QBs are rotating to nowhere fast

CLEMSON — There was a certain symmetry to South Carolina’s regular season, which started and ended with a Gamecocks quarterback throwing four interceptions.

In between, Steve Spurrier tried three players at the position, including two weeks when he rotated two of them nearly every snap.

But when the final seconds ticked off Clemson’s 31-14 win Saturday at Death Valley, the USC coach was back where he started in August — no closer to identifying his best quarterback.

After rotating Chris Smelley and Stephen Garcia in a 34-21 victory against Arkansas and a 56-6 loss to Florida, Spurrier scrapped the platoon system and said he would give Smelley a chance to go the distance.

Spurrier stuck to his word, keeping Smelley in the game even as the interceptions mounted and Clemson’s lead increased. Judging by Spurrier’s comments, Smelley could have thrown seven interceptions and he would have stayed in.

“Everybody wants to see one quarterback. We saw one quarterback the whole game. If we need to make a change, we’ll make another change and let the other one play the whole game,” Spurrier said. “I’m tired of changing quarterbacks. You’d think we’d know who our best is. Right now it’s still up in the air.”

Smelley, who dropped to 9-6 as a starter, threw three of his four picks in the first half, which led to 21 points. He had another interception in the second half, matching Tommy Beecher’s total in the season-opening, 34-0 victory against N.C. State.

While Smelley struggled, Spurrier stood on the sideline with his arms folded and the play sheet clasped in one hand. Garcia’s day consisted of shielding David Reaves when the assistant coach signaled in plays and trying to stay warm on the cold, damp afternoon.

Garcia, who missed two days of practice last week with a stomach virus, said he was surprised he did not get in the game. But Spurrier said the only way Garcia would have played would have been an injury to Smelley.

“Stephen was sick two or three days. Stephen doesn’t know what’s going on completely, yet,” Spurrier said. “It was either (Smelley) or Tommy Beecher, and Tommy doesn’t want to play. So we were going to go with him the whole game unless he got knocked out.”

Spurrier said last week Beecher lost his desire to play after taking a couple of big hits against N.C. State.

Smelley completed 22 of a career-high 47 attempts for 212 yards and two touchdowns. Trailing 24-0, Smelley completed 7 of 8 passes on a pair of scoring drives that pulled the Gamecocks to 24-14 with 11:32 remaining in the third quarter.

USC got the ball back quickly after its defense forced a three-and-out. But Smelley overthrew an open Weslye Saunders on first down, scrambled out of the pocket and threw the ball away on second down and hit Mike Davis in the flat for 2 yards on third-and-10.

Clemson’s James Davis had a 2-yard touchdown run on the ensuing drive to put the Tigers up by three scores.

Ball game.

As he walked off the field, Smelley stopped near the tunnel and got a hug and some words of encouragement from his father.

“Nobody wanted this win any more than I did. I feel pretty responsible,” Smelley said later. “Coach gave me the ball. I felt as prepared for this game as any game all year. I’ll take responsibility. I didn’t execute out there.

“Clemson’s a great team. I knew I’d have to play well and the team would have to play well to get a win. And I didn’t do that today.”

USC receiver Kenny McKinley said Smelley should not shoulder all the blame.

“It wasn’t his fault solely. They ran the ball down our throats,” McKinley said. “It’s never one man’s fault.”

It appears quarterback is no longer one man’s position, either.

When a reporter asked if he would get Garcia ready for the bowl game, Spurrier said, “That’s a good idea.”

Hear Spurrier's postgame comments

Reach Person at (803) 771-8496.