It kind of jump starts your conference season and where you’re at. MSU finished 4-4 in 2012 and second in the SEC Western Division in 2014 with a 6-2 record.
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The Will Muschamp-led Gamecocks of SC come to town Saturday looking to start 2-0 in conference play. “You’re not going to walk out there and win a game”. The South Carolina offense however, should have confidence heading into the matchup.
SC football vs Mississippi State 2016 schedule: TV Channel Coverage, Start Time, Odds and Point Spread, Preview, Scores and Results, Who will win? SC has not played at Mississippi State since 2011 so nearly no one on the roster has much firsthand experience at the droning sound except longtime SEC head and assistant coach Will Muschamp, the Gamecocks’ first-year head coach.
South Alabama made the plays and MSU left the field with a loss. After moving up and down the field in the first half, drives didn’t go anywhere in the second half. “Then there would be a glaring critical error at a key moment of the game”. The Gamecock defense, though, was good enough to hold Vanderbilt to just one offensive touchdown. That’s an bad mental space to occupy early in the season for Mullen’s club, but a great place for Muschamp’s – a group that needed to taste some success to buy into what their new coaches are selling. “Guys play hard, play with a lot of energy, and they’re very, very sound in what they do”. “We came in Monday and everybody was focused”. The Bulldog offense had 326 yards of offense against Muschamp’s defense. It was a pretty clean game from both sides with not massive amounts of penalties. Mullen saw some of the same on film.
“They play about eight guys”. “It’s a bunch of athletic guys on defense, which is what you expect in an SEC game”.
Veteran quarterback Perry Orth seemed to get into a rhythm there, completing 10 of 15 passes in the second half and leading the Gamecocks to the game’s final 13 points. “They tailor their system to what their quarterback can do”. But Williams struggled in the second half. He led the Bulldogs with 93 yards rushing on 12 carries.
MSU senior wide receiver Fred Ross noticed that the team was lacking intensity coming out of halftime. “He put us in a great situation to win”. He played the first two series, but back-to-back three-and-outs led Mullen to put in Williams. His best play came on a 46-yard run in the first half.
After the loss to South Alabama, senior linebacker Richie Brown said he had to take some personal time Sunday to go through his feelings.
“There are issues everywhere that we’ve got to get fixed”, Mullen said. “Now when we practice, the whole practice everyone is locked in, and we know we can’t let up any bit during the game and have to finish all four quarters”. That number ballooned to 89 yards on 16 attempts in the second. “You’ve got to create turnovers but also the other team has to give it up, too”.
“I feel like we didn’t bring that intensity, and it showed”, Ross said to the media on Tuesday.
The fashion that MSU lost was demoralizing. He wants to see a different team take the field this week. “You have to see who wants it more”. The pressure Saturday is squarely on the Bulldogs, who are working in a new defensive coordinator as well as new quarterbacks, and will be desperate to avoid going 0-2 at home.
Although it’s not a quick turnaround for MSU, the Bulldogs will be at a disadvantage. Nick Fitzgerald started last week against South Alabama, but only attempted three passes. Coach Dan Mullen hasn’t revealed his plans under center for the SC game. That could play a factor. Though the charges weren’t pursued, he sat for the first game and could return this week.
Although it wasn’t a dominating win, it has given the SC fanbase hope.
The Gamecocks have already won on the road in conference play this season, beating Vandy 13-10.
It also has given the Gamecocks something to build on.
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“It’s a tough call to make, ” Muschamp said. In our profession, the result of winning is what you look for.
