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PREVIOUS NUGGETS |
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08.09.05: Radio/TV
station rolling out preseason special on Pirates ... Alleged felons pin
leniency promise on Spurrier |
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08.08.05: Charlotte,
UNC- Wilmington selected to BCA field ... Former Pirates
steer kids toward better FUTURE |
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08.07.05: Texas
Tech's Knight getting real about tryouts ... Stokes' ties to
Wake prodigies sway ECU recruit |
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08.06.05: Stokes'
ties to Deacon prodigies sway recruit ... Holtz: ECU must
make up ground before opener |
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08.05.05: "Pirate
Talk" gets more time, more stations ... Pirate Radio 1250
launching expanded lineup |
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08.04.05: College
life still suits Heisman winner just fine |
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08.03.05: NIT
battles NCAA in court instead of on court |
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08.02.05: C-USA
to feel impact of imported WAC teams |
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08.01.05: Demand
swamps supply of Gamecock tickets |
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07.31.05: After
C-USA raid, restocked WAC plows ahead |
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News Nuggets, 08.10.05
NOTES FROM ECU AND BEYOND...
Previous Day Nuggets...
Next Day Nuggets...
Compiled from staff reports
and electronic dispatches
'Cock-n-Fire' offense may stay in holster awhile
COLUMBIA Despite a catchy nickname
and his own reputation for high-flying offense, Steve Spurrier's not sure
South Carolina is ready for a ``Cock-n-Fire'' attack.
A largely inexperienced starter at
quarterback, three true freshmen leading the way at tailback and an
uncertain rotation at receiver have Spurrier thinking the Gamecocks might
take a more conservative approach until things click.
``If we're a bad offensive team and
we're a super defensive team,'' Spurrier says, then ``we can run the ball,
and play defense and special teams.''
Run the ball? Defense? Special teams?
Did former coach Lou Holtz leave an old
playbook behind in Spurrier's new desk?
Spurrier says he's just realistic.
Blake Mitchell, a sophomore named
starting quarterback this week, threw just 22 passes last fall. No other
quarterback on the team has ever taken a snap in a game.
Even Spurrier's Heisman Trophy winner
at Florida, Danny Wuerffel, had the luxury of a redshirt year on the
sidelines, absorbing and learning his coach's complex game plan.
Mitchell was an obvious choice to
start, Spurrier says, but there's much still ahead before the Gamecocks
approach the output Spurrier's ``Fun-and-Gun'' scheme had during 12 seasons
at Florida.
Mitchell ``can make all the throws when
he's throwing against air,'' Spurrier said.
The depth chart at running back seems
even thinner and goes like this true freshman Mike Davis, true freshman
Bobby Wallace, true freshman Taylor Rank.
The receivers are also unsettled. One
starter, Syvelle Newton, was last fall's first-string quarterback. The
other, Noah Whiteside, had 20 catches. Still, he's the only one among the
top seven pass-catchers from last year back for Spurrier.
Spurrier says he and his staff are out
there coaching young players ``like we expect them to know what to do.''
They'd better learn quickly. South
Carolina's opener is Sept. 1 against Central Florida and will be shown
coast-to-coast on ESPN.
Right tackle Na'Shan Goddard, a senior,
likes what he sees from the youngsters. He says the offensive line which
could have four seniors starting will take as much pressure as possible
off Mitchell and the other new skill players with strong blocks and
wide-open holes.
``You can pretty much throw to anybody
if no one's in your face,'' Goddard said.
Things on defense and special teams
look much more promising.
Lance Laury and Ricardo Hurley, two
seniors, lead the linebackers. Safety Ko Simpson, the Southeastern
Conference freshman of the year last season, heads up a strong secondary.
De'Adrian Coley and Marquee Hall are expected to lead the way along the
defensive line.
Spurrier likes Josh Brown's steadiness
and experience at kicking and punting, while first-year kicker Ryan Succop
can send it 55 yards without a tailwind, Spurrier gushed.
``So we got a chance to be pretty good
in the kicking game,'' he said.
Spurrier remembers how he came to
Florida in 1990, looked around at the talent and thought the Gators could be
successful right away.
``I actually said, 'This team's got a
chance to win the SEC,' and everybody thought I was stupid and crazy and
loudmouth and arrogant and ... what were some of those other words?''
Spurrier recalled.
The Gators went 9-2 that season,
including a league best 6-1, although an NCAA probation Spurrier inherited
kept the school from officially hoisting a banner.
Spurrier acknowledges South Carolina is
a vastly different situation.
``I don't ever think you should say
anything's impossible,'' he said. ``But we don't need to be talking too big
right now.''
News Nuggets are
compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data
published by ECU, Conference USA and its member
schools; and reports from Associated Press and
other sources. Copyright 2005
Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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