South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier was second to take the podium at SEC media days and he pointed out that this was his 20th year at media days.
South Carolina has been improving the past couple of years and that has helped with recruiting. Spurrier also said the boosters have built better facilities to help with those recruiting efforts.
With the loss of six players to the NFL, Spurrier said he needs the next guys in line to step up so that the Gamecocks don’t fall flat on their face.
Last season Spurrier noted that South Carolina only threw 18 passes a game and he said “If we can’t throw it very well this year, we’re not going to try to,” Spurrier said.
Connor Shaw was the first quarterback that Spurrier brought with him to SEC media days.
Spurrier said Shaw is a little bit more of a runner than he is a passer, but he hopes that flip flops this year.
When Spurrier first arrived at South Carolina he told boosters he would stay eight to ten years and that he wanted to be the winningest coach, which is only 65 wins.
Spurrier says his job at South Carolina isn’t stressful. He said his assistant coaches do a good job and can recruit guys and get them committed.
Asked what he thought of the two new teams in the league and Spurrier responded “I think Texas A&M and Missouri are going to be extremely competitive and win a bunch of games.”
Interestingly enough, Spurrier said he will not recruit the state of Texas, but will instead focus on the states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Tuesday was South Carolina’s one-day camp and Spurrier said he over 400 prospects show up. Spurrier said finishing in the top 10 helped with that and it was neat to finish there.
During the press conference, Spurrier also said Marcus Lattimore should be good to go following knee surgery this past season.
Spurrier said he would prefer to have an eight-team playoff with all of the conference winners of BCS conferences making and two at-large teams. He made a comparison to Stony Brook in the College World Series this year and Butler’s success in the NCAA Basketball tournament.