March 23, 2005

Columbia, S.C. – o South Carolina’s football team worked out in full pads for the first time Wednesday afternoon. There was no tackling, however. That aspect of the game will come on Thursday.

o Following the workout, head coach Steve Spurrier said he wasn’t overly impressed with the performance of the offense. “The defense pretty much had its way today,” said Coach Spurrier. “We have a long ways to go offensively. The running backs did some good things, but we didn’t do a very good job of throwing or catching the ball. We even had a hard time snapping the ball to the quarterback. We must have mishandled that three or four times. The linemen aren’t blocking very well right now. Hopefully, that will improve on Thursday, when we go full speed. Right now, the defense has been dodging our offensive line pretty good. Our quarterbacks looked like a group that has a combined 100 yards passing between them. But, they will get better. Blake Mitchell is doing some good things. We need to get a decision on Mike Rathe (his appeal for a sixth year of eligibility is still pending). We need to know something in the next few days about him. Thursday, we’ll go full speed tackling. We’ll have the ole’ Oklahoma drill, with one-on-one tackling.”

o Injury update: Roverback Ko Simpson has a broken pinky finger on his left hand. His hand is in a cast and he will be re-evaluated in 10 days. RB Cory Boyd is out with a pulled hamstring. WR Travis Lee is out 10-14 days with a neck strain (incurred while he was lifting weights). WR Michael Flint (shoulder) and CB Fred Bennett (shoulder) are limited. OL Williams Brown (low back strain) and OL John Paul Gillis (back surgery) are out.

o The Gamecocks will have their first taste of tackling on Thursday. Practice begins at 4:15 at the practice facility along Bluff Road. Head coach Steve Spurrier will speak to the media following practice at approximately 6:05 p.m.