NCAA: Gamecocks Primed For Run Now And In Future

By Brandon Engebretson

Sports Central columnist

Taking over the South Carolina Gamecocks last year, many people predicted instant success for Lou Holtz. It was quite the opposite, after a 1-10 season the year before, South Carolina went win-less last year. Compound that with his mother's death, his wife's throat cancer, and numerous football injuries, you'd think he'd quit. But this is Lou Holtz we're talking about here, and the Holtz effect is starting to show.

"The one thing I've always admired most about him (Holtz) is the unbelievable standard he holds the program to, the players to and the coaching staff to," Skip Holtz, assistant coach at South Carolina said. "He doesn't want to hear about why people can't win at South Carolina. There are no excuses from him. He wants to do it now. And these players are starting to pick up on that."

The Gamecocks are 3-0 this season, after defeating the then ninth ranked Georgia Bulldogs so far this season. This start has pushed the team right beneath the top twenty-five in the country. Give Holtz time, and he'll make a severe dent in the top twenty-five. A victory at twenty-fifth-ranked Mississippi State could push them into the top twenty-five.

Why the reason for such a strong turnaround? First, the injuries haven't occurred in bunches like last year. Last year, Holtz was forced to use six quarterbacks. That's not using your third-string QB in a game, that's using the sixth man on the depth chart, how does one prepare for such devastating injuries?

The offense and defense have also been revamped. The offense has been sped up, going with more no-huddles and a more spread-out formation. The defense still isn't great, and must step up for the Gamecocks to be successful.

They may not be good enough to defeat the Florida Gators later in the season, but this team is up and coming. This team will become a power to be reckoned with soon, or Lou Holtz will die trying to achieve this goal.

Article courtesy of Sports Central