Spurrier open to possibility of change

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COLUMBIA, S.C. - It takes a lot to humble the head ball coach. South Carolina's first four seasons with Steve Spurrier, though, proved more than enough.

Spurrier was asked recently if he'd heard critics calling for the national championship coach to change his philosophy, a query that in the past would've been quickly dismissed. Not this time.

"I'd say that's true, the way we've played lately," Spurrier responded.

It's hard to argue.

Spurrier came to South Carolina in November 2004 touting, "Why not us?" in a quest for a Southeastern Conference title. Things certainly looked solid early on, Spurrier and the Gamecocks posting landmark victories over Tennessee and Florida in his debut 2005 season.

A year later, the Gamecocks won at Clemson - only the team's second victory against its rival this decade - and Spurrier crowed it could be South Carolina's springboard to bigger success.

But since starting 2007 6-1 and rising to No. 6 in the country, the Gamecocks have gone 7-11. They were last in the SEC in rushing a year ago, and finished the past two seasons with demoralizing losing streaks.

Even the stubborn Spurrier knew things had to change. He overhauled the coaching staff, adding five new assistants. He landed a group of recruits that could turn out to be the school's best class ever. And he's taken the blame for South Carolina's so-so performance the past four years.

"I've not done as good a job as I hoped to have done," Spurrier said.

Spurrier, 64, sees a bright side in South Carolina's struggles. Finally, he feels an attitude shift and sees the talent that could make the Gamecocks contenders.

"But we believe we're in the right direction, and we believe this group of players really wants to do well," he said.

Spurrier had harped each offseason about players who didn't give maximum effort or put the team first. That was never more evident than last season when some Gamecocks, Spurrier felt, began to look toward the NFL draft late in the year. It led to blowout losses against Florida (56-6), Clemson (31-14) and Iowa (31-10).

The tide started to turn in

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