The Verdict: Make this a 60-minute game

South Carolina football superfan Chris Paschal writes a weekly column during the season for GamecockCentral called “The Verdict.” Chris is a lawyer at Goings Law Firm in Columbia.

The Verdict: Make this a 60-minute game. 

His name is Irvin Carney. Last I read he lived in Cincinnati although he was raised in Montgomery. He’s a normal man. He can live his life without a camera shoved in his face, and he can walk the streets without being mobbed. But make no mistake, while Carney is just your average guy, he is also a hero to so many. 

Back in 2007, Carney declared one of the most powerful messages known to man. When asked about his thoughts on the Tennessee Volunteer football program, Carney declared these famous words: “They low down, they dirty, they some snitches.” 

When the South Carolina Gamecocks take the field inside the unfriendly confines of Neyland Stadium, many of our players and coaches will be thinking those very thoughts. I venture to say that no stadium any of these men will ever play in will match the intensity of the Big Orange faithful this upcoming Saturday. There will be a lot of emotions in that stadium. 

South Carolina must not play the game before the game is supposed to be played. It will be so easy for the Gamecocks to get enthralled with all the pregame hullabaloo. With yet another evening kickoff, there will be plenty of time for Carolina’s players (and staff) to get themselves psyched up, motivated, and dialed in. But it will be just as crucial for Carolina to maintain its composure in what will be a hostile environment. Getting amped up is important. Getting too amped up only for an emotional crash moments into the game is lethal. With that out of the way, for this Verdict I am going to break down how I would attack this Volunteer ball club. 

1. Stack the Box

For yet another year under head coach Josh Heupel, Tennessee features an elite rushing attack. The Vols are averaging 6.24 yards per carry and 230 yards per game. Carolina needs to put seven or eight defenders in the box and defend the run. As seen the past few weeks, Travian Robertson’s defensive tackles are getting better after each week and despite Tennessee’s rushing statistics, the Volunteers have a precarious situation brewing at the center position.

Cooper Mays entered this season as the presumed starter before going down following a triple hernia surgery. Without Mays at center, Tennessee has struggled at center. If Mays gets the nod, it will be his first start of the season. Carolina needs Boogie, Tonka, and Sanders to play their best ball of the season. Carolina needs Stone and Debo to play their best ball of the season. And if I am Clayton White, DQ Smith and Nick Emmanwori are both playing in the box. Carolina must stop this Tennessee rushing attack to have a shot. 

Because if Tennessee is struggling to run the football, Tennessee quarterback Milton will have to make plays in the passing game. And while Milton has had a few beautiful deep balls, he has also struggled at times with accuracy and composure. If Milton must make throws, make him have to make the tough intermediate throws and make him have the poise to check things underneath to his running backs. While I would never suggest I know even a smidge as much defensive football as Clayton White, I would literally stack the box with eight defenders with the other three defenders playing deep cover three defense and make Milton throw the ball underneath. 

2. Protect Rattler

Rattler has played like the best quarterback in the SEC to start this season. And the numbers for when Rattler is able to throw with protection are borderline impossible. While this crowd will be rowdy, I believe that Rattler is at the point in his career where he can handle a raucous crowd. What he won’t be able to handle will be Tennessee defenders rushing into the backfield just moments after the ball is snapped. The offensive line will have to continue in its impressive transformation blocking defenders since week one, but even more so, the offensive line must find a way to keep its composure in Neyland. So many second half drives in Sanford Stadium were derailed by false start penalties. Carolina’s offensive line must keep Carolina on schedule and must give Rattler some time. If that happens, Tennessee’s defense is susceptible to giving up a lot of points and a lot of yards. 

3. Match the Intensity

This is Tennessee’s Super Bowl. They are pulling out all-black jerseys. (Is it a blackout? Or are you just putting on those hideous black uniforms and calling it Dark Mode?) They are even honoring the 1998 Vols for their 25^th Anniversary as National Champions. For Tennessee fans, they are hoping it’s going to “feel like ‘98” out there. Josh Heupel will be out for blood after his 2022 season was derailed by these very Gamecocks. Carolina must match the Tennessee intensity. The atmosphere cannot strike fear in Tree Babalade. The crowd cannot intimidate Mario Anderson. Tennessee’s up-tempo offensive attack cannot put Carolina defenders on their heels. Tennessee is a massive home favorite, and for good reason, too. If Carolina has a shot in this game, they have to match Tennessee’s intensity.

Matching the intensity is crucial, but it is important for South Carolina to not succumb to the intensity, as well. Stupid penalties, rash decisions, and letting the emotions of the game dictate how you play are all recipes for Carolina to lose this game. Carolina will get the very best Tennessee has to offer in the first five minutes of this game. I could very well see Tennessee’s offense marching down the field for a touchdown and then stopping Carolina on a three-and-out, or vice versa. (Of course, I would prefer this doesn’t happen, but I could see it happening.) Carolina must hang in there and keep battling.

If this game gets deep into the second half with Carolina hanging around (or leading), doubt will creep into the back of the Tennessee man’s mind. Just because Tennessee punches you in the mouth in the first five minutes doesn’t mean that has to happen all game. You get 60 minutes for a reason. You get four quarters for a reason. If all Tennessee had to do was win the first quarter, I would be pretty dang nervous. Carolina must not let the first few drives of the game determine how the rest of the game will go. 

This will take every player from Spencer Rattler to DK Joyner to Bryan Thomas, Jr. to Trey Knox. This will take every coach all the way from Shane Beamer and Pete Lembo to assistants Donnie Both and Caleb Jenerette.

With every single bit of mental energy, and with every single fiber of their being, Carolina must focus on playing winning football.

If Carolina can pull this off, it will be the most impressive win of the Shane Beamer era. It may take all 60 minutes, but Carolina can find a way to win this game. 

Discuss South Carolina football on The Insiders Forum!