Gamecocks News and Notes Heading into Game Day

September 15, 2012; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Damiere Byrd (3) makes a 94 yard touchdown reception over UAB Blazers cornerback Cornelius Richards (28) in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-US PRESSWIRE

It’s been a busy week for the Gamecocks after they obliterated UGA, and it didn’t take long for that busyness to start.

After watching the Gamecocks beat the Dawgs to a pulp, the eight best player in the state of Georgia and the fifth best defensive tackle in the nation (according to  decided to commit to South Carolina.

The interesting part of this story is the fact that he’d already given a verbal commitment to UGA. From the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

"Kelsey Griffin, who tried to commit to UGA a few weeks ago, pledged to South Carolina on Tuesday.The 6-foot-1, 290-pound defensive tackle from Mill Creek High School picked South Carolina after making an unofficial visit to see the Gamecocks defeat UGA 35-7 this past weekend…On the morning of Sept. 22, Griffin sat with his parents in front of TV cameras and publicly committed to UGA. However, a few hours later, his coach stated to the AJC that he was not pledged to the Bulldogs."

After shaking things up on the recruiting trail, Carolina shook up its depth chart for the LSU game naming Damiere Byrd the No. 3 WR over D.L. Moore.

On the season Byrd has 10 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns. He’s a hard cover down the field, and Moore has had trouble holding on to passes all year.

Finally, shifting away from football, Frank Martin held a press conference Wednesday and the quote of the day had to come when he was asked whether or not his team could challenge teams in the SEC in year one.

"“What was that lady who came on TV and made all those predictions? Miss Cleo?” Martin said. “She got paid to make predictions and she got put in jail. I’m not into that prediction stuff.”"

The basketball team officially starts practice Friday.