2008 Woodie Awards
Spurrier addresses team issues, Kentucky
Coach recognizes need for additional plays, strategies
Online Editor
Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: Sports
Following the first SEC win for South Carolina in exactly a year, USC coach Steve Spurrier held his first post-conference-win press conference in just as long. Spurrier addressed Carolina's opponent this week, Kentucky, and addressed how his team has lived up to expectations thus far this season.
Kentucky went as high in the rankings as No. 8 last season, while the Wildcats fell to a postseason collapse that saw them fall to 8-5 after a 5-0 start. It is clear that UK coach Rich Brooks has vastly improved the quality of football in Kentucky. The Wildcats won the Music City Bowl for the second year in a row last year, however, they had only won one bowl game in the 30 years prior to their 2006 Music City Bowl victory.
"Kentucky is a very good team. Rich Brooks and his staff, I think, have really improved the quality of all the athletes out there," Spurrier said. "Kentucky 10 years ago, was considered a slow team. They didn't have a lot of fast, speedy players, now they look like most all the SEC teams, especially defensively. They've got tremendous team speed, which is probably the strongest thing about SEC teams."
Spurrier is looking for improved play from his own team. He has many things to be pleased about after Carolina mustered a 31-24 win at Ole Miss last weekend, but the truth is the Gamecocks are still missing a lot of pieces.
"We're going to try and continue to play better on offense," Spurrier said. "Continue to play better special teams, play better everywhere."
One of the players on the team whose play is crucial is redshirt sophomore quarterback Chris Smelley. Smelley led USC in its victory last Saturday and for the first time since the opening game of the season, was declared the starting quarterback before the Thursday preceding a weekend game. Smelley went 22-of-32 for 327 yards, three touchdowns and one interception and was declared the starter in Spurrier's remarks directly after the game.
Even though Spurrier has communicated a lot of faith in Smelley after his performance against the Rebels, Spurrier still expects more from his quarterback. Spurrier has a history of being hard on his quarterbacks. It appears that Smelley will be no exception to that rule.
Kentucky went as high in the rankings as No. 8 last season, while the Wildcats fell to a postseason collapse that saw them fall to 8-5 after a 5-0 start. It is clear that UK coach Rich Brooks has vastly improved the quality of football in Kentucky. The Wildcats won the Music City Bowl for the second year in a row last year, however, they had only won one bowl game in the 30 years prior to their 2006 Music City Bowl victory.
"Kentucky is a very good team. Rich Brooks and his staff, I think, have really improved the quality of all the athletes out there," Spurrier said. "Kentucky 10 years ago, was considered a slow team. They didn't have a lot of fast, speedy players, now they look like most all the SEC teams, especially defensively. They've got tremendous team speed, which is probably the strongest thing about SEC teams."
Spurrier is looking for improved play from his own team. He has many things to be pleased about after Carolina mustered a 31-24 win at Ole Miss last weekend, but the truth is the Gamecocks are still missing a lot of pieces.
"We're going to try and continue to play better on offense," Spurrier said. "Continue to play better special teams, play better everywhere."
One of the players on the team whose play is crucial is redshirt sophomore quarterback Chris Smelley. Smelley led USC in its victory last Saturday and for the first time since the opening game of the season, was declared the starting quarterback before the Thursday preceding a weekend game. Smelley went 22-of-32 for 327 yards, three touchdowns and one interception and was declared the starter in Spurrier's remarks directly after the game.
Even though Spurrier has communicated a lot of faith in Smelley after his performance against the Rebels, Spurrier still expects more from his quarterback. Spurrier has a history of being hard on his quarterbacks. It appears that Smelley will be no exception to that rule.
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Tiredofit
posted 10/10/08 @ 7:37 PM EST
#1 team issue: An over paid, washed up, egotistical head coach who acts like a spoiled brat. His team's criminal antics and his own sideline antics are an embarrassment to this university. (Continued…)
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