Batchelor 'stickin' to my decision'

COLUMBIA -- Despite his coaches being somewhat vague about his situation, South Carolina offensive lineman Heath Batchelor continues to say he has no plans to return to the team.

Neither head coach Steve Spurrier nor line coach Eric Wolford said Monday night that Batchelor was officially off the team.

But Batchelor told The Post and Courier earlier in the day that nothing had changed since late last week, when he left the Gamecocks.

"No, not really," he said, when asked if he was rethinking anything. "Stickin' to my decision."

Spurrier said Monday that he's heard Batchelor, a redshirt junior, is still in classes.

"He's suspended from the team. I don't know; I haven't talked to him," Spurrier said. "Hopefully he'll stay in school and go to class, but we'll see. I'll let you know at the end of the week."

Wolford said he's more concerned about Batchelor as a person than a football player.

"I'm not in a position to state whether he's actually gone or not," Wolford said. "We're just trying to make sure we're taking care of him as a person right now.

"We've got people that are on it, trying to make sure we get him in a situation where he can do what's best for his life. The last thing we want to do is let one of our own just go off and fail."

Wolford didn't say no when asked if maybe getting away from football is best right now for the 6-7, 308-pound Batchelor, who left the team last year to tend to personal issues.

"Sometimes you need to take a step away and gather yourself a little bit and do a little soul-searching," Wolford said.

This week, Batchelor has added the following signature to his texts: "Carpe Diem."

Brown out for Vandy

Doctors have ruled Moe Brown out for the Vanderbilt game after he took that wicked hit just before halftime last week, suffering a concussion.

"Hopefully the (Tennessee) game, he'll be cleared," Spurrier said.

Brown said he was unconscious for two or three minutes, constituting a pretty serious concussion. He said he doesn't remember about 15 minutes.

Redshirt sophomore Jason Barnes will start in place of Brown.

Receiver updates

Redshirt freshman Tori Gurley didn't play more at Alabama, Spurrier said, because he knows only one of the receiver positions and he's behind freshman Alshon Jeffery there.

"He has slipped down a little bit," Spurrier said. "But he could get back up just like Jason Barnes got back up with a good game the other night."

Steve Spurrier Jr. said Dion LeCorn would hold off on surgery. With rest, he could return later this week or next week.

Spurrier thought LeCorn would need another round of surgery on the leg he broke on the final play of the spring game.

Corner Cedrick Snead was playing receiver Monday, with Brown and LeCorn out.

Auguste returns

With his three-game suspension over, cornerback Akeem Auguste was back in his white No. 3 on Monday.

Auguste called the three weeks on the sideline "dreadful."

"I was just waiting," he said. "Waiting, waiting, waiting. I had to wait."

Auguste did make the trip to Alabama, because coaches wanted him there as a cheerleader. The sophomore said he did apologize to his teammates.

"I let them down," he said.

Sophomore C.C. Whitlock played well in Auguste's place, but Auguste said he expects to play this week.

No line changes

For the first time since the first two weeks, there will be no changes in the offensive line.

From left to right, the starting five will be Kyle Nunn, Jarriel King, Lem Jeanpierre, T.J. Johnson and Hutch Eckerson.

Wolford said Garrett Anderson would continue to cycle in at center, with Jeanpierre.

Wolford said RG Nick Allison did not play against Alabama. Coaches are still trying to hang on to his redshirt.

It was King's first start at guard.

"He just eats up a lot of space," Wolford said of the North Charleston native. "I think he feels more comfortable in there."

Tennessee game time

South Carolina and Tennessee will play at 7:45 p.m. on Oct. 31 in Knoxville, the SEC and USC said Monday. The game will be televised by ESPN.

The Gamecocks will continue to be night owls this season, playing their eighth game after 7 p.m. in nine outings.