TAMPA, Fla. — South Carolina wide receiver Bryan Edwards was asked a long-winded question about the progress the Gamecocks have made in the past year and the current bowl game situation and the outlook for the future and something else and something else.
Edwards had a more direct response.
“Last year, we were in Birmingham. This year we’re in Tampa,” he said. “I think that just about sums it up.”
And while that statement probably won’t be published on the Birmingham Bowl brochure or appreciated much by civil leaders in that fine Alabama city, it does indeed say everything about what has happened with the Gamecocks this season.
Not many could have predicted a New Year’s Day bowl game.
South Carolina won six games last year, barely bowl eligible, and although providing one of the most entertaining games of the postseason, lost to South Florida in a late-December contest most of the country probably ignored.
This time, though, South Carolina is 8-4, was chosen as part of what is called the New Year’s Six and will take on Michigan (also 8-4) noon Monday in one of the highly visible Jan. 1 games leading up to the national semifinals later in the day: Georgia against Oklahoma in the 5 p.m. Rose Bowl followed at 8:45 p.m. by Clemson against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
“Everybody is watching,” South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp said. “I think that, as much as anything, shows the progress that our program has made in a very short time. … It’s an exciting time to be a Gamecock.”
Michigan, meanwhile, was also a bit of a surprise to be playing in this game. Outback Bowl committee members picked the Wolverines over Michigan State, which is 9-3, went 7-2 in the Big Ten, beat Michigan and is ranked No. 18 while Michigan is not ranked. That didn’t go over too well with some Spartans, who played the Holiday Bowl last week against Washington State.
South Carolina and Michigan both lost their last games against rivals, the Gamecocks to Clemson and the Wolverines to Ohio State. USC had won five of six, the only loss to Georgia, before the 35-10 game Nov. 25 at home against the Tigers.
The best way for the Gamecocks to show their progress would be to win.
“That would mean a lot for our program,” sophomore linebacker T.J. Brunson said. “It would show where we’re headed and what’s in store for us in the future. It’s definitely important.”
South Carolina’s bowl history started 0-8, reaching that mark with loss to Indiana at the 1988 Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn. The breakthrough was under Brad Scott against West Virginia in the 1995 Carquest Bowl in Miami. Then came back-to-back Outback Bowl victories against Ohio State under Lou Holtz. South Carolina has won three bowl games in the past four years, including a return here under Steve Spurrier to beat Michigan in 2013.
“I think it’s always important that you have a positive feel ending the season and the only way you can do that is by winning the game,” Muschamp said. “It creates positive momentum for you in your season as you continue to progress in the right way and that’s what we’re focused on.”
South Carolina is considered to be about a seven-point underdog and that’s OK with Muschamp as well as the players, he said.
“I don’t know that it really matters when it comes to game day,” Muschamp said. “I think our guys understand that. We have respect for Michigan and that program. But it’s all about preparation. That ought to be motivation for everything you do. And we’ve prepared for this game. I like where we are. I like our mindset.
“As far as their approach to practice and how they approach working and understanding the culture of the organization, it’s somewhat of a blue-collar mentality. That’s my mentality. That’s what we want. But this is also a really fun team to be around. We’re going to do special things.”