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Concussion will keep Brown out of action against Vanderbilt
South Carolina senior wide receiver No. 9 Moe Brown gives the thumbs up as he gets carted off the field after a second quarter play during the Gamecocks game against the Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL, Saturday, October 17, 2009.
Gerry Melendez /The State Media Company
CommentsAfter sustaining a concussion and going to the hospital on Saturday night, USC receiver Moe Brown is likely to be cleared to play soon - but likely not this week.
Coach Steve Spurrier said Sunday that he does not expect Brown to be cleared to play Saturday against Vanderbilt.
The senior was hurt after catching an 8-yard pass late in the first half at Alabama, setting up a first-and-goal. He remained on the ground for several minutes before being carted off.
"Sometimes they wait a week or two (to clear players after a concussion)," Spurrier said. "But Moe flew back with us and was in good spirits and seemed to be pretty much normal. But we'll wait and see during the week whether he's cleared to play."
Spurrier said he expected Jason Barnes, who had a team-high six catches for 46 yards after replacing Brown, to get the start against Vanderbilt.
No complaints. Spurrier said the hit that knocked Brown out was "a very clean hit," calling it a "sort of combination" hit by two Alabama safeties that got Brown caught the wrong way.
Spurrier complimented Alabama as a whole on its sportsmanship, particularly when it came to not getting in shots on quarterback Stephen Garcia.
"I tell you, Alabama's a very clean team," Spurrier said. "After watching the tape, a lot of guys could've taken hard shots at Stephen right as he threw the ball, but they sort of veered off and didn't clobber him near as badly as maybe some other teams do."
Batchelor update. Guard Heath Batchelor has yet to tell the staff that he is officially quitting, according to Spurrier.
"He hasn't told us anything," Spurrier said.
Batchelor was suspended for the Alabama and S.C. State games for missing classes, according to Spurrier. Then Batchelor missed practice Thursday and didn't make the trip to Tuscaloosa.
The player had told friends that he has left the team and football is no longer enjoyable. A source close to Batchelor said Sunday he is reconsidering his decision to leave the team.
"I don't know if he's left town or not," Spurrier said. "He was suspended for the game. We'll see exactly what his status is this week, I'm not sure where he is today, to tell you the truth."
Still ranked. The loss to one of the nation's top teams only pushed South Carolina back one spot in both polls - and helped land the Gamecocks in the BCS standings.
The Gamecocks are No. 24 in the first BCS standings of the season, released Sunday. They were No. 23 in both the AP media and USA Today coaches polls.
Auguste to return. Spurrier said cornerback Akeem Auguste, who missed the past three games, is off his suspension and will play this week.
Also set to return is tailback Jarvis Giles, who was suspended from the Alabama game because of class attendance issues.
Reach Emerson at (803) 771-8676.
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