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Can we blow out Kent State?

18IsTheMan

18IsTheMan

Heisman
Oct 1, 2014
20,361
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They are pretty bad. They lost to TTU, FSU and OU by a combined 172-24 last year. They beat Merrimack 21-17.

I say it every year and it never happens. This is the kind of game we need to put away in the first half. If we have any designs on being a good team, challenging even to be in the CFP discussion, this a game that will be over at halftime. It seems in Beamer's tenure we have played lesser teams close and then pile it on late for an impressive final score, but it takes a while to get there.

I want to see a blitz in this game. 21-0 at the end of the first quarter. Starters should maybe the play the first series of the 2nd half, but that's it.
 
18IsTheMan

18IsTheMan

Heisman
Oct 1, 2014
20,361
17,293
113
Sirgolfalot said:
Its a scrimmage. Get better and get reps. No need to abuse the poor. Thats a dabo move
Click to expand...

That's a tired line. We here that every year, but I think our fans say that as a pre-emptive defense b/c they know we have not often been able to manhandle these kinds of opponents.

It's also a terrible approach. Take the Nick Saban approach: play your absolute best and execute the same against every opponent. We should not have to go out of our way to blow out Kent State. It should just happen because we are playing our best.
 
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DannyTree1

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in 2024, we opened the season with a 23-19 win over Old Dominion- a team that finished the year with 5 wins.

Longtime gamecock fans know how many times we've made teams that appear to be vastly underpowered look like NFC title contenders.

Can we blow Kent State out? Yes

Will we? 🤷‍♂️
 
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18IsTheMan

18IsTheMan

Heisman
Oct 1, 2014
20,361
17,293
113
DannyTree1 said:
in 2024, we opened the season with a 23-19 win over Old Dominion- a team that finished the year with 5 wins.

Longtime gamecock fans know how many times we've made teams that appear to be vastly underpowered look like NFC title contenders.

Can we blow Kent State out? Yes

Will we? 🤷‍♂️
Click to expand...

We were extremely fortunate to even win that ODU game. Of course, many will point out the fact that we went on to have a very good season as evidence that such games don't really matter.

Reality is, as a pattern, good teams take care of business in games like this.
 
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A

adcoop

All-Conference
Jan 10, 2004
1,825
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DannyTree1 said:
in 2024, we opened the season with a 23-19 win over Old Dominion- a team that finished the year with 5 wins.

Longtime gamecock fans know how many times we've made teams that appear to be vastly underpowered look like NFC title contenders.

Can we blow Kent State out? Yes

Will we? 🤷‍♂️
Click to expand...
I never take too much stock in 1st Games. Get in some rhythm, get the victory, don't get hurt. That second game is usually the tell. For example, we were bad in that Old Dominion game in 2024 and went on to have a pretty good season. In 2025, we were okay in Game 1, but were really bad against SC State in Game 2. I was worried after that game, because our offense should have looked better against an FCS opponent by Game 2. We went on to have a disappointing season.
 
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Lurker123

Lurker123

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18IsTheMan said:
They are pretty bad. They lost to TTU, FSU and OU by a combined 172-24 last year. They beat Merrimack 21-17.

I say it every year and it never happens. This is the kind of game we need to put away in the first half. If we have any designs on being a good team, challenging even to be in the CFP discussion, this a game that will be over at halftime. It seems in Beamer's tenure we have played lesser teams close and then pile it on late for an impressive final score, but it takes a while to get there.

I want to see a blitz in this game. 21-0 at the end of the first quarter. Starters should maybe the play the first series of the 2nd half, but that's it.
Click to expand...


It sure would be nice to play with a comfortable lead. We should, but I dont think we will.
 
P

Piscis

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2001
25,562
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I foresee a pretty easy win. This should be a physical mismatch.
 
92Pony

92Pony

Joined Jan 18, 2011
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"Kent St. RB and QB in early Heisman discussion after week 1 performances."


Kendall Briles gives me guarded hope. We *need* to put up over 50pts on our side of the scoreboard or it's a disappointment for me.
 
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I4CtheFuture

I4CtheFuture

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Piscis said:
I foresee a pretty easy win. This should be a physical mismatch.
Click to expand...
Agreed. Especially considering all the off season hires / new coaches.

Those new coaches are not idiots. They know Beamer is on the hot seat and they're going to want to see crisp, sharpness from the O and especially the O line.

If we look mediocre, it will really be a huge disappointment and a sign of very little progress.
 
S

Skuddy

All-Conference
Feb 23, 2022
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92Pony said:
"Kent St. RB and QB in early Heisman discussion after week 1 performances."


Kendall Briles gives me guarded hope. We *need* to put up over 50pts on our side of the scoreboard or it's a disappointment for me.
Click to expand...
And not defensive or special teams points to get there.
 
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Uscg1984

Uscg1984

All-Conference
Mar 9, 2006
2,620
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As much as I would love for this game to be safely over at halftime, I could certainly see something like a 38 - 14 victory where we get a couple of late touchdowns to make the victory look bigger than it really was.

I don't think an ugly performance in the first game is automatically a sign that we're going to have a tough season, but I would certainly hope that a supposedly improved O-line blows a lot of holes through Kent State for our rbs and/or Sellers to exploit.
 
Freddie.B.Cocky

Freddie.B.Cocky

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Jul 19, 2002
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18IsTheMan said:
They are pretty bad. They lost to TTU, FSU and OU by a combined 172-24 last year. They beat Merrimack 21-17.

I say it every year and it never happens. This is the kind of game we need to put away in the first half. If we have any designs on being a good team, challenging even to be in the CFP discussion, this a game that will be over at halftime. It seems in Beamer's tenure we have played lesser teams close and then pile it on late for an impressive final score, but it takes a while to get there.

I want to see a blitz in this game. 21-0 at the end of the first quarter. Starters should maybe the play the first series of the 2nd half, but that's it.
Click to expand...
If we can't we are hurting.
 
C

cocksx5

Redshirt
Aug 16, 2026
46
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even the 84 team beat citadel on td in last few minutes. our victory vs vt last yr was dreadfully boring and certainly unimpressive. I agree ,we never seem to have it all together in opening games.
 
K

kidrobinski

All-Conference
Jul 27, 2004
1,466
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18IsTheMan said:
That's a tired line. We here that every year, but I think our fans say that as a pre-emptive defense b/c they know we have not often been able to manhandle these kinds of opponents.

It's also a terrible approach. Take the Nick Saban approach: play your absolute best and execute the same against every opponent. We should not have to go out of our way to blow out Kent State. It should just happen because we are playing our best.
Click to expand...
I get it, but Saban had depth we can only wish for; five stars on the three deep.

I agree with @adcoop here. In the fabled 84 season we needed a late trick play to squeak by the citadel in the opener; in 85 we came in as the toast of the town, blew out the citadel in the opener, squeaked by app state in game 2, then got dog walked by Michigan for the picture of the rest of the season.

Get reps. Execute tight and clean. Stay healthy. Show the opponent some respect. Move on to the next game.
 
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Lurker123

Lurker123

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kidrobinski said:
I get it, but Saban had depth we can only wish for; five stars on the three deep.

I agree with @adcoop here. In the fabled 84 season we needed a late trick play to squeak by the citadel; in 85 we came in as the toast of the town, blew out the citadel in the opener, squeaked by app state in game 2, then got dog walked by Michigan for the picture of the rest of the season.

Get reps. Execute tight and clean. Stay healthy. Show the opponent some respect. Move on to the next game.
Click to expand...


As 18 mentioned, the ODU game too. From a couple years ago.

I would certainly like a comfortable lead to allow us to get more people in. But also know we can flounder around and keep it closer than is comfortable.

Any win will be fine.
 
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kidrobinski

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Lurker123 said:
I would certainly like a comfortable lead to allow us to get more people in. But also know we can flounder around and keep it closer than is comfortable.

Any win will be fine.
Click to expand...
We certainly have demonstrated a consistent habit of playing to the level of a given opponent. There’s some heavy expectations and hopes on this program right now and they’re going to be feeling it come game day, cupcake or not. Going to be interesting.
 
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Lurker123

Lurker123

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kidrobinski said:
We certainly have demonstrated a consistent habit of playing to the level of a given opponent. There’s some heavy expectations and hopes on this program right now and they’re going to be feeling it come game day, cupcake or not. Going to be interesting.
Click to expand...

Yes, I freely admit one of my failings is taking some teams too lightly. Not some openers like UNC, or VA Tech. But the lower division ones, or really small G5 schools.

There is an apparent undeserved feeling that our talent should just outmatch them.
 
P

Piscis

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2001
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I foresee the new OC and OL getting a nice head start on offensive stats with the first two games. We can coast on those two games for four to six weeks into the season. When you start the season with 100 points and 1000 yds in the first two games, your averages hold up pretty well even if you are average as unsalted grits in the next few games.

With the well known love of stats by SC fans, the new OC and OL will be the toast of the town until halfway through the season at least. I can easily see a 4-1 start to the season with some nice numbers put up. The playoff talk will be hot and heavy by the UF game.
 
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Gr8spur

Gr8spur

Joined Sep 16, 2003
Sep 16, 2003
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Right now, the weather report is not so good. It's going to be very hot and humid. I just hope the boys on both sides survive the heat.
 
S

Skuddy

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As long as Kent State doesn't have a good quarterback, we should be ok. Seems like when the lesser teams are good at that position, we struggle.
 
Uscg1984

Uscg1984

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Gr8spur said:
Right now, the weather report is not so good. It's going to be very hot and humid. I just hope the boys on both sides survive the heat.
Click to expand...
Couldn't we assume that would be the forecast once the date was announced?
 
C

Cockofdawn

Senior
Aug 16, 2009
682
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A comfortable win, Get a lot of players Field time, If in anyway you can get Stewart on the field for a few plays DO IT, Dont make him wait till he needs to go Full out in game 3!! I am happy with something like a 35-10 game..
 
Gr8spur

Gr8spur

Joined Sep 16, 2003
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Uscg1984 said:
Couldn't we assume that would be the forecast once the date was announced?
Click to expand...
True! I remember going to some really hot games back in the day. Haven’t been to a game in a long time. Used to get sunburned on the early September games.
 
G

gamecox4982

Senior
Jan 21, 2022
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You have a minor league NFL team vs a real College football team…. If they don’t Beamer and staff should be fired before end of game.
 
SCMunnerlyn1

SCMunnerlyn1

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Aug 6, 2026
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If you can score 100 you score 100. That doesn't mean leave your starters in. But run your offense and play each drive with intensity.
 
V

Viennacock

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will110 said:
Kent State is terrible. This game is going to be a bloodbath.
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You just never know. Kent State is a program that has put more players in the hall of fame than the Gamecocks. With NIL and the transfer portal, you can't simply look at last year. Should be an easy win but i'll be pulling hard for Kent State!
 
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will110

will110

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Viennacock said:
You just never know. Kent State is a program that has put more players in the hall of fame than the Gamecocks. With NIL and the transfer portal, you can't simply look at last year. Should be an easy win but i'll be pulling hard for Kent State!
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NIL and the transfer portal is why Kent State has zero chance. Hall of famers in the past won't help them next week.
 
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Viennacock

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will110 said:
NIL and the transfer portal is why Kent State has zero chance. Hall of famers in the past won't help them next week.
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Just as The Citadel had zero chance, right? Agree, they'll likely get blown out but...

I find it pretty amazing that Kent State has pretty much always struggled in football, yet they have some very recognizable names that have played there. Holtz, Saban, Lambert and Gates to name a few.
 
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