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KNOXVILLE -- It wasn't the kind of housewarming gift Steve Spurrier had in mind for his first meeting with Lane Kiffin at Neyland Stadium.

"We got two first downs the first two possessions and fumbled right after. So that wasn't real smart," South Carolina's coach said. "We didn't plan on that. We didn't plan on a lot of things that happened."

Much to Spurrier's chagrin, the 21st-ranked Gamecocks gift-wrapped Tennessee a three-touchdown lead Saturday night, coughing up three balls in the game's first 16 minutes in a 31-13 loss. South Carolina's offense showed it could move the ball on a rainy night but holding onto it was another matter altogether.

Quarterback Stephen Garcia finished 25-of-50 for 300 yards and an interception, including a 31-yard touchdown pass to Moe Brown in the third quarter. By then it was probably too late.

"We moved the ball, but if we spot teams, you know, one touchdown, two touchdowns, it's hard to come back from that," Garcia said. "We just got to get better protecting the ball ... It's just very frustrating for not only me but the whole team when you come out here and fumble twice and they score two touchdowns right off the bat."