Nov. 23, 2009

The University of South Carolina football team (6-5) returned to the Bluff Road practice fields Monday night. The Gamecocks will host Clemson (8-3) for the Palmetto State bragging rights on Saturday, November 28. Game time is set for noon at Williams-Brice Stadium and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN.

“Everybody came back, everybody was healthy,” said head coach Steve Spurrier following the workout and a weekend off for his troops. “We didn’t lose anybody over the weekend. I never paid a lot of attention to open dates,” continued Coach Spurrier when asked how the layoff might affect his team. “Sometimes you play well afterwards, sometimes you don’t. Hopefully we’ll play a lot better than the last time we played these guys. But we’re a different team and they’re a different team. It should be a heck of a game.”

Quintin Richardson took most of the reps at the right tackle position tonight while Hutch Eckerson continues to nurse a sore shoulder. Defensive end Cliff Matthews should be close to 100 percent health-wise, according to Coach Spurrier. Reid McCollum missed Monday’s practice due to illness. Zac Brindise would be the number two quarterback if McCollum is not able to go on Saturday. “Zac threw the ball around pretty well tonight,” said the Head Ball Coach.

Coach Spurrier was very complimentary of the Tigers. “(C.J. Spiller) is really a big time running back. He’s certainly got a long career in the NFL I think. He’s one of the best, there’s no question about that. (Defensively) they’re right there (with the best). They’re in the top 10 or 15 in the nation in almost every defensive category. They have 20 interceptions. That sounds amazing to us. They’re very good defensively all the way around. And well-coached. Kevin Steele has done a good job with those guys.”

The Gamecocks will practice again on Tuesday afternoon.