Aug. 29, 2011

The University of South Carolina football team began game week for the season opener indoors on Monday night, as a thunderstorm moved through the Columbia metropolitan area. The Gamecocks are preparing for Saturday’s season lidlifter in Charlotte against East Carolina. Game time is set for 7p.m.

The top story coming out of Monday’s practice was that senior cornerback Akeem Auguste reinjured his foot. “He was doing well, then he twisted it and hurt his foot again,” said coach Lorenzo Ward. “We’ll see an evaluation in the morning. I don’t know if he reinjured to the point it was at first, but he was doing well and then all of a sudden he made a cut on it and hurt it again.” Auguste has been hampered by an arch injury during the preseason camp.

Look for senior C.C. Whitlock to make the start on Saturday at the corner opposite Stephon Gilmore. “If Akeem wasn’t full speed, wasn’t 100 percent, there’s no chance he was going to start. C.C. will start,” said Ward. Senior Marty Markett will back up at that position if Auguste is not able to go on Saturday. Cadarious Sanders would be the fourth cornerback option. “I’m 100 percent sure that C.C. will start,” noted Ward.

The Gamecocks will return to the practice fields on Tuesday afternoon. At noon on Tuesday, head coach Steve Spurrier will hold his first weekly press conference of the season. That will begin at noon in the media interview room, located on the west side of Williams-Brice Stadium. No players will be available on Tuesday. Fans can watch the press conference live on the official website of Gamecock Athletics, www.gamecocksonline.com.