It's Saturday, bring your rainslicker

The weather is 40-50% rain. This is no surprise giving the time of year and the importance of the game to the standings in the SEC. When the war of words gives way to the battle on the field, there will be alot of things going on within the game. Showers throughout the game should force both coaches to make some slight changes in their game plan, and look for both offenses to try and integrate a puddle jumping running game into the plan. Look for key matchups on the line, as the Vols defensive line look to create trouble in the backfield and fill all holes. The OBC has "worked on several plays" this week to try and exploit a Vols defense that has glaring deficiencies on the corners of their D-line. Darian Stewart is back at Spur for the Cocks on D this week, and Norwood will be given the task of picking up the lead and dummy blockers when the Vols try to run off tackle. This is one of those games where it wont just be the highlights that will leave us with memories of the game. We will all reflect on the crucial mistakes that may/may not be made in the rainy, cold and very hostile atmosphere.

Gameday Misc. Notes

New Mouth of the South

For a guy who has managed to offend an entire community in Florida to the SEC's officials, Tennessee first-year coach Lane Kiffin was surprisingly quiet this week on USC wideout Alshon Jeffery, whom he told would pump gas for the rest of his life if he signed with the Gamecocks. Likewise, Steve Spurrier said nothing about Kiffin. The more relevant matchup will be Spurrier's ability to find gaps in Monte Kiffin's Tampa-2 defense.

Has USC caught Tennessee?

With a win tonight, the Gamecocks will be threatening to move past UT into the top half of the SEC East. USC enters the game with an 18-19 conference record in four-plus seasons under Spurrier, while the Vols have an 18-18 mark during that span. After Lou Holtz was 0-6 against UT, Spurrier is 2-2 against his home-state school.

Double trouble

Spurrier has been looking for a way to get Jeffery and Tori Gurley on the field at the same time. The two tall targets - Jeffery is 6-3, Gurley 6-5 - have combined for 45 receptions for 761 yards and five touchdowns, but play the same wideout spot. Jeffery missed a practice this week with a stomach bug, but should be fine for his first trip to Rocky Top.

Bring the 'wood

Gamecocks linebacker Eric Norwood is the SEC sack leader with six, but has gone four weeks without a sack. USC wants to force Tennessee into throwing downs, so the Gamecocks can go after Vols quarterback Jonathan Crompton (10 interceptions) and try to force him into mistakes. Norwood has been drawing his share of double-team blocks, but has to put his stamp on this game.

By a foot in Knoxville

USC's past two games at Tennessee have been decided by a field goal. Josh Brown made a game-winner for the Gamecocks in 2005, while Ryan Succop missed a 40-yarder in overtime in 2007 after the Vols' Daniel Lincoln connected from 27 yards. Lincoln is coming off a rough game at Alabama, where he had two field goals blocked and was short on another.

Game Within The Game

QB Stephen Garcia vs. S Eric Berry

About Garcia: The redshirt sophomore has exceeded expectations in his first full season as a starter. Garcia is second in the SEC in total offense (236.6 yards a game) and has done a good job limiting turnovers with one notable exception - an interception on his first pass at Alabama that Mark Barron returned 77 yards for a touchdown.

How he'll win:

Garcia will have to be mindful of where Berry is on the field and be sure not to telegraph his throws. Steve Spurrier will try to help Garcia by sending in audibles from the sideline after seeing where Berry aligns. It falls on Garcia to protect the ball, look off Berry and make plays against a Tennessee pass defense ranked sixth in the country.

Key number:

4, interceptions thrown by Garcia, who had eight in eight games last season.

About Berry:

Berry is the NCAA's active interception leader with 13 picks and is closing in on Terrell Buckley's NCAA record for career interception return yards. Berry picked off Garcia in last year's game in Columbia and returned it 45 yards before Kenny McKinley corralled him around midfield.

How he'll win:

Because of Berry's coverage and run-stopping skills, the Vols often will bring him closer to the line of scrimmage to give offenses a different look in Monte Kiffin's Tampa-2 scheme. Other times, Berry will align deeper and try to get a jump on Garcia's downfield throws.

Key number:

7.9, Berry's average tackles per game, which ranks eighth in the SEC. He is the only defensive bank among the conference's top 17 tacklers

ACC and SEC mirror each other....

With Clemson ruining the Miami hopes of a fringe naty title shot, the ACC will be a bone yard full of seven win teams. I would like to see our GAMECOCKS tangle with the U. in LANDSHARK STADIUM.


Clemson could sit at 6-7-8 wins and still playing spoiler. Bowl season will be tight this year, less bowls scheduled.


GO COCKS!!!!

Terps, Gamecocks will wear camo to honor vets

By RALPH D. RUSSO, AP College Football Writer 4 hours, 49 minutes ago

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NEW YORK (AP)—Maryland and South Carolina will wear uniforms with camouflage designs during their games Nov. 14 to honor military veterans and promote the Wounded Warrior Project.

The black with tan camouflage uniforms, designed by Under Armour, will have a Wounded Warrior logo on them. Instead of players’ names, the backs of the jerseys will have words such as courage, loyalty, integrity and service.

“Ooooh,” South Carolina defensive tackle Ladi Ajiboye said Tuesday after seeing the camouflage cleats the Gamecocks will wear. “I could wear these the whole season.”

The Wounded Warrior Project acts as an advocate for injured service men and women in Washington and provides services and programs for them.

Camouflage design football cle…
AP - Oct 20, 1:29 pm EDT

South Carolina's football …
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South Carolina's football …
AP - Oct 20, 1:29 pm EDT

The 23rd-ranked Gamecocks play No. 2 Florida that day, and Maryland faces No. 15 Virginia Tech. Veterans Day is Nov. 11.

South Carolina’s campus is 15 miles from Fort Jackson, the Army’s largest training base.

Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier wanted to wear the special uniforms as soon as he heard about the idea and encouraged fans to support the program.

Warriors charity can help even more veterans.

“We’re honored to be associated with these brave men. I like that word courage. We’re trying to encourage our football players to play with a little more courage like the way these guys do for our country,” Spurrier said at a news conference in Columbia, S.C.

Maryland also held a news conference to announce the promotion on its campus in College Park.

“It’s certainly an honor for us to be involved in this project. I think our kids are very excited about it,” coach Ralph Friedgen said.

Some jerseys will be auctioned off after the games on the university Web sites, with all of the money being donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.

“This is an amazing platform that will help us let others know about what we do and why honoring and empowering wounded warriors is so important,” Steven Nardizzi, executive director of the Wounded Warrior Project, said in a release.

Under Armour apparel and team gear with the Wounded Warrior logo, such as hooded sweat shirts and polo shirts, will be sold in college bookstores, and a portion of the proceeds will go to WWP.

“Partnering with an organization such as the Wounded Warrior Project allows Under Armour a unique opportunity to connect with college football fans and our athletes on a whole new level, while also supporting the overall mission of the Wounded Warrior Project,” Kevin Plank, CEO of Under Armour, said in a statement.

Associated Press Writer Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, S.C., contributed to this report.