Sept. 25, 2006

University of South Carolina wide receiver Sidney Rice has been honored as the Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his record-setting performance against Florida Atlantic last Saturday night.

Rice, a sophomore from Gaffney, S.C., caught nine passes for 161 yards and a school record five touchdowns in Carolina’s 45-6 win over FAU. The five touchdown receptions also tied the SEC single game record. The 6-4, 202-pounder caught TD strikes from 23, 21, 8, 41 and 19 yards out, all from quarterback Syvelle Newton. He left the game with over 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter.

In just 15 collegiate games, Rice has caught 18 touchdown passes, just one shy of the school record, jointly held by Robert Brooks (1988-91) and Jermale Kelly (1997-00).

Rice and the rest of the Gamecocks will be in action Thursday, when they host the second-ranked Auburn Tigers at Williams-Brice Stadium. Game time is set for 7:47 p.m. and the contest will be televised nationally on ESPN.