Gamecocks still interest bowls

GAINESVILLE, FLA. — South Carolina may not have looked like a bowl-worthy team here Saturday afternoon.

But don't fret, Gamecocks. You're still wanted.

One bowl rep said the result was more a matter Florida being that good, and not necessarily the Gamecocks being that dreadful.

Ken Schick of the Chick-fil-A Bowl called USC's 56-6 loss at the Swamp "an aberration."

Schick, fellow Chick-fil-A rep Tilden Martin and South Carolina athletic director Eric Hyman were discussing just that at halftime in the media lounge.

"I think everyone knows by now that Florida is the top team in the country," said Schick, who was also at the Gamecocks' win last week against Arkansas. "South Carolina is a great football team. They've stayed in every game."

Not Saturday. A pair of interceptions and a botched throwback on a kickoff return got things off kilter very quickly.

It was Spurrier's worst loss at South Carolina, the first by more than 20 points since 2005.

The Dec. 31 Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta and the Jan. 1 Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla., remain the prohibitive favorites to take the Gamecocks (7-4, 4-4 SEC). South Carolina and Kentucky, 6-4 entering Saturday night's game against Vanderbilt, figure to be the two teams to wind up in those games.

The Gamecocks won the 2001 and 2002 Outback bowls. They haven't been to the Chick-fil-A (Peach) since winning the ACC title in 1969.

Turning point

The game was pretty much sealed with the ill-fated throwback by Dion LeCorn on the kickoff return after Florida made it 14-0.

LeCorn sailed the cross-field pass over Chris Hail's head. Florida's James Smith recovered and returned it to the 1-foot line. The Gators went up 21-0 three plays later, with 2:22 left in the first quarter.

USC coach Steve Spurrier called the idea "ill-advised."

"I told (special teams) coach Ray (Rychleski) to go ahead with it," Spurrier said. "I thought we had a shot at it. That was a dumb play, on my part."

Return specialist Captain Munnerlyn said he questioned the call in his head but added "you have to trust your coaches."

The Shuffle, Part II

Spurrier stayed with his quarterback shuffle, switching Chris Smelley and Stephen Garcia on every play while the game was still somewhat tight.

It worked OK last week against Arkansas. But Florida isn't Arkansas.

"It didn't work quite as well this week," Smelley said of the flip-flopping. "You've got to give Florida's defense credit. They played well."

Smelley ended up 13 for 24 for 92 yards and two costly interceptions in his own territory.

Spurrier said the rotation "didn't really matter too much."

Sacking the record?

The SEC's top-ranked defense got beat up by the Gators, to the tune of 516 yards, but you can't knock junior end-linebacker Eric Norwood.

Norwood registered two sacks (he has five in the past two games) and picked up a fumble by Florida's Chris Rainey.

Norwood now has 22 career sacks, 1- 1/2 behind John Abraham and four behind the all-time leader, Andrew Provence.

"It is (important to me), as far as an individual goal," Norwood said. "But my individual goals aren't higher than team goals. If they can help the team win, that's what I want."

Florida boys

Several Gamecocks from the state of Florida were listed on the game's participation list.

Among them were linebacker Marvin Sapp of Jacksonville and fullback Pat DiMarco of Altamonte Springs. Both of those players were selected as captains for the game.

LeCorn and Florida backup quarterback John Brantley, high school teammates in Ocala, chatted on the field after the game.

It wasn't a pleasant day for most of the Sunshine State natives, including Tampa's Garcia.

He finished 6 for 13 for 28 yards and an interception. He was also sacked three times.

Dress list

No real stunners on the dress list for South Carolina. A little surprising, again, that sophomore running back Brian Maddox didn't make the trip.

Maddox figured to play a big part in USC's backfield coming into the year, but his star has faded in a hurry. He also didn't dress for last week's home game against Arkansas.

Maddox could very well transfer at season's end, especially with youth at running back on the team and, potentially, coming in this signing day.

USC has one commitment, from Ben Axon, and looks hot on the heels of another, Jarvis Giles. Fitting for this weekend, both are Florida natives.

Injury report

Senior right tackle Justin Sorensen suffered a left hip injury. Senior cornerback Carlos Thomas hurt his right knee.

Junior cornerback Captain Munnerlyn was in and out of the game with turf toe, something he's battled for about three weeks.

Ellis Johnson said his cornerbacks were playing "musical chairs" because so many, including youngsters Addison Williams and C.C. Whitlock, were coming in and out of the game.

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

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