South Carolina Gamecocks
2001 record: 9-3 (5-3 and tied for third in the SEC East)
Coach: Lou Holtz (4th season, 17-18)
Starters returning: 5 offense, 4 defense, 2 kickers

Outlook: Gridworld has become such a happy place for Gamecocks fans that they've started having a Midnight Madness football practice. Some 2,500 attended this year, and next year they're moving the show into Williams-Brice Stadium. That's what happens when the nation's most loyal fans get a taste of success.

South Carolina were a miraculous 17-7 the last two years, after being a morbid 1-21 the previous two. Now the trick is continuing the roll without its veteran quarterback, its most explosive running back, its big-play receiver and five of its top eight tacklers.

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"As long as I've been in this game, I've never had a team I've known less about," said Lou Holtz, crocodile tears flowing. "I have no idea what to expect."

Expect some vintage Holtz offense: Andrew Pinnock will be the 250-pound hammer at running back, and 25-year-old senior quarterback Corey Jenkins will be a running threat with home-run arm strength (the Tony Rice comparisons have already started). South Carolina will still throw the ball some out of the spread offense, but look for more handoffs, quarterback draws and options than last year with Phil Petty. Jenkins might end up sharing time with sophomore Dondrial Pinkins, another QB who looks more comfortable running than throwing.

Defensive coordinator Charlie Strong, everybody's Hot Head Coach commodity at midseason last year, is surprisingly back in Columbia. That's great news for the Gamecocks, who have held 19 of their last 24 opponents to fewer than 20 points. This year's defense is anchored by nose guard Langston Moore and wicked-hitting safety Rashad Faison, who stands just 5-9 but made 104 tackles last year.

Keep an eye on: George Gause made his first career start last year as a true freshman in the Outback Bowl and produced 10 tackles. This year the 6-5, 255-pounder might play both defensive end and linebacker, and Strong envisions him as another Kalimba Edwards, the all-SEC talent now in the NFL.

Key game: South Carolina's springboard games the last two years have been September victories over Georgia -- a team it had lost to the previous three meetings and six of the last eight. Beating Georgia helped the Gamecocks to a 4-0 start in 2000; last year they went 5-0 out of the gate. This year the teams meet Sept. 14 in Columbia, with the winner a viable SEC East title contender.

It's a good year if. . .: The Gamecocks bristle when they hear they've gotten lucky the last two years. Their 5-1 record in games decided by five points or less last season is a testament to good living AND good coaching. The good coaching hasn't gone anywhere, and if the ball continues to bounce the right way, Carolina could again be a Top 25 team. But games at Virginia, LSU, Florida and Clemson will be tough, as will home dates with Georgia, Tennessee and Arkansas. (South Carolina fans will argue that the Razorbacks were the lucky team last year, and that the Volunteers have gotten the breaks in two consecutive close losses.) Know this: Holtz hasn't won 233 career games by getting lucky, and could reach 240 by the end of the regular season.

Pat Forde covers college football for the Louisville Courier-Journal.