Fans who have been clamoring for true freshman running back Mike Davis to get more playing time may very well get their wish in a cruelly ironic fashion this Saturday in Gainesville. Speaking to the media after Wednesday's practice, Steve Spurrier revealed that Marcus Lattimore will not start for the Gamecocks in their must-win gameagainst the Florida Gators:

Marcus Lattimore (hip) may not play against Gators, Spurrier said. Kenny Miles expected to start.

— Josh Kendall (@JoshatTheState) October 17, 2012

Running backs coach Everette Sands was singing a slightly different tune:

Some conflicting info -- Spurrier says that Miles is likely to start, Sands says that Lattimore should play.

— David Cloninger (@DCAtGCKCentral) October 17, 2012

The Gamecocks' leading rusher sustained what is being called a bruised hip during the 23-21 loss to LSU last Saturday and is being held out of practice this week to give him as much rest as possible.

Hey, where are you going? I've still got more horrible, horrible news to share: The flu bug that hampered DeVonte Holloman and handful of others during the loss in Baton Rouge is apparently making its way through the rest of the team:

Flu bug has hit hard. Sanders, Ellington, Legree have all missed.

— David Cloninger (@DCAtGCKCentral) October 17, 2012

Oh, and let us not forget that Spurrier went out of his way to emphasize on the SEC teleconference and again after practice today that All-SEC caliber defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles is very doubtful for this week's game. Quarles did not practice today and was seen wearing a sling on the shoulder that he injured at LSU.

Josh Kendall has your full rundown of banged up Gamecocks:

Ailing at USC: Lattimore (hip), Clowney (foot), Sanders (flu), Ellington (flu), Legree (flu), Matulis (flu), Gibson (flu), Quarles (shldr)

— Josh Kendall (@JoshatTheState) October 17, 2012

We knew going into the season that the stretch of consecutive games against Georgia, at LSU, at Florida, and against Tennessee would take a physical toll on the roster, but I don't think anyone expected all of the injuries to come at once or that the chief culprit would be a microscopic virus rather than a 250 pound linebacker falling on someone's ankle.

It's still just Wednesday, so it's entirely possible that most of the sick and injured players, excepting Quarles, will be capable of playing football effectively three days from now, but in an extremely tight matchup with the strongest Florida team in years, South Carolina will need to benefit from lucky breaks to escape from The Swamp with a win.

I don't know what this is, but I am pretty sure it does not constitute a lucky break.

Achoo!