GeauxTo
12-27-2005, 09:28 AM
SOUTH CAROLINA NOTES: Gamecocks arrive healthy, motivated
December 27, 2005
By Roy Lang III
rflang@gannett.com (rflang@gannett.com)
As players, coaches and supporters poured out of four large buses at a Shreveport hotel late Monday afternoon, the South Carolina Gamecocks were finally able to get settled in.
The first piece of good news for Gamecocks fans came at the beginning of head coach Steve Spurrier's initial news conference. Absent was a long dissertation concerning the team's recent injuries -- because there weren't any.
"We're very healthy," Spurrier said. "We didn't hardly have anybody hurt all season."
While Carolina has been injury free for most of the second half of the 2005 season, the team did lose a pair of offensive threats midway through its 7-4 campaign.
The most glaring loss came when versatile athlete Syvelle Newton tore his Achilles during a win over Vanderbilt on Oct. 22.
Newton lined up at wide receiver, quarterback and tailback this year and hauled in a career-high six passes (including 25-yard TD) in the season-opener against Central Florida.
The junior injured his left leg on an 8-yard, fourth-quarter scoring run against the Commodores. Despite the season-ending injury, he was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week.
Junior tight end Andy Boyd was lost in the second game of the season while blocking. He underwent ACL surgery on his right knee in November. His two career catches are both touchdowns.
Spurrier no grinch this Christmas
The Missouri Tigers arrived in Shreveport on Sunday afternoon, on Christmas Day, in order to stay in their "normal routine," according to head coach Gary Pinkel.
South Carolina and Spurrier took a different approach.
"We felt like the players could spend Christmas morning with their families," Spurrier said.
"We met Christmas night and practiced in Columbia (Monday) morning. We had a pretty good practice at our place. We felt like being in Shreveport for four or five days was plenty."
Coach not concerned about motivation, curfew
Spurrier is not worried about his team having the necessary discipline this week in Shreveport, thus the Gamecocks have a liberal curfew schedule.
"We'll have midnight a couple of nights, then 11 p.m. the last couple nights. I really believe our players are trying to come out and play their best game against Missouri. We'll see if we can finish with a victory.
"Our players have really looked forward to this trip. We're going to have a little bit of fun, but not too much fun."
After practicing for the first time at Independence Stadium (1 p.m.), the Gamecocks will participate in the first official function I-Bowl function, the team welcome party, at the Bossier City Civic Center. The event is highlighted with an appearance by the traditional hypnotist.
Coach eases on media restrictions
When asked why he was allowing zero access to the media for any of his practices this week, Spurrier asked, "Is Missouri?"
When he was told Pinkel invited the media at the beginning of Monday's practice, Spurrier said, "We're going to be practicing our game plan. I thought everybody closed (practice) up, you should have told me earlier."
At the end his initial press conference, Spurrier invited the local and national media to attend the first 20 minutes of today's practice.
"You can come out and watch the guys kick and stuff," Spurrier joked. "We won't do anything much until 1:30."
Media members from the Shreveport television stations, clamoring for video evidence the Gamecock football team was actually in Shreveport, were thrilled.
December 27, 2005
By Roy Lang III
rflang@gannett.com (rflang@gannett.com)
As players, coaches and supporters poured out of four large buses at a Shreveport hotel late Monday afternoon, the South Carolina Gamecocks were finally able to get settled in.
The first piece of good news for Gamecocks fans came at the beginning of head coach Steve Spurrier's initial news conference. Absent was a long dissertation concerning the team's recent injuries -- because there weren't any.
"We're very healthy," Spurrier said. "We didn't hardly have anybody hurt all season."
While Carolina has been injury free for most of the second half of the 2005 season, the team did lose a pair of offensive threats midway through its 7-4 campaign.
The most glaring loss came when versatile athlete Syvelle Newton tore his Achilles during a win over Vanderbilt on Oct. 22.
Newton lined up at wide receiver, quarterback and tailback this year and hauled in a career-high six passes (including 25-yard TD) in the season-opener against Central Florida.
The junior injured his left leg on an 8-yard, fourth-quarter scoring run against the Commodores. Despite the season-ending injury, he was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week.
Junior tight end Andy Boyd was lost in the second game of the season while blocking. He underwent ACL surgery on his right knee in November. His two career catches are both touchdowns.
Spurrier no grinch this Christmas
The Missouri Tigers arrived in Shreveport on Sunday afternoon, on Christmas Day, in order to stay in their "normal routine," according to head coach Gary Pinkel.
South Carolina and Spurrier took a different approach.
"We felt like the players could spend Christmas morning with their families," Spurrier said.
"We met Christmas night and practiced in Columbia (Monday) morning. We had a pretty good practice at our place. We felt like being in Shreveport for four or five days was plenty."
Coach not concerned about motivation, curfew
Spurrier is not worried about his team having the necessary discipline this week in Shreveport, thus the Gamecocks have a liberal curfew schedule.
"We'll have midnight a couple of nights, then 11 p.m. the last couple nights. I really believe our players are trying to come out and play their best game against Missouri. We'll see if we can finish with a victory.
"Our players have really looked forward to this trip. We're going to have a little bit of fun, but not too much fun."
After practicing for the first time at Independence Stadium (1 p.m.), the Gamecocks will participate in the first official function I-Bowl function, the team welcome party, at the Bossier City Civic Center. The event is highlighted with an appearance by the traditional hypnotist.
Coach eases on media restrictions
When asked why he was allowing zero access to the media for any of his practices this week, Spurrier asked, "Is Missouri?"
When he was told Pinkel invited the media at the beginning of Monday's practice, Spurrier said, "We're going to be practicing our game plan. I thought everybody closed (practice) up, you should have told me earlier."
At the end his initial press conference, Spurrier invited the local and national media to attend the first 20 minutes of today's practice.
"You can come out and watch the guys kick and stuff," Spurrier joked. "We won't do anything much until 1:30."
Media members from the Shreveport television stations, clamoring for video evidence the Gamecock football team was actually in Shreveport, were thrilled.