Practice report: Two await NCAA appeal

News of the day

South Carolina has two players academically ineligible for the Outback Bowl, but that total would double if two additional players lose their NCAA appeals.

Starting punter Spencer Lanning and fifth-year linebacker Dustin Lindsey failed to pass the mandatory credit hours to be eligible for a bowl. Both are appealing, Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier said Friday.

Strong safety Emanuel Cook, the Gamecocks’ leading tackler the past two seasons, and reserve offensive lineman Kyle Nunn have been ruled out.

Lanning, a junior from Rock Hill, made two Bs, a C and a D this semester, according to Spurrier. The D came in a course in Lanning’s major of economics, a department that considers Ds as failing.

That left Lanning with three credit hours in his major this semester. The NCAA requires upperclassmen to pass six hours in their major to be eligible for a bowl.

“Hopefully, he can get some relief,” Spurrier said. “He’s got about a 2.9 overall GPA. But the rules are the rules, and I don’t think he knew it. I didn’t know it.”

Special teams coach Ray Rychleski said Lanning declared economics as his major because he was just short of the 3.0 GPA required to major in business.

“If he passed three credits total, throw him out. No question. But this is a perfect storm,” Rychleski said. “If the NCAA has compassion ... I’m a what’s right guy. This is wrong.”

If Lanning loses the appeal, kicker Ryan Succop also would punt against Iowa. Succop averaged 42.3 yards as USC’s punter in 2006 and ’07.

Stock rising

Linebacker Marvin Sapp. With the Gamecocks switching to a 4-3 against Iowa, the senior from Jacksonville is expected to make his first start of the season.

“It kind of feels the same. I’ve always played a lot,” said Sapp, USC’s third-leading tackler. “There also were some instances where I didn’t start the game, but the second play I was in.”

Stock falling

The team GPA. Spurrier said the Gamecocks had eight to 10 players below a 2.0 this semester, and an academic official predicted a dip following three consecutive semesters with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Injury report

Linebacker Eric Norwood was sidelined with a stomach ailment. Left tackle Jarriel King missed practice because of a doctor’s appointment. Safety Akeem Auguste remains out with a hamstring injury.

Quotable

“It’s not that many. We have had about three that have had some (academic) issues. More than normal. But we’ve had a bunch of guys that did very well. Ladi Ajiboye had over a 3.0. It’s just they don’t get any publicity. Go talk to Ladi and let him tell you how he worked his butt off to make a 3.2 this semester. I think we had about 30 guys that had over a 3.0.” — Spurrier

Extra points

The Gamecocks have chosen their practice site in Tampa: Jefferson High, the alma mater of starting quarterback Stephen Garcia. USC picked Jefferson over South Florida because of the school’s proximity to the team hotel; it also was more economical than renting the facilities of the Big East school. ...

Former quarterback Blake Mitchell and ex-center Web Brown stopped by Friday’s practice. Mitchell signed with an indoor team in Greenville this week and also has heard from a CFL club about a tryout. ...

The Gamecocks are scheduled to practice at 10:15 a.m. today and 11:45 a.m. Sunday.

— Joseph Person

This story was originally published December 20, 2008 at 12:01 AM with the headline "Practice report: Two await NCAA appeal."