Oct. 29, 2013

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The No. 14/16 South Carolina football squad practiced Tuesday afternoon at the Bluff Road “Proving Grounds.” The Gamecocks (6-2, 4-2 SEC) are preparing for Saturday’s contest with the Mississippi State Bulldogs (4-3, 1-2 SEC).

Senior quarterback Connor Shaw did not attend the practice due to illness. Running back Brandon Wilds (elbow) practiced in pads but did not participate in the contact drills. Those who did not practice included center Cody Waldrop (ankle), offensive guard Ronald Patrick (ankle) and defensive tackle Gerald Dixon, Jr. (ankle).

Defensive line coach Deke Adams knows that Mississippi State will present problems for the Gamecocks this week. “This is a great conference. You know you’re going to see great players every week. They’ve got really big guys up front. It’s a little bit different than last week, a lot more aggressive. Missouri’s scheme was a little different. They’re going to run the quarterback and going to get down hill, so we’ve got to be aggressive and we’ve got to set the tone up front.”

Adams had praise for defensive end Gerald Dixon. “He’s been consistent. He’s been consistent every time he’s gotten in. He’s produced. He understands his role right now. That role is getting ready to become bigger. He knows that. I told him to keep doing what you are doing – get in and make plays.”

Saturday’s game is set for 12:21 p.m. ET and will be televised by SEC TV. Dave Neal and Andre Ware will be in the booth with Cara Capuano working the sidelines. A few hundred tickets remain on sale for the game through the Carolina Athletics ticket office.