COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The rooster won't crow as much at South Carolina's Williams-Brice Stadium.

The SEC has told the Gamecocks they can only play a rooster crow during timeouts, after a score, before the game, during halftime and when the game ends.

South Carolina had been playing the rooster crow before critical third downs and other times to pump up the crowd.

The SEC told the Gamecocks they were breaking conference regulations about when artificial noise could be played.

"We are certainly disappointed that we have to limit the Gamecock crow, as we know its a crowd favorite, but obviously we will comply with the Southeastern Conference rules and regulations," said Jeff Crane, athletics marketing director for the university.

In The Wrist: After quarterback Syvelle Newton had trouble getting calls from the sideline in a 31-24 loss to Tennessee last saturday, Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier said he might go with a system in which Newton reads the plays from his wristband.

South Carolina used two timeouts on its first series against the Vols and were out of timeouts with 14:20 remaining in the first half. Spurrier blamed the miscommunication of Newton's lack of experience: The senior is beginning his eighth week running Spurrier's offense.

Spurrier would prefer not to use the wristband system, in which coaches relay a signal corresponding to a play listed on a laminated sheet of paper affixed to Newton's wrist.

"I'm not real comfortable using them, but we try to signal some stuff in that just didn't come in," Spurrier said. "Syvelle didn't quite get it and didn't get it communicated to the guys. So we need to read it off better. If you can't signal it in, you better signal the wristband in."