Notebook: Gamecocks shun SEC East worries

After losses to LSU and Florida, South Carolina needed three improbable things to happen for the Gamecocks to win the SEC East for the second time in three years.

The first of those happened Saturday when Georgia upset Florida 17-9. The No. 11 Gamecocks’ hopes of winning the division still are remote, though.

No. 8 Florida would have to lose to Missouri, and the No. 7 Bulldogs would have to lose to either Ole Miss or Auburn. If both those things happen, USC will play in the SEC championship game on Dec. 1 in Atlanta.

“We haven’t talked about that,” coach Steve Spurrier said. “I mean, it could happen. Who knows? But we try not to worry about something we have no control over. Obviously, we have no control over those games.”

USC jumped six spots in The Associated Press rankings after Saturday’s 38-35 win over Tennessee. The Gamecocks do not play this weekend. They play Arkansas at Williams-Brice Stadium on Nov. 10.

“We need to try to beat Arkansas,” Spurrier said. “We sit around here and brag about beating Georgia and Tennessee three in a row. I wonder if Arkansas brags about beating us three in a row? I don’t know if we are that type of program that they brag about that.”

Running back rotation

With Marcus Lattimore out for the season due to a knee injury, sophomore Brandon Wilds could be thrust into action for the first time this year. Wilds, who started in Lattimore’s place after Lattimore’s knee injury last year, hasn’t played this year due to an ankle sprain. The Gamecocks had hoped to redshirt Wilds. He had 486 yards on 107 carries last year.

“If it looks like we need to play him, I think he’ll be available to play,” Spurrier said.

Senior Kenny Miles will start in Lattimore’s place and be backed up by freshman Mike Davis, Spurrier said. Freshman Shon Carson will not play this year due to a wrist injury, Spurrier confirmed Sunday.

The Gamecocks were 5-1 last season after losing Lattimore.

“We would rather have Marcus on our team, that’s for dang sure. But in life, sometimes you have to move on with whatever hand you are dealt and try to do the best you can,” Spurrier said. “We have to carry on and do the best we can.”

Miles has 42 carries for 149 yards this season. Davis has 24 carries for 157 yards.

Injury update

When Spurrier received his weekly update from trainer Clint Haggard on Sunday, it wasn’t great news.

“Our injury report is about as long as we have had since I’ve been here at South Carolina,” Spurrier said.

In addition to Lattimore, starting offensive tackle Brandon Shell (ankle) and starting defensive tackle Byron Jerideau (ankle) were injured against the Volunteers and had to leave the game. Quarterback Connor Shaw suffered a foot sprain, Spurrier said, but Shaw completed the game, throwing for a career-high 356 yards.

“The guys (other than Lattimore) who are injured hopefully in two weeks could be healthy and ready to play,” Spurrier said.

Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney’s foot injury, which has kept him off the practice field but not the game field, is “bothering him a lot,” Spurrier said.

This story was originally published October 28, 2012 at 11:17 PM.