Gamecocks look to salvage season with win over rival Clemson
By PETE IACOBELLI AP Sports Writer

COLUMBIA (AP) - Steve Spurrier is not always right.

South Carolina's head ball coach found that out the hard way this season, enduring his longest college losing streak since starting out at Duke in 1987. For nearly a year, Spurrier touted the Gamecocks chances to contend for a Southeastern Conference title. Now, four straight losses later, a humbled Spurrier knows he's got more work ahead.

''I was wrong,'' Spurrier said Tuesday.

It was last fall after the Gamecocks (6-5) came close to upsetting SEC powers Tennessee (31-24), Arkansas (26-20) and national champ Florida (17-16) when Spurrier decided his team goals would include challenging for the SEC crown. For a while this year, Spurrier seemed like a genius as South Carolina opened 6-1 and rose to No. 6 in the country.

Then came the worst month in Spurrier's 15 seasons as an SEC coach with four straight defeats. A loss Saturday to No. 21 Clemson (8-3) would give Spurrier his worst college losing streak, and likely leave the Gamecocks on the fringe of the postseason.

The way South Carolina finished a year ago with three straight victories, ''I just thought maybe our team would be ready,'' Spurrier said. ''Obviously, it didn't quite work out that way.''

Spurrier's incoming freshman were considered among the country's best. The group, though, hasn't had a significant impact this season, Spurrier said. In addition, the defense - which gave up 99 points and 1,188 yards in the past two losses to Arkansas and Florida - has gone the bulk of the season without injured star linebacker Jasper Brinkley and rising junior defensive lineman Nathan Pepper.

''Now, we won some games without those guys, but when you're leading tackler, linebacker, goes out,'' Spurrier said. ''Obviously, now we look back and say, 'Man, we could've used him to make some tackles.' Yeah, we could have.''

Brinkley, on the Butkus Award watch list enter the year, had seasonending surgery after getting hurt in a loss at LSU in September.

As the losses piled up, Spurrier's frustration has increased. He complained about his team's size and strength after watching them get pushed around against Arkansas and Florida. ''Our attitude stinks right now,'' a fed-up Spurrier said. ''As a team we don't perform at a real high, intense level.''

South Carolina safety Chris Hampton doesn't completely agree with his coach's assessment. ''I think some of our goals are gone, but we're still fortunate to be playing,'' the senior said. ''Hopefully, this weekend we can turn things around.''