These Gamecocks will benefit from competition

Danny Wuerffel won the 1996 Heisman Trophy while leading the Florida Gators to a national championship. But few college football fans remember that current New York Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer threw the first touchdown pass of the year after Steve Spurrier benched Wuerffel during the opener.

Amazing what a little sideline motivation can do.

That South Carolina on Thursday night at Vanderbilt will not have vintage Florida quarterback talent is as obvious as country music in Nashville. But these Gamecocks don't have to be nearly that good to accomplish their realistic goal, a bowl game.

It would be nice if South Carolina could break in a starter without worrying about results. But the margin for won-loss error is thinner than the bill of a visor.

Going with the hot hand — Chris Smelley? Tommy Beecher? Stephen Garcia? — is less controversial than practical. The more, the merrier. At Florida, Spurrier was a master shuffler and this year a strong Gamecocks defense will allow him to experiment until the best passer, probably Garcia, settles in.

Until Captain Munnerlyn is running the option, don't worry.

Sometimes, accountability starts with adversity. Ask Danny Wuerffel.

Reach Gene Sapakoff at gsapakoff@postandcourier.com