Sure, and dominate like a 13-year-old gymnast

This is a tough one, sort of like ... Could Stonewall Jackson have won it all with Sherman's talent?

Not to knock Tommy Bowden's accomplishments. The Clemson head coach has put himself in position for a dandy season with demonstrated recruiting, player development and staff management skills. He is 2-1 against the Head Ball Coach.

But Spurrier, a national title winner, went 5-2 in the Southeastern Conference championship game.

More recently, Spurrier in three seasons at South Carolina has won all the games he was supposed to win except the 2005 Independence Bowl against Missouri and last October against Vanderbilt. Plus upsets of Tennessee, Florida and Georgia. Winning it all requires sinking the gimmes and then rising to meet major challenges.

Give Bowden credit for signing three quarterbacks who might be better than any passer Spurrier has in uniform. But give the Ball Coach a vintage Florida arsenal featuring Cullen Harper, James Davis, C.J. Spiller and Aaron Kelly. Mix in the envied speed of wideout Jacoby Ford.

Add a schedule easier than Spurrier ever coached against, even at Duke.

Could the U.S., with several 13-year-old gymnasts, have topped China's gold medal haul? Yes, and Clemson edges USC. The other USC.

Reach Gene Sapakoff at gsapakoff@postandcourier.com

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