Cock-A-Doodle-Doo: Gamecocks UPSET #1 Alabama

Sunrise In South Carolina

After all the pain, the Gamecocks gave fate another shot and beat No. 1 Alabama.

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- After watching his South Carolina football team fumble away a big lead in a 35-27 loss at Auburn two weeks ago, Steve Spurrier asked his players to put their faith in something that has never been very kind to the Gamecocks.

"Let's give fate a chance," Spurrier told his team, during a meeting a couple of days after the Gamecocks squandered a 20-7 lead against the Tigers.

"If fate is going to smile on South Carolina, then we have to give it a chance. Who knows? If you give fate a chance, something big may happen."

In front of a sold-out crowd of 92,993 fans, the No. 19 Gamecocks stunned No. 1 Alabama 35-21 on Saturday, ending the Crimson Tide's winning streaks of 29 consecutive regular-season games and 18 straight SEC contests.

"It was nice to beat the No. 1 team, there's no question about that," Spurrier said. "It has to be one of the best days for our university ever, I would have to guess."

For more than a century, fate has often stricken the Gamecocks in the worst ways. After all, there's only one conference championship commemorated on the walls of Williams-Brice Stadium -- the 1969 ACC title.

In more than 100 years of playing football, South Carolina has won only four bowl games and it has never played in a lucrative BCS bowl game in the modern era. For much of the past two decades, the Gamecocks have been also-rans in the SEC East, chasing programs like Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.

Finally, fate shined on the Gamecocks on Saturday, just like it used to shine on Spurrier's pass-happy teams at Florida, where he led his alma mater to six SEC titles and the 1996 national championship.

It was the third time South Carolina defeated a No. 1-ranked team in a men's sport this year. The Gamecocks' basketball team upset No. 1 Kentucky, and their baseball team defeated No. 1 Arizona State in the College World Series on the way to winning the school's first national title in any men's sport.

"I think that this game was meant to be," Spurrier said. "I used a line this week that I've never used in my life. Since our basketball team had beat No. 1 and our baseball team had done it, I said, 'Fellas, if fate means for us to win this game Saturday then let's give it a chance.'"

And beating the Crimson Tide in front of a packed house and national TV audience meant so much more for South Carolina's starved fans.

"It was an unbelievable feeling," South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia said. "I'm not really sure how to describe the feeling right now, but it's unbelievable."

During the last six seasons, Spurrier has tried to make the Gamecocks relevant in the SEC East. He surprised nearly everyone by coming out of retirement to take over a mediocre South Carolina program in 2005 and didn't win more than eight games in each of his first five seasons.

After the loss at Auburn, the Gamecocks again seemed to be in danger of falling back into mediocrity. Garcia fumbled twice in the second half at Auburn and was benched in the fourth quarter. Freshman Connor Shaw threw two interceptions late in the game, and Spurrier was questioned for shuffling his quarterbacks once again.

"We had a big pow-wow talk and said if we were going to have a big year, we couldn't play like we did at Auburn," Spurrier said.

The Gamecocks played like they were the best team on the field against Alabama. Garcia looked like the best quarterback on the field, better than Alabama's Greg McElroy, who had never lost as a starting QB in high school or college.

South Carolina freshman Marcus Lattimore looked like the most dangerous runner on the field, even better than Alabama's two-headed monster of reigning Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson. Gamecocks receiver Alshon Jeffery made big play after big play, outshining Alabama All-America candidate Julio Jones.

Spurrier even looked like the best coach on the sideline again. He kept Alabama's defense guessing, and the Gamecocks were able to hold the Crimson Tide to only 36 rushing yards on 29 carries.

"I think our guys got together and said, 'Let's give it a little more effort and see what happens," Spurrier said. "That was our rallying cry."

The Gamecocks stunned Alabama early and often. After the Crimson Tide kicked a field goal to take a 3-0 lead on its first possession, South Carolina scored three consecutive touchdowns to make the score 21-3.
Garcia, who has been maligned throughout his three-year career, was a perfect 9-for-9 passing for 94 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. The Gamecocks had a 21-9 lead at the half.

"I guess it couldn't have come at a better time, playing against the No. 1 team," said Garcia, who finished with 201 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception on 17-for-20 passing. "Coach Spurrier said, 'Let's give fate a chance,' and we did."

But in the opening minutes of the second half, it looked like fate would rear its ugly head again. On the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter, center T.J. Johnson snapped the ball over Garcia's head. Garcia picked up the fumble at South Carolina's 4-yard line. Instead of falling down or scrambling to escape, Garcia threw the football through the back of his team's end zone for a safety.

Alabama got the ball back and kicked a 39-yard field goal to cut South Carolina's lead to 21-14 with 9:37 to play.

"They said it was my first incompletion of the game," Garcia said. "Oh, well."

Instead of collapsing like they've done so many times in the past, the Gamecocks stood tall.

"We played some ball today," Spurrier said. "We didn't get a bunch of fumble returns or blocked punts. We didn't do any of that stuff. We had to play ball today, we played until the end and looked up and had beaten No. 1 by a couple of touchdowns."

With its victory, South Carolina becomes a major player in the SEC East race with key remaining games against No. 11 Arkansas on Nov. 6 and at No. 14 Florida on Nov. 13.

The Crimson Tide, who played in each of the last two SEC championship games, now find themselves in a dogfight in the SEC West. Alabama was playing its third straight difficult game, after coming from behind to win at Arkansas 24-20 on Sept. 25 and blowing out Florida 31-6 at home last week.

"It hurts a lot," McElroy said. "It's not a good feeling. There are a lot of guys on this team who have never experienced a loss."

During South Carolina's postgame celebration in its locker room, one of Spurrier's players suggested the team award a game ball to fate.

"I'll accept it for fate," Spurrier told his team.

Indeed, fate finally shined on the Gamecocks and now almost anything seems possible.



Mark Schlabach covers college sports for ESPN.com. He co-authored Bobby Bowden's memoir, "Called To Coach," which was published by Simon & Schuster. The book is available in stores and can be ordered here. You can contact him at schlabachma@yahoo.com.

Perry Stone: Life In the 8th Millennium

Perry Stone: Life In the 8th Millennium

Perry Stone ministers on location from Bet Shean, Israel on the subject of Life in the 8th Millennium.

John Stossel On Huge Debt Facing America

John Stossel On Huge Debt Facing America

U.S. debt surges by $1.6 trillion in 12 months. John Stossel discusses.

WRAPUP 3-IMF, World Bank call for cooler heads on currencies

WRAPUP 3-IMF, World Bank call for cooler heads on currencies...

* IMF seeks to restore global economic unity

* Currencies strain recovery effort, values must adjust

* World Bank chief: Currency tensions can end badly

* Hot money wreaks havoc on emerging markets (Adds topic of G20 discussion, paragraph 7)

By Lesley Wroughton and Walter Brandimarte



WASHINGTON, Oct 7 (Reuters) - World leaders must defuse currency tensions before they worsen to avoid repeating the mistakes of the Great Depression, the head of the World Bank said on Thursday.

The spirit of global economic cooperation, first forged in 2008 during the darkest days of the financial crisis,

was weakening as the recession gives way to an uneven and shaky recovery, the head of the International Monetary Fund warned.

Fears of a global currency war as nations look to export their way to economic health have jumped to the top of the agenda at IMF and World Bank meetings this weekend.

The push among nations for a trading edge, reminiscent of the strains that exacerbated the Great Depression, are also expected to be a primary topic of discussion when Group of Seven finance leaders hold a closed-door dinner on Friday.

Finance ministers from the larger G20 group of rich and emerging economies scheduled a working breakfast on Friday as they prepare for next month's leaders summit in Seoul.

The meetings provide a forum for intense discussions about efforts to persuade China to let its currency rise, the weakening in the U.S. dollar and the strengthening of emerging market currencies as investors chase higher yields.

"If one lets this slide into conflict, or forms of protectionism, then we run the risks of repeating the mistakes of the 1930s," World Bank President Robert Zoellick told reporters at a briefing.

The IMF trimmed its 2011 growth forecast for advanced economies on Wednesday and warned the task of reducing heavy government debt burdens, while essential, would act as a significant drag on growth.

Slow growth at home leaves countries unusually reliant on exports, and this has heightened concerns they will intentionally weaken their currencies to boost trade.

Zoellick said history shows "beggar thy neighbor" policies don't work, and suggested international agencies such as the IMF and World Trade Organization could help manage currency tensions before they erupt into something more damaging.

Japan intervened to weaken the yen last month for the first time in six years, and several emerging markets have taken steps to prevent their currencies from rising too rapidly.

CHINA AT THE CENTER

The IMF's managing director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, said fading global cooperation was regrettable.

"I think it's fair to say that momentum is not vanishing but decreasing and that's a real threat," he warned at a separate news conference. "Everybody has to keep in mind this mantra that there is no domestic solution to a global crisis."

Strauss-Kahn said he disliked the notion that a currency war was brewing because the term was "too military," but conceded "it's fair to say that many do consider their currency as a weapon and that's certainly not for the good of the global economy."

In an interview published by French newspaper Le Monde earlier on Thursday, Strauss-Kahn pointed at China's policy on its yuan currency as a primary sticking point in efforts to rebalance the global economy.

"The undervaluation of the yuan is the source of tensions in the world economy which are in the process of becoming a threat," he told the newspaper. "If we want to avoid creating the conditions for a new crisis, China will need to accelerate the appreciation process."

China held the yuan stable during the financial crisis but in June promised to let it respond more freely to market forces. Since then it has risen only about 2 percent against the U.S. dollar.

Strauss-Kahn said having a bigger say at the IMF, as requested by big emerging economies like China, comes with greater responsibility in the global economy.

"If you want to be at the center of the system ... it goes with having more responsibility in the system," he said.

DOWNWARD SPIRAL

Financial leaders from emerging market countries expressed some frustration with the rich world's policies, too.

The G24, composed of emerging and developing economies, said a simultaneous budget clamp-down "presently under way in many advanced economies poses considerable risks of a downward spiral in global demand."

The G24 also said low interest rates in advanced economies were sending investment money flooding into faster-growing emerging markets, driving up asset prices and inflation.

The European Central Bank and the Bank of England both kept interest rates at record lows in meetings on Thursday, while the Bank of Japan cut its benchmark rate to zero this week.

The U.S. Federal Reserve is considering printing more money to buy assets in the hope of speeding up the pace of U.S. growth to bring down high unemployment. The side effect is a weaker dollar that is fueling global tensions.

Since mid-June, the U.S. dollar has fallen nearly 13 percent against a basket of major currencies, erasing most of the gains it racked up earlier in the year when European sovereign debt worries sent investors scrambling for safety.

ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet said volatile exchange rate moves had "adverse implications" for economic and financial stability and that he shared the view of U.S. authorities that a strong dollar was in Washington's best interest. U.S. officials, however, have been silent on the greenback's fall.

(Additional reporting by Reuters IMF team; Writing by Emily Kaiser and Glenn Somerville; Editing by Andrea Ricci and Leslie Adler)

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The War of the World: 20th Century Conflict and the Descent of the West"

The War of the World: 20th Century Conflict and the Descent of the West"

The War of the World: Twentieth-Century Conflict and the Descent of the West, examines why the 20th century proved to be the most violent, frightening and brutalized century in history with fanatical, often genocidal warfare engulfing most societies between the outbreak of World War I and the end of the Cold War. The War of the World explores what went wrong with the century and how society was responsible.

Niall Ferguson

http://www.niallferguson.com/

http://twitter.com/NFergus

Niall Ferguson, MA, D.Phil., is Laurence A. Tisch Professor of History at Harvard University and William Ziegler Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. He is also a Senior Research Fellow at Jesus College, Oxford University, and a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.

http://www.niallferguson.com/site/FERG/Templates/General2.aspx?pageid=5

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Israel on war alert: Jewish state fears Iran ally will attack

Israel on war alert

Jewish state fears Iran ally will attack

By Aaron Klein

JERUSALEM – Israel is on heightened alert for possible attacks by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah organization in Lebanon, according to a senior Israeli defense official speaking to WND.

The official said the Jewish state is concerned Hezbollah might try to spark a conflict to deflect attention from an international tribunal investigating the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who died in a car bomb explosion in 2005.

The probe is reportedly set to indict members of Hezbollah for the murder. The indictments may come as soon as the next few weeks, reports have claimed.

Hezbollah is deeply concerned about the political fallout within Lebanon if its members are accused of murdering Hariri, the defense official said.

As such, Hezbollah may try to carry out attacks against Israel similar to those that prompted the 2006 Lebanon War. During that conflict, Hezbollah fired constant rocket barrages into Israel, killing 43 Israelis and wounding more than 4,200.

Hezbollah and Syria have attempted to discredit the U.N. probe. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah has delivered television addresses claiming Israel was behind Hariri's killing and that spies working for Israel planted "false evidence" blaming Hezbollah.

Earlier this week, Syria issued arrest warrants against 33 people for allegedly misleading the U.N. investigation. The targets include figures close to Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri – Rafiq Hariri's son – including his media adviser, senior security officers and journalists working in Hariri-owned media outlets.

Awarding Staff Sergeant Robert J. Miller the Medal of Honor

Awarding Staff Sergeant Robert J. Miller the Medal of Honor

Posted by Jesse Lee on October 06, 2010



The Vice President and the First Lady were also present as the President awarded Robert J. Miller, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry. Staff Sergeant Miller received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic actions in combat on January 25, 2008 in Afghanistan.  As is always the case, his story -- recounted by the President -- truly makes one proud to be An American:

It has been said that courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.  For Rob Miller, the testing point came nearly three years ago, deep in a snowy Afghan valley.  But the courage he displayed that day reflects every virtue that defined his life.

Rob was wise beyond his years.  Growing up in Wheaton, Illinois, outside of Chicago, he was the boy in school who penned a poem about American GI’s in World War II, men -- like the soldier Rob would become himself —- who he said fought day and night, fighting for what they thought was right.

Rob was born to lead -— the high school gymnast who trained so hard his coach had to kick him out at night so they could close the gym.  He was the Army recruit who pushed himself to his limits -— both physically and mentally -— to earn the title Green Beret.  He was the Special Forces soldier who, on his first tour in Afghanistan, earned two Army Commendation Medals for his valor.    

Devotion to duty.  An abiding sense of honor.  A profound love of country.  These were the virtues that found their ultimate expression when Rob -— just 24 years old and on his second tour -— met his testing point on January 25, 2008.

Rob and his team were in the remote northwest of Afghanistan.  Their mission:  clear a valley of insurgents who had been attacking Afghan forces and terrorizing villagers.  So when they came across an insurgent compound, Rob and his men made their move, unleashing their fire and calling in airstrikes.

Now, they were on foot, heading over to that destroyed compound, to assess the damage and gather intelligence.  It was still dark, just before dawn.  It was freezing cold -- and silent, except for the crackle of their radios and the crunch of snow under their boots.  Like so many times before, Rob was up front -- leading a patrol of two dozen Afghans and Americans on a narrow trail along the valley floor, the steep mountains towering over them.

First, it was just a single insurgent, jumping out from behind a boulder.  Then, the whole valley seemed to explode with gunfire.  Within seconds, Rob and his patrol were pinned down, with almost no cover -- bullets and rocket-propelled grenades raining down from every direction.  And when enemy reinforcements poured in, the odds were overwhelming.  Rob’s small patrol of two dozen men was nearly surrounded by almost 150 insurgents. 

With the enemy just feets away -- some so close he could see their faces -- Rob held his ground.  Despite the chaos around him, he radioed back enemy positions.  As the only Pashto speaker on his team, he organized the Afghan soldiers around him.  But the incoming fire, in the words of one soldier, was simply “astounding.”

Rob made a decision.  He called for his team to fall back.  And then he did something extraordinary.  Rob moved in the other direction -- toward the enemy, drawing their guns away from his team and bringing the fire of all those insurgents down upon himself.

The fighting was ferocious.  Rob seemed to disappear into clouds of dust and debris, but his team could hear him on the radio, still calling out the enemy’s position.  And they could hear his weapon still firing as he provided cover for his men.  And then, over the radio, they heard his voice.  He had been hit.  But still, he kept calling out enemy positions.  Still, he kept firing.  Still, he kept throwing his grenades.  And then they heard it -- Rob’s weapon fell silent.

This is the story of what one American soldier did for his team, but it’s also a story of what they did for him.  Two of his teammates braved the bullets and rushed to Rob’s aid.  In those final moments, they were there at his side -- American soldiers there for each other. 

The relentless fire forced them back, but they refused to leave their fallen comrade.  When reinforcements arrived, these Americans went in again -- risking their lives, taking more casualties -- determined to bring Rob Miller out of that valley.  And finally, after fighting that raged for hours, they did.

When the dust settled and the smoke cleared, there was no doubt Rob Miller and his team had struck a major blow against the local insurgency.  Five members of his patrol had been wounded, but his team had survived.  And one of his teammates surely spoke for all of them when he said of Rob, “I would not be alive today if not for his ultimate sacrifice.”

This is the valor that America honors today.  To Rob’s family and friends, I know that no words can ease the ache in your hearts.  But I also know this -- Rob’s life and legacy endures.

Rob endures in the pride of his parents.  Phil and Maureen, you raised a remarkable son.  Today and in the years to come, may you find some comfort in knowing that Rob gave his life doing what he loved -- protecting his friends and defending his country.  You gave your oldest son to America, and America is forever in your debt. 

Rob endures in the love of his brothers and sisters, all seven of whom join us today.  Your brothers laid down his life so you could live yours in security and freedom.  You honor him by living your lives to the fullest, and I suspect Rob would be especially proud of his younger brother Tom, who, inspired by his big brother, is now training to be a Green Beret himself.

Rob endures in the Afghans that he trained and he befriended.  In valleys and villages half a world away, they remember him -- the American who spoke their language, who respected their culture and who helped them defend their country.  They welcomed him into their homes and invited him to their weddings.  And in a sign of their lasting gratitude, they presented Rob’s parents with a beautiful Afghan flag -- Afghan rug, which hangs today in the Miller home, a symbol of the partnership between the people of America and Afghanistan.

Rob Miller endures in the service of his teammates -- his brothers in arms who served with him, bled with him and fought to bring him home.  These soldiers embody the spirit that guides our troops in Afghanistan every day -- the courage, the resolve, the relentless focus on their mission:  to break the momentum of the Taliban insurgency, and to build the capacity of Afghans to defend themselves, and to make sure that Afghanistan is never again a safe haven for terrorists who would attack our country.  That is their mission, that is our mission, and that is what we will do.  And I would ask Rob’s team, who were with him that day, to please stand and be recognized.  (Applause.) 

Finally, Rob Miller -- and all those who give their lives in our name -- endure in each of us.  Every American is safer because of their service.  And every American has a duty to remember and honor their sacrifice. 

If we do -- if we keep their legacy alive, if we keep faith with the freedoms they died to defend -- then we can imagine a day, decades from now, when another child sits down at his desk, ponders the true meaning of heroism and finds inspiration in the story of a soldier -- Staff Sergeant Robert J. Miller and a generation that “fought day and night, fighting for what they thought was right.”

That is the meaning of this medal.  And that is our summons today, as a proud and grateful nation.  So please join me in welcoming Phil and Maureen Miller for the reading of the citation.  (Applause.) 





First Lady Michelle Obama, right, and the entire audience, applaud the members of Staff Sergeant Robert J. Miller's team who were with him in Afghanistan, during the presentation of the Medal of Honor posthumously to his parents during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, October 6, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)



President Barack Obama stands with Phil and Maureen Miller, parents of Staff Sergeant Robert J. Miller, as the citation is read as the Medal of Honor is awarded posthumously to their son for his heroic actions in Afghanistan on January 25, 2008, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House October 6, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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IMF warns global recovery might not be sustained

By Agence France-Presse, Updated: 10/6/2010

Rich and emerging economies must dramatically change the way they trade with each other or risk throttling the global economic recovery, the International Monetary Fund warned on Wednesday.

In its latest economic outlook, the IMF said growth would slow more than previously expected in 2011, as the United States, Europe and Japan continue to struggle and China remains overly dependent on exports.

The recovery is "neither strong nor balanced and runs the risk of not being sustained," warned Olivier Blanchard, the IMF's chief economist.

Painting a picture of a faltering developed world -- where business is still struggling to pick up where government crisis spending left off -- the IMF predicted global growth would be pared back to 4.2 percent next year.

That is less than the 4.8 percent growth expected this year and 0.2 point below the IMF's July forecast for 2011.

While restocking had helped short-term growth in the United States, Japan and some parts of Europe, the IMF said advanced economies were still reliant on dwindling government spending.

"For the past year or so, inventory accumulation and fiscal stimulus were driving the recovery. The first is coming to an end. The second is slowly being phased out," the IMF said in its twice-yearly World Economic Outlook.

The IMF slashed its US growth forecast for 2011, to 2.3 percent, lopping 0.6 points off its July forecasts.

The growth forecast was also trimmed for this year, down 0.7 points to 2.2 percent, with warnings of "a weak recovery in coming quarters."

The IMF recommended that some central banks, like the US Federal Reserve, continue their ultra-loose monetary policies, but warned the impact of such policies would now be limited.

"Not much more can be done, and one should not expect too much from further quantitative or credit easing."

Increased exports must take up the slack, it added.

"Many advanced economies, most notably the United States, which relied excessively on domestic demand, must now rely more on net exports."

Meanwhile the IMF said that rich countries, many of which are heavily in debt, would have to trim spending and balance their books in the medium term.

"Fiscal stimulus has to eventually give way to fiscal consolidation, and private demand must be strong enough to take the lead and sustain growth."

There was a particular warning for Europe, with "severe external financing constraints" forecast for debt-laden Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain.

The picture could not be more different for emerging markets like India and China, where growth continues, but is limited by an over-dependence on exports to Europe, Japan and the United States that must be addressed.

"Emerging market economies with large current account surpluses must accelerate rebalancing. This is not only in the world economy's interest, but also in their own."

Wading into sensitive political waters, the IMF said China must allow its currency to strengthen to boost domestic demand and reduce its reliance on exports.

"To the extent that a stronger Chinese currency eases this process, other surplus countries in the region could follow suit, which would facilitate the needed shift towards domestic sources of growth," the IMF said.

Emerging markets are expected to expand at a rate of 7.1 percent this year and 6.4 percent in 2011.

Advanced economies are expected to grow more slowly, at 2.7 percent in 2010 and 2.2 percent next year.

The WEO report came ahead of Friday's opening of a two-day annual meeting of the IMF, where its 187 member nations are set to focus on a looming currency war and the dangers of protectionist trading policies.

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