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Will Muschamp relives Rico Dowdle play, admits mistake on fourth down call
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South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp spoke to the media in his weekly teleconference on Sunday evening, a day removed from losing at home to Alabama 47-23.
It was an eventful game in Columbia, where South Carolina pulled out its bag of tricks in an attempt to pull off the upset. The Gamecocks attempted a fake punt, fake field goal, and onside kick on Saturday, none of which were successful.
Late in the first half, South Carolina had the ball on the Alabama goal line down 24-10, and elected to go for the touchdown on fourth down after a controversial call that ruled Rico Dowdle down before the goal line. Muschamp looked back on that decision, expressing some regret that he did not take the chip-shot field goal going into the half.
“Looking back at the Dowdle possession” said Muschamp, “with getting the ball first in the second half, probably should have just kicked the field goal after the fumbled snap on third down.”
Muschamp went on to criticize the way his secondary played on Saturday, after Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s career day, throwing for 444 yards and five touchdowns.
South Carolina’s head coach saw some good from his rushing attack against Alabama’s defense however, drawing positives from the final numbers on the ground.
After the loss, South Carolina has to turn around for another SEC matchup. Up next is a divisional opponent on the road at Missouri, before the Gamecocks can turn to their bye week.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Lucas is a digital reporter for 104.5 The Zone in Nashville, and a high school play-by-play broadcaster. Lucas has been covering SEC football for Saturday Down South since 2018.
