COLUMBIA — South Carolina’s opening drive against North Carolina State on Thursday wasn’t just the debut start for junior quarterback Tommy Beecher. It was also Steve Spurrier Jr.’s initial stint as South Carolina play caller. Not much of the first drive could’ve made his papa very proud. The son of head coach Steve Spurrier and wide receivers coach made news in the offseason with talk of taking on the primary play-calling duties with the senior Spurrier having the power to veto any plays.

The first play from scrimmage resulted in 2-yard run. The second was a receiver screen pass to Kenny McKinley that picked up 10 yards and USC’s first fresh set of downs of the season.

After another short run by Rank, things went south. Beecher dropped back on second down only to look confused trying to find a receiver while taking a sack. The next play, Beecher dropped back and tossed a ball to the middle of the field that sailed over USC receiver Moe Brown’s head and into the hands of N.C. State safety Jimmaul Simmons, which he returned 20 yards to the USC 33-yard line.

SOBERING MOMENT

N.C. State starting quarterback Russell Wilson went down with 4:09 left in the second quarter and was on the ground for several minutes before being taken off the field on a neck board and cart. The redshirt freshman in his first collegiate start was going down on a tackle when defensive end Cliff Matthews came running in on the play and landed a blow with his knee on the back of Wilson’s neck. After being placed on the cart, Wilson moved his left hand toward his team’s sideline with a thumb up to let them know he was OK.

Wilson was initially diagnosed with a concussion before halftime and was taken to the hospital for further tests.

BACK IN GARNET

USC linebacker and 2006 leading tackler Jasper Brinkley returned to the field for the first time since tearing a knee ligament against LSU on September 22, 2007, that led to surgery and rehab. After missing the spring and being dinged up through preseason practice with a nagging foot injury that almost held him out of the opener, Brinkley ran through all the pregame drills and recorded two tackles in the second quarter. His second tackle was a crushing blow on Owen Spencer after a 4-yard reception on second down in the middle of the field.

FINE START FOR A PUNTER

Senior kicker Ryan Succop recorded 56 punts in 2007 for an average of 41.6 and has handled most of USC’s kicking duties in his career. But, new special teams coach Ray Rychleski decided to turn over punting to walk-on sophomore Spencer Lanning. His first collegiate punt went for 49 yards for a touchback. At halftime, Lanning had three punts for an average of 45.7 with two ending in touchbacks.