Gamecocks want to do more talking with shoulder pads and helmets

LEXINGTON, KY.—South Carolina knew Kentucky was going to come out and lay on the smack talk early and often, and they knew the best option was to ignore it. It was a big enough point of emphasis Javon Kinlaw had to address it this week.

But, like the saying goes, best laid plans tend to go awry.

The Gamecocks were constantly spotted jawing in a 24-10 loss to the Wildcats, something they said needs to stop moving forward.

“We did too much talking,” Kiel Pollard said. “We need to do more talking with our shoulder pads and our helmets and stop the talking after the plays. We were not a smart football team tonight, and that’s very disappointing.”

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Of the Gamecocks’ 11 penalties, two were personal foul penalties and two came as unsportsmanlike conduct violations. The Gamecock defense was flagged for three of those with Aaron Sterling, Keir Thomas and Jaycee Horn all getting booked.

Kentucky wasn’t much better, getting flagged for a couple of personal fouls as well—including a targeting call that got Kash Daniel ejected from the game—but the Gamecocks had way too many self-inflicted wounds defensively.

Of the three penalties that went on the defense, the Wildcats ended up scoring on two of those drives with another ending in the red zone.

“We need to play between the whistles, that’s the bottom line,” Will Muschamp said. “That’s what tough competitors do.”

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But even without being flagged, the Gamecocks were extra chatty after plays and had a few scrums after whistles.

There were a few instances of pushing and shoving once plays were over, and the two teams were locked in a stare down at the end of the half with coaches from both teams having to herd players into the locker room.

Bryson Allen-Williams said after the game he wasn’t going to get into what exactly was said or which team started it, but he knows whatever happens the Gamecocks had to do their best to ignore it.

“You have to understand that a lot of teams are going to try and get you out of your element,” he said. “By getting you out of your element it messes you up. You can’t focus on your play, you can’t focus on your job; you’re worried about the wrong things.”

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This isn’t the first time the extra jawing has happened in a game this season with some words exchanged and pushing coming both against Georgia and last week at Vanderbilt.

Moving forward, the Gamecocks (2-2, 1-2 SEC) are going to try and curb the amount of talking they do in a game because it takes them away from on-field responsibilities.

“We just have to not feed into it,” Steven Montac said. “I wouldn’t say it took away from it, but we could have used that energy in something different and focus on our job.”

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