Spurrier, Garcia have signature moment at South Carolina
It was the biggest win of the Steve Spurrier era in Columbia.
And quarterback Stephen Garcia, who had so often felt the wrath of the Head Ball Coach because of his inconsistent play, finally had the game many had expected since he arrived on campus.
So what’s next for the Gamecocks (4-1, 2-1) after their 35-21 win over defending national champion Alabama?
ICONSteve Spurrier's Gamecocks will travel to Lexington to play Kentucky on Saturday.
Spurrier and Co. will travel to Lexington to take on a Kentucky squad that may be winless in the SEC but is coming off of an emotional home loss to Cameron Newton and Auburn. The Wildcats are now on a three-game skid under first-year head coach Joker Phillips, but they loom as a potential trap if the Gamecocks are thinking about overlooking them and continuing to enjoy their signature victory.
Can Garcia, who went 17-of-20 for 201 yards and three touchdowns against the Crimson Tide, continue to play steady under center and give Spurrier a reason not to turn to freshman Connor Shaw under center? With 6-4, 230-pound Alshon Jeffery emerging as one of the best wide receivers in the nation and Marcus Lattimore proving to have the ability to be a workhorse back, the offensive weapons are in place for South Carolina to make a real run at the SEC championship game.
We already knew the defense was good, and it proved that once again by sacking Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy seven times and limiting the Crimson Tide ground game to 1.2 yards per carry.
Now, can the Gamecocks remained focused the rest of the way after such a dramatic and emphatic victory? They were able to put the disappointing loss to Auburn in the rearview mirror and play a complete game against the Tide, so this just may be Spurrier’s year to take Carolina further than many thought he could in 2010.
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