Spurrier not pleased with South Carolina's scrimmage

COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina still has a lot of work to do before the Gamecocks are ready for their Sept. 1 opener against Central Florida, coach Steve Spurrier said after the team's first scrimmage of the fall Saturday.

Some players were missing assignments and others didn't look like they wanted to compete, Spurrier said.

"I guess when you compare it to our first scrimmage in March we looked much improved, but other than that, we have a long way to go," the coach said.

Spurrier liked his quarterbacks. Starter Blake Mitchell was 12-for-17 for 114 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while freshman backup Antonio Heffner threw for 137 yards and two touchdowns.

Mitchell comes into this season having thrown 22 passes in his college career, but Spurrier said he can see progress in his sophomore.

"I think today gave him a little more confidence. He threw the ball with authority most of the day," Spurrier said.

But the coach wasn't pleased with too much else on the offense, saying the line looked slow and the tight ends needed to practice catching the ball.

Spurrier did praise the defense, saying they played "fairly well."

Syvelle Newton was the Gamecocks' top receiver with four catches for 86 yards and a touchdown. Freshman Bobby Wallace led all rushers with 23 yards on eight carries.

South Carolina's practices have all been open to the public, and about 13,000 fans turned out for Saturday's scrimmage at Williams-Brice Stadium.

The Gamecocks will hold fan appreciation day at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Colonial Center before practicing Sunday night.