Spurrier Call-In Show Blog
posted by Scott Hood, Thursday, October 09, 2008
6:50 - We're getting ready for the start of the show.
OPENING SEGMENT:
7:10 - SOS said the Ole Miss game was a good win for the program. OM was a good team. USC was had “good fortune” to win the game. USC got its first defensive TD of the season. Smelley played “pretty well” with a few errors but overall played his best game. DC Ellis Johnson went with 3 down linemen, a good call. Jason Barnes made a “courageous” catch when he was “clobbered” by the OM defender on the TD pass. He earned the respect of his teammates on that play. TE Jared Cook has an injured foot, but should be OK in 2 days for the game.
SECOND SEGMENT:
7:20 - UK held the Alabama offense to 10 points in last week’s game. UK is No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense, but they limited the same team that scored 41 points against UGA. The weather should be warm, about 84 degrees. But it was the same weather at Ole Miss last weekend. USC has won eight straight games over UK.
First Caller: SOS was asked about the field turf at Ole Miss last weekend. USC adjusted after the first couple of series. Some USC players were cutting off the wrong foot. Three or four weeks ago, USC receivers were slipping a lot in practice. USC has been performing better in practice, which is why some of those guys are playing more in the game..
SOS said Kenny McKinley will start and “go as long as he can go.” He said Moe Brown and Justin Sorensen will be the offensive captains, while Brinkley and Woodson will be the defensive captains. Brown played well last week. Stoney Woodson played a lot more physical in last week’s game. He played “great” last week. SOS wondered whether Woodson is preparing for a shot at the NFL. SOS said Woodson has been a good but not great player in his career.
THIRD SEGMENT
7:30 - The second caller asked SOS about Kentucky’s defense and how USC will fare. SOS said USC must be able to run the ball, since USC doesn’t pass block well enough. UK has a very good defense. They’ve played well, even though they’ve faced just one SEC opponent so far. USC must be able to execute against the UK defense.
USC is leading the SEC in third down conversion rate. USC and UK are 1st and 2nd in pass defense.
Third Caller: SOS was asked about the WR screen. SOS said USC had some success with the quick screen. UK will likely play more man defense, more bump-and-run.
FOURTH SEGMENT:
7:40 – The fourth caller asked SOS about what he looks for during the week of practice to select the starting QB. SOS said Shane Matthews at Florida became the starting QB because he took care of the ball and hit some passes. Smelley hasn’t come close to hitting his peak. Smelley has played particularly well in the fourth quarter.
SOS lauded AD Eric Hyman for improving USC’s facilities. The new training room should be ready in about 2 weeks. There will also be a new atrium area for the locker room. Some big-money boosters have stepped up with contributions.
SOS was asked about implementing a ‘Wild Gamecock’ formation similar to the Wild Rebel utilized by Ole Miss last week. SOS said USC is looking at it. Will it be called the “Wild Cock’ formation?
FIFTH SEGMENT:
7:50 – SOS was asked why Jared Cook wasn’t playing WR. SOS said he was the best TR USC has. Weslye Saunders is “coming sround.” He has a chance to become a ‘big-time’ tight end once he learns how to block. Cook he been split out in the slot.
SOS was asked about USC’s short-yardage problems. A caller suggested using Nathan Pepper as the short-yardage situation. SOS recalled the failure to score from the 2-yard line vs. UGA. He hoped USC had an O-Line that could “knock the crap” out od opponents but USC isn’t there yet.
SOS reiterated that turnover margin has become critical in determining who wins.
SIXTH SEGMENT:
7:55 – Raycom will show Saturday’s game at 12:30. The LSU game will be at 12:30 p.m. or 8 p.m. SOS was asked if he had a preference to play during the day or night. SOS said he had no preference.
SOS was asked how much 1-on-1 time he spends with each player. SOS said he doesn’t have time to do that with every player, but he spends as much time as he can. The assistants play a big role in that.
SEVENTH SEGMENT:
8:00 - SOS said USC must take of the ball and play its best like every week to beat Kentucky. USC is very healthy. USC should play its best.
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Steve Spurrier will hold his weekly call-in radio show on Thursday night from Wild Wings Cafe in the Vista. The HBC's mood should be pretty good considering USC is coming off a win at Ole Miss. USC is preparing to travel to Lexington, Ky. to face Kentucky.
6:50 - We're getting ready for the start of the show.
OPENING SEGMENT:
7:10 - SOS said the Ole Miss game was a good win for the program. OM was a good team. USC was had “good fortune” to win the game. USC got its first defensive TD of the season. Smelley played “pretty well” with a few errors but overall played his best game. DC Ellis Johnson went with 3 down linemen, a good call. Jason Barnes made a “courageous” catch when he was “clobbered” by the OM defender on the TD pass. He earned the respect of his teammates on that play. TE Jared Cook has an injured foot, but should be OK in 2 days for the game.
SECOND SEGMENT:
7:20 - UK held the Alabama offense to 10 points in last week’s game. UK is No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense, but they limited the same team that scored 41 points against UGA. The weather should be warm, about 84 degrees. But it was the same weather at Ole Miss last weekend. USC has won eight straight games over UK.
First Caller: SOS was asked about the field turf at Ole Miss last weekend. USC adjusted after the first couple of series. Some USC players were cutting off the wrong foot. Three or four weeks ago, USC receivers were slipping a lot in practice. USC has been performing better in practice, which is why some of those guys are playing more in the game..
SOS said Kenny McKinley will start and “go as long as he can go.” He said Moe Brown and Justin Sorensen will be the offensive captains, while Brinkley and Woodson will be the defensive captains. Brown played well last week. Stoney Woodson played a lot more physical in last week’s game. He played “great” last week. SOS wondered whether Woodson is preparing for a shot at the NFL. SOS said Woodson has been a good but not great player in his career.
THIRD SEGMENT
7:30 - The second caller asked SOS about Kentucky’s defense and how USC will fare. SOS said USC must be able to run the ball, since USC doesn’t pass block well enough. UK has a very good defense. They’ve played well, even though they’ve faced just one SEC opponent so far. USC must be able to execute against the UK defense.
USC is leading the SEC in third down conversion rate. USC and UK are 1st and 2nd in pass defense.
Third Caller: SOS was asked about the WR screen. SOS said USC had some success with the quick screen. UK will likely play more man defense, more bump-and-run.
FOURTH SEGMENT:
7:40 – The fourth caller asked SOS about what he looks for during the week of practice to select the starting QB. SOS said Shane Matthews at Florida became the starting QB because he took care of the ball and hit some passes. Smelley hasn’t come close to hitting his peak. Smelley has played particularly well in the fourth quarter.
SOS lauded AD Eric Hyman for improving USC’s facilities. The new training room should be ready in about 2 weeks. There will also be a new atrium area for the locker room. Some big-money boosters have stepped up with contributions.
SOS was asked about implementing a ‘Wild Gamecock’ formation similar to the Wild Rebel utilized by Ole Miss last week. SOS said USC is looking at it. Will it be called the “Wild Cock’ formation?
FIFTH SEGMENT:
7:50 – SOS was asked why Jared Cook wasn’t playing WR. SOS said he was the best TR USC has. Weslye Saunders is “coming sround.” He has a chance to become a ‘big-time’ tight end once he learns how to block. Cook he been split out in the slot.
SOS was asked about USC’s short-yardage problems. A caller suggested using Nathan Pepper as the short-yardage situation. SOS recalled the failure to score from the 2-yard line vs. UGA. He hoped USC had an O-Line that could “knock the crap” out od opponents but USC isn’t there yet.
SOS reiterated that turnover margin has become critical in determining who wins.
SIXTH SEGMENT:
7:55 – Raycom will show Saturday’s game at 12:30. The LSU game will be at 12:30 p.m. or 8 p.m. SOS was asked if he had a preference to play during the day or night. SOS said he had no preference.
SOS was asked how much 1-on-1 time he spends with each player. SOS said he doesn’t have time to do that with every player, but he spends as much time as he can. The assistants play a big role in that.
SEVENTH SEGMENT:
8:00 - SOS said USC must take of the ball and play its best like every week to beat Kentucky. USC is very healthy. USC should play its best.
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Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.