South Carolina Football Update 10/22

South Carolina’s mission to win at #2 Alabama was impossible to begin with.

Defensive Coordinator Ellis Johnson has “a good feeling” about the Gamecocks despite the loss.

Quarterback Stephen Garcia showed some improvement on Saturday. “He’s not where we hope he can be someday as a quarterback. We’ve got a lot of coaching to do with Stephen if we’re going to get him to the level of being a really top-level quarterback,” Coach Spurrier said after the game.

Receiver Moe Brown will likely be held out of this week’s Vandy game due to the concussion he suffered in Tuscaloosa.

Brown says the team’s mantra is “New Carolina.” “This is one of the games we need to win, we should win. And that’s what we plan on doing.”

Former South Carolina offensive lineman Heath Batchelor, who quit the team last week, says “Stickin’ to my decision” and doesn’t plan to return to the team.

Despite a poor showing at Alabama, offensive line coach Eric Wolford plans to keep his starting five intact.

Cornerback Akeem Auguste is back from his three-game suspension and sounds contrite. “I let them down. Three games. Three big games, and we lost one.”

Wide Receiver Tori Gurley has fallen out of favor with South Carolina’s coaches due to practice intensity issues.

Coach Spurrier says his patience is improving. “I didn’t get mad at all last week after a few errant plays. I got mad at the Kentucky game. I did throw my headset and visor off one time on a play.”

Coach Spurrier also said that Vanderbilt has “outcourageoused” his Gamecocks the last two years.

South Carolina will wear camouflage uniforms in their game against Florida on November 14th. The replica gear “will be available at South Carolina bookstores and Jewelry Warehouse stores with a portion of the proceeds going to the Wounded Warrior Project.”

Jason Barnes might start at wideout for the Gamecocks on Saturday.

Eric Norwood says of Vanderbilt: “They play in the SEC, just like everybody else. So they’ve got players. They capitalized off our mistakes the last two years.”

Here are the midseason review and second-half outlook for the South Carolina Gamecocks from espn.com.