Sept. 28, 2011

The No. 10/9 South Carolina Gamecocks returned to the Bluff Road practice fields Wednesday afternoon.

The Gamecocks (4-0, 2-0 SEC) are preparing for their Saturday afternoon SEC showdown with the Auburn Tigers (3-1, 1-0 SEC). The game will be televised nationally on CBS, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Spero Dedes and Steve Beuerlein will call the action with Otis Livingston working the sidelines.

Following practice running backs coach Jay Graham was asked how many carries he expected Marcus Lattimore to have on Saturday. “As many as it takes to win,” said Graham. “We try to get some other guys in. Brandon (Wilds) got in there. (Eric) Baker got in there and did a really good job, but as much as it takes. It depends on how the game goes.” Graham was uncertain if Kenny Miles would be able to play this week after missing last week with a wrist injury. “He’s out here practicing. That’s the thing that’s important. He’s not wearing a yellow jersey. He’s out here trying to catch balls and doing all that stuff and he’s catching them pretty well. It just depends on how he feels. I think it’s a game time decision.”

Freshman wide receiver Damiere Byrd is looking forward to his first collegiate action on Saturday. “It’s going to be exciting,” said Byrd. “It’s been a long week. These past four weeks have been like an extended preseason for me so I’m ready to be out there on the field and finally put on the Gamecock uniform. It’s been hard (sitting out) but my teammates have helped me a lot. We have a good supporting staff around here at South Carolina. I didn’t know what the NCAA was going to do, but I’m ready to get back on the field and that’s all I’m really worried about, and ready to put it all behind me. I’m just getting ready for Saturday.”

The Gamecocks will return to the practice fields on Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m.