HOOVER, Ala. – There’s still a lot out there for Steve Spurrier.
The South Carolina football coach has done much in the last nine years to bring the Gamecocks to prominence in the Southeastern Conference. But one accolade has eluded Spurrier and South Carolina for eight of his nine years at the school – the SEC East division championship.
Three consecutive 11-win seasons from 2011-2013 marks the winningest stretch in program history, but the Gamecocks are tired of running in place.
“It’s going to take more preparation and more hard work,” said senior defensive tackle J.T. Surratt at SEC Media Days on Tuesday. “Eleven wins is obviously not easy. In three years, we’ve done it, but we’re still not satisfied. We still believe there’s that extra step that we’ve got to take to get us there.”
But Spurrier is no stranger to winning conference titles – he led Florida to six SEC championships during his 12-year stint in Gainesville. However, South Carolina appeared in only one conference title game under Spurrier, a 56-17 loss to eventual national champion Auburn in 2010.
The Gamecocks are still a preseason top 10 selection and a favorite to win the SEC East, but they’ve become deaf to the praise.
“Hype is just a word,” said senior quarterback Dylan Thompson. “You can’t buy into that. I do think this team has bought into the aspect of work.”

Thompson will be taking over the offense with a decent amount of experience from last season. The senior played in 10 games in 2013, most notably coming on to lead South Carolina past Central Florida after starter Connor Shaw went down with an injury.
“I don’t think there will be any pressure as a team leader,” Thompson said. “Being a leader is fun for me; not just in football, but in life. Being a leader is about caring about people, and that’s what I try to do with our team.”
Thompson will call the signals behind and offensive line that returns four starters anchored by senior left guard A.J. Cann.
“We have a solid group, a veteran group,” Cann said. “We’ve been playing about three years together. As long as we stay focused, stay humble and keep working hard, I think we’ll have another solid group this year.”

The Gamecocks’ biggest challenge will be replacing First Team All-American defensive linemen Jadaveon Clowney and Kelcy Quarles.
Spurrier named Surratt as one of the frontrunners to step up in production and leadership. South Carolina opens the season against SEC foe Texas A&M, and Surratt said the defense has been preparing for the Aggies’ relentless up-tempo offense.
Spurrier pointed out that the Gamecocks’ five straight wins against in-state rival Clemson has kept fans quiet about South Carolina’s SEC title game drought. But the ninth-year coach was clear about what he valued more.
“If you ask our fans at South Carolina, I can assure you a majority of them would say, ‘we would rather beat Clemson than win the SEC,’” Spurrier said. “That is how big it is to them, that one game. Personally, I’d rather win the SEC.”