Aug. 23, 2007

The South Carolina Gamecocks worked out during the late afternoon at the Bluff Road practice fields on Thursday as fall semester classes began at the University. The squad practiced in helmets, shoulder pads and shorts for about two hours on Thursday.

Following the practice, Head Coach Steve Spurrier commented on Blake Mitchell’s one-game suspension:

“From what I understand, Blake is trying to appeal his situation. I was told he was out. If he’s out, Chris Smelley will start the game (a week from Saturday against Louisiana-Lafayette). If Blake’s in, Blake will start the game. I was told he was out, but he may get back in. I don’t know. I’m just down here waiting for them to tell me what’s going on and we’ll go from there. That’s the way the ball bounces. Blake should have gone to class better this summer. I know that. So if he has to miss one (game), we’ll live with it. But if he’s eligible to play, we’ll live with that, too. I’m flexible either way. I’m 100 percent behind our class attendance policy. If they’re supposed to miss (a game), they miss. That’s our policy and we’ll adhere to it. I’m for our class attendance policy.”

Tailback Mike Davis was held out of practice on Thursday while nursing a sore left shoulder, suffered in Wednesday’s scrimmage. Linebacker Jasper Brinkley (left ankle sprain) was also held out, as was wide receiver Joe Hills (right knee sprain) and tailback Bobby Wallace (fractured right clavicle). Running back Taylor Rank did not participate in contact drills due to a right shoulder strain.

The Gamecocks will return to the practice fields on Friday afternoon at 4:15 p.m.