Looking ahead on the schedule: OU

[18IsTheMan]

The OU/UT game got me to thinking. As we ponder our chances of picking up a 6th win somewhere on the schedule, OU is one of those teams that has come up in discussion. The game does not look quite as formidable as it did entering the season (still a very daunting task, though).

However, the the schedule-makers might have thrown us a little bone. OU's game against us is sandwiched in between their games against Texas and Ole Miss. Were they to be thumped by Texas, maybe they come in with a bit of a hangover and emotionally drained from that loss. Or maybe they're looking ahead to the Ole Miss game?

While we're at it, we play @ Bama the week before they travel to UT, so maybe we catch them sleeping on us (hey, stranger things have happened, right?).

Of course, I pointed out in a separate thread that Ole Miss will come into our game having largely been untested. They are 4-0 but have yet to play anything resembling a serious opponent. They get a bit more serious this weekend with UK, but our game will surely be the loudest and most hostile environment they've played in this year.

We still face massive talent gaps with each team, but maybe there are faint glimmers of hope, but you gotta take what you can get. With all of these scheduling factors, maybe we sneak up and pick off at least one of them.

 

[Uscwill]

Oklahoma is changing QB’s this week,so we will see how that works out.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Oklahoma is changing QB’s this week,so we will see how that works out.

Usually teams wait to replace underperforming player right before they play us and the second string player blows up on us.

 

[Harvard Gamecock]

The OU/UT game got me to thinking. As we ponder our chances of picking up a 6th win somewhere on the schedule, OU is one of those teams that has come up in discussion. The game does not look quite as formidable as it did entering the season (still a very daunting task, though).

However, the the schedule-makers might have thrown us a little bone. OU's game against us is sandwiched in between their games against Texas and Ole Miss. Were they to be thumped by Texas, maybe they come in with a bit of a hangover and emotionally drained from that loss. Or maybe they're looking ahead to the Ole Miss game? Or maybe they're looking to straighten things out, and take out their frustrations on us.

I am well past the point of taking any opponent for granted anymore.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I am well past the point of taking any opponent for granted anymore.

lol, so you didn't read the last sentence of my post

 

[Blues man]

Hard to believe we have never faced them. Makes it all the more interesting.

 

[Sleepyhead]

At 3-1 right now, trying to find a sixth win is not where my head is at right now. This team has an opportunity to contend for a playoff spot until mathematically eliminated.

 

[Hoganman1]

October is a really big month for us. I think we are better than most expected. I am not going to speculate on what lies ahead. Hopefully we continue to improve and play well. As a Gamecock fan for 60+ years I remain cautiously optimistic.

 

[Piscis]

At 3-1 right now, trying to find a sixth win is not where my head is at right now. This team has an opportunity to contend for a playoff spot until mathematically eliminated.

Every 3-1 team in the country can say that. I guess LSU holds the tiebreaker over us in the 3-1 playoff contender race right now.

 

[Sleepyhead]

Is every 3-1 team in the country trying to figure out how they’re going to get to six wins?

 

[18IsTheMan]

Is every 3-1 team in the country trying to figure out how they’re going to get to six wins?

Probably only the ones who have yet to play Ole Miss, Alabama, Oklahoma, Missouri and Clemson.

 

[Sleepyhead]

To hell with all five of those teams. Carolina should expect to win them all. I hope the players don’t come on here and see the pessimism.

 

[18IsTheMan]

To hell with all five of those teams. Carolina should expect to win them all. I hope the players don’t come on here and see the pessimism.

Well of course the players should expect to win. I'd be ticked if, as a fan, players said they went into a game expecting to lose.

I am not a player.

 

[Sleepyhead]

It’s a culture thing and it permeates everything in the football program. I’ve seen it for a long time and I feel like it does affect the results we’re seeing long term.

 

[18IsTheMan]

It’s a culture thing and it permeates everything in the football program. I’ve seen it for a long time and I feel like it does affect the results we’re seeing long term.

We have the most long-suffering, supportive fans probably in all of college football. A bit pessimistic, perhaps. Always hopeful? Yes. Always supportive. Yes.

Any performance issues by our program cannot possibly be attributed to the fans.

 

[Lurker123]

It’s a culture thing and it permeates everything in the football program. I’ve seen it for a long time and I feel like it does affect the results we’re seeing long term.

Good thing the players and coaches don't hang out on this message board.

 

[Sleepyhead]

Good thing the players and coaches don't hang out on this message board.

It’s been a slow week at work. I just don’t get it. Carolina has one of the best defensive fronts in the country plus potentially a few nfl caliber db’s. An all sec type back behind a good op and two qbs that while inexperienced, can break games open. I’m hoping for 10-2.

 

[18IsTheMan]

It’s been a slow week at work. I just don’t get it. Carolina has one of the best defensive fronts in the country plus potentially a few nfl caliber db’s. An all sec type back behind a good op and two qbs that while inexperienced, can break games open. I’m hoping for 10-2.

Did you mean good OL?

We do not have a good OL.

 

[Piscis]

It’s been a slow week at work. I just don’t get it. Carolina has one of the best defensive fronts in the country plus potentially a few nfl caliber db’s. An all sec type back behind a good op and two qbs that while inexperienced, can break games open. I’m hoping for 10-2.

This must be your first season ever following football. The D front is not bad but they are far from one of the best in the country and our dbs haven't exactly been shut down types. LSU is the only legit offense we have faced and they scored 36 points on our D. They gashed our "best defensive front in the country" over and over again running the ball.

Sanders is a legit SEC caliber running back but he isn't "All SEC" by a long shot and our qbs are both green as grass. Sellers has had a horseshoe up his butt when it comes to fumbles. He has had a lot of them but hasn't lost very many to the other team. Ashford looked good against Akron but I think any qb on any major college team would look good against Akron.

I have a feeling your hopes for 10-2 are going to last about three more weeks.

 

[Lurker123]

It’s been a slow week at work. I just don’t get it. Carolina has one of the best defensive fronts in the country plus potentially a few nfl caliber db’s. An all sec type back behind a good op and two qbs that while inexperienced, can break games open. I’m hoping for 10-2.

Well, that is certainly an extremely positive outlook.

 

[Sleepyhead]

I think you can make a case Kennard & Stewart are the best DE tandem in the country. Three guys rotating at tackle that would play anywhere else. 5 seniors at linebacker with the sixth being Fred Johnson who is going to be a monster. Sure, they have given up some plays. There is a lot to like here and based on the tenacity and takeaway ability of this defense, I’ll put them up against anybody.

 

[will110]

It’s a culture thing and it permeates everything in the football program. I’ve seen it for a long time and I feel like it does affect the results we’re seeing long term.

Fans commenting on message boards, positively or negatively, have absolutely nothing to do with the results on the field.

 

[Sleepyhead]

Fans commenting on message boards, positively or negatively, have absolutely nothing to do with the results on the field.

I disagree, When 60+ thousand of the 80 thousand bring that sort of I hope we don’t screw this up type of attitude into a stadium on Saturday. It’s an energy thing.

 

[will110]

I disagree, When 60+ thousand of the 80 thousand bring that sort of I hope we don’t screw this up type of attitude into a stadium on Saturday. It’s an energy thing.

This doesn't make any sense from any perspective. You're telling me that the players on the field can feel negative energy of fans not believing, caused by negative message board posts, when they run out on the field with the stadium going crazy?

It also doesn't make sense statistically. If the fan base's lack of hope/belief actually hurt the team, then Carolina should play better on the road where the fan base couldn't impact them with their negative energy.

Carolina on the road in the SEC under Shane Beamer has only won at Kentucky and Vanderbilt. All other conference road games have been losses. Furthermore, the worst performances under Beamer have all been on the road: 2021 Tennessee, Texas A&M; 2022 Florida; 2023 Missouri, Tennessee

 

[Blues man]

To hell with all five of those teams. Carolina should expect to win them all. I hope the players don’t come on here and see the pessimism.

I hope the players aren't thin skinned enough to let an internet forum post upset them. Players come and go. Coaches come and go. We are here forever. If we are pessimistic, you can bet there is good reason to be. The ball is in their court. Change starts with them. I'd like to think they know that

 

[Harvard Gamecock]

I disagree, When 60+ thousand of the 80 thousand bring that sort of I hope we don’t screw this up type of attitude into a stadium on Saturday. It’s an energy thing.

If that is the case then Michigan with over 100,000+ would have never or will ever lose a home game again.

 

[Sleepyhead]

I don’t care I’m not losing sleep if they go 0-12. I do like when they win though. It’s ironic to me, as someone who lives in Virginia and never gets to talk Carolina football with anyone, come on this board saying I think it’s a good squad that can compete for a playoff and am met with hostility and 100% resistance.

 

[Lurker123]

I don’t care I’m not losing sleep if they go 0-12. I do like when they win though. It’s ironic to me, as someone who lives in Virginia and never gets to talk Carolina football with anyone, come on this board saying I think it’s a good squad that can compete for a playoff and am met with hostility and 100% resistance.

Well, you did say we can compete for a playoff spot.

If you want only positive responses, the pay side of this site is apparently only allowing positive posts. You might enjoy that side.

Otherwise, you're just telling us fellow fans that "this is the year that it's going to be different". And we've heard that for decades.

 

[Sleepyhead]

Well, you did say we can compete for a playoff spot.

Yeah, those are fightin words around here.

 

[Beanerball]

I look at it from the stand point OU has under preformed and we have over preformed, based on preseason predictions. It will be one of Sellers tests on the road in a big environment. That being said, I like the chance at an upset. Again, we’ll likely need to roll the dice on 4th downs some and get a special teams big play, but maybe not. Like our chances there than the next 2 weeks. Let’s see what happens.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

Yeah, those are fightin words around here.

Not fighting words. I too have tried peyote before.

 

[FootballLVR]

At 3-1 right now, trying to find a sixth win is not where my head is at right now. This team has an opportunity to contend for a playoff spot until mathematically eliminated.

Put down the crack pipe.

 

[FootballLVR]

To hell with all five of those teams. Carolina should expect to win them all. I hope the players don’t come on here and see the pessimism.

But do YOU expect us to win all of those games? If you are a player on the team, then you should. If you are a fan you have to be realistic about what our team is facing (or you can just be a nut).

Good thing the players and coaches don't hang out on this message board.

I seriously doubt the players and coaches have time to come here and read all our pontifications.

 

[FootballLVR]

I disagree, When 60+ thousand of the 80 thousand bring that sort of I hope we don’t screw this up type of attitude into a stadium on Saturday. It’s an energy thing.

Some games I expect us to win. Some games I HOPE we will win. That doesn't take away from still being a fan.

 

[KingWard]

Oklahoma is changing QB’s this week,so we will see how that works out.

They're hurting on offense under Venables, and therein lies our opportunity if the new QB doesn't prove to be the answer. The Venables regime, as of today, is weighed in the balances.

 

[KingWard]

At 3-1 right now, trying to find a sixth win is not where my head is at right now. This team has an opportunity to contend for a playoff spot until mathematically eliminated.

I'm running for president as a write-in candidate. Our chances of making the playoffs are roughly equal to that.

 

[KingWard]

Is every 3-1 team in the country trying to figure out how they’re going to get to six wins?

Not Michigan. Not UPC, either. Not Southern Cal, either. Not Notre Dame, either.

 

[FootballLVR]

I don’t care I’m not losing sleep if they go 0-12. I do like when they win though. It’s ironic to me, as someone who lives in Virginia and never gets to talk Carolina football with anyone, come on this board saying I think it’s a good squad that can compete for a playoff and am met with hostility and 100% resistance.

While I appreciate your optimism, I think you may need to take a deep breath and realize that we are not ready for playoff football right now. Maybe in a year or two (that is my hope). We simply don't have the right players in the right places. One or two here or there are fantastic, but it takes a complete squad to get to those heights. I too hope we get there. You are just butting heads with realists here that have seen this play along for many many years. In my six decades I've seen maybe 8-9 high level teams. This isn't one of them. I certainly don't want you to lose your optimism and love for the team, but if you post something there will always be some push back.

 

[Sleepyhead]

I expect 8-4, hoping for 10-2. My thought process is that I think Carolina can beat Ole Miss, sit in the top 20, and play 2 really important matchups after that which would determine the legitimacy of this argument. They’re just football games, anything can happen. This is a talented football team that I feel like is under valued by the fan base.

 

[Sleepyhead]

I started following the Gamcocks in 2002, this isn’t my first rodeo, and I’ve been the realist. I think the the defense is Spurrier era- esque. Sellers and Sanders give them a chance.