Oct. 3, 2009

Recap | Final Stats | Notes | Photo Gallery

South Carolina

Coach Spurrier

Opening Statement
The game was about like Florida Atlantic, a very similarly done game. Very close at halftime and somehow we scored three touchdowns in the third and got one more in the fourth but it was a very similar game. South Carolina State is a good team, we knew that, they just played with us. They played just as well as we did in the first half, maybe a little bit better. And we were gracious for the interference call, which it probably was. It was a good call for us and we almost fumbled on the one-yard line but fortunately it hit the ground. We just weren’t playing very well.

At halftime we said what we said before the game `Just keep playing.’ And our guys played much better in the second half. Stephen Garcia made the best throws he’s made since he’s been here especially on the corner-route and the take off route to Moe Brown. And Moe Brown had his best half ever as a Gamecock. Brian Maddox had a slow start in the first half. He had a fumble and missed a few blocks here and there. But it turned out to be a good, solid, hard-earned victory. I’m proud of our guys and the way they just kept battling and how they kept their composure and winning by three touchdowns or so. But we’re glad it’s over, we wish South Carolina State the best. I think that they are certainly capable of winning their conference again. We’ll start looking forward to Kentucky next week.

On adjustments made at half time
We didn’t do anything particular except these are the runs we want to run and these are the passes we still want to get off. We were able to get some off. But the first half was just a struggle. They rushed well, covered well and didn’t run too well at times. All three of the tailbacks had their moments. It was sort of interesting that we’ve got three running backs average at around six yards a carry. It was good, all three of them contributed. It keeps them all in the play. Brian Maddox didn’t know he was going to be in there in the first quarter. Jarvis Giles missed a block and Kenny Miles missed a block so I said `Brian, you can block that blitzing guy off the corner and run the ball.’ So it was just nice that they were all able to contribute to a win.

On the touchdown in the fourth quarter
It was a `put the ball in the air’ and see if Alshon [Jeffery] can jump higher than their guy. It was very similar to the way people play football now. As you can see, Alshon can go get it and that’s a play we’re going to use more often. But he threw a very nice ball. It was not out of the ballpark and where Alshon can plant his feet and go up and get it. And he knows how to do that obviously really well.

On offensive line struggle
They struggled early and they struggle early two years ago against S.C. State but we were able to run the ball a bit and that probably helped out. We thought we could run and throw and we didn’t do either one very well in the first half.

On Reid McCollum
He did okay. He threw a one-hopper and I asked if he got hit and he said no he just sort of short armed it a bit. But he did okay and I wish he could’ve had a chance to throw a few more. He did really well at practice this week. He’ll be ready if needed.

Clifton Geathers

Thoughts on the game
I think we played okay. We didn’t execute the way we should have. South Carolina State executed pretty good. They did everything right. We respect them.

On halftime adjustments
We just knew we had to pick things up. From now on, we need to pick it up in the first half.

Thoughts on his personal performance
This was my best game since I came back. I actually got in a rhythm this game, and hopefully I’ll get in a rhythm for the rest of the year.

On the defensive line
I think the defensive line is going to hold their ground. We just need to keep on doing what we’re doing. We’re trying our best to do better every week.

Eric Norwood

On the second half
I think we just needed a little spark. That was it. I think we got it. The momentum definitely changed in the second half. We made a couple of stops and anytime you block a field goal or any type of kick, the odds of winning the game are pretty good.

Thoughts on the field goal block
D.J. Swearinger opened it up on the outside. The wing just bit on him, and I just shot through. It’s the same thing we do in practice.

Stephen Garcia

On the play of the team for the game
We got off to a rough start in the first half. We came into the second half and got a turnover, and blocked a field goal. We definitely came out with a little more fire in the second half, which we really had to do. In the end, it came out well.

On the play of wide receiver Moe Brown
Moe played very well tonight. After starting out with that fumble in the first half, he made atonement for that with two touchdowns catches. He ran some great routes tonight, and got open on some man coverage. It was a really big night for him.

Kenny Miles

On the sluggish start for the offense in the first half
We just came out flat. We went into halftime, and coaches made a couple of adjustments. Then, in the second half we just came out ready to play, and you saw what we could do when the ball got rolling.

On how it felt to get his first career touchdown
It was great to get your first touchdown. I had my adrenaline running, and I just got in there. It was a stupid thing for me to do to get the unsportsmanlike like penalty. It was a stupid penalty, and I paid for it. I have apologized to the players, and the coaching staff.

Moe Brown

On the big performance that he had tonight
I just can’t believe it right now. Wow it was great to go out there, and play like that tonight. I haven’t had a two-touchdown night since high school. So it was definitely a good feeling.

On the play of S.C. State
They are a very good team, and they go out there and play with heart. They are very physical, and well coached. They should definitely have a good season. I think that they were 3-0 coming into this game, and I could see why. They definitely had players that were capable of playing on the Division I level with us. They played with great, great character, and I wish them luck.

On what was said at halftime to fire the team up
Coach just challenged us. We want to be a good team this year. We want to get to the top this year, and win the SEC. He just challenged us to step our game up. Some of the defensive players did the same thing to fire us up, and we responded to it. I will take the blame for the poor first half. I definitely had one of the worst first halfs with a fumble and a dropped ball. When you are a team captain, people are expecting you to step up and make some plays.

South Carolina State

Coach Pough

Opening statement
I thought we played pretty good for a half and hung in there, but I don’t think we took advantage of all the opportunities that we had. I thought our kids played hard all the time. We don’t talk about winning and losing in our program. We talk about playing your best, and I think that we did play as hard as we could. I was proud of the fact that our kids played hard.

About Derrick Wiley
He’s a pretty good player, seeing what he does. He gives them a curveball because his whole style of play is different than Malcolm’s. Of course you can see the good in both of those guys. They can both do good things for us. Wiley is the kind of guy who is a playmaker of sorts. He can make a play for us, and sometimes he can make plays for them.

On the South Carolina defense
Check this out, they did not have a sack. That’s big in our thought process because, we were able to hold up under the pressure of what they do. If you really want to get after us, we can get you off of us.

That is a really good defensive football team. You have to spread yourself a little bit and get out of the box in order to make a play against them.

Terrance Smith

The feeling in the locker room after the game
It was the same as two years ago. We came into the game expecting a shot at the world and I said that we could accomplish our goal. It hurts to have to go through this again. Two years ago, we were a first half team, we could never finish the second half. It’s difficult to break old habits. We are just trying to do the best we can right now.

What was the thinking after the first half in the locker room?
After the first half we actually told all of the players to calm down. The players were really excited to be in that spot. We felt like we could do this. It was all about us believing in ourselves. Everyone came into the locker room with an attitude like this is where we are supposed to be. Just being able to score and be this tight against a top team like South Carolina is an accomplishment.

About playing both sides
I was used mostly in the red zone. It gave me a chance to beat up against the other offense: the receivers and tight ends. Playing today made me realize you have to be patient. You can’t be a ball hog. Every chance that you get you have to make the best of it. It’s all about being patient and taking time and then when you get the chance, you have to explode. I love football, wherever I can play it, offense or defense, it doesn’t matter. I’ve been playing both ways all of my life, since I was 5 years old. It comes natural for me. Being in college has forced me to step up on defense.

Malcolm Young

The offensive line has been doing well all year. I’m very proud of those guys. The guys really stepped up tonight. They did what they had to do.

About scoring before the half
I was just trying to get some momentum going into halftime. I was just working with what defense was giving me. The offensive line was doing great blocking, the receivers were doing great catching. Coach was actually calling that play, and I didn’t want to let him down.

If it’s 10 on in you can count on me trying to get it into the end zone every time. I’m not a speedy guy, but I have a lot of power behind me.

About what changed in the second half
Nothing in my mind changed, I tried to keep my composure. I tried to keep the guys upbeat. I told them not to give up, not to give in.