DatelineCarolinaCompetition and Technology Push Gamecock Quarterbacks

By: Ed Cahill

March 25, 2010 03:45 PM

      Just three months ago quarterback Connor Shaw was a senior at Flowery Branch high school in Georgia. Now, after graduating from high school early to enter USC, and after a lot of work with quarterbacks coach G.A. Mangus, he finds himself competing for a quarterback position at a division one football school.

       "Obviously Connor has shown in six practices some improvement which is encouraging. Pretty impressive considering he is going to prom here in a few weeks," Mangus said.

     Shaw has made adjustments quickly from high school to college, but he'll be the first to tell you it hasn't been easy.

     "As far as the defense goes…they are so much faster than they are in high school," Shaw said.

     Head Coach Steve Spurrier is banking on his freshman quarterback to pick things up quickly, because he says he plans to give starter Stephen Garcia the hook if things go wrong. Shaw proved he could handle it as he threw for 113 yards and a touchdown in a scrimmage on March 20. After quarterback Aramis Hillary announced he would transfer it nearly cemented Shaw into the backup role.

     "We will play two if the first guy doesn't play the way the coaches as him to play," Spurrier said.

     But playing well is something they expect fourth year quarterback Stephen Garcia to do. And the coaching staff is implementing some new training devices to make sure he does just that. While coach Spurrier said he often wonders what his starting quarterback is thinking, he will now be able see what he's seeing. In select practices now Garcia will be sporting the new quarterback cam on his helmet.

     "It's an aid to try and see where the quarterbacks head is..because it goes wherever your head is and so forth," Spurrier said.

     With competition and new technology the Gamecock coaches hope that the their quarterbacks may finally lead them to an SEC East title.