Cocktail Thursday: It's Never Too Early To Start Drinking Edition.

Quick show of hands: who here over the age of 21 could use a responsibly consumed adult beverage right about now?

{Scans the room. Counts until the depression returns and he gives up on this, too.}

Then let's do this thing. However many times you thought Aaron Murray would see 7 or 8 men in the box before, double it. One way to deal with that is of course to just throw the ball. Coach Bobo demonstrated last week that he isn't afraid to put the ball in the hands of his redshirt freshman quarterback. I for one was not anticipating Murray throwing the ball 26 times in less than 3 quarters of action.  But Kris Durham can only catch so many footballs. At some point we're going to have to be able to run the ball.

I cannot emphasize enough how important the running game will be on Saturday. Frankly, we didn't control the line of scrimmage against the University of Louisiana as well as we should have, and that worries me a little. Everybody wants to be on the same page, I'm just not sure when they'll get there.

And I would like to see Todd Grantham's defense off the field as much as possible for a couple of reasons. One, they'll need a good bit of time to make adjustments to South Carolina's offense. Two, Columbia in September is about as hot and humid as any place on Earth. I think it's the hell hole the place sits on, but I'm not exactly sure. In any event, we have a track meet with Ryan Mallett and the Arkansas Razorbacks scheduled for next Saturday, and we don't need the D to be worn out before we even get to the starting blocks. I'm dreaming of a 17-7 victory over the Gamecocks that is so unbelievably boring that Lou Holtz falls asleep watching it. Oh hell, who am I kidding? Holtz falls asleep watching most games these days. I want him to doze off by halftime and have Mark May explain to him what transpired while Coach Kiebler Elf was committing secondary violations in dream land. If we can force South Carolina to keep 8 guys in the box to stop the run it will make life easier for Aaron Murray. Starting his first SEC game and his first conference road game on the same night, Murray will need all the help he can get.

Here's hoping our offensive line, led by senior Clint Boling, rolls right over the Gamecocks. Like a bowling ball. No, a Boling Ball. It goes a little something like this:

4 oz. strong tea

4 oz. bourbon

3 oz. orange juice

3 oz. lemon juice

2 teaspoons sugar

Shake all ingredients together and serve over ice. Then shake some more and serve again. And again. Like Washaun Ealey on a halfback iso, keep running it until someone stops you. But before you do, please check in on Orson Charles, Aron White, Kris Durham, Tavarres King, Israel Troupe, Rantavious Wooten and Marlon Brown. Call them individually and make sure their drivers' licenses are valid, their middle names are known, and none of them has engaged in any mildly profitable sports memorabilia deals. Until later . . .

Go 'Dawgs!!!