Flawless execution key to upset win over South Carolina on Saturday

The last time Coastal Carolina traveled to Columbia, it did not end well. The Chanticleers trailed 42-7 at the half and eventually fell 70-10 to South Carolina.

That was last time. Tomorrow will be a different story.

Coastal Carolina head football coach Joe Moglia commented on what his team has been doing in preparing for South Carolina, a team that has its eyes set on an SEC Championship this year.

“I am very excited to be back on the sidelines,” said Moglia. “I am very pleased with the way our guys have been working. Our guys are in the best shape they have could be in since I have been here at Coastal Carolina. This is also the biggest leadership I have seen within the team since I have been here at Coastal Carolina.”

Moglia, who is returning to the sidelines after taking a medical sabbatical for the entire 2017 season, addressed the many coaching changes that have gone on here at Coastal Carolina within the past few seasons.

“We have had six new coaches and they are all very open-minded in figuring out how we do things,” said Moglia.

Moglia addressed the fact that South Carolina is a quality opponent and how his team has been preparing for the Gamecocks this Saturday.

“Will Muschamp has said that this is the best team that he has had since he began coaching college football,” said Moglia. “That says a lot since he has had a lot of great teams in the past. We are not really focused on the opponent. We understand who we are playing Saturday. What we are really asking our players to do is to give us flawless execution and a combat mindset for five seconds. A combat mindset means to give one hundred percent focus for five seconds. We have to get our side of the ball right.”

The Gamecocks have many weapons for Coastal to worry about, including guys like Jake Bentley and Deebo Samuel. Moglia talked about how his team can’t focus on one player.

“They have a lot of talented players on both sides of the ball,” said Moglia. “We can’t overplay one player because that will open up someone else. Deebo Samuel is a great player and I think he has the potential to be a number-one draft pick. However, we can’t overplay a single player unless that player is the whole team. And South Carolina has many great players on the field.”

The Chanticleers will kick off against the Gamecocks tomorrow, Saturday, Sep. 1 at 12:00 p.m. from Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C.