Mitchell Pearce has shouldered the blame for the Sydney Roosters 2016 fall from grace, accepting his Australia Day embarrassment had wrought a big toll on the club.The former NSW Origin playmaker admits that he should wear a lot of the responsibility after his side slid from minor premiers to 15th this NRL season.The Roosters limped out of the blocks after Pearce was banned for eight weeks and sent to rehab to address personal problems following the emergence of the now infamous video of him simulating a sexual act with a dog.I had a lot of regret and a lot of shame, a lot of stuff going on for a long time and that didnt go away until I started to come back, Pearce told the Locker Room podcast.To be honest I still dont feel comfortable about it. We finished second last, I was a big reason for that.While injuries to Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Boyd Cordner as well as the departures of James Maloney and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck played their part in the sides slow start, Pearce said he had owned up to his failures.Pearce was fined $125,000 and ultimately lost his State of Origin jumper as a result of the scandal.The Roosters regained some semblance of form at the back end of the year, winning three of their last six - including against Brisbane and North Queensland - to salvage something from an otherwise forgettable year.The 27-year-old admitted that he had a point to prove in 2017 and wanted to demonstrate he was a changed man.For me I learnt my lesson, I thought I came back and played really good footy but I think Ive got a big year ahead of me, he said.Not because I owe anything ... But Ive got to earn respect back and really ram home that youve learnt your lesson. 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COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolinas quarterback situation remains unsettled after two games.Senior Perry Orth started the Gamecocks first two contests at Vanderbilt and Mississippi State. However, after trailing the Bulldogs 24-0 at the half, freshman Brandon McIlwain who took over in the second half and rallied the Gamecocks to two touchdowns in a 27-14 loss.Look for McIlwain to get even more playing time when South Carolina opens its home season against fired-up East Carolina, fresh off a victory over North Carolina State last week.Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp said his offensive staff has a pretty good idea wholl start against the Pirates, but like before the Vanderbilt game, will keep things under wraps until game time.Both are repping at the position, Muschamp said Tuesday.Theres no divide on the team about the quarterbacks, tailback A.J. Turner said, although each brings a different skillset to the position.The second half we played with a faster tempo and I feel like we do better when we play faster, Turner said. I think thats what Brandon McIlwain brings to the table.McIlwain was a highly regarded high-school passer who had offers to play from Auburn, Florida, Tennessee and UCLA among others. He was also a prized baseball prospect, who was tracking to be a high-round pick in the Major League Baseball draft last June before deciding to sign with the Gamecocks.Muschamp and quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper spent all spring and summer trying to whittle down a wide-open quarterback race. Orth had the experience after starting eight games last year while McIlwain and fellow freshman Jake Bentley are clearly South Carolinas future at the position.Orths experience won out early and he rallied South Carolina from 10-0 down at Vanderbilt in Week 1 for a 13-10 victory. Orth was less effective at Mississippi State, going 9 of 17 for 83 yards and an interception inn the first two quarters as the Gamecocks fell behind 24-0.dddddddddddd.Orth got little help, however, from South Carolinas offensive line or its running backs. Orth was sacked twice and the Gamecocks finished 34 yards on the ground.Muschamp said the more playing time McIlwain receives, the quicker hell adjust to the college game.The game will continue to slow down for these guys and theyll improve, Muschamp said.Turner, also a freshman, sounded like he had a preference at quarterback. Turner said McIlwain brings a greater sense of urgency on offense, something he believes can only help improve the unit. Hes not turning against Orth, who he believes is a talented leader instrumental to the Gamecocks lone victory so far.East Carolina coach Scottie Montgomery is prepping for Orths throwing and McIlwains ability to cause chaos to defenses with his dual-threat nature.All in all, it presents a tough challenge, Montgomery said.Even for South Carolina. Muschamp has several times if he had a player separate himself from the others at quarterback, that would be his starter. So far, that hasnt happened.Part of the problem is the opening half where the Gamecocks have zero points through two games.South Carolina offensive lineman Mason Zandi does not understand the slow starts -- or why the offense heats up after that.I cant pinpoint what worked for us in the second half, Zandi said. We just went to locker room, made some adjustments and moved on.Muschamp said the slow starts are on the coaches, who havent put players in position to excel early on. Felt like it was our execution, he said.The first-year coach hopes the right quarterback will get things going a bit faster on Saturday.---AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '