Dec. 30, 2011

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ORLANDO, Fla.– After a morning spent interacting with special needs children at DisneyQuest, the University of South Carolina football team worked out at Celebration High School in Orlando on Friday afternoon under sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s. It was the squad’s third workout in Florida as they prepare for Monday’s Capital One Bowl against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Game time is set for 1 p.m. ET at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.

Head coach Steve Spurrier indicated that sixth-year senior offensive guard Terrence Campbell is doubtful for Monday’s contest. Campbell broke the fibula in his right leg in the regular season-ending win over Clemson. “Terrence is still on crutches, so it’s doubtful he can do much,” said Coach Spurrier. All-SEC tackle Rokevious Watkins would likely move to right guard, with senior Kyle Nunn returning to the left tackle position and freshman Mike Matulis earning the start at right tackle. Cody Gibsonwould be another option at either of the tackle positions.

“Yesterday’s practice was a little bit better than today,” noted the Head Ball Coach. “It’s hot today. But it’s hot for Nebraska too. We’re a little bit tired of practicing. You can only practice so much for a bowl game. But mentally, I think our guys will be sharp enough and ready to go.”

Coach Spurrier said it’s simple as to how to beat Nebraska. “It takes blocking and tackling and taking care of the ball and knowing your assignments. Right now our guys were not real sharp. We had a bunch of blown assignments out here today.”

“There’s a couple more things I have to learn with this offense,” said wide receiver Bruce Ellington, who scored 17 points on Wednesday night for the Gamecocks’ basketball team before joining the football squad in Orlando on Thursday. “I’m just going to keep reading the playbook. Physically I’m good. I’m just happy to have both the football and basketball teams at South Carolina win. It’s very exciting.”

“I think we’re all pretty eager (to play a game),” said quarterback Connor Shaw. “It’s gets old when you’re out here practicing every day. You want to face someone else. It’s kind of like fall camp, you’re just ready to go at an opponent.

“We’ve got to prepare like (Campbell) is not going to play,” noted Shaw. “We’ve got guys out here ready to play. It would be nice to have him out here, but we’ve got to move on. Kyle (Nunn) has been here. He’s a veteran. He can handle it.”

The South Carolina Athletics ticket office has indicated they still have tickets available for the game and will be selling those tickets through Sunday, January 1. Carolina has distributed approximately 10,200 tickets of the 12,500 tickets the school was allotted.

The Gamecocks will work out again at Celebration High School on Saturday at 11 a.m. That practice is closed.