Programs on the rise meet in Chick-fil-A Bowl
By Bud L. Ellis
When South Carolina and Florida State collide in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on New Year’s Eve at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, it will match up one team led by a legend against another program moving on from a legend.
The Gamecocks of the SEC and the Seminoles of the ACC have been two of the bigger storylines in southern college football this season. No. 20-ranked South Carolina (9-4) finally has reached the upper echelon of the SEC under Steve Spurrier, topping then top-ranked and defending national champion Alabama en route to winning the SEC East for the first time in school history.
Florida State (9-4), which faced an offseason of swirling controversy after showing longtime coach Bobby Bowden the door, thrived in its first season under Jimbo Fisher. The No. 23-ranked Seminoles won the ACC Atlantic Division title in what some thought might be a rebuilding season.
South Carolina brings two of the top skill players in the south to the game in freshman running back Marcus Lattimore (1,198 yards, 17 touchdowns) and sophomore wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (1,387 yards receiving, nine touchdowns). Defensively, South Carolina finished at the top of the SEC in rushing defense and sacks.
Florida State led the country in sacks and gave up just 19.8 points per game. Quarterback Christian Ponder, who did not start in the ACC Championship Game due to an injury, has passed for 2,038 yards and 20 touchdowns. Chris Thompson leads the rushing attack with 699 yards and five touchdowns.
One interesting aspect of the game: it will be just the third time the Gamecocks have played indoors in their history, but their second in a row in the Georgia Dome (after last week’s SEC Championship Game).
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Monday, December 6, 2010 at 5:01 pm by bud
Tags: Alabama Crimson Tide, Alshon Jeffery, Atlantic Coast Conference, Bobby Bowden, Chick-fil-A Bowl news, Chick-fil-A Bowl tickets. Chick-fil-A Bowl schedule, Chris Thompson, Christian Ponder, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Dome, Jimbo Fisher, Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina Gamecocks, Southeastern Conference, Steve Spurrier
