Nov. 14, 2002

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina football team practiced for two hours Thursday, and now heads to Gainesville, Fla., Friday for this weekend’s battle with 14-ranked Florida. Kickoff Saturday is set for 6:01 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally by ESPN.

Gamecock Head Coach Lou Holtz said that he expects Ryan Brewer and Michael Ages to start and see the lion’s share of the time at wide receiver. “Ryan Brewer looks better than he has looked for a couple of weeks so I’m happy. I expect Ryan to play and to play extensively. Michael Ages will start, but how long will be able to go, I don’t know.”

Holtz also said that redshirt freshman walkon Michael Flint could see time at wide receiver Saturday. “I’ve watched him on the scout team all season and all he does is get open and catch balls. He’s not blessed with great speed but he has good awareness,” said Holtz.

The Carolina coach is still concerned with a couple of areas as Saturday approaches. “We didn’t look good again today in the passing game and on pass defense. We had some trouble in our man and zone coverages, and on third and long in practice today, our scout team converted 10 out of 12. I think we’re going to play hard and pretty well, but I’m really worried about our ability to throw and our ability to defend, especially on third down.

Holtz commented that both sophomore Dondrial Pinkins and senior Corey Jenkins will see time at quarterback, with Jenkins being the starter at free safety. “Dondrial will start at quarterback but Corey will play there. I’m not worried about Dondrial Saturday. We’re going to have to beat those people down there eventually, so we might as well find out if he’s ready Saturday. I also want to put our best defense out on the field; and with Corey Jenkins in that lineup, I believe – and I might be wrong – that gives us our best defense. Corey is very natural back there. He’s had a lot to learn in a short period of time, but you’ll also see him at quarterback,” he said.

Holtz believes the move of Jenkins to defense has made that unit better. “I want to strengthen our defense,” said Holtz. “One thing that I think we are getting on defense is a ‘toughness’ approach. I think we have a toughness about us that we haven’t had too strongly in the past. And I think Corey and (freshman linebacker) Ricardo Hurley really help us in that area.”

Holtz also noted that Deandre Eiland should see action at cornerback when Jenkins is playing Eiland’s previous position of free safety.