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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 ...
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 Times sportswriter Greg Auman, who covers USF, will post news and thoughts on the Bulletin and we invite your participation in the comments area.
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Iowa running back Shonn Greene announced on the field after the game that he will enter the NFL Draft.
Posted by: Times Editor | January 01, 2009 at 02:32 PM
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.
Posted by: Rob | January 01, 2009 at 02:02 PM
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.
Posted by: David Weber | January 01, 2009 at 01:48 PM
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
Posted by: Joey Knight | January 01, 2009 at 01:42 PM
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!!!!
Posted by: colt | January 01, 2009 at 01:40 PM
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.
Posted by: Joey Knight | January 01, 2009 at 01:34 PM
Greene has surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark for the 13th time this season.
Posted by: Joey Knight | January 01, 2009 at 01:32 PM
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.
Posted by: Joey Knight | January 01, 2009 at 01:30 PM
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?
Posted by: bulliever | January 01, 2009 at 01:28 PM
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.
Posted by: Joey Knight | January 01, 2009 at 01:24 PM
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.
Posted by: Joey Knight | January 01, 2009 at 01:20 PM
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.
Posted by: Greg Auman | January 01, 2009 at 01:08 PM
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).
Posted by: Joey Knight | January 01, 2009 at 12:58 PM
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
Posted by: Joey Knight | January 01, 2009 at 12:53 PM
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?
Posted by: Greg Auman | January 01, 2009 at 12:20 PM
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.
Posted by: Joey Knight | January 01, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Wow...greg you are gonna be busy explaining all what just happened...
Posted by: bulliever | January 01, 2009 at 12:14 PM
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.
Posted by: Joey Knight | January 01, 2009 at 12:13 PM
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)
Posted by: Joey Knight | January 01, 2009 at 12:04 PM
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 ...
Posted by: Greg Auman | January 01, 2009 at 12:02 PM
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 ...
Posted by: Greg Auman | January 01, 2009 at 12:01 PM
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.
Posted by: Greg Auman | January 01, 2009 at 11:59 AM
The old ball coach is proving his best days are way in the past. Garcia stinks ... I smell a qb change coming.
Posted by: shinypants | January 01, 2009 at 11:57 AM
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.
Posted by: Joey Knight | January 01, 2009 at 11:49 AM
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.
Posted by: Greg Auman | January 01, 2009 at 11:35 AM
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 ...
Posted by: Greg Auman | January 01, 2009 at 11:30 AM
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 ...
Posted by: Greg Auman | January 01, 2009 at 11:29 AM
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.
Posted by: Joey Knight | January 01, 2009 at 11:27 AM
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.
Posted by: Greg Auman | January 01, 2009 at 11:23 AM
Good pass to the other team Garcia!
Posted by: TJ | January 01, 2009 at 11:18 AM
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.
Posted by: Greg Auman | January 01, 2009 at 11:18 AM
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
Posted by: Joey Knight | January 01, 2009 at 11:14 AM
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.
Posted by: Greg Auman | January 01, 2009 at 11:14 AM
Hows the capacity looking right now Greg?
Posted by: Paul Wall | January 01, 2009 at 11:00 AM
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."
Posted by: Joey Knight | January 01, 2009 at 10:57 AM
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.
Posted by: Joey Knight | January 01, 2009 at 10:53 AM