'Mature' Gamecocks Will Not Be Intimidated By Clemson

Do you remember this rivalry match two years ago at Memorial Stadium? Yes, who could forget it? Clemson quickly came out of the gates and continued to pour it, touched after touchdown. He was the head coach Will MuschampFirst year at the helm of the program and he formed a team composed mainly of young players occupying key roles and facing for the first time the rivalry.

And it was his best players. He had other players playing significant snaps that rocked when things got tough.

But what Muschamp points out is that a very large number of players on this list from South Carolina two years ago are still there. He remains true to the motto: football is a development game and this experience should help his team be better prepared this year than it was in 2016.

Muschamp does not believe that her team will be intimidated when she goes to Clemson this Saturday with the kickoff scheduled at 7pm. on ESPN.

"Absolutely not, we have a mature football team," Muschamp said when Todd Ellis asked him if he was worried that his team would be intimidated by Clemson.

"Many of the players who play for us now were freshmen two years ago, when we went with a very young football team. You think in terms of Bryan Edwards as a freshman, Randrecous Davis, Jake Bentley, there was a bunch of guys, T.J. Brunson, playing for the first time in this game. We have other veteran veterans. We are on the road, have played in difficult places and we understand what will be needed to succeed at the Memorial Stadium. "

There was nothing to brag about anyone's game in 2016, a 56-7 loss to the Tigers, who then won the national championship. It was an ugly match from start to finish.

Of the players mentioned by Muschamp, Bentley earned 7 of 17 goals for 41 yards and one touchdown and did not play in the second half. Edwards picked up a pass for 33 yards, earning a touchdown. Davis, injured this year by most of his career, had no trap. Brunson had a tackle under his belt.

Among the new freshman students who participated in this game and who are still part of the team include: Rico Dowdle and ONE J. Tourneur, who combined to rush 15 times for 45 yards. Turner also had two receptions for 18 yards. D.J. Wonnum He had four tackles, but his status is outstanding this weekend. Shameik Blackshear had a tackle and Keir Thomas had two.

"I think more than anything, we went our first year and we had guys who did not participate in the competition and that will not happen again," said Muschamp. "That was our message to our football team, it's about competition, that's the situation we were in. The first year, unfortunately, is why we're here. You need to continue coaching while continuing to develop the culture you want in your organization – we are much better now than we were then. "

Even though he had a forgettable game as a freshman, then as a sophomore, Muschamp felt that Bentley is better equipped to handle the game of rivalry this year.

Bentley has played his best football since the second half of the Texas A & M match, making over 70% of his passes. He fought against the Tigers, but the offensive around him is much better than it has ever been.

"He is a three-year starter and not only is he better, but we are much better around him. We are much better on the offensive line, we are much better at the receiver position, we are much better at the semifinal position, we are better overall. It's not just a person whose responsibility to play well is everyone's responsibility. We are better around him.

Muschamp remembers a lot of this very first football match against Clemson. During his trip to Memorial Stadium, he believes his team is better prepared for the challenge.