Spurrier: 'I'm tired of changing quarterbacks'

CLEMSON — After unconventionally switching quarterbacks on every play for a couple of weeks, Steve Spurrier made a stark change in his philosophy about the position he played well once upon a time.

In fact, he went as far in the opposite direction as you could.

Saturday against Clemson, South Carolina's head coach was going to play Chris Smelley for four quarters. No matter what.

When asked if that was the case, Spurrier responded "yes" four times before offering an answer.

"We said we were going to let one quarterback go," Spurrier said. "We saw one quarterback the whole game."

For better, but more worse.

Through three early interceptions, four in the game, and countless other throws that were off target and hitting Tigers — not Gamecocks — in the hands.

There were some good throws in his 22 completions. But there were more poor ones in his 25 incompletions.

The reason for the stubborn Spurrier spirit?

He said freshman Stephen Garcia, sick some this week, isn't ready to play. And that junior Tommy Beecher, who will graduate and leave the team ahead of schedule, has motivational issues.

Critical Smelley errors, a pair of interceptions, led to Florida's first 14 points a couple of weeks ago in that 50-point rout.

Saturday, Smelley's three first-half interceptions resulted in three Clemson touchdown drives. Not too tough to see cause and effect there.

"Chris struggled," Spurrier said.

At a certain point, even the Tigers were looking for No. 5.

"I kept waiting and waiting for Garcia to come into the game," Clemson's Da'Quan Bowers said. "After that (third) interception, I couldn't believe they put (Smelley) back in.

"I thought coach Spurrier was playing one of those mind games with us when he said during the week that Smelley was going to play the whole game. But he did."

With roughly a half-month of bowl practice ahead, the door is now open for Garcia to pass Smelley. But, at this point, who would venture a guess about the position?

"If we need to make a change, make another change, we'll let the other one go the whole game," Spurrier said. "I'm tired of changing quarterbacks. You'd think we'd know who our best is. Maybe right now it's still up in the air."

Smelley finished the game with 212 passing yards, with two touchdowns and the quartet of interceptions.

For the year, he now has 13 TDs and 15 interceptions.

Wrapped around the halftime break, Smelley actually hit 7 of 8 passes for 82 yards and the two touchdowns.

But it was a brief blip during the day. By then, he'd already dug his — and USC's — grave.

"Coach gave me the ball, and I felt I was as prepared for this game as any game all year," he said. "I'll take responsibility. I didn't execute out there on the field. I take responsibility for the way I played. It wasn't nearly good enough for a win."

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