Nov. 8, 2006

The University of South Carolina football squad (5-4, 3-4 SEC) continued its preparations for Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. CBS tilt with sixth-ranked Florida (8-1, 6-1 SEC) by working out at the Bluff Road practice fields on Wednesday afternoon. The Gamecocks remain relatively healthy heading into the contest, as only reserve linebacker Curtis Rice (sprained foot) is listed as out for the week. Following the practice session, head coach Steve Spurrier met with the media:

On how quarterback Blake Mitchell has looked this week: “He’s looked fine. He’s throwing the ball well. Syvelle (Newton) looks fine. Everybody’s fine. No big news. We may have some secret lineup changes you never know about. You can’t divulge everything.”

On feeling any pressure in year two: “No. We all feel good. We’re disappointed we’ve been in position to beat some good teams and haven’t done it. We’re not there as far as having as strong of overall team as we’re going to have. I really believe we’re going to have an outstanding recruiting year this year. We need better play out of some positions, as we all know. We’re not discouraged. We knew it was going to be this when we got here.”

The Gamecocks will return to the practice fields on Thursday afternoon.