Top South Carolina quotes from 2016 SEC Media Days

HOOVER, Ala. South Carolina coach Will Muschamp made something clear Thursday as SEC Media Days got under way.

“There’s only one Steve Spurrier, and I’m not him,” Muschamp said. “I am not as entertaining as him.”

Muschamp did hold court during his various media appearances through a dozen rooms and various TV and radio interviews. The Gamecocks’ first year coach brought with him wide receiver Deebo Samuel, offensive lineman Mason Zandi and defensive lineman Marquavius Lewis.

Here are some of the best quotes and quips from the Gamecocks’ time in Hoover.

Will Muschamp

▪  “I’m going to go ahead and tell you I’m going to disappoint you now. I’m not as entertaining as him. You don’t need to write an article about it tomorrow morning. There’s only one Steve Spurrier in life, and I’m not it.”

▪  “At the end of the day, Coach Spurrier and his staff have brought this program to relevance nationally, and that’s what we plan on building on that.”

▪  “I’ve been really pleased with the reception of our players. Any time there’s change or coaching changes, and those things happen, there’s resistance. We’ve had very little. Our guys have really bought into what we’re doing.”

▪  “A lot of unknowns on our roster right now. You look on offense, you have 42 scholarship players. 34 of them are freshmen and sophomores. Very little playing experience. But within those unknowns, I do feel we have some talented players. I really do. I have been in this league for a long time, and I think there’s some very talented guys in that.”

▪  We lost five games last year by seven points or less. Let’s go find a way to make a difference in those games. Whether it’s in the meeting room, on the practice field, or the offseason program, whatever you’re doing, let’s go find a way to get it done.

Marquavius Lewis

▪  “I wouldn’t say it’s a sense of urgency. We all have the mindset to go out there and change this program around and get them [the team] on the right path.”

▪  On Coach Muschamp being the right guy for USC “I almost look at it as it was destined. When I was in junior college I was in Florida and he was in Florida. I didn’t go to Florida but he’s here now at South Carolina so I see it as a destined thing.”

Mason Zandi

▪  “In terms of learning things from last season, it’s just tough to just say that you only learn from your losses and not your successes. But at the same time it instills a fire in all of us and a disgust for losing. We let our fans, friends and family, and ourselves down. Learning from that experience is really going to help us coming into this season.”

▪  “For me this is a dream come true. I dreamed of sitting here one day. I dreamed of playing for South Carolina, growing up and every day I’m literally living out my dream.”

▪  “I really appreciate Coach Will (Muschamp) and everything that he has done for our organization. He came in in a first class manner and has done so much for us as a team, and for me as an individual. I enjoy going to his office and picking his brain. He’s seen a lot of the country, and he was at Auburn and Florida also. Being able to have him and his experience has made this transition easier. Also having Coach Shawn (Elliott), because he was on our staff last season, has made things easier.”

Deebo Samuel

▪  “It’s an honor to be here. When Coach told me I was selected to come here I Googled it to see what it was about. I feel good to be here.”

▪  On Muschamp’s belief that Deebo is the key to the offense: “Out of the receiver group I am the oldest one with the most experience so I would expect Coach Muschamp to say that. We have brought in five new freshman receivers, and they are going to be able to help as well. My job is to push them to make them better and myself better.”

▪  On the Clemson game last season: “Coming into that game I was anxious to play the number one team in the country and Clemson is also an in-state rivalry. I was trying to make a name for myself in that game so after that game I thought that happened. As time went on I was just considering what could make me better.”

▪  On Muschamp’s intensity: “I see it at practice. Even if you mess up he will get on you. If you do something good he will still push you to get better. We have a receiver group message and we post pictures in it and they were posting picture of Muschamp going off on somebody and I thought he was crazy.”

This story was originally published July 14, 2016 at 4:02 PM.