This might be Lou Holtz's last stand, but you couldn't tell it by SEC football media days. He sounded like a first-year coach as he detailed all his changes.

Most of the changes mean more Coach Lou.

He is taking more control of the offense, at the expense of his son, Skip, who lost his title of offensive coordinator. He is teaching a Monday night class on success and making it mandatory for all players. He is trying one motivational ploy after another, even recruiting former South Carolina players to address the team in the offseason.

But when he talks about changing a losing culture, it doesn't resonate.

That's OK in your first or second year. That's OK anytime at Vanderbilt.

But that's not what South Carolina fans want to hear after five years. They want less talk, more action.

As a talker, Holtz is often as sharp as ever. The man who once matched wits with Johnny Carson on "The Tonight Show" is still as quick as your average standup comic.

At SEC media days, he was asked about the strength of the expanded Atlantic Coast Conference. Holtz responded by saying what an asset "Miami and their linebacker" would be, referring to the much-publicized Willie Williams, whose criminal record didn't prevent the school from admitting him.

When a reporter pointed out that South Carolina had received one first-place vote in the SEC East, Holtz said, "He probably voted with a crayon. I can't believe they'd give him a sharp instrument."

The line was probably funnier to the media than South Carolina fans. Since back-to-back bowl seasons - heady stuff for a program with South Carolina's history of losing - the Gamecocks have gone 5-7 each of the last two seasons.

You could rationalize some of the losses as near misses against more established programs. Last year, the Gamecocks lost by two to Florida and by three in overtime to Tennessee. The year before, they lost by six to SEC champion Georgia.

There's no acceptable explanation for the most recent loss, a 63-17 thrashing at the hands of Clemson. Back-to-back losing seasons and a 46-point loss to your archrival would get almost any coach fired.

Holtz isn't just any coach. At the top of his game, in the biggest of games, he was as good as anybody. But entering his sixth season at South Carolina, he's no better than 27-32.

So far, he hasn't changed a losing culture. He has contributed to it. Nonetheless, don't dismiss South Carolina's chances for improvement this season.

With a tough defense, good running backs and an experienced offensive line, the Gamecocks should be good enough to win six games. With improved play at quarterback (see Dondrial Pinkins for details), they could win more than that.

Moreover, there's a track record other than South Carolina's to consider. Holtz hasn't suffered three consecutive losing seasons since his first three years as a head coach (at William & Mary).

With a coach who has won so many big games and pulled off so many upsets, you would think he has at least one more in him.

If the Gamecocks could upset Georgia, Tennessee, Florida or Clemson, they would have a shot at winning eight games. And the voter with the crayon wouldn't look nearly as silly.

John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.