April 1, 2010

The University of South Carolina Gamecock football squad worked out in full pads at the Bluff Road practice fields Thursday afternoon on the warmest day of the spring in Columbia. It was the squad’s 11th workout of the spring.

“It was hot today – a good hot day,” said head coach Steve Spurrier following the workout. “We huddled up and got the quarterback under the center a few times. We’re still struggling with a lot of that stuff (on offense). (Quarterbacks) Connor Shaw and Andrew Clifford are still freshman. They’re sorta feeling their way around, but they’re doing fine.

“Our guys had a lot of spirit today,” continued the Head Ball Coach. “We’ve got a lot of guys that really have a strong commitment. I wish we had more, but most of them are doing well. Most of them are doing real well and the ones that don’t, we need to weed them out and let them go play somewhere else. That’s what we need to do.”

Coach Spurrier noted that all starting positions remain open, including the quarterback spot. “Every position on the team is usually open. If one guy is better than the other guys, they play,” said Coach Spurrier. “There’s no guarantee Stephen (Garcia) is going to open up the first game. I mean, he should. He should, but if he goes bad and the other guys get better, then they play. It’s not real mathematical science or anything. The best players play. If Stephen’s the best player, he’ll play. If the other guys prove they can play better than him, then they’ll play. Simple as that.”

The squad will practice again on Friday at 4 p.m.