Spurrier waits on decision

COLUMBIA — While most of the country was playing Saturday, South Carolina's football team was busy making news without a game.

Quarterback Tommy Beecher, who struggled mightily Thursday in his first career start, has a banged-up left shoulder and sat out practice. Steve Spurrier said he might not practice today, but should be available Thursday against Vanderbilt (8:30 p.m., ESPN).

Additionally, freshman punter Ryan Doerr has left school to go back home to Texas. Also, Spurrier said North Charleston's Jarriel King will start this week at left tackle.

OK, first, back to Beecher.

He left the 34-0 win against North Carolina State after the third quarter. Beecher took several hits during the game, but one in particular on a headfirst slide after a 10-yard scramble.

At that point, he'd thrown four interceptions and was on the verge of being pulled, anyway.

"Tommy's sore," Spurrier said. "When he dove in there to get us in field goal range, he got hit on his left shoulder a little bit more than the head, actually. He was just battered and bruised."

Chris Smelley spelled Beecher and led USC on three sustained scoring drives in the fourth quarter to push away from the Wolfpack. Smelley hit all five of his pass attempts for 92 yards and two scores.

Despite Smelley's performance and Beecher's status, Spurrier still says he'll wait to decide on a quarterback.

"We'll just wait and see," said Spurrier, who could offer more at today's weekly news conference. "We don't have to make that decision yet."

Spurrier also volunteered the name of freshman Stephen Garcia, who worked Saturday as the No. 2 quarterback.

"Stephen Garcia got a bunch of snaps today," Spurrier said. "Him and Chris Smelley did most all of it. It was interesting seeing him out there pitching it around a little bit."

Spurrier was relatively complimentary of the mercurial Floridian.

"He looked decent at times (Saturday)," Spurrier said. "He's got some talent, he's got some ability. He's not the smartest quarterback in the world yet. We need to somehow get him smarter."

Spurrier said Beecher doesn't deserve all the blame. The offensive line "opened the gates" on him a few times, he said.

With that in mind, there'll be at least one line change entering the second week.

King, who just arrived at the beginning of camp, has already done enough to pass Hutch Eckerson for the start.

"Coach told me off the bat he wanted to get me involved," King said. "As far as starting or anything, I knew I'd have to work my way up. I'm doing that."

Spurrier also said redshirt freshman Kyle Nunn will slide from right tackle to left guard to challenge Lem Jeanpierre.

Beecher was sacked five times and the line committed false starts — something Spurrier has called "pitiful."

Doerr was expected to compete with Spencer Lanning for the punting job, but Lanning took all three punts Thursday.

The deeper impact, perhaps, is that Doerr was the early favorite to replace senior Ryan Succop next year as USC's place-kicker.

"I think he's got a girlfriend, a little homesickness and what have you," Spurrier said. "You're never too surprised when they go far away from home. Some kids are sort of homebodies, some like to see the world. We wish Ryan the best."

Long snapper Charles "C.D." Turner will take Doerr's scholarship in the spring.

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