Gamecocks football is 21 days away from kickoff.

21 is the number of seasons, this year included, South Carolina has played in the SEC.  South Carolina's first conference was the Southern conference.  Carolina was a charter member for the 1922 football season.  Later, 7 schools broke off to form the Atlantic Coast Conference for the 1953 season.  After the 1971 season, USC left the ACC and became and independent.  After wandering in the independence wilderness for 20 years, South Carolina accepted an invitation to the SEC for the 1992 season.  It was one of the savviest or most fortuitous moves for the Gamecocks.  Since that move they have enjoyed the fruits of membership in the country's premier conference, and recent TV deals have only cemented the conference's place and USC's position within it.

Today we continue our conference wide preview and take a look at Georgia, the favorite to win the East.  The 2011 season will be briefly reviewed and a team by team break down of the schedule will be included along with a couple of keys to the season. Stats and returning starters will come from Phil Steele.

Coach: Mark Richt (106-38 at Georgia)

Team: Georgia Bulldogs

Last season: 2011 started with much unrest among the Georgia faithful. A disappointing 2010 ended with a loss to UCF in the Liberty Bowl and had turned the heat up on Mark Richt. Georgia fans were convinced there needed to be a new head man in Athens. The “fire Richt” got all of the ammunition needed when Georgia got run out of the Georgia Dome by Boise St (35-21), and Melvin Ingram snatched a victory for the Gamecocks in Athens. Richt, somehow, was able to right the ship behind offensive standouts Aaron Murray and Isaiah Crowell (no longer with the team). Georgia pasted Coastal Carolina before notching back to back wins over Ole Miss and Mississippi State (easy schedule). More...

Today there are 22 days until kickoff.

22 is the number of wins in games decided by 10 points or less in the Spurrier era.  22-18 is the overall record in those games.  One would expect the percentage to be right at 50%, but good teams find ways to win close games.  South Carolina has indeed been a good team, and only lost one game last season that was decided by fewer than 10 points.  In fact Carolina was 4-1 in these close games.

Earlier, we looked at why the SEC might be willing to adopt a nine game schedule. This piece will look at what that schedule could look like. It is trickier than it looks and required at least one happy hour session with General Malaise to sort out.

The biggest issue that teams will deal with is the fact that there will be lopsided home and away years. Nine games present teams with every other year having to play five roadies. Two teams, Florida and Georgia will not be impacted by this and will actually pick up an SEC home game. Currently, Florida and Georgia play in Jacksonville every year. In odd years, UF is the designated ‚"home‚" team and only plays three SEC games in Gainesville. Mr. Koehler tends to think that a nine game slate will prompt more neutral site games.  I think it makes sense for some teams, most notably Arkansas and Texas A&M.  Jerry Jones is trying to buy every high profile college game that isn't red hot or nailed down. Texas A&M is looking to raise their national profile, and Arkansas needs as much presence as possible in Texas for recruiting reasons. It may make sense for some teams, but I am not sure a neutral site would work for teams like Mississippi State and Kentucky or Vanderbilt and Ole Miss. Five roadies every other year may be a reality for some teams.

Today there are 23 days until kickoff.

23 is the South Carolina record for most receiving touchdowns.  The record holder is below the jump.

Today there are 24 days until kickoff.

24 was the number of points scored last season by the Gamecocks against Navy.  The Gamecocks paid Navy close to $1,000,000 to come to Columbia to play.  Although USC eventually prevailed 24-21 the game was way to close for comfort.  The game itself was a scheduling error.  No one remembers the game as a highlight of the season or as a quality win.  It was an unnecessary risk that almost derailed a historic season.  Sadly

Today there are only 25 days until the start of USC football.

25 was South Carolina's rank in rushing offense last season.  The Gamecocks average 192.1 yards on the ground.  Being in the top 25 in this category was all but unimaginable in the early Spurrier years.  USC's success of late is attributable in large part to being able to run the ball.  With the continued development of the offensive line and the stable of running backs on the roster, Carolina could even improve on this number this year.

The South Carolina football team began preseason practice this past Friday. This pic of running back Marcus Lattimore sums it up, check it out:



In the pic you see the look of a man on a mission. Thanks to TheBigSpur.com for the pic. Thank God that football is back!

Today there are 26 days until kickoff.

26 was the most completions in a game last season.  Connor Shaw completed that many passes in a rout of Kentucky last year.  At the end of the day he finished 26-39 for 311 yards and 4 TDs.  The game was important as the first one of the post-Garcia era.  Questions about how the team would fare without him and how Shaw would handle the pressure of being 'the guy' were quickly answered.

Today there are 27 days until kickoff.

27 is the record number of 100 yard rushing games.  To no one's surprise the record is held by George Rogers.  That record may never be equalled.  It is more than second and third combined.  The active leader is Marcus Lattimore with 8.  He'd have to stay two more years, and even then it'd be difficult to break the record.