COLUMBIA – Evidence the University of South Carolina's football season would not match up with the previous three campaigns came early.
A heavy favorite to defeat fellow Southeastern Conference member Texas A&M in their season opener, the Gamecocks instead were soundly defeated by the Aggies in the season opener.
The USC defense was torched for almost 700 yards, while the offense was inconsistent.
While it was easy to write the opener off as an anomaly, it was painfully obvious South Carolina and its fan base was in for a harsh reality.
The Gamecocks were no longer a top 10 team and would have to fight even harder than it did when Steve Spurrier took over the program 10 years ago to just become bowl eligible.
The defense, among the best in the country for several seasons, was ranked last in the SEC until very late.
Lorenzo Ward, ranked by at least one sports site as one of the top 10 college defensive coordinators in the country prior to the 2014 season, found himself in charge of a squad that had more question marks than answers.
The defensive line was woeful inadequate in most games as the talent level dropped significantly from the past few seasons.
There were obviously several missed evaluations made on players competing up front.
In addition, several athletes who could have made an impact had to enter junior college or prep school before becoming academically eligible to enter USC.
Although that bodes well for the future, it left the team shorthanded this season.
It took nine games before the move was made, but the Gamecocks appears to have an outstanding linebacker duo in sophomores Skai Moore and Jonathan Walton.
Moore, in particularly, is a potential All-American talent after leading USC in tackles for the second straight season while picking up three interceptions in the Gamecocks last two games.
The secondary, depleted by graduation, players leaving early to enter the National Football League Draft or just transferring to another school, meant the team had to count on inexperienced athletes.
While there has been a scenario that the offense was one of the most productive in South Carolina history under Spurrier, it was inconsistent.
It averaged more than 30 points per game, but was unable to seal the deal with key fourth quarter drives in many games.
Dylan Thompson, a fifth-year senior who paid his dues, did everything possible to make the offense work and the team a winner.
Although he set the school record for most passing yards in a season and was a great team leader, he had physical limitations that made it difficult to run the team's zone read offense that has been successful under Connor Shaw.
While Pharoh Cooper is an emerging star at wide receiver and Nick Jones was a solid performer who could be counted to make key plays in the clutch, the wide receivers as a group underachieved.
Shaq Roland, who was expected to be one of the SEC's best disappeared as the season progressed, while senior Damiere Byrd never really got going.
The running backs, led by Mike Davis, played well in most games but were hampered by numerous nagging injuries that kept it from entering games at full strength.
Tight ends Rory Anderson and Jerell Adams, considered a team strength, were inconsistent.
The offensive line, which features three potential future NFL performers, rarely dominated games as was projected.
That was painfully true against Clemson when the Tigers defensive front proved a challenge the Gamecocks could not overcome.
Speaking of Clemson, the bottom line is the Tigers were a more talented and superior coached team as Spurrier said immediately following the game.
There is a strong possibility Spurrier will make staff changes although it is unknown to what extent.
Those championing the hiring of former Florida coach Will Muschamp as the team's new defensive coordinator must understand he will have a multitude of offers to sift through.
It is also believed he wants to take some time to decide what his next move will be.
The bottom line is the Gamecocks fan base will just have to wait to see what happens and trust Spurrier to make the decision that will restore the program to where it has become accustomed.
After all, The Head Ball Coach is the one who put it there in the first place.
