On the subject of preseason Gamecock Football.

Aug 19, 2005, 2:54 PM

Yeah, yeah, Tiger Board, all we do is talk about the Gamecocks, etc. Blah, blah, blah.

I want to try to explain a few things about the Tiger (and Gamecock) psyche as it applies to our rivalry in football.

1) Why Clemson fans are always going on about how much better Clemson is in football: Because we are, and because large numbers of SC fans continue to dispute that while having nothing to back it up except for...

2) The future. As in next year, next coach, next recruiting season. Excuse our skepticism, Gamecocks. You see, it just ain't happened yet. I understand why you want so badly for this to be the guy to lead you into national prominence and put Clemson Football in the rear-view mirror. I get it. 100 and x years later, desperation is starting to set in, and everyone's gotta have hope. But, if I may make a tiny suggestion...

3) Shut up until you've actually done something. Talk about how great Steve Spurrier is once he's won a conference championship at South Carolina. Because truly, winning anything with a program in the condition that yours is in would be quite the accomplishment. No one knows what the future holds. Clemson could win the ACC this year, or come in dead last. There are too many variables for a team such as ours. I know, I know, to combat that Clemson fans are always...

4) Living in the past. But you see what's actually occurred is the only thing that counts. What might occur in the future don't mean squat. Again, I realize that the future is all you have to look towards, because looking back in the past gets you naught but visons of...

5) A losing program. Sure, there have been a few acceptable years here and there, but only one year in your history really stands out. The problem with our Gamecock foes, Tiger Fans, is that they have a very rabid fan base that never gets rewarded for their patronage (at least in the first half) at Williams-Brice. Can you imagine being in their shoes with their history? It's enough to drive anyone...

6) Insane. Which brings us to why you always see these posts from (some) Gamecocks telling us how we're about to be put in the rear-view mirror in terms of football in this state. The insanity clearly causes the affected person to forget football season itself, and only concentrate on media attention, off-season coaching changes, spring games, attendance at spring games, and recruiting battles. The afflicted individual can no longer understand what transpired during the season, and therefore has forgotten that the Gamecocks would need to...

7) Win 26 consecutive games to tie the series with Clemson which going to be very difficult to do, what with their track record of...

8) Not having beaten Clemson in back to back games in 35 years. Fortunately fans like me who are 32 years old have never seen this happen, and have actually only been around for 9 total losses to South Carolina. But can you see, Tiger bretheren, where if you were in their shoes you might have a mental illness when you also consider that...

9) Clemson has won 7 out of the last 8 games and the last two have been by margins so convincing that no one outside of the state wanted to watch the game.

Pandora opened the box in Columbia. All the evil, nasty stuff got out but had trouble crossing the Congaree, so it all stuck around. In the bottom of that box was hope, and that's all the Gamecocks have left. Every now and then something else crawls out of the box, and this time it appeared wearing a visor. So perhaps Mr. Spurrier will bring improvement and glory to South Carolina football - who knows? So hang on to your preseason glory, Gamecocks, hold on to that thin thread of hope. No one can take that from you. It's just that people would respect your fans more if you just wouldn't...

10) Talk #### to that 600 lb anvil as it falls towards your heads each fall. I've never seen a group of fans whose program has accomplished so little talk so much trash to the fans of schools that absolutely OWN them.

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