McKinley likely out for Georgia

COLUMBIA — South Carolina's Kenny McKinley didn't practice Monday night, and there wasn't much hope bouncing around about the senior receiver playing Saturday against No. 2 Georgia.

"No, we didn't expect him to do anything," coach Steve Spurrier said. "If he makes any progress, it'll be later in the week."

McKinley pulled his right hamstring early in Thursday's loss at Vanderbilt and didn't return. McKinley said he was hit from behind on a crossing route and his leg "whipped up and I couldn't hardly walk."

"I want to play. It's my last time playing against Georgia," said McKinley, the Mableton, Ga., native who is chasing all sorts of South Carolina receiving records. "I want to do all the treatment and get back right for this Saturday. If I feel like I'm going to not help my team or hurt my team, I've got to let these other guys do their thing."

Spurrier said McKinley is the only Gamecock on the team's unofficial injury report.

Receiver Moe Brown hurt his knee during the Vandy game, but Spurrier expects him back at practice today. Running back Mike Davis (thigh bruise) practiced Monday.

With no McKinley and Brown present Monday, Spurrier said the team's younger receivers got a lot of work.

Spurrier mentioned freshman C.C. Whitlock, redshirt freshman Jason Barnes and sophomore Joe Hills by name. None of those receivers played against Vanderbilt.

"It's hard to play them all when we're not completing many passes," Spurrier said.

He also mentioned tight end Weslye Saunders, who didn't play much against the Commodores.

"We've got to get the ball to him more often," Spurrier said.

Quiet time

For a variety of reasons, Spurrier is using his veto power this week when it comes to interview requests. A slew of assistant coaches and players weren't made available by Spurrier on Monday night.

Among the assistants: Receivers coach and play-caller Steve Spurrier Jr. , offensive line coach John Hunt and special teams and tight ends coach Ray Rychleski.

The players: Quarterback Tommy Beecher, receiver Barnes and running back Brian Maddox.

"Well, sometimes we don't put players on the list because they don't want to talk to you guys," Spurrier said. "A lot of times you want to talk to guys that aren't playing. Nothing good can come out of talking to guys that aren't playing. ... We don't just open up everybody to the media."

Spurrier was asked if the assistants didn't wish to talk. He said yes.

He also said some programs — he mentioned Alabama, with control-happy Nick Saban at the helm — permanently muzzle their assistants.

"We're pretty open around here. Sometimes they just don't want to talk," Spurrier said. "Sometimes they say something that's not kosher."

Spurrier acknowledged that he was intentionally keeping Beecher from the media. He hasn't been available, actually, since before his woeful North Carolina State start.

Spurrier said both Beecher and Chris Smelley are both "scheduled" to play against Georgia. A starter hasn't been named.

Wofford time set

USC announced Monday that the Sept. 20 Wofford game will be a 7 p.m. kickoff at Williams-Brice Stadium. The game will be available on pay-per-view. The Terriers gave the Gamecocks all they wanted a couple of years ago, taking advantage of USC on the ground before South Carolina held on for a 27-20 victory.

Extra points

OL Jamon Meredith worked at both left tackle and left guard. He worked with the first team at tackle and the second team at guard. North Charleston's Jarriel King got his first start at tackle against Vandy, and he struggled at times. ... FB Yvan Banag, who's been having problems with his student visa, might get them resolved this week, Spurrier said. ... Spurrier said "not yet" when asked if he had a running package for QB Stephen Garcia.