Gamecocks Win the East

November 14, 2010 - Posted By: Brett Haynes - Greenville, SC

tags: South Carolina, SEC, college football
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Photo: US Presswire (click to enlarge)

The South Carolina Gamecocks will play for their first SEC title. With a 36-14 win over Florida in The Swamp, USC will play for its first league crown in 18 years of league membership when they face the Tigers of Auburn in the Georgia Dome, December 4th. The Gamecocks won with convincing fashion, leaving little doubt that they are the team most worthy to face the West champ. This win - or rather this season - will long be remembered in Columbia as among the best ever. And there is more to come...

Steve Spurrier has been carried off of this field before, but it used to come from the opposite sideline. Returning to his alma mater and the school he coached to a national title in 1996, Spurrier watched his latest project become a success before the eyes of his Florida friends. His USC team was clearly better than the home team. The feeling had to be incredibly satisfying for a man who does not hide a big ego. Hey, hats off, he did it. He won the division and will play for the SEC championship.

South Carolina used the efforts of sensational freshman running back Marcus Lattimore to build a win that left no doubts. Lattimore had 212 yards on 40 carries (yes, 40) and scored three touchdowns. The Cocks went up 9-7 after one quarter, 15-7 at halftime, 22-7 after three quarters and added another 14 points in the 4th quarter, highlighted by Lattimore's third score with two minutes to go to set off a Gamecock celebration. This was no fluke win.

For Gamecock fans, this has to be the realization of what they have dreamt of since joining the SEC in 1992. In one season, South Carolina has defeated Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida. That is a nice list. They will now get a second shot at Auburn.

The SEC Championship Game appearance also means USC should play in the league's best bowl tie-in after the the BCS - if USC doesn't upset Auburn and go BCSing themselves.