Depleted South Carolina braces for No. 1 Georgia
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina coach Shane Beamer’s not sure of what to expect from his defense — and that’s even before this weekend’s game with No. 1 Georgia.
The Gamecocks (1-1, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) will be without starters defensive end Jordan Strachan and linebacker Mo Kaba, both lost for the year after ACL injuries in last week’s 44-30 loss at No. 10 Arkansas.
But Beamer said the lineup could be minus starting defensive backs R.J. Roderick and Cam Smith, starting defensive tackle Alex Huntley and backup DB David Spaulding, all banged-up heading to practice this week and questionable to face the top-ranked Bulldogs (2-0), who start SEC play Saturday.
“Our depth,” Beamer said, “isn’t where it needs to be.”
Especially when facing the defending national champions, who’ve looked flawless in picking up where they’ve left off. Georgia’s outscored opponents No. 25 Oregon and Samford 82-3 behind quarterback Stetson Bennett and a host of playmakers on offense.
South Carolina’s defense, which figured to take significant steps forward in Beamer’s second season, is off to a sluggish start.
The Gamecocks surrendered 200 yards rushing to Sun Belt opponent Georgia State and trailed 14-12 in the second half before special teams had two punt-block TDs in a 35-14 victory.
Last week, South Carolina couldn’t slow down Arkansas’s potent ground game as the Razorbacks went for 295 yards rushing in putting away the Gamecocks. Rocket Sanders had 156 yards and two of Arkansas’ five rushing touchdowns.
Things don’t figure to get better this week.
Georgia is averaging an SEC-leading 525 yards a game and 7.66 yards gained on each snap.
Linebacker Sherrod Greene, in his sixth season, expects to see more playing time with Kaba sidelined. Greene, who’s 2020 and 2021 seasons were cut short because of injury, had eight tackles at Arkansas and feels as healthy as he has in some time.
Losing Kaba and Strachan hurt the unit, Greene said, “but a lot of guys got to step up and try to fill their positions.”
Joseph wants top job with Huskers
Mickey Joseph said Tuesday that he wants to be Nebraska’s next head football coach and not just the interim guy for the next nine games.
Joseph met with the media for the first time since athletic director Trev Alberts asked him to lead the program the rest of the season following the firing of Scott Frost on Sunday.
“I think when you accept the job as interim head coach, that’s the opportunity you’re working for, to become the head coach,” Joseph said. “But we understand what goes along with this profession. It’s wins and losses, and that’s what it’s going to depend on.” Joseph, 54, opens his stint as interim head coach with a home game against former conference rival and sixthranked Oklahoma (2-0) on Saturday. The Huskers (1-2) have lost 18 straight against Top 25 opponents.
Joseph played quarterback at Nebraska under Tom Osborne from 198891, has worked at all levels of college football and was receivers coach and assistant head coach at LSU before joining the Cornhuskers’ staff this year. He’s best known for his abilities to recruit and develop NFL talent.
Alberts said he told Joseph he planned to do an exhaustive coach search. The expectation is that money will be no object because of the huge increase in cash coming to Big Ten schools when the $1 billion-per-year conference television contract begins in 2023.
UH hosts Bayou Bucket Luncheon
The 41st Bayou Bucket Luncheon with Rice and the University of Houston will be held at noon Sept. 21 at the UH AthleticsAlumni Center.
Individual tickets are $50 each. Tables for 10 cost $500 (regular table) , $750 (bronze sponsorship), $1,000 (silver sponsorship), $1,500 (gold sponsorship) and $2,500 (platinum sponsorship). Platinum sponsors receive a special football.
To purchase tickets online visit touchdownclub.org. For more information, contact Neal Farmer at 713-849-9860 or by email at houtdclub@att.net.