Nov. 17, 2002
Columbia, SC –
* South Carolina and Clemson prepare to battle for the 100th time on the football field this Saturday, Nov. 23, with ESPN carrying the game to a live national audience. Kickoff at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium is set for 7:45 p.m.
* It’s been 32 years (1969-70) since South Carolina has defeated Clemson in consecutive seasons. The Gamecocks prevailed 20-15 a year ago in Columbia.
* Injury update coming out of the Florida game — RB Thez Robinson (ankle sprain); S Jonathan Martin (shoulder bruise); S Corey Jenkins (neck strain). Alll will be re-evaluated on Monday.
* When asked Sunday about the Gamecock football team, head coach Lou Holtz said: “We don’t have a lot of confidence right now. We control the ball some, but we don’t have enough big play people. We moved the ball early in the Florida game and then had a few missed assignments and aren’t able to overcome them. We missed a field goal and continue to have problems on third down. The confidence level is a little down right now.”
* Coach Holtz said that one of the culprits for the team’s lack of productivity on offense was continued poor field position. “Over the last six games, I think our average starting position has been around our own 19 or 20-yard line,” said Holtz. “We don’t make the other team have to punt the ball deep in their own territory.”
* Coach Holtz admitted the team had done a “pretty good job” of protecting the football over the past couple of weeks, but that the defense’s inability to create turnovers had been a problem. “We have not intercepted a pass over the past five games,” said Holtz. “We are not forcing enough turnovers.”
* Coach Holtz said that placekicker Daniel Weaver, who has been in a slump of late, has been hitting the ball good in practice, but has not had the same consistency during pregame warmups or in the games. “I think Daniel Weaver is a good kicker,” said Holtz, “but, he has been inconsistent with his foot position. That seems to have been his biggest problem.”
* Coach Holtz hopes to have wide receiver Troy Williamson available for the Clemson game. Williamson did not travel to Florida because of a sore groin. “We checked on him as late as Friday morning before we left, but he could barely walk,” said Holtz.
* Coach Holtz said he would like for the Gamecocks to be playing better football as they prepare to enter the season-ending finale with Clemson. “I believe both teams will play their best games of the year,” said Holtz, who is no stranger to big rivalry contests. “We’re disappointed with how we’ve played fundamentally the past few weeks. It’s been frustrating. We’ve got the biggest game of the season ahead of us. There’s not much else that needs to be said.”
