Feb. 7, 2007

Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier met with the media on Wednesday evening (February 7) to discuss this year’s recruiting class.

“I appreciate everyone coming out today as we talk about our (Spurrier) third recruiting class. Obviously it is rated the best, I guess maybe the best we have ever had here. I’m not sure about years past but ESPN.COM had us fourth and some of the others, sixth and seventh. It is sort of neat to see our name in there with Texas, Southern Cal, Florida and Notre Dame. A friend of mine said that he didn’t think he would ever see that name (South Carolina) with that group when it came to recruiting but that’s where we are and there are a lot of reasons that this has happened.”

“This is our third class here and most of our coaches have been here (for that time) and have built a base area. Our coaches have been out to the same high schools around South Carolina, Florida and a new state, North Carolina, came in this year and Georgia also.”

“The biggest reason we were able to put this together was because of the crowd noise, what our fans do, at the home football games. Even though we lost to Tennessee, Auburn, Arkansas at home here, I think the atmosphere that was shown on television was as good as about anywhere in the nation in big-time college football. I think recruits were out there and able to say, `I can play as big a time as there is right now at South Carolina and maybe that team needs a few more ball players to get over the hump to where they can win the SEC.’ I really appreciate ESPN putting us on so many times, those Thursday night games opening the season, it was tremendous help for us. Again, our fans, the noise they make, they fill the ballpark. Going to the Liberty Bowl, that game was seen over the country too and we probably had 5-1 fans compared to Houston. We have a tremendous following and all of that really plays a part in helping us recruit.”

“Our assistant coaches got out early and we were able to make contact with the players for a complete year. We started talking to these guys actually this day last year, probably a little bit before; it was year-round recruiting which almost everyone is doing. Our assistant coaches did a super job. Fred Chatham and Brad Lawing up in North Carolina with their contacts were helpful, David Reaves and Steve (Spurrier) Jr. down in Florida, Robert Gillespie was down there and our other coaches, Ron Cooper, Tyrone Nix and John Hunt, everybody pitched in and did a super job.”

“Beating Clemson, if you guys remember, I said right after the game that this is the breakthrough game that may change Carolina Football forever. Since that game, good things have happened to us. We were able to get the bowl bid, win that game somehow and get some momentum going into the recruiting season. So, that game was very helpful and I hope we can look back and again say that was the breakthrough game that maybe changed Carolina Football forever.”

“The new facilities, when the recruits came in here we were able to show them the plans and pictures of the new facilities here. Of course after this next football season, we have to start building. We have to get those facilities in place. It is a challenge to our fans out there, to help with that and they have done their part thus far and I’m sure they are going to pitch in and do their part in the future.”

“Our current players here, I’ve always thought your current players are very valuable in recruiting. They have to sell the coaches, the university, and the team to the recruits when they come in here. Our current guys were super and continue to be super. Class attendance, workouts have been by far the best since we have been here. We don’t have any problem with guys right now. It has been a fun bunch to work with. Mark Smith (strength and conditioning coach) has been happy now instead of complaining all the time. Players are on time, going to class and finally getting in a good habit to do things the right way. I want to brag on our current players right now also as we talk about the new recruits that are coming in.”

“We have excellent leaders. The Brinkley brothers, the Lindsey brothers, we have two sets of twins on defense that have been good leaders. Cory (Boyd) and Mike (Davis), Kenny McKinley, Jamon Meredith and Blake Mitchell; these guys are going to everything and are leading by example, which is what we need around here.”

“We have agreed to a deal with Under Armour, to be our apparel, shoe company and really outfit our football team here at South Carolina for several years. I’m not allowed to discuss numbers right now because its not signed or anything yet but we are going to end up with Under Armour, which is one of the up and coming apparel companies in the country. I really like their stuff. They make cool stuff that our players like and I think our fans are really going to like the uniform. We are going to add a little pizzazz to the uniform; we are still going to have the same colors but a little bit sharper and a little more flash. Our players have already seen them and we are excited about Under Armour. When the numbers come out, they are going to flabbergast some of you guys with comparison to what we have had in the past. This is a big time deal for South Carolina football to be associated with Under Armour. I know our coaches and players and athletic director (Eric Hyman) and everyone involved are excited.”

“We are making some progress around here and are heading in the right direction.”

“As far as the (recruiting) class in general, we are excited about all of these defensive linemen, wide receivers and defensive backs. We are a little light on linebackers, we have to sign four or five next year, maybe offensive linemen, we signed six or seven last year and two this year. Again, we feel we have a lot of good players with good attitudes that want to do well, graduate from school, be the best player they can be and help us win the SEC.”

“(The January newcomers) fit in real well with the other guys. The conditioning is similar to the other guys on the team so there is a good chance they will contribute this coming season.”

“I always like to allow guys to earn their way as they come. We are excited about all of them. In the past I have probably mentioned guys that I shouldn’t have and they didn’t make it. I want them to earn their way.”