Notes from around the country as spring football starts to heat up.

South Carolina
Expectations remain high at South Carolina
This is what Lou Holtz has done to South Carolina. Despite the loss of numerous starters from last season's 8-3 team, the Gamecocks still expect to compete for the SEC championship.

That's right -- SEC championship.

"We have enough players here to win, and I'm talking about competing for the championship," Holtz told The Columbia State. "We've got standards and I expect the players to live up to them, even though many of them are inexperienced and haven't played."

Despite winter-like weather, the Gamecocks opened spring practice Monday with a two-hour workout. And while it may be younger, less experienced players in the starting roles, Holtz in anxious to see them play.

"Winning presents problems, as does losing," Holtz told The State. "The problems now are different than two years ago, but you still have them. It's easier in one respect: the players believe. Every time you tell them something now, they don't think it's a suggestion."

One area in particular to watch is the QB battle. Six QBs took snaps Monday, one of them being Bennett Swygert, a 6-foot-3, 222-pound freshman who missed last season with a knee injury.

"I like the way he threw. He seems to move well," Holtz told The State. "(But) it's wide open, but we've got to make some decisions in a hurry. We're looking for whoever can help us win."

BYU
Engemann off to a good start
This was a good sign.

As four QBs worked out, the one everyone focused was Bret Engemann, who missed last season with a shoulder injury.

"I probably threw about 150 balls today and it felt good," Engemann told the Provo Daily-Herald. "I don't feel any pain anymore when I throw."

That's a good sign, considering the Cougars must replace QB Brandon Doman as well as the starting offensive backfield and three of the starting offensive lineman from last year's 12-2 team.

"It seems like a rebuilding season because we lost the quarterback, but that's a bit deceiving," assistant coach Mike Empey told the Daily-Herald.. "There's a lot of talent in this program that was just waiting for spring ball to start showing what it can do."

Engemann, a junior, is No. 1 on the depth chart, but sophomore Todd Mortensen, freshman Matt Berry, and Lance Pendleton are battling for the spot. And then there is incoming freshman Ben Olson, the nation's top prep quarterback and the No. 1 recruit on ESPN.com recruiting analyst Tom Lemming's Top 100. Of course, Olson could also head to serve a Mormon mission instead of coming this fall.

"Right now, Ben's finishing out his senior year," BYU coach Gary Crowton told the Daily-Herald. "He'll probably make a decision about when to serve a mission after we finish spring ball. Right now, I think he'll come here this fall."

But if Engemann's healthy, it may not matter who's in camp. This looks like his job to lose.

Georgia
Richt having fun this spring
It's amazing what having a few good QBs can do for a coach's disposition.

Georgia coach Mark Richt is having a blast so far this spring and it's because there are plenty of healthy QBs in camp.

"It was a lot more fun," Richt told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "It was a lot better than a year ago. Everybody has an idea of what they are doing. In the quarterbacks meeting, everybody was prepared. It was fun out there.

"The passing accuracy was a lot better than the catching," Richt told the AJC about the two-hour practice Monday. "It was cold and windy, and we dropped a lot of balls."

The battle for the QB job is between returning starter David Greene, last year's SEC freshman of the year, and redshirt freshman D.J. Shockley. Both are working with the first team. Senior Cory Phillips and freshman Joe Tereshinski split time with the second team.

The 'Dawgs will be without RB Musa Smith, who is out with a hip-flexor injury that forced him to miss two games and parts of others last season.

"I don't know about Musa," Richt told the AJC. "I think you have to assume he's not going to be there. . . . And if he can, then it's a plus."

Alabama
Franchione out to improve on last year
Dennis Franchione knows all about rebuilding. He did it at Southwest Texas State, New Mexico and TCU. And one thing he knows is the first year is always the toughest.

And with Alabama opening spring practice Thursday, Franchione and the Crimson Tide are looking to improve on last year's success.

"Year two is always easier than year one on so many ways," Franchione told the Tuscaloosa News. "Our players have a foundation as far as our offense, defense and kicking game. There's hardly any way to make a comparison between year one and year two. The players and the coaching staff have built a great relationship. There's understanding and trust. It does feel like our team.

"They have a good understanding of our work ethic and know what we expect of them."

There is also a comfort level for the coaching staff.

"It's immeasurable," he said. "Last year at this time, I'm not sure I knew everybody's name completely. In evaluation of personnel, we have a much better idea of what their strengths and weaknesses are. Now we have more direction, certainly.

"Last year, every day was a learning experience for the coaches, as well as the players," he told the News. "Now, everybody knows what to expect from each other."

Heading into the spring, the biggest battle may be at QB. Senior Tyler Watts, who started most of last season, is No. 1 on the depth chart, but will be challenged by redshirt freshmen Brodie Croyle and Spencer Pennington.

"I certainly think Tyler needs to be looked upon as the starter right now," Franchione told the News. "If he remains the starter will have to be seen. Tyler deserves to be No. 1. If he finishes there, so be it."

Several players will be out or will be limited during spring drills.

TE David Cavan and DB Hirchel Bolden are out after offseason surgery, OL Justin Smiley is out a few practices after minor knee surgery and WR Sam Collins, who is recovering from a shoulder injury, will only participate in non-contact drills.

Florida State
A few players get new positions
Several players found new homes in the cold that was the Seminoles' spring practice.

B.J. Ward moved from receiver to safety, a position he played before last fall. B.J. Dean, signed to play linebacker, will get a shot at fullback and former defensive end O.J. Jackson is moving to nose guard behind Jeff Womble.

"That's a move that's got to be good," Bowden told the Tallahassee Democrat about redshirt freshman Dean's move to fullback. "(Safety is) where Ward's always played. There's opportunity back there because of graduation.

"You've got more young guys coming up that we need to work (at defensive end), and the best chance for (Jackson) to play, I believe, is inside. He can help us more there than anywhere else."

Dean, who is 12 pounds lighter at 246 pounds, played fullback as a senior at Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Central. And it didn't take long to discovering catching the ball is much more important as a fullback than a linebacker.

"They threw the ball three times ... one was off my fingertips and last one I missed completely," he told the Democrat. "I think I can help the team blocking. I enjoy the contact."