Sept. 22, 2005

The South Carolina football team worked out for 90 minutes Thursday as they continued their preparations for Saturday’s 7 p.m. contest with Troy. Following the workout, head coach Steve Spurrier addressed the media:

“Practices have been a little better, but that doesn’t guarantee anything except that we practiced better and hopefully will play with a lot more effort and a lot more enthusiasm this Saturday night. I think our guys will play better and hopefully we’ll coach better. We haven’t been coaching like superstar coaches the last few of games either. We need to put our players in position and let them play. Hopefully when they’re in position they’ll make a play.

“I think Marvin Sapp is the starting inside linebacker. We’re going to let him play. James Thompson is the starting right guard. He’s got a chance to play the whole game if he holds up and plays his assignments and doesn’t get beat.

“Our two defensive ends are new guys, (Charles) Silas and (Jordin) Lindsey. Nathan Pepper is going to play a little bit inside with the second group. Dakota Walker is set to play some. I think Stoney Woodson and Tremaine (Tyler) are starting at corners. Carlos (Thomas) will play a little bit in situations.

“I just think (the young guys) deserve to play. We’re going to watch some guys for so long and then you’ve got to give the next guy a chance. That’s what we’ll continue to do.

“We’re going to put (Antonio Heffner) in and let him play. I’ve made up my mind he deserves a chance. We’re going to let him go back and throw the ball around and see what happens.

“We hope to run better and hope to stop the run better since we’re at about the bottom of Division I football in both categories. We’re going to try to get out of the bottom if we can. I don’t know if we can but we’re going to try.”

INJURY REPORT: Tight end Jonathan Hannah (right ankle sprain), linebacker Lance Laury (infection in right elbow), running back Taylor Rank (ankle sprain), defensive end Shea McKeen (lower back) and tight end Andy Boyd (right knee sprain) are all out for this weekend. Offensive guard Freddy Saint-Preux remains doubtful with a right ankle sprain.