Event Details
- What: Tennessee vs. South Carolina
- When: Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007, 7:45 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Where: Neyland Stadium
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
Tennessee Stat Book
The offensive mastermind has an offensive dilemma.
That's nothing new. It has been that way all season for South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, long recognized as one of the best play callers in college football.
The 15th-ranked Gamecocks (6-2) haven't scored a touchdown in six quarters, and their offense hit a new low in last Saturday's 17-6 loss at home to Vanderbilt. The loss was only their second in eight games and dropped them to 15th in The Associated Press poll.
South Carolina quarterbacks Chris Smelley and Blake Mitchell were sacked seven times and threw three interceptions. Five false-start penalties further hampered the offense, which ranks ninth in the SEC in points and yards per game.
"We thought we could hit some balls here and there, but we kept false starting and getting sacked," Spurrier said during Sunday's teleconference. "That contributed to a dismal offensive day.
"We've just got to find a way to give ourselves the best chance to win the game. Throwing 35 or 40 times is not what we're best suited to do."
Despite the loss, South Carolina is one of five teams in the SEC East with two conference losses. Vanderbilt is the only team in the East with three conference losses.
Tennessee, which plays South Carolina on Saturday at Neyland Stadium, also has two conference losses.
"It is pretty much open," Spurrier said. "If Florida wins all of theirs, they will win (the East). If we win all of ours, we're gonna win it.
"We beat Tennessee, Arkansas and Florida (in 2005). That will give us hope that it can be done."
After playing UT, the Gamecocks will play Arkansas the following week in Fayetteville, then take on Florida in Columbia. Another three-game conference winning streak will hinge on whether the Gamecocks can pick up a sagging offense.
Smelley and Mitchell have started at quarterback, and Spurrier indicated he might give quarterback Tommy Beecher a chance to play this week.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.
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Comments » 10
yeavols#228407 writes:
Spurrier has nothing to worry about next week. No really!
fryed004#518992 writes:
This doesn't bode well...an article about a sagging offense. Something tells me they will look like the west coast USC after this game is over. I hope not--Go Vols!!
CrankE writes:
Why not? Throwing 40 times a game against UT seems like a perfect recipe for a victory after the Alabama game. What better remedy for a sagging offense than a Tennessee defense? The resistable force meets the movable object.
Tennessee used the insanity defense against Alabama. They kept doing the same thing hoping for a different result. I had never seen a team employ a prevent defense for 60 minutes until Saturday.
Spurrier will seek to do the same thing to UT.
ncvol17 writes:
Vols win... ya really think... wanta buy a bridge in Brooklyn?
I'm saving travel money this year... stay home..DVR it.. lose it... erase it...
jandjhome#228397 writes:
I can see it now, Chavis will be standing on the sideline with that look like he has never seen the offense that the Old Ball Coach is using.
Mr_Brownstone writes:
our defense stinks!!!
volcop writes:
I'm sure Smelley will have a "CAREER DAY" passing the ball.
SmokeDog72 writes:
And just when we thought it couldn't get any worse.............
We are about to get spanked by Smelley the Cock.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
The vision of Smokey asleep with a rooster sitting on his head is startling! The word is that Steve Superior is confused because he has never seen a situation where 4 receivers come open at the same time. We should hold them to 400 yds thru the air! Gamecocks 47 Vols 24 and Steve' team , rightfully so, will be winging it in the last minute!! We need the mercy rule where the clock keeps going thru commercials, not just time outs! Its been a while since the Orange sun has sunk this low. Hamilton, a million faces are turned in your direction! STEP UP AND PULL THE TRIGGER!!!
orangebloodgmc writes:
"Gamecocks (6-2) haven't scored a touchdown in six quarters, and their offense hit a new low in last Saturday's 17-6 loss at home to Vanderbilt. South Carolina quarterbackswere sacked seven times and threw three interceptions. Five false-start penalties further hampered the offense, which ranks ninth in the SEC in points and yards per game."
...Yet they are full of hope, I guess because they will face the UT defense. We are about to see who still has some pride and who will quit and fold.
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