Gunter: Pep talk for Gamecock fans

A pep talk for disappointed Gamecock fans By Bill Gunter | Contributing writer I try to be as positive as anyone when it comes to South Carolina athletics. At the end of the day, it is just sports, and it is not what defines my life. I have children and other things that are more important than the outcome of a sporting event.

With that said, what a rough year for Gamecock fans.

One of the first things I was told when I got into the sports talk industry was, “do not try to trick your listener into believing something that is simply not happening.” We all know it was a tough stretch from last year’s Belk Bowl through the Clemson game Nov. 30. There were some bright spots but it was a tough year for men’s basketball, baseball and football. Still, one thing I have learned is, you can never give up. A new year is upon us and all we can do is hope for a better year in 2020. There seemed to be a weird stretch of injuries that affected each team. It’s easy to blame someone, but honestly, I do not know how you blame Frank Martin for AJ Lawson rolling his ankle driving for a layup in a tight game against Alabama late in the season. That one play kind of sums up the basketball season. If Lawson does not step on a player’s foot, then I believe the Gamecocks go on to win that game and would have likely won the following game against Missouri. Two more league wins would have given them 13, which I think gets them into the NCAA Tournament. How do you blame Martin for a freak injury like that?

Fast forward to the opening of football season and the injury to quarterback Jake Bentley at the end of the first game. It’s easy to blame Will Muschamp or strength and conditioning coach Jeff Dillman, but I am not sure how they are at fault for something as freakish as a player having a defender fall on his foot.

We will never know just how much that injury affected the 2019 season. Having a senior quarterback with more than 30 starts under his belt would have been entirely different than a true freshman playing against the toughest competition in college football. So what do we do? Well first, I suggest enjoying Christmas with your family. Then, after a lovely Christmas meal, put your garnet and black back on and start pulling like crazy for Gamecock basketball.

Dawn Staley’s team is fun to watch and looks to be a national title contender again, while Martin has one of the most intriguing teams I have seen in a long time. It will be fun to see how far Staley’s team can go and how Martin’s team positions itself come tournament time.

Baseball gets going in February and Gamecock fans are known for their passionate support. The atmosphere at Founders Park is made possible by a loyal fan base, and even in disappointing times, opponents know coming in for a weekend series will not be easy. Then spring football returns and regardless of how disappointed you were in November, maybe you can be excited about the new group of recruits. And in August we will see what the current changes produce for Muschamp and his program.

If you made it this far, I have tried my hardest to give you a pep talk because I truly do get it. It has been a tough year, but if you read this far, you have probably been a Carolina fan for a long time and have seen worse. Now is not the time to give up on the Gamecocks.

Bill Gunter is the co-host of the Early Game on 107.5 The Game in Columbia. Follow him on Twitter @WillGunter.

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