FanHouse SouthCarolinaGamecocks

The Gamecocks have lost control of their fate. They are now the biggest cheerleaders of chalk in the Big Ten and Mountain West. South Carolina's loss to Mississippi State really was not not a bad loss. The problem is, the Gamecocks' overall tournament resume lacks much heft.

Beating Baylor was South Carolina's best non-conference win. It beat Florida and swept Kentucky in the conference but was swept by Tennessee. The Gamecocks have been a bubble team all season, and bowing out in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament keeps them there.

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Well, I mean aside from LSU which has run their record to 10-1 in the conference. Over in the SEC East it is a mess. Whether you want to call it parity, mediocrity or just plain suckitude, there are four teams pillow-fighting their way to see who can back into the top spot in the division.

Kentucky got humiliated by Vanderbilt yesterday. Florida, which had lost three of four got a win over a bad Alabama team. Tennessee got run out of Oxford by an injury-ravaged Ole Miss team. South Carolina has been overachieving, but they couldn't win in Starkville. That leaves all four with identical 7-4 conference records.

And for his troubles gets injured anyways.

South Carolina starting right tackle Justin Sorensen has been held out of practice this week after getting injured during a fight at a St. Patrick's Day party.

Sorensen, 20, was hit over the head with a beer bottle at a downtown Columbia restaurant Saturday as he turned to walk away from a fight with 25-year-old Christian Ernest Beyer, according to a police report.

Now, I hate to rip on the kid for doing the right thing by not fighting. That's admirable. Especially since Sorensen is listed at 6'7" and 323 pounds, and probably could have ripped the guy apart. So, just consider this some friendly advice.

If you are that big and someone is that blitzed that they still want to fight you, turning your back on the guy is not the smartest decision. It may not be as cool and may even look like backing down just a little, but never turn away from a drunk who wants to fight. Back away first. Get a little distance, then you can turn and go.

Sorry about the non-descript headline. I really can't make it make sense without using like 25 words. You'll understand in a minute.

This is a tricky story to blog. To South Carolina basketball fans, it's something like, "Hey, remember Rolando Howell? He got in a fight with some soccer player." And to soccer fans, it's more like, "Adriano got in a fight with some huge basketball player." I can't please all of you. Or any of you, really.

Anyway, Rolando Howell is playing basketball these days for Italian club Varese. He was hanging out in a Milan night club called 'Club Hollywood' in the VIP section, when he got into it with Inter Milan striker Adriano. Howell jacked Adriano in the face, and the fight was broken up by bouncers and friends, including Adriano's teammate Ronaldo. It's no Joey Porter/Levi Jones, but it does help make this probably the best week ever for athlete vs. athlete fights.

No one's terribly shocked by this behavior from Adriano. He gets in trouble in night clubs as often as most people shower. He's been benched for it, even. I wonder if he knows Pacman Jones.

For Howell, the news is a little bit better. From Goal.com:

Time will tell if Adriano has gone too far this time...or if the episode will be smoothed over as just another case of clashing testosterone between two high-power athletes. At lest there was no blood on the dancefloor...

Hear that? Rolando Howell is a high-power athlete. Boo-yah! Score one for Rolando Howell.

That sound you hear (suspend disbelief for a moment, please)---it's the 2006 college football season quickly approaching. We are now a mere six days and a few hours from Aug. 31, the new season's genesis. The slate of games' for that Thursday hold only modest promise, but as a true college football nut I'll find a way to delight in them just the same.

Looking over that day's schedule, a few games stand out.

Northwestern at Miami (Ohio)---Emotions will run high at this one as Northwestern plays its first game since the death of coach Randy Walker. Adding further to the mood, Walker was an Ohio-born coach who led a revival of sorts as Miami's coach before taking over at Northwestern.

Minnesota at Kent State---The running backs are dropping like flies for the run-happy Golden Gophers, which may spell early-season doom. Or maybe not, as Kent State is coming off a 1-10 season. Either way this has the potential to be another interesting Big Ten/MAC battle.

South Carolina at Mississippi State---I'm surprised this game is this early in the year, as most conference matchups do not begin until several weeks into the season. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier's back, and it's just not college football without the Ol' Ball Coach throwing visors around.

Toledo at Iowa State---Coach Tom Amstutz runs an offensive power in the MAC, but will be without departed senior Bruce Gradkowski at quarterback. Iowa State should have an incredible offense as well, returning Bret Meyer at quarterback, Stevie Hicks at tailback and the dynamic duo of Austin Flynn and Todd Blythe at receiver. This is the third matchup of the day between a MAC team and a midlevel BCS conference foe.

Northern Arizona at Arizona State---This won't be much of a game, but we'll get our first look at the suddenly shaky Arizona State Sun Devils.

UTEP at San Diego State---This is the final hurrah for UTEP quarterback Jordan Palmer. The program is now in its third year under coach Mike Price and should be set for a pretty big season. The Aztecs begin their first campaign under new coach Chuck Long, formerly the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma.