COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) -- Steve Spurrier spoke with his players, then jogged over to his offense eager to use the first day of spring practice to put last season's sour finish aside.
The South Carolina coach has apologized several times for his team's awful showing at the PapaJohns.com Bowl last January, where the Gamecocks lost to Connecticut, 20-7. Spurrier hopes his players make up for it with better play throughout 2010, something that begins with spring workouts that opened on Thursday. The Gamecocks got in just one practice before taking next week off for USC's spring break.
"We thought some of the young guys like Connor Shaw, DeMario Bennett and Demario Jeffery (could benefit) from practice and give them something to think about over the spring break week," said head
coach Steve Spurrier of getting in the one practice prior to the break. "That was the reason we did that."
South Carolina went 7-6 for the second straight season. Still, Spurrier is the only Gamecock coach to go to four bowl games in his first five seasons.
Workouts conclude with the Garnet and Black spring game on April 10.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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