The official Clemson v USC prematch thread [R]

FIXXXER · Sep 30, 2002

Well, it's game week in the state of South Carolina. There's been a lot of chatter in other threads about this one and I'm sure there'll be a lot more after USC's 1-0 loss to Davidson. This game used to determine the "State Champion," but most recently that game has become the Clemson v Furman game.

Earlier I predicted a 3-1 Clemson win, but have decided to change that to 3-0 in light of the weekend activities. That and I just believe that USC doesn't think they can beat Clemson, classic case of the chicken curse...

soccercocks12 · Sep 30, 2002

You got it all wrong

When has the state championship been decided with Clemson Furman. I think you need to check your Facts. It's always been between USC @ CU. Yea USC lost to Davidson a game they should have won but Clemson losing to Duke aint so much etheir. I remember the Cocks beating Duke 3-0.

Cocks 2 CU 0

rhydogg · Sep 30, 2002

clemson/South Carolina

Its going to be a closer game this year then the ones in the past. South Carolina has a real good team, but Clemson has the cocks choked from the previous meetings. Clemson will find a way to win. Its gonna be a fight but a tiger is tougher then a ************......

Clemson- 2 South Carolina-1

Maybe a little overtime play...

JBlazini24 · Sep 30, 2002

Hopefully, the Davidson loss will serve as a wakeup call for USC. Like they need it anyway for Clemson at home.

I predict a historic game at the "historic" Graveyard, and the Cocks win 2-1 off a Jordan Quinn header in the 86th minute.

GO COCKS!

FIXXXER · Sep 30, 2002

Re: You got it all wrong

Originally posted by soccercocks12
When has the state championship been decided with Clemson Furman. I think you need to check your Facts. It's always been between USC @ CU. Yea USC lost to Davidson a game they should have won but Clemson losing to Duke aint so much etheir. I remember the Cocks beating Duke 3-0.

Cocks 2 CU 0
Click to expand...

First, what does the Clemson V Duke game and the USC V Davidson game have to do with the state championship? Clue me in on that one. Davidson beat both UNC and USC. UNC lost to Duke, and Duke beat Clemson. What's your point?

Here are the facts:

2001 - Clemson beats Furman (2 men down) and Clemson beats USC. USC beats Furman

2000 - Everybody tied each other

1999 - Furman defeats Clemson and ties USC, Clemson beat USC. So, Furman 4pts, CU 3pts, USC 1pt.

1998 - Forget about it - Clemson only lost to Duke & Indiana. USC did beat Furman

1997 - Clemson and Furman get rained out, USC wins V Furman.

Trevor Adair has only lost to USC once and that was in his first season, 1995, and that was his first game. Not since September 3, 1995 has USC beaten Clemson.

It seems over the past few years that Furman has been more successful than USC and taken over the #2 spot in the state. We'll see what this season holds, but don't expect the Chicken Curse to be lifted this Sunday...

soccercocks12 · Sep 30, 2002

So what are saying

Whats your point!!!!!!!! From the facts you just gave us USC has beaten Furman 3 out of your 5 times and out of those 5 years everyone tied once. So again the state champion has always been proven by the USC CU game

BIGGERSoccer · Sep 30, 2002

men against boys

berson's boys are in for a long day. clemson's men will toy with the cocks. the D-fense & warren are just too strong, & possession will be 75%/25%. CU 3 nil

simon99 · Sep 30, 2002

Why not Charleston Southern University as the state champs? They have an awesome season.

FIXXXER · Oct 1, 2002

Originally posted by zerou99
Why not Charleston Southern University as the state champs? They have an awesome season.
Click to expand...

Probably b/c they lose preseaon and spring games to teams like Clemson, USC, Furman by 5 and 6 goals. That's like asking why wouldn't an undefeated CSU football team not be ranked in the BCS. Apples and Oranges...

Sandon Mibut · Oct 1, 2002

Hey man, what about South Carolina-Spartanburg? How come they don't even get a mention? They might be the best team in the state, what with them being 9-0-0 and ranked 6th in the D-II poll.

I don't think there can be a true state champion of South Carolina till the Tiggers, Pals and Cocks stop dodging the mighty Rifles!

willydonc · Oct 1, 2002

Originally posted by Sandon Mibut
Hey man, what about South Carolina-Spartanburg? How come they don't even get a mention? They might be the best team in the state, what with them being 9-0-0 and ranked 6th in the D-II poll.

I don't think there can be a true state champion of South Carolina till the Tiggers, Pals and Cocks stop dodging the mighty Rifles!
Click to expand...

If you can get the MTB to play at halftime I might make a trip down south to support 'em.

soccerclassic · Oct 1, 2002

The Real Deal ....

Well.... lets say that CU x USC is one of the most exciting game in College Soccer ... Specially this year with the Gamecocks overconfident and the Tigers on fire !! I don't even know what to say about this game in 5 years watching college soccer I have not seen a game as intense as this one ....

But here is my take on what could happen this weekend .... USC is on the regrouping process after a terrible loss so they are going to come out 100 mph but then the Tigers are going to grab the chicken but the throat and choke like they have never seen before ... Final score CU 3 x USC 1 ...
Westfield 2 goals ...... he is unstopable right now !!!!

FIXXXER what do you think? I have not heard your strong opinion quite yet?

CU Tennis Star · Oct 2, 2002

Just kind of curious about injuries here. Do they occur more often during this game? Are players really gunning to take people out just because of this rivalry? Any examples from previous games between the two?

FIXXXER · Oct 2, 2002

Re: The Real Deal ....

Originally posted by soccerclassic
Well.... lets say that CU x USC is one of the most exciting game in College Soccer ... Specially this year with the Gamecocks overconfident and the Tigers on fire !! I don't even know what to say about this game in 5 years watching college soccer I have not seen a game as intense as this one ....

But here is my take on what could happen this weekend .... USC is on the regrouping process after a terrible loss so they are going to come out 100 mph but then the Tigers are going to grab the chicken but the throat and choke like they have never seen before ... Final score CU 3 x USC 1 ...
Westfield 2 goals ...... he is unstopable right now !!!!

FIXXXER what do you think? I have not heard your strong opinion quite yet?
Click to expand...

Clemson 3-0. You are right, Dimelon is on fire and confident. They have a wealth of other players that always seem to get up for this game. I think they will be able to dictate the play through their midfield. Look for Kenny Cutler to have a big game and set the pace for his squad. I think the MVP of this one will be Oskar Bringsved, Clemson's most underrated player at defensive midfield. Then of course behind him you have Ricky Lewis, who is a legitimate all american. Chase Hilgenbrink, left sided player and Nick Rivera, an especially couragous player. We've yet to mention Fabio Tambosi who is relaxed and handing out assists like they are government cheese. Paul Souders is coming off a good weekend as is Steven Rhyne. Clemson just has too many weapons for the Gamecocks to be able to handle. I'm sure that USC will come out on fire, but after the first 15 minutes will become really frustrated. If they don't get something really early, it's going to be a really long 90 minutes for them.

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the USC website will be web casting the game live - which is good for all of us fans that can't make the trip.

FIXXXER · Oct 2, 2002

Originally posted by CU Tennis Star
Just kind of curious about injuries here. Do they occur more often during this game? Are players really gunning to take people out just because of this rivalry? Any examples from previous games between the two?
Click to expand...

This is always a physical game. Clemson, under Trevor Adair, prides itself on being a very "hard" team and getting "stuck in." Emotions always run high in this. You could make a 20 minute highlight film just off tackles from this game over the past few years. There have been a couple of injuries in this one, but I don't remember anything substantial due to dirty play.

Best example - 1998 NCAA's in Columbia. A Clemson defender went in, cleanly, on a USC midfielder so hard it cleared both benches. It happened right in front of the Clemson bench and it took Berson all of about 2 seconds to get down there - took 5 minutes to resume play. No foul was called and rightly not, but it was a violent tackle, a classic. Consequently, the USC player laid there, rolled around, hollered, screamed, played dead - then went back in the game shortly thereafter.

CelticSupporter · Oct 2, 2002

curious....what's the relationship between Berson and Adair?

FIXXXER · Oct 2, 2002

Don't know

I've never heard anything about this, good question. I imagine that off the field that they are probably good friends. He spent 9 seasons at USC before moving to Brown, so obviously Berson must have thought a lot of him to keep him there 9 years. I'm sure they both find it tough coaching against one another now, especially as in state rivals with top programss. From what I hear, they are both extremely competitive. I don't think they've had any major run-ins during any games. They'd be a great question for a reporter to ask, although I'd doubt you'd get anything other than a politically correct answer...

CelticSupporter · Oct 2, 2002

curious again.......what's the relationship between Berson and Doug Allison at Furman?

Fixxxer...thanks for the insight

soccercocks12 · Oct 2, 2002

Fixxxer must have no life

Hey Fixxer do you have a life? B/C you think you know so much about the game of soccer. Where have you played, what have you done with your life, your just a nobody posting reply's on the internet

soccerclassic · Oct 2, 2002

Re: Fixxxer must have no life

Originally posted by soccercocks12
Hey Fixxer do you have a life? B/C you think you know so much about the game of soccer. Where have you played, what have you done with your life, your just a nobody posting reply's on the internet
Click to expand...

Wait a minute ... first of all, easy there big "soccercock12" I mean from your reaction you must be a frustated soccer player that has never beaten Clemson ... so you must chill out and not take all your frustation out on a loyal soccer fan. I don't think that your questions are appropriate for this post.

Also, i don't think that its none of our business what one does for living or did ... but we all here see that FIXXXER has never been rude or unethical towards anyone in this post .... and as i see you must not have much to do with your life as well since you have time to read and reply to almost every post that is written in this site. ....

Anyway ... my intention here is not to offend anyone but we just need to be a little careful with what we say because FIXXXER has been a loyal soccer fan and provided all of us with great inputs and tons of valid information. Unlike some frustated Gamecock fan that has not been able to see their team beat the GREAT TIGERS even at home

FIXXER well done !! and all the other loyal soccer fans like us .... lets keep it clean!

JBlazini24 · Oct 2, 2002

Bad news for USC: Transfer forward Ricky Quest has left the team for "personal reasons."

I don't know the story behind it yet, but this can't be good for the team's focus heading in to such a crucial game. And Quest's pace and skill will be surely missed by the Gamecocks, who needed someone unpredictable in attack.

The worst thing that could happen to a team. I'm really worried now.

Has anyone else heard anything about Quest's motive for leaving? Perhaps soccerclassic has a conspiracy theory about Berson?

Crapola.

And FIXXXER, it's impossible to get anything BUT politically correct answers from Berson. I look forward to hearing some tomorrow about Quest.

Sandon Mibut · Oct 2, 2002

Well, the Quest situation is certainly an interesting, and disapointing, twist.

Quest was a a 2-time JuCo player of the year and had gotten off to a good start at SC.

I guess he could have been homesick or missed his honey back in NY or found the classload too tough or been overwhelmed by a big school.

I hope he straightens things out and continues to play the game at a high-level somewhere.

In the meantine, this certainly hurts the Cocks. From the people I talked to that saw SC play this year, Quest created space for Jordan Quinn and prevented teams from marking Quinn too tightly. Obviously, that won't be the case now and I think Quest's leaving will have a negative impact on Quinn.

As for the Clemson game, I see Trevor putting a big body like Nick Rivera or Brett Branan on Quinn and letting the rest of the D clean up anything else.

While upsets are certainly possible, especially in a big rivalry game like this one, I'd have to say that Clemson would have to be considered the favorite now.

bestsoccerplaya7 · Oct 2, 2002

SoccerCocks12

SoccerCocks12 is right. Fixxer you're always online, no one else has posted nearly as many posts as you. SoccerClassic lay off of SoccerCocks12, he knows what he is talking about. The cocks are better than ever and from what i hear they are looking forward to whipping the tigers.

Anyways, there are a few people on here that think they know everything about soccer. Nobody knows what the outcome will be this Sunday not even me. All I know is that it will be a great game. Actually no. I know that the cocks will win on Sunday. The tigers are good, but the cocks are really pumped up for this game and WILL NOT settle for anything less than a win.

SoccerCocks12 keep supporting the cocks because in the end they will be victorious. Cocks 2 CU 1. Cocks get revenge this year and no b.s.

FIXXXER · Oct 3, 2002

Originally posted by CelticSupporter
curious again.......what's the relationship between Berson and Doug Allison at Furman?

Fixxxer...thanks for the insight
Click to expand...

I have even less of a clue about this one. I know some people that are friends with Allison and that always tell me that he is a top notch, first class guy. Never heard a cross word about him. My experience from going to Furman games is that he complains (whines) a bit too much. It's actually pretty entertaining, though, b/c now the entire home side behind him argues and whines at every whistle along with him.

It's got to be tough on Berson to have 2 former assistants that now how more prestigous programs than him. Ultimately, I think it's to his credit, but I'm not so sure he would see it like that.

comettiger · Oct 3, 2002

Originally posted by FIXXXER

I have even less of a clue about this one. I know some people that are friends with Allison and that always tell me that he is a top notch, first class guy. Never heard a cross word about him. My experience from going to Furman games is that he complains (whines) a bit too much. It's actually pretty entertaining, though, b/c now the entire home side behind him argues and whines at every whistle along with him.

It's got to be tough on Berson to have 2 former assistants that now how more prestigous programs than him. Ultimately, I think it's to his credit, but I'm not so sure he would see it like that.
Click to expand...

FIXXXER, you are dead on about the fans from Furman. I was at the Clemson tournament this weekend and watched both Furman games. Every tackle that was made by the opposing team would bring cries from the stands for red cards. It becomes annoying after awhile.