Friday, August 31

The game - and the season -- began inauspiciously enough. A sudden downpour drenched the field before kickoff.  Marcus Lattimore, back after a 9-month rehabilitation for an ACL tear, fumbled on his first carry.  Connor Shaw, who had thrown one interception in his last 57 pass attempts, chucked a pick on his first pass. 

All that was left was a full moon (and that came later on).

Yet after 60 muggy minutes at Vanderbilt Stadium, the game ended auspiciously, with Carolina getting the tough yards and resolute stops that could serve them well down the road.  The game was far from perfect.  But the Gamecocks will gladly accept that for a perfect record after Week One. 

"Notes, Quotes, and Anecdotes" from a characteristically "Vanderbilt-y" 17-13 win over the Commodores:

Latti-more Yards:  When he walked onto the Vanderbilt Stadium turf two-and-a-half hours before kickoff, TV cameras swarmed Marcus Lattimore, bending low to zoom in on his rehabilitated left knee.  Before he even set foot in the locker room, it became clear: people would literally be tracking Lattimore's every step.

Columbia, SC           Channel 26
Florence, SC             Channel 29
Myrtle Beach, SC     Channel 25
Summerville (Charleston), SC     Channel 26

 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (August 27, 2012) - When fans attend football games at Southeastern Conference stadiums this season, they will witness more game action on stadium video boards, including replays of officiating reviews.

Starting with games this weekend, institutions are not limited in the use of replays except when a stoppage occurs for an official review.  The time during which replays may be shown is from the end of a play until the beginning of the next play, except when a stoppage occurs for an official review.

During official reviews, stadium video boards will be able to show replays from the television network that is broadcasting the game.  During an official review, the video feed from the television network will be shown on the stadium video board only between the referee's announcement to stop play for the review and his communication of the review's outcome.

In previous years, the SEC had a standard one real-time replay policy for all plays in a game for all sports.

"The change in policy will allow our fans to see more of the action, including great plays and close calls," said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive.  "Fans in the stadium now can see many of the same views of a play seen by fans watching on television.  This should add to the overall game experience for fans inside our stadiums."

Replays of touchdowns not stopped for official review can be shown following the point-after-touchdown attempts until the ensuing kickoff begins. 

There are exceptions to the policy for game-highlight packages shown later in the contest.

The change in policy was approved by the SEC Athletics Directors in August following a recommendation prepared by the conference's Working Group on Fan Experience.  The Working Group is chaired by Mississippi State University Athletics Director Scott Stricklin.

Another policy change approved by the Athletics Directors and recommended by the Working Group, permits bands to be amplified when playing during designated times.  Bands will not be allowed to play once the center takes his place over the football until the play is whistled dead.  Previously, bands were not allowed to be amplified during the game and were not allowed to play once the offensive team broke the huddle.

Monday, August 27

The love affair began at age 7, and hasn't subsided since.

For as long as D.J. Swearinger has played football, the senior safety has fallen head-over-heels for  - well, knocking players head over heels. 

"My Dad always told me to hit low, hit hard, and wrap up," Swearinger told me after practice Sunday. 

The Greenwood, S.C., native has carried that advice into his senior season at South Carolina, where he has earned a reputation as one of the SEC's fiercest hitters.  Who else could inspire defensive line coach Brad Lawing to joke this summer that when Swearinger reaches the NFL, "he'll lead the league in fines" because of his unrepentant love of hitting?

"It's just instincts and something I love to do.  I love contact.  But I also love interceptions, too," Swearinger said.

Senior D.J. Swearinger (#36) chasing down a ballcarrier vs. Florida.

He'll now be counted on to anchor a defensive secondary that breaks in three new starters, including Victor Hampton and Jimmy Legree at cornerback and Brison Williams at safety.  Vanderbilt returns its top 5 wide receivers from 2011, and rangy sophomore Chris Boyd brings the most touchdown catches of any returning SEC wideout (8).

But nothing shrinks a wide receiver quite like the fear of a punishing hit.  Few deliver them out with more predatory delight than the 6'0," 210-pound Swearinger. 

And like most people who fall in love, Swearinger remembers the exact moment that he developed his lust for big hits. 

"I was actually about seven years old.  The guy that I hit was one of my good friends.  I felt good doing it.  It was just a feeling I couldn't explain. 

But I'm doing it now, and I'm going to keep doing it."

Other notes as we climb towards game day in Nashville:

Anchor Down, Bombs Away?  Not Arkansas with its explosive aerial offense.  Not Auburn under its uptempo guru, former offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn.  Not even LSU or Alabama, the two participants in last year's BCS National Championship Game.

In 2011, Vanderbilt - yes, Vanderbilt - led all Southeastern Conference teams in plays from scrimmage longer than 40 yards.  The Commodores had 18 "money plays," as head coach James Franklin calls them.  South Carolina, by comparison, had 13. 

Running back Zac Stacy (right) broke Vanderbilt's single-season rushing record in 2011 (1,193 yards).

Vanderbilt has reason to believe it can continue minting money plays in 2012.  The Commodores return 9 starters from an offense that averaged 31.5 points over their last 7 games.  Running back Zac Stacy, who broke Vanderbilt's single-season rushing record last year, returns to the backfield, along with 2009 SEC Freshman of the Year Warren Norman.  Can South Carolina avoid the mental lapses that plague teams in season openers, and prevent Vandy from sparking itself with a long play? 

One thing we do know:  Vanderbilt's "money plays" went into bankruptcy at Williams-Brice last year.  The Gamecocks held the Commodores to 77 total yards on 48 plays in a 21-3 win. 

Full Speed Ahead:  Thursday night marks the highly anticipated return of Marcus Lattimore, who tore his ACL against Mississippi State October 17.  He'll face a Vanderbilt defense that needs to replace its top three tacklers, but still sported some impressive numbers against the run last year.

On the surface.

Vanderbilt Rush Defense                     Yards Per Carry Allowed                    NCAA Rank

Overall                                                    3.59                                                        36th

3^rd downs, 1-3 yds. to go                     4.06                                                        85th

Close-up of the new video board today...We're biased but... it's beautiful!!! #Gamecockstwitpic.com/an8e67

-- Gamecock Athletics (@GamecocksOnline) August 24, 2012

Friday, August 24

Ask any broadcaster this question:  would you rather forget your spotter chart or your underwear? 

The answer would be easy.  One could be concealed from view.  The other couldn't.

Each week during the season, our lives revolve around a simple, double-sided manila envelope called a "spotter chart."  This chart contains all of the information that we need to give a thorough, compelling call of a game.

At its most basic, a spotter chart helps us identify players quickly during a play.  But a good chart goes beyond names and numbers.  We're not only painting a picture; we're telling a story.  As the week progresses, I try to stuff my chart with any information that could become relevant during my storytelling of the game.