We talked to USC defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Lorenzo Ward today. He shed some light on the Chris Culliver situation for us. For those of you behind the story, Steve Spurrier announced earlier this week that Culliver would not be making the trip to Arkansas with the team this week because of a shoulder/disciplinary reason. Now we know some of the details.
AUDIO:
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Culliver had a terrible game last week against Tennessee and coaches found out after the game that he was nursing a bad shoulder against the Vols. Apparently no one was aware of just how much the shoulder was bothering Culliver. Ward decided that Culliver’s shoulder wasn’t in good enough shape to play safety so on Monday he told Culliver that he was going to move him to corner back this week. Culliver didn’t take the news well. According to one report he actually walked off the field after he was told of the switch.
Because of his reaction and his shoulder problem Ward and Steve Spurrier decided to leave Culliver in Columbia this weekend. For Gamecock fans worried that this is another case of an underclassmen mailing in the end of the season to get ready for the NFL, Ward says not to worry. Culliver has told Ward that he plans to be back next season and that he knows he is not ready for the NFL.
Click
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to listen to all of Ward’s comments on this week’s game against Arkansas.
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