Nov. 13, 2006

The University of South Carolina football squad (5-5, 3-5 SEC) began its preparations for Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. contest at Williams-Brice Stadium with Middle Tennessee (7-3, 6-0 Sun Belt) by working out at the Bluff Road practice fields on Monday evening.

Head Coach Steve Spurrier announced that both defensive tackle Stanley Doughty and linebacker Dakota Walker had returned to the team. Both players left the squad last week and were not on the travel roster to Florida. Running back Cory Boyd practiced despite injuring his left hand in Saturday’s loss at Florida. Linebacker Cody Wells did not practice and is listed as questionable after suffering a left biceps injury at Florida. Running back Mike Davis did not practice on Monday due to a boil on his thigh. He is listed as probable for Saturday’s home finale against the Blue Raiders.

Following the session, head coach Steve Spurrier met with the media:

On Middle Tennessee: “Pretty good team – 7-3. Of course (former USC assistant) Rick Stockstill is there. They’re a game away (from winning their conference). They’ve had an excellent year – bowl eligible. It will be a difficult game, as all of ours are.”

On the return on Doughty and Walker: “Two of our lost children are back in the fold for right now. I think Dakota had a change of heart and we’re giving him a second chance. He’s on his last chance and so is Stanley. Hopefully their attitudes will improve and try to be excellent student-athletes. Sometimes when some players think they should be playing more than they are, they think transfer is the answer. Then they talk it over with some people and realize that they’re just running away from their problems. I think a lot of people told him he needed to stick it out. So we’ll see. Hopefully he will. He’s one of the best athletes on the team.”

On his reprimand from the SEC: “I deserved it. I’m glad I got it and I’m not talking about the refereeing anymore this year. Sometimes when you have to defend your players, you get one of those. It’s not the first one I’ve ever had. I hope it’s the last.”

On Butch Davis being hired at North Carolina: “He’s a good coach. I know Butch a little bit. He’ll do well there, no question about it. Did they pay him that two and a half (million dollars) that I was reading about?”

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