Amazing some of the stuff that is being written out there about South Carolina's forthcoming football season. Here are some thoughts from a writer at the Nashville Tennessean. Offseason objective: The inability to run the ball has been a glaring weakness since Steve Spurrier became the Gamecocks coach, and getting it fixed was the focus in the spring. Progress report: There remains work to be done on the offensive line but TB Brian Maddox shined in the spring game, sending a message that he will challenge Mike Davis for the starting assignment. Looking back/ahead: 2007 record: 6-6 (3-5 SEC); 2008 predicted record: 6-6; key game: Sept. 6 at Vanderbilt. OK, the first point is true. The Gamecocks' inability to run the ball has been a glaring weakness during the Spurrier era, but not being able to block and not being able to stop the run on defense has been more damaging. When USC has gotten blocking, it's been able to run it just fine. When USC has stopped the run on defense, it has typically won games. While improving the run game on offense was an objective during the offseason, it hardly was the priority that working the players into the new defensive scheme and improving the offensive line as a whole was. On the second point, while I was more than impressed with Brian Maddox during the spring game, most who know the Spurrier system realize that it's a two-running back system. It was at Florida, it has been at South Carolina (2001: (E. Graham/Gillespie); 2005: Mike Davis/Daccus Turman; 2006: Davis/Cory Boyd; 2007: Davis/Boyd) so I am not sure that Maddox challenging Davis should be the major point in terms of progress within the program. As to the third point, I think that it's completely fair to pick the Gamecocks to go 6-6 this season. With that, I am not sure how likely it is considering the number of talented lettermen returning. The Vanderbilt game? It will be key as far as the second game of the season, conference opener and first road game of the year is concerned. But last time the Vandy game in Nashville was considered to be the "key game" of the season, USC whipped the Dores, 31-6 in the 2004 season opener. Overall, I think it's very easy for writers who know little about the program to throw dirt on Spurrier, throw dirt on USC and quickly point out (even though it's clear to anyone who glances at the Gamecocks roster and knows a thing about football or football talent that the Gamecocks' best days are to come) that Spurrier has failed in his return to college football. Prepare for this type of stuff during the entire summer. The only way that this type of chatter will end is for Carolina to go out and win some football games next year.

Vandy has really come out and played well today in all phases and doing all the little things that a winning ball club should do. They have taken extra bases, hit the ball the other way and fouled off good pitches until they get something they like. Case and point, in the bottom of the third inning, Flaherty fouled of a couple of good pitches from Cooper before getting something out over the plate he could hit hard. With a 3-2 count and some aggressive base running, Flaherty's infield single scored two. A great play by Havens kept the ball on the infield but after a pump throw to first, the runner from second booked it around third and scored.... on the Carolina offensive side, they have done a good job of hitting the ball hard but, at least to this point, it's just not falling. Most of the guys are putting good swings on the ball and hitting the ball hard. Unfortunately, more often than not, the breaks aren't going the way of the good guys. We're now going to the top of the sixth inning... let's have some good things go our way. GO COCKS!

When South Carolina and Vanderbilt take the field today, there are four potential first rounders in the upcoming June draft. Justin Smoak, Reese Havens, and James Darnell for Carolina all have a chance to go in the opening round while third baseman Pedro Alvarez for Vanderbilt could be the number one selection overall. Commodore LHP Mike Minor is a sure-fire early selection in next year's draft. He will not see action today but the 6'4" 210lb southpaw has all the tools to be a quality major leaguer... Before the season began, the SEC Coaches selected Vandy to win the East and Carolina to finish second. Both schools received votes to win the overall SEC crown. But after 30 games, the 4th and 5th seed are where these clubs finished. Instead of a matchup in the championship game, we battle in the losers bracket. Instead of battling for a Super Regional host site, we battle for a two-seed in a Regional. Both clubs have had their fair share of disappointment this season but a W today still keep a conference championship alive with a potential two-game set against Mississippi... another one of those clubs who are disappointed in their season to this point.

For 17.5 of 19 innings played thus far in the Southeastern Conference Tournament, South Carolina (38-20) has played some of their best baseball of the season. Unfortunately, thanks to a poor inning and a half, the Gamecocks sit at just 1-1 and in the loser's bracket of the tournament. I am still optimistic that this team can make a run in this tournament. The bottom of the order seems to be sorting itself out with the insertion of Bangs and Mack into the lineup. Lail and Wingo also contributed RBI base hits which proved critical... Another day, another solid pitching performance from a Carolina starter. Nick Godwin was incredible again delivering another strong performance against quality competition... Mike Cisco is truly just a winner. There will be a lot more about him in the premium Analysis and Notes feature to come very shortly.

As I sit in my stylish Days Inn hotel room (LOL) I am looking out to another beautiful day, perfect weather, and a great day for a Carolina victory. As the sun came up it is the dawn of a new day and one can only hope that this baseball team can flush all that happened yesterday and realize that they still have every opportunity to make noise in this tournament. We still have three proven starting pitchers who can go out and get the job done. I am supremely confident with Nick Godwin on the mound. One needs to ratchet it up a notch is the bats. The Gamecocks had 16 base runners yesterday but only pushed across four runs in the loss. Couple that with the fact that we had 13 K's and that makes for an unhappy coaching staff... But today is a new day and time to earn a victory against Florida.

It absolutely boggles my mind that this Carolina team could collapse on the big stage as they did in the 9th inning here in Hoover. Under no circumstance is it okay to walk a leadoff hitter in the ninth inning with a four run lead. Of course, the Gamecocks walked three runners in the 9th, which led to three of the four runs. The pitching staff as a whole has struggled mightily in the stretch run of the season but things seemed to be moving in the right direction after eight perfect innings of baseball. Then comes the ninth and things all apart... Emotions seemed to fall apart after the walk-off homerun in the bottom of the 10th with multiple Gamecocks throwing equipment and general temper tantrums in the dugout. It is going to take a lot to bounce back tomorrow after a tough loss and the squad, at least outwardly, in disarray.

As a baseball player or a fan of the game, you do not often stumble upon baseball in its purest form. But sitting out here in a pictuesque morning in Hoover, AL. it is easy to see that this is the way that baseball should be. We have two passionate teams out there ready to play the sport they love, for a school they love, in the best conference in the nation. There is no telling what Saturday's victory over Tennessee will do for this team. The walkoff homerun by Reese Havens in the bottom of the ninth to bring Carolina to this point seems like it would have this team at an optimum confidence and ready to go. There is certainly a revenge factor as the Gamecocks have openly admitted to wanting payback over this LSU team that swept them in Baton Rouge earlier this season. Sam Dyson has earned the start, which is a surprise given the fire balling freshman has yet to compete in conference play. If Dyson can pitch six innings of quality baseball, I really like Carolina's chances in this one. GO COCKS!