Oct. 3, 2004
Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina moved up into the national rankings this week following its 20-3 victory over Alabama Saturday in Tuscaloosa, a game that was televised nationally by ESPN2. The Gamecocks are #25 in the Associated Press poll, marking the first time since the third week of the 2003 season that they have been nationally ranked. USC received votes in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, but is not ranked among the top 25. The Gamecocks take on Ole Miss this Saturday (10/9) at Williams-Brice Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
o Injury update: QB Dondrial Pinkins (bruised right shoulder); DT Darrell Shropshire (neck sprain); FS Ko Simpson (left ankle sprain); LB Lance Laury (left knee sprain). All are listed as day to day.
o Here are some comments from coach Lou Holtz during Sunday’s media teleconference: (on being ranked #25): “Are they going to vote again next week? If they are, then it’s not that important right now. Every week, it’s a different team. I don’t like to address the polls and bowls during the season. If you win enough games, they will take care of themselves. What I’m more concerned with is how we prepare, how we come out and practice on Monday; are we going to get better? That’s what the focus will be … We did some good things against Alabama, but we also made a lot of mistakes. We can’t afford to fumble the ball deep in their territory like we did. Those were frustrating mistakes … (on the play of the defense) “Our defense is playing very well. They haven’t given up the big play. We’re playing a lot of people on defense. Moe Thompson had an outstanding game against Alabama. It’s a team defense that we are playing. There aren’t any stars on the defense … (on zero penalties vs. Alabama) “I can’t recall having a team go an entire game without getting penalized. I want to compliment our players. After the Troy game, they made a concentrated effort to focus and be more intelligent on the field … (on Dondrial Pinkins’ shoulder injury) “He’s going to have an MRI done on Monday. We’ll have to wait and see. If his shoulder continues like this, I would think we would start Syvelle (Newton), but we’ll have to see what the MRI shows.”
o A reminder about Coach Lou Holtz’s press conference this Monday, Oct. 4 at 12 noon in the Lettermen’s Lounge at Williams-Brice Stadium.
