Galactus Wrote:Not sure I get his point here; in any case, I'm the first to say that we are hardly worldbeaters........but the fact remains that we HAVE been VERY competitive with UGA since joining the SEC........and arguably over the last 20 years, beginning with a 27-10 win over Georgia in Columbia in 1978.
Florida has just been a superior program, not just compared to USC but to the entire SEC, and not too many people would argue with that. They've had loads of talent like nobody's business........end of story. Tennessee is talented as well, but I really think our team has a pschological block versus the vols. The last three years we've really had our chances against them, but we've blown it.
IMO, we compete with Georgia well because we have a long history with them and are familiar with the Dogs. When we started playing Tennessee in '92, it was our first meeting versus the Vols since 1971. When we faced Florida that same year, it was our first meeting versus the Gators since the 1930s.
I am continually amazed at the widespread hatred people have for the University of South Carolina and it's loyal fans. I could understand if we had dominated sports for years and years........but more often than not we've only proven to be a minor annoyance. Why the anger and hate? I encountered this puzzling attitude from Florida fans when I lived in the sunshine state for several years in the 90s.
See why, other than Vandy, I don't pull for other SEC teams? They hate us. Just more evidence that college football is all about the traditional powers and the status quo........fans of the traditional schools and the national media don't like it when a "new kid on the block" comes along and tries to compete. They'd rather see Alabama, Nebraska, Michigan, Southern Cal, Texas, FSU, Miami, etc. etc. ....ad nauseum..... stay on top forever and ever.
What, exactly, was wrong with Duke fans getting excited over their brief run of success? Why can't you just be happy for them? What are they supposed to do? Cry when they win? Pull against their own team? What? C'mon.......surely with the immense success Georgia has had over the years they can spare a little bit of their happiness and let other folks join in the fun. All some of us want is one successful season........fans like these are simply spoiled with success. It's not enough that they win; they also want to see YOU suffer as a result. They revel in other peoples unhappiness and pain. It's the world we live in, I'm sad to say.
Sorry.....but win or lose, some of us are always going to be supporters of the Gamecocks......and the school is always going to attempt to compete. It's my alma mater......it's where I was born and raised........the school is named for my home state........the University of South Carolina may not be much, but this is a state that has no major metropolitan areas and no pro franchises.......in some ways it's all we have.
Sorry to be longwinded; but this is a part of college football that irritates me to no end. I don't understand the attitudes......and the joy some people get from the misfortunes of others.
I'll address this to RaptorCox and Galactus (not sure why my post got a thread of its own, but oh well).
My point is that USC has yet to show it can sustain success over a prolonged period of time. That is the point right there. Thought I made it rather clear, but apparently I didn't. My main gripe about USC fans is that during the preseason they get their hopes ridiculously high, and then turn out to have an average, or in some cases, a below average season. Now, is it wrong to get one's hopes up about one's team? No, in fact, that's part of what makes any sport (college football, college basketball, any pro sport, golf, tennis, etc) fun. If you don't think you can compete, you've lost the battle right there. However, at the same time, you don't need to be pumping yourselves up to be the next "Nebraska" either, when you're obviously not a "Nebraska" type team, capish? Everything in moderation,
, just like the Bible teaches.
In fact, this was my gripe about the Duke fans as well.
Yes, Florida was/is a superior program both under Spurrier and Zook (so far), but they can be beat (see 1997's Cocktail party and the Ole Miss upset of Florida last year). The fact that Florida is a superior program should NOT be taken as an excuse to just lie down against the Gaytors!!
Same deal with the Vols, although the Vols have looked rather mediocre lately.
I remember seeing Vanderbilt take on ND not too long ago, and when I first saw the game on the schedule, I thought to myself "Vandy's going to get smoked." Instead, Vandy had ND on the ropes for most of the game!!!
THAT impressed me! Rather than just packing it in, Vandy took advantage to prove its worth against one of the country's elite teams. South Carolina could learn a lesson or two from the Commodores, IMO.
Do I hate Gamecock fans? No, not really. For crying out loud, one of my fraternity brothers is a Gamecock fan!!! He told me something interesting once, and I'll never forget for as long as I live "Anyone can root for Alabama or Auburn. It takes a REAL fan to pull for South Carolina!!" That stuck with me, and it's been 2 or 3 years since he said it!