Aug. 10, 2009

The University of South Carolina football squad returned to the Bluff Road Proving Grounds Monday night for a two hour practice in full pads. It was the Gamecocks first workout since Saturday, as they took Sunday off for their annual Media Day.

“It was a so-so practice,” said head coach Steve Spurrier following the workout. “Our receivers dropped two or three potential big-play balls, (we) jumped offsides two or three times and fumbled the snap from the center again, so we didn’t make a lot of progress tonight. We’ll try again tomorrow night. We’ll try to scrimmage a little bit with the guys (Tuesday). We’re not a sharp team,” continued Coach Spurrier. “We play undisciplined. We haven’t corrected that yet, especially the offensive guys. We’ll keep trying. Coach (Eric) Wolford’s trying to get these guys to line up correctly and stay onside and get the snaps back, but we’ve got a little ways to go. We’ll keep working on it.”

The quarterbacks were one of the first groups to make it out to the practice fields on Monday. “We did a little extra throwing,” said Coach Spurrier. “We’re trying to throw better. We’re not accurate passers. Hopefully Stephen (Garcia) is making some progress.”

At least one freshman wide receiver has caught Coach Spurrier’s eye early on. “Alshon Jeffery had another two or three big catches, so we’ve got to find out how to get him on the field right now because he can catch. He’s a sure catcher – we don’t have a lot of sure catchers right now.”

Cornerback Akeem Auguste was back on the field tonight after sitting out the first several practices with a groin injury.

The Gamecocks will return to the practice field on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. The practice is closed to the public. The Gamecocks will also flip their practice schedules on Wednesday and Thursday, with Thursday now scheduled for a two-a-day, while Wednesday is scheduled for just one evening practice.