Nov. 10, 2008

The University of South Carolina football team took to the Bluff Road practice fields Monday night as they began preparations for Saturday’s SEC showdown in The Swamp against the Florida Gators. The Gamecocks (7-3, 4-3 SEC) enter the game ranked 24th in the Associated Press poll and 23rd in the USA Today/Coaches poll, while the Gators (8-1, 6-1 SEC) are ranked third in both national polls. The game will be televised nationally on CBS with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m.

Following Monday’s workout, head coach Steve Spurrier indicated that the team had a good practice on a rather cool night in Columbia. He also thought the story line of his return to Florida was not relevant this time around. “I think that’s pretty old,” said Coach Spurrier. “I think there’s a lot more on the line for those guys and, of course, South Carolina’s never beaten Florida down there.”

Safety Chris Culliver extended a public apology to the Gamecock nation for his actions in Saturday’s win over Arkansas. Culliver will sit out the first half of Saturday’s game at Florida after a scuffle took place in the final minute of last week’s game.

The Gamecocks will return the practice fields on Tuesday afternoon.