Associated Press
The college football notebook …
COLUMBIA, S.C. ó South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier says sophomore Connor Shaw will replace Stephen Garcia as starting quarterback when the 18th-ranked Gamecocks play Kentucky on Saturday.
Spurrier said after Monday’s practice that he feels Shaw is ready, especially with Garcia’s inconsistent play this season.
Shaw played the first quarter of South Carolina’s opener with East Carolina, but was benched in favor of Garcia with the Gamecocks trailing 17-0. Garcia rallied the team to a 56-37 victory, and Shaw has seen limited action since.
Garcia is a fifth-year senior who threw for 3,059 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2010, leading the Gamecocks to the SEC title game for the first time. But he has only completed 51 percent of his passes with nine interceptions and just four TDs this year.
SEC sacks leader Melvin Ingram could miss No. 18 South Carolina’s game with Kentucky on Saturday because of a foot injury.
CLEMSON
CLEMSON, S.C. ó Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris has a ready reminder for any of his players who believe the eighth-ranked Tigers have arrived with their 5-0 start.
“I’ll have my 10 1-2 (size) shoe up their tail if they come out dragging,” Morris said Monday.
Morris might have to use it, especially after what Clemson’s done this season.
The Tigers (5-0, 2-0 ACC) became the first Atlantic Coast Conference team to beat three straight opponents ranked in the Top 25, following wins over Auburn, Florida State and last Saturday night’s 23-3 victory at Virginia Tech.
Eighth-ranked Clemson’s offense is averaging 466 yards a game, second in the ACC and 20th in the country.
WHOíS NO. 1? GEORGIA
ATHENS, Ga. ó The chatter started not long after South Carolina was upset at home by Auburn. It picked up steam when Florida was blown out by Alabama.
Texts, tweets, phone calls ó all carrying the same message.
Georgia was back in the race.
Since starting 0-2, the Bulldogs have ripped off three straight wins. More important to their hopes, both South Carolina and Florida lost this past weekend to put the Southeastern Conference East up for grabs.
Coach Mark Richt noticed an extra bounce in his team’s step returning to practice this week, the players fully aware that Georgia is now in a three-way tie for first place. The Bulldogs also appear to have the easiest schedule the rest of the way, though Saturday’s game at Tennessee could be troublesome if the last two trips to Knoxville ó which both ended in routs by the Vols ó are any indication.