April 8, 2005

COLUMBIA, SC – The South Carolina football team practiced Friday afternoon on the practice fields. USC cancelled the practice after an hour due to reported lightening in the area.

USC will practice again on Monday, April 11 before holding another scrimmage at Williams-Brice Stadium on Wednesday, April 13 at 5 pm. The scrimmage is open to the public.

Following are comments from head coach Steve Spurrier:

“The quarterbacks threw the ball for an hour in the stadium before we went out on the practice field (3-4 pm). We had some good throws and some bad throws. We have a long way to go, but we have a lot of time. Blake Mitchell and Antonio Heffner have stepped ahead. The quarterbacks are on progress, but they need a lot of work. If there was a clear cut guy we’d say he’s our quarterback and he’d be No. 1 all summer. But that isn’t the case right now.

“We got a decent amount of stuff done today. We may have saved somebody from getting hurt.

“In the scrimmage on Wednesday we saw (on film) the pass protection was ugly and the run blocking wasn’t pretty either. Maybe they don’t know their assignments as well as they should. If they block their assignments, we could make the plays. I have been pleased with the defense. There are a lot of guys doing well.

“As far as the depth chart (coming out of spring practice), we will know who’s starting when we start practice (in August), but we won’t know all the starters for our first game. If we haven’t named a No. 1 quarterback by then, then it will probably be the week before the season starts.”

Updated Injury Report: OL Eric Stroman: foot (day to day); Charles Silas: foot (day to day); RB Cory Boyd: left hamstring (day-to-day); DL Matt Raysor: right ankle (day-to-day), WR Travis Lee: neck strain (out). WR Michael Flint (shoulder) and CB Fred Bennett (shoulder) are limited. OL William Brown (low back strain) and OL John Paul Gillis (back surgery) are out.