SEC Preview: Papajohns.com Bowl

**Wildcat News** · December 30th, 2009, 07:58 PM

S. CAROLINA vs. UCONN

Jan. 2 - 1 p.m. CT
Papajohns.com Bowl
Birmingham, Ala.
Legion Field (71,594)

LIVE TV: ESPN
[Dave Neal, play-by-play; Andre
Ware, color analyst; Cara
Capuano, sideline reporter]

Overall: 7-5
SEC: 3-5
XM: 140
Sirius: 120

Overall: 7-5

THE COACHES
Steve Spurrier is in his fifth season at South Carolina with a record of 35-27 (.565) and in his 25th season overall with a record of 224-108-2 (.674). Spurrier serves as the Gamecocks’ offensive coordinator and the defensive coordinator is Lorenzo Ward.

Randy Edsall is in his 11th season at UConn and overall with a record of 65-65 (.500). Joe Moorhead serves as the offensive coordinator for the Huskies and the defensive coordinator is Todd Orlando.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN SOUTH CAROLINA HAS THE BALL
Alshon Jeffery leads the Gamecocks with 43 catches for 735 yards and six touchdowns, becoming South Carolina's go-to receiver midway through the season. Jeffery is sixth in the SEC averaging 61.2 receiving yards per game and is the only freshman in the league's top 10. T.J. Johnson was the only Gamecock offensive lineman to start all 12 games at the same position during the season. Stephen Garcia was 223 for 394 with 2733 yards and 17 touchdowns on the season.

Lawrence Wilson leads the Huskies in tackles with 130 stops, including ten for a loss, and started all 12 games for the Huskies at linebacker. He led the league in tackles at 11.23 per game and is fourth in the country in that category. Greg Lloyd was the second-leading tackler on the Husky team with 91 stops and three tackles for a loss. Zach Hurd started all 12 games for the Huskies at right guard and helped the team fashion a balanced attack in both the rushing and passing games. Lindsey Witten started all 12 games at the defensive end spot and made 41 tackles on the season with 11.5 sacks for a loss of 75 yards. He led the BIG EAST Conference in sacks and is seventh in the nation entering bowl season. Robert McClain was tied for second in the BIG EAST in interceptions this year with four and also was third on the team with 60 tackles.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN CONNECTICUT HAS THE BALL
Eric Norwood is tied for third in the SEC with 7.0 sacks this season. He is tied for eighth in the league with 11.5 total tackles for loss. He also leads the team with two interceptions, has recovered a fumble, forced a fumble, leads the team with 11 quarterback hurries and has blocked three kicks. He is the school's all-time leader in career sacks (29.0) and tackles for loss (54.5). Chris Culliver ranks third on the team with 58 tackles including 38 solo stops. He logged 3.0 tackles for loss and two sacks and owns one fumble recovery. Stephon finished fifth on the team with 52 tackles on the season, including 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. Devin Taylor finished the regular season with 26 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks.

Jordan Todman gained 1,152 yards of rushing during the regular season and was the third-leading rusher in the conference and is ranked 41st nationally. His 1,152 yards currently ranks sixth in school history. Andre Dixon, who also earned Second Team All- BIG EAST honors in 2007, gained 967 yards on the ground during the regular season and scored 13 touchdowns.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Gilmore averaged 11.4 yards per punt return of 13 attempts. Culliver was the leading kickoff returners with 22.5 per return. Spencer Lanning, the team’s leading scorer, was 17-20 on field goals, including 11 for 13 beyond 30 yards. Lanning serves as the punter as well, building a 41.8 yard average with nine punts over 50 yards and 15 downed inside the 20 yard line.

It was Dave Teggart that sealed the victory for the Huskies with a 42-yard field goal in blustery conditions on senior night to end the season versus South Florida. He is 12- 21 on the season. Desi Cullen averages 43.1 yards per punt for UCONN. He also has 12 touchbacks on kickoffs. Four different players have returned a punt or a kickoff for a touchdown during the 2009 season for UC.

SERIES/GAME NOTES
Record: First Meeting
The 2010 Papajohns.com Bowl will mark Carolina's 15th bowl appearance overall... The Gamecocks are 4-10 in bowl games... After losing each of their first eight bowl contests, South Carolina has won four of its last six bowl games... While this is the Gamecocks' first appearance in the Papajohns.com Bowl, it's not their first appearance in a bowl game in Birmingham... Carolina dropped a 24-14 decision to Missouri in the 1979 Hall of Fame Bowl, which was also played at Legion Field. At 7-5, the Gamecocks are bowl-eligible for the sixth straight year... It's the first time Carolina has posted a .500 or better record in six straight seasons since they had a school-record seven straight years of .500 or better records from 1928-1934.

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