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South Carolina’s Spurrier ready for kickoff

FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2014, file photo, South Carolina running back Mike Davis (28) gains yardage against Wisconsin during the second half of the Capital One Bowl NCAA college football game in Orlando, Fla. Steve Spurrier says 1,000-yard rusher Mike Davis hasn't practiced this week and might not be ready when the ninth-ranked Gamecocks open the season against No. 21 Texas A&M in a week. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File) FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2014, file photo, South Carolina running back Mike Davis (28) gains yardage against Wisconsin during the second half of the Capital One Bowl NCAA college football game in Orlando, Fla. Steve Spurrier says 1,000-yard rusher Mike Davis hasn't practiced this week and might not be ready when the ninth-ranked Gamecocks open the season against No. 21 Texas A&M in a week. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

By Associated Press August 24, 2014 1 min read

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Steve Spurrier’s done with “talking season” and is ready to see No. 9 South Carolina live up to the high expectations it has dealt with since finishing a third straight year with 11 wins.

The Gamecocks and Spurrier open things Thursday night against Texas A&M, the eighth time in the coach’s 10 years at South Carolina he’s gotten an early start to the regular season.

And Spurrier is confident with “talking season” over, his players have prepared to take that next step forward. The Gamecocks were picked this summer as preseason favorites to win the Southeastern Conference’s Eastern Division. As Spurrier has continually said, if you do that, you have a chance to win the league title – a goal he’s coveted since taking over the program.