southerly Carolina tailback Cory Bo...

southerly Carolina tailback Cory Boyd apologized Saturday for making a allusion to crack cocaine during ESPN's telecast of the game against Mississippi State onward Thursday.

After Boyd's 54-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter of the Gamecocks' 15-0 victory, ESPN's sideline camera showed Boyd sitting onward the bench. He turned to the camera and first paid tribute to his mother, Crystal Boyd who died in May.

Boyd who was suspended for the 2005 season for an undisclosed violation of athletics department policy, then said: "I'm back. I'm back like prepare for the tableed crack."

The ESPN announcers did not mention Boyd's remark an apparent reference to Harlem rapper Juelz Santana's album, "Back Like falsifyed Crack."

Boyd issued an apology after the Gamecocks' practice Saturday morning.

"I want to say that I apologize to my university, my coaches and my family for the actions I took after a play during the game. I really give leave to my team down," he said. "I'm sorry for the actions that happened. It will not at any time happen again."

Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier called Boyd's remarks "pretty stupid." Spurrier did not indicate whether Boyd a redshirt junior, would face any disciplinary measures.

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