Dec. 18, 2013

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The University of South Carolina football squad practiced Wednesday afternoon as it continued preparations for the New Year’s Day Capital One Bowl matchup with the Wisconsin Badgers.

“Hopefully we’ll have a big crowd down in Orlando,” said head coach Steve Spurrier. “This is a game that we talk about for eight months, so it’s a huge game. Last year’s bowl game – someone told me there wasn’t a single person in China who had heard of Jadeveon Clowney. Now they all know who he is after that hit. That hit was shown for eight months. If we can do something special, the replays will go on for eight months. Hopefully we can play our best down there.”

Coach Spurrier is focused on the bowl game and not peeking ahead to next season. “We’re trying to get our guys ready to go win a ballgame down in Orlando,” continued the Head Ball Coach. “That’s the big thing right now. Spring ball and off-season workouts will get us ready for next year. We don’t talk much about next year.”

Coach Spurrier indicated that his approach to the bowl game has not changed much over the years. “The importance now (of the bowl game) has changed for all of us,” noted Coach Spurrier. “It’s usually the only game they hit you with the Gatorade bucket. That’s the importance of (the bowl game).”

The Gamecocks will return to the practice fields on Thursday afternoon.

The No. 8/8 Gamecocks (10-2, 6-2 SEC) and No. 19 Badgers (9-3, 6-2 Big Ten) will meet at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium on Wednesday, January 1. Game time is set for 1 p.m. ET and the game will be televised nationally on ABC with Dave Pasch, Brian Griese and Tom Luginbill handling the broadcast.