Game Day: Spurrier Counting On Shaw

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — Steve Spurrier used to be into numbers. He’s not so much any more. The coach who revolutionized college football in the 1990s with big numbers on the scoreboard and in the box score has had to adjust his pass-happy philosophy recently at South Carolina to a brand of football that relies on defense and a large dose of Marcus Lattimore and the running game. Above all, the only number that has always mattered to Spurrier is the number in the win column. After earning his 200th career college win last weekend, the Ball Coach has gone against the stats by naming Connor Shaw his starting quarterback for this today’s home SEC East match-up against Missouri. Shaw, who injured his shoulder in #7 USC’s season-opening 17-13 win at Vanderbilt, has just one touchdown pass this season and two interceptions. The junior has completed 15 of his 25 attempts this year for 174 yards. Shaw’s back-up, sophomore Dylan Thompson has completed 26 of 50 passes this season for 507 yards, 5 TDs and no interceptions. “Connor,” Spurrier said Tuesday, “He’s a better passer than he’s shown. He sometimes holds the ball a little too long…just a little hesitant. Hopefully he can get out of that. He needs to take his steps and fire it in there a little bit better at times.” Shaw will get the chance to do that because he does what Spurrier values most. He wins. The Gamecocks have won ten of the 11 games Shaw has started in his USC career.