Gamecocks try to put big loss behind them during bye week

By Jeffrey Colllins - The Associated Press

E-Mail

Comments (0)

Text Size:

tool goes here

COLUMBIA -- Forget the doom and gloom of last weekend's 50-point loss. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said Tuesday his team will be ready in two weeks against Clemson and he plans to be with the Gamecocks for four or five more years.

South Carolina practiced for the first time since losing 56-6 to Florida, working out indoors to get out of the cold. The Gamecocks are off this week before ending the regular season at Clemson on Nov. 29.

The team had a good workout, putting the worst loss of Spurrier's coaching career behind it.

"We played the best team we played all year and we definitely played our worst game and when that happens, you get clobbered," Spurrier said.

Defensive end Jordin Lindsey said he wishes the Gamecocks could play this week. "We need to redeem ourselves. It's nothing I want to dwell on for a while," he said.

But Spurrier said the loss also need to be put in perspective with South Carolina's 7-4 record. A win over rival Clemson would likely secure a New Year's Day bowl.

"I saw Charlie Weis on TV today. He's happy as he can be Notre Dame has got their sixth win and they're bowl eligible," Spurrier said. "Sometimes, you have to keep everything in perspective."

Spurrier also shot down an Internet rumor that he was considering retirement.

"We are having a pretty good recruiting class if it all comes together the way it appears to be. So let's give this thing four or five years and see what happens around here," he said.

The coach looked the most surprised when someone brought up that the same rumor suggested he was upset South Carolina hadn't agreed to let his son, wide receivers coach Steve Spurrier Jr., take over.

"He's on his own," the elder Spurrier said.

Spurrier refused to name a starting quarterback for the Clemson game, but joked that coaching redshirt freshman Stephen Garcia could send him into retirement early.

"It's not a lot of fun coaching Garcia," Spurrier said. "That might send you out of here. It's a challenge."