O-line penalties prompt ire

COLUMBIA — Steve Spurrier and John Hunt plan to have a short leash Thursday when it comes to offensive linemen jumping before the snap.

South Carolina's head coach and offensive line coach have run out of patience, it seems. Five false starts in the opener against North Carolina State sent them into a boil.

Spurrier said Monday if someone jumps, he'll come out of the game. He reiterated that again Tuesday, with a dose of cynicism.

"I feel sure I'm going to have to send someone out," Spurrier said. "I don't think our guys can do it. I wish I had great confidence that they could stay onside, but I don't think they can do it."

Hutch Eckerson (two), Lem Jeanpierre, Justin Sorensen and fullback Pat DiMarco were hit with the penalties in the 34-0 victory. Spurrier said the one against DiMarco was suspect, but the others were obvious lapses.

"We've got the backups ready," Spurrier said. "We certainly hope they don't, but I don't remember the first game when we didn't have someone jump. It's sad. It's embarrassing to me and to coach Hunt that we can't get them to do that."

Spurrier said it's undetermined how long the culprit will be out if he jumps. On a much smaller scale, he said it could be a Wally Pipp situation. "You're out for that play," he said. "You may go back in. If your replacement plays well, you may be out the whole game."

Showed him the Doerr?

Special teams coach Ray Rychleski said this week that a tongue-lashing is perhaps a big reason why freshman punter Ryan Doerr decided to leave school. Spurrier said Saturday that Doerr had returned to his hometown of Katy, Texas.

"We just had a misunderstanding at the wrong time, three or four days before my first game as a Gamecock, his first game," said Rychleski, in his first year with USC. "I probably said things I shouldn't have. I know I said some things I shouldn't have and he got upset and gave him a reason to leave, and he decided to leave."

Rychleski and Doerr mended fences later, but there has been no indication that Doerr will return. His scholarship has been awarded to long snapper Charles Turner.

Going into the year, Rychleski said Doerr and Spencer Lanning would likely split the punting duties. Interestingly enough, though, he said this week that Doerr would've redshirted.

Above a punting role, USC coaches saw Doerr as the heir apparent to Ryan Succop as the team's place-kicker.

He said it

Rychleski's units received a lot of credit from Spurrier and from fans after the opener.

They didn't do anything to necessarily wow, but there weren't any problems compared to past years. Still, Rychleski has been warning his team against getting overconfident — that folks can turn on you in a hurry.

"It's like I tell these guys," Rychleski said, "'Everybody's patting us on the back. They're just softening the spot to put the knife in. Same with me.'"

Extra points

Spurrier said this week that USC is still trying to get settled the student visa of reserve FB Yvan Banag. Banag, born in Paris, was initially told he couldn't enroll here this fall. ... Defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said end Clifton Geathers has been battling a thigh bruise this week. He should play, but if he can't Johnson rattled off three or four other options as a backup to Jordin Lindsey. Among them, the emerging Byron McKnight.