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Connor Shaw is the real loser in the Clowney Saga
Posted on 10/8/13 at 10:11 am
Posted on 10/8/13 at 10:11 am
Saw this posted on GC.com. Thought it was pretty interesting how many Gamecock fans, SEC fans, and national media has a whole have almost completely forgotten that the most successful QB in our history is still at the helm but gets little to know attention due to Clowney.
The last line made me
For those of who don't know, what makes Clowney look particularly bad to Gamecock fans is that Shaw was in a sling during most of the UCF game and was expected to miss 2-3 weeks. Shaw was having none of that.
quote:
There's a leader on this South Carolina team, but you'd hardly know it from the coverage.
He plays through injury. He plays through pain. He plays through whatever.
He's unselfish. He puts his team first. He fights through adversity and has overcome obstacles his entire career to become the the winningest quarterback in school history with a 21-4 record, including a perfect 13-0 in Columbia.
In this, his senior year, he's on fire, playing the best football of his career. He's completing nearly 70 percent of his passes (68.8 percent) and has thrown for seven touchdown and no interceptions while amassing 927 yards. He's run for another 280.
For someone who has done nothing but lead the program week-in and week-out at the most important position on the field through its most-successful run in more than 100 years of fielding a football team, you'd think Connor Shaw would merit the kind of press reserved for such lofty accomplishments.
And yet, even in a week he willed himself back from what looked like a serious shoulder injury to play superbly in a key division win over Kentucky, Shaw is a media afterthought. A shoulder shrug. A sidebar.
Unfortunately, that's life on a team with Jadeveon Clowney. Even when Clowney doesn't play, he's news. Somehow, the public mind has been so warped, so waterlogged with hype about Clowney's accomplishments, people have forgotten how sparse those accomplishments really are, how little what he has done would have meant if not for Shaw.
Even "The Hit" is widely misremembered. Sure, it gave the Gamecocks the ball back and field position, allowing Shaw to throw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Ace Sanders to go ahead 28-27. But that wasn't the final score, was it? Clowney and company disappeared again on the next drive, the most important Michigan drive of the game, as the Gamecock defense allowed the Wolverines to march the length of the field and score a touchdown to take the lead with just 4:37 left. Not very heroic.
What was heroic was the drive Shaw led, though everyone seems to celebrate most the few plays that Dylan Thompson came in to toss the game-winner. But before Thompson had a chance to throw for the end zone, the Gamecocks had to drive to get in range, and that, good people, was all on the back of one Connor Shaw, who is probably the least-appreciated Outback Bowl star behind Clowney, Thompson, Bruce Ellington and Ace Sanders.
The best thing about Shaw, however? The part you really should admire, beyond his mountain of accomplishments that will be nearly impossible for any future Gamecock quarterback, ever, to top?
He doesn't care. He doesn't dwell on the spotlight, doesn't dwell on hype, doesn't dwell on whether or not you appreciate him. Why? Because the man's got a job to do, and that job needs to get done. He's more blue-collar than blue-chipper, and his work ethic makes that of some other folks we could mention look like a sick joke.
So while people are wallowing in the frenzy over an under-performing player not even ranked in the top 50 in the SEC in tackles, not in the top 10 in tackles for loss and certainly not a candidate for All-SEC, much less All-American, how about taking a few seconds to thank and be grateful for someone who has done nothing but never lose a game in Columbia as the starter, beat Clemson, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee - repeatedly - and lead his team to back-to-back 11 win-seasons and bowl victories over two of the most storied football franchises in America in Michigan and Nebraska?
Or, we could just talk about Clowney, the team's 15th-leading tackler, some more.
The last line made me
For those of who don't know, what makes Clowney look particularly bad to Gamecock fans is that Shaw was in a sling during most of the UCF game and was expected to miss 2-3 weeks. Shaw was having none of that.
This post was edited on 10/8/13 at 10:12 am
Posted on 10/8/13 at 10:15 am to theGarnetWay
quote:
Or, we could just talk about Clowney, the team's 15th-leading tackler, some more.
I had a good laugh from this line.
This post was edited on 10/8/13 at 10:26 am
Posted on 10/8/13 at 10:27 am to theGarnetWay
That's a great post. Shaw is one of my favorite non-Bama players. He should get more attention.
Posted on 10/8/13 at 10:27 am to theGarnetWay
quote:
Or, we could just talk about Clowney, the team's 15th-leading tackler, some more.
Posted on 10/8/13 at 10:28 am to theGarnetWay
Well said. Shaw is a warrior and a damn good QB. Always respected the guy.
Posted on 10/8/13 at 10:29 am to theGarnetWay
quote:
Or, we could just talk about Clowney, the team's 15th-leading tackler, some more.
Posted on 10/8/13 at 10:43 am to theGarnetWay
Excellent piece. You need to give credit to the author and yea, he nailed it.
Posted on 10/8/13 at 10:46 am to theGarnetWay
that is a good article. i'll admit i used to not think much of shaw's qb skills but always was super impressed with his toughness. he's had an excellent career at sc and is probably my favorite all time cock.
Posted on 10/8/13 at 10:53 am to theGarnetWay
Shaw is the man, pain don't hurt and he ain't got time to bleed.
Cracked foot, Shaw DGAF.
Cracked shoulder, Shaw ain't got time for that.
Dislocated shoulder, pop that shite back in, Shaw gotta go.
Concussion, Shaw just uses an icy stare to scare it away.
Cracked foot, Shaw DGAF.
Cracked shoulder, Shaw ain't got time for that.
Dislocated shoulder, pop that shite back in, Shaw gotta go.
Concussion, Shaw just uses an icy stare to scare it away.
This post was edited on 10/8/13 at 10:55 am
Posted on 10/8/13 at 11:06 am to theGarnetWay
I'm a big big Connor Shaw fan. Guy has been such a player for yall. Big props to him
Posted on 10/8/13 at 11:26 am to theGarnetWay
I've always been a big fan of Shaw. He plays with a chip on his shoulder, a true team leader. I'd love to have Shaw on my team.
Posted on 10/8/13 at 11:38 am to theGarnetWay
quote:
the winningest quarterback in school history with a 21-4 record
That's really pathetic. And not something the school should want to claim.
Posted on 10/8/13 at 11:44 am to theGarnetWay
The Old Ball Sack needs to grow a dick and kick his sorry arse off the team.
Posted on 10/8/13 at 11:49 am to theGarnetWay
Connor Shaw is a great QB and an outstanding team leader. I'd love for him to wear orange and blue.
This whole Clowney clownshow was overhyping media crap. They made Clowney into something that he's not because of one great hit. Clowney is a great athlete, but he's like the Tin man, he's got no heart. If he had half the heart Connor has, maybe he'd fit that mold the media built for him.
This whole Clowney clownshow was overhyping media crap. They made Clowney into something that he's not because of one great hit. Clowney is a great athlete, but he's like the Tin man, he's got no heart. If he had half the heart Connor has, maybe he'd fit that mold the media built for him.
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