Three years ago, the SEC East<\/strong> was in turmoil, much as it is now. An upstart Mizzou<\/strong>\u00a0team took advantage of injuries in their second season in the SEC<\/strong>. The South Carolina Gamecocks<\/strong>\u00a0suffered a loss early on to\u00a0Georgia<\/strong>, but had righted the ship and were ready for a night date in Mizzou.\u00a0But first, they had to get past the Tennessee<\/strong> Vols<\/strong> on Rocky Top<\/strong>. It shouldn’t have been a problem, as the unranked Vols were winless in conference play at the time, and the 11th ranked Gamecocks had one of the nation’s most prolific offenses and stoutest defenses.<\/p>\n Much like at\u00a0Florida<\/strong> the year before, South Carolina could never truly get into a rhythm. Midway through the fourth quarter, the Gamecocks\u00a0clung to a single point lead. After the their\u00a0star quarterback Connor Shaw<\/strong> went down with a freak injury, it was up to that feared Carolina defense to follow through with the win.\u00a0Vol quarterback Justin Worley<\/strong> stood in the pocket on a blitz and got his receiver at the Gamecocks\u00a025-yard line. The Vols inched closer, and Michael Palardy<\/strong> booted a 19-yard field goal from the left hash as time ran out, taking the win 23-21.<\/p>\n From there, South Carolina\u00a0went on to defeat Missouri in an instant classic. They would win the fight, but not the war. With one loss compared to South\u00a0Carolina’s two, it was the Tigers who landed in Atlanta<\/strong> for the SEC Championship Game.<\/p>\n This season, the Vols currently stand third in the division, behind rivals Florida and Kentucky<\/strong>. If the Vols can win out and the Gators<\/strong> cannot, it’ll be hallelujah time on Rocky Top.<\/p>\n This Saturday, Tennessee has a primetime date at Williams-Brice Stadium. South Carolina has new play action with its pro-style freshman quarterback. Tennessee certainly should not underestimate its opponent in this match-up, especially if the Gamecocks can fire on all cylinders under the lights.\u00a0A loss to South Carolina would very likely knock the Vols out of contention for the SEC East, and Carolina knows this. With new head coach\u00a0Will Muschamp<\/strong>\u00a0being undefeated as against Tennessee and Butch Jones<\/strong>, a lot is on the line in this game.<\/p>\n This is no easy\u00a0feat. This is a Gamecock\u00a0squad\u00a0with a grand total of three wins, only one in the division. A team that, until last weekend, was dead last in the nation in scoring offense.<\/p>\n On the flip side of the coin, this<\/em> is also the best Tennessee\u00a0team they’ve had in nine years. A Vol team that played Texas<\/strong> A&M<\/strong> down to the wire and is undefeated in the division.<\/p>\n Any team can beat any given team any given week. It will not\u00a0be easy, maybe not even probable. But it is\u00a0possible.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n In 1992,\u00a0South Carolina\u00a0started a freshman quarterback mid-season. The Gamecocks were\u00a0winless, five games into the season. A long-haired Pennsylvania native named\u00a0Steve Taneyhill<\/strong> took command of the second-rate team, guiding them to a nearly undefeated record from there.\u00a0Mississippi St, Vanderbilt, Clemson, Louisiana Tech<\/strong>, and yes, the Vols, were all defeated. The revamped team even gave former Head Ball Coach, Steve Spurrier, and his Gators a startle in a 14-9 defeat.<\/p>\n Can the Gamecocks replicate with Jake Bentley<\/strong>? They just might.<\/p>\n Main Photo<\/p>\n2016<\/h3>\n
Can South Carolina\u00a0Avenge the 2013 Team?<\/h3>\n