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Predit LARRY WILLIAMS Staff Writer Most of the time when you hear coaches say their team is "big, strong, can run well, and blow people off the ball," chances are, it's a pretty good team. On the other hand, when you hear them say their team is "enthusiastic, hustles, and has a good attitude," it might be a signal saying they won't exactly compete for the national title. Unfortunately for Gamecock fans, USCs coaches' rhetoric has resembled the latter. Throughout spring and summer drills, Carolina players have been, in their coaches' words, "getting to the football, having a good attitude and a lot of heart and potential." With only 30 returning starters back from a 4-6-1 team, Carolina i ? .in XT i aoesnt appear to cnaiienge lNeoraska or Florida State in the Sugar Bowl Jan.2. Nor is it safe to bet the house on the Gamecocks beating the Gators in Gainesville, Fla. on Nov. 16 ? for a quarter. Most sane fans already know that USC won't be world-beaters this season; however, fans, writers, and yes, coaches are collectively wondering: Does the the 1996 version of the South Carolina Gamecocks have the potential to be a 6-5 or 7-4 team? Or does Carolina have the potential tc crumble and tailspin to a 3-8 debacle^ Yes and yes. Of course, this isn't the first time you've read the party line that "The Gamecocks could go anywhere froir 3-8 to 7-4," but, as youthful as the TTSf! team ia KnfVi aro rpnlistir SlirOT to a 4-0 start in its first four home games, and a 7-4 season is in the question. Stumble to a 1-3 start, anc 3-8 isn't possible, it's probable. So, to avoid being vague by fore Mahnrr a ofonf orwru/Vioro frnm Q.fi it VMWWUlg U OWU V CUIJ TT11C1W II Will V W V* 7-4, m look into my crystal ball anc give a forecast you can bet the hous< on: Somewhere between 3-8 and 7-4 Sept. 7: Central Florida A Central Florida player was re ported saying that USC "is beatable. Maybe the guy took a wrong turn oi Friday, September 6,1996 :ting UJ 1-95, but he's playing for CENTRAL < Florida. Not Florida State, not Flori- s da, but Central Florida. As in, team that is in its first year of Division 1- ( a \ The Golden Knights have a tal- < ented quarterback in Daunte Culpep- < per, but that won't be enough. Centra] Florida is the caliber team 1 of Louisiana Tfech, which USC pound- i edlast year, 68-21. Prediction: USC 58 CF 21 1 < Sept. 14: Georgia A record crowd of 80,000 could be on hand when the Bulldogs come to Of rnilCO town for this Ul UUUoC, vou'veread ?sa ngo c&x g igu uj ? some outstanding QameCOC players on offense, inc'udinB Robert from 3~8 tO Edwards, Mike Bobo JuanDameUi the USC tei and Hines Ward. For those who SUFPe tO d need reminding, Ed- " wardSjTiowaHeis- hOme 08111 man Trophy candidate, rushed for 169 j[ | yards and scored | four T.D.s in last i year's contest, as ( UGA trampled USC 42-23. ) This year's game could be different. Georgia has a weak offensive , line, but a strong defense. [ The key, as it will be in many t games, will be USC's defensive line. , If they stop Georgia's rush, they'll be I in good shape; however, if the Dawgs > can run at will, it 11 be another long [ day for Carolina. Jim Donnan, in his inaugural game at Georgia, lost last week to an inferior Southern Miss team, 11-7. } This week, UGAhas an open date, j Something, somewhere tells us that s Donnan will have his team ready this time. It'll be too early for as huge a victory as this one would be for Carolina. Prediction: Georgia 31 USC 27 ? Sept. 21: East Carolina 1 Anyone looking for a game to cir iCs fix Je that will be an indicator of how the yi jeason will go, this is the one. tl The Pirates have beaten the n jamecocks three of the past four ;imes they've played them, with two )f those games having been played in Columbia. 0 Tf'o twjmVxla fViof Pirotoa IUO pvociuit I/X1UU K11V JL UUIVK> vvvuw oe favored in this one, and for good v reason. ri They return 15 starters from a team that went 9-3 last season, in- d :luding a bowl win over Stanford. R 1 this isn't the first time I the party line that "The ; :ks could go anywhere 7-4." but as youthful as im is, both are realistic. 4-0 start in its first four les, and a 7-4 season is i the question. Their high-powered passing off ense, I led by Marcus Crandell, is capable of i putting 45 points on the scoreboard. ] The pressure will be on USC's { linebackers, who will be chasing i Crandell when he runs outside, and I the secondary, which will be chasing the receivers when they run everywhere. The bottom line? This game will make or break the season for USC Prediction: USC 41 ECU 35 i I Sept. 28: Miss. St. ] Last year USC ventured into i Starkville and blasted MSU 65-39. < MSU has seven returning starters on defense, but it's likely that this one will be another high-scoring affair. 1 fftn T TQr* Mnll UA ofArvmnrr fYR iiic A.cjr ivi u?jv mil Kf^ oiA/jjpuig Derrick Taite, who is a senior all-star candidate. The Bulldogs are in for a down The Gamecock Dtball gar, and aren't forecast to finish neai ie top of the SEC. But then again either are the Gamecocks. Prediction: USC 34 MSU 26 ict. 5 at Auburn USC will face its toughest test yei 'hen it travels to Auburn for its firsi gad game. The Tieers return nine starters or efense, including outside linebackei larcellus Mostella. The question for Auburn will b< the offensive line, where threi starters will need to be replaced The Gamecocks might think theyVi playing against Clemson. The town of Auburn and Jordan Hare Stadium are a carbon copy o Clemson and Death Valley. Plus, th fans wear orange in Auburn, too USC wont have enough against Tfer ry Bowden's boys. Prediction: Auburn 35 USC 2< October 12: at Kentucky Many USC fans are still wonder ing how the Wildcats have beatei USC in three of the past four years Many Kentucky fans are probabl; wondering how long it will take her aided Tim Couch to unseat Bill Jack Haskins at quarterback. USC went 7-5 and won its firs jowl game in 1994. They went 4-6 rnd stayed home tor the holidays las ^ear. The difference? USC lost a fei james they were supposed to wir lone being more critical than whe ;hey lost to Kentucky last seasor Brad Scott learned his lesson. Prediction: USC 31 UK 20 Oct. 19: Arkansas The Razorbacks are in a rebuilt ng year, but don't let that fool yoi Coach Danny Ford, who is bes known for making something out < nothing, has seven starters retumin in offense and four on defense. USC got clobbered by Arkanss and Madre Hill last year in Faye teville, 51-21. This year, with the game in Ci lumbia, look for the crowd to be huge factor as USC notches its fift win. 7 future Prediction: USC 23 Arkansas 10 Oct. 26: St Vanderbilt - Basketball season cant come soon enough for the Commodores. If USC has had any team's number in tfes SEC, it's been Vanderbilt. USC picks t up its sixth and sews up a bowl apt pearance. Prediction: USC 27 Vandy 12 1 r Nov. 2:"Tennessee If indeed USC has six wins going i into this one, some Gamecock fans i will be saying that they actually have a chance against the Vols, e Uh...no. Prediction: UT 44 USC 21 f Nov. 16: at Florida e If USC plays respectably in the i. loss to Tennessee, some Gamecock - fans will say USC actually has a chance against the Gators. D IJh...no. Prediction: UF 51USC 34 Nov. 23: at Clemson n In 1994, USC had a formidable i. defensive line, led by Chris Rumph, y David Tarnipseed and Stacy Evans. Diey stuffed Clemson's rim and blew y the Tigers out 33-7. Last year, USC had a weak-atit best defensive line and was stuffed by 1 Clemson's running game. Is there a it pattern here? v If you can stop the run, you can l, beat Clemson. n Last week, North Carolina exl. posed that, and Syracuse exposed it in the Gator Bowl. The home team hasn't won since 1991 in this series, and, if the aforementioned predictions (wins) are cor1 T Ten xinII Ka w/^rxrr q \iro\7A r\f mA. 1- I cvu, uTT UI l iuxi a ttutc ui l. mentum going into this one. it Prediction: USC 26 Clemson 23 )f ig And there you have it. A mythical, possibly possible, bestis best case, not-so-accurate scenario for t- this years' young Gamecocks squad. Oh, and don't forget... this same o- prognosticator picked USC to finish a 7-4 last year, so take it with a grain ,h of salt.