On To The Next One. Unlike past AP No. 8’s, Gamecocks Don’t Falter

September 15, 2012; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks running back Mike Davis (28) runs against the UAB Blazers in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-US PRESSWIRE

The AP No. 8 spot hasn’t been kind to the teams that have held it this season. In their first game with that distinction (and probably only game this year with it), the South Carolina Gamecocks went off on UAB, and probably went up the polls as a result.

That’s the good news.

The bad news? Connor Shaw is hurt again.

All week, “experts” on ESPN and the like will be questioning Marcus Lattimore’s health, because he only rushed for 85 yards (would’ve been more if it weren’t for a bogus block-in-the-back call). Does it matter that he averaged seven yards per carry? Probably not to Mark May and his buddies (Lou Holtz will always have SC’s back, though).

SC’s special teams doesn’t look ready for the big time.

Dylan Thompson looked shaky when he first came into the game, but calmed himself down and threw two touchdown passes before being taken out of the game to make it harder for the Cocks to score 50. One of the TDs was a beautiful 95 yarder to Damier Byrd.

Shaw, besides an early interception that looked like a missed/wrong route by the WR, was pretty good before the injury. He went 8-14 for 107 yards, a TD and an INT.

Overall the Gamecocks went for 500 yards of total offense for the second game in a row. And wouldn’t you know it? The offense will probably be questioned more than anything heading into their second SEC game against Missouri.

A couple other notes:

This tweet on Shaw says it all. I doubt he plays next weekend.

Bruce Ellington, who led all receivers with 5 catches for 98 yards, left the game with a shoulder injury, but says he’s going to play next weekend.

Freshman WR, Shaq Roland caught his first TD of the year and his only pass of the night against UAB.

Freshman RB Mike Davis also scored his first TD, a rush up the middle at the goal line late in the game. He had 84 yards on four carries.

And, of course, the best for last. Steve Spurrier won his 200th game as a head coach in college football last night.