Oct. 16, 2003

Columbia, S.C. – * South Carolina had an upbeat practice Thursday, as the Gamecocks’ showdown with #10 LSU is now less than 48 hours away. Kickoff Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium is 7:45 p.m. with ESPN2 televising live across the country. The game is a sellout. An overflow crowd in excess of 81,000 is anticipated.

* Comments from head coach Lou Holtz: “We’ve had a good week’s practice. We’re banged up and will go into the game without three defensive starters. That will be tough to overcome, but we are going to play the players who are healthy and have practiced and go from there. LSU is just an excellent football team and I expect them to play very well, but I think our team will play well, also.” *

Injury update: Three players who are injured will not dress, including DE George Gause (knee sprain); S Andrea Gause (shoulder strain); and S Jamacia Jackson (low back strain). LB Jeremiah Garrison will dress but has been slowed with a pulled hamstring. OT Travelle Wharton will dress and could play but is still nursing a sprained ankle.

More comments from Lou Holtz: “Our four safeties will be Jermaine Harris, Corey Peoples, Rodriques Wilson and Rachiem Monroe, who we moved over to safety on Wednesday. I would like to see Travelle (Wharton) in the lineup. If there’s any way possible for that to happen, I would like to see it. He’s a great leader and tremendous competitor. A lot of it depends on how he progresses between now and game time Saturday. Darel Slay will start at the one defensive end position. Behind him is a walk-on, Seth Edwards, who has played maybe two plays. We’re thin there. If Garrison can’t go, then Rod Thomas will start at linebacker.”