Turning the page? South Carolina will not play in Gasparilla Bowl
South Carolina will not play in the Gasparilla Bowl after all.
According to a report from Mike Uva of WACH-FOX, the Gamecocks will not face UAB in Tampa on Saturday after all because of two reasons. There are rising COVID-19 contact tracing concerns, but also that the players were not excited to play for interim coach Mike Bobo.
“I’m told COVID tracing was a concern but following a player’s only meeting today and a meeting with Ray Tanner, some players did not want to play for interim HC Mike Bobo,” Uva reported.
Earlier this week, Bobo asked if South Carolina held a vote to play a bowl game.
“There’s no vote in the SEC,” Bobo said. “When you come to play in the SEC, you come to play ball. I told them we are going to play in a bowl game. Guys that want to play, we will report back this day, if you don’t want to play, you need to opt-out. We didn’t have a vote.”
South Carolina is the second team in the SEC to reportedly not play in a bowl game. Tennessee canceled its appearance in the Liberty Bowl following rising cases of COVID-19 in the Vols program, including several people on the coaching staff.
UPDATE: South Carolina has confirmed the Gamecocks will not be playing in the Gasparilla Bowl