Mail Call August 1st, 2006

Dear Cockfather, I really enjoy the site. Thanks for all you do. How big of a pickup was Travian Robertson?
-Jacyn in Lancaster

Cockfather Illustrated - Jacyn, thanks for the kind words. Getting Travian Robertson last Thursday was HUGE for South Carolina's recruiting momentum. Not only is he a great player, but they took him from arch-rival Clemson. That's right boys and girls, Clemson. After Robertson's last visit to Clemson, from a Clemson point of view, it was a done deal. Every Clemson internet site, every fan, every one of their coaches were convincved that he was going to commit to Clemson. One web site even called it 100 percent guaranteed. Another went on state wide radio and declared Robertson 100% done. They even declared that Robertson had already commited to Clemson. The truth is, that yes, Clemson did lead, but at no time and I repeat, at no time did Robertson commit to Clemson's coaches. Both he, his family, and his high school coach Mark Barnes were adament about that at Travian's press conference. For a Clemson internet guy to claim that he knew for a fact that Travian had committed to Clemson, is pure fantasy. Travian's parents were also adament that Robertson is now 100 percent committed to USC and the recruiting is over. The family and the head coach has contacted the other schools and told them not to call or write becauase the recruiting process is over.

One note to USC fans. You can thank the relentless efforts of new defensive assistant coach Brad Lawing for securing Robertson's commitment. In travian's press conference and subsequent interview, Brad Lawings name was mentioned repeatedly as a major reason why he chose to attend USC. lawing has drawn major criticism from both UNC and Clemosn internet sites for dirty recruiting,a nd they have made very hurtful accusations. I can tell you that Brad Lawing is not only a great recruiter, but a great family man and assistant coach. these accusations leveled at him, only fuel the fire within him to out-coach and out-recruit everyone is the path of USC and an SEC Championship. USC is fortunate to have a man with the character and integrity of Brad Lawing.

Dear Cockfather, I know how disappointed Clemson was to lose Robertson. It was crushing. So my question is, did USC offer Byron McKnight to seal the deal with Travian Robertson?
-Billy in Clemson

Cockfather Illustrated- Billy, certainly it was a big loss for Clemson. They have a huge need at the defensive end position. Outside of Ricky Sapp, Clemson has no one with the speed coming off the edge like Travian Robertson. Phillip Merling is a good player, but lacks the great speed needed to be a player like senior Gaines Adams. In fact, Clemson considered moving Merling inside to defensive tackle, but they have no one else to play his DE position. Jamie Cumbie is not a defensive end, he is more likely to project as an offensive tackle after a red-shirt year. Clemson could have offered both players just like USC, because they do need pass rushers.

To answer your question, Byron McKnight is a player that USC had in summer camp and the defensive coaches were able to see him in action and a really make a good evaluation. McKnight, who stands over 6'4 and weighs 220 pounds, is a bit of an unknown, because he has only played one year of football. Head Coach Mark Barnes believes once schools see McKnight play this season, his offer sheet will increase substantially. This is just a case of being aware of a prospect early, making an evaluation and extending an early offer. Remember last summer when Moe Brown committed to USC after summer camp? Clemson internet sites bashed Brown and called him a "reach". They claimed that USC was desparate to get in-state players and were taking players Clemson would never offer. Well, I think after the shrine bowl last year, everyone knew who Moe Brown was. Tennessee pursued him right up until signing day. McKnight is this year's version of Moe Brown. You have to be happy about a kid that comes to football camp and your coaches get to interact with that player to find out his character, measure his vitals, and really evaluate the player by putting him through the same fundamental drills that all your players have to master. I saw McKnight at prospect camp, and he stands on his own merit. He's tall, lean and exteremely quick. He is a red-shirt prospect, but two years from now, McKnight could be 6'5 270 pounds and playing opposite Robertson just like he does now.

Cockfather, why do the Clemson internet sites go overboard talking about how inferior USC's program is? They say they are not obsessed with USC because they have dominated the series 63-36-4, yet they are always throwing out those numbers and trashing USC. Why can't they just focus on their program and their ACC rivals?
-Lowell in Columbia


Cockfather Illustrated- Lowell, It is a fact that Clemson leads the series 63-36-4. But Clemson's program is not as far ahead of USC's as they would like for you to think. Since 2000, Clemson has entered the USC game with more than 7 wins once. That is all. Most years, Tommy Bowden has enterd that game 5-5 or 6-4 fighting to save his job. Yes, Bowden does own a 6-1 record against USC, but most of those wins have been close, hard fought victories. In 1999, 2000, 2002, and last season, the game was a toss-up. It could have gone either way. When USC won in 2001, the same was true. It was a close game. Only in 2003 and 2004, at the end of the Lou Holtz era, when Holtz had clearly lost all discipline and contol of his program did Clemson decisively defeat Carolina. The fact is that Clemson is a mid-level program that has consistently won 6 or 7 games a year in the seven seasons Bowden has been their coach. They are not Miami, Oklahoma, Southern Cal, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, FSU, or Florida. They are not even Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech has basically owned Clemson over the past decade and been to nine consecutive bowl games. Clemson is just like USC, a program striving to get up there with the big boys.

If you listened to the Clemson websites you wouldn't believe that since 2000 USC had won back-to-back Ouback Bowl Championships, qualified for a bowl game 4 of the 6 years and beaten teams like Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Ohio State, and Clemson. Let me also point out that since 2000 USC has NOT lost to Vaanderbilt or Kentucky. Clemson cannot say the same about ACC bottom dwellers Duke and Wake Forest. Both programs are similar in many respects. Clemson does have the edge from a talent perspective because of Holtz's poor recruiting classes. Coach Spurrier and his staff have recruited well and there is no reason to think that Clemson's dominance will continue. Carolina now has the best head football coach in SEC history outside of a guy named Bryant. Steve Spurrier and staff will succeed in Columbia. Clemson may hold the edge in talent now, but USC can and will close the talent gap. Spurrier is such a superior coach that he will win when the talent is close. We saw that last season with victories over Tennessee and Florida, and a near victory over Georgia. I think most Clemson fans would have to honestly admit that Clemson was very fortunate to have won the game last year.

Dear Cockfather, Coach Spurrier was really convincing when he said the team would be better this year on defense. is this really possible?
Ty in Irmo.

Cockfather Illustrated- Ty, that is certainly the $64,000.00 question entering the season. I have to beleive the offense will be much improved because it is the second year in the system, and Coach Spurrier will have more weapons in his arsenal. Defensively, there are a lot of unknowns that will have to step up if USC's defense is to be respectable. In looking unit by unit, here is my breakdown:

I think the defensive line will be a little bit better. Junior defensive tackle Marque Hall is poised to have a breakout seasson and live up to his prep all-america expectations. Stanley Doughty has lost 15-20 pounds, which has to make him a quicker, more effective player. Nathan Pepper is 285 pounds and is listed ahead of Doughty going into fall camp. Could he be this year's Chris Tucker? USC has not had a defensive tackle with the size of newcomer Kenrick Ellis in my memory. The 6'5 335 pound freshman will probably play 10-15 snaps per game this fall. At defensive end, I think USC will be just as good if not a little bit better. Jordin Lindsey has gained 15 pounds of muscle, which puts him at over 250 pounds. JC transfer Capser Brinkley, 6'3 250 will fit right in at the other end. Ryan Brown will be this years version of Orus Lambert.

At linebacker, USC will be inexperienced, but faster, more athletic, and more talented. JC transfer Jasper Brinkley was a stud in the spring. He is a typical SEC MLB. OLB Marvin Sapp will be a solid, if not a very good player this season. He is in the mold of many of the undersized LB's that schools like Clemson have used very effectively. Dakoda Walker and Gerrod Sinclair will battle it out for the WLB spot, and both should play significant snaps. So, in the final analysis, I believe USC will more efficeient at LB.

In the secondary, USC must replace Jonathan Joseph and Ko Simpson. Carlos Thomas should fill in nicely at CB. Let's face it, Joseph didn't play like a first rounder last year. Ko Simpson did however, and will be sorely missed. I like both Chris Hampton and Brandon Issac, but neither have the play-making ability of Simpson. USC will have to rely more on the front seven to make plays than rely on Simpson to make game saving tackles.

I do think it is possible for USC to be better on defense, but until we see how these inexperienced athletes perform under pressure, the jury is still out. I do believe the scheme will be more fundamentally sound, that USC's defensive unit will be better coached at every position than they were last year due to the changes coach Spurrier made in coaching responsibilities.

Dear Cockfather, How many commitments do you think USC will have prior to the start of the season, and how many do you expect USC to sign in this class?
-David in Columbia

Cockfather Illustrated-David, USC currently has six verbal commitments, not counting 5 star CB prospect Gary Gray. I think USC could enter their season opener with as many as 10 commitments. It is just a matter of when some of the prospects USC holds big leads with can make unoffical visits to campus. USC has several top flight prospects in Florida that could commit at anytime, but they would prefer to wait until they can get up to Columbia and visit campus. Prospects such as Dion Lecorn, Antonio Allen, Jamire Williams, and Matt Clements immediately come to mind. Other prospects that could commit include DE Cortez Myles, FS Arkee Smith, DE Carlos Dunlap, and QB Stephen Garcia.

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