The rationale of the NCAA, in making the rule, was that "by starting the clock, the committee estimates it will shorten the game by about five minutes, according to studies by several Division 1-A conferences".

Spurrier, however, sees the rule differently.

"They want to shorten the game, and help the underdog," Spurrier said. "It helps the underdog greatly because the favorite gets fewer plays. They (the underdog) get fewer plays. I don't like the rule personally. I think a team has a right to eighty plays a game. It's going to be a shorter game, with fewer plays, and that's how it's going to be."

Georgia's Mark Richt, whose Bulldogs face South Carolina this Saturday, echoed Spurrier's comments.

"Fans py a lot of money to go to games, and now you've got a lot less of it," Richt said. "It's just not good for the interest of the game."

The Gamecocks wrapped up a short practice this afternoon in a light drizzle, and Spurrier greeted a small media scrum after practice. After quotes from his teleconference, and on a tip from a USC equipment manager (who filled me in on lots of Gamecock news and knowledge), I asked Spurrier if any changes would be made to the offensive line for this Saturday's game.

"Not yet," Spurrier said, grinning. "But we should change after the way we played. We're going to give those guys another chance and see how it goes."