Notes, quotes, and anecdotes from a record-setting (Lattimore), milestone-reaching (Spurrier), quarterback-wrecking (Clowney) night at Williams-Brice:
"Let's Go," Part 1: Like the week before, it only took Dylan Thompson a few bad throws to loosen him up. After tossing three straight incompletions to begin the second half, Thompson's next throw was golden, a 43-yard over-the-shoulder strike to Bruce Ellington as he absorbed a hit from a UAB linebacker. That prompted Thompson to yell "Let's go!" towards the Gamecock sideline -- with Steve Spurrier in close proximity -- as he bounded downfield.
Thompson said he didn't draw confidence from the throw itself, but what happened beforehand.
"I think the best thing to happen to me was getting hit. It kinda got me in the game," Thompson told me afterwards. Indeed, his last 3 completions went for a staggering 167 yards and 2 touchdowns.
A Lot of Ground, A Little Time: Steve Spurrier has dialed up plenty of "pitchin' and catchin'" during his illustrious coaching career. So when a QB/receiver combo accomplishes something few have done under his watch, it's worth nothing.
On the night of Spurrier's 200th win as a college head coach, the 94-yard Thompson-to-Damiere Byrd touchdown marked the second longest play from scrimmage of his career. Only a 96-yard pass from Florida's Eric Kresser to Jacquez Green in 1995 covered more ground.
Longest Pass Plays - Steve Spurrier's Career
QB-WR Yards Date
1. Eric Kresser-Jacquez Green 96 11/4/95
2. Dylan Thompson-Damiere Byrd 94 9/16/12
For The Record Books: It took Marcus Lattimore 23 games to score his school-record 34th touchdown at Carolina. It took him 29 games to score his 34th touchdown at Byrnes HS.
"Let's Go," Part 2: D.J. Swearinger cradled his post-game meal almost as tightly as his game ball as he ambled out of the press conference room. The senior safety rightly earned both after a hard night of hard hitting in the Gamecock secondary (which included his second career touchdown, a 65-yard fumble return in the 1st quarter). Along with a wondrous, wrecking-ball performance from Jadeveon Clowney
(7 tackles, 3.5 TFL), Carolina piled up 6 sacks and held UAB to 27 rushing yards.
I asked Swearinger about something that seems to take root on the Carolina defense. Whenever the Gamecocks make a mistake - a missed tackle that leads to a long gain, a 15-yard penalty, etc. -- the defense plays with a little more attitude in its aftermath. I asked Swearinger if that statement was accurate.
"That's very accurate. That comes from me, Shaq [Wilson], DeVonte [Holloman]. A lot of us get guys up after we make a bad play. We can't really huddle up, but we tell everybody 'Let's go.' We tell everybody to pick everything up, and not let them in our end zone," Swearinger said.
No stat illustrates that more than the following. Carolina's opponents have reached the red zone a combined 6 times this year. They've run a total of 17 plays.... for 4 yards.
Opponents in Red Zone - 2012
Opponent Red Zone Plays Yards Result of Trips
Vanderbilt 6 5 INT, FG, FG
ECU 3 2 FG
UAB 8 -3 TO (downs), TO (downs)
Total 17 4
Carolina's red-zone defense Saturday included a pair of fourth-and-goal stops against UAB. Knowing what we learned this week, the Gamecocks should have liked their chances: UAB is 2 for its last 23 on 4th-down conversions dating back to 2010.
Happy "Trails": While brief, it still counts. When UAB's Ty Long booted a 33-yard field goal to give UAB a 3-0 lead in the first quarter, it snapped a consecutive streak of 219:48 that South Carolina had not trailed at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Weep not, though - another streak stays alive. The Gamecocks have not trailed by more than a field goal at Williams-Brice in 518:05 - a span of eight-and-a-half games. They last trailed by more than 3 points against Navy in 2011.
And Finally... What does it say about the state of affairs in Gamecock Country that South Carolina can average 48.5 points in back-to-back games, exceed 500 yards of offense... and still believe they're doing average work on offense? Times sure have changed, haven't they?
Join us next week as we begin our prep for Missouri. Thanks for diving "Inside The Chart." -AD--
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