Spring Football Practice Report - Day 15

USC held its 15th and final practice of the spring, a session of almost two hours under cloudy skies and temperatures in the upper 70's. The team worked out inside Williams-Brice Stadium, including some controlled scrimmage action. With the completion of spring sessions, the Gamecocks will resume practices in August as they prepare for the 2003 season ...

COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: 135 days until the season-opener at Williams-Brice Stadium, Sat., Aug. 30 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette.

QUOTING HEAD COACH LOU HOLTZ: Head coach Lou Holtz spoke to the media following today's practice.

(on the team) - "I think our team has improved dramatically fundamentally this spring. We had a solid spring practice. You improve fundamentally and you improve as a football team. We pretty much met all of the objectives we had. We installed the defense and made progress there."

(on the linebackers) - "I wish Jeremiah Garrison (chest muscle) and Lance Laury (knee) had been healthy in the spring. They will be behind heading into preseason camp. I see the confidence starting to come in our defense. We make look at moving Darel Slay to end from linebacker. He will help us somewhere. Marcus Lawrence has established himself as a big-time player at middle linebacker."

(on the defensive line) - "Moe Thompson and George Gause looked like great players today. Defensive line was the biggest area of concern heading into spring practice."

(on the coaching staff) - "I'm glad we freed Skip (Holtz) up from coaching the quarterbacks. Todd Fitch has done a marvelous job there. He is underestimated as a coach. Freeing Skip up has helped to free me up."

(on preparation for the 2003 season) - "I think our players have no doubt about where we want to take this program. We'll need to have a good off-season. It looks like we'll report on Aug. 2 and come in as one unit with the new reporting rules."

DID YOU KNOW?: South Carolina will meet two of its 2003 opponents for the first time, Louisiana-Lafayette in the season-opener and Alabama-Birmingham on Sept. 20. The Gamecocks will take a 69-36-4 opening day record and a 64-18-4 mark in home openers into their Aug. 30 contest.

Tentative Spring Football Depth Chart in PDF Format