Slow-starting Gamecocks are seeking a first-half fix

When South Carolina’s football team reconvened Sunday in Columbia following Saturday’s 27-14 loss to Mississippi State, coach Will Muschamp had a question for his players.

“We asked the guys, ‘What was it? Was it something on the trip? Something we ate?’ ” Muschamp said. “Tell us.”

Muschamp was searching why his team came out flat for a second game in a row. The Gamecocks have been outscored a combined 34-0 by Vanderbilt and Mississippi State in the first half of their two games this season.

“We couldn’t give him a lot of answers,” junior linebacker Bryson Allen-Williams said.

The Gamecocks (1-1 overall, 1-1 SEC) need those answers before Saturday, when they host East Carolina at 4 p.m. in Williams-Brice Stadium in the first home game of the season.

“I believe a home game is just the kick in the butt we need to get ourselves going,” offensive lineman D.J. Park said.

Muschamp’s looking for a more comprehensive fix to the problem, though. He and his staff reviewed the team’s pregame routines Sunday, but decided the problem is what’s happening after the kickoff rather than before it.

“We’ve really discussed that a lot,” he said. “Everything from what we’re doing during the day to night games and not playing extremely well on the offensive side of the ball. We felt like it was more execution, putting our guys in better spots to be successful, and that’s on us as coaches.”

South Carolina rallied to erase its first deficit and beat Vanderbilt, but couldn’t climb out of the hole against Mississippi State. The Gamecocks are one of nine teams in the country without a first-half point. They’ve been outgained 431 yards to 147 in the first 30 minutes of games this year, and 10 of their 14 first half possessions have failed to gain more than 10 yards.

“We all see it,” offensive lineman Zack Bailey said. “That’s our biggest goal right now, when we get out there, it’s time to go. Don’t wait for later.”

The defense isn’t blameless. Muschamp called his defense “lifeless” in the first half against Mississippi State. South Carolina’s average of 17 points surrendered in the first half ranks 83^rd in the nation.

“It really just comes down on the players, how they approach everything,” defensive end Dante Sawyer said. “The coaches bring a great energy; they bring everything to the table. We have to respond as players to the coaches.”

This isn’t a new problem for the Gamecocks. They haven’t led a game at halftime since the Independence Bowl to end the 2014 season, a string of 14 games.

“We just have to start fast. That’s the bottom line,” senior offensive lineman Mason Zandi said. “We have to hit the practice field fast. In the meeting room, we have to be fast. Come to the building with enthusiasm and excitement to get things done.”

Senior linebacker T.J. Holloman attributed this year’s issues to focus. The Gamecocks have been flagged for 13 penalties this season. Ten of those have come in the first half.

“We have been practicing too hard and too long to go out there and lay an egg like that on the field,” Allen-Williams said. “It was disappointing, but we’re ready to move on.”

This story was originally published September 15, 2016 at 7:43 AM with the headline "Slow-starting Gamecocks are seeking a first-half fix."