South Carolina College Football Preview

SOUTH CAROLINA
STRENGTHS: The front seven on defense is a great place to start. Led by 250-pound All-
American linebacker Eric Norwood, this group will be tough to run against. Norwood is also set to
break the school's sack record. The 4-2-5 defensive scheme put into place by coordinator Ellis
Johnson proved to be more than effective last season. Stephen Garcia won't be an immediate
savior behind center for coach Spurrier, but he is starting to show the potential the head ball
coach saw when recruiting the Tampa native. His nifty feet also make him a dangerous ground
weapon.
CONCERNS: Same ole story for coach Spurrier, the offensive line is killing this program. This unit
will welcome back four different starters but continues to rank last in the SEC in both opening
holes for the ball carriers and protecting the QB. The ball carriers are very inexperienced and
losing TE Jared Cook early to the NFL does not help a receiving unit missing a star player. Two
new cornerbacks must step in for a secondary that lost its two best players (Captain Munnerlyn
and Emanuel Cook) as both left the program early for the NFL Draft.
PROGNOSIS: The Gamecock nation is still waiting on Steve Spurrier to deliver South Carolina to
the SEC Promised Land after going a meager 28-22 in his four seasons as the head ball coach.
Five new assistants were bought in this off-season in an effort to revitalize a lifeless effort at
times. Although the secondary is breaking in new faces, plenty of heralded talent is at the
coaches’ disposal and so defense should be the cry in 2009. Garcia has a bright future at QB if
he can stay out of trouble but until he gets some time to throw from this offensive line, he won't do
any better than his below average predecessors. The Cocks could use an eight win season to
boost morale...easier said than done.
PROJECTED RECORD: 6-6