Sept. 28, 2004

Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina’s football team went through a physical full contact practice Tuesday afternoon as preparations continued for the Gamecocks’ matchup against Alabama this Saturday in Tuscaloosa. Kickoff time at Bryant-Denny Stadium will be shortly after 6 p.m. (eastern) with ESPN2 televising nationally.

* Tailback Demetris Summers, who has missed the past two games due to an ankle sprain, was able to get through the entire practice. Wide receiver Sidney Rice, who has been out the past three weeks with a hyperextended knee, also returned to full action.

* Following the workout, head coach Lou Holtz met with the media. Here are some of his comments: “We had a good day’s work. We got better today. Demetris Summers was able to work today. He showed some of his rustiness, as did Sidney Rice. Demetris didn’t seem to be bothered by his ankle. Our protection along the offensive line must get better. Na’Shan Goddard (starting right tackle) is having a great year. He’s really become a good football player. Either Joey Bowers or Josh Epps will kick off. We’ve been charting the kicks. I liked what I saw from our offensive guards today — Jon Alston, Chris Tucker, Freddy Saint-Preux and Chris White. They all did some good things. Noah Whiteside will still be our punt return man, but we will work more on that tomorrow (Wednesday). Today we concentrated on kickoff coverage. (on the media frenzy created by 39-year-old walk-on receiver Tim Frisby) “Tim has become really popular with our players. His attitude has been marvelous. He’s been totally unselfish. He just wants to help the team any way he can.” (on his team’s passing game) “We’ve been pretty accurate throwing the football. I think we can throw it effectively when we have to. I’d like to be able to get where we throw it when we want to. Our protection must get better for that to happen.” (on facing Mike Shula, now the Alabama head coach, after having coached against Shula in 1986 when he was the Crimson Tide quarterback. Alabama defeated Notre Dame 28-10 that year in Birmingham) “The main thing I remember about that game, was that it was 0-0 late in the first half. We had the ball and (quarterback) Steve Beurlein was running the option and the great linebacker from Alabama, Cornelius Bennett, hit him in the throat and he fumbled the football. They recovered and went down and scored. We weren’t the same after that. I also remember that every time I called that play the rest of the season, Beurlein checked out of it. I do remember that Mike Shula was a very good quarterback and they beat us that day.”

* Coach Holtz said that it was likely that freshman fullback Antonio Lamar would be redshirted, but freshman receiver Sidney Rice could possibly play this season.