USC practice report: Spurrier mum on Bowden

Head coach Steve Spurrier looks to the scoreboard during a time out against Ole Miss No. in the first half.

Erik Campos/ecampos@thestate.com

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Posted on 10.15.08

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Leading off

Steve Spurrier is hesitant to say much about Tommy Bowden’s departure from Clemson. What the South Carolina coach did say Tuesday might be bad news for Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer.

Spurrier said he thought Bowden was safe given his contract extension during the offseason. Fulmer, who also received an extension, is under pressure at Tennessee.

“I don’t think they’re going to make a move on him, but I don’t know,” Spurrier said Tuesday. “Just because a guy gets a new, long-term deal, it doesn’t mean too much nowadays, except it means he’s going to get a lot more money (in a buyout) if they let him go, if he decides enough’s enough or whatever.”

Stock rising

The depth at receiver has become a strength, thanks to the return of Kenny McKinley and the emergence of Jason Barnes and Moe Brown. With Joe Hills and Chris Hail also playing, the Gamecocks felt good enough about the position to move sophomore Dion LeCorn — who has 14 catches and two touchdowns this season — to spur linebacker.

“Coach (Ron) Cooper was looking for someone to train over there, in case of injuries,” Spurrier said. “Dion has not performed all that well at wide receiver the last three or four weeks. He’d moved down the depth chart. Now he’s trying to play defense. ... Hopefully, he can help us over there.”

Stock falling

The rushing offense ranks last in the SEC and 104th in the nation, at 109 yards per game.

“But we’ve got to keep mixing it up,” Spurrier said. “We keep trying runs, so we’ve got to keep trying it. But we also know we need to throw the ball to move it consistently.”

Injury report

Tight end Jared Cook (right foot sprain) and defensive tackle Marque Hall (left knee) did not practice Tuesday. Cook is expected to play.

Quote of the day

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me getting hit by kickers. I need a real slow kicker. LSU, please have a slow kicker.”

— Captain Munnerlyn, who has been caught from behind on returns by a kicker twice in the past three games

Extra points

Ryan Succop leads the nation with 19 field-goal attempts, two more than anyone else. ... With two more wins, South Carolina will be guaranteed a fifth consecutive season without a losing record for the first time since 1930-34.

Scouting report

LSU is seeking to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time since 2002, when it lost to Arkansas and then Texas in the Cotton Bowl. The Tigers last fell in consecutive regular-season games in 2001, to Tennessee and Florida.

— Seth Emerson

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