Did you notice that South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier was a bit testy after SEC Media Days last month? It seems many around college football are wondering if Spurrier’s best days are behind him at age 70.

One can understand the questions. South Carolina was a preseason No. 9 team last year  coming off three straight 11-win seasons. But the Gamecocks imploded, mainly on defense, and finished just 7-6 in 2014.

In July, a perturbed Spurrier called an impromptu news conference with local reporters to reaffirm to USC fans that he’s committed as ever and not to listen to the Gamecocks’ “enemies.”

“I just want our fans to know that we’re going to have a good team and recognize that it’s our enemies saying these things about Spurrier being washed up and we’re not going to be heard from again,” Spurrier told the media. “Gamecocks out there need to know that I’m going to be here five or six more years, and away we go.”

College football is more interesting with Spurrier involved. Let’s hope he sticks around those five or six more years, whether you are a fan of his or not.

Let’s break down some strengths and weaknesses of his 2015 Gamecocks.

SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS: 2015 STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

PROJECTED OFFENSIVE STARTERS

Strength: WR Pharoh Cooper

Cooper was first-team All-SEC last season after leading South Carolina in receptions (69, third in SEC), receiving yards (1,136, second in conference) and receiving touchdowns (nine, which was fourth). He became the first Gamecock with a 1,000 or more receiving yards in a season since current Chicago Bears wideout Alshon Jeffery in 2010.

By far his signature game was against Tennessee. In a 45-42 overtime loss, Cooper caught a career-high 11 passes for a school-record 233 yards. He also had touchdown catches of 85 and 12 yards, rushed for 23 yards and one touchdown, and completed 1-for-2 passes for 30 yards and a touchdown. That, my friends, is a full day!

Weakness: Quarterback

Gone is Dylan Thompson, who set the school record with 3,564 passing yards in 2014. Now Spurrier has to choose from four players, although the Ol’ Ball Coach has been known to rotate quarterbacks during the season if need be. The competitors are sophomore Connor Mitch, junior Perry Orth and freshmen Michael Scarnecchia and Lorenzo Nunez. Most believe it’s Mitch’s job to lose. He threw six passes last year, completing two of them for 19 yards.

“It’ll work its way out,” Spurrier said this week, according to The State. “We’ll keep scrimmaging and keep letting those guys play a little bit more and see what happens. … “If they are all very even, we might say, ‘You’re going to play the first two series, you’re going to play a couple.”

PROJECTED DEFENSIVE STARTERS

Strength: Linebackers

This group is led by Skai Moore. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound junior led the team with 93 tackles, the most for a Gamecock since Jasper Brinkley’s 107 in 2006. He led the team in tackles in eight games. Moore also ranked 10th in the SEC with 7.8 tackles per game and was second on the squad with three interceptions. Moore has led USC in tackles in each of the last two years, becoming the first player to do so since Emanuel Cook (2007-08). The last player to do so it three years in a row was Tony Watkins from 1992-94.

Weakness: Potentially the rest

After losing All-American Jadeveon Clowney and All-SEC pick Kelcy Quarles off the 2013 team, South Carolina  finished 118th of 125 teams nationally with 14 sacks and was 121st with 52 tackles for loss in 2014. The Gamecocks ranked 104th nationally in yards allowed per game. To fix that group, Spurrier hired Jon Hoke, who coordinated his defense at Florida from 1999-2001 and who had been in the NFL since. The Gamecocks are counting on a few junior-college transfers to boost this unit as well.

SCHEDULE

Strength: SEC West crossover foes

The Gamecocks avoid the projected three best teams in the West Division in Alabama, Auburn and Ole Miss. And South Carolina gets to host LSU. Win that Tigers game, and USC could run the table at home in SEC play (also vs. Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Florida there).

Weakness: Clemson could ruin major bowl hopes

South Carolina opens the season in Charlotte against a North Carolina team that many think will be much improved. Then there’s the annual regular-season finale against Clemson, which is the ACC favorite this season. USC could be, say, 10-1 entering that game — not likely but not impossible — and see its chances for the College Football Playoff or a New Year’s Six bowl game end with a second straight loss to the rival Tigers. At least this year’s game is in Columbia.