Gamecocks, again, turn to Newton

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Posted 6:22PM on Friday, September 15, 2006

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Once again, South Carolina is pinning its hopes on Syvelle Newton. Ever since he was a fiery prep star leading Marlboro County High to a state championship, Newton was thought to be a player who'd bring the Gamecocks to the top of the Southeastern Conference. Now a senior, Newton's got his latest chance after Steve Spurrier picked him to replace troubled and hurt quarterback Blake Mitchell when the Gamecocks (1-1) play Wofford (1-1) on Saturday night. ``He's played a lot of ball and he deserves to play quarterback,'' Spurrier said Thursday night. It's not the first time Newton has gotten the call to save the Gamecocks. As a freshman, coach Lou Holtz asked Newton to move to receiver to take advantage of his speed and ability to make plays. Newton caught 22 passes, third on the team, for 277 yards. The next year, Newton threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns of 56, 55 and 73 yards in his first career start at quarterback against South Florida. When Spurrier took over for Holtz, he had an even larger role for Newton the first triple-threat offensive weapon in the ball coach's career. Newton proved his coach correct against Vanderbilt, lining up at quarterback, tailback and receiver to lead South Carolina to a 35-28 victory. Newton accounted for 127 yards of offense and three touchdowns. But the win came with a cost. Newton hurt his Achilles' tendon on a 10-yard TD run and missed the rest of the season. Newton could've sat out this year rehabbing after the surgery. However, he got himself back for this season, asking Spurrier to use him the best way he saw fit. This week, it's at quarterback. Spurrier said he planned earlier this week to go with Newton over Mitchell, who has had a so-so season so far. But Mitchell made things moot Wednesday with his arrest for simple assault and suspension from the team. Mitchell's accuser decided not to pursue the charge at a court hearing Friday. Mitchell won't play against Wofford, but will return to practice next week and will be available to go in against Florida Atlantic next week. Does Newton feel it's finally his time to excel? No one knows since Spurrier made Newton and all players and coaches on offense unavailable to reporters this week because they hadn't done much to warrant attention. ``Guys aren't performing, they don't need to be talking to the press,'' Spurrier said. Wofford coach Mike Ayers understands his team is in the cross-hairs of Spurrier's offensive frustration. ``From what I understand, coach Spurrier's not real happy and I suspect that his unhappiness will be duly expressed,'' Ayers said. ``I think his guys will probably come out and give it a great effort.'' Wofford, an NCAA Division I-AA team, was already a heavy underdog before Spurrier's changes. The school is receiving $230,000 for the game. The Terriers are 1-8 against I-A teams, the lone victory coming against Louisiana-Monroe in 2000. Their best hope for a surprise is their offense, an option-style wingbone set up that most I-A teams rarely face these days. South Carolina defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix said he used some of the team's fastest and most elusive players like receiver Noah Whiteside to simulate Wofford's attack. ``You know it's football and you've got to play your responsibility,'' Nix said. ``Got to put a guy on the dive, a guy on the quarterback, a guy on the pitch.'' Ayers hopes his team's hard work shows up this weekend. ``We have a belief that if we do the preparation we need and go down there and play hard, then we'll have a chance,'' Ayers said. Not if Newton or Spurrier have anything to say about it. The coach made clear that if Newton moves the team, his move under center could stick. Newton has ``got the chance to go the distance. He's got the chance to play all year. We're going to see what he can do in there,'' Spurrier said. (Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)