Welp, might as well turn the page and talk Akron.

[18IsTheMan]

Guess the big question is whether Sellers plays in this game or not. In theory, we should win with or without him. Guess it all depends on how much of a sprain he has. Reporters said he was walking fine at the postgame presser so we shall see. Maybe if he's 80%ish you play him for a few series just to get him some more reps? Definitely not a game worth risking his health, though. If there's any doubt, just sit him. We will absolutely need him to be 100% for our upcoming SEC gauntlet. From what we saw on Saturday, Ashford can really use the work anyway.

Other big question is how we come into the game. Will we pull a Clemson and take out our frustration on Akron like they did App State? The danger, of course, as we have exhibited many times in our past after a game like our previous one, is to come out flat against a supposed inferior opponent, screw around, and end up losing the game.

Hopefully we come out with our hair on fire. The team has made progress from Week 1 to Week 2 to Week 3, so it would be great to see that continue. It's very fortunate after after a game like the last one that we get a chance against Akron to cleanse our palate before Ole Miss rolls into town. We need to take advantage of it. Beamer needs to show his coaching chops here. Tough as it may be, he has to get the team to put the last game behind them and prepare.

We've opened as a 27.5 point favorite.

 

[Lurker123]

Sit sellers.

It's akron.

Rest up and start gameplanning for Ole Miss.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

It's akron.

Yeah, not like they're Toledo or something.

 

[Harvard Gamecock]

Yeah, not like they're Toledo or something.

No, they are not. Akron is not a good squad at all (and I'm being charitable).

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

No, they are not. Akron is not a good squad at all (and I'm being charitable).

How many games has Old Dominion won this year?

 

[Piscis]

Don't play Sellers. There is no upside to playing him and if Carolina can't beat Akron without Sellers that is a very sad commentary.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

Don't play Sellers. There is no upside to playing him and if Carolina can't beat Akron without Sellers that is a very sad commentary.

Akron might be just the thing for Ashford to knock off some rust.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I'm leery only because we have had many "Oh, it's just Akron" games in the past that turned out to be way too interesting, and sometimes downright sad and disappointing.

 

[Piscis]

I'm leery only because we have had many "Oh, it's just Akron" games in the past that turned out to be way too interesting, and sometimes downright sad and disappointing.

Come on, it's not like they are The Citadel or something.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Come on, it's not like they are The Citadel or something.

I also recall a couple nail biters/uninspiring wins against Wofford when Spurrier was here.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

I remember almost losing to Akron. Bentley days?

 

[18IsTheMan]

I remember almost losing to Akron. Bentley days?

We didn't almost lose, but it was a crappy game. Akron was a suck fest that year, rolled in 4-7. It was the makeup game and we played them after we played Clemson. Jake had a very Jake game...14/27, 3 TD, 2 INT. We led 28-3 at halftime and that was the final score. The second half was a offensive crap show for us. It foreshadowed what would come in our pathetic bowl game effort against Virginia.

What I remember most about that season is how Scarnecchia came off the bench to start against Mizzou in a must-win game for us and he played fantastically as a never-used backup QB getting the start...20/35, 3 TD. For his effort, he was essentially banished to the bench for the rest of the season. Most puzzling and infuriating, was in the bowl game, when Jake was playing simply pathetically, Scarnecchia sat on the bench. Keep in mind, he had shown by that point he was more than capable as a QB. Jake very obviously did not have it that day, and even as the game was still within reach, Muschamp kept running an ineffective Bentley out there. Muschamp didn't even try to win that game. One of the most infuriating games I've ever seen as a Gamecock fan and really defined Muschamp's tenure as a head coach: his refusal to admit something wasn't working and to try something different. If something wasn't working, Muschamp's solution was to do even more of it.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

We didn't almost lose, but it was a crappy game. Akron was a suck fest that year, rolled in 4-7. It was the makeup game and we played them after we played Clemson. Jake had a very Jake game...14/27, 3 TD, 2 INT. We led 28-3 at halftime and that was the final score. The second half was a offensive crap show for us. It foreshadowed what would come in our pathetic bowl game effort against Virginia.

What I remember most about that season is how Scarnecchia came off the bench to start against Mizzou in a must-win game for us and he played fantastically as a never-used backup QB getting the start...20/35, 3 TD. For his effort, he was essentially banished to the bench for the rest of the season. Most puzzling and infuriating, was in the bowl game, when Jake was playing simply pathetically, Scarnecchia sat on the bench. Keep in mind, he had shown by that point he was more than capable as a QB. Jake very obviously did not have it that day, and even as the game was still within reach, Muschamp kept running an ineffective Bentley out there. Muschamp didn't even try to win that game. One of the most infuriating games I've ever seen as a Gamecock fan and really defined Muschamp's tenure as a head coach: his refusal to admit something wasn't working and to try something different. If something wasn't working, Muschamp's solution was to do even more of it.

Scar was a Spurrier recruit. I remember showing my dad his high school highlights and saying he would be a star. He never got a chance with Muschamp and coach Bentley. Except through necessity. And he showed out. For that Virginia game Muchchamp didn't use all of the bowl practices allowed, which is always the benefit for the younger players. He really was a bad coach.

 

[will110]

I'm really glad we get Akron and a bye the next 2 weeks. That LSU game is a perfect candidate for the type of game that turns into 2 losses.

I'd expect it to be closer than expected, solely because of the hangover from LSU.

 

[18IsTheMan]

He really was a bad coach.

lol, simple but accurate analysis.

 

[18IsTheMan]

That LSU game is a perfect candidate for the type of game that turns into 2 losses.

The greatest fear is the LSU game ends up defining our season in a bad way.

At the end of the year we will either look back at the LSU game as the one that derailed a promising season or a game we built on to get better.

Do we compound the failures of the LSU game or do we learn and improve?

Based on our history, I really don't know which what it will go.

 

[Lurker123]

We have akron and a bye, right?

No excuse for this game to "beat us twice".

I do agree though that this could be pivotal. We may finish the year hunting that 6th win, and this could be the difference.

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

Akron might be just the thing for Ashford to knock off some rust.

Hopefully so and we can get some action for other QB's just in case they are needed.

 

[92Pony]

We've opened as a 27.5 point favorite.

I'm leery only because we have had many "Oh, it's just Akron" games in the past that turned out to be way too interesting, and sometimes downright sad and disappointing.

Akron will likely cover.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Akron will likely cover.

With the hangover effect and Sellers likely being given the rest, it's easy to see that happening. It is a night game, though, so that should help some. If this were a noon or 3 pm game, I could absolutely see, and even expect, a somewhat dead crowd. However, I think the fans at our first night game will be pretty pumped up and supportive of the team after their overall effort last week.

One might dream that we dominate the LOS against Akron and get the run game going. They allowed 5.2 and 6.5 ypc vs Ohio State and Rutgers, respectively.

 

[Uscg1984]

Akron will likely cover.

Yeah, I'd be tickled pink if we won by 28 points and had no additional injuries. That spread seems generous.

If Sellers needs time to heal, I'd be happy winning this game by any margin (well, almost any margin) without having to play him. We _should_ be able to beat Akron without Sellers. If we can't, I guess I'd rather go ahead and find that out now rather than later.

 

[will110]

The greatest fear is the LSU game ends up defining our season in a bad way.

At the end of the year we will either look back at the LSU game as the one that derailed a promising season or a game we built on to get better.

Do we compound the failures of the LSU game or do we learn and improve?

Based on our history, I really don't know which what it will go.

My worry as well. It was a game that showed we can play with the big boys, and it's a game we coulda shoulda won. If just one of several different plays go differently, we likely win.

 

[gamecock stock]

If we play Sellers in this game, Beamer will need to replace his current hat with a dunce cap.

 

[USCEE82]

I hope the players and coaching staff aren't as overconfident as some on this board are. Nothing is guaranteed. There's no doubt the team and home crowd won't be up for this game like the LSU GameDay game. The offense can't be one dimensional. I say definitely rest Sellers, but better have safe pass plays for a Ashford. And, of course, have someone else fully prepared to go if God forbid Ashford goes down.

 

[gamecock stock]

I don't care about Akron. Looking forward to seeing how our defense does against Kiffin's offense.

 

[gamecock stock]

Akron's offense is 120th in the nation. Their defense is 93rd. This game should be over by the end of the first quarter.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Akron's offense is 120th in the nation. Their defense is 93rd. This game should be over by the end of the first quarter.

We would have to defy history under Beamer to accomplish that.

 

[Lurker123]

I hope the players and coaching staff aren't as overconfident as some on this board are. Nothing is guaranteed. There's no doubt the team and home crowd won't be up for this game like the LSU GameDay game. The offense can't be one dimensional. I say definitely rest Sellers, but better have safe pass plays for a Ashford. And, of course, have someone else fully prepared to go if God forbid Ashford goes down.

Qe are fans, we have that luxury. Of course the staff and players still need to prepare.

That being said, stock gave their offensive and defensive stats, they are not good. We SHOULD be able to be one dimensional and still beat them.

But yes, Ashford needs to throw a little, he's a college qb. He should be able to complete some dink and dunk passes.

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

This team feels a little different from past teams and didn't have to wait until game 10 to show some passion, particularly on defense. Hopefully the offense catches up quickly as the running game did show some life with Sanders getting some blocking.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

Hopefully a lot of players get to see time on the field. Especially in the 2nd half.

 

[SouthernBelly]

We didn't almost lose, but it was a crappy game. Akron was a suck fest that year, rolled in 4-7. It was the makeup game and we played them after we played Clemson. Jake had a very Jake game...14/27, 3 TD, 2 INT. We led 28-3 at halftime and that was the final score. The second half was a offensive crap show for us. It foreshadowed what would come in our pathetic bowl game effort against Virginia.

What I remember most about that season is how Scarnecchia came off the bench to start against Mizzou in a must-win game for us and he played fantastically as a never-used backup QB getting the start...20/35, 3 TD. For his effort, he was essentially banished to the bench for the rest of the season. Most puzzling and infuriating, was in the bowl game, when Jake was playing simply pathetically, Scarnecchia sat on the bench. Keep in mind, he had shown by that point he was more than capable as a QB. Jake very obviously did not have it that day, and even as the game was still within reach, Muschamp kept running an ineffective Bentley out there. Muschamp didn't even try to win that game. One of the most infuriating games I've ever seen as a Gamecock fan and really defined Muschamp's tenure as a head coach: his refusal to admit something wasn't working and to try something different. If something wasn't working, Muschamp's solution was to do even more of it.

Forgot about that, and yes it was absolutely stupid for Scarnecchia to be on the bench with the only exception being an injured Bentley. Any other position would have sat at times with similar performances. I recall a moment in a press conference where Muschamp addressed his decision to make a change at DB due to performance. Never understood the attachment to JB.

 

[SouthernBelly]

We would have to defy history under Beamer to accomplish that.

Not just under Beamer but all of this program’s history.