CBS analyst: Muschamp must do well in 'ultimate do-over' with Gamecocks

CBS analyst Rick Neuheisel was the head coach for three Pac-12 programs – Colorado, Washington and UCLA – so he understands the importance of securing another coaching gig and proving your previous employer wrong.

Unfortunately, most head coaches don’t get a second chance - especially with a team in the same conference, let alone the same division – to lead another program at the FBS level.

Will Muschamp beat the odds.

A year after being fired by Florida, Muschamp landed on his feet at South Carolina. Not surprisingly, the move was met with cynicism by the national media, but the bottom line is Muschamp has an opportunity to take the tough lessons he learned at Florida and apply them to the Gamecocks, enhancing his odds of being successful.

“Speaking as a fired football coach, this is a tremendous opportunity," Neuheisel said recently on a teleconference with reporters. “This is the ultimate do-over. He wants to prove Florida was an aberration. For him to get another chance at a Power 5 school, especially in a conference as deep and rich as the SEC is a remarkable achievement by itself. So, it’s really important he do well. If he can get to post-season given where they were a year ago, they will call that a huge success.”

Even though three of Carolina’s first four games are on the road, CBS color analyst Gary Danielson contended the Gamecocks must get off to a good start considering games against Georgia, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Florida and Clemson remain on the schedule.

“The schedule is what South Carolina has to pin their hopes on,” Danielson said. “But they open with three teams (Vanderbilt, Miss. State, East Carolina) they should be able to compete with, but their first three SEC games are all on the road against teams that all think they have to win. That could make this a really long season or a really exciting season. But then it gets a lot tougher after that. It could turn out really bad or it could be a great season for South Carolina.”

Muschamp hired three offensive coordinators in four years at Florida, and the instability hurt the Gators and the quarterback position, Neuheisel said.

It’s a mistake Muschamp can’t afford to make again.

“If he learned anything from his time at Florida, it was lock into a system and get a quarterback that fits that system and let’s go,” Neuheisel said. “Right now, there are other guys with experience. As a defensive-minded coach, Muschamp knows one of the dangers of playing a young guy right away, especially in a situation where he may not have all the tools around him, he can lose his confidence because you’re not willing to give him everything in the whole inventory.”

Neuheisel pointed to Missouri’s Drew Lock as an example of what happens when a coach doesn’t give a quarterback the weapons he needs. After beating the Gamecocks in his debut, Lock struggled for most of the rest of the season, especially against SEC teams.

“I watched him practice last year and I thought he was a good looking freshman quarterback,” Neuheisel said. “After what happened to their starter (Maty Mauk was suspended), he had to go in and play. They probably just gave him a piece of the offense. It got ugly. He is going to have to be a special kind of competitor to put that behind him.”

In part to keep Vanderbilt guessing, Muschamp has declined to name a starting quarterback, maintaining all three candidates (Perry Orth, Brandon McIlwain, Jake Bentley) have enjoyed solid preseason camp. In all likelihood, two quarterbacks will see action in Thursday’s opener.

“It will be interesting to see what Will does with the quarterback position,” Neuheisel said. “I know they have a young guy (Bentley) that might be the future. But it might be safer to go with a guy that has played a little like Perry Orth and have a chance to win that game on defense.

“Will Muschamp must be really careful in deciding if (a young QB) is ready to go out there and play with everything they have to be successful in order to get to six wins and the post-season,” Neuheisel said.

In order to do that, Neuheisel feels Muschamp must ask the Gamecock quarterback to play ‘non-losing offensive football.’

“They don’t have to be a juggernaut, but they can’t turn it over and do the things that help you lose games,” Neuheisel said. “That’s critical. So, whether that’s with a freshman that’s just learning or with somebody who has some experience, that’s a decision Will has to come to terms with.”

Thursday night’s game is critically important to both teams as the Commodores are battling to reach bowl eligibility for the first time under Derek Mason, who enters his third year in Nashville. Beating the Gamecocks could be key for his job security, as well.

“Derek Mason is circling this game as one of the six he can win to get to the post-season,” Neuheisel said. “It’s going to be a whale of an opener. Both teams will try to win that game with their defense. That’s what Will can control and that’s where his personnel is closer to even with the opponent.”

Neuheisel believes the outcome of Carolina’s opener at Vanderbilt depends on which team commits the fewest mistakes, as the Commodores have struggled on offense as well. Does that support Orth as the starting quarterback?

“It might be the senior is prone to make less (mistakes),” Neuheisel said.