Sept. 22, 2009
Head Coach Steve Spurrier met with the media Tuesday afternoon to preview the Gamecocks’ Thursday night home game against #4/5 Ole Miss. The game will kickoff at 7:45 p.m. and will be broadcast by ESPN.
Opening Statement
“We’re looking forward to another national TV Thursday night big time ball game. Ole Miss is number four or five in the country. They really haven’t started the meat of their schedule yet. Hopefully we’ll be considered one of their tougher opponents as we go through. It’s a big conference game, big for them (and) big for us. It should be a heck of a ball game.”
On Ole Miss playing man to man defense
“It could be a little more man to man. Ole Miss has played a little more (man to man) than most teams, but they mix it up. They mix in their zones and pressures with their man to man. Right now they’ve played more than our first three opponents have, that’s for sure.”
On Jevan Snead
“He’s a good passer. Last year when we were out there I noticed the way the ball came out of his hand. He threw perfect spirals almost every time. Fortunately we had good pressure, knocked it out once and Nathan Pepper scooped it up and scored. As we know good defense can stop just about any (offense). He’s a good passer and can run it around a little bit. He’s one of the (best) around.”
On improvements
“Our defense is OK. Our offense is OK. We’re trying to get better in special teams as well. We’re trying to get better in every area. We haven’t dominated in any particular phase. We haven’t been terrible but the whole team’s trying to get better. We’ve had more injuries on defense than offense. Other than that we’re trying to get better in every phase, especially kickoff coverage and kickoffs.”
On Tori Gurley
“I’m really proud of Tori. This young man has worked hard. When he got here, he didn’t know much about playing receiver. I think Coach Cooper originally recruited him to play defense – strong safety or linebacker. (Tori) said, `I want to play wide receiver,’ and he has developed and improved. He runs good routes and catches the ball. That’s why he’s getting a lot of balls coming his way right now. He still makes some mistakes and he hasn’t played that much – he’s only played three collegiate games at wide receiver – so hopefully he’ll continue learning and so forth. He’s got a wonderful attitude. When a guy makes mistakes and has a wonderful attitude, you don’t worry about it too much. You know he’ll fix it.”
On playing Thursday night games on ESPN
“Everyone watches. I know I watch Thursday night games. There’s no competition on any other channels, so the ratings are usually good if it’s a close game.”
On the Ole Miss defense
“Their defense has been very good. I don’t know where it was all ranked last year, but I know they haven’t lost a game in about a year now, so they’re on a winning streak. They’re doing what’s necessary to win the games. Team speed at Ole Miss is very good. Houston Nutt and his staff have done an excellent job there. They’ve inherited good players and have done a good job.”
On receivers
“Jason Barnes is doing fine, he and Moe Brown. Some weeks some guys get more (catches) than others. That’s football. It’s a team sport. We ask our guys to go do the best you can and be happy for your teammates if they have the opportunity to be a bigger part of the game than you are some weeks.”
On the WildHog formation used by Ole Miss
“It keeps you loose. The Miami Dolphins ran it last night a bunch and made a bunch of yards. It requires the defensive staff to have a plan for that formation. We pretty much sort of know it. Most teams run the same plays out of it, but you don’t know which one they’re coming with. Ellis Johnson made adjustments last year at halftime…we stopped it once or twice and they quit doing it. That’s what we have to do. We have to stop it a few times and they’ll go back to the normal offense with Snead.”
