Newton on the move for South Carolina again

Posted 7:04PM on Thursday 21st September 2006 ( 18 years ago )

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Syvelle Newton has spent his South Carolina career on the move and not just because he's a quarterback who excels at running. Since Newton arrived at South Carolina, he's been switched and traded, swapped and convinced to do anything and everything to help the Gamecocks. Newton has complied, sometimes against his best interest, so South Carolina can win. Right now, Newton is the Gamecocks starter at quarterback in what seems like a square-peg, round-hole situation since coach Steve Spurrier's reputation was made with strong-armed, pocket passers. Once again, Newton will do what he's asked. ``I've always been one of the players who say, 'I'll just do what the coaches tell me,''' he said. ``If they want me to play quarterback, I'll play quarterback.'' Newton joined the Gamecocks before the 2003 season, an exciting, smart talent who helped Marlboro County High to the state championship. He worked at quarterback under coach Lou Holtz that first fall camp, but was moved to receiver to find playing time. Newton saw a series at quarterback that season, inserted near the end of South Carolina's 63-17 loss to Clemson. The next year, Newton was backup quarterback but had five starts due to injuries to Dondrial Pinkins. Newton's debut start was a flashy one, throwing for 324 yards and touchdowns of 55, 56, 73 yards in a victory over South Florida. An ankle injury against Kentucky a few weeks later limited Newton's mobility and effectiveness for much of the rest of the year. However, he led the Gamecocks to a 35-32 comeback victory over Arkansas that would've qualified them for a bowl if not for the sidelines clearing brawl with Clemson, a scuffle Newton was in the middle of. Both schools forfeited bowl chances. That Clemson game was also Newton's last with Holtz, who resigned and made way for Spurrier, the former Heisman Trophy winner known as a taskmaster with quarterbacks. Spurrier thought Newton the perfect hybrid, a combination of speed, elusiveness and smarts who could line up in several skill spots and cause havoc. Newton started last season as a receiver, catching his first career touchdown pass against Central Florida in Spurrier's Gamecock debut. Later that year, Spurrier turned Newton loose, lining him up at quarterback, running back and receiver and daring opponents to guess what was coming. The move worked to perfection until Newton's injury. Newton had thrown for two touchdowns and ran for a third to lift the Gamecocks to a 35-28 win against Vanderbilt. But Newton tore his Achilles' tendon on his final scoring run in the fourth quarter and missed the team's final five games. Newton thought about taking the whole year to rehab and return in 2007. Instead, he worked to make it back this fall, even toying with switching to defense he'd probably get a look as a defensive back in the NFL during spring practice. ``This is my senior year right now. Most seniors who think they got a future and playing at the next level, they don't even think twice risking themselves playing quarterback or risking themselves making moves that wouldn't help them,'' he said. Newton appeared to spark South Carolina's offense last week, taking a 27-10 lead over Wofford in the third quarter. He had thrown for 196 yards and rushed for 67. However, the Gamecocks didn't score again and the Terriers rallied before falling 27-20. Newton will open against Florida Atlantic on Saturday. However, Spurrier says backup Blake Mitchell the starter last year and this season's first two games will see action as well. Spurrier expects Newton to grow in his system. ``He's very capable of doing this,'' the coach said. Where Newton comes up short at times is throwing to an area the receiver isn't and believing his pass-catcher will be there in time, Spurrier said. ``Gosh, he's probably as good a passer as anybody on our team. But he just hasn't been trained in throwing to the area and trusting the play and all that kind of stuff,'' Spurrier said. Newton thinks he's got what it takes to succeed, no matter the system or how much time he's got left in college. ``What's good to me is what gets the job done,'' Newton said. ``Vince Young, he won a national championship and he wasn't a pocket passer. That's what wins games these days in college football.'' (Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

http://accesswdun.com/article/2006/9/103492