March 6, 2014

The University of South Carolina football team officially began its spring practice schedule today. Due to inclement weather in the Columbia area, the squad conducted its first of 15 spring practices at the indoor practice facility in helmets and shorts.

“It was good to get a good day in,” said co-offensive coordinator Steve Spurrier Jr. “Just to line up, run plays and snap the ball and go through the cadence. We had a good day. You have two days in just helmets, so you kind of want to get them out of the way. You can’t do a whole lot. You can’t run into each other. You can’t hit anybody. QB’s and receivers can get a lot done.”

The Gamecocks will take next week off for spring break before returning to practice on Tuesday, March 18.

In other news today, two former Gamecocks, wide receiver Sterling Sharpe and head coach Jim Carlen, were among the 75 players and six coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision listed on the 2014 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, as announced by the National Football Foundation (NFF).

Sterling Sharpe, South Carolina-Wide Receiver-1987 First Team All-American…Two-time First Team All-Conference…Set nearly every school receiving record by career’s end, including career receptions (169), single-season receiving yards (1,106) and career receiving yards (2,497).

Jim Carlen-West Virginia (1966-69), Texas Tech (1970-74), South Carolina (1975-1981)-Led teams to eight bowl games and 13 winning seasons in 16 years as head coach…1973 National Coach of the Year…Three-time Southwest Conference Coach of the Year… Coached Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers at South Carolina.

The 2014 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be announced in May from Irving, Texas, and they will be inducted at the 57th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Dec. 9, 2014 at the landmark Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. The inductees will be permanently enshrined in the new College Football Hall of Fame at a date to be determined in 2015. The new Hall, currently under construction, will open in Atlanta in time for the 2014 college football season.