Gamecocks Connection: the fun zone
Hey, I’m Chris Clark with GamecockCentral.com, and welcome to Gamecocks Connection.
This weekly newsletter will consist of a summary of some of the latest happenings in Gamecock Country, reader questions, and one “main idea” that’s on my mind. Plus, there will be some other goodies along the way.
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What’s on the docket today?
In this edition, I’m getting a bit philosophical and encouraging fans of Gamecocks athletics.
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Get caught up.
Three quick things to know about your Gamecocks from the last few days.
USC has made the top five schools list for a four-star quarterback from Ohio in the 2025 recruiting class.
Spencer Rattler spoke with the media on Tuesday and said that this is the best preseason camp he’s been a part of….ever. He gave more thoughts on Dowell Loggains’ offense, too.
True freshman Nyckoles Harbor checked in at number one on Bruce Feldman’s annual “Freaks List”, with Feldman saying it’s the first time a first-year player has garnered the top spot.
The main idea.
— With game one rapidly approaching, it’s the time of the year I’m starting to get asked for predictions.
Will South Carolina beat UNC? What will the score be? What does USC’s record in 2023 look like?
There will be a time for all of those things, but it’s not today.
Here is what I can predict with some level of certainty: 2023 is going to be up and down.
There will be highs and there will be lows. If history is any indication, some things – both good and bad – will happen that we do not expect.
Yes, USC fans are going to groan the first time the team goes three and out on offense. Social media and The Insiders Forum will be on fire if the team has a stretch of not being able to run the ball or stop the run.
And that’s OK. That’s the fan experience.
I was reminded of this point recently, though: this is supposed to be fun.
Back in December, the offensive coordinator search process that led to Dowell Loggains was one of the most toxic environments I’ve ever seen in my time covering the program. And that was after USC’s last two games were top 10 wins over Clemson and Tennessee.
You’d have thought Carolina won two games the previous year and installed me as the new playcaller.
Those regular season games came after a whipping at the hands of at Florida that was decidedly not fun.
That didn’t mean, though, that USC needed to bench Spencer Rattler and fold the program. Good thing, too, that the team didn’t give up because what followed was pretty special.
When tight end Trey Knox tweaked his knee in practice last week, some on social media immediately flipped onto – as Shane Beamer put it – “DEFCON 3” (Knox is fine).
There’s also been plenty of infighting among the fan base, which is not atypical but seems odd given some of the good things that are happening.
It feels like a roller coaster at times, being a fan of – or covering – college athletics. That means the peaks and valleys, the expected and the scary, are all part of it. The roller coaster is still thrilling, and this year probably will be, too.
The dichotomy between watching that game in the Swamp and storming the home field after destroying Tennessee may be confusing to think about, and even funny at times. But that win against the Vols, and the one against Clemson, made living through 2022’s Missouri and Florida games all the more sweet, right?
It’s important to remember that we are only guaranteed 12 South Carolina Gamecocks football games per year. Seven of those will be inside Williams-Brice Stadium.
These occasions are to be treasured.
It’s why Shane Beamer talks so often about finding some joy.
This thing is supposed to be enjoyable. No matter what this season, I hope you all have fun.
Gamecocks party this weekend!
The third annual GamecockCentral Preseason Kickoff Party date is set!
We’ll be out at Steel Hands Brewing on Saturday, August 19. Our GamecockCentral team is going to be out there all day and night, and Patrick Davis and his Midnight Choir will provide music in the evening.
The event is free, but VIP tickets come with perks. VIP attendees will have the chance to meet Nyck Harbor, Dakereon Joyner, Juice Wells, and others!
VIP tickets are ALMOST SOLD OUT. Get some now!
Win free USC season tickets
107.5 The Game and GamecockCentral.com are giving away the Ultime Gamecock Season Ticket – two season tickets to the South Carolina football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and baseball games for the 2023-2024 school year!
Enter here for your chance to win.
A thanks and a request.
I sincerely thank you for reading this newsletter and hope it’s informative and enjoyable for you.
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