Aug. 26, 2007

University of South Carolina Athletics Director Eric Hyman has upheld the one-game suspension for quarterback Blake Mitchell, it was announced tonight. Mitchell, a fifth-year senior, will miss the season-opening contest against Louisiana-Lafayette, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 1, after violating an athletics department policy.

Redshirt freshman Chris Smelley is expected to make the start at quarterback against the Ragin' Cajuns on Saturday.

In other news, sophomore safety Emanuel Cook is hospitalized in Columbia after undergoing an appendectomy over the weekend. Cook was summarily suspended from the University last week as the result of an arrest involving a weapon.

The Gamecocks had Sunday off and will return to the practice fields Monday night at 7 p.m.