Nov. 17, 2009

The University of South Carolina football team (6-5, 3-5 SEC) worked out Tuesday afternoon at the Bluff Road practice fields. It was the squad’s first workout since dropping a 24-14 decision to top-ranked Florida last Saturday night. The team is enjoying its only bye week of the season this weekend, and will host Clemson 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.

“We practiced a little fundamentals – this, that and the other – and tried to get a little bit better today,” said head coach Steve Spurrier following Tuesday’s practice. “(Clemson) has a good team. They have a very good overall team – offense, defense, special teams.

“We’ve got a bunch of young guys who are playing hard,” continued the Head Ball Coach. “We’ve got good spirit, good attitudes. We’ve won a few close ones, we’ve lost a few sorta close ones. We’ve won six and lost five. That’s where we are. If we’re fortunate to win the last one we’ll have a very good year; if we don’t we’ll have a very average year. Simple as that.”

Punter/placekicker Spencer Lanning (shoulder) and deep snapper Charles Turner were both donning yellow (injured) jerseys on Tuesday. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen the snapper and kicker in gold on the same day,” commented Coach Spurrier. “In all my years, I’ve never seen that, so that’s a first.”

The Gamecocks will return the practice fields on Wednesday afternoon.