No. 21 Clemson could hand South Carolina coach historic loss

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Steve Spurrier came to South Carolina to make history. With his match against cross-state rival No. 21 Clemson looming, the coach is in line for one milestone he didn't bargain for.

Should the Gamecocks' four-game losing streak continue Saturday night at Williams-Brice Stadium, it would give Spurrier more consecutive losses than he's ever had in his coaching career.

``I've not have a very good two or three weeks,'' Spurrier said.

Earlier this season, the Gamecocks sported a 6-1 record and were discussed as legitimate national championship contenders. Then came a series of struggles for all aspects of the team.

The offense struggled in a 17-6 loss to Vanderbilt. Then the normally solid defense fell apart, letting up 99 points and 1,188 yards of offense in defeats to Arkansas (48-36) and Florida (51-31).

Spurrier has a reputation for plugging up leaks on his teams, but this group seems to befuddle even the head ball coach.

This week, he admitted overstating the Gamecocks' ability to compete for a Southeastern Conference title. Then he had to apologize to his players after telling reporters this week that the team's ``attitude stinks.''

Spurrier said he meant that his players needed a stronger effort on the field. Nevertheless, it was perhaps not the best way to motivate a team that hasn't won since Oct. 13.

South Carolina quarterback Blake Mitchell wasn't sure the Gamecocks even knew about Spurrier's gaffe. He's confident the players will be ready for the rival game.

``The coaches are going to get those guys out there who play with effort and those off the field who don't,'' Mitchell said. ``That's up to the coaches.''

Spurrier and the Gamecocks (6-5) have a chance to accomplish something positive. Spurrier ended a four-game losing streak to Clemson with a 31-28 victory over the Tigers last November.

The Gamecocks have not won consecutive games in the rivalry Clemson leads 63-37-4 since winning three straight from 1967-69.

The Tigers (8-3) may have some difficulty rebounding from a demoralizing 20-17 defeat to Boston College last Saturday night. A win would have sent Clemson to the Atlantic Coast Conference title game next week. Instead, it's coach Tommy Bowden's ninth season leading the Tigers without a championship.

While the chase for the ACC crown is over, Bowden said his players still have much to accomplish. With victories here and in a bowl game, Clemson would win 10 games for the first time since 1990.

``We wanted to beat Boston College,'' Clemson safety Michael Hamlin said. ``But we know what's out there for us.''

The same might not be true for the Gamecocks. If they don't beat Clemson, South Carolina fans might not have the chance to celebrate a bowl berth until next year. South Carolina would have to jockey with other 6-6 teams for low-level postseason slots.

Meanwhile, the team's top defensive back, Captain Munnerlyn, is out with a foot injury suffered against Arkansas three weeks ago.

``We can't worry about the winning and losing. We have to concern ourselves with just playing football at a very high level, which obviously we haven't done,'' Spurrier said.

A Clemson loss would revive talk among some supporters about Bowden's future. Bowden's won six of his previous eight games with South Carolina, once joking with airmen at the McEntire Joint National Guard Station who greeted him with South Carolina's fight song that, ``Every time I hear that song, we win.''

Bowden has three years to go on a deal secured in 2003 soon after Clemson's 63-17 victory at Williams-Brice Stadium.

He said his Tigers have been playing tough all season long and figures he'll see the same thing Saturday night.

``As far as playing with intensity,'' Bowden said. ``We have done that for 11 games.''