Oct. 31, 2012

The No. 11/11 South Carolina Gamecocks (7-2, 5-2 SEC) worked out Wednesday afternoon at the Bluff Road practice fields.

The Gamecocks are enjoying their bye week this week. They will return to action on Saturday, November 10, when they host the Arkansas Razorbacks in a noon start at WBS. The game will be televised nationally on CBS.

“I think we started the season (ranked) Number 8 in the preseason and we’re actually Number 8 in the BCS right now,” said head coach Steve Spurrier after the practice session. “So we’ve had a good year. Not a great year, but not a bad year, just sort of a good year right now. We certainly hope to finish strong the last four games.”

“Connor Shaw probably had his best game last week,” noted Coach Spurrier, adding that Shaw had been benched the week before at Florida. “Coach John Wooden (said) the coach’s greatest ally is the bench. Connor got benched. He didn’t sit around and mope or pout or cry. He figured out what he needed to do better and worked on it last week and had his best game. When a coach benches a guy, that’s what a coach has to do,” continued the Head Ball Coach. “Just because a guy goes to the bench doesn’t mean he’s finished by any means. It means he needs to start playing a little better and play the way the coaches ask him to play. I think going to the bench helped him.” Coach Spurrier confirmed that Shaw has a sprained foot and has been placed in a boot, but should be full speed by next Monday to begin the Arkansas week of practice.

The Gamecocks will return to the practice fields on Thursday before taking the weekend off. There will be no media availability following Thursday’s practice.