Ball Coach not big on Friday tilts

COLUMBIA — South Carolina's Steve Spurrier has no issues with Thursday night college football games. Likes them, actually.

But Friday? That's another story. "I think we ought to leave that night to the high schools," said Spurrier, whose team hosts No. 8 Kentucky this Thursday. "We've got a Friday night game going now all the time, which I don't know if that's the best thing to do or not. That'd be like the NFL starting to play on Saturdays. We wouldn't like that, I don't think."

Spurrier said, if left up to him, he'd probably decline an offer to play on a Friday. That would mean defaulting on extra money for the school.

But, clearly, he's got no issue with Thursdays. Not counting this week, USC has played three Thursday night games in Spurrier's era. That includes games against UCF and at Mississippi State to kick off the entire college football season.

The Gamecocks will do the same next year when they open the season against North Carolina State in Columbia.

Mind the gap?

Spurrier said he's unsure why there's such a gap between USC's AP and coaches' ratings. The 4-1 Gamecocks are ranked 11th by the media and 18th by the coaches.

Oddly, in the coaches' poll, USC is behind No. 11 Georgia, a team it beat on the road Sept. 8. And the Gamecocks are behind No. 14 Virginia Tech, which lost by 41 at LSU. USC lost by 12 in Baton Rouge to the newly crowned No. 1 in The AP poll.

"Y'all have got to figure that out," Spurrier told the media. "I've been voting us up there pretty good, 10th to 15th, something like that. I guess some of those coaches that vote didn't watch us play last week."

Beating the Ball Coach?

Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said Monday that he likes Spurrier. But he's aware that the Wildcats fan base would like to beat the Ball Coach, making up for the ills of Spurrier's 14-0 career record against UK. "For all those long-suffering UK fans, I guess it would be (nice to beat him)," Brooks said, "because I've been hearing that from a lot of people."

Out of the dumps

Spurrier said USC's offense, solid against Mississippi State, needs to help the team's defense stop Kentucky by controlling the ball.

"We can't go out there and poop around like we did the South Carolina State game and have any chance to win," Spurrier said. "We've got to stay on the field, make some first downs and make some third downs like we've been doing to give ourselves a chance."

The Gamecocks beat South Carolina State 38-3, but the quarterbacks had six turnovers. Current QB starter Chris Smelley, however, was out with a shoulder injury.

Smelley threw for 279 yards and two scores Saturday, earning the SEC freshman of the week honor.

UNC game time

The Oct. 13 "Border War" between South Carolina and North Carolina will be a 3:30 p.m. kickoff, USC announced Monday. The game will be televised by ABC.

This and that

Running back Cory Boyd (knee sprain) practiced Monday. Back Mike Davis (bruised thigh) didn't, but is expected back today. ... Receiver Dion Lecorn and guards Seaver Brown and James Thompson all earned another start, Spurrier said ... Lecorn's fellow freshman receivers, Mark Barnes and Joe Hills, will see more playing time this week. Freshman Jason Barnes is now working with the scout team ... Guard Kevin Young (ankle) should be ready to play Thursday, Spurrier said.