T25-S CAROLINA REGROUPS
Spurrier, 21st-ranked Gamecocks looking to regroup
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) β Steve Spurrier quickly corrected himself after saying No. 21 South Carolina needs to play a little better when it faces East Carolina on Saturday night.
The coach emphasized Tuesday that South Carolina needs to “play a LOT better” after his team’s 52-28 loss to Texas A&M in last week’s opener.
Spurrier hasn’t been accustomed to such beat downs β or the regrouping that typically follows β over the past three 11-2 seasons. But when they have, the Gamecocks (0-1) were up to the challenge.
South Carolina’s largest margin of defeat the last three years was a 44-11 loss at Florida in 2012. Following the loss, the Gamecocks ended the season with a five-game win streak.
Spurrier hopes his team can replicate that this time.
T25-S CAROLINA-DAVIS
Spurrier: RB Davis likely to play vs East Carolina
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) β South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier says injured tailback Mike Davis has received treatment on his bruised ribs the past few days and is likely to see action Saturday night when the 21st-ranked Gamecocks take on East Carolina.
Davis hurt himself in the loss to Texas A&M last week. Spurrier thought his 1,000-yard rusher would be “sort of doubtful” to play this week. But the coach said Tuesday it was looking like Davis would be well enough to play.
The junior gained 1,183 yards rushing last season. He had only six rushes for 15 yards against the Aggies and did not play the second half after taking a hit in the ribs. South Carolina lists Davis or junior Brandon Wilds as the starting tailback on the team’s latest depth chart.
T25-CLEMSON-SUSPENDED PLAYERS
Swinney: 3 suspended Clemson players to return
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) β Three players suspended from No. 23 Clemson’s opening week loss at Georgia are returning to face South Carolina State on Saturday.
Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said that left guard David Beasley, defensive end Corey Crawford and defensive back Garry Peters would be back this week after missing the 45-21 loss to the Bulldogs because of one-game suspensions announced in March.
The three, along with Shaq Anthony, an offensive lineman who announced his transfer from Clemson last month, were benched for an undisclosed violation of team rules.
Beasley and Crawford are listed as potential starters on the Tigers’ depth chart, while Peters is the backup to cornerback Martin Jenkins.
The Tigers (0-1) play South Carolina State (1-0) of the Football Championship Subdivision to start their home season.
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON-COACH
College of Charleston names Earl Grant hoops coach
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) β Clemson assistant Earl Grant has been named the College of Charleston new men’s basketball coach, ending a nearly monthlong search since the firing of Doug Wojcik.
College of Charleston President Glenn McConnell and athletic director Joe Hull announced the hiring on Tuesday.
Wojcik was fired after his second-year with the Cougars following and investigation into allegations that he verbally abused players, assistant coaches and staffers in the athletic department.
Grant will be introduced on campus Friday. He spent the past four seasons on Clemson’s staff. Before that, Grant served six years as an assistant for Gregg Marshall at Winthrop and Wichita State. He also was an assistant at the Cougars’ crosstown rival Citadel from 2002-04.
Grant is a native of North Charleston.
PANTHERS-BERSIN
Panthers WR Bersin follows NFL owner’s footsteps
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β Panthers wide receiver Brenton Bersin has something in common with the man writing his paycheck.
Bersin made Carolina’s 53-man roster over the weekend, becoming only the second player from Wofford College to make an NFL roster. The other is Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, who played receiver for the Baltimore Colts more than a half century ago.
Bersin says “that’s an honor, right there.”
Bersin can only hope for the same success as Richardson, who caught a touchdown pass from Johnny Unitas in the 1959 NFL Championship game and later his used his signing bonus to open a successful burger chain and eventually bring the Panthers to the Carolinas.
Bersin isn’t too worried about owning a team right now. His goal is much simpler — to have an impact with the Panthers.
HORNETS-VONLEH
Hornets first-round pick Vonleh out 6-8 weeks
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β The Charlotte Hornets say rookie forward Noah Vonleh will be out for six to eight weeks after surgery to repair a sports hernia.
Vonleh, the team’s first-round draft pick, had surgery on Tuesday in Charlotte. The team says Vonleh was injured during a recent workout.
Vonleh, the ninth overall pick, was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season at Indiana. He averaged 11.3 points, nine rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 26.5 minutes per game.
