Spurrier still ranting over close victory

Changing South Carolina's losing culture grows more frustrating for Steve Spurrier with every game.

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And it doesn't make much difference if the Gamecocks win or lose.

Spurrier was understandably angry about how "stupid" the Gamecocks were in an 18-0 loss to Georgia in early September, the coach's first college shutout since 1987.

Two games ago, Spurrier chided South Carolina fans at Williams-Brice Stadium who applauded Gamecocks players after their strong effort on national TV in nearly upsetting then No. 2 Auburn, 24-17, saying the team shouldn't think it had accomplished something when it didn't win.

Then this past Saturday night, Spurrier spent much of his post-game conference grousing about the Gamecocks' late defensive lapses in a 24-17 win at Kentucky.

"We're still South Carolina," Spurrier said after the game. "We still can't shake being a South Carolina team that doesn't know how to win."

Usually, a road victory in a league as difficult as the Southeastern Conference is something to celebrate. With Spurrier, the only celebrations that matter come after SEC and national championships.

"It's hard not to get upset," Spurrier said after practice Monday evening.

Spurrier has said from the season's start the Gamecocks weren't ready to pillage through the SEC like his Florida teams, which won six conference titles and the 1996 national championship from 1990-2001.

Still, Spurrier can't help thinking the Gamecocks (4-2, 2-2 SEC) should be better than this. They are sixth in SEC offense and seventh in league defense. What might irk him most is when South Carolina has the chance to succeed and doesn't.

The Gamecocks outgained Georgia 191 yards to 133 in the second half, yet could not score in two trips to the Bulldogs 2.

Spurrier drew up the game-tying play in the fourth quarter against Auburn, but Syvelle Newton's perfectly thrown ball bounced off the hands of open receiver Jared Cook.

At Kentucky, South Carolina led 17-0 in the second half yet Spurrier watched almost all the lead disintegrate. After the game, Spurrier had one of his sports information staffers bring out secondary coach Ron Cooper to answer a few questions from the head coach in front of reporters.

"Had a bust?" Spurrier asked about coverage.

"Yes, sir," Cooper answered.

"Our guys don't have any regard for protecting the lead right now, do they?" Spurrier continued. "They don't know that's important."

Spurrier said Sunday that Cooper, also his assistant head coach, was an "excellent secondary coach."

Although he had calmed some since Saturday, Spurrier was as adamant about what he expected from the Gamecocks.

"I don't think we need to settle for being a mediocre bunch, although at times we look like that - most of the time really," he said.

TIGERS: The injury news keeps getting worse for Clemson coach Tommy Bowden.

Days after learning reserve receiver Rendrick Taylor and backup defensive lineman Etta Etta-Tawo won't play again this season, Bowden says senior linebacker Tramaine Billie probably wants to return before the year's done.

Billie, who cracked his right ankle in preseason camp and has not played since, had the pin removed Monday and began testing his legs with some light jogging in Tuesday's practice.

Should Billie, a senior, feel good enough to play by Oct. 18, he could be back to face No. 13 Georgia Tech at Death Valley the following Saturday.

Billie was pegged as a starter before the year began. But with half of Clemson's regular season gone, Bowden hoped Billie would remain out as a redshirt and come back next fall.

"I'll do my best to talk him out of it," Bowden said. "I think that's best for him."