‘ON THE VERGE’ New OC Mike Bobo loves passion, potential at Carolina
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By Josh Hyber | Staff writer • Photo by Allen Sharpe
ike Bobo remembers the 2012 South CarolinaGeorgia game at Williams-Brice Stadium and, as the Bulldogs offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, having to create a gameplan to stop Gamecock defensive lineman Jadeveon Clowney. He also remembers the heat that night in Columbia. “Just how loud and how energetic the fans [were],” Bobo said. “… We were in the SEC championship game that year and we got throttled here 35-7. … I remember upstairs, there’s thick glass in 28 FOOTBALL • MIKE BOBO
these press boxes, and I remember saying, ‘Is it loud down there? It looks loud.’ And I remember our offensive line coach [who was on the field] saying, ‘You just keep drinking those Diet Cokes up there. We’re down here in this damn jungle.’” Bobo, who was named South Carolina’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Dec. 10 after a five-season stint as Colorado State’s head coach, will now be on the other side of the predicament. “I’m excited about coming to a place that I really believe is on the verge,” Bobo said. “I know last year wasn’t what coach and his
staff expects out of this program, and what we’re striving for. But the pieces are here, from a great staff to a great foundation of players. “… And this is a place that is hungry. I’ve always been impressed when you come here and play, the passion this fanbase has and the energy in this stadium. And that carries over to your players.” Said Gamecock head coach Will Muschamp, “[I have] a lot of respect for Mike. Number one, as a person. Number two, as a play caller. In his 14 years of calling plays he has averaged over 30 points and right at 425 yards a game.”
“He’s a great coach and really knows his players,” current Colorado State receiver Dante Wright told Spurs & Feathers. “He knows how to recruit. He’s a great example to look up to. He knows how to get the ball in different people’s hands and give them the best opportunity for success.” Said the mom of a Colorado State player, South Carolina “got a good man.” “We love Coach Bobo. He loves and takes care of his players. An example of great integrity for young men,” she told Spurs & Feathers. “I’m definitely excited to be here at South Carolina and excited to be back in the south,” Bobo said in December. “Excited about this opportunity to be with coach Muschamp and this staff. … I have been blown away with the things they’ve done here with the facilities. It’s just a first-class facility.” Bobo is also excited about what he will have to work with offensively at South Carolina. “There’s a lot of work to do, like there’s a lot of work to do at every place every year this time of year. I’m excited about the challenge we have and look forward to this coming offseason,” he said. Bobo said he wants a “physical” team and preached having a balanced offense that begins with a productive run game. South Carolina averaged just 148 yards rushing and 4.2 yards per carry last year and was 11th in the SEC in rushing. “I believe you have to run the football in this league to be successful and contend for the championship,” he said. “But at the same time, we want to have balance. We want to be able to spread people out.” Bobo will work with at least two young quarterbacks in Ryan Hilinski, who started 11 games as a freshman last year, and incoming freshman Luke Doty. He will also have redshirt sophomore Dakereon Joyner, who split time at quarterback and wide receiver, and any possible graduate transfers. Bobo said he’s excited about working with Hilinski, who took over last year when starter Jake Bentley went down in the season opener. “I see a guy that’s got some talent,” he said. “I see a guy that went through some growing pains, being a freshman. And we’ve got to do things to help him, and some of
JANUARY 2020
