[Tuck4Bama]

A month into the season might seem like a strange time to conduct tryouts — unless you play for Steve Spurrier.

In Spurrier’s system, players are only as good as their last game, and no one — from the quarterback to the left guard — is immune from being benched.

The South Carolina coach has driven that point home this week by sacking his fifth-year quarterback, trying another freshman receiver for the second consecutive game and going with a pair of new starters at the guard spots.

“Substituting is not anything I think is bad. ... That’s just giving everybody an opportunity to play,” Spurrier said Tuesday. “That’s why you have 85 to 100 players on the team. If they only gave you 22, then we wouldn’t have to substitute until somebody gets hurt. But we keep trying, trying your players. Sometimes the light goes on.”

Spurrier is hoping several players see the light against Mississippi State, starting with quarterback Chris Smelley, who steps in for Blake Mitchell.

In his only other career start, against Louisiana-Lafayette, Smelley completed 10 of 14 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown with one interception. He also was drilled by a blitzing defender who knocked Smelley’s helmet off and sidelined him for two weeks with a sprained shoulder.

“I’m hoping he learned from that one,” Spurrier said. “Whether or not he can audible and pick out guys, I don’t know. Haven’t seen him do it. He hasn’t done it yet. So we’ll find out if he can do it in a game.”

System thrives on change