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re: Predict the football teams record for 2014
Posted on 6/4/14 at 8:37 am to CNB
Posted on 6/4/14 at 8:37 am to CNB
quote:
11-1
Loss @ Auburn
Call me optimistic. I could just as easily see 9-3 though with losses to Florida and Georgia as well.
I'd love to see 12-0 before heading to Atlanta, and I've been saying for a few years that I believe 2014 was going to be our best team ever. (I've based that on our line talent, the talent we've recruited in the trenches on both sides of the ball.) But we'll probably drop one or two close ones. Could be @ Auburn, or verses UGA's running game, or @ Florida.
1
Posted on 6/4/14 at 9:46 am to scrooster
quote:
I've been saying for a few years that I believe 2014 was going to be our best team ever. (I've based that on our line talent, the talent we've recruited in the trenches on both sides of the ball.)
Rooster, what makes you so confident in this? I'm honestly curious, cos losing Clowney, Quarles and Sutton has me very concerned about the effectiveness of our D-line next year. I think the o-line will be great, but the defensive side concerns me.
Posted on 6/4/14 at 1:45 pm to RoyalAir
quote:
Rooster, what makes you so confident in this? I'm honestly curious, cos losing Clowney, Quarles and Sutton has me very concerned about the effectiveness of our D-line next year. I think the o-line will be great, but the defensive side concerns me.
There was good talent on the team last year, but I was aware of some chemistry problems for the past couple of years that I think will be non-existent now that those three are gone ... bless their hearts.
Okay, think about it this way and you'll understand where I was coming from all along.
Clowney, great kid, tried to stay low profile but his presence sucked-up all the attention even if he didn't want it. Wasn't his fault, but everyone else played in his shadow for the past two years.
Now, with regard to Quarles and Sutton, without giving away too much ... hmmmm, how can I do this. Okay, here we go. Think about this. When that little problem went-down up in NYC and the first people named were Quarles and Hampton - what did Kelcey Quarles immediately do? Answer: He immediately threw Sutton under the bus. I think his exact words were, "I wasn't there, they need to talk to Sutton. Sutton is the guy they're looking for."
Quarles did not endear himself with anyone still hear, including some coaches, for doing that IMHO. But no one was surprised because he had always been perceived as a bit of a ... a selfish person I guess you could say for lack of a better term. I have a better term actually, but I'm refraining from using it right at the moment and hoping that both Quarles and Sutton grow-up and do well.
With all of that said, when we started signing solid blue collar and blue chip players a couple of consecutive classes like Dukes, both of the Dixon brothers, English, Cooper, Turner, Washington ... I was watching these guys practice and they all practiced with a lot of intensity and focus. Same for the OLine guys - but I mean when it came to the OLine I was just amazed at what Shawn was doing. I knew Zandi was a steal because I had watched that kid play various ball since he was probably 14, and he started kind of late in football but I knew his parents and I knew he was going to be a major contributor because of his footwork and mean streak. And I had asked Shawn about the Stadnik brothers, you know Clayton was rumored to be part of the package deal but Shawn just laughed that off and I believed him ... and now look. He was right. But add those blue collar guys to the blue chippers we were signing and Shawn coaching'em-up and you could see the writing on the wall.
There is not only some serious talent in our trenches this year, and depth ... but also some serious chemistry. It's the first time I can remember in a long long time since I've seen the trench guys working harder than everyone else on the team in the weight room during the off season. Maybe 77-81 might have been the last time since I've seen these guys work like this when you had Jerome Provence leading the way along with his brother Andrew and you had guys like Lumpy Penny and Chuck Slaughter and Steve Cro-magnon Courson and those guys all in the trenches at the same time, or close enough.
So that's why I've been saying it for a couple of years now. It's just all been coming together.
With all of that said, we're not too shabby at other positions either. I know there are some question marks in the secondary but I hope we're going to survive there long enough to develop that group. Grady Brown is going to have to get'er done this year - he's going to have to earn his money.
We've got to get our kicking game hitting on all four cylinders this year in order to have a chance at a really special season. KO, KOR, Punting, PR, FG ... this is a do or die year for our Special Teams and it will be the difference in whether we have another good season or whether we have a really great season IMHO. It probably cost us a game last year IMHO, in Knoxville. It's cost us at least one game a year for the past few years quite honestly .... BUT, when Ace was here it probably won us one or two as well.
Our punting game has to get right come hell or high water.
Posted on 6/4/14 at 1:50 pm to scrooster
I appreciate the info. 
Posted on 6/4/14 at 2:08 pm to scrooster
That was a good read rooster. Since you're opening up the behind the scenes for us I have a question of my own, regarding what happens when Spurrier retires.
You've said many many times that you strongly believe that we're keeping it in house and Spurrier Jr. will take over.
How are you so confident on that knowing how much can change in just a few short years in the coaching world?
Thanks for the insight.
You've said many many times that you strongly believe that we're keeping it in house and Spurrier Jr. will take over.
How are you so confident on that knowing how much can change in just a few short years in the coaching world?
Thanks for the insight.
Posted on 6/4/14 at 2:51 pm to scrooster
quote:
Our punting game has to get right come hell or high water.
How about this...
On fourth down and unmanageable (5+ yards inside the opponents 50 or on our side of the field and longer than the nose of a football) you put in either one of the walk-on QBs or the Wild Cat QB and just throw a long interception. The WRs can make a cursory attempt to get the pass, but they should be more often stopping the DB at the point of the turnover. It will often work out better than a shanked punt and you even have the added bonus of getting a better than average shot at retaining possession than a punt would.
The obvious downside would be keeping other teams from just knocking the ball down and getting the turnover on downs. So the WRs will really have to sell that they are making an effort for the ball and the QB will have to make sure they are putting it in a catchable area for either player. But most DBs are hungry for picks and will instinctively go for the INT...
I think this could revolutionize the game!!
Posted on 6/4/14 at 3:14 pm to CockRocket
quote:
I appreciate the info.
My pleasure RoyalAir. We're all trading info around here. I don't keep up with recruiting like y'all do, I only pay attention after they sign, unless I have a personal connection or have had something shared with me, so we're good. We've got a good thing going-on in here.
quote:
That was a good read rooster. Since you're opening up the behind the scenes for us I have a question of my own, regarding what happens when Spurrier retires.
You've said many many times that you strongly believe that we're keeping it in house and Spurrier Jr. will take over.
How are you so confident on that knowing how much can change in just a few short years in the coaching world?
Thanks for the insight.
Oh you're definitely correct CockRocket. Things change quickly in the coaching world, they do. I mean we need look no further in our past than the Holtz years to see that. Or who would have thunk-it, back in '96, that Brad Scott's brat Jeff would be recruiting for the taterheads today?
Things do change quickly. But then there is Steve Spurrier.
I'm not going to sit here and declare him perfect, because that a-hole is far from it. I've never met a more egotistical full of hubris fella in my life with the possible exception of Eric Hyman. Hyman was just a douche. Mike McGee was my guy, fair but tough, and McGee was old school so you knew where you stood with McGee.
I should probably rephrase that about Spurrier. The HBC is probably guarded for a good reason. He chooses those who he let's close to him very very carefully. Most successful people have to be that way over time - Spurrier probably handles it better than most honestly, but he can still be an a-hole from time to time and he can really be demanding, a prima donna when he wants to be, especially when touring the clubs over the summer months. But the guy is successful, very competitive and unknown to most people - Spurrier is very very organized and very intuitive. He has a very solid feel for things in his control.
Now, that prick Jamie Speronis gets a lot of credit for managing the football program - but Spurrier is the CEO, make no mistake about that, Spurrier is in charge completely, especially now that Hyman is gone and Ray is the AD. Ray is smart like that and not nearly as egotistical or a control freak as Hyman was. That's not taking anything away from Tanner, but he suffered under Hyman like everyone else did so he sees it from a coach's perspective.
So now to the point of your question.
Spurrier is, by nature, very calculating. He plans ahead. Most Generals are this way. They are strategic in everything they do but they are also politicians and Spurrier knows how to play the game. So does Jerri - and that's important. They make a helluva team and have all fronts covered.
Keep that in mind for a moment.
Continued ...
Posted on 6/4/14 at 3:14 pm to scrooster
... continued.
Then there is Junior, Bubba and his wife Missy. I have never seen a Son, not even mine, more straight out of the mold of his Dad than Bubba. Honestly, Bubba may be more of all those strong leadership traits than even his Dad. Because Missy does not have to run interference in certain situations for Bubba like Jerri has had to do, and still does, with regard to the HBC. That's about all I can say about that. Bubba is the real deal.
Skippy Holtz was never the real deal. That's why the original deal was never consummated with Skippy because Mike McGee was a very very smart man.
So with all of that implied above, and I am sorry for being somewhat coded above, but the reasons are there so far, if you'll read between the lines ... let's look at Bubba's resume.
Two MNC rings on his finger ... UF and Oklahoma under Stoops.
Junior has done all the jobs, he's learned the ropes. The last one was as recruiting coordinator and he's beginning to take us to a new level in that regard.
He's doing it all very quietly and behind the scenes with little to no fanfare.
Junior is every bit the offensive-minded coach his Dad is, perhaps moreso at this phase and stage.
Junior is the quiet leader among the staff - good friends with everybody, well respected for what he does.
The players love Bubba too.
While Jerri is the matriarch of the current staff, the First Lady so-to-speak, make no mistake about it Missy is the Princess, the First Lady in waiting if you will. All the other coaches' wives revolve around her like the assistants' wives used to revolve around Jerri.
Have you ever watched any pack of anything, people, dogs, cows, pigs, lions ... whatever. The Alphas always stand-out.
Bubba and Missy are the Alphas.
Bubba and Missy have put down roots here, dropped anchor, this is their home and they are well-liked, if not downright loved, by most they come in contact with ... including certain members of our BoTs and including our AD and his wife.
The big question, where I think there is no question at all, is how will the transition go with Junior and Jamie Speronis. IMHO both of them recognize the need to, from a pure business standpoint, the need to make sure the transition is smooth and seamless. In that regard Speronis could prove invaluable by giving Bubba time to concentrate on becoming the HCIC and not having to worry about training a new DoFootball Ops guy.
So the next question is going to be, what about Shawn and Lorenzo?
Here's the thing about those guys. I think those guys stick around under Junior. They all get along well. Sure, if a head coaching job were to pop-open for either of those guys they'd probably take it, but that's a natural progression thing and bound to happen sooner or later. Staffs morph and change over time, we've been lucky to keep this one together as long as we have. We're going to lose some good guys - it is inevitable. We'll survive.
Finally, there is Spurrier's recent contract which extends his relationship with the program into a consultant status once he decides to step down. He came right out and stated he wants to stick around, to be near his grandchildren, his entire family, his friends ... Columbia has become his home. He likes it here. That's not a paper Gamecock, that's a written and verbal declaration for what is planned down the road. Bubba is going to be the man when the time comes.
Of course, that's probably not going to happen anytime soon. Spurrier's closest confidants all agree he is here through 2017, maybe longer if he is within a season or two of breaking The Bear's SEC wins total record. And Junior is biding his time, learning the inner workings of the program, making new friends, more friends, taking over the day to day stuff and working more hand-in-hand with Speronis on a daily basis. The transition is happening very much as it is done on the big corporate level ... very gradually, very smoothly, very quietly.
In time, within the near future, you're going to see Junior, more and more, becoming the face of the program. Junior and Missy. Perhaps not so publicly at first, but certainly where it matters in areas of dealing with the big boosters, the club chapter meetings, the board meetings, the behind the scenes stuff. You'll see Junior handing down directives from his Dad to other coaches ... heck, he's already doing it to some degree now.
I believe we have the HBC through 2017 unless we win the national championship between now and then. So that's 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
The Bear had what, 159 SEC wins combined Ky and Bama. Spurrier has what, 128 maybe, 129? Something like that I think. So the HBC would need 30-31 more SEC wins to catch The Bear, 32 to surpass him. That's gonna be tough to do over the course of the next four years. It would take what, 8 SEC wins per season? I love my Gamecocks but that's not likely to happen. Six per season is a more realistic goal so let's say he's close, does he go for 2018?
I kinda doubt it. Matter of fact he may bail and take the consultant job if we win the SEC Championship this year although I doubt he would given his promise to Conner Mitch. Still yet, you never know with the HBC, he might change his mind and step back and hand it to Bubba knowing he's left the cupboard full ... which would be a smart thing to do for a Son, we would like to do the same for our Sons, correct?
Spurrier has stated he's not chasing The Bear's record. Said he would have stayed at Florida if he were. He's hard to read when it comes to that but I just think he'll be here to 2017 and then he becomes Bubba's Consigliere like Don Corleone was to Michael.
Bubba will be chomping at the bit by then, ready to take the reins of the football program. He's already entrenched.
One more little afterthought worth mentioning. What better motivation for Spurrier, Jr, for Bubba, as the recruiting coordinator than to be told, "hey, listen, these players you are recruiting now ... choose them carefully because they will be yours one day soon and what you sign and what you make of them now will make you or break you when you take over ..."
Think about the beauty of that. It's genius. It's also why the HBC waited this long to give Bubba the RC responsibilities because, as I stated earlier, the man is calculating in everything he does.
Then there is Junior, Bubba and his wife Missy. I have never seen a Son, not even mine, more straight out of the mold of his Dad than Bubba. Honestly, Bubba may be more of all those strong leadership traits than even his Dad. Because Missy does not have to run interference in certain situations for Bubba like Jerri has had to do, and still does, with regard to the HBC. That's about all I can say about that. Bubba is the real deal.
Skippy Holtz was never the real deal. That's why the original deal was never consummated with Skippy because Mike McGee was a very very smart man.
So with all of that implied above, and I am sorry for being somewhat coded above, but the reasons are there so far, if you'll read between the lines ... let's look at Bubba's resume.
Two MNC rings on his finger ... UF and Oklahoma under Stoops.
Junior has done all the jobs, he's learned the ropes. The last one was as recruiting coordinator and he's beginning to take us to a new level in that regard.
He's doing it all very quietly and behind the scenes with little to no fanfare.
Junior is every bit the offensive-minded coach his Dad is, perhaps moreso at this phase and stage.
Junior is the quiet leader among the staff - good friends with everybody, well respected for what he does.
The players love Bubba too.
While Jerri is the matriarch of the current staff, the First Lady so-to-speak, make no mistake about it Missy is the Princess, the First Lady in waiting if you will. All the other coaches' wives revolve around her like the assistants' wives used to revolve around Jerri.
Have you ever watched any pack of anything, people, dogs, cows, pigs, lions ... whatever. The Alphas always stand-out.
Bubba and Missy are the Alphas.
Bubba and Missy have put down roots here, dropped anchor, this is their home and they are well-liked, if not downright loved, by most they come in contact with ... including certain members of our BoTs and including our AD and his wife.
The big question, where I think there is no question at all, is how will the transition go with Junior and Jamie Speronis. IMHO both of them recognize the need to, from a pure business standpoint, the need to make sure the transition is smooth and seamless. In that regard Speronis could prove invaluable by giving Bubba time to concentrate on becoming the HCIC and not having to worry about training a new DoFootball Ops guy.
So the next question is going to be, what about Shawn and Lorenzo?
Here's the thing about those guys. I think those guys stick around under Junior. They all get along well. Sure, if a head coaching job were to pop-open for either of those guys they'd probably take it, but that's a natural progression thing and bound to happen sooner or later. Staffs morph and change over time, we've been lucky to keep this one together as long as we have. We're going to lose some good guys - it is inevitable. We'll survive.
Finally, there is Spurrier's recent contract which extends his relationship with the program into a consultant status once he decides to step down. He came right out and stated he wants to stick around, to be near his grandchildren, his entire family, his friends ... Columbia has become his home. He likes it here. That's not a paper Gamecock, that's a written and verbal declaration for what is planned down the road. Bubba is going to be the man when the time comes.
Of course, that's probably not going to happen anytime soon. Spurrier's closest confidants all agree he is here through 2017, maybe longer if he is within a season or two of breaking The Bear's SEC wins total record. And Junior is biding his time, learning the inner workings of the program, making new friends, more friends, taking over the day to day stuff and working more hand-in-hand with Speronis on a daily basis. The transition is happening very much as it is done on the big corporate level ... very gradually, very smoothly, very quietly.
In time, within the near future, you're going to see Junior, more and more, becoming the face of the program. Junior and Missy. Perhaps not so publicly at first, but certainly where it matters in areas of dealing with the big boosters, the club chapter meetings, the board meetings, the behind the scenes stuff. You'll see Junior handing down directives from his Dad to other coaches ... heck, he's already doing it to some degree now.
I believe we have the HBC through 2017 unless we win the national championship between now and then. So that's 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
The Bear had what, 159 SEC wins combined Ky and Bama. Spurrier has what, 128 maybe, 129? Something like that I think. So the HBC would need 30-31 more SEC wins to catch The Bear, 32 to surpass him. That's gonna be tough to do over the course of the next four years. It would take what, 8 SEC wins per season? I love my Gamecocks but that's not likely to happen. Six per season is a more realistic goal so let's say he's close, does he go for 2018?
I kinda doubt it. Matter of fact he may bail and take the consultant job if we win the SEC Championship this year although I doubt he would given his promise to Conner Mitch. Still yet, you never know with the HBC, he might change his mind and step back and hand it to Bubba knowing he's left the cupboard full ... which would be a smart thing to do for a Son, we would like to do the same for our Sons, correct?
Spurrier has stated he's not chasing The Bear's record. Said he would have stayed at Florida if he were. He's hard to read when it comes to that but I just think he'll be here to 2017 and then he becomes Bubba's Consigliere like Don Corleone was to Michael.
Bubba will be chomping at the bit by then, ready to take the reins of the football program. He's already entrenched.
One more little afterthought worth mentioning. What better motivation for Spurrier, Jr, for Bubba, as the recruiting coordinator than to be told, "hey, listen, these players you are recruiting now ... choose them carefully because they will be yours one day soon and what you sign and what you make of them now will make you or break you when you take over ..."
Think about the beauty of that. It's genius. It's also why the HBC waited this long to give Bubba the RC responsibilities because, as I stated earlier, the man is calculating in everything he does.
Posted on 6/4/14 at 3:40 pm to scrooster
So would Junior be an even more CEO type coach than his father? How are his X's and O's? I'm not saying it's not a major part of what makes Spurrier great... but... actually I am saying it. Does he have the chops, offensively, to innovate and bring new wrinkles into a gameday setting? Or would he need to bring in a OC to lead the team going forward?
Posted on 6/4/14 at 3:59 pm to Loathor
quote:
So would Junior be an even more CEO type coach than his father? How are his X's and O's? I'm not saying it's not a major part of what makes Spurrier great... but... actually I am saying it. Does he have the chops, offensively, to innovate and bring new wrinkles into a gameday setting? Or would he need to bring in a OC to lead the team going forward?
Spurrier gives props to Bubba and other coaches when they make a play call that pays off. Bubba calling the 4th and goal play at Mizzou is the most recent one I can remember but hes also given shout outs to Elliot and Mangus.
Posted on 6/4/14 at 3:59 pm to Loathor
quote:
So would Junior be an even more CEO type coach than his father? How are his X's and O's? I'm not saying it's not a major part of what makes Spurrier great... but... actually I am saying it. Does he have the chops, offensively, to innovate and bring new wrinkles into a gameday setting? Or would he need to bring in a OC to lead the team going forward?
Junior has CEO chops. He's probably more competitive, more organized, more focused than even his Dad without the ego ... not that the HBC having a huge ego is a bad thing. It's actually been very good for us. We needed the Spurrier swagger.
But Junior is HC material, it is in his genes. Much much much moreso than Skippy ever was or is.
Bubba's Xs and Os can be seen on any given Saturday during the season. He calls plays, he and G.A., and most of the time they go by the HBC without a question. Once in awhile the HBC changed the play, but that's been happening less and less recently.
As far as bringing in new wrinkles, honestly, I think that is where Bubba is going to shine. He's already done that to some degree - we'll see more and more of it as the next few years transpire.
On the day you see Junior named OC, officially, that's the day you'll know he's going to be our next HC officially. And no, I would not expect us to have an OC under Bubba his first couple of years - that's just not the Spurrier way. But the day you see Bubba named OC, then remember that I typed this, the HBC's day will be drawing to a close within a season or two.
Posted on 6/4/14 at 4:19 pm to scrooster
quote:
On the day you see Junior named OC, officially, that's the day you'll know he's going to be our next HC officially. And no, I would not expect us to have an OC under Bubba his first couple of years - that's just not the Spurrier way. But the day you see Bubba named OC, then remember that I typed this, the HBC's day will be drawing to a close within a season or two.
Isn't he Co-OC with Elliot?
Posted on 6/4/14 at 9:06 pm to Cockopotamus
quote:
Isn't he Co-OC with Elliot?
I dunno, is he? If he is then I've not been paying attention. I guess Co-OC is honorary ... he does make a bit more of a paycheck than some of the other coaches, or does he? I don't think it's much more, if any.
Ward is the Asst HC is he not?
Asst HC does not mean Coach in Waiting. It's a title for a resume and it's likely to give Ward a shot at the first HCing opportunity from another program. Again, very calculated - but also a compliment to Ward because it actually does mean a lot more money typically.
Does anyone know where we might find current salaries?
ETA: I'm on my laptop now, but this is all I could find: https://www.gogamecocks.com/2014/01/16/519069/spurrier-to-receive-raise-to-4.html
This post was edited on 6/4/14 at 9:43 pm
Posted on 6/5/14 at 9:36 am to scrooster
quote:
Junior has CEO chops. He's probably more competitive, more organized, more focused than even his Dad without the ego ... not that the HBC having a huge ego is a bad thing. It's actually been very good for us. We needed the Spurrier swagger.
But Junior is HC material, it is in his genes. Much much much moreso than Skippy ever was or is.
Bubba's Xs and Os can be seen on any given Saturday during the season. He calls plays, he and G.A., and most of the time they go by the HBC without a question. Once in awhile the HBC changed the play, but that's been happening less and less recently.
As far as bringing in new wrinkles, honestly, I think that is where Bubba is going to shine. He's already done that to some degree - we'll see more and more of it as the next few years transpire.
On the day you see Junior named OC, officially, that's the day you'll know he's going to be our next HC officially. And no, I would not expect us to have an OC under Bubba his first couple of years - that's just not the Spurrier way. But the day you see Bubba named OC, then remember that I typed this, the HBC's day will be drawing to a close within a season or two.
Thanks for the info
Posted on 6/5/14 at 1:41 pm to Cockopotamus
quote:
I don't think he got that title after Johnson left.
At the bottom they've got the coaches and their titles/responsibilities.
LINK
I guess I was thinking in terms of salaries.
Ward is the highest paid assistant, I'm pretty sure. Around $650-$675k a year if I am not mistaken. I think all of the other coaches, with the exception of maybe Sands and Adams, are making in the $350k a year range. Bubba may make closer to $400k. Sands and Adams are closer to $250k including bonuses I think, but don't quote me on that. Joe Rob is probably around $300k or so. So the salaries are varied and I may have just assumed certain titles to match the salaries and done so incorrectly.
I heard recently, and I forget from whom it was, that our assistants are going to make a total of somewhere in the neighborhood of $3 million this year.
Posted on 6/6/14 at 1:06 pm to scrooster
Great stuff, SCROOSTER, but I am also going to make a prediction.
I think Mitch will the quarterback by the third game, maybe earlier. This kid has NFL all over him.
I think Mitch will the quarterback by the third game, maybe earlier. This kid has NFL all over him.
Posted on 6/6/14 at 5:16 pm to CocknDawg
quote:
Great stuff, SCROOSTER, but I am also going to make a prediction.
I think Mitch will the quarterback by the third game, maybe earlier. This kid has NFL all over him.
I'm not going to lie. I thought either Noso or Mitch would take over before the season was over as well... but I'm backing off that prediction. I think Thompson is going to put in the work needed to make the right decisions out there. His throwing too many balls into bad situations was the main reason I thought he would slip up... and it might still... But I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt until he proves otherwise. I do think SOS will have his eye on those young guys in case he has to hook Thompson early.
Posted on 6/7/14 at 1:29 am to Cockopotamus
12-2 including a loss to Bama in the SEC Championship game and we win our bowl game.
Posted on 6/8/14 at 3:34 pm to Cockopotamus
11-2, with losses to Auburn and Auburn.
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