Tuesday, July 10, 2007
COLUMBIA ? Like a lot of other people, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier reads those preseason football mags.
So, despite saying that the Gamecocks are ready to contend for the Southeastern Conference's Eastern Division, he noticed that the pundits didn't agree with him. Not yet, anyway.
"We're still not going to be picked anywhere near the top," said Spurrier, who is entering his third year at USC. "All the magazines have got us in our usual spot ? behind Florida, Tennessee and Georgia and ahead of Kentucky and Vandy. We've not made any progress in the summer, but that's OK."
Despite reaching a bowl game in each of his first two seasons ? including last year's Liberty Bowl victory against Houston ? Spurrier pointed out that the Gamecocks have an 8-8 conference record during his tenure.
"That's probably where we deserve. We were only 3-5 in the conference last year," he said at Monday's scheduled news conference. "And we didn't beat the top teams last year. We're picked where we should be for right now."
But Spurrier said signs of progress, of ground gained, are all around campus.
The arriving freshmen, who will participate in their first voluntary workout today, are the most lauded in the school's history.
Spurrier has mentioned receivers Chris Culliver and Jason Barnes among those who might be able to play from the season's first snap.
"You have more hope, a little more hope that good things are on the way," Spurrier said of the consensus top-10 class. "We're excited about that. The recruiting class, on paper, was the best they've had here."
The returnees are doing their part, too, Spurrier said.
He noted that both running back Cory Boyd and preseason All-America linebacker Jasper Brinkley both spurned the NFL to return to campus for their senior years.
"Who's done that in the past? Who's stayed here when they thought they could have been drafted?" Spurrier said. "It's encouraging. They believe we've got something good going here. And, certainly, those are two of our best leaders."
And, already, Spurrier said attendance has been up across the board at student-led workouts. Coaches aren't allowed for formal practices until Aug. 4.
"We've heard that they're going a lot better than the prior two years that I've been here," Spurrier said. "We don't have 100 percent attendance, but, from as far as what we hear, it's been the best in the three years.
"Hopefully, that will prove dividends when we're in those close ball games."
How the Gamecocks played in close games is a subject Spurrier came back to time and again Monday.
He said it's as much of a necessary mental edge as anything else ? and perhaps more.
"I want all our guys," he said, "to come to big games thinking we've got just as much of a right to win as Georgia, Tennessee, Florida and those guys."
COLUMBIA ? Like a lot of other people, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier reads those preseason football mags.
So, despite saying that the Gamecocks are ready to contend for the Southeastern Conference's Eastern Division, he noticed that the pundits didn't agree with him. Not yet, anyway.
"We're still not going to be picked anywhere near the top," said Spurrier, who is entering his third year at USC. "All the magazines have got us in our usual spot ? behind Florida, Tennessee and Georgia and ahead of Kentucky and Vandy. We've not made any progress in the summer, but that's OK."
Despite reaching a bowl game in each of his first two seasons ? including last year's Liberty Bowl victory against Houston ? Spurrier pointed out that the Gamecocks have an 8-8 conference record during his tenure.
"That's probably where we deserve. We were only 3-5 in the conference last year," he said at Monday's scheduled news conference. "And we didn't beat the top teams last year. We're picked where we should be for right now."
But Spurrier said signs of progress, of ground gained, are all around campus.
The arriving freshmen, who will participate in their first voluntary workout today, are the most lauded in the school's history.
Spurrier has mentioned receivers Chris Culliver and Jason Barnes among those who might be able to play from the season's first snap.
"You have more hope, a little more hope that good things are on the way," Spurrier said of the consensus top-10 class. "We're excited about that. The recruiting class, on paper, was the best they've had here."
The returnees are doing their part, too, Spurrier said.
He noted that both running back Cory Boyd and preseason All-America linebacker Jasper Brinkley both spurned the NFL to return to campus for their senior years.
"Who's done that in the past? Who's stayed here when they thought they could have been drafted?" Spurrier said. "It's encouraging. They believe we've got something good going here. And, certainly, those are two of our best leaders."
And, already, Spurrier said attendance has been up across the board at student-led workouts. Coaches aren't allowed for formal practices until Aug. 4.
"We've heard that they're going a lot better than the prior two years that I've been here," Spurrier said. "We don't have 100 percent attendance, but, from as far as what we hear, it's been the best in the three years.
"Hopefully, that will prove dividends when we're in those close ball games."
How the Gamecocks played in close games is a subject Spurrier came back to time and again Monday.
He said it's as much of a necessary mental edge as anything else ? and perhaps more.
"I want all our guys," he said, "to come to big games thinking we've got just as much of a right to win as Georgia, Tennessee, Florida and those guys."
