5 questions facing the Gamecocks this spring

COLUMBIA — Snow's on the ground in some parts of the state. But spring has sprung for South Carolina football.

The Gamecocks begin spring drills at 4 p.m. today (practice is open). After a 7-6 season that ended with USC sputtering in its final three games, Steve Spurrier is looking for a new plateau in his fifth year at the school.

Here's a look at some of the more pressing matters to be examined in the next month or so.

1. Have the Gamecocks found their QB? (How about a backup?)

This question might not be answered until December, or beyond, but this is at least the starting point of the next chapter. Stephen Garcia, entering what he hopes is his first full spring, is the hands-down No. 1. That's new. He'll most certainly want to build on that dreadful bowl effort.

This spring is almost about those behind Garcia as much as Garcia. The backup job is 100 percent up for grabs, between walk-on Zac Brindise and two redshirt freshmen, Aramis Hillary and Summerville's Reid McCollum.

At last check, Spurrier has wound up playing more than one quarterback in most seasons he's coached. Why would this one be any different?

There's an opportunity to seize momentum entering the summer months. Will anyone do the seizing?

2. Who are all those new coaches on the sidelines?

Seems like we were saying the same thing a year ago, with the arrivals of Ellis Johnson and Ray Rychleski. This year, there are just more new faces.

Quarterbacks coach G.A. Mangus, running backs coach Jay Graham, tight ends coach Jeep Hunter, offensive line coach Eric Wolford, cornerbacks coach Lorenzo Ward will all be getting acclimated to their new surroundings. And the players to the host of new coaches.

It'll be especially interesting to see if any changes take place on the offensive side of the ball, if the running game looks different with Graham and Wolford.

3. Will the offensive line make strides?

It'll be difficult to tell more definitively until late summer, but will Wolford's fingerprints make a difference for an offensive line that actually returns quite a bit of talent and experience?

North Charleston's Jarriel King is back at left tackle. Quintin Richardson should be ready for a step forward in his third season. Senior center Garrett Anderson will be one of the team's leaders.

Lem Jeanpierre and Terrance Campbell have a lot of experience at the guard spots. Tackle Hutch Eckerson didn't play much in 2008, but he has a lot of potential.

4. How will the half-dozen newcomers fare?

The bulk of South Carolina's big recruiting haul won't be here until July. But six first-year players - some of the best in the class, really - are already on campus.

Freshman Stephon Gilmore and DeVonte Holloman, teammates at Rock Hill's South Pointe High, are expected to gravitate toward immediate playing time on the defensive side of the ball. Gilmore will see work at quarterback, too.

Turf toe might limit running back Jarvis Giles, which would be counterproductive.

Linebackers Josh Dickerson and Tony Straughter, both coming to USC by way of Georgia Military, might also see immediate playing time.

5. Can Spurrier work to create a new attitude?

He's flirted with doing so in his first four years, but the hump is still in front of the program.

A 7-3 start in 2008 was belied by those embarrassing losses at Florida, at Clemson and in the bowl game against Iowa.

Can the new coaching staff and incoming freshmen help erase the bad taste? And can that process begin in the spring?

Reach Travis Haney at thaney@postandcourier.com and check out the South Carolina blog at www.charleston.net/blogs/gamecocks.