South Carolina: Halfway Underwater but Not Fully Overwhelmed

South Carolina has been an embarrassment and an eyesore financially and socially for years. This year, however, the state has progressed and come together during tough critical times.

Currently, the state is flooded from Columbia on down near Charleston due to dams splitting near two major rivers in the wake of Hurricane Jocquin.

You see on the news often that when this type of natural disaster occurs, there are riots, looting and all out violence. Here in South Carolina, the residents have really come together and helped each other. Several legitimate clothing and food drives have been formed, law enforcement and government officials, including the National Guard, have worked around the clock during this crisis.

The University of South Carolina was playing LSU this week in football. Due to the floods, the game was moved to LSU's home stadium. The residents and fans of LSU were very nice and hospitable as well, even playing a lot of South Carolina fight songs and music during the game.

It appears the country has noticed how this state bands together instead of dividing. This was demonstrated during the summer with the Dylann Roof massacre. We don't always see eye to eye on certain issues, and seem to be stuck in olden times too often. However when you look around, you are hard pressed to find a state that will look out for its fellow resident and offer a helping hand.

I was becoming ashamed to be a South Carolina native and resident. Over the past few years, my faith has been restored. Good job to all of SC!

The SEC Network: Another Feather In The Cap Of A Great Conference

I have written about the SEC a couple of times, especially them being arguably the best conference in all of college football. They now have a network of their own, which premiered on August 14, 2014.

Currently, the SEC network is showing classic games, highlights, and SEC Storied episodes. The special "The Stars Aligned" was really good. It gave people a birdeye's view about the day in the life of an SEC sports fan.

During the sporting season, certain games that will not air on ESPN or CBS will air on this network.

Now I am still a diehard Notre Dame fan in football and University of North Carolina fan in basketball. Nevertheless, I enjoy good sports, especially football. The SEC has that and then some.

And you gotta love that Rudy commercial advertising the NCAA's new four team playoff system.

They have featured many of the recent great Alabama and Auburn teams, including some specials on Bo Jackson. Former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is now an analyst for the network. South Carolina has been shown some as well, given the splash they have made in the SEC in football and baseball the past few years.

The SEC network is available virtually everywhere, including DirecTV (channel 611), DISH, Charter and Time Warner Cable. It is definitely a big deal.

Enthusiasm is high right now for the southern football fan, and for sports fans in general. The SEC network is capturing this and proving why they have been competitive for so long.

Do you root for an SEC team? What do you think of this new network?

Seven People and Stories That Should Be Highlighted on SEC Storied

ESPNU has a program they air frequently called "SEC Storied". It speaks of the lives and careers of athletes and coaches from SEC member schools.
The Southeastern conference has risen in notoriety over the past few decades. Here are some more stories that should be on SEC Storied, if not already in production.
1. Steve Spurrier
The Ol' Ball Coach is as associated with the SEC as anybody or any team. He was a Heisman winning quarterback in 1966 for the University of Florida, later went back to Florida as a coach and won several SEC championships and a national title. After a brief stint in the NFL, he took over the football program at the University of South Carolina. He has made them one of the top programs not only in the SEC but the entire country. Several school records have been broken under Spurrier, and many more may be broken this season.
2. Candace Parker
She was perhaps the most talented female basketball player ever to suit up for the University of Tennessee and the legendary coach Pat Summitt. She was the first female to dunk in a game, led the Lady Vols to a national title, and won several individual awards. She is now a wife, mother, and a successful WNBA player for the Los Angeles Sparks.
3. Joe Namath
Alabama's football program is once again a dynasty. However, many forget one of the most decorated players to play for the Crimson Tide: Broadway Joe. He was more known for his NFL career, being one of the top quarterbacks of the 60s and 70s, and leading the New York Jets to a Super Bowl title. Namath has appeared in TV and commercials since his Alabama and pro ball days.
4. Michael Oher
Yes that's Big Mike from the movie "The Blind Side." His story of overcoming poverty and discrimination to receive a scholarship at Ole Miss and later be drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, the defending Super Bowl champions, is an awesome one. There are plenty of other angles to Oher.
5. 2006-2007 University of Florida basketball team
This team became the first repeat NCAA champs since Duke in 1991-1992.  Four of the five starters roomed together during their time at Florida. Six players were drafted from that team and three of them continue to have continued NBA success: Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer.
6. Ray Tanner.
This is essentially the man that broke the "Chicken Curse" in South Carolina. South Carolina had never won a national championship in a major collegiate team sport until Ray Tanner lead the Gamecock baseball team to back to back NCAA College World Series titles in 2010-2011, and a return appearance in 2012. He is now athletic director at South Carolina, ensuring that all of their programs remain competitive in the SEC.
7. The Manning family.
The entire Manning family of Archie, his wife Olivia, and their three sons, Cooper, Peyton and Eli, are storied in SEC lore. Archie and Eli were both star quarterbacks for Ole Miss, Peyton for Tennessee. Olivia was once Homecoming Queen for Ole Miss, and Cooper was probably the best athlete in the family until his career was ended by a spinal cord injury. Archie had a good and long NFL career, but Peyton and Eli both appear headed to the Hall of Fame. Peyton has several NFL passing and touchdown records and a Super Bowl ring. Eli has earned two rings with the New York Giants, and appears to improve yearly.
Honorable mentions: Ryan Lochte, Jay Cutler, Hines Ward, Chaminique Holdslaw, Lou Holtz, Terrell Davis, Pat Riley