Lorenzo Nuñez makes travel roster, Pittman suspended

Lorenzo Nuñez made his dress-list debut for South Carolina on Saturday.

Nuñez, the converted quarterback who coach Will Muschamp said has been making solid strides at wide receiver, didn’t travel to the season-opener. Muschamp said Nuñez is still learning the position.

Here/Not here

Alan Knott and Toure Boyd traveled to Mississippi State after being suspended last week. Christian Pellage, who was also suspended last week, didn’t travel.

The Gamecocks announced another suspension before the game. Redshirt freshman linebacker Sherrod Pittman missed the game and will miss next week’s game because of a violation of team rules. He joins Abu Lamin (three-game suspension starting last week) as Gamecocks who will miss the first home game.

Tight end Kyle Markway, who was injured throughout much of preseason camp, dressed.

Knott started at center while last week’s starting center, Cory Helms, switched to right guard.

Looking fly

The Gamecocks dressed in garnet helmets, white jerseys and garnet pants. It’s believed to be the first time USC has worn the combination since Oct. 14, 1995, at Mississippi State – when the Gamecocks won 65-39.

USC wore garnet helmets under coaches Joe Morrison through Brad Scott (1983-98) and switched to white helmets under Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier (1999-2015). The Gamecocks wore black helmets for one season under Holtz (2004) and had several colors and designs during the six games of Shawn Elliott’s tenure (including garnet).

The Gamecocks have worn garnet helmets in each of Will Muschamp’s first two games, which were on the road. USC raised a banner outside Williams-Brice Stadium last week of a player (Matrick Belton) dressed in an all-black uniform, leading to speculation that it may be the choice for USC’s first home game against East Carolina next week.

Remember this

Mississippi State’s women’s basketball team was recognized on the field during the first quarter. Its accomplishments from last season included getting to the SEC Tournament championship game and setting a single-game home attendance record.

The Bulldogs lost each of those to South Carolina.

UMass-ive challenge

Mississippi State will play Massachusetts on Sept. 24 at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. It’s one of three games the Minutemen have against SEC competition.

UMass lost to Florida last week and will travel to USC on Oct. 22.

Work to do

Analyst Scott Spurrier was on the trip. Spurrier and his wife, Jennifer, welcomed their second child Friday morning.

Robert Eugene Spurrier debuted at 6.8 pounds.

Help each other out

The MSU College of Veterinary Medicine partners with USC to provide opportunities for USC students interested in animal health care.

Captains

The Gamecocks’ captains were Qua Lewis, Hayden Hurst, Mason Zandi and Jonathan Walton.

This story was originally published September 10, 2016 at 10:09 PM with the headline "Lorenzo Nuñez makes travel roster, Pittman suspended."