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Spurrier: Gamecocks ready for a winning season
Posted: 08.30.2011 at 1:15 PM
Updated: 08.30.2011 at 6:00 PM
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Spurrier at Tuesday's press conference.  / Adam Pinsker
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COLUMBIA (WACH) -- The Gamecock football season kicks off in just 4 days against East Carolina and Head Coach Steve Spurrier says the team is healthy and ready to hit the field.

Spurrier held his weekly press conference Tuesday afternoon.  He told reporters that no starting quarterback has been named at this point, but both Conner Shaw and Stephen Garcia will see playing time against ECU.  The coach says both players have shown improvement.

Spurrier also commented on what he's willing to do to win the first game of the season.

"If Marcus Lattimore needs to carry the ball 40 times for us to beach East Carolina, that's what we will do," Spurrier said.

Despite the rest of the team being healthy and ready to perform, back-up quarterback Andrew Clifford is out for a few weeks with a concussion after being injured in a scooter accident.  Officials say he wasn't wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

More Gamecock News...
New York Post picks Gamecocks to win national title 
QBs shine in USC football scrimmage 
Spurrier thinks Gamecocks have chance in SEC  

And when it comes to individual egos, Spurrier says the high preseason expectations haven't gone to any of the players' heads.

"We haven't noticed that our players are acting like they're hot stuff," he adds.

Spurrier says the goal for the season remains the same despite all the hype; win the East Division, then win the conference title.

USC is coming off an SEC Eastern Division win last season, for the first time since joining the conference in 1992.

The Gamecocks take on the Pirates Saturday at 7 p.m. in Charlotte, NC. Click here for the full season schedule.

The New York Post picked South Carolina to win the 2011 BCS Championship in this Sunday's edition.

Writer Lenn Robbins says "With Spurrier's smooth Southern charm and dazzling resume as a college coach (he led Florida to the 1996 national championship) and player (he won the Heisman Trophy in 1966), landing some of the nation's best talent, and his sixth sense for play calling, the Gamecocks are ready to make history."

Spurrier said earlier this month that he thinks the pieces are in place for a full SEC win.

How far do you think South Carolina will go this season?  Vote in our poll and leave a comment below to weigh in.

Can the Gamecocks win it all in 2011?
Can the Gamecocks win it all in 2011?
Read more and leave a comment...

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