This Gamecocks Blog saved the best for last in our ‘Gamecocks Football Roundtable’ as we had the chance to ask the Post and Courier’s former South Carolina beat writer, Travis Haney, some questions about the Gamecocks in 2011.
If you recall, our friend Travis is now out in Norman, Oklahoma covering the mighty Sooners. He is missed but we wish him much luck in the next chapter of his life.
We have really enjoyed doing this roundtable and hope you have enjoyed the insight on the thoughts of some of our friends. Bottom line through all this is that USC has the chance to do someting that has never been done before in Columbia. The 2011 season will be special, how special…well stay tuned….
Here is our final roundtable, the Q&A with Travis Haney. Oh, please read the other roundtables we did at the bottom of this…
1. Marcus as Heisman contender?
A: Sure, why not? He had numbers last year that were good and suggested he could be even better, if he progresses and stays healthy. He’ll play on a good team, which is seemingly part of the Heisman equation. And he has set it as a goal for himself. I sort of doubted Marcus a year ago when he said he’d rush for 1,000 yards as a freshman. I’m not doubting him anymore. I personally don’t think he wins this year, but I certainly wouldn’t bet against him at least being in New York. The only thing working against him is the fact that Alshon Jeffery may be something of a candidate, too, and it could hurt him in the voting. But, then again, running backs are always treated far better in the voting than receivers.
2. Who’s better, Jeffery or Blackmon?
A: It’s Alshon, but it’s awfully close. They’re virtually the same receiver, even though Alshon is a few inches taller and few pounds heavier (boy, that has taken a life of its own this summer). Both are very big, very physical receivers. Both have good but not great quarterbacks throwing to him. I give Alshon the edge because of his size and because he’s doing it against SEC defenses. Make no mistake, though, I’d want either on my team and I think both will be very good pros. Blackmon might wind up with more yards and/or catches this year, but stats don’t necessarily make for the better receiver.
3. What is the strength of the USC football team in 2011?
A: Receivers. There are so many, even beyond Alshon, one of the very best in the country. I’m curious how they’ll all be used. Ace Sanders is not being talked about nearly as much as he was last summer, but he could have a very special season as a No. 2 guy. Bruce Ellington and Damiere Byrd should get their chances, too. Jason Barnes is a veteran. D.L. Moore quietly does a lot, even when he’s not catching the ball. Have Lamar Scruggs and DeAngelo Smith made strides to become factors? It’s such a deep position. Like everyone else, I want to see how Steve Spurrier and Steve Spurrier Jr. use all the talent available to them.
The weakness?
A: No one’s talking too much about this, but there are two guys who will be incredibly tough to replace. Spencer Lanning did way more than I expected him to do when he took over for Ryan Succop. The team can only hope Jay Wooten is capable of something similar. Same goes for Patrick Fish in the punt game. The second guy is Pat DiMarco. How do you go about replacing that kind of heart? Not only that, but he was a guy who could do so many different things seamlessly. His absence is something you might notice early in the season.
4. Chances of and talk of OU to SEC?
A: Not all that much. The main focus is on the 2011 season, which is understandable considering where OU will begin the year. I don’t think anyone here really sees the SEC as a viable option, for one thing, because of travel. How would the Sooners get all their teams – not just football – to SEC venues each week? It’ll be a nightmare for Texas A&M, should the Aggies make the move. Additionally, OU really wants to stay attached to Texas and/or Oklahoma State. All those teams aren’t coming to the SEC, I assume. If they’re going anywhere, it’ll be the Pac 12. But I’m thinking the Big 12 will stay intact for a while, adding Houston (for A&M) and then trying to move forward. It’s a fun thought, OU in the SEC. Fun for me. Fun for those in the SEC. But it doesn’t make a lot of sense for these guys, on a lot of levels.
5. Memorable moment at USC?
No question, it’s the first baseball national championship. I’d never covered a champion of any significance. South Carolina had never had a champion of any significance. And, again, it wasn’t just that it happened; it was the way it happened. So many dramatic finishes. And, then, the subplot with Bayler. It was a special two weeks, one I’ll carry with me forever. That’s no hyperbole, either. The beauty of it was, no one was looking for it. It wasn’t like USC was a favorite or even a contender, once it got to Omaha. But it just kept winning. The second title was icing on the cake and another blast to cover.
The start-to-finish, all-day event of last year’s Alabama upset has to be my football memory. The whole day, from gameday to sunset, felt like I was on the set of a movie. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a team play better than the Gamecocks did that day. It takes that to beat Alabama like that. It just doesn’t happen.
Thanks for asking me to do this. I miss everyone, and I’ll always consider Columbia home.
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Other Roundtables to read –
Gamecocks Football Roundtable: Q&A with Cocky Country
Gamecocks Football Roundtable: Q&A with GABA
Gamecocks Football Roundtable: Q&A with Life of a Gamecock
Gamecocks Football Roundtable: Q&A with The Rubber Chickens
