 Gamecocks lose starter for opener
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina's athletic director has upheld the one-game suspension of Gamecocks quarterback Blake Mitchell and he will miss the season opener against Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday.
Mitchell, suspended for the game for missing summer school classes, had appealed the penalty. Athletic director Eric Hyman upheld the suspension, the university said late Sunday.
Bodog.com has listed South Carolina at +500 to win the 2007 SEC East Division title.
Coach Steve Spurrier has said redshirt freshman Chris Smelley will get the start and sophomore Tommy Beecher also would see playing time.
Also suspended with Mitchell were tailback Bobby Wallace and cornerback Chris Hail. Both players also violated athletic department policy by having excessive absences during summer school classes.
Also, sophomore safety Emmanuel Cook was expected to miss Saturday's game following his arrest on a gun charge. Cook was suspended from the school last week because of an arrest involving a weapon.
Cook was hospitalized over the weekend after undergoing an appendectomy.
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