South Carolina Gamecocks

South Carolina’s football program was placed on probation for the next year by the NCAA for a former assistant coach’s impermissible actions in recruiting a sophomore prospect in the spring of 2018.

Florida handled its last loss to a top-10 team poorly. The Gators followed a 19-point setback to then-No. 7 Georgia last year with a 21-point drubbing against Missouri. It was a humbling, two-week stretch that threatened to derail coach Dan Mullen’s first season in Gainesville.

Dawn Staley didn’t get to spend much time savoring her U.S. team’s run to the FIBA AmeriCup championship. Less than two days later, the national coach was back barking orders and looking for more out of South Carolina at the Gamecocks opening practice Tuesday.

A newspaper in Columbia, S.C., is receiving heavy criticism for a headline related to South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Ryan Hilinski, the younger brother of former Washington State quarterback Tyler Hilinski.

South Carolina’s players understand the early challenge they have to prevent their season from fully spiraling out of control. There were a lot of grim faces, steady eyes as the Gamecocks seemed more focused at practice this week.

South Carolina coach Will Muschamp’s players were all smiles at the first team meeting Thursday. Muschamp is confident those smiles will disappear as the players get pushed throughout summer camp. The Gamecocks have plenty to prove after a 7-6 season that included a demoralizing 28-0 loss to Virginia at the Belk Bowl.

One-time can’t-miss NFL running back Marcus Lattimore is handling a new, off-the-field role at South Carolina. The record-setting runner whose career was derailed by two significant knee injuries is director of player development for life skills. Lattimore helps prepare players for life beyond football and dealing with the stresses that come with the big-time college game.

Former North Carolina guard Seventh Woods is fitting back in at home since arriving at South Carolina. Woods joined the Gamecocks last month after three seasons as a backup with the Tar Heels. Woods is from Columbia. He’ll sit out this winter before playing a final college season.

South Carolina’s top-ranked women’s basketball recruits are on campus and the confident group expects to make the Gamecocks championship contenders again. South Carolina coach Dawn Staley brought in four of the game’s top-11 prospects, led by third-rated Aliyah Boston of Massachusetts and fourth-rated Zia Cooke of Toledo, Ohio. Cooke says the newcomers have been teamed together often at workouts and have put on a show that Gamecock fans are going to enjoy watching.