JerryBeeds
10-04-2005, 08:14 PM
Oct. 4, 2005
Columbia, S.C. - South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier met with the media on Tuesday afternoon as the Gamecocks continue to prepare for Saturday's game with Kentucky.
"We are looking forward to our game this week with Kentucky. We have to coach a lot better, play a lot better and give our fans a performance they deserve. Kentucky has struggled also this season. They did look awfully good at the start of the season against Louisville. We are probably evened matched right now with them."
(On Blake Mitchell's status)
"We will know by Wednesday whether he is ready to play or not."
(On Antonio Heffner's performance on Saturday)
"Antonio did ok. A lot of things happened in that game on Saturday. It was loud and we had some communication problems. I have to take responsibility for that, including our first delay of game penalty. Lots of things happened. He had a nice touchdown throw to Sidney Rice. He did ok."
(On the coaching staff)
"We are ultimately responsible for everything our players do. The other night we were all bad coaches."
(On the defense)
"We all thought our defense going into the season would be stronger than it has turned out to be. Maybe it was a fast sense of hope that they showed us during scrimmages against our offense."
"I still believe we can play better but until we do it is false hope. We knew it was going to be like this and take time. Coming into the season, our receivers and quarterbacks really had not thrown or caught the ball that much. Our protection on the offensive line needs to be better."
"I've been very fortunate to have had very good teams. I knew we were going to have to be patient here (at South Carolina) I've got nowhere else to go."
(On previous competition)
"We have lost to three very good teams. We almost upset one of them but weren't competitive against the other two. It will be interesting at the end of the year to see where those three teams (Georgia, Alabama, Auburn) finish up."
(On the defense)
"Stopping the run has been a problem although Auburn didn't run that well considering the field position they had in the game. Obviously we have to play with a better effort level, intensity and passion. At times it seems like we have guys going through the motions.'
(On personnel changes)
"We are going to let Jamon Meredith start at right tackle. We'll move Na'Shan Goddard to right guard. We will let Carlos Thomas play a little more, Kenny McKinley, Sidney Rice as well. It might be three freshman wideouts at the same time on the field."
(On Kentucky)
"Kentucky is excellent in special teams. They have always done well in kickoff and punt returns."
(On Sidney Rice)
"Sidney Rice is doing some good things. He is still learning how to play out there. Sidney is a good guy. He listens well and he's a wonderful guy to coach."
(On small amount of offensive plays per game this year)
"That is a function of the other team's offense on the field for a long time and our offense not on the field for a long time. Our third down conversions are not very good and the opponent is very good against us."
Columbia, S.C. - South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier met with the media on Tuesday afternoon as the Gamecocks continue to prepare for Saturday's game with Kentucky.
"We are looking forward to our game this week with Kentucky. We have to coach a lot better, play a lot better and give our fans a performance they deserve. Kentucky has struggled also this season. They did look awfully good at the start of the season against Louisville. We are probably evened matched right now with them."
(On Blake Mitchell's status)
"We will know by Wednesday whether he is ready to play or not."
(On Antonio Heffner's performance on Saturday)
"Antonio did ok. A lot of things happened in that game on Saturday. It was loud and we had some communication problems. I have to take responsibility for that, including our first delay of game penalty. Lots of things happened. He had a nice touchdown throw to Sidney Rice. He did ok."
(On the coaching staff)
"We are ultimately responsible for everything our players do. The other night we were all bad coaches."
(On the defense)
"We all thought our defense going into the season would be stronger than it has turned out to be. Maybe it was a fast sense of hope that they showed us during scrimmages against our offense."
"I still believe we can play better but until we do it is false hope. We knew it was going to be like this and take time. Coming into the season, our receivers and quarterbacks really had not thrown or caught the ball that much. Our protection on the offensive line needs to be better."
"I've been very fortunate to have had very good teams. I knew we were going to have to be patient here (at South Carolina) I've got nowhere else to go."
(On previous competition)
"We have lost to three very good teams. We almost upset one of them but weren't competitive against the other two. It will be interesting at the end of the year to see where those three teams (Georgia, Alabama, Auburn) finish up."
(On the defense)
"Stopping the run has been a problem although Auburn didn't run that well considering the field position they had in the game. Obviously we have to play with a better effort level, intensity and passion. At times it seems like we have guys going through the motions.'
(On personnel changes)
"We are going to let Jamon Meredith start at right tackle. We'll move Na'Shan Goddard to right guard. We will let Carlos Thomas play a little more, Kenny McKinley, Sidney Rice as well. It might be three freshman wideouts at the same time on the field."
(On Kentucky)
"Kentucky is excellent in special teams. They have always done well in kickoff and punt returns."
(On Sidney Rice)
"Sidney Rice is doing some good things. He is still learning how to play out there. Sidney is a good guy. He listens well and he's a wonderful guy to coach."
(On small amount of offensive plays per game this year)
"That is a function of the other team's offense on the field for a long time and our offense not on the field for a long time. Our third down conversions are not very good and the opponent is very good against us."