April 2, 2010

The University of South Carolina Gamecocks worked out in full pads at Williams-Brice Stadium on Friday afternoon on another warm spring day in Columbia with temperatures hovering near 90 degrees. It was the squad’s 12th workout of the spring.

“We had a decent practice today,” said head coach Steve Spurrier following the workout. “The offense had a little movement here and there. A lot of the defensive guys were held out. Nobody got hurt. The offense actually won the 10-yard line-and-in scrimmage today, 3-1, so it was a decent practice.

“All the quarterbacks did some good things,” continued the Head Ball Coach, “and some things like they don’t know what was going on. They’ve got a lot to learn, especially Connor (Shaw) and (Andrew) Clifford. But that’s why we practice. Hopefully someday those guys will be ready to play. (Stephen) Garcia had a decent practice today.

“I think the pass protection was very good today,” noted Coach Spurrier. “I think the protection one-on-one was a lot better and the run blocking was fairly decent.

“I think we’ve become better,” said Coach Spurrier when asked about how the spring has gone overall. “I think even the guys that are hurt have been able to watch and go to meetings and all that, which is all they need to do. Connor Shaw is here. Seems like everytime we put Zac (Bridise) in there he does something pretty good. Hopefully our guys will have a strong summer. Summer is really more important than spring because it’s three months and this is 15 practices. So if they can come out here and have the commitment level that we hope they’ll have, our offense could be a lot better this year. Our quarterback has to take charge and show that he’s a completely committed player for the team. Hopefully Stephen or Connor Shaw or Zac Brindise, somebody will step forward and be a leader on the offense.”

The Gamecocks will return to the Bluff Road practice fields next Tuesday at 4 p.m. as they begin the final week of spring practices. The team will workout on both Tuesday and Wednesday in preparation for Saturday’s annual Garnet & Black Spring Game.

The spring game is slated for Saturday, April 10 at Williams-Brice Stadium. Admission is free. Stadium gates will open at 2:30 p.m. with the pregame awards starting around 3:45 p.m. and kickoff set for 4 p.m. The Fairgrounds will open Gate 6 for entry at 1 p.m. and will have approximately 4,000 parking spaces available for $10 each. ETV Lots will open at 8 a.m. with 800 spaces available for $10. USC’s Key Road lot will open at noon with 600 free parking spaces available. Seawell’s on Rosewood will open its grass parking lot at 10 a.m. with 500 spots available at $5 each. A limited number of handicapped parking spaces will be available on the northeast side of the stadium off of George Rogers Boulevard.