The South Carolina Gamecocks badly needed their bye week after a two-game losing streak to unranked SEC East opponents. South Carolina (3-3) is coming off its worst start to a season since 2005. Head coach Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks have only lost six games over the last three years, and the team has the possibility of matching that total in 2014. This week’s opponent is Southern Conference opponent Furman. The Paladins started the season with two wins, but injuries to the quarterback position have contributed to a four-game losing streak. The in-state rivals are just what the Gamecocks need to build some confidence after limping through the first six games of the season. What do the Gamecocks need to do to get back into the win column?
1) Don’t underestimate Furman
Furman University is a small liberal arts school with fewer than 3,000 students in Greenville, SC. It is well-known for its iconic bell tower overlooking the lake and picturesque campus. It is also well-known for being one of the most storied programs in Southern Conference history. Furman became the first private institution to win the NCAA I-AA national championship in 1988. The Paladins, under coach Bruce Fowler, are in a rebuilding period, but the team made it to the second round of the FCS playoffs in 2013. Furman lost to eventual national champion North Dakota State.
Furman is not going to roll over and make it easy for South Carolina just because the Paladins are supposed to lose this game. The Paladins put up quite the fight against the Gamecocks in 2010, eventually falling 38-19. That was too close for comfort for a team that would eventually upset No. 1 Alabama later that year. Furman led Florida by 15 heading into the second quarter of their 2011 meeting and scored a pick six against LSU in 2013. The Paladins won’t be expected to beat the Gamecocks, but the FCS team shouldn’t be underestimated.
2) Relax and remember the basics
There is nothing drastically wrong with South Carolina’s team this year. The coaching staff hasn’t forgotten how to coach. The players haven’t forgotten how to play football. The team has simply lost an incredible amount of talent and is undergoing a lot of change on both sides of the ball. South Carolina hero Connor Shaw graduated, and Jadeveon Clowney and a bevy of talent on the defense left for the NFL. This 2014 team was slammed in the opener by Kenny Hill and Texas A&M, and a lot of defensive issues were uncovered. The pass rush was nonexistent. The coverage was loose. The linebackers tackled poorly. That has been the story of the year so far. This team has simply not played well enough. Small things that should come easily just don’t.
The Furman game will be a perfect opportunity for the players to get back to the basics and just have fun playing football. This team has been blasted by fans and media for being a complete flop, and the Gamecocks need to build confidence heading into a huge game at Auburn next week.
3) Have a fast start
South Carolina always seems to start slowly, especially against inferior teams. It’s imperative that the Gamecocks have a fast start against the Paladins and erase any thoughts that this could be a contest. The Paladins put up an admirable effort in their double overtime loss to No. 3 Coastal Carolina despite using third string quarterback P.J. Blazejowski. Furman has been practicing all week with crowd noise over the loudspeakers to simulate the environment in Williams Brice Stadium, and South Carolina will need to take hold of the game early to make it a relaxed game. The last thing the Gamecocks want is a close game with an FCS opponent before traveling to Auburn.
Put the game away quickly, and it’ll be a good afternoon for the Gamecocks. Let the Paladins stay in the game, and anything could happen.
This article South Carolina Gamecocks: Furman preview appeared first on isportsweb by Chris Edel