Don't expect Gamecocks to use a throwback again

ON THE BEAT: South Carolina

COLUMBIA — Safe to say, look for South Carolina to do a lot of things differently in next week's Clemson game than last week's Florida debacle.

One is a sure-fire lock: Don't expect the throwback on a kickoff return.

"You can tell Clemson that the Titan throwback is not in," Gamecocks special teams coach Ray Rychleski said earlier this week. "I can promise you that."

Obviously, Rychleski was hard on himself for, quite possibly, the single darkest moment in South Carolina's 7-4 season.

Down 14-0 to the Gators after a pair of interceptions led to scores, the coaches huddled and Rychleski called for the throwback. Coach Steve Spurrier acquiesced.

It's called Titan since it's a replica of the Music City Miracle throwback that allowed the Tennessee Titans to get past the Buffalo Bills in the 1999 NFL playoffs.

Some might also remember the 1994 throwback against Clemson.

But, well, those worked.

The Gamecocks' most recent version was a colossal failure.

Sorry to relive it, but ...

Rychleski said the kick went deeper than expected, into the right corner of the end zone, about 3 yards deep.

Safety Dion LeCorn took it out of the end zone, stopping at about the 4-yard line. He turned to lateral the ball to the opposite hash, where speedy receiver Chris Hail stood waiting.

And that's when the big problems began. Hail watched as the ball sailed over his head. As he turned to give chase, Florida snapper James Smith closed on the ball, scooped it up and was downed at the 1-foot line.

The Gators scored three plays later to, really, end the game in the first quarter. The teams decided to hang around for three more quarters, anyway.

Spurrier and others have said the play, to some degree, was set up well. And it does appear that Hail had a one-on-one on the opposite side of the field.

But he needed to cleanly receive the ball first to make something happen.

"It was ill-advised. I think those were the right words," Rychleski said. "I encouraged coach Spurrier and I take full responsibility. It was a dumb play."

Deja yuck

When he was at Maryland, Rychleski recalled running the same throwback play in the 2001 Florida State game.

Didn't work then, either.

"We ended up recovering the ball, but we were way behind and it was late in the game," he said.

So, after two failures, it's shame on Rychleski. And he openly admits it.

"It was a bad call on my part," Rychleski said. "If I had it to do over again, I'd design it better or I just wouldn't do it."

Bring in the goons

In case you haven't heard, the South Carolina defense has taken to calling itself the Goon Squad.

Why?

"It's just a little nickname, the Goons," safety Emanuel Cook said. "Bad cats on the field, that's what we are."

Cook says freshman safety Akeem Auguste came up with the name.

The Gamecocks slipped from first to fourth in the SEC after giving up 519 total yards, 346 on the ground, to Florida.

Injury report

The Gamecocks will get a weekend to heal up and get away from the field. After a conditioning-only day Thursday, they're not due back on the practice field until Monday.

Among the healing: RT Justin Sorensen (hip), CB Captain Munnerlyn (toe); CB Carlos Thomas (knee); FS Auguste (hamstring); RB Eric Baker (ankle). All of those players, Spurrier has said, are expected to play against Clemson.

— Travis Haney

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