Brendan's Sports Center

Parity. It works great for the NFL. On any given Sunday, any team can be beaten (except maybe the Patriots). College football however, has seen its polling system get mocked with upset after upset this season. I don't have enough space to tell you about half of the upsets, much less all them. Despite the fact that we are only 8 weeks into the season.

The upset bug bit Carolina this past weekend in Columbia, courtesy of the Vanderbilt Commodores. Looking at the teams on Carolina's schedule, Vandy was the last one I expected to come to Williams Brice Stadium and bring us (fans) back to reality. All hope to compete for an SEC title is not lost, but the road just got much tougher and the teams standing in the way are familiar foes for the Gamecock Nation. The difference this year is that we still control our destiny.

Trouble is, USC probably needs to win out. Carolina has three remaining SEC games, Tennessee, Arkansas, and a home game against Florida. The Cocks final regular season game is also at home against rival Clemson. USC, Georgia, and Florida all sit at 3-2 in the SEC East.

Step 1 for the Cocks is to get a win over UT in a nationally televised game on the road (ESPN 7:30). Two years ago Ryan Succop kicked a game winning field goal to give Carolina its first ever win in Neyland Stadium, so it can be done. This isn't the USC of old, who used to shiver at the thought of the orange crush waiting at the end of the schedule (Tennessee, Florida, Clemson).

We ARE a legitimate national program now, with the facilities, talent, and coaching good enough to battle in the toughest conference in the country. With that status, comes the realization that having 4 turnovers, giving up 7 sacks, and having 5 false starts versus anybody we see in the SEC (much less Vandy) is going to cost us, and it did on Saturday. The fact that we haven't scored a touchdown in the last 6 quarters has got to change against UT, or my television might end up in a million pieces in the front yard. I don't care who plays quarterback, Chris Smelley or Blake Mitchell, just please find the endzone. Both quarterbacks are capable of handing the ball off to tailbacks Cory Boyd and Mike Davis, but it won't matter if the offensive line doesn't open holes to establish our running game and fail to protect our quarterback. Carolina fell from #6 to #16 in the BCS standings, one spot behind Kentucky. If you disagree with my assessment of the SEC being the toughest conference in the country, take a peak at the complete BCS standings, and notice the 7 teams from the SEC considered among the best twenty-five programs in the country. No other conference even comes close.

It has been a great run for the Cocks so far but I don't think I'm alone when I say I want to see more from them. I didn't go to the game on Saturday, but I've heard reports about some fans booing loudly throughout the second half against Vandy. True, it was a frustrating game to watch.

We made mistakes associated with the Carolina teams of the past that started strong, only to disappoint fans in the end.

As untimely as the loss was, it was only the second of the season, and we as fans, should stand behind our team with full faith that Carolina belongs right in the middle of the fight to play for the SEC title. One bad showing vs. Vandy is no reason to boo student athletes who bust their tales every week in-between classes. I had a feeling we might lose to Vandy, but I have stronger feelings about the man in the visor having too much pride in his program and his players to let them get embarrassed two weeks in a row. Tennessee will be a tough test for the Cocks. Nobody said running through the SEC and trying to get to a BCS Bowl would be easy. It hasn't been easy and never will be. This is the SEC. The conference runs deep, top to bottom, all twelve schools are big-time programs (seven teams are top twenty-five in the nation). Guess what? Carolina is big-time too. The Gamecocks need at least 2 wins in the next 3 games to still have a chance to reach Atlanta and play in the SEC Championship game. When was the last time USC had odds like that, this late into the season?

The outcome of two tough games in a row on the road (Tennessee & Arkansas), will determine how much will be on the line when the defending National Champions, the Florida Gators, come to Carolina Nov. 10. Carolina was a blocked field goal away from ruining the Gators chances for a title shot last year. The Cocks almost beat the eventual champs down in the treacherous Swamp. This year the Gators come to our house.

The years of Carolina being a warm-up game for teams with championship hopes are over. USC has always been a factor in the SEC, but it was usually because we had an opportunity to spoil another team's title hopes. Not anymore. We lost to Vandy.

Get over it. We are still in it. It's time for Carolina fans to embrace the drama and pressure that comes with competing for a championship. Last week hurt us all. It hurts to lose because it matters, every week matters. Teams must now deal with Carolina if they hope to win the SEC , and that matters most to me. Gone are the days of 6 wins and a trip to the "www.justgladtobehere.com Bowl". USC is for real. So quit booing, buy the biggest Carolina foam finger you can find and stand up and cheer for the Cocks when they travel to Rocky Top with everything on the line. Click...Clack..