Lou Holtz could be facing his greatest challenge as a college football coach.

One of the game's most gifted poor-mouthers, he can seemingly find anything to complain about ... but Holtz is a little short on material this season.

Which means his South Carolina team is a little longer on talent than it has been in some years.

For a team that is just 12 games removed from the longest losing streak in the nation, the Gamecocks show no trouble setting their sights high enough for the coming season.

As far as they're concerned, they came up short last season by not winning the national championship. Forget about the remarkable eight-game improvement over 1999, and the upsets of Georgia and Mississippi State that brought the goal posts down.

The Gamecocks want more.

"There's one goal we know we'll start the season with and that's a national championship," said senior outside linebacker Kalimba Edwards. "If that's not your goal, there's no purpose in even playing.

"We wanted to win a national championship last season, but our effort was a failing one. So our goal hasn't changed."

Don't put anything past these guys.

Holtz's first season at South Carolina, a disastrous 0-11 campaign, was spent getting the players in the right place. Last season, a dramatic improvement at 8-4, was about making those players better and bringing them closer together.

For the most part, those same players who went 0-11 are back for a final run to see just how far they can turn South Carolina's once-moribund program.

But a new team presents new challenges. This USC team will be dominated by seniors. As many as eight or nine starters on defense will be playing their final season, which is one reason Holtz expects this group to carry the team again.

The linebackers and secondary return practically intact.

Edwards is projected as a high first-round NFL draft pick. At 6-6, 260 pounds, he combines basketball-like athleticism with a sound knowledge of the game.

John Stamper, Langston Moore and Dennis Quinn are projected as the starting three up front, but junior college transfer Shaun Smith is expected to make an immediate impact.

At linebacker, along with Edwards, the Gamecocks have a pair of seniors in Kenneth Harney and Shannon Wadley. Wadley leads the team in nicknames, most prominent among them is "Bodybags" because he's known as the team's most ferocious hitter. Harney doesn't leave his mark so convincingly at once, but has the ability to dominate over the course of the game.

In the secondary, senior cornerback Sheldon Brown was third-team All-America last year and rates as one of the school's best all-around athletes. He was the leadoff hitter on the baseball team as well.

Rashad Faison, who was second on the team with 99 tackles, returns as the spur safety, a position that is a hybrid between safety and linebacker. Faison missed spring practice because of surgery on his shoulder, but he is not expected to have any problems once training camp begins in August.

While the defense has been strong the past two seasons, the offense showed signs of improvement in 2000 with its new spread formation.

As the Gamecocks' offensive line improved last season, the more the offense gravitated toward the I. With tailbacks Derek Watson (presuming Watson overcomes chargers of misdemeanor assault and team suspension) and Andrew Pinnock, it's even more likely USC will line up and hand it off.

Watson ran for 1,066 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, earning second-team All-SEC honors. His quick, shifty moves are in contrast to Pinnock's style, which is to thrust his 250-pound body into the line and move the pile.

Fifth-year senior Phil Petty solidified his standing as the team's No. 1 quarterback during the Spring Game, in which he completed 9 of 11 passes and led his team to touchdowns on its first two drives.

The biggest question might be to whom Petty will throw. His favorite target from a season ago, Jermale Kelly, is gone. Brian Scott, another fifth-year senior, is expected to pick up Kelly's load as the team's go-to guy. He had a break-out junior season in which he caught 35 balls for 560 yards, including 157 yards against Kentucky in a big road win last season.

Outback Bowl MVP Ryan Brewer is steady at the slot position and, along with Corey Alexander, gives the Gamecocks receivers who can turn a short pass into a long gain.

The Gamecocks have some lofty goals for this season and if they expect to knock Florida and Tennessee out of the way in the SEC East, a reliable kicking game must be part of the solution. Incoming freshman Josh Brown is Holtz's first scholarship kicker in three classes at USC.

Lindy's Football Annuals (National, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10, ACC, plus Pro) are available at newsstands regionally, or can be ordered as a set at www.lindyssports.com, or by calling 1-205-871-1182.