Gamecocks' preparations for Vanderbilt underway

It’s officially game week at South Carolina.

After almost four weeks of preseason practice, the Gamecocks finally started preparations for their week one matchup against Vanderbilt on Thursday.

“It’s exciting. We’re tired of hitting each other,” linebacker TJ Holloman said. “In camp it’s good for us but it’s hard on our bodies. It’s fun to think about another opponent.”

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The team took Wednesday off before diving headfirst into the game plan Thursday and Friday.

Holloman said the last two practices have been more mental-focused instead of physical because the coaches are starting to design schemes and packages to try and beat the Commodores.

He said the coaches install bits of the plan every practice, letting the players build on the knowledge from the previous practice. And with only six days to go, the team is more than ready.

“We’ve been waiting for so long for the week to finally be here,” senior placekicker Elliott Fry said. “It’s added a little more urgency to everybody; everybody’s getting that itch. It’s here and we’re ready.”

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While prep on the practice field started Thursday, wide receiver Deebo Samuel said the team starts watching film on the Commodores Saturday. But players who already faced the SEC East opponent already know in some ways what to expect.

Quarterback Perry Orth called Vandy’s defense tough, saying “they play hard, they tackle very well.” Holloman said one of the keys for defense is stopping preseason second-team All-SEC back Ralph Webb.

Holloman said Webb’s the Commodores’ “best player” and “we’re going to have to prepare for and tackle as a group. We have to put a lot of effort into that.”

But when the team sits down to watch video, it won’t be focused necessarily on what the Gamecocks did; it’s not the team’s style this year.

“We’re not watching last year’s south Carolina versus Vanderbilt,” the senior said. We’re watching Vanderbilt’s defense, not so much we did. I’m sure they’ll show some different things, but for the most part they’ll probably stick to what Coach Mason over there knows.”

This is the first of back-to-back road trips for the Gamecocks to start the season with the other being a visit to Mississippi State Sept. 10. With so many young players anticipated to play opening night in Nashville, some of the veterans are taking time to talk to the youngsters.

Fry said he talks a lot with the special teams, smiling and saying, “you hear from [the fans] all game.” Head coach Will Muschamp tells them to be comfortable being uncomfortable.

But the reality won’t set in until kickoff Thursday at 8 p.m. EST, and after that, it’s just football.

“Go out and have fun,” Orth said. “You can’t worry about playing on the road or at home. Once the game starts, you’re just playing football. You don’t even realize the crowd’s there. Now when you’re communicating with people it’s difficult, but other than that it’s just football.”