Nov. 3, 2008

The University of South Carolina football team returned to the practice fields Monday night as they began their preparations for Saturday’s SEC contest against Arkansas. The Gamecocks (6-3, 3-3 SEC) and Razorbacks (4-5, 1-4 SEC) will kick off at 1 p.m. ET at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia. The game will be televised live throughout the Palmetto State on a pay-per-view basis and will be available throughout the rest of the country as part of ESPN’s GamePlan package.

“Arkansas is a team that has really improved as the season has progressed,” said Gamecocks’ head coach Steve Spurrier following the practice session. “They’ve lost some close ones like a lot of us, but they beat a very good Tulsa team last week and they’re coming in here ready to play. It should be a heck of a game.”

Both quarterback Stephen Garcia and tailback Eric Baker were full go at practice on Monday after leaving Saturday’s game with injuries. Coach Spurrier also announced that offensive guard Lemuel Jeanpierre would not require surgery on his injured right knee. “We had three guys laying there like they were dead and two of them are out practicing tonight,” said Coach Spurrier.

Coach Spurrier was asked about the coaching situation at Tennessee. “I don’t know whether to feel sorry for Coach (Fulmer) or congratulate him on the biggest buyout in the history of college football. He got the best deal ever, I think. He won some games last year. He got a good deal. 16 or 17 years there is probably long enough. It wasn’t working very well, so I think everybody understands when it starts going bad you have to make a change. We all know that. But congratulate him on hitting that lottery ticket.” Coach Spurrier made it clear that he is not a candidate to become the next Volunteer head coach. “They’ll hire a guy who wants to stay 10 or 15 years, which is probably what they should do.”

With the injury to Jeanpierre, Hutch Eckerson is currently listed atop the depth chart at left guard, according to Coach Spurrier. Coach also noted that offensive guard Heath Batchelor has some medical issues and will be dropping out of school. “Hopefully he will be back in January.”

The Gamecocks will return to the practice fields on Tuesday afternoon.