The University of South Carolina is the best team in the nation — and has been for some time under Steve Spurrier — when it comes to giving the game away in the first quarter. Clemson, Florida, Iowa, Tennesee, Alabama .. the list goes on and on, year after year. Not only are Spurrier’s offenses mediocre at best, they define just how bad a team can be when it refuses to give itself a chance to win.

The Gamecocks are a joke on the offensive line. The running game, which was supposed to be a priority in 2009, is a non-factor in games. The passing game is inconsistent, can’t sustain drives and is susceptible to fatal turnovers, penalties and mistakes. And people, nine of 12 games have been played. There’s no more mystery involved: this offense stinks.

Mark my words: USC will not win another game in 2009. Not the way it has performed in the clutch. In fact, you’re better off wagering your money taking the under on how many quarters it will take before USC plays itself out of the game down the stretch.

Spurrier and his playcaller-in-chief son, Steve Spurrier Jr., are a horrible team together. I think the one wants to let the other develop and get experience so badly, the disaster we all see every week is the result. And guess what? Ain’t nothing going to change in that dynamic so long as Spurrier is the Head Ball Coach.

What will be Spurrier’s excuses should the Gamecocks lose out? How long should USC fans accept “We’re a struggling bunch of Gamecocks” from the man ordained by God himself to turn the program around. How long do national embarrassments on the field over and over merit progress of any kind?

If this is the best Spurrier can do by way of team preparation, conditioning, coaching and recruiting, then he should consider a voluntary salary reduction at the very least, as well as admit that the father-son coaching party is an absolute disaster. Until then, USC fans can expect a November that will only get worse — possibly much worse — before the time must come when Spurrier either comes to Jesus (he probably thinks Jesus has to come to him) or Eric Hyman does it for him.