Oct. 4, 2006

The University of South Carolina football squad (3-2, 1-2 SEC) worked out for about two hours Wednesday afternoon at the Bluff Road practice fields. The Gamecocks will travel to Lexington, Ky. to face the Kentucky Wildcats (3-2, 1-1 SEC) on Saturday night. Game time is set for 7 p.m. and the contest will be televised nationally on ESPN2. Carolina fans attending the game in person will be able to hear the Gamecock Sports Network in the stadium on 88.7 FM.

Following the practice, Head Coach Steve Spurrier addressed the media:

“Another good hot day out here. The guys had a pretty good practice and we’re going to try to play better this week. We still haven’t played efficiently in the big games and we’re going to try to play better in this big game. It is a big game, because us and Kentucky are almost identical – 3-2 and lost to two good teams. One of us is trying to get up there and win enough to go to a bowl game.”

On the open date in the 2007 schedule prior to the Clemson game: “I’d just as soon play 12 straight. I’m not a big believer that open dates help you. I never have worried about open dates. That’s what we do in college. Pros don’t do it and they only have what? 50 players? We have 100 players. I’ve never understood (the need to have open dates).”

On Kenny McKinley: “He was out here running around today. Hopefully he can take a hit, but he’s running and catching ok.”

On the cooler temperatures expected at Kentucky: “It shouldn’t bother us. That’s good football weather around 50 (degrees).”

The team will return to the Bluff Road practice fields again on Thursday afternoon.