By CHARLES ODUM
Associated Press
December 30, 2010
ATLANTA --
South Carolina is returning to the scene of its worst loss to face
Florida State, which hopes to have Christian Ponder back, in the
Chick-fil-A Bowl on Friday night.
South Carolina's season
includes wins over Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Clemson, but coach
Steve Spurrier's team was overwhelmed in its 56-17 loss to Auburn in the
Dec. 4 Southeastern Conference championship game at the Georgia Dome.
The
loss kept No. 19 South Carolina (9-4) out of a BCS bowl and led to a
second straight visit to Atlanta. The Gamecocks say they must have a
better showing for their fans this time.
"I think we need to redeem ourselves," said defensive tackle Travian Robertson.
Florida
State coach Jimbo Fisher on Thursday would not confirm plans to start
Ponder at quarterback. Still, Ponder said he has no swelling or pain in
the right elbow which kept him out of the Seminoles' loss to Virginia
Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.
"He can
play. He'll play in the bowl game, there's no doubt," Fisher said,
adding he planned to talk to Ponder and backup quarterback EJ Manuel
later Thursday.
Fisher said Ponder had "no adversity to his practices" this week.
"These
last two days he's really had zip on the ball and the ball's whistling
out again and he's making all the feel throws," Fisher said.
"He says it's felt as good as it has, probably, for 10 or 12 weeks."
Manuel,
who was named MVP of Florida State's Gator Bowl win over West Virginia a
year ago, could share time with Ponder at quarterback for the No. 23
Seminoles (9-4). Manuel threw two interceptions, including one returned
for a touchdown, when he started in the loss to Virginia Tech.
Ponder,
a senior, has a career-high 20 touchdown passes this season, but his
2,038 yards passing and 62.2 completion percentage are down from his
junior season.
Fisher may plan to play or even start Manuel to
provide a bridge for the sophomore taking over the starting job in 2011.
Manuel (6-4, 234) set a career high with 288 yards passing in the ACC
championship game loss to Virginia Tech. He adds an option threat as a
runner to the offense.
Spurrier, sitting with Fisher at a news
conference on Thursday, has a history of alternating quarterbacks at
Florida and South Carolina, so he offered a suggestion to the Florida
State coach.
"You ever thought about every other play? Like we did?" Spurrier asked, laughing. "You're not into that yet?"
Said Fisher, also laughing: "I've got enough problems with one!"
Each
team is pursuing its 10th win to signal a rise as a team to watch in
2011. South Carolina's only 10-win season came in 1984. Florida State
has not had a 10-win season since 2003.
Despite being a former
Gators coach, Spurrier said he's not motivated by the chance to beat his
old rival Florida State. It will be his first game against the
Seminoles since 2001.
The Gamecocks won their first SEC East Division title this season, finally moving past Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.
South
Carolina will return most of its starters next season, and a win over
Florida State would provide momentum for another try at the program's
first SEC championship.
South Carolina quarterback Stephen
Garcia, who has started in 27 straight games, threw 20 touchdown passes
to lead an offense that also featured tailback Marcus Lattimore.
Lattimore,
one of the nation's top freshmen, has 1,198 yards rushing and 19
touchdowns and was especially important in some of the Gamecocks'
biggest wins. Lattimore had 37 carries for 182 yards and two touchdowns
against Georgia and 40 carries for 212 yards and three touchdowns
against Florida. He also rushed for two touchdowns against Alabama but
had only 16 carries for 84 yards and no touchdowns against Auburn.
Florida
State's running game is more balanced, with three backs -- Chris
Thompson, Ty Jones and Jermaine Thomas -- sharing the carries.
Updated December 30, 2010
