South Carolina will be without freshman running back Demetris Summers, who sustained a concussion in the Arkansas game and is being held out for precautionary measures. Sophomore Daccus Turman will get the starting nod, averaging 49.3 yards per game. Quarterback Dondrial Pinkins is averaging 189 yards per game.
The Gamecocks are trying to snap a two-game losing streak, but history isn't on their side. Since South Carolina joined the SEC 11 years ago, it has never defeated Florida. The Gamecocks are averaging 158 rushing and 202 passing yards per game and are second in the league in punt returns (12.0).
LOU HOLTZ: GOT A MINUTE?
It has been a disappointing season for South Carolina coach Lou Holtz, who took over the Gamecocks' program in 2000. Regardless of what's going on, Holtz is never lost for words - or opinions. Here he shares a few thoughts on his team, the SEC tiebreaker and retirement.
Q: You beat Virginia early, then went from playing well to failing. What's happened?
A: We lost by three to Mississippi down there. We did not play well at LSU, we did not play well against Arkansas. When we lost (defensive end) George Gause in the overtime at Tennessee, it really hurt our football team to a large extent. And I think the loss at Tennessee took an awful lot out of this football team. We just have not been a real consistent football team.
Q: You've heard the criticism of Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden. How much longer do you plan to coach. Can you go another 10 years?
A: I don't know about that. I'm just trying to get this thing straight here as best we can. We only have five seniors that play an awful lot. We're trying to be patient with them and sometimes your patience wears down, but I have no idea. I never put a time limit on that.
Q: So you don't think about retiring at all?
A: Oh, when things don't go well you always do. I don't think there's any doubt about that. No, I tried that once and I wasn't real happy.
Q: What's your view on the SEC tiebreaker?
A: My opinion is that what you should do is you should let the three teams involved decide it. The way you do it is you vote for one of the two teams you're tied with, but you can't vote for yours. If it's still tied, then I think the athletic directors not involved should make that decision. But if they have to have a tiebreaker, I think right now Florida is playing better than anybody. Now, Tennessee's win at Miami was impressive, and I know Tennessee beat Florida earlier in the year, but that's not the same Florida team now that played Tennessee earlier in the year.
QUOTABLE:
"Mentally, I don't know how we will be. Young people bounce back and you have no other choice. We have never beaten Florida. They defeated Georgia, LSU and Arkansas this year and have won four in a row and five of their last six."
- LOU HOLTZ, South Carolina coach on the Gamecocks' state of mind following a Nov. 6 loss to Arkansas.
OFFBEAT
He might have left Florida a year earlier than expected, but Clint Mitchell hasn't completely left the Gators. The Clearwater native and former Florida defensive end was in Gainesville last week cheering his old teammates.
Now living in Denver and a member of the Denver Broncos, Mitchell's thoughts are always with the Gators on Saturdays.
"They've got a Gator club up there that's 350 strong," he said. "I've been to a few games, they rent out the whole top floor of this place. So I've been watching. The first couple of games were real hard to watch, but now the turnaround has been great. The Florida-Georgia game was always my favorite game, so for three weeks I'll be happy no matter what happens."
Mitchell is recovering from torn ligaments in his right thumb and has been placed on injured reserve. His daily routine includes strenuous workouts with strength and conditioning coach Rich Tuten. Last week's visit to Gainesville brought back a lot of good memories.
"Life is very different now," Mitchell said. "The game is not as big an adjustment as it is from high school to college, but there's some stress you've got to get used to. You've got to get used to every play might be your last and every day might be your last. You never know what's going to happen. It's a business."
BOWL METER
Florida's conference championship hopes and its bowl destination are all inextricably tied to Tennessee and Georgia. Peach Bowl officials will be on hand, for a second time, to check out the Gators. Much depends on the final games, but the Peach Bowl remains a strong possibility.
