March 16, 2010

The University of South Carolina football squad returned to the Bluff Road practice fields Tuesday night. The team worked out for two hours in helmets and shorts in its second of 15 spring practices.

“We had a spirited practice tonight,” said head coach Steve Spurrier following the workout. “Guys were moving around pretty quickly. We may have made a little progress tonight. Everybody got a lot of snaps, a lot of reps and nobody got hurt, so I thought it was a decent practice. Everybody was running around at a pretty good pace tonight.”

The Gamecocks had a special guest address the team today, as former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy was in town. “Tony emphasized hard work and team work. Our guys seemed to do that better tonight.”

Coach Spurrier was asked what quarterback Stephen Garcia needed to do to make the next step. “He needs to learn how to play,” said Coach Spurrier. “He needs to get the ball out of his hand. He’s doing better. He needs to not take sacks, get the ball out of his hand, play smart, be a better passer, all kinds of stuff. If we’re going to have a big year, our quarterbacks got to really play well and our line has to play well.”

The Gamecocks will try to take advantage of the good weather forecast for the remainder of the week by practicing both Thursday and Friday afternoons before holding their first scrimmage on Saturday morning. Thursday’s practice is scheduled for 4 p.m.