The Red and Black (Athens, Ga.) 1893-current, September 07, 2007, Page 4 B, Image 10

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Newspaper Page Text4 B Friday, September 7, 2007 | The Red & Black Supervillain Spurrier seeks SEC title By MARSHALL DUNCAN The Red & Black Steve Spurrier thinks his South Carolina Gamecocks can win the SEC Championship this year. Yes, this year. “We’ve raised our goals this year. We’re going to try to win the conference. We felt like we’ve really increased our talent level at South Carolina. We’ve added a lot of players that we think are at a pretty close level with Florida, Georgia and Tennessee,” said Spurrier at SEC Media Days this past July. If the Gamecocks are going to accomplish that feat, they’ll need to beat Georgia Saturday in Athens. The Bulldogs have won the last five meetings, including last year’s 18-0 win in Columbia. “If we’re going to start competing for the division, we’ve got to start beating them some day,” said Spurrier. “Hopefully it will be this year. If not, then we’ll try to do it next year.” Even with last week’s suc cess, Georgia head coach Mark Richt and the team are not tak ing the Gamecocks lightly. “Coach Spurrier finds a way to get points on the board, to get yards, and first downs, they USC longs for win over Dogs By JASON BUTT The Red & Black In the minds of Gamecock fans, one thing is for sure: South Carolina needs a win against Georgia Saturday. Georgia has beaten the Gamecocks five straight times, including last year’s 18-0 drubbing in Columbia. Third-year coach Steve Spurrier is 0-2 at South Carolina after posting a staggering 11-1 record against Georgia in his 12 years coaching Florida. While the Gamecocks are searching for its first win over Georgia since 2001, this game is also important as it kicks off the SEC East race —one that likely will be hotly contested until the sea son’s end. “We know how impor tant this game is. It’s the first one of the year in the Southeastern Conference race,” Georgia head coach Mark Richt said. “We have a high respect for this game. We have had a lot of close games with them over the years, and we don’t think this will be anything but a 60-minute fight.” South Carolina’s start ing quarterback Blake Mitchell will return to the lineup Saturday after being suspended for the first week. Mitchell, a senior from LaGrange, will be looking to win against his home state’s school for the first time. With Mitchell, the South Carolina offense should improve, but it’s defense that Spurrier is worried about. The Gamecocks rush defense was poor against Louisiana-Lafayette in week one; and Spurrier said the run support will have to improve against Georgia. Eton Huptist (hunk, lest SwMby Worship 8:00 (r 11:00 WaySdioolMW Mid-Wwk Svi(f 5:10 pm 6:30 pm Bible Study Wei 7:00 pi. 205 Nto Street ' imm WWW.fbtW.tOffi Cdtholic Center at U6A Masses: Saturday spm, Sunday Bam, loam,& spm Monday, Friday Sara, TuesaFay, Thursday spm www.usa.pdu/tr 1333 Lumpkin St-706-533 -2293 IHiIW: Campus (enifr (or Jewish Ufe I Offering Social, [dutational, F> Kfligious Events Sendees Lath Friday 6:3opm, Jewish Holiday Smkfs and Observunte I www.ogjhilW.org USS S. Mledqe Ave. - 706 543-6W3 / To advertise your worship services, call: 706-433-301 1 . got 27 first downs last game, they rushed the ball for almost 200 yards and passed for well over 200,” said Richt. “I’m sure he’s holding a few things back for us and this ball game, but for the most part he has done the same things over and over out of different forma tions. Out of all of the offensive coordinators that I have seen, he knows his system so well, he knows exactly what to do based on how you line up.” Spurrier, 62, is going into his third season in Columbia as the “Ol’ ball coach” with a 16-10 record since taking over. Given his record at Florida, many believe he will be able to turn South Carolina into a similar success story. However, with games at Georgia, at LSU, at Tennessee, at Arkansas, followed by Florida and Clemson at home, the Gamecocks may have trou ble even finishing the season with a winning record. This, however, will not pre vent Spurrier from trying. South Carolina was able to defeat both Florida and Tennessee in his first season in Columbia. In his "'av- TO} -JHL IBajftßat ~ Mini COURTESY SEC SPORTS MEDIA ▲ Gamecock receiver Kenny McKinley runs after a catch against Kentucky last season. The Mableton native has 1,226 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in his career. “(Louisiana-Lafayette) ran for 252 yards on us and that’s a lot of yards, as you can see,” Spurrier said. “Most of those strong defensive teams don’t give up quite that many. We’re concerned about that. Georgia in the last few years ran for more than 200 in each game. We need to slow down their run a bit.” The South Carolina linebackers, led by seniors Jasper and Casper Brinkley, are experienced and will need to step up to help its defensive line. Casper registered seven sacks last season and Jasper is a candidate for All-American at mid dle linebacker. South Carolina may utilize many blitzes from its linebacking unit in order to give Georgia’s offensive line its second major test of the year. However, South Carolina’s front four will have to step up if they want to stop Georgia’s ftristus Vittor Lnthnan fhurdi and Studfflt Cratft Sunday Worship IftiOam Sunday Lmtifran Studem Fellowship 6ptn Wednesday Bible Smdy Bpm 110 Sort Lumpkin Street www.dinyiftvMor.ift - 706-533-3801 Holy Cross Lutheran Church 800 West Lake Drive Sunday Worship 0:00 & 11:00 am join us on campus for a meal, worship, fellowship f> Bible study fc Monday, 5:30 pm Plate: Presbyterian (enter (Lumpkin St arrays from UGA track) www.hoFytrosslutheran.ws 706-538-3320 Tocbton United Methodist Spirit filled tontemporary wotship Sunday 9:3oam College Sradav (lass 11:00am 4675 Lexiwjton RdL 706-353 FH - www.tßdston.ofq COVER STORY offense. If the Gamecocks’ defensive line fails to get a push, then Thomas Brown and Knowshon Moreno will grind out first downs all day. Against Louisiana- Lafayette, South Carolina’s running tan dem of Mike Davis and Cory Boyd ran for a com bined 141 yards and two touchdowns. While Georgia’s defense held Oklahoma State quarter back Bobby Reid in check, they gave up 99 rushing yards to both the Cowboys’ running backs. Georgia linebacker Brandon Miller said the Bulldogs can’t expect to go into this year’s game assuming they will shut down Spurrier’s offense like they did a season ago. “We can’t go into the game thinking we’re going to come out and do the same thing we did last year,” Miller said. “We have to come ready to play.” Young Harris Memorial United Methodist Church Where a family of faith meets. Sunday School- 9:45, Worship -11:00 am 973 Print e Ave. Athens, 6A 30606 706 533 261? Qffistian Campus Fellowship Dimer and Message every Thursday Free Meal at 6:65 Woeship at 730 AH Wekome! 1080 S. Hedge Ave 706-538-9625 Caries View Ouist Sunday Bible Study: O-lOam Morninq teseraMy 10-ILisn Eveniriq Small Groups Ministries - ’fouth. Family, (anpii Pipit www.ampusviewchurrlLOfg 1360 S Lumpkin St Athens, 6A 30605 706.353J556 FIRST & GOAL second season, the team strug gled in the SEC, but beat in state rival Clemson and won the Liberty Bowl against Houston. Still, the Gamecocks have yet to win an SEC championship, or even an Eastern division title. Since 1992, when the SEC divided into eastern and western divisions and South Carolina joined the conference, only Tennessee, Florida and Georgia have been able to win the East. Historically, South Carolina football has been bleak. The team did not win their first bowl game until 1995, when they defeated West Virginia in the Car Quest Bowl 24-21. After a sub-par performance against Louisiana-Lafayette last Saturday, which the Gamecocks won 28-14, they are looking to get their SEC season off to a good start. “Coach Spurrier’s a great coach. We can’t go into the game thinking we’re going to come out and do the same thing we did last year (an 18-0 Georgia victory),” Georgia linebacker Brandon Miller said. “We have to come ready to play. It’s a privilege to play against him because he is such a great coach. To be on defense know ing how his offenses are, it is just totting Point StmdayWorshipServitf at 10:30 m. Mouse at 10:00 oil In the news Mats 11 Pd. 6 Makom Bridge Hi 1030 tome Cl Ste3 770-601-2560 www.yoartoasettaqpontorq I Ollk HOPE Metropolitan (ommunm fhurchl I A ptogrtssiye Ovristian (otnraunity I I iflebrating the LULU Straight Allies I : (ornnunity! | I Here 6ods Love IS for Everyone! I Presently at: 1250 Lumpkin St (PSQ I 706-202-3723 / 706-227-9333 www.ourhcpetnttorg Pest Preshytrrian Owrch of Athens Sunday Wotskip 8:35 611.00 am. Qwrfi Sritool 9:35 ajs. wwwjthensfirstprfstom 185 LUaKodt Avenue 706-5333338 COURTESY SEC SPORTS MEDIA ▲ South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier heads into his third season as the Ol’ Ball Coach in Columbia with conference championship aspirations. It took him only two years to secure conference titles at his two previous stops, Duke and Florida. a great honor to play against him.” The quest begins this Saturday between the hedges and under the lights in Athens. “It’s a crucial game for both Moreno ‘oozes’ skill Here’s a quick ques tion: What happens when a sudden increase in volume is con current with an intense release of energy, which also involves an oxidation process that produces an immense amount of hot gases? A chemist might tell you a chemical explosion occurs. But if you watched Georgia’s game against Oklahoma State last Saturday, you would know the chemist is wrong. The answer is redshirt fresh man tailback Knowshon Moreno. Moreno is coming off his first game in a Bulldog uni form, rushing for 73 yards and catching two passes for 51 yards, highlighted by a beautiful spin move in the first quarter that dropped jaws throughout the sea of red that engulfed Sanford Stadium. Among those impressed by his performance last Saturday was his own head coach Mark Richt, who said Moreno always runs with a lot of energy whether in practice or in the game. “He made some people miss out in space, but when there wasn’t a lot there, he still saw the crease and got an extra three or four yards,” Richt said. “There were a few times he had a linebacker on block but won the ‘human equation’ and This weekend’s biggest match-ups 12 p.m. Miami (FL) at No. 5 Oklahoma, ABC No. 16 Nebraska at Wake Forest, ESPN 3:30 p.m. Oregon at Michigan, ABC 5:45 p.m. South Carolina at No. 11 Georgia, ESPN2 6 p.m. Notre Dame at No. 14 Penn State, ESPN 7 p.m. No. 19 TCU at No. 7 Texas 9 p.m. South Florida at No. 17 Auburn, ESPN2 9:15 p.m. No. 9 Virginia Tech at No. 2 LSU, ESPN2 Jason Butt ▲ drove him back a few yards after contact.” Georgia hasn’t fielded a running back this explo sive since former first round NFL draft pick Garrison Hearst, who played between the hedges from 1990 to 1992. While Moreno didn’t take a long carry to the house Saturday, you get the feeling that many are bound to happen in the foreseeable future. This is not meant to demean Thomas Brown or Kregg Lumpkin. Brown is a great runner through the tackles and outside and a great leader. Lumpkin is a workhorse who will bruise through the trenches and can turn on the jets. However, neither pos sesses the game-breaking speed or sheer explosive ness Moreno has in the open field. The thing is if it weren’t for the University of Miami alma mater of current NFL backs Clinton Portis, Willis McGahee, Frank Gore and Najeh Davenport Georgia could make a PLEASE JOIN US FOR A vineyard vines' martha’s vineyard Fall Trunk Show Friday, September 7 ,h • 10*™ - (jP" 1 Saturday, September Bth8 th • 10"" - TP™ at fll _ _ georee vgibson’s MENSWEAR SINCE 1964 1059 Baxter Street • Athens, GA 30606 SBBb 706.548.4663 • www.georgegibsons.com schools,” said Spurrier. “Hopefully we can play a lot better (than last Sat. night) and be in the ballgame with Georgia. We’re looking forward to seeing what happens.” case for calling itself Running Back University. Patrick Pass, Verron Haynes and Musa Smith all had big careers at Georgia and all are on NFL rosters. Georgia also produced the best running back in the history of college foot ball from 1980 through 1982. Does the name Herschel Walker ring a bell? Moreno gives the Bulldogs a touchdown threat every time he steps on the field. When is the last time Georgia had a player who wowed its spec tators the way Moreno did last Saturday outside of Hearst and Walker? Moreno is a special tal ent oozing with potential, and he has the possibility of becoming an “x-factor” —a running back version of Florida’s Percy Harvin or Cal’s DeSean Jackson. This might be a lot to say about a guy who just played his first collegiate game as a redshirt fresh man. It might be a lot of pres sure to put on a guy who is technically still behind two senior running backs on the depth chart. But one thing is certain. When Moreno is on the field, you can’t help but expect an explosion. Jason Butt is a sportswriter for The Red & Black.

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The Red and Black (Athens, Ga.) 1893-current, September 07, 2007, Page 4 B, Image 10