizzou and A&M, we'll return to WB for our 4 final games with a 3-5 record. Assuming we beat Vandy and Jax, we have to pick up a win from UK or Clemson to go bowling. Winning our final 5 home games and losing to A&M and Mizzou to go 7-5 would seem like a total coup at this point.

But it all starts this week. We find ourselves back where we were prior to the MSU game. Lose to UF and we'll be circling the drain.

Looking forward to seeing how this staff used the bye week to make adjustments. In both of his first 2 seasons, Beamer has shown a knack for making something from nothing. Let's hope that continues.

Beamer after a bye week:
2021 vs UF - W 40-17
2022 vs A&M - W 30-24

I think he'll have the team ready. I think he knows how important this game is to his season, and the general perception of the direction of his program. Lose this one, and you HAVE to win @ Mizzou or @ A&M. I like what I've heard from him over the last 1.5 weeks. We didn't expect to be 2-3, it's not good enough, we feel like we're better than that.

The schedule has been ridiculous. UNC is much better than I thought they'd be. Everyone just had them as a W just b/c "we should always beat UNC". There is a good chance they run the table, or finish at least 11-1. The remaining schedule is favorable. I can certainly see 7-5, which would be 1-2 games better than what most predicted for us.

Feels like his teams are better with their backs against the wall. NEVER got that feeling with Muschamp. With him, we were who we were no matter the circumstance. But in 2021, we were 4-4 with a lot of people predicting we would lose out. We had just destroyed at A&M 44-14. Came out of the bye week and just hammered UF, then beat AU to get bowl eligible. That team had no business going to a bowl. And of course we all know what happened last year when "the season was over".

 

[Deleted11512]

Trophy points for the thread title. lol
I like your thought process and summation of potential outcomes and 7-5 would be quite a salvage job.
A road win to go 8-4 with an upset would make the year for me if this is possible with an improved post off-week team.

Another thought to consider for a 7-5 record - Would you be willing to trade a road win over Mizzu or TAM for a loss to KY?
That's a tough one for me because I really don't want to lose to Mizzu or KY.

No. I'd rather lose on the road than lose at home. And I think Mizzou is better football team than UK.

 

[KingWard]

Beamer after a bye week:
2021 vs UF - W 40-17
2022 vs A&M - W 30-24

I think he'll have the team ready. I think he knows how important this game is to his season, and the general perception of the direction of his program. Lose this one, and you HAVE to win @ Mizzou or @ A&M. I like what I've heard from him over the last 1.5 weeks. We didn't expect to be 2-3, it's not good enough, we feel like we're better than that.

The schedule has been ridiculous. UNC is much better than I thought they'd be. Everyone just had them as a W just b/c "we should always beat UNC". There is a good chance they run the table, or finish at least 11-1. The remaining schedule is favorable. I can certainly see 7-5, which would be 1-2 games better than what most predicted for us.

Feels like his teams are better with their backs against the wall. NEVER got that feeling with Muschamp. With him, we were who we were no matter the circumstance. But in 2021, we were 4-4 with a lot of people predicting we would lose out. We had just destroyed at A&M 44-14. Came out of the bye week and just hammered UF, then beat AU to get bowl eligible. That team had no business going to a bowl. And of course we all know what happened last year when "the season was over".

Lots of better than mediocre teams could run the table in the ACC, especially those that avoid UPC or FSU (when either or both have a pulse). UNC is untested, as far as I'm concerned. Beamer is basically saying that Brown and his staff are outperforming Beamer and his staff in every aspect.

 

[Deleted11512]

Lots of better than mediocre teams could run the table in the ACC, especially those that avoid UPC or FSU (when either or both have a pulse). UNC is untested, as far as I'm concerned. Beamer is basically saying that Brown and his staff are outperforming Beamer and his staff in every aspect.

I don't know about that. None of them seem to do it outside of Clem a couple of times. I'll agree that they haven't had the greatest schedule. They'll certainly have more challenges in the 2nd half. They got their top WR now. That O is better than the Longo O. And the D is night and day better than last year. Brown is in his 5th year, he's further along. He's into his 2nd coaching staff right now and that seems to be paying off.

 

[Prestonyte]

No. I'd rather lose on the road than lose at home. And I think Mizzou is better football team than UK.

I'm torn - need to get the Mizzou monkey off our backs and if they are the better team, then it would be a more impactful win.

 

[Uscg1984]

But they don't remember, so...

No, but they've got a lot more Gamecock wins ahead of them than the dead ones do.

 

[KingWard]

No, but they've got a lot more Gamecock wins ahead of them than the dead ones do.

But not necessarily more than the dead ones HAD.

 

[KingWard]

I don't know about that. None of them seem to do it outside of Clem a couple of times. I'll agree that they haven't had the greatest schedule. They'll certainly have more challenges in the 2nd half. They got their top WR now. That O is better than the Longo O. And the D is night and day better than last year. Brown is in his 5th year, he's further along. He's into his 2nd coaching staff right now and that seems to be paying off.

Those are good points, and we will see. I'm not backing off the opinion that we absolutely crapped the bed against them, though. And if we came into the season glaringly deficient in certain areas, such as running back and offensive line, especially the former, that's on this staff. There's better player availability now than there ever has been. Lord, look at Louisville.