A Dialogue Between My Head And My Heart: Can South Carolina Still Win The SEC East?

With their 44-28 loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks on November 5, 2011, the South Carolina Gamecocks fell to 7-2 overall and 5-2 in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) with three games still to play. For the garnet and black faithful, a seven win season in years past would be considered a success. After winning their first SEC East division title in 2010, anything short of a conference title game appearance or double digit wins is now a disappointment.

Heading into the 2011 college football season, South Carolina was the heavy favorite to repeat as SEC East champs again. But after a stunning conference loss to Auburn and a heartbreaker to Arkansas, the Gamecocks now find themselves half a game behind the surging Georgia Bulldogs (5-1 in the SEC), a team that started 0-2 and many left for dead.

But there is a caveat. Georgia's lone conference loss came against South Carolina, and a tie atop the SEC East would give South Carolina the edge by virtue of winning the head-to-head meeting. South Carolina has one more conference game left, a home game against Florida on November 12. Georgia still has to play Auburn at home on November 12 and Kentucky at home on November 19. A Gamecock win and a Bulldog loss in conference play would clinch the SEC East crown for South Carolina two years running.

Can it happen? Better yet, should it happen? It's something I've debated between myself with no closure in sight...

Cocked and Loaded: South Carolina Ready to Capitalize on Banner Year

In Chinese astrology, the New Year begins anywhere from late January to mid February, accompanied by an animal zodiac. According to the Chinese, 2010 was the year of the tiger. But for those following the football team fielded by the University of South Carolina, 2010 felt more like the year of the gamecock. Save their final two losses to Auburn and Florida State in December, this past season was one for the ages. First, it was the 35-21 upset at home over then #1 Alabama back in October for the Gamecocks’ first win against a top-ranked football team. Then, in November, the Gamecocks won in Gainesville for the first time as they swamped the Florida Gators, 36-14, and earned their first berth to the SEC title game. Later that month, South Carolina went on the road and dominated Clemson, 29-7, to win consecutive games against their hated in-state rival for the first time since 1970.

This is no anomaly, folks. The South Carolina Gamecocks are for real.