Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. ó Matthew Stafford remembers the frustration most of all. Georgia’s quarterback couldn’t have realized then the true cost the Bulldogs would pay for their 16-12 loss to South Carolina last year.
One touchdown in their SEC opener, Stafford knows now, and it would’ve been the Bulldogs in the SEC title game with a chance to go on to the national title.
Instead, the hottest team at the end of last season was left wondering what happened back in September.
It’s a regret the second-ranked Bulldogs (2-0) don’t want this season when they face South Carolina (1-1, 0-1 SEC) today.
Stafford was a rising sophomore a year ago, ready to lead then No. 11 Georgia into the SEC race. But he was out of synch most of the way against the unranked Gamecocks, the Bulldogs going without a touchdown for first time in six seasons before a stunned Sanford Stadium crowd.
The Gamecocks are struggling to pull out of a five-game SEC losing streak, the longest of coach Steve Spurrier’s career. They lost their second straight game to Vanderbilt, 24-17, last week.
Spurrier can’t find a consistent quarterback or an offense that moves the ball the way he wants. And he’ll probably have to go this week without the group’s best player, all-SEC receiver Kenny McKinley, who missed most of the Vanderbilt game with a right hamstring pull.