USC DC Ward on Vandy game: "This is a big-time game." - wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina |

USC DC Ward on Vandy game: "This is a big-time game."

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COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -

While rain bands from Hurricane Isaac sent the Gamecock football team indoors for practice on Tuesday, final preparations have begun for their Thursday night season opener against Vanderbilt.

Defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward says he's expecting plenty from defensive ends Jadeveon Clowney and Devin Taylor in the Thursday night prime time game.

"If they are as good as advertised, then they will have a big ball game," Ward said. "I've talked to Jadeveon about it and I've talked to Devin about it. If we've got big-time players, then they need to play big time in big-time games. And this is a big-time game."

The Gamecocks are expected to practice one more time on Wednesday in Columbia before heading to Tennessee.

The game will be nationally televised on ESPN beginning at 7 p.m.

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