COLUMBIA -- This weekend used to be only about excitement, vigor, the promise of and -- almost every year -- the assuredness that South Carolina was going to have a great season.
That was the staying power of a program that long before it ever won back-to-back national championships, was a model one could set their watch by: Gamecock baseball was going to win its 35-40 games and be in the NCAA Tournament. Guaranteed.
And now this. USC is entering its second season under Paul Mainieri after his first was the worst in program history. The Gamecocks finished 28-29 and a horrid 6-24 in the SEC, missing the postseason for the fifth time in the last 10 tries.
It's been 15 years since the last title, 14 since USC last reached the College World Series. A program that won so much -- and meant so much, as a strong baseball team was usually the tonic for a fan base thirsty to forget lousy football and men's basketball seasons -- is now past the "struggling" tag. The Gamecocks are no longer relevant in the college baseball landscape, and this season begins with two dark clouds hovering -- USC lots its ace pitcher before the season ever started and while it isn't entirely the baseball...
- Log in to post comments
Link