Better than we’ve ever done it before

[MAD Doctor]

[quote="MAD Doctor" post_id=221945 time=1570997368 user_

Not saying we shocked the world. We’d never done it before. It was huge. Had we lost that game, there would be no Top 25, and no P5 win (to this point).

Had we lost any of our games thus far, it is unlikely we would be ranked at this point.

C6A0E20F-65D2-4BA4-ADFD-6BCC31EA359F.jpeg (16.69 KiB) Viewed 3979 times

That’s a certainty, but the win in Chapel Hill can’t otherwise be compared to ETSU or Charlotte. If it had been an FCS or even G5 team, we’d likely still be waiting.

[Overcashed]

USC is playing well. It will take a perfect game from the black and gold and some mistakes on their side.

Are they though? They're 3-3 with wins over Charleston Southern, an extremely down Kentucky team, and a fluke filled game against UGA that took a missed FG in Double OT to win.

That game in Columbia should be winnable for App, and I don't think it would take a "perfect" game from us to do it.

[NewApp]

USC is playing well. It will take a perfect game from the black and gold and some mistakes on their side.

Are they though? They're 3-3 with wins over Charleston Southern, an extremely down Kentucky team, and a fluke filled game against UGA that took a missed FG in Double OT to win.

That game in Columbia should be winnable for App, and I don't think it would take a "perfect" game from us to do it.

A fluke missed or blocked FG is what propelled us over UNC. Works both ways.

[Apple@chin1]

If we don’t beat USC, I believe that us beating UNC will be considered a case of us catching them early/enter your excuse. It would lose it’s significance outside of the program, in my opinion.

USC is playing well. It will take a perfect game from the black and gold and some mistakes on their side.

Absolutely correct!

[appst89]

The highest ranking for any team in Sun Belt Conference history.

I think the W-S Journal reported 25th was the highest rank previously achieved for the Sun Belt, Check that one off the list...

Strongly agree with previous statement: Win our division, host/win Sun Belt Campionship, win bowl game, academic excellence... and for our coaches: Stay together and recruit strong.

Yeah. Troy and (I think) stAte have broken into the ranks before but they never got it past 25th. So anything we do that goes higher in the standings is trailblazing for the conference.

Only Troy and App have ever been ranked previously; both 25th and both lost the next game.

[appst89]

USC is playing well. It will take a perfect game from the black and gold and some mistakes on their side.

Are they though? They're 3-3 with wins over Charleston Southern, an extremely down Kentucky team, and a fluke filled game against UGA that took a missed FG in Double OT to win.

That game in Columbia should be winnable for App, and I don't think it would take a "perfect" game from us to do it.

A fluke missed or blocked FG is what propelled us over UNC. Works both ways.

That was a 56 yard field goal attempt in Chapel Hill. A miss or a block there is certainly not a fluke.

[Yosef84]

If we don’t beat USC, I believe that us beating UNC will be considered a case of us catching them early/enter your excuse. It would lose it’s significance outside of the program, in my opinion.

That's a completely lame excuse. We could just as easily say the same thing. Our D is getting better as the season progresses. If they hadn't caught us early, they might not have scored. They game was played when it was played. Both teams knew what to expect. We won. Period.

The average fan doesn't follow the seasonal trends enough to make that excuse. The knowledgeable fans know better. Only Tarheel fans will attempt that kind of lame rationalization.

[TheMoody1]

a fluke filled game against UGA that took a missed FG in Double OT to win.

I watched the entire game. Not sure what you mean by "fluke" filled. USC looked like the better team all day. I thought it would be over after their freshman QB got knocked out of the game but the USC D came to play. USC missed an easy FG in the first OT so it should have ended right there.

[Overcashed]

a fluke filled game against UGA that took a missed FG in Double OT to win.

I watched the entire game. Not sure what you mean by "fluke" filled. USC looked like the better team all day. I thought it would be over after their freshman QB got knocked out of the game but the USC D came to play. USC missed an easy FG in the first OT so it should have ended right there.

The fluke is what looked like a dominate UGA team before Saturday completely falling on its face. The fluke is needing a near perfect kicker missing a gimme to win in double OT.

Yes, USC looked solid all day and even played through losing their current QB but lets not act like that game wasn't UGA losing to themselves and not USC somehow making a turn from being an overall middle of the road team this season.

[TheMoody1]

a fluke filled game against UGA that took a missed FG in Double OT to win.

I watched the entire game. Not sure what you mean by "fluke" filled. USC looked like the better team all day. I thought it would be over after their freshman QB got knocked out of the game but the USC D came to play. USC missed an easy FG in the first OT so it should have ended right there.

The fluke is what looked like a dominate UGA team before Saturday completely falling on its face. The fluke is needing a near perfect kicker missing a gimme to win in double OT.

Yes, USC looked solid all day and even played through losing their current QB but lets not act like that game wasn't UGA losing to themselves and not USC somehow making a turn from being an overall middle of the road team this season.

Are you a Dog fan? Sure, this was an upset, but it was no fluke. UGA got outplayed.

[Overcashed]

a fluke filled game against UGA that took a missed FG in Double OT to win.

I watched the entire game. Not sure what you mean by "fluke" filled. USC looked like the better team all day. I thought it would be over after their freshman QB got knocked out of the game but the USC D came to play. USC missed an easy FG in the first OT so it should have ended right there.

The fluke is what looked like a dominate UGA team before Saturday completely falling on its face. The fluke is needing a near perfect kicker missing a gimme to win in double OT.

Yes, USC looked solid all day and even played through losing their current QB but lets not act like that game wasn't UGA losing to themselves and not USC somehow making a turn from being an overall middle of the road team this season.

Are you a Dog fan? Sure, this was an upset, but it was no fluke. UGA got outplayed.

Are you a gamecock fan? We'll see if this is somehow a corner turning performance, or if it was a huge outlier next week I suppose.

[bigdaddyg]

a fluke filled game against UGA that took a missed FG in Double OT to win.

I watched the entire game. Not sure what you mean by "fluke" filled. USC looked like the better team all day. I thought it would be over after their freshman QB got knocked out of the game but the USC D came to play. USC missed an easy FG in the first OT so it should have ended right there.

The fluke is what looked like a dominate UGA team before Saturday completely falling on its face. The fluke is needing a near perfect kicker missing a gimme to win in double OT.

Yes, USC looked solid all day and even played through losing their current QB but lets not act like that game wasn't UGA losing to themselves and not USC somehow making a turn from being an overall middle of the road team this season.

Are you a Dog fan? Sure, this was an upset, but it was no fluke. UGA got outplayed.

Usually a team that "should win" but falls on it's face and craps a game away to a supposed inferior opponent likes to use words like fluke to rationalize the loss to the supposed inferior opponent. If I am a fan of said inferior opponent my response is "whatever dude" we won and you lost. No column in the standings for fluke losses.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

The highest ranking for any team in Sun Belt Conference history.

I think the W-S Journal reported 25th was the highest rank previously achieved for the Sun Belt, Check that one off the list...

Strongly agree with previous statement: Win our division, host/win Sun Belt Campionship, win bowl game, academic excellence... and for our coaches: Stay together and recruit strong.

Yeah. Troy and (I think) stAte have broken into the ranks before but they never got it past 25th. So anything we do that goes higher in the standings is trailblazing for the conference.

Troy in Nov 2016 and App last year have been it for the SB and both at the 25 spot.

[TheMoody1]

Are you a gamecock fan? We'll see if this is somehow a corner turning performance, or if it was a huge outlier next week I suppose.

No Gamecock fan here. I just grow weary of fans who lose in an upset always claiming it was a fluke.

I agree about next week. If they win or even play Florida close it will be scary.

[Apple@chin1]

If we don’t beat USC, I believe that us beating UNC will be considered a case of us catching them early/enter your excuse. It would lose it’s significance outside of the program, in my opinion.

That's a completely lame excuse. We could just as easily say the same thing. Our D is getting better as the season progresses. If they hadn't caught us early, they might not have scored. They game was played when it was played. Both teams knew what to expect. We won. Period.

The average fan doesn't follow the seasonal trends enough to make that excuse. The knowledgeable fans know better. Only Tarheel fans will attempt that kind of lame rationalization.

I agree with almost everything you said here. Your last sentence is the only part that I disagree with. In the sense that it will be ALL Tarheel fans AND MOST media outlets that will attempt that or some other lame rationalization. People believe what they hear on TV and read online or in the newspaper. Regardless of the reality. It’s just human nature. That was the point that I was trying to make. I think that if we played UNC the last week of the year, we still take the W. We’re the better team. I’m only speaking to perception.

[Overcashed]

No Gamecock fan here. I just grow weary of fans who lose in an upset always claiming it was a fluke.

I agree about next week. If they win or even play Florida close it will be scary.

If they beat Florida and somehow continue to roll we'll have our hands full in November, but it should be a ranked vs. ranked match up which would be another nice first for App.

For the record I am definitely not a UGA fan, App already played and beat my "other" team and I watched it happen from row 3 wearing black and gold.

[Mountaineers89]

a fluke filled game against UGA that took a missed FG in Double OT to win.

I watched the entire game. Not sure what you mean by "fluke" filled. USC looked like the better team all day. I thought it would be over after their freshman QB got knocked out of the game but the USC D came to play. USC missed an easy FG in the first OT so it should have ended right there.

The fluke is what looked like a dominate UGA team before Saturday completely falling on its face. The fluke is needing a near perfect kicker missing a gimme to win in double OT.

Yes, USC looked solid all day and even played through losing their current QB but lets not act like that game wasn't UGA losing to themselves and not USC somehow making a turn from being an overall middle of the road team this season.

You obviously did not actually watch the USC-UGA game. How did the UGA "near perfect kicker" miss a gimme to win in double overtime? USC was up by 3 and they were kicking to tie the game? This would have sent it to triple OT. USC also missed a "gimme" 33 yard kick in the first overtime to win the game. Plus USC played with their 3rd string QB for over a quarter.

[Overcashed]

You obviously did not actually watch the USC-UGA game. How did the UGA "near perfect kicker" miss a gimme to win in double overtime? USC was up by 3 and they were kicking to tie the game? This would have sent it to triple OT. USC also missed a "gimme" 33 yard kick in the first overtime to win the game. Plus USC played with their 3rd string QB for over a quarter.

I mean I listened to the radio call while driving back from ATL, but ok.

I also never said UGA would have won with that kick, I said USC won off of their miss... "The fluke is needing a near perfect kicker missing a gimme to win in double OT."

Also, this topic is dead, I'm clearly wrong and the Gamecocks are going to win the SEC.

[NavyApp]

South Carolina is still an enigma to me. Lost a close one to UNC(who as we know is much improved), smashed Charleston Southern (expected), got throttled by Bama(expected), got beat handily by an iffy Mizzou team in which Mizzou had 2 Defensive TDS, beat a down UK(with our friend Sawyer Smith at QB), went between the Hedges and beat a top 5 UGA(not expected). Hilinski is a freshman QB, he is good but still plays like a freshman at times. Feaster was all world coming out of High school and really didn't do anything at Clemson, he has been up and down this year too. But their D is really good. Florida could easily beat them by 40 or lose by 3. They should win the two games before us(UT and Vandy). But I still have no idea how good they are because they are just consistently inconsistent.

[AppfaninCAALand]

So do we believe that on a neutral field could/would/should we beat:

Washington
Tulane
Iowa State
Temple
Wake
Cal
UVA
Memphis
USC
S Carolina
A&M
UCF
San Diego St
La Tech

All ranked below us currently

"Should" and "would" are tricky, but "could" the answer is obviously yes. I suspect many would be good, hard fought contests though, few blowouts either way.

Besides:

App>UNC</>#3 Clemson
and
App>UNC>SCAR>#10 UGA>#8 Notre Dame
therefore
App</>AP Top 10

Yes I'm joking somewhat with the transitive nonsense but it does highlight the competitive circles we are capable of running in.