Dec. 4, 2005

Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier met with the media on Sunday evening. The Gamecocks will compete at the Independence Bowl against Missouri. The game is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 30 with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

(Opening statement)
“We are excited to be going to the Independence Bowl representing the University of South Carolina against the University of Missouri. I actually played against Missouri, myself, in the (1966) Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. This is my next contest against them. We are excited to be there. We are very happy for our players. This will be the first trip for just about all of them. Some of the fifth year players were freshmen when South Carolina went to the Outback Bowl. It will be their first experience and we are going to try to have a good time and play our best game of the season. We will see what happens in Shreveport on December 30th.

(On the bowl game for the team)
“We realize how far this team came and the close games we won. We are really excited to be in a bowl game and going to Shreveport. Hopefully when we leave, those Shreveport people will say `Hey those South Carolina guys are a lot of fun and they came to play.”

(on visiting Shreveport previously)
“I recruited Brock Berlin back in 1998 or 1999 so I was there then and I have some friends that live there. Of course we all know Tim Brando (CBS-TV). He will be around I’m sure most of the week. I think Hal Sutton the golfer lives in Shreveport and a buddy of mine, Billy Joe Tolliver that played in the NFL as a quarterback is from there. I’m sure he will be hanging around practices.”

(On Missouri)
“I have seen tape of Missouri because they played Troy (2005 Gamecock opponent). They clobbered Troy about a week before we played them. So we got a chance to watch them. (Brad Smith) is very elusive (at quarterback). Watched their offense get in the shotgun and he can run and throw. They are an excellent team.”

(On the bowl game)
“Most coaches will tell you it is very important to win that last one. That’s all that anyone talks about. Ask LSU how important it is to win your last game. I guess it’s the way life is. If you win the last one you are hot, if you lose it you are not very hot. Everybody that wins a bowl game is a little happier through the off-season. We will try our best to win one.”