Outback live blog: Greene, Iowa win 31-10

We'll come back with links to stories in Friday's newspaper, but it's a wrap here at Raymond James Stadium, with running back Shonn Greene leading Iowa to an easy 31-10 victory against South Carolina in the Outback Bowl. Greene, named the game MVP after rushing for 121 yards and three touchdowns, said after the game he's skipping his senior year to enter the NFL Draft ...

Comments

[Times Editor]

Iowa running back Shonn Greene announced on the field after the game that he will enter the NFL Draft.

[Rob]

How could they abuse that rooster like that! Does the head coach know this is going on? I think the NCAA should investigate mascot abuse.

[David Weber]

GA, after witnessing Pitt's amazing inability to come up with a single decent play on offense, I'm a little less upset with Gregory. Gregory is bad, but at least he designed an offense to take advantage of the talent on hand. Cavanaugh (one of the worst NFL offensive coordinators in history as well) kept calling fade routes into the wind with a terrible QB. Gregory would have just run Grothe straight into two 300 pound DTs, gaining a yard and twisting his ankle, but at least Grothe would have had a slight chance to turn it into a positive play.

As long as the failed NFL guys are running Pitt, that program will never get past this level. Cavanaugh is the least imaginative coordinator in the country. All of the top programs have great playcalling- notice how UF always calls the Harvin reverse at the exact right moment.

[Joey Knight]

Don't count out the 'Cocks yet (And please excuse our smirk). Smelley, facing a blitz, finds tight end Jared Cook in the middle of the end zone on third-and-goal from the 10. The score caps a six-play, 68-yard drive spanning 1:29.

Iowa 31, USC 7

[colt]

Why doesnt Garcia go to Miami and Marve goes to South Carolina... or maybe they could go to a JC school and learn the game... very sad to see these to former great High School QB`s fall so far!!!!

[Joey Knight]

Some observations through three quarters: Ignore the USC turnovers, and Iowa still appears far more efficient offensively. The Hawkeyes are mixing the run and pass well, excelling in play-action. Their receivers, for the most part, are getting open at will. Defensively, their secondary is smothering the 'Cocks receivers. USC's quarterbacks are getting decent coverage, but can find no one open downfield, forcing them to flee the pocket.

[Joey Knight]

Greene has surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark for the 13th time this season.

[Joey Knight]

You Hawkeyes and Gamecocks fans out there in the blogosphere might be interested to know bowl representatives from the Outback, Outback, Outback and Outback are in attendance today.

By the way, the Hawkeyes have just scored again, on Greene's 11-yard TD run. Iowa, 31-0.

[bulliever]

Is Iowa really this good....or is USC that bad ?
I truely thought that USC would win this...what happened to the ole ball coach?

[Joey Knight]

It's now appearing Spurrier is in danger of being shut out for the second time in his USC tenure. The last time it happened: an 18-0 loss to Georgia in 2006, a span of 36 games. Spurrier has been shut out only twice in his college career, which spans 19 seasons and 233 games. As a rookie coach at Duke in '87, the Blue Devils lost 7-0 to Rutgers.

[Joey Knight]

In what ideally typifies South Carolina's day, Gamecocks kicker Ryan Succop converts a 46-yard field goal that MIGHT have been good from 46 and a half. However, the 'Cocks are whistled for having six men on the line of scrimmage and Succop's ensuing 51-yard try misses badly.

[Greg Auman]

Here's a twist: an Iowa field goal. Three shots from the 1-yard line and South Carolina held, so it's a Daniel Murray kick and a 24-0 lead for Iowa.

Chris Smelley needed only one play for South Carolina's fifth turnover. Wasn't his fault, as his receiver fumbled.

[Joey Knight]

Sophomore QB Chris Smelley replaces Garcia to start the second half. Smelley hits Moe Brown on a short pass on the half's first play, but he fumbles. Carolina has more turnovers (five) than third-down conversions (two).

[Joey Knight]

Some first-half stats:

Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi: 9-15, 109 yards, one TD, two INTs

Iowa RB Shonn Greene: 18 carries, 77 yards, two TDs

South Carolina as a team: 11 carries, 37 yards.

Stephen Garcia: 9-18, 79 yards, three INTs

[Greg Auman]

Just back-to-back turnovers -- Iowa followed Garcia's interception with one of its own, with South Carolina getting a pick in the end zone. Alas, the Gamecocks can only punt, so Iowa has the ball on its 30 with 2:05 left in the half. Can the Gamecocks keep them from scoring again?

[Joey Knight]

First sign of the new year that the apocalypse is near: Garcia is still in the game. In other news, John Daly has made tee-totaling his '09 resolution. Okay, the last one's a joke. The first isn't. Garcia's still playing.

[bulliever]

Wow...greg you are gonna be busy explaining all what just happened...

[Joey Knight]

Make that three picks for Garcia. On first-and-10 at the Iowa 43, Garcia is picked by strong safety Tyler Sash for the second time in this game. Sash returns it deep into Gamecocks territory and fumbles, but Iowa recovers. In 26 minutes, Garcia has three INTs and a fumble.

[Joey Knight]

In its last nine-plus quarters, South Carolina has been outscored 108-20.

56-6 vs. Florida
31-14 vs. Clemson
21-0 vs. Iowa (2nd period)

[Greg Auman]

Another Shonn Greene touchdown, this from the 1-yard line, so now it really is 21-0 Iowa, with 8:09 left in the first half. I've got Greene with 64 yards and two scores ...

[Greg Auman]

Check that: Replay has Stanzi being stopped at the 1-yard line, so it's still 14-0, with Iowa at the 1. Check back in like 30 seconds ...

[Greg Auman]

Iowa continues to dominate here, with QB Richard Stanzi scrambling for a 12-yard touchdown to close an 80-yard drive. It's 21-0 Iowa halfway through the second quarter.

[shinypants]

The old ball coach is proving his best days are way in the past. Garcia stinks ... I smell a qb change coming.

[Joey Knight]

Garcia has just committed his third turnover of the game's first 17 minutes. Facing second-and-Carrollwood from the Iowa 37, Garcia, flushed from the pocket, flung one to Jason Barnes down the right side, but Bradley Fletcher stepped in front and picked it off in the end zone. Garcia's numbers: 6-for-9, 55 yards, two picks, one fumble.

[Greg Auman]

South Carolina escapes this turnover without giving up any points, as the Iowa drive stalls at the 28-yard line and Daniel Murray's 45-yard field goal attempt misses wide.

[Greg Auman]

The ruling is upheld, so two turnovers for Garcia in four offensive plays for South Carolina. Iowa could be up three touchdowns before the first quarter is over ...

[Greg Auman]

Second series isn't much better for Stephen Garcia, who fumbles while scrambling, again on the Gamecocks' second play. Iowa recovers, though the play is being reviewed ...

[Joey Knight]

Three hard-bound facts regarding Steve Spurrier: he wears visors, he has an affinity for Tampa, and his teams typically are abysmal at playing from behind.

[Greg Auman]

Iowa took advantage of the turnover, needing five plays to get in the end zone. Shonn Greene gets in on third-and-goal from the 1, making it 14-0 with 4:41 left in the first.

Iowa is 4-for-4 on third downs, and Greene has now scored touchdowns in 12 of Iowa's 13 games this season.

[TJ]

Good pass to the other team Garcia!

[Greg Auman]

Nice homecoming: Jefferson alum Stephen Garcia's first pass for South Carolina was intercepted by safety Tyler Sash and returned to the 18-yard line for Iowa.

[Joey Knight]

Iowa has struck first with a typical Big Ten drive (13 plays, 64 yards, 7:21) capped by Ricky Stanzi's 6-yard TD pass to Trey Stross. Stanzi hit tight end Brandon Myers on third-and-long three times to preserve the drive. Doak Walker Award winner Shonn Greene ran seven times for 25 yards.

Hawkeyes, 7-0

[Greg Auman]

As Joey pointed out, there's plenty of empty red seats, even in the lower levels. I'd say there's about 40,000 people here right now.

[Paul Wall]

Hows the capacity looking right now Greg?

[Joey Knight]

For what it's worth: The ovation Iowa received upon hitting the field (to AC/DC's "Back in Black," no less) was far more thunderous than the one USC got during its trademark entry to the theme of "2001: A Space Odyssey."

[Joey Knight]

Eleven minutes before kickoff, Raymond James Stadium appears roughly 60 percent full. According to the official Outback Bowl Web site, this game hasn't sold fewer than 60,000 tickets since the 2000 contest.