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.

Today there are 28 days until kickoff, exactly 4 weeks.

28 was the number of carries Brandon Wilds had against Tennessee last season.  After Marcus Lattimore went down with an injury against Mississippi State, the Gamecocks had to find a replacement quickly.  Wilds got the call, and he made the most of it against the Volunteers.

On 28 carries Wilds accumulated 137 yards on Rocky Top.  The rushing effort led USC to a 14-3 win.  The entire game plan centered on the abilities of Wilds and Connor Shaw to run against Tennessee.  The strategy worked, and USC gained 231 yards on the ground and held the ball of over 36 minutes.

Today there are only 29 days until kickoff.

29 is the number of receptions last season for Ace Sanders.  That was second on the team last year and is the leading, returning mark.  Those 29 catches led to 383 yards.

The Bradenton, Florida product projects as the key veteran in this year's offense.  Sanders began to assert himself in the spring and was named the Most Improved Wide Receiver.  He is experienced as well having played in all 27 games over the last two seasons.  If the offense is going to click like we want it to, Sanders will be a big part of it.

Per the South Carolina Sports Information Department:

The South Carolina Gamecock football team will open fall camp on Friday, August 3. The first practice, which is open to the public, will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Bluff Road practice fields.

The first week of practices will remain open to the public. Players will not be available for autographs before, during or after the practice sessions. In addition, pets are not permitted on the practice fields. All fans attending the practice sessions must stay behind the yellow rope.

Cameras (still and video) are allowed for the first 15 minutes of practice only.

Fan Appreciation Day is set for Sunday, August 12, at Colonial Life Arena, beginning at 12:30 p.m.

The preseason practice schedule is below. Dates and times are subject to change.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE (NOTE: Dates/times subject to change):

Can you join me in saying that there is 30 days until kickoff of Gamecocks football?

30 was the number of points scored by Gamecocks opponents in the third quarter last season.  That was a staggeringly small number of points to give up in a quarter.  USC gave up at least twice that many in every other quarter.  The stifling defense was a testament to Ellis Johnson's ability to adapt his game plan and make halftime changes better than the offensive coordinators he was scheming against.  Johnson is gone this year, and it will be up to Lorenzo Ward to make the adjustments this season.  So far the defensive players seem optimistic, and Coach Spurrier seems pleased.  That's all the endorsement Ward should need.

We are so ready for football to return and especially South Carolina football. Today there are 31 days until kickoff.

31 is the number of sacks South Carolina's defense had last season.  Melvin Ingram paced the team with 10 on his own.  He's departed to the San Diego Chargers, but Jadeveon Clowney had 8 last season, and Devin Taylor had 6.  Expect the numbers for both of them to rise.  If teams decide to pass much against Carolina (and if the offense performs as expected they may have to) Clowney's and Taylor's numbers will improve.

There's nothing quite like a sack.  The offense has made the choice to put the ball in air to try to gain a chunk of yards.  Instead of that big positive or even the break even of an incompletion, they lose yards.  Expectations are ruined, and momentum is lost.

Sacks are often violent and beautiful.  A defensive end coming off the edge turns the corner and explodes into the quarterback.  His shoulder leads his body into the passer, and the collision causes the qb's whole body to buckle from the force.  Arms are wrapped around him while the defender's legs continue driving.  A secondary impact almost as jarring as the primary one rocks the passer's body as he is forced into the grass.

As demoralizing as it is effective, the sound of a sack echoes for the rest of the game.  Every time the quarterback drops back he wants to know where the rush is coming from.  He spends a little less concentration down field on his receivers and looks more and more for the d-line.  Each time he's taken down his attention wanes until he begins to pay more attention to those coming after him than those down field.

A sack has a cumulative effect beyond its initial yardage.  Sacks change games.  31 times last season, the Gamecocks forced their opponents backward.  31 times they shook the confidence of opposing quarterbacks.  31 times they made the offense pay for taking the ball away from the line of scrimmage to gamble with a pass.  31 different times USC's defense bent the flow of the game to its will.  Now there are only 31 days left until we get to see it again.

USC football now is just 32 days away from kickoff.

32 is the number of passes Carolina's defense broke up last season.  It's not a scrutinized statistic.  Most people prefer to look at interceptions or pass defense efficiency, and its true that PBUs don't tell you all that much about a defense just by looking at them.  If you look at that number, which is just under 1 a quarter, in context it may mean a little more.  Were those 32 PBUs balls that should have been intercepted, or were they the best play that could have been made on the ball.  Memories may vary, but most of the time they were the best play available.  That's the hallmark of a good secondary.  There will be plenty of experience in the starting 5 this season, so expect those numbers to be high again this season.

South Carolina football kicks off in 33 days.

33 is the Gamecock record for touchdowns scored in a career.  George Rogers and Harold Green share the record.  Big George put up his points from 1977-1980, and Harold Green came along in 1986-1989.  The two players are also tied for most rushing touchdowns in a career with 31.  Interestingly Rogers is 3rd on the total points list, while Green is 5th.  With 4 more points than Green, it appears Rogers had a pair of two point conversions to his credit.  As impressive as the record is, it probably won't stand much longer.  Marcus Lattimore is 3rd with 30 career touchdowns.

Gamecock fans, today there are 34 days until kickoff.

34 was the number of points scored against Clemson last season.  The Gamecocks beat the Tigers 34-13 last season.  Outside of Georgia and Kentucky it was the most points put up against a BCS team by the Gamecocks last season.  The game also marked the third time in three years the Gamecocks have won by 17 or more points.  That's the first time that's been accomplished by either team in the rivalry since the 1930s.  But every Clemson fan I know tells me this year will be different…

The dog days of summer are upon us. The 2011-12 collegiate athletic season is over and we are some seven weeks from college football. Between now and then I will be doing capsules on the other 13 teams in the conference. 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. Today we will take a look at Auburn.

Team: Auburn Tigers

Coach: Gene Chizik (35-29 overall) 4th year at Auburn

Last season: 2011 saw a significant drop off from the year before when transfer Cam Newton led Auburn to a 14-0 dream season that saw the Tigers win the SEC and BCS crowns. Newton brought home the Heisman in an unparalleled season that was often filled with off-season distractions. The 2011 edition Auburn squad posted an 8-5 overall record while breaking even in conference at 4-4. The season got off to a potentially scary start by barely edging out pay for play Utah State in a 42-38 thriller. Auburn held off Mississippi State on the last play with a goal line stand to start conference play 1-0. Week three saw Chizik and the Tigers tripping to Clemson. What looked like a W ended up as a sign of things to come as the Auburn defense could not hold onto a late 2Q 21-7 lead as Tajh Boyd led Clemson on TD drives of over 60 yards.

Breaking down further....