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Recap: USC vs. N.C. State

Posted on 08.30.08
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Ellis Johnson — The Gamecocks’ first-year defensive coordinator has been a part of both of USC’s most recent shutouts. No doubt the Winnsboro native enjoyed Thursday more. (Johnson was Mississippi State’s defensive chief when USC shut out the Bulldogs 15-0 in the 2006 opener).

Mike Davis — The tailback did not mope over being benched for the first series and a half. The senior led the Gamecocks out of the tunnel for “2001,” broke off a career-long 50-yard run and finished with 101 yards on 14 carries.

Emanuel Cook — All the third-year safety does is make tackles — a team-high nine of them against the Wolfpack.

Long day in the film room

The offensive line had four false-start penalties and several protection breakdowns that helped get Tommy Beecher sacked five times. Every starter up front was whistled for a penalty except right guard Heath Batchelor.

Armchair quarterback

USC coach Steve Spurrier stuck with a struggling Beecher (four interceptions) for three quarters before Beecher left the game with a head injury. Asked what he would have done had Beecher not been injured, Spurrier said: “I didn’t have to make that decision.”

Did you know?

Eric Norwood did not have a tackle in his first game at linebacker, ending a streak of 16 games with at least one stop. “He was hustling around. Maybe he just wasn’t where the ball was going,” Spurrier said. “But that is unusual.”

Injury update

Spurrier said USC had no players in the training room after the game, played on a hot, muggy night. After watching a couple of N.C. State players leave with cramps, Spurrier gave strength and conditioning coach Mark Smith for getting the Gamecocks in shape.

Extra points

Spurrier said WRs Kenny McKinley and Moe Brown had good blocks on Davis’ long run. ... Though DE Devin Taylor was in uniform, Spurrier said he would prefer to redshirt the freshman from Beaufort. ... Fellow DE Byron McKnight, who redshirted last year, had one of USC’s two sacks.

— Joseph Person

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