Nov. 11, 2009

The University of South Carolina football squad worked out at the indoor practice facility on Wednesday afternoon. It was the second straight day rain in the Columbia area forced the squad indoors. The Gamecocks (6-4, 3-4 SEC) are preparing for Saturday’s SEC showdown with top-ranked Florida (9-0, 7-0 SEC). Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia. The game will be televised nationally by CBS.

The Gamecocks will be without defensive end Devin Taylor on Saturday. Taylor suffered a bruised sternum in Saturday’s loss at Arkansas. With Cliff Matthews still questionable for Saturday’s game against Florida, the Gamecocks are a little thin at defensive end. “Melvin Ingram is playing a little defensive end,” said Head Coach Steve Spurrier on Wednesday. “Melvin has slid out (from defensive tackle), so hopefully Mel will have a big game for us.” Coach Spurrier confirmed “there’s a chance” that Matthews could play on Saturday. “We’re optimistic he’ll be able to play some, but not the whole game.”

While the defensive line continues to lose players, the Gamecocks will get one of their key secondary players back with the return of free safety Chris Culliver. “Chris Culliver has practiced well this week. He’s ready to play. He seems to be ok (health-wise after missing the Arkansas game with a shoulder injury).”

Coach Spurrier spoke to the women’s soccer team this afternoon. “Coach Shelley (Smith) asked me to say a few words to her girls. That was wonderful. Our girls’ soccer team won the SEC championship. That was neat and those girls have the memory of a lifetime. They’re going to order the rings here pretty soon, but in the meantime they’ve got the playoffs to go for.”

The Gamecocks hope to return to the Bluff Road practice fields on Thursday afternoon.