April 30, 2002

Columbia, SC –
On the SEC coaches teleconference today, USC head coach Lou Holtz stated that tailback/wide receiver Ryan Brewer would be undergoing surgery to repair an injury to his left ankle. Here is more information on that situation, along with a quote from Coach Holtz:

* Brewer has been bothered with an ankle injury he first suffered at this past year’s Outback Bowl game against Ohio State. He re-injured the ankle in one of the final scrimmages during spring practice.

* After having previously been examined by USC’s medical group, he is scheduled to travel to Birmingham, Ala., this afternoon for further consultation from Dr. James Andrews and Dr. Goul of the Alabama Sports Medicine Group, which is part of USC’s second medical opinion group. Once that consultation is complete, he could undergo surgery as early as tomorrow (Wednesday) in Birmingham. The surgery will be to repair injured tendons in Brewer’s left ankle. After surgery, his ankle will be placed in a cast for 4-6 weeks, after which time his condition will be reevaluated and rehab will begin.

* Additionally, backup tailback Thez Robinson is likely to undergo arthroscopic surgery after finals are over this semester due to a sprained right knee.

* quote from Coach Holtz: “I was feeling pretty good about our running back situation until I received the news about Ryan Brewer late last night. I always felt we could be pretty good at running back, even with the loss of Derek Watson, as long as we stayed healthy, and now, I’m not so sure. I have no idea what we are going to do at running back.”

* Other comments from Coach Holtz: (on the Gamecocks’ spring practice) – “I felt good about our spring practice. Of course, I can’t recall hearing a coach ever say he wasn’t pleased with his team’s spring practice or that he wasn’t pleased with his recruiting class … (on how recruiting has changed since he first began coaching) – “The main thing that has changed is the amount of time you are given to visit with and evaluate a prospect. You used to have unlimited time; now that time is limited. The internet and email have changed recruiting, as has the ability to travel across country. It’s nothing now for a young man to get on an airplane and travel 1,000 miles across country and play college football. That used to not be the case … (on the image of the SEC, in light of recent recruiting violations at Alabama and Kentucky) – “I think it speaks well for the SEC that these types of irregularities have been brought to light and have been dealt with. You’d be concerned if they had not been addressed. Everyone wants a level playing field. That may be difficult to do, but that’s what everyone is striving for. I can recall that during my days in the Southwest Conference, that wasn’t always necessarily the case.”