The NCAA has ruled that South Carolina failed to monitor its athletic program and has accepted the school's proposed sanctions to cut six football scholarships the next three years and slash its official recruiting visits by more than half. There were no forfeiture of games or bowl ban attached the penalties which stemmed from athletes receiving $59,000 in impermissible benefits. The NCAA said... [Read More]
South Carolina isn't planning on having strong safety DeVonte Holloman for Saturday's home game against Florida, according to defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson. Holloman suffered a concussion last Saturday at Arkansas. Holloman almost certainly will not play against the Gators "because he didn't practice (all week), and even if they cleared him now, I'd probably be concerned about him... [Read More]
South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw, who suffered a concussion in last week's 44-28 loss to Arkansas, has been cleared medically and is expected to play Saturday against Florida. Shaw, a sophomore, has started the last four games for the Gamecocks (No. 13 BCS, No. 15 AP). He was knocked out of the Arkansas game with just over five minutes to play after being sacked by Jake Bequette and... [Read More]
Florida quarterback John Brantley will return to practice Tuesday and should be ready to play at South Carolina. Coach Will Muschamp says Brantley will sit out practice Monday, but should be fine for Saturday's game against the Gamecocks (No. 13 BCS, No. 15 AP). Brantley injured his right arm late against Vanderbilt. He took a hit between his shoulder and elbow in the fourth quarter and... [Read More]
Florida and South Carolina may both be without their starting quarterbacks when the Gators and Gamecocks meet Saturday at noon in Columbia. South Carolina QB Connor Shaw suffered a concussion in Saturday night's loss to Arkansas and his status is unknown at this time. Gamecocks' safety DeVonte Holloman also suffered a concussion in the game. "They will be sort of tested during the week and a... [Read More]
South Carolina star tailback Marcus Lattimore is out for the season with a knee injury. Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier announced Lattimore's status Sunday, saying "our worst fears were realized." Spurrier said Lattimore has ligament and cartilage damage in his knee sustained when he was blocking in South Carolina's 14-12 win over Mississippi State. Spurrier said doctors want the knee to... [Read More]
Former Jefferson High School quarterback Stephen Garcia was dismissed from the University of South Carolina football program on Tuesday for violating the guidelines of a substance abuse policy he signed before the season began. Garcia's father, Gary, said his son "decided to have a couple of beers. And then they decided to random alcohol test him and that's what he failed.' Garcia's father... [Read More]
South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia has been dismissed from the No. 15 Gamecocks, a move that a source told ESPN.com's Chris Low resulted from his testing positive for marijuana and alcohol. Athletic director Eric Hyman said the fifth-year senior failed to meet agreed-upon guidelines put in place after Garcia's fifth suspension this past spring. The source with direct knowledge of the... [Read More]
Steve Spurrier's calling a quarterback shuffle for No. 18 South Carolina with sophomore Connor Shaw replacing inconsistent senior Stephen Garcia. After hinting at the move since Saturday's 16-13 loss to Auburn, Spurrier made it official following Monday's practice. "As most everyone knows our quarterback play has not been as good as we hoped and we've got to do... [Read More]
Steve Spurrier is promising changes after another awful offensive performance from No. 18 South Carolina. He's just not ready to say what they'll be. The Gamecocks (4-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) had four turnovers and barely crossed midfield in a 16-13 loss to Auburn on Saturday. South Carolina managed only 289 yards and 13 first downs -- both season lows. Spurrier said Sunday his team has to... [Read More]
The fastest player on the University of South Carolina roster has been cleared to play in Saturday’s big game against the Auburn Tigers. Gamecock freshman wideout Damiere Byrd – who missed the first four games of the 2011 season as a result of his involvement with a student mentoring organization – has been reinstated by the NCAA. According to USC, Byrd “had no idea” that his involvement with the... [Read More]
The University of South Carolina received today a letter from the NCAA detailing allegations of rules violations, and school president Harris Pastides said USC is taking the investigation “very seriously.” The NCAA letter alleges that 12 student-athletes were provided an estimated $47,000 in improper benefits in the Whitney Hotel case, in which football players were allowed to stay at the... [Read More]
South Carolina freshman receiver Damiere Byrd has been suspended four games by the NCAA for his involvement with a mentoring organization. The Student Athlete Mentoring Foundation is the same organization Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd was involved with and he received a two-game suspension. The NCAA released its decision on Byrd Friday. The 12th-ranked Gamecocks (1-0) play at Georgia on... [Read More]
South Carolina starting cornerback Akeem Auguste limped into Williams-Brice Stadium on Monday night after practice. It was the last thing that Gamecocks defensive backs coach Lorenzo Ward could afford to see. Auguste, who has missed most of the preseason with an injured foot, had returned to practice last Wednesday. But the Hollywood, Fla., native re-injured the foot during a non-contact drill... [Read More]
Steve Spurrier said he thinks it isn't fair that Alabama's football program gets preferential treatment from ESPN, according to GoUpstate.com. The South Carolina coach appeared on the nationally syndicated Dan Patrick Show, where he opened about how he feels the sports network might favor the Crimson Tide over other SEC teams. He recounted to Patrick a conversation he had with... [Read More]
Stephen Garcia isn't just a veteran on the football field by now. The South Carolina senior quarterback has also evolved into a veteran of apologizing for bad behavior and working to move past it. Sunday provided yet another opportunity for a Garcia mea culpa, the 23-year-old explaining -- albeit not in great detail -- the April incident that caused the fifth suspension of his college career.... [Read More]
Jadeveon Clowney is making an instant impact at South Carolina’s fall camp. The top recruit from the Class of 2011 has made a habit of making his presence felt in the offensive backfield during full team drills, and Scott Hood of Gamecockcentral.com notes that Clowney could “have dozens of sacks if the Gamecocks allowed defenders to hit their quarterbacks.” Defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson... [Read More]
After five suspensions, South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia thought it was finally time to leave. Then came the flood of support from teammates, convincing him to stay despite his tattered reputation. Garcia spoke publicly Sunday for the first time since his most recent suspension -- the second of the spring and fifth since he came to campus -- for "unacceptable... [Read More]
South Carolina quarterbacks coach G.A. Mangus was arrested early Tuesday morning and charged with nuisance conduct. The State (S.C.) newspaper first reported the story. According to a police report, two officers saw Mangus "facing Main St. urinating on the street curb and roadway," at 1:31 a.m. ET Tuesday in Greenville. The report stated that another officer... [Read More]
Bryce Sherman won't return to South Carolina's football team. A source close to the team confirmed the news to GamecockCentral.com on Saturday afternoon. The source said that Sherman had decided to quit, although receivers coach Steve Spurrier Jr., Sherman's position coach, told GamecockCentral.com that if the decision had been made, Sherman had yet to inform the coaching staff. Sherman, when... [Read More]
