COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -Steve Spurrier likes his teams to finish strong. South Carolina fans like the same thing, especially if that means beating Clemson.
“It’s always helpful to win your last game. It’s always helpful. For whatever reason, people remember the last game you play a lot more than maybe you played five weeks, four weeks earlier,” the Gamecocks coach said.
There haven’t been a lot of good season-ending memories at South Carolina recently. Spurrier has lost two of three to the Tigers. The Gamecocks have lost nine of their last 11, and are 10-26-1 against Clemson since winning three in a row from 1968-70.
And Spurrier’s Clemson losses have lingered. The Gamecocks followed the 2005 loss with an Independence Bowl defeat that soured a five-game Southeastern Conference winning streak. In 2007, the loss to Clemson capped a five-game losing streak that kept South Carolina out of a bowl.
ther consequences, too. Fans hang their heads and have to hear from Clemson friends and co-workers for another year. One of the most quoted accomplishments of Tommy Bowden, fired by Clemson this year, was his 7-2 record against the Gamecocks. And the rivalry game also affects recruiting, said Spurrier, citing his only win in the series in 2006.
“We had our best recruiting year after winning our last three that year,” Spurrier said. “And certainly if we’re fortunate enough to win our last two this year, it would really help.”
The defeats also appear to have had a subtle effect on Spurrier’s outlook on the rivalry. When he arrived at South Carolina, he had all the “Beat Clemson” signs removed from the locker room. But when the Gamecocks won in 2006, he offered a game ball to the fans, then gave his blessing to the sale of footballs commemorating the win.
And this season? “It’s the biggest game of the year for us,” Spurrier said. “I always said your in-state rival game is your biggest game of the year unless you’re playing for the conference championship. We’re not doing that so, hey, it’s the biggest game of the year.”
rim coach Dabo Swinney may ride on the result. A Tigers win could be a soothing balm to a a tough season, while a loss could send the program into more disarray.
But Spurrier said he isn’t worried about that. “We’re just going to try to win the game. We’ve got enough to worry about. To play the best we can – that’s what we need to worry about.”
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BULLDOG GOODBYE: Derek Pegues was willing to give Mississippi State a chance four years ago, and coach Sylvester Croom is thankful for that leap of faith.
Pegues, an all-SEC safety, will play his last game for Mississippi State on Friday against Ole Miss. Croom doesn’t think his decision to play for the Bulldogs should go unmarked.
“He is the first blue chipper who decided to come here during probation,” Croom said. “… We couldn’t get guys to even visit during that time.”
Croom said Pegues’ commitment to Mississippi State was “a tremendous boost” to a program that had fallen on hard times because of NCAA sanctions.
Pegues, a Batesville, Miss., native, was a consensus top five cornerback by every scouting service in the nation coming out of high school and had his choice of schools. Even his favorite, Tennessee, came calling.
I really didn’t like it that much. I sat down and talked to my family and a couple of my relatives and I decided to stay in state and help Mississippi State get back on track.”
Pegues did everything asked of him. He returned kicks and punts, moved from cornerback to safety, played through pain and disappointment and will probably have a career in the NFL. Along the way he set the SEC record for kickoff returns (111 and counting) and return yards (2,484). He also ranks No. 3 in the SEC in total return yards (3,276) and needs just 19 more against the Rebels to move into second.
Though this season has been a disappointment – hampered by losses, a one-game suspension for missing class and several injuries – he got a chance to experience a winning season and bowl game last year.
Looking back over his four years, he wouldn’t change his decision.
“I have no regrets,” Pegues said. “I think Mississippi State helped me to become a better man.”
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SURPRISING JOG: When the second-ranked Florida honored its seniors Saturday, injured tight end Cornelius Ingram walked out last. He waved to the crowd, then crouched down in a sprinter’s stance and jogged a 40-yard dash – much to the delight of the 90,000 fans at The Swamp.
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It also raised questions about whether the 6-foot-4, 245-pound receiver will be healthy enough to play in Florida’s bowl game – maybe the national title game in Miami.
“He looked pretty good to me,” coach Urban Meyer said. “We were going to throw him a pass there.”
Although Ingram returning this season remains a long shot, especially since he doesn’t want to do anything to jeopardize his NFL future, the possibility has the Gators intrigued.
Ingram caught 64 passes for 888 yards and eight touchdowns the past two years. He had 34 receptions for 508 yards and seven TDs last season. This was supposed to be his breakout year, but he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in early August.
He already has resumed running, but he would have to be cleared for cutting and full contact before any return could happen.
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SHORT-HANDED CATS: Kentucky will have to end its decades-long losing streak to Tennessee without defensive linemen Jeremy Jarmon and Ricky Lumpkin.
Jarmon is still recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his knee on Nov. 18 after tearing some cartilage in a loss to Vanderbilt. Lumpkin suffered a high ankle sprain in that game and will also be out. The Wildcats will also play without safety Marcus McClinton, who received a severe gash in his leg against the Commodores.
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NO REGRETS: Tennessee tailback Arian Foster didn’t have the senior season he expected when he passed on the FNl draft to return to school.
“It’s human to second-guess yourself, but it doesn’t get you anywhere,” Foster said. “I’ve done it. Of course I have. I probably would have done it if I’d left anyway. But you just got to stick by your decision. You’re a man, and you made a decision and you have to live with it.”
Foster entered the season needing just 685 yards – 57 yards per game – to become Tennessee’s all-time rushing leader.
But the Vols’ offense hasn’t been productive as Tennessee , and with 2,905 career rushing yards, Foster needs 175 against Kentucky (6-5, 2-5) on Saturday to pass leader Travis Henry’s career record of 3,078.
It wouldn’t be impossible. Foster has had three performances of more than 140 yards, including his career high 223-yard game against Vanderbilt as a freshman. But with Foster coming off a bruised thigh injury, it doesn’t seem likely.
“It’s been a rough road for all of us, but he’s still standing tall and still fighting for the next day,” offensive guard Anthony Parker said. “I appreciate that, and the rest of the guys do, too. We just want to go out Saturday and if at all possible get that record broken.”
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