South-Carolina

Oklahoma-South Carolina GameDay Preview: X-Factors

Published

3 months ago

October 19, 2024

Oklahoma-South Carolina GameDay Preview: X-Factors

Earlier in the week, I wrote about how Oklahoma has pretty much fallen apart after the Texas game in two years under Brent Venables. While his predecessors Bob Stoops and Lincoln Riley actually coached some of their best football in the second half of the season and always — always — avoided a letdown after the Red River Rivalry (OU is 24-1 in games immediately following their return from Dallas, with the only loss coming in 2014), Venables’ teams — 2-0 the week after Texas — were 7-7 post-Texas for the second half of the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Forget Texas, and play like the future of the program depends on it. Because it might.

— John E. Hoover

The Sooners have to start fast against South Carolina for a number of reasons. Digging out of an early hole is a bad recipe for a struggling offense, but there’s another factor that could make things awkward in Norman. Oklahoma fans are used to historic offenses. They’ve got one this year — historically bad. The groans and boo’s were audible in OU’s loss to Tennessee, and patience is running thin around the fanbase. Brent Venables pointed out this week that South Carolina has struggled on the road under Shane Beamer in the past. If OU doesn’t put some points on the board early, it could be the home team in crimson that draws the ire of the crowd, not the visitors, which won’t help a young group that is struggling to move the football.

— Ryan Chapman

The defense is the offense’s best asset right now for the Sooners. Long drives will be difficult for OU to produce against this defense, or any defense for that matter right now. If the Sooners score enough points to win this one, it’s because the defense put them in position to, stole the momentum at times and maybe even put points on the board itself.

— Dekota Gregory

The scoreboard and response to Oklahoma’s (admittedly miserable) 34-3 loss to Texas on Saturday concealed one truth: For about a quarter-and-a-half, the Sooners’ offense was serviceable. The same was true for the Sooners defense. Michael Hawkins’ fumble turned a 14-3 deficit (which could have just as easily been 14-10) into a three-score football game, and while Taylor Tatum’s fumble on the very next offensive snap didn’t yield a Longhorns score, it also ensured the Sooners wouldn’t. Good on Venables for affirming his trust in both, but let that not bury the fact that turnovers are king in college football. Every play is meaningful, but they’re especially meaningful when you can see the end zone over the horizon. Avoiding these perils could have as dramatic an effect on Saturday’s outcome.

— Bryce McKinnis

Oklahoma’s defense didn’t play its best game in Dallas, but that was partly due to the offense’s dysfunction. The defense came away with three stops in a row in the first quarter, giving the offense solid field position all three times. The Sooners’ offense was only able to manage three points total. After a pair of OU fumbles, the defense turned sloppy. It felt like the unit got dejected and lost control of the game from that point on. It’s clear what this Oklahoma defense is capable of — they have shown flashes all season long. For OU to have a chance against South Carolina, and down the stretch, the defensive unit can’t be bothered by what the offense does, or doesn’t do. Oklahoma’s defense must stay focused throughout the course of the game and can’t get discouraged by the other side of the ball coughing up great opportunities.

— Ross Lovelace

Oklahoma hasn’t had much success on offense in 2024 outside of a 51-point performance against Temple to start the season. Virtually every position group on the offensive side of the ball has struggled, and Seth Littrell’s play calling has resulted in former OU players (Daniel Brooks and Zack Sanchez, just to name a few) and fans alike questioning whether the Sooners’ offensive coordinator is fit for the job. In order to move the ball against a solid South Carolina defense, Oklahoma will have to find some sort of offensive identity in practice leading up to its matchup with the Gamecocks.

— Randall Sweet

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South-Carolina

Oak Lawn semi driver made bomb threat that shut down South Carolina interstate: police

Published

29 minutes ago

January 4, 2025

Press Room

Oak Lawn semi driver made bomb threat that shut down South Carolina interstate: police

A truck driver from suburban Oak Lawn was charged after a bomb threat led authorities to shut down a South Carolina interstate for hours, law enforcement said.

Ahmad Jamal Khamees Alhendi, 28, was charged with breach of peace of high and aggravated nature, conveying false information about a bomb threat and no vehicle license.

At around 2:45 p.m. on Thursday, a South Carolina State Transport Police officer pulled over a tractor-trailer on Interstate 85 in Greenville County due to a missing license plate, WYFF, the NBC affiliate in Greenville, South Carolina, reported. During the stop, the driver, identified as Alhendi, indicated there was an explosive device inside the vehicle, officials said.

All lanes of the highway were shut down while law enforcement investigated the threat.

Following the incident, Alhendi was placed on a detainer by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Alhendi failed to comply with the terms of his legal admittance and now has a hearing scheduled for Aug. 6, 2026, before an immigration judge, WYFF reported.

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South-Carolina

South Carolina star accepts invitation to 100th Shrine Bowl

Published

9 hours ago

January 3, 2025

Press Room

South Carolina star accepts invitation to 100th Shrine Bowl

South Carolina running back Rocket Sanders has accepted an invitation to play in the 100th East-West Shrine Bowl. The Shrine Bowl announced the news on social media.

The East-West Shrine Bowl gives seniors the opportunity to perform in an all-star showcase environment. Practices, combines, and other professional evaluations will help players like Sanders while they prepare for the NFL Draft.

Sanders has earned NFL Draft projections following his strong senior season. Now, at the East-West Shrine Bowl, he will have the opportunity to perform in front of professional scouts, coaches, and decision-makers. Dallas’ AT&T Stadium will host the January 30th exhibition.

He joins fellow Gamecock NFL Draft-hopeful Kai Kroeger as South Carolina alums participating in the Shrine Bowl. Several other USC seniors with professional aspirations will play in other all-star showcases.

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In just one year with the Gamecocks, Sanders left a mark. He brought stability and big-play ability to a running game that was the worst in school history the previous season. His rushing totals were the highest in garnet and black since Kevin Harris’ SEC-leading 2020 campaign.

An All-SEC performer this fall, Sanders posted just under 1200 yards of offense and 13 touchdowns despite missing the Citrus Bowl, most of the Akron contest, and parts of the Ole Miss game. He also made one of the best run-after-catch plays in Gamecock history in the team’s last-minute win over the Missouri Tigers in the Mayor’s Cup.

Sanders’ NFL Draft future is difficult to read because of the position he plays. Outside of the top few running backs, the NFL often doesn’t use high draft picks on ball carriers. Because of that, Sanders’ draft grades have been all over the place. A strong showing at the East-West Shrine Bowl would help solidify his place for next April.

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South-Carolina

South Carolina State visits Hobbs and Morgan State

Published

19 hours ago

January 3, 2025

Press Room

Ohio State’s Michael Adedokun, North Carolina’s Kate Faasse win Hermann Trophy

Associated Press

South Carolina State Bulldogs (6-9) at Morgan State Bears (6-10)

Baltimore; Saturday, 4 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Morgan State takes on South Carolina State after Kameron Hobbs scored 25 points in Morgan State’s 90-68 loss to the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

The Bears have gone 6-2 at home. Morgan State is second in the MEAC in rebounding averaging 32.9 rebounds. Daniel Akitoby paces the Bears with 6.2 boards.

The Bulldogs are 2-8 on the road. South Carolina State is second in the MEAC giving up 69.7 points while holding opponents to 44.0% shooting.

Morgan State makes 49.9% of its shots from the field this season, which is 5.9 percentage points higher than South Carolina State has allowed to its opponents (44.0%). South Carolina State averages 6.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.3 fewer made shots on average than the 8.0 per game Morgan State allows.

The Bears and Bulldogs face off Saturday for the first time in MEAC play this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Akitoby is averaging 7.5 points and 6.2 rebounds for the Bears.

Drayton Jones is averaging 12.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for the Bulldogs.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bears: 3-7, averaging 81.4 points, 32.8 rebounds, 15.4 assists, 7.6 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 49.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 85.1 points per game.

Bulldogs: 4-6, averaging 70.6 points, 29.2 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 8.2 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 43.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 71.1 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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