The Gamecocks departed Columbia early this afternoon to make our way to Orlando to continue preparing for the Capital One Bowl vs. Nebraska on Monday, January 2.
After a short flight we landed at the Orlando airport to a warm welcome from Florida Citrus Sports staff (the organization that puts on both the Capital One Bowl and the Champs Sports Bowl), who helped us find our way to our buses, not that we would have been able to miss the custom ride:
The organization and planning that go into bowl travel is extensive on both sides, both the bowl and our staff. As a caravan of five buses of players, coaches and staff, we made our way to our team hotel, the Renaissance Orlando at Sea World. Equipment staff helped sort out baggage and get players ready to condition while everyone got checked in.
And who needs a football field when you have Coach Fitz? Carolina shook off the travel rust with stretching and conditioning in a large ballroom at the hotel.
Before the team started running, Coach Spurrier told them that Lorenzo Ward was no longer just the "interim" defensive coordinator, but that he had been selected to take over the position full time. The players were excited and many surrounded Coach Ward for congratulatory fist and chest bumps.
After conditioning Coach Spurrier and Coach Ward talked to the media to announce his hiring (watch video here).
The team would then re-convene for a welcome/introductory meeting with the coaches, bowl and hotel officials and more to round out Day 1 in Orlando.
Check out more photos from Day 1 here.
Tomorrow we'll have our first day of practice and the team will have some fun at Disney World!
Stay tuned to the blog here and to @SpursUpBlog on Twitter throughout the week leading up to the Capital One Bowl on Monday!
After a short flight we landed at the Orlando airport to a warm welcome from Florida Citrus Sports staff (the organization that puts on both the Capital One Bowl and the Champs Sports Bowl), who helped us find our way to our buses, not that we would have been able to miss the custom ride:
The organization and planning that go into bowl travel is extensive on both sides, both the bowl and our staff. As a caravan of five buses of players, coaches and staff, we made our way to our team hotel, the Renaissance Orlando at Sea World. Equipment staff helped sort out baggage and get players ready to condition while everyone got checked in.
And who needs a football field when you have Coach Fitz? Carolina shook off the travel rust with stretching and conditioning in a large ballroom at the hotel.
Before the team started running, Coach Spurrier told them that Lorenzo Ward was no longer just the "interim" defensive coordinator, but that he had been selected to take over the position full time. The players were excited and many surrounded Coach Ward for congratulatory fist and chest bumps.
After conditioning Coach Spurrier and Coach Ward talked to the media to announce his hiring (watch video here).
The team would then re-convene for a welcome/introductory meeting with the coaches, bowl and hotel officials and more to round out Day 1 in Orlando.
Check out more photos from Day 1 here.
Tomorrow we'll have our first day of practice and the team will have some fun at Disney World!
Stay tuned to the blog here and to @SpursUpBlog on Twitter throughout the week leading up to the Capital One Bowl on Monday!
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