Ice Cream Season, USC

Weekend Off

Since The Open Mike was off Thursday and Friday due to Hartsville football, I took the opportunity to take time for some R and R. During this time, I've made some observations regarding the football season, and the sports world at this point.

Over the past three of seasons we've been spoiled as football fans in this state. Both South Carolina and Clemson have been in the hunt for division titles, or at least have been relevant on the national scene. This season....not so much. Clemson is relevant because its head coaching vacancy is perceived to be the best available job in college football. South Carolina's claim to fame is being in the top ten most-watched Youtube clips (at least one state team belongs in the top ten of something). Without a signiture win for either team, this season has been vanilla or chocolate ice cream. It's great that it's ice cream, but where's the good stuff? Luckily we'll have the game at the end of the season where one team is going to steal the other team's ice cream. One might walk out with swirl and the other nothing in their bowl.

The other observation was how close South Carolina really is. Take a look at the games they've played. Vanderbilt can be put in the same classification as Wofford, a team playing way over their heads, managing to play everyone close from Georgia to Duke. Is it embarrassing? Yes, but Georgia lost to them two years ago, and have escaped with a win the last two seasons. There's the difference though, Georgia escapes with win, South Carolina does not. On the surface, it looks like the same old USC, always close, but never over the top. However, fourteen points separate them from where they are now, and first place in the SEC East. USC isn't losing the games where they pulled a rabbit out of their hat only to fall short, they are losing games wherelook like they belong.

Programming Note: Tonights show should be fun, Bud Selig stepped in front of a microphone.