South Carolina not a rival to Georgia, says Steve ‘Shake It Off’ Spurrier

Steve Spurrier does have a modest side, at least when it comes to his team, and it’s coming out this week in preparation for the Georgia game.

Yes, even Georgia, the team and fan base Spurrier has always loved to tweak. Such as in 2007 when he reacted to a chorus of boos as he entered the halftime visiting locker room by waving his trademark visor in salute. Or three years ago, when Spurrier complained about the Georgia game being later in the season, because early in the season the Bulldogs usually had players suspended.

“That sounds like Steve,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said back then, laughing off the quote.

But a different Steve is out and about this week, as the Gamecocks prepare to enter Athens as 17-point underdogs. Asked on Wednesday’s SEC teleconference what his team will have to do, Spurrier pointed to avoiding turnovers and basically playing perfect to be able to stay in the game.

“We have to play ball if we are going to have any chance at all,” Spurrier said.

And what of last year’s game, when South Carolina pulled off the 38-35 upset?

“We had some good breaks,” Spurrier said.

But what about the great rivalry between Georgia and South Carolina?

“I say it’s one of our rival games, I don’t think it is for Georgia,” Spurrier said. “Georgia’s got too many other rivals. We haven’t beaten them enough for them to worry about us too much. So it is a big game for us.”

But South Carolina has beaten Georgia four out of the past five years, so most Bulldog fans would probably disagree with that.

Finally, South Carolina’s team is coming off a home loss to Kentucky, prompting Spurrier to do his best Taylor Swift:

“We’ve just gotta shake it off. Shake it off. We’ll shake it off and try to win a ballgame this week. Shake it off.”