USC moving on without Batchelor
South Carolina is preparing to be without right guard Heath Batchelor for a while.
The redshirt sophomore, who started the first three games, has been suspended indefinitely for an undisclosed violation of team rules. Steve Spurrier said Tuesday that Batchelor’s suspension stems mostly from academic issues, and did not sound like he expected Batchelor back soon.
“Yeah, he’s suspended. He’s out. He’s gone,” Spurrier said when asked whether Batchelor might play against LSU. “Not permanently. If he takes care of his off-the-field activities, academics and so forth, he could be reinstated down the road.”
Batchelor could miss as many as three games while sorting out his issues, according to a source.
Batchelor started the final four games of the 2007 season and looked to be on his way to a long, successful career at USC. But he has continually missed classes, then failed to show for a 5:30 a.m. punishment run last week at Williams-Brice.
Batchelor reportedly slept at the stadium one night last week so he would not miss another running session.
The Gamecocks will go with a three-man guard rotation of Jamon Meredith, Terrence Campbell and Lemuel Jeanpierre while Batchelor is suspended.
Center Garrett Anderson considers Batchelor as a good friend, but said the Gamecocks have to move on without him.
“He’s a very good football player. He’s a very talented player,” he said. “But we’ve got other guys in there that really want to be out there. They really want to contribute to the team.”
10 Comments to “USC moving on without Batchelor”
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USC football beat writer Joe Person has covered the Gamecocks since the start of the 2002 season. He's been on the college football beat since 1993. 
Hey Heath:
Grow up already! You’re receiving a free education; a great meal plan; probably have women out the kazoo. Get your ass to class and FOCUS son before you end up like Derek Watson and Summers. They are NOWHERE! Geradlo
I can relate to Batchelor. It’s hard for some people to get up in the morning in college, and beyond.
I think it says a lot for him if really did sleep at the stadium to be sure he didn’t miss another running session. But Spurrier has to draw the line somewhere and Heath sounds like he’s had plenty of second chances already.
No excuses. As a student athlete you get first choice of dorms, classes….everything. I can’t tell you how many classes I wanted and didn’t get into because it was filled. One of which that I DID get into later (due to someone dropping the course) I spent with Blake Mitchell. He showed up for the first class, the second class, and the last class.
Forget that. The policies are in place for a reason. I don’t want a whole bunch of ingrates on the football team. Everyone else on the football team is pulling their weight on and off the field. Get it together or get lost,
and always….GO COCKS!
Joe,
I’d like your opinion on the balance of our recruiting between skill players and o&d linemen. It appears to me that we may be picking up an excessive amount of skill players in proportion to lineman. If so, isn’t there a threat to our depth chart?
Ron Turner
Concerned Gamecock
Summerville, SC
Ron,
Just sent you an email. thanks, jp
Joe,
Share the wealth… I’d like to know the answer to that question as well. (Why don’t you just post it so we all can read it?)
CockyFan_MD
if his friend, anderson, is saying that there are guys out there who “really want to be out there”, then it sounds to me that he really hasn’t shown too much of a want to be there. and if that is the case, then we are better off with out him. in my opinion, that is a depressing thing to hear, coming from one of our offensive linemen. this has been a problem area on this team, and hearing this is very telling of the performances that we have witnessed in the past. let’s hope king can ignite the others, and get rid off any attitudes that mirror that one.
Here was my response:
Ron,
The Gamecocks don’t lose many linemen on either side of the ball — sorensen and meredith on offense and j. lindsey on defense. So I think their depth’s OK there. But I bet they’ll sign a bunch of linemen next year.
jp
We sure could use Corey right about now.
I hope in the recruiting that Coach bothers to get us a couple of decent running backs. EVERYONE knows that a Spurrier offense is as much about the run as it is about the pass.