South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier proved Saturday night he can surprise more than defenses. He can catch the media off guard, too.

"We don't have to worry about winning the SEC this year," Spurrier said after South Carolina's 31-24 loss to UT at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday night.

Did I miss something? Was there anyone outside the South Carolina locker room thinking the Gamecocks were in the running for the SEC championship?

Aren't they the fourth-best team in the SEC East? Didn't they already lose to Georgia 18-0?

Yes and Yes. But if the Gamecocks had held on to their early fourth-quarter lead against the Vols, they would have had a better shot than either Georgia or UT of winning the East.

If the Gamecocks had beaten UT, then upset Arkansas and Florida, they would have represented the East in the SEC championship game.

Sure, that bordered on the impossible. But it's significant Spurrier would even mention the possibility of a lost championship.

It reminds you that he didn't take the South Carolina job just to win six or seven games and qualify for a bowl, which the Gamecocks should do in back-to-back seasons for only the fourth time in school history. And after next season, they should extend their bowl streak to a school-record three consecutive years.

Next year, they also should be even more competitive against the best teams in the SEC.

The Gamecocks began this season with only one returning starter on defense. They lost their starting quarterback to injury in the season opener. They revamped a pedestrian offensive line from one game to the next.

But they still managed to win five of their first eight games and play top-10 Auburn and UT seven-point games.

The offense improved dramatically when Spurrier moved wide receiver Syvelle Newton to quarterback after the second game. But it's also impressive what 34-year-old defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix has accomplished with an inexperienced defense.

Imagine how much better that defense will be next season when the Gamecocks return 21 of 22 players first- and second-teamers.

The offense will lose Newton, who has become one of the best quarterbacks in the conference, and probably will lose redshirt sophomore wide receiver Sidney Rice, who will be tempted to leave for the NFL.

However, the offense will return quarterback Blake Mitchell, who started last season and promising freshman quarterback Chris Smelley, who will have a chance to win the starting job in the spring. It also will be more talented and much deeper in the offensive line. And don't forget about sophomore kicker/punter Ryan Succop, who has made 10 of 11 field-goal tries, including two of three from at least 50 yards, and ranks third in the SEC with a 44.5-yard punting average.

When you see what South Carolina has coming back and what the top two teams -- Florida and UT--- in the division are losing, you realize the SEC East should be even more balanced next season. You also realize what an impact Spurrier still can have on a college football program -- any college football program.

But don't relegate the Gamecocks to next season just yet. They can't win a division championship, but -- with upcoming games against division leaders Arkansas and Florida -- they can have a say in who does.