Spurrier hits the practice field

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Posted 6:15PM on Saturday, March 19, 2005

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Wearing a new white Gamecocks visor, Steve Spurrier came back to the college game Saturday, hitting the practice field for the first time Saturday as South Carolina coach. Spurrier hadn't done this since his final spring with Florida in 2001, missing the next two years as coach of the Washington Redskins and sitting out last season after his dismissal from the NFL team. Afterward, Spurrier was happy to finally begin his latest revival. ``Guys were excited. Threw the ball around a little bit. Threw some interceptions, but threw a few completions here and there,'' Spurrier said. ``It was an OK start.'' About 2,500 people showed up at Williams-Brice Stadium more than five months before South Carolina takes to the field for real to greet their newest hero and cheer even the most routine practice moments. They clapped when Spurrier, dressed in khaki shorts, a white shirt and black wind vest, ran into the stadium and began working with the quarterbacks. They cheered each time the Gamecocks hit a long pass something people hadn't witnessed much under the more conservative attack of former coach Lou Holtz. For Spurrier, there was no extra kick at returning to the game where he succeeded at Duke and won six Southeastern Conference titles and the 1996 national championship with the Gators. ``It hadn't been that long. Been calling the same plays you've called for 20 years,'' Spurrier said. Not everything went smoothly. During one stretch, quarterback Antonio Heffner had two fumbled snaps and Michael Rathe one. When practice ended, Gamecocks assistant David Reaves had the passers out practicing center exchanges. And Cory Boyd, elevated to starter with the dismissal of leading rusher Demetris Summers, pulled his left hamstring during an individual drill and remained on the sidelines much of the practice. But Spurrier says this isn't a time to worry too much about mistakes or injuries. After all, it's a long time until the team's opener with Central Florida on Sept. 1. Spurrier has vowed to make spring fun. His players say that early on, it's working. At the end as Spurrier gathered the team around him, offensive lineman Freddy Saint-Preux said the coach joked he knew the players were going to celebrate a good first practice, but didn't want the coaches out there getting drunk over it. ``He tries to keep things light,'' Saint-Preux said. ``He made it fun for us, him just jumping in there, hanging out with some players, cracking jokes. He made it easy for us.'' The Gamecocks could use some levity right now. Since the end of last season, nine players have been arrested and Summers was kicked off the team. While no one's happy with the problems, University of South Carolina President Andrew Sorensen says he's been pleased with Spurrier's strong response. ``I'm very supportive of how he's handled all this,'' said Sorensen, who spoke with the players at Spurrier's behest on Friday. No surprise, Spurrier spent most of the two-hour practice on the offensive side. After sophomore Blake Mitchell, the team's starter this spring, would throw, Spurrier would call him aside and correct form or pat him on the back. Spurrier didn't say much in direction, leaving that to other staffers. Mitchell's excited for the chance to play in Spurrier's attack. ``He can take us as far as we let him.'' Spurrier knows he's got a long road ahead if South Carolina hopes to duplicate Florida's success during his 12 seasons there from 1990-2001. ``It is early. Obviously we have a long way to go, but we should have a long way to go,'' Spurrier said. ``We should not be anywhere close to being ready to play.'' If Spurrier has anything to say, expect that to change by next fall. (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)