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Some of South Carolina’s top soccer players are dropping out this all-star soccer season during a pandemic, and it’s hard to blame them.
Their university abandoned them first.
South Carolina and the SEC have begged these kids to play soccer this season, and through all the testing, isolation and stress, they have played well enough to be in almost every game (but a record 2 -5). What did they get for their problems? South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner fired his coach on Sunday after a 59-42 loss to Ole Miss.
Will Muschamp’s defense gave up 708 yards of total offense, but, as Alabama can attest, it’s not completely unprecedented. The Crimson Tide defense surrendered 647 yards to Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss in a 63-48 victory for Alabama that temporarily left more than a few fans losing confidence in Nick Saban.
Let’s not dance around the fact that Muschamp had this coming. We all know that, but Tanner couldn’t wait a few weeks? What is the rush? Should we jump on the next guy who’s gonna be baptized by Dabo Swinney next year?
The utter disrespect for South Carolina’s student-athletes this week from their own college is a disgusting admission from the administration, college president, board and boosters how little importance the players doing all the work really mean to their university. But am I shocked? Yeah, that’s a big no.
The SEC is crazy, and that’s why we love it, but it’s also why a toxic culture of football at all costs animates every campus. There’s all the ‘playing football during a pandemic’, but I’m not talking about that. They’re playing those games this season for the money, and in South Carolina we now know where it’s all going.
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During our national COVID-19 pandemic, with the University of South Carolina facing a financial crisis, the school now owes Muschamp a $ 13 million buyout. The wealthy alumni and boosters of the South Carolina Sports Department will of course foot the bill for Muschamp, but buying out a coach (and his assistants) for millions and then paying another lucky coach for even more millions doesn’t send the best message to. university in a year, employees were forced to take mandatory leave.
Football is more important than faculty and staff, that’s that message, if you needed it.
The Gamecocks are due to play Missouri on Saturday night in Columbia, SC, but I’ll be surprised if that actually happens. Between Monday and Tuesday, South Carolina lost three high school starters to go with two injured defensive starters. If the Gamecocks can field a team, it could get even more embarrassing. It’s not what these players deserve.
Yes, it’s been a disappointing season for South Carolina, but they upset Auburn, and the Gamecocks defense kept Florida’s high-powered offense tied for its low points season (38). Games remain against Georgia and Kentucky in addition to this weekend’s home game. If South Carolina wins two of the three, they should simply name interim coach Mike Bobo the permanent skipper and let him rebuild the program from scratch.
At least Bobo vs Dabo would be fun for writers.
South Carolina is arguably the toughest job for an SEC head coach, so I consider Muschamp’s overall record of 28-28 a success. There was no room to hide a mediocre squad this season in the SEC, but Muschamp upset Georgia last year and the win over Auburn was South Carolina’s first against the Tigers since 1933. Before Steve Spurrier does not talk about Muschamp again, remember that Ol ‘Spurdog was 0-6 against Auburn while in South Carolina, and has the unholy honor of surviving in Colombia long enough to lose to Tommy Tuberville, Gene Chizik and Gus Malzahn.
It’s not impossible, in theory, to win in South Carolina, though, and that’s what makes it the SEC’s toughest gig. After all, while Spurrier has never beaten Auburn, he is the last SEC East coach to make the most of Nick Saban. Winning the SEC East is South Carolina’s goal, but the norm in Palmetto State is Clemson. This means that each season during his tenure, Muschamp has faced one of the most difficult schedules in the country.
What will it take to win in South Carolina? If Tanner hasn’t at least called young offensive coaching freak Joe Brady (now Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator), then he hasn’t a clue.
What is the next step for Muschamp? Well, if he’s not named the new New York Jets coach next week, then he might be able to run for the US Senate in a few years.
Who are we kidding? The Jets? The Senate? We are talking about Muschamp. He’s still falling. Maybe he’ll get the job in Texas he was promised so many years ago (2008).
If he’s still got something to prove, there’s always a post at the back of the house in Alabama to fall back on. Muschamp may join Charlie Strong as one of Saban’s defensive analysts, and they may dream of being defensive dinosaurs in the age of unstoppable offenses.
Strong is probably already preparing for the Gators in the SEC Championship, so Muschamp can just take Clemson.
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Of course, if I were Muschamp, I would retire early, go fishing with Mike Leach in Monroe County, Florida, and say goodbye to this crazy company.
Combine his golden South Carolina parachute with the more than $ 6million the University of Florida paid him to leave, and Muschamp probably doesn’t need to work again based solely on the money he received to stop working.
What a career. What a league – the former and future Golden Boy of the SEC was fired during a pandemic.
Saban will be remembered for his dominance during this era of the SEC, but it’s Muschamp’s nine years in the SEC East and his angry grimace that should represent the hysterical heart and soul of the conference.
Joseph Goodman is a columnist for the Alabama Media Group. He’s on Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr.
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