Ate 'Em Up Award versus UNC

Where do we even start with this?

As Gamecock fans, we've been built up and let down plenty of times in the past, and every time we say, "this time just felt different."

Coming off of those 2 huge wins last season and returning Spencer and Juice, and getting recruits like Nyck Harbor, this time just felt different.

I'm not going to beat a dead horse, we all saw what took place Saturday. Can it be corrected to keep the momentum of this program in the right direction? I don't have the answers for that.

What I do have the answers for, are who showed up Saturday and played a great game.

Honorable Mentions:

Mitch Jeter - I'm not taking full credit, but Mitch started following Gamecock Eats earlier in the week, and then performed a flawless on-side kick. I'm not saying it was the follow, but I'm not saying it wasn't.

Kajuan Banks - He didn't get a ton of playing time last season, and wasn't even on the 2-deep, but when his number was called he stepped up and made a tremendous pick late in the game to give our Offense another shot.

Debo Williams - Linebacker has been a position of worry/need for a few seasons now, and Debo has show sparks at times in the past. Saturday night, he was playing the fastest I've ever seen, shooting through the line and making huge plays in the backfield. Debo finished the night with a team-leading 14 tackles, with 8 being solo.

Stone Blanton - On the same line with Debo, I thought Stone played a great game. From what I could see, it looked like he had spy duties on Maye a lot of the night, and when he decided to attack, he closed in extremely fast. On one play, it led to a pick.

Xavier Legette - We heard tons and tons of praise this offseason about Legette, and he didn't disappoint. He finished with 9 receptions and 178 yards. If we can get Juice healthy and out of the field, with Legette on the other side (if we can block) this Offense can be really good.

This week is easy. There were definitely some great performances Saturday, but without the determination, the grit, and the job that one guy did, this game would have been even more frustrating for Gamecock fans.

THE WEEK 1 ATE 'EM UP WINNER VERSUS NORTH CAROLINA IS ...

Spencer Rattler