Aug. 20, 2004
Columbia, S.C. –
* The South Carolina Gamecocks worked out in shells (shorts, shoulder pads, and helmets) Friday afternoon in preparation for their second scrimmage of the preseason Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium.
* There were no new injuries to report. An update on recruit Brandon Samuels: Samuels reported earlier this week, but did not pass his physical examination due to a low back condition, and will not play this season. He will enroll at USC this semester, however, and attend classes. His football future is undetermined at this time. He must pass his physical before he can be cleared to play. There was nothing new to report on the status of recruit Antonio Lamar, whose admission is still pending from the NCAA Clearinghouse.
* Following Friday’s workout, USC head coach Lou Holtz met with the media. Here are some of his comments: “Boy, our team’s gas tank is really running on empty right now. If people think the price of gas is high, they ought to check out our football team right now. But, I told them the gas truck was on the way and should be here by Sunday (when the team has the day off from football) … We need to get good rest tonight and come back with a good scrimmage on Saturday. I’m concerned about our depth along the offensive line. We really only have 6, maybe 7 who have shown they can play up there right now. I’m also not sure where we go once we get past the three receivers (Matthew Thomas, Noah Whiteside and Troy Williamson) … although, Sidney Rice has done some good things and made some plays during camp. He’s still awfully young … It’s hard to evaluate where we are. What we’re looking for Saturday is for us to execute and perform like we need to. Perform like we’ve practiced and see it on film. We’ll pretty much handle it like a real game, without all of the kicking game situations. We’ll have pregame warmups and change of possession on turnovers, etc. I think you’ll see us a lot of times with three wideouts, a tight end and one back. We’ll be in that formation a good bit.”
* Freshman defensive lineman Kevin Mainord, who had returned home to Tennessee due to the death of two of his closest friends, who were killed earlier in the week in an automobile accident, was back at practice on Friday. Fellow freshman Evan Spanogians, an offensive lineman from Westchester, Ohio, went home to attend the funeral of his grandfather, who passed away at the age of 96.
MEDIA NOTE – Following Saturday’s closed scrimmage, USC head coach Lou Holtz will be available to the media in the press room behind the lobby of the football building at approximately 2 p.m. Requested players will be available outside the locker room following the scrimmage.
