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COLUMBIA It's almost as if Steve Spurrier no longer is an offensive genius.
Until the fourth quarter, when South Carolina finally began to score against a hopelessly overmatched opponent, the Gamecocks moved the ball most effectively when N.C. State had it.
Here comes the Wolfpack. They hike the ball off their quarterback's left leg. The Gamecocks grab it and began their drive on the N.C. State 12. Three plays later, they still are on the 12. The 12 is a good yard line.
They kick a field goal with 20 seconds remaining in the first half.
At the end of the half, they lead 3-0.
In the second half, here comes the Wolfpack again. On the second play from scrimmage, they pass. USC catches it. The Gamecocks begin their drive on the N.C. State 9.
The Gamecocks aren't playing this time. They run for four yards, for two, for two more. On fourth and goal from the one, they bust into the end zone for a 10-0 lead.
South Carolina did beat N.C. State 34-0 Thursday night in a game whose first three quarters were so drab and flawed and boring that you could threaten your kid with it.
As in: It's a school night; go to bed now or you have to watch a replay. Even if the kid stays up, he goes to sleep.
You can look at the final score and be impressed. But the score after three quarters was 13-0. And the Wolfpack was so impossibly inept that when they successfully transferred the ball from center to quarterback I wanted to cheer. Even though there's no cheering in the press box I wanted to cheer.
I love the idea of Spurrier. Once he was an offensive genius. His plays were so innovative and fresh they looked as if they had been diagrammed moments earlier with a stick in the dirt.
Spurrier won an ACC championship with those plays at Duke and, almost as impressively, a national championship at Florida. But until the fourth quarter Thursday, his offense was no better than anybody else's. And I know it is Spurrier's son, Steve Jr., who calls the plays. But they are the father's plays he's calling.
South Carolina quarterback Tommy Beecher's second pass was intercepted. He was picked off again in the first quarter and again in the second. At the half, the Gamecocks had rushed for 36 yards and passed for 66.
They did move in the fourth quarter behind sophomore quarterback Chris Smelley. In an interview a month ago, Spurrier spoke highly about Beecher, but even when he was an offensive genius Spurrier changed quarterbacks as often as sportswriters change complimentary golf shirts.
Maybe the Gamecocks will win with defense. Maybe they'll be one of those teams that stuffs opponents and prevails 13-3. But as last season attests, defense alone doesn't work in the SEC. Points are required.
Football in the Carolinas becomes much more compelling if Spurrier becomes Spurrier again.
I want the legend. All I've seen is the urban myth.
