South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier doesn't know if star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney will play Saturday against Arkansas.
But Spurrier is aware of the impact the junior has had on the program since his arrival.
Spurrier made headlines this weekend when speaking about Clowney, a preseason All-American and likely top-3 pick in next year's NFL Draft. Clowney was a late scratch from Saturday's game against Kentucky. Spurrier apparently was surprised when Clowney was unable to play because of a muscle strain around his ribs.
During Tuesday's teleconference, Spurrier tried to clarify.
"He was in pain and it was diagnosed later and obviously, we all handled it poorly, all of us did," Spurrier said. "The proper procedure and protocol when a player is hurt, he tells the (athletic) trainer and doctor, 'Hey, I can't go, this thing is hurting, there's too much pain,' and the trainer tells me, the head coach, he's out, he's not playing and I say, 'OK, he's out, he's not playing.' Simple as that. But we all didn't do that and it caused some confusion, we didn't know he wasn't suiting up until a little later, so we didn't handle it well."
Spurrier then went on to praise Clowney's impact at South Carolina.
"Let me say this about Jadeveon: If he never plays another snap here, we all should be thankful and appreciative that he came to South Carolina," he said. "We've won 26 games, two 11-2 years, the greatest seasons we've had in the history of the school, 120 years. So, none of us need to be upset at Jadeveon, none of us."
Spurrier said that Clowney has received treatment on his ribs twice a day and that a decision on his playing status for Saturday will be made later in the week.
"I am all for Jadeveon and his future and when he's ready to play, we are going to put him out there."
Clowney began the season surrounded by Heisman talk, but has not lived up to those expectations. He's made 12 tackles in four games with 2.0 sacks and 3.0 tackles for loss.
SHAW BITES BACK AT SARKISIAN
Stanford coach David Shaw didn't take too kindly to accusations that his players faked injuries against Washington.
And on Tuesday's teleconference, he made that crystal clear.
"We don't fake injuries," Shaw said. "We never have. I don't care what Sarkisian thinks he saw."
Shaw was responding to Washington coach Steve Sarkisian's remarks that the Cardinal players faked injuries in their 31-28 win against the Huskies in an effort to slow down the Washington offense.
"I guess that's how we lay here at Stanford, so we'll have to prepare for that next time," said Sarkisian, who said Stanford defensive line coach Randy Hart was telling players to sit down. "At some point, we'll get repaid for it. That never serves a purpose for us, and we'll never do that."
Shaw did not like Sarkisian singling out Hart and wasn't finished Tuesday.
"We've beaten Washington five of the last six times," he said. "When they beat us (last year), we congratulated Washington. We didn't talk about the officials. We took it."
GURLEY DOUBTFUL VS. MISSOURI
Georgia running back Todd Gurley may not play again this week when the No. 7 Bulldogs play No. 25 Missouri on Saturday in Athens, Ga.
Gurley missed last week's overtime win against Tennessee while recovering from an ankle injury against LSU.
"I would say it's doubtful. He could," Georgia coach Mark Richt told reporters. "In life, adversity happens. You can panic or you can look at what you have and find a way to win."
Making matters worse, sophomore Keith Marshall is out for the season after tearing his ACL against Tennessee.
When Marshall went down against the Vols, freshman J.J. Green stepped in and ran for 129 yards -- he has 194 yards for the season. Brendan Douglas also ran for 25 yards and a touchdown for the Bulldogs.
COUGARS QB CALLS IT QUITS
Houston quarterback David Piland's career is complete.
The junior will not play again after suffering multiple concussions, the school announced Tuesday. He suffered a concussion in the first quarter of the second game of the season against Temple.
He will graduate in December with a bachelor's degree in business administration.
He was 21 for 40 this season for 220 yards and a touchdown in two games. For his career, Piland threw for 5,790 yards, 41 TD passes and completed 478 passes.
"One of my lifelong dreams and goals has been to play quarterback at the collegiate level and thanks to the University of Houston, I've been able to accomplish one of my dreams and meet one of my goals," Piland said in a statement. "It was not easy to hear that I can no longer play the game that I love, but I know that our medical staff has my best interests in mind. I will always cherish my time on the field and my time at the University of Houston."
John O'Korn has stepped in at quarterback with Piland sidelined and thrown for 933 yards, 10 TDs and one interception for the Couagars (4-0).
"David has given everything he's had to the University of Houston and our football program," Houston coach Tony Levine said. "He has been a model student-athlete and a valued leader for us. He has handled everything with class and will continue to be a major part of our program. David's health and well-being is our top priority, and we respect the decision of our medical staff."
DAVIS APOLOGIZES FOR BLOCK
Texas wide receiver Mike Davis has issued an apology for a cut block against an Iowa State defender that drew a personal foul penalty, a day after saying he'd "do the same thing" again.
Davis was penalized for his block on Deon Broomfield and was publicly reprimanded by the Big 12 for the play last Thursday.
On Monday, Davis said he was glad Broomfield wasn't hurt. He said the play called for him to block the defender. But he suggested Broomfield wasn't playing hard and deserved the cut block at his left knee. Davis said: "I'd do the same thing" in a similar situation.
In a statement released Tuesday, Davis says he didn't want to hurt Broomfield. He apologized to the player and Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby.
GOPHERS SUPPORTING KILL
Without a game this week, Minnesota coach Jerry Kill has been at home following a seizure that kept him from traveling with the team for last Saturday's loss at Michigan.
This was the fifth game-day episode Kill endured in three seasons with the Gophers, and the fourth that caused him to miss at least a portion of a game. But University President Eric Kaler reiterated Tuesday his support for Kill and the coach's ability to handle the high-profile, high-pressure job while dealing with epilepsy.
Kaler, in a phone interview with The Associated Press, said he and athletic director Norwood Teague have not been considering another coach in light of Kill's latest absence.
"Where we are right now is hoping for and planning on Jerry getting better and being able to fulfill all of his duties," Kaler said. "We're not looking at a Plan B. We're looking at Jerry Kill being our head football coach. He's got a great, great staff. It's really just an unbelievable team, and when he's not able to be there because of a seizure, they have a terrific plan and they execute on that. So that's where we are."
Defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys filled in for Kill on the Big Ten coaches' call with reporters Tuesday. Claeys said there's no rush for Kill to return to work; the Gophers don't play again until Oct. 19 at Northwestern.
"He's doing good. He's continuing to get the rest he needs and work with the doctors to do the best they can to get the situation under control with his medicine," Claeys said. "They still believe they can do that."
Kill's latest seizure stemmed from a medication adjustment. Claeys said he's spoken daily with Kill on the phone but hasn't discussed a timetable for Kill coming back.
The Gophers will practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, but Claeys didn't indicate whether Kill would be ready by then.
A&M LOSES DE ENNIS FOR SEASON
No. 9 Texas A&M has lost senior defensive tackle Kirby Ennis for the season to a knee injury.
Ennis was injured Sept. 28 against Arkansas. Coach Kevin Sumlin says that Ennis will have surgery to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and will miss the remainder of the season.
Ennis appeared in four games this season after being suspended for the opener for violating team rules. He had six tackles.
Ennis started 11 games last season and had a career-high 23 tackles, including two for losses.
The Aggies travel to Mississippi on Saturday.
Contributors: Ken Bradley, Associated Press