SOUTH CAROLINA: Quarterback Blake Mitchell, who was 12- of- 23 for 175 yards, led the Black team to a 20-10 win in the annual Garnet and Black Game in front of nearly 40,000 fans and the ESPN2 cameras. Quarterback Antonio Heffner was 7- of- 14 for 129 yards and no scores. Coach Steve Spurrier, who celebrated his 60th birthday Wednesday, told a group of boosters a few days after the spring game that neither Mitchell nor Heffner played well in the game. Mitchell and Heffner were the top two quarterbacks coming out of spring, but if senior Michael Rathe regains his eligibility, then he will be the top quarterback because he has the best knowledge of the offense. Tailback Cory Boyd had 34 yards on nine carries and Daccus Turman gained 44 yards on nine carries. D’Von Hill led all receivers with five catches for 100 yards. Receivers Sidney Rice, Kris Clark and Le’Moriell Williams each had three catches. Junior receiver Noah Whiteside, expected to be a starter in the fall, sustained a broken ankle. He underwent successful surgery after the game and his ankle will be immobilized for six weeks. Both teams combined for only one turnover. Rover Ty Erving and defensive end Josh Johnson were arrested on marijuana charges just after midnight Sunday morning. A total of 11 USC players or former players have been arrested since the middle of January. Eight of the 11 arrested had eligibility remaining and four remain on the team. USC is 500-507-44 in 111 seasons. Former TCU athletic director Eric Hyman has been named the new AD at USC to replace Mike McGee who is retiring this summer. (Gamecockcentral.com and The State)

LSU: The Tigers went through a 125-play scrimmage in front of barely 8,000 fans in Saturday’s spring game. Quarterback JaMarcus Russell was 17- of- 30 for 223 yards and four touchdowns, while Matt Flynn was 17- of- 29 for 234 yards and two picks. Receiver Amp Hill (four catches for 80 yards) caught an eight-yard score from Russell. Hill was voted as one of the five most improved players. Tailback Joseph Addai, who had a 52- yard run on the first play, had 80 yards on seven carries. Receiver Xavier Carter, who spent the spring running track, led the receivers with eight catches for 67 yards. Another receiver, Early Doucet caught five passes for 119 yards. Sophomore safety Craig Steltz led the defense with 11 tackles. Jacob Cutrera (6-4, 225), a linebacker from Acadiana (La.) High, in Lafayette has committed to the Tigers. Matt Allen (6-3, 285), an offensive guard from Collins High in Klein, Texas, has also committed to the Tigers. (Tigerbait.com)

KENTUCKY: The Wildcats have their spring game next week, but in Saturday’s scrimmage, the first team offense led by quarterback Andre’ Woodson scored three times on seven possessions. Woodson was 13- of- 21 for 228 yards and two scores. Tight end Jacob Tamme, one of the biggest stars of the spring, caught six passes for 146 yards and touchdowns of 50 and 20 yards. Tailback Alexis Bwenge ran for 102 yards on 13 carries. Linebacker Jon Sumrall, who led the team in tackles last season with 72, told his teammates that he was giving up football on the advise of his doctors because of a spinal cord condition. (CatsPause.com)

AUBURN: Tiger offensive coordinator Al Borges and part of his staff spent last week talking with coaches from the Indianapolis Colts. Most of the talk centered on the Colt’s one-back offense. Borges said the Tiger attack will not be the same as the Colts, but he did pick up a few tips. He added that the staff is likely to visit other NFL teams in the next few months. (Auburnsports.com)

ARKANSAS: The Hogs ended spring drills Saturday with defensive end Desmond Sims (2.5 sacks) and quarterback Cole Barthel (two scoring passes against the reserves) staring in the spring game. Barthel threw one pass to receiver Marcus Monk, who then threw 40 yards to tailback Peyton Hillis for a touchdown. In the spring game, quarterback Robert Johnson was 3- of- 6 for 6 yards, Alex Mortensen was 2- of- 6 for 56 yards against the second and third teams and Barthel was 2- of- 3 for 31 yards and two scores against the third team. Hog tight end Jared Hicks was cited for public intoxication April 19. Hicks caught eight passes for 98 yards and two scores last year. His arrest comes shortly after teammate Clarke Moore was arrested and charged with driving under the influence March 12. Houston Nutt, Sr., the father of Houston Nutt, Jr., died Wednesday afternoon. He was a longtime coach and teacher at the Arkansas School for the Deaf. (Hawgsports.com)

GEORGIA: Coach Mark Richt expressed concern with starting the season with Boise State and South Carolina after losing defensive stalwarts David Pollack, Thomas Davis, Odell Thurman and Arnold Harrison. Richt was pleased with the progress of receivers Kenneth Harris, A. J. Bryant, T. J. Gartrell and Mario Raley. He is not too worried that quarterback D. J. Shockley will depend on tight end Leonard Pope too much. ESPN has picked up the Sept. 3 home opener against Boise State for a 5:30 p.m. kickoff. Richt disciplined senior linebacker Derrick White and senior defensive end Kedric Golston by suspending White for the first two games and Golston for the opener for their part in an altercation in downtown Athens. (UGASports.com)

FLORIDA: In a speech to a group of boosters earlier in the week, coach Urban Meyer said junior defensive end Joe Cohen had minor hip surgery Monday. He should be running by next week. Sophomore defensive end Jarvis Moss will not play in 2005 due to various minor injuries. Receiver Dallas Baker, who has been listed as a senior, is actually a junior. Baker is getting an extra year back that he lost as a partial qualifier. Meyer said Randy Hand belongs at left tackle instead of right tackle. He also wants to start a tradition of a pre-game walk to the stadium before the game similar to what Auburn and Tennessee does. The head coach told another group of boosters Wednesday night that he hopes to redshirt the entire incoming freshman class except for one defensive back and a couple of linebackers. He also said backup quarterback Gavin Dickey would be the fifth receiver in the rotation. Dickey could be drafted in the upcoming Major League Baseball Draft, but he said that he would not leave unless he was a very high draft choice. (Gatorbait.net and Gainesville Sun)

ALABAMA: Fred Sparkman, a starting middle linebacker from North Carolina who was suspended following a misdemeanor drug charge, has said that he might transfer to Alabama. He would have to sit out a year. However, if he doesn’t go to a Division I-A school then he mentioned either Tennessee State or North Alabama. Sparkman, who is 6-foot-2, 235, led UNC with 10 tackles in a win over N. C. State. Darrin Mustin, a linebacker from Middle Tennessee State, is also transferring to Alabama. (Tennessean.com)

N C STATE: The Wolfpack ended spring drills last Saturday with the Red-White game. The defense dominated the offense all spring. In the spring game, the defense had 12 sacks with end Manny Lawson posting 2.5. All four starters on the defensive line are back, but the entire secondary and two linebackers must be replaced. Sophomore tailback Bobby Washington ran for 129 yards on 17 carries. Tailback Reggie Davis had 72 yards on 12 carries. Quarterback Jay Davis, who went against the No. 1 defense, was 7- of- 15 for 112 yards. Marcus Stone, his backup, was 10- of- 18 for 148 yards. Brian Clark led the receivers with seven catches for 131 yards. John Deraney hit six field goals including three of more than 40-yards. The Wolpack might open the season against Virginia Tech on Sunday night. Sept. 4 instead of the original Saturday Sept. 3 date. (Wolfpacker.com)

FLORIDA STATE: In Saturday’s spring game before 15,000 fans, the defense (seven sacks) beat the offense 20-10 primarily due to late interceptions by linebacker Sam McGrew and redshirt freshman Tony Carter. Defensive lineman Kamerion Wimbley won the Hinesman Award as the most dominating player of the spring. Wimbley, who is hoping to gain 10 pounds to reach his goal of 250 pounds, and defensive lineman Clifton Dickson had two sacks each. Quarterback Wyatt Sexton’s 50-yard pass to receiver Chris Davis set up tailback Lorenzo Booker’s six-yard touchdown run, the first one against the defense this spring. Davis led the receivers with 95 yards on four catches. Receiver Greg Carr caught two passes for 53 yards. Sexton was 4- of- 6 for 73 yards to lead the quarterbacks. Xavier Lee was 3- of- 7 for 33 yards and Drew Weatherford was 5- of- 9 for 24 yards.

In an interview with Warchant.com, Tallahassee Lincoln High signee Fred Rouse said he is on track to qualify with a 2.8 grade point average. He has taken the ACT again and is awaiting the results. Rouse, who also runs on the Lincoln High relay team, said he is 190 pounds and hopes to be 205 by fall drills. Redshirt junior receiver Lorne Sam has re-fractured his foot and will apply for a medical redshirt. He will have surgery May 2. If the request is denied, then he will have to play this year. However, he will not return until possibly the middle of September. Last season, Sam caught six passes for 71 yards. (Warchant.com and Tallahassee Democrat)

CLEMSON: After the spring game Saturday, coach Tommy Bowden said his team has accomplished his three goals of comprehending both offensive and defensive systems, getting the best players on the field and finding leaders. Both quarterbacks Charlie Whitehurst and Will Proctor are ready to play. Proctor was 18- of- 23 for 275 yards and three scores in the spring game. Offensive coordinator Rob Spence is hoping the Tigers can run the ball this season after failing to finish higher than sixth in the ACC the past three years. For the first time in five years, the defensive line will not have a 300- pound lineman. Senior linebacker Lionel Richardson, who is battling junior Anthony Waters, has drawn Bowden’s praise. (TigerIllustrated.com)

GEORGIA TECH: In Saturday’s final scrimmage, quarterback Reggie Ball was 13- of- 21 for 188 yards with three touchdowns and one pick. He is easily ahead of redshirt freshmen Taylor Bennett and Kyle Manley. Receiver Calvin Johnson caught seven passes for 127 yards. Safeties Chris Reis and Joe Gaston both had interceptions. Coach Chan Gailey said the secondary is the strongest part of the team. Tailback P. J. Daniels had two carries for 18 yards. Ben Anderson (6-2, 260), a defensive lineman from Aiken (S.C.) has verbally committed to Tech. (Jacketsonline.com and Columbus Ledger-Enquirer)

BRENT BEAIRD IS A SPORTS WRITER FOR THE CLAY COUNTY LINE IN ORANGE PARK, FL.
HE ALSO WRITES FOR RIVALS.COM AND SAMSPORTSLINE.COM.