Spurrier's Call-In Show Blog
posted by Scott Hood, Thursday, October 30, 2008
6:55 - We're awaiting the start of the show.
7:10 - Spurrier said USC is ahead in its preparations for Tennessee with 2 weeks of practice. Jared Cook is running around full speed and has been for 2 days. Offensively, Spurrier is disappointed in the way the offense finished up v. LSU. USC needs to play better. USC hasn't peaked yet. Garcia will start at QB. SOS hopes SG has learned to get rid of the ball. SG tried to run out of the pocket a few times v. LSU. He has to know where the throw-a-way spot is. SG has practiced that. Smelley has practiced well, too. SG has more escapeability, though. USC will try to let SG go the distance, as he did v. LSU. The series v. UT has been close. Last 3 games have been decided by 11 points or less. USC is 1-2. SOS questioned whether USC has "caught up" to UT.
7:20 - Spurrier said UT is "just about like always." Eric Berry is a great player. He picked up and returned a Freddie Brown fumble in last year's game. USC has to prevent him from making a big play. SOS thinks UT will try to run the ball against the USC defense with Foster and Hardesty.
First caller asked why USC tries to run up the middle instead of around the end when USC lacks a big powerful back. SOS says USC needs to spread the field. Eric Baker is ready to play some. SOS said Kenny Miles is available to play. Miles will suit up.
Second caller asked about Mike Davis. SOS said he hasn't broken a lot of tackles this year. Mike hasn't had the year SOS thought he would have. Davis has been a solid back and been valuable. But he tries the spin move abd hasn't broken off many boig runs. SOS blamed the high number of sacks partly on RB's, TE's and QB's.
7:30 - The third caller asked if the O-Line can protect Garcia enough. SOS said in today's college football, the QB has to learn to throw the ball away. "He's got to learn where to throw it and know where everybody is going."
The fourth caller asked if the inability to run the football has affected the deep passing game. He also asked about the inconsistency at QB. SOS said all good teams run the football. SOS said USC hopes to run better but they understand they're not a good running team. But they'll keep trying. SOS said he isn't sure if Beecher is eager to get back into the lineup after the injury suffered in the opener. SOS is the only coach to lead 3 different teams to victory in Knoxville. SOS recalled Duke beating UT when he was an assistant at Duke in 1982.
7:40 - The fifth caller asked about SOS's involvement in special teams. SOS said USC has a great special teams coach in Ray Rychleski. SOS said USC hopes to make play or two. SOS said he encourages the frist team players to play on speciasl teams. Other than that, he stays out of the way.
SOS was asked about reviewing gasme tapes. Teams share tapes. SOS said you can get any tape of any game involving a SEC team.
7:50 - Eric Hyman spoke with host Todd Ellis for a few minutes. He praised BB head coaches Darrin Horn and Dawn Staley for their intensity. The new training room at W-B Stadium will be ready in a couple of weeks. USC has a lot to offer, both ath;letically and academically. The presentation is everything today. Players today want to see a commitment from the school towards their sport.
7:55 - The seventh caller asked about the running game. SOS said Dion LeCorn is not a RB and that he asked to moved to safety. LeCorn is listed as thre backup Spur LB.
The eighth caller asked about changes in college football and the differences in recruiting between Fla. and SC. SOS said HS FB in South Carolina is just as good as Georgia and Fla. and other states. SOS said once USC finishes with the facilities, it will be time to win FB games. Winning helps recruiting immensely. SOS said recruiting has changed. USC has "a bunch" of commitmentsn now, as do a lot of schools. Kids commit earlier than they used to.
The ninth caller asked about Succop. SOS said RS has a couple of big kicks left before he finishes his career. RS has kicked the ball better in practice this week.
8:00 - SOS said Garcia will roll out to try to get away from the blitz. But Garcia rolled out and fumbled v. LSU 2 weeks ago.
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Spurrier held his weekly call-in radio show on Thursday night from Wild Wings Cafe. USC hosts Tennessee Saturday at 7 p.m.
6:55 - We're awaiting the start of the show.
7:10 - Spurrier said USC is ahead in its preparations for Tennessee with 2 weeks of practice. Jared Cook is running around full speed and has been for 2 days. Offensively, Spurrier is disappointed in the way the offense finished up v. LSU. USC needs to play better. USC hasn't peaked yet. Garcia will start at QB. SOS hopes SG has learned to get rid of the ball. SG tried to run out of the pocket a few times v. LSU. He has to know where the throw-a-way spot is. SG has practiced that. Smelley has practiced well, too. SG has more escapeability, though. USC will try to let SG go the distance, as he did v. LSU. The series v. UT has been close. Last 3 games have been decided by 11 points or less. USC is 1-2. SOS questioned whether USC has "caught up" to UT.
7:20 - Spurrier said UT is "just about like always." Eric Berry is a great player. He picked up and returned a Freddie Brown fumble in last year's game. USC has to prevent him from making a big play. SOS thinks UT will try to run the ball against the USC defense with Foster and Hardesty.
First caller asked why USC tries to run up the middle instead of around the end when USC lacks a big powerful back. SOS says USC needs to spread the field. Eric Baker is ready to play some. SOS said Kenny Miles is available to play. Miles will suit up.
Second caller asked about Mike Davis. SOS said he hasn't broken a lot of tackles this year. Mike hasn't had the year SOS thought he would have. Davis has been a solid back and been valuable. But he tries the spin move abd hasn't broken off many boig runs. SOS blamed the high number of sacks partly on RB's, TE's and QB's.
7:30 - The third caller asked if the O-Line can protect Garcia enough. SOS said in today's college football, the QB has to learn to throw the ball away. "He's got to learn where to throw it and know where everybody is going."
The fourth caller asked if the inability to run the football has affected the deep passing game. He also asked about the inconsistency at QB. SOS said all good teams run the football. SOS said USC hopes to run better but they understand they're not a good running team. But they'll keep trying. SOS said he isn't sure if Beecher is eager to get back into the lineup after the injury suffered in the opener. SOS is the only coach to lead 3 different teams to victory in Knoxville. SOS recalled Duke beating UT when he was an assistant at Duke in 1982.
7:40 - The fifth caller asked about SOS's involvement in special teams. SOS said USC has a great special teams coach in Ray Rychleski. SOS said USC hopes to make play or two. SOS said he encourages the frist team players to play on speciasl teams. Other than that, he stays out of the way.
SOS was asked about reviewing gasme tapes. Teams share tapes. SOS said you can get any tape of any game involving a SEC team.
7:50 - Eric Hyman spoke with host Todd Ellis for a few minutes. He praised BB head coaches Darrin Horn and Dawn Staley for their intensity. The new training room at W-B Stadium will be ready in a couple of weeks. USC has a lot to offer, both ath;letically and academically. The presentation is everything today. Players today want to see a commitment from the school towards their sport.
7:55 - The seventh caller asked about the running game. SOS said Dion LeCorn is not a RB and that he asked to moved to safety. LeCorn is listed as thre backup Spur LB.
The eighth caller asked about changes in college football and the differences in recruiting between Fla. and SC. SOS said HS FB in South Carolina is just as good as Georgia and Fla. and other states. SOS said once USC finishes with the facilities, it will be time to win FB games. Winning helps recruiting immensely. SOS said recruiting has changed. USC has "a bunch" of commitmentsn now, as do a lot of schools. Kids commit earlier than they used to.
The ninth caller asked about Succop. SOS said RS has a couple of big kicks left before he finishes his career. RS has kicked the ball better in practice this week.
8:00 - SOS said Garcia will roll out to try to get away from the blitz. But Garcia rolled out and fumbled v. LSU 2 weeks ago.
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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 @.