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South Carolina Gamecocks football
AmericanFootball current event.svg Current season
File:South Carolina Gamecocks Block C logo.svg
First season 1892
Head coach Steve Spurrier
Home stadium Williams-Brice Stadium
Stadium capacity 80,250
Stadium surface Grass
Location Columbia, South Carolina
Conference SEC (1992–present)
Division SEC Eastern Division
All-time record 565–544–44
Postseason bowl record 5–12
Conference titles 1 (1969 ACC)
Division titles 1 (2010 SEC East)
Heisman winners 1
Consensus All-Americans 15
Current uniform
File:SEC-Uniform-USC.png
Colors Garnet and Black            
Fight song The Fighting Gamecocks Lead the Way
Marching band Mighty Sound of the Southeast
Main Rivals Clemson Tigers
Georgia Bulldogs
Website GamecocksOnline.com

The South Carolina Gamecocks football team represents the University of South Carolina in the sport of American football. The Gamecocks compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Steve Spurrier is the current head coach, and the team plays its home games at Williams-Brice Stadium, also known as "The Cockpit". Currently, it is the 20th largest stadium in college football.

South Carolina's SEC tenure has been highlighted by an SEC East title in 2010, Final Top-25 rankings in 2000, 2001, 2010 and 2011 (AP No. 19, No. 13, No. 22 and No. 9), and three wins over Top-5 SEC opponents (No. 4 Ole Miss in 2009, No. 1 Alabama in 2010, and No. 5 Georgia in 2012).

From 1953 through 1970, the Gamecocks played in the Atlantic Coast Conference, winning the 1969 ACC championship and finishing No. 15 in the 1958 final AP poll. From 1971 through 1991, they competed as a major independent, producing 1980 Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers, six bowl appearances, and Final Top-25 rankings in 1984 and 1987 (AP No. 11 and No. 15).

The Gamecocks have produced a National Coach of the Year in Joe Morrison, three SEC coaches of the year in Lou Holtz (2000) and Steve Spurrier (2005, 2010), and one ACC coach of the year in Paul Dietzel (1969). They also have three members of the College Football Hall of Fame in Rogers, Holtz and Spurrier. Carolina has 17 bowl appearances, with a 5-12 record.

Program History[]

Early Days of Carolina Football[]

Carolina fielded its first football team in 1892 to play against Furman on Christmas Eve in Charleston. The football team was not sanctioned by the University and had to pay its own train fare as well as buy its own uniforms. They were nicknamed the "College Boys" by The News and Courier and their supporters wore garnet and black. The team lost the game because of their inexperience and lack of training.[1]

USC won its first game during the third season of the sport on November 2, 1895 against Columbia AA. The football team got its first head coach, W.H. "Dixie" Whaley, the following year, and the 1896 season also saw the inaugural game against archrival Clemson on November 12, which Carolina won 12–6. From 1902-03, coach C. R. Williams led the Gamecocks to an impressive 14-3 record, which included the program's first 8-win season. The Board of Trustees banned participation in football for the 1906 season after the faculty complained about the coarseness of chants yelled by the students at football games. However, the board was so harassed by petitions from the students and alumni that it voted to allow the resumption of the sport in 1907. A hastily assembled football team, coached by Board of Trustees member Douglas McKay, competed in an abbreviated season and won all three games it played.[2]

From 1928-1934, coach Billy Laval led the Gamecocks to seven consecutive winning seasons and a 39-26-6 overall record, which included a perfect 3-0 Southern Conference campaign in 1933. Under coach Rex Enright, the Gamecocks produced another undefeated Southern Conference season, going 4-0-1 in 1941. Enright gave up coaching duties in 1955 due to health reasons, but remained as Athletic Director. He retired with the distinction of being both the winningest and losingest coach in school history (64-69-7). Warren Giese was hired as head coach in 1956, and he led the Gamecocks to a 28-21-1 overall record in his 5-year tenure. The Giese era included two 7-3 campaigns (1956 and 1958), an 18-15-1 ACC record, and a 27-21 victory over Darrell Royal's 1957 Texas squad in Austin. Marvin Bass was named head coach in 1961, and his 5-year tenure produced a 17-29-4 overall record.

Paul Dietzel Era (1966-1974)[]

Paul Dietzel arrived in Columbia prior to the 1966 season, having previously coached at LSU and Army. In 1969, he led the Gamecocks to an ACC championship and an appearance in the Peach Bowl. As a result, Dietzel was named ACC Coach of the Year that season. Soon after, South Carolina left the ACC and became an Independent program prior to the 1971 season.[3] Dietzel finished his USC tenure with a 42-53-1 overall record (18-10-1 ACC). In addition to the 1969 ACC title, Dietzel's legacies at Carolina include his improvement of athletic facilities and his penning of a new fight song, which is still used to this day (The Fighting Gamecocks Lead the Way).

Jim Carlen Era (1975-1981)[]

Jim Carlen took over as coach in 1975, and under his leadership the program achieved a measure of national prominence. Carlen led the Gamecocks to three bowl games, coached 1980 Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers, and produced a 45-36-1 record during his tenure.[3] The Carlen Era included consecutive 8-4 finishes (1979–1980) and only one losing season in seven years. In addition, the 1980 Gamecocks defeated a heavily favored Michigan squad coached by the legendary Bo Schembechler. The 17-14 victory in Ann Arbor, which made Rogers a household name, was one of the biggest wins in both the Carlen Era and the program's history.

Joe Morrison Era (1983-1988)[]

Joe Morrison was hired in 1983 following a one-year stint by Richard Bell. After a 5-6 mark in his first year, the "Man in Black" led South Carolina to a 10-2 record, #11 final AP Poll ranking, and a Gator Bowl appearance in 1984. The 1984 season included victories over Georgia, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Florida State, and Clemson. In 1987, the Gamecocks posted an 8-4 record, #15 Final AP Poll ranking, and another Gator Bowl trip. The 1987 Gamecocks were led by the "Fire Ant" defense, which held seven opponents to 10 or fewer points and yielded just 141 points in 12 games played. Morrison coached his last game in the 1988 Liberty Bowl, as he died on February 5, 1989 at the age of 51. He finished his USC tenure with a 39-28-2 overall record, three bowl games, and three seasons with 8 or more wins.[3] Due to his on-field success and "Man in Black" image, Morrison remains a popular figure in Gamecock lore.

Woods and Scott Eras (1989-1993, 1994-1998)[]

Following Morrison's death, Sparky Woods was hired as head coach in 1989 and coached the Gamecocks until the end of the 1993 season. He posted winning seasons in 1989 and 1990, but could not produce another winning campaign during his tenure. Woods has the distinction of being South Carolina's first head coach in SEC play, as the Gamecocks entered the conference in 1992. Brad Scott took over as head coach in 1994 and led USC to a 7-5 record and a Carquest Bowl victory in his first season. The bowl win was the first post-season victory in the program's history. Scott was unable to capitalize on his early success, however, as USC won only six games during his final two seasons in Columbia.[3]

Lou Holtz Era (1999-2004)[]

Lou Holtz was hired as South Carolina's head coach in 1999. He inherited a relatively young SEC program (joined in 1992) that posted only three winning seasons from 1990-1998. USC won just a single game the year before Holtz's arrival and, subsequently, went 0-11 in his inaugural campaign. It didn't take long for Holtz to improve the Gamecocks' fortunes, however, as he engineered 8-4 and 9-3 records in the 2000 and 2001 seasons. In addition, South Carolina won consecutive Outback Bowls over Ohio State and produced the most successful two-year run in program history (at the time), going 17-7 overall and 10-6 in SEC play. The 2000 and 2001 campaigns also saw USC's return to the polls, as the Gamecocks turned in #19 and #13 rankings in the Final AP ballotings for those years. After consecutive 5-7 finishes in 2002 and 2003 (during which the team was ranked in the Top 25 during the season both years), Holtz ended his South Carolina tenure on a winning note with a 6-5 record in 2004. Holtz finished with a 33-37 overall record at South Carolina, going 33-26 after his first season.[3]

In 2005, USC was placed on 3-year probation by the NCAA for actions during the coaching tenure of Lou Holtz, all of which were self-reported by the school. Five of these actions were considered major violations, and included such activities as impermissible tutoring and non-voluntary summer workouts as well as a "lack of institutional control".[4] Coach Holtz pointed out following the close of the investigation, "There was no money involved. No athletes were paid. There were no recruiting inducements. No cars. No jobs offered. No ticket scandal, etc."[5]

Steve Spurrier Era (2005-Present)[]

Steve Spurrier was hired in 2005 to replace the departing Holtz, and he led the Gamecocks to a 7-5 record and Independence Bowl appearance in his first season. As a result, Spurrier was named the 2005 SEC Coach of the Year. The 2006 season saw continued success under Spurrier, as the Gamecocks posted an 8-5 record and a victory over Houston in the Liberty Bowl. South Carolina posted consecutive 7-6 records in 2008 and 2009, returning to postseason play with appearances in the Outback Bowl and PapaJohns.com Bowl. No other coach in the program's history has led the program to four bowl games as coach.[3]

In 2010, Spurrier scored another first with the first SEC Eastern Division Championship in school history. On November 13, 2010, the Gamecocks defeated Florida 36-14 to clinch the division. Prior to this contest, South Carolina had an all-time record of 0-12 at The Swamp. Freshman RB Marcus Lattimore rushed for 212 yards and 3 touchdowns in the game. Spurrier got his first win in Gainesville as a Gamecock, received a "Gatorade Bath" from his players, and became the first coach to win the SEC East with two different teams. Earlier in the season, the Gamecocks posted the first win over a #1 team in program history, with a 35-21 victory over top-ranked, defending national champion Alabama.

In 2011, Spurrier led South Carolina to its most successful season in program history. The Gamecocks posted an 11-2 overall record, went 6-2 in SEC play, and defeated #20 Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl to earn Final Top 10 rankings in the AP and Coaches' Polls (#9 and #8, respectively). Along the way, Carolina defeated Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, and Clemson, the first time in program history that the Gamecocks beat the "Big 4" in consecutive seasons. Through the 2011 season, Spurrier has a 55-35 overall record as head coach of the Gamecocks.

USC was investigated in 2011-12 by the NCAA after it came to light that student-athletes (including some football players) had received an estimated $59,000 in impermissible benefits, mainly the result of discounted living expenses at a local hotel. The school imposed its own punishment, paying $18,500 in fines and cutting three football scholarships in each of the 2013 and 2014 seasons.[6] The school also reduced its official visits for the 2012-13 year, from 56 to 30. The NCAA ruled this self-imposed punishment as adequate, stating that “the violations were limited in scope” and “there was no unethical conduct in this case”, and went on to praise the school's handling of the affair, with the chairman of the NCAA infractions committee stating, “This has been one of the best cases I have seen from a process standpoint...In this case, it was obvious to the committee that the university wanted to get to the truth." The commissioner went on to state that USC “wanted to ask all the hard questions of all the right people and, in some cases, they even went beyond what the NCAA staff was doing."[7]

In 2012, Steve Spurrier once again led his South Carolina football team to double digit wins during the course of the regular season. The 2012 regular season culminated with the annual season-ending game against arch rival Clemson at Clemson's Memorial Stadium. Spurrier and his Gamecocks emerged with a fourth consecutive double-digit victory over the Tigers - a victory which was marked by Spurrier winning his 65th game at Carolina and, in doing so, becoming the winningest coach in Gamecock football history surpassing Rex Enright's 64 win total.

Current Coaching Staff[]

Name Position
Steve Spurrier Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Lorenzo Ward Defensive Coordinator
Kirk Botkin Linebackers Coach
Grady Brown Secondary Coach
Shawn Elliott Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach
Brad Lawing Defensive Line Coach
G.A. Mangus Quarterbacks Coach
Joe Robinson Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach
Everette Sands Running Backs Coach
Steve Spurrier, Jr. Receivers Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
Joe Connolly Strength & Conditioning Coach

Primary Rivalries[]

  • Clemson – The Carolina-Clemson Rivalry is the largest sporting event in the state of South Carolina. Clemson holds a 65-41-4 lead in the series, which dates back to 1896, but many of the contests have gone down to the wire.[8] From 1896-1959, the Carolina-Clemson game was played in Columbia and referred to as "Big Thursday." Since 1960, the game has alternated between both teams' home stadiums and has become known as the "Palmetto Bowl." The last 6 match-ups between the schools have been nationally televised (3 on ESPN, 3 on ESPN2).
  • Georgia – The South Carolina-Georgia Rivalry, South Carolina's "border rivalry" with Georgia dates back to 1894. While the Bulldogs got off to a fast start in the series and hold a 46-17-2 lead, the Gamecocks have kept the series interesting recently with hotly contested games (4 out of the last 7 match-ups have been decided by a touchdown or less).[9] One of the most memorable games was the 1980 matchup between Heisman Trophy hopefuls George Rogers and Herschel Walker. Led by Walker's 219 rushing yards, Georgia won 13-10 and would go on to capture the National Championship. Rogers turned in 168 rushing yards in the contest, setting the stage for a successful finish to his Heisman Trophy campaign. The last 15 match-ups between the schools have been nationally televised, dating back to 1997 (6 on ESPN2, 5 on ESPN and 4 on CBS).

Secondary Rivalries[]

  • Arkansas – The annual meeting with the Razorbacks began in 1992 when both programs entered the SEC. Despite playing in different divisions (East and West), South Carolina and Arkansas were permanent opponents under the conference's scheduling structure. The rivalry started when former Clemson head coach Danny Ford took over as Arkansas head coach in 1993. It has continued since the annual contest is usually crucial in terms of bowl aspirations. The rivalry became more intense when Lou Holtz took over at USC in 1999, as he had formerly been the head coach for Arkansas. Arkansas holds a 13-8 lead in the series.[10]
  • Florida – The USC-Florida rivalry (along with the UK-USC and UT-USC rivalries) is the most recent addition to Carolina's rivalries. However, this rivalry is considered more intense than USC-UK or UT-USC because Steve Spurrier was UF's first national championship coach but turned down an opportunity to interview for the job when it became open again in 2005. Also, that year, USC spoiled Florida's SEC championship hopes by upsetting them in Columbia, adding fuel to the fire. In 2010, Carolina clinched the SEC Eastern Division title with a 36-14 win in Gainesville. Florida holds a 23-6-3 lead in the series.[11]
  • Tennessee – The game is played on Halloween weekend every year and is thus known as the "Halloween Game". The USC-UT rivalry also stems from Spurrier's arrival at USC. Spurrier made many detrimental comments about UT's football program while head coach at Florida, and Tennessee fans have not forgotten. 3 of the 6 UT-USC matchups during Spurrier's tenure at USC have been decided by a touchdown or less. The all-time record in the series is 22-6-2 in favor of Tennessee.[12] Three of USC's wins have come from Spurrier-coached teams. The last five match-ups have been broadcast on national television (3 on ESPN, 2 on ESPN2) and 4 out of the last 5 times, one team has been ranked in the Top 25 at the time of the game (#17 and #21 for USC, #25 and #8 for UT).

Intermittent Rivalries[]

  • NC State – The game against NC State was the season finale until the Clemson game was moved from "Big Thursday" after 1959. The series dates back to 1900, with the Gamecocks holding a slight 27-26-4 edge.[13] The 1960s were the most heated of the rivalry with the series tied at 4-4-1 during that decade. These programs continued to meet annually from 1968 through 1991. However, there have been only three meetings since South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992, all of which have been televised on ESPN. The Gamecocks lost 10-0 in Raleigh in 1999, but got revenge with a 34-0 home victory in 2008. The most recent matchup in 2009 was competitive, with South Carolina winning 7-3 in Raleigh.
  • North Carolina – The genesis of this border rivalry exists between the states' two flagship Universities due to their old ACC connection and prior. The rivalry itself dates back to 1903. The Tar Heels hold a 34-17-4 lead in the series, but the Gamecocks have won ten of the last fifteen games in the series.[14] The two programs have met eleven times since South Carolina's departure from the ACC in 1971, with the Gamecocks holding a 6-5 lead during that span of time. Their most recent meeting was a 21-15 victory for the Gamecocks, televised on ABC in 2007, which is the only meeting since South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992. The intensity of the rivalry, when it is played, finds its roots in South Carolina's membership and eventual departure from the ACC in 1971, after South Carolina expressed a certain "frustration" when dealing with what is commonly known as the "Tobacco Road" hierarchy of the ACC. Thus, the rivalry maintains its intensity, when played, particularly with older fans of the two Carolinas' programs and despite the teams rarely meeting on the field. South Carolina administrators have made well-documented, and repeated, attempts to renew the old rivalry on a regular basis. North Carolina administrators have repeatedly scoffed at such overtures from the Gamecocks, citing non-conference scheduling constraints as their reason for their refusals to renew of the series.

Bowl games[]

Date Bowl W/L Opponent PF PA Head Coach
January 1, 1946 Gator L Wake Forest 14 26 McMillan
December 30, 1969 Peach L West Virginia 3 14 Dietzel
December 20, 1975 Tangerine L Miami (OH) 7 20 Carlen
December 20, 1979 Hall of Fame Classic L Missouri 14 24 Carlen
December 29, 1980 Gator L Pittsburgh 9 37 Carlen
December 28, 1984 Gator L Oklahoma State 14 21 Morrison
December 31, 1987 Gator L LSU 13 31 Morrison
December 28, 1988 Liberty L Indiana 10 34 Morrison
January 2, 1995 Carquest W West Virginia 24 21 Scott
January 1, 2001 Outback W Ohio State 24 7 Holtz
January 1, 2002 Outback W Ohio State 31 28 Holtz
December 30, 2005 Independence L Missouri 31 38 Spurrier
December 29, 2006 Liberty W Houston 44 36 Spurrier
January 1, 2009 Outback L Iowa 10 31 Spurrier
January 2, 2010 PapaJohns.com L Connecticut 7 20 Spurrier
December 31, 2010 Chick-fil-A L Florida State 17 26 Spurrier
January 2, 2012 Capital One W Nebraska 30 13 Spurrier
Total 17 Bowl Games 5-12 302 427

Championships/Notable Seasons[]

1969 ACC Champions[]

In 1969, the Gamecocks won the ACC Championship by going undefeated in conference play. In its six ACC matchups, South Carolina outscored its opponents by a 130-61 margin. The squad posted a 7-4 overall record with a Peach Bowl appearance against West Virginia to close the season (14-3 loss). Two years later, South Carolina left the ACC and competed as an Independent for two decades before joining the SEC in 1992.

1984 -- "Black Magic"[]

Led by Coach Morrison, the 1984 Gamecocks became the first team in school history to win 10 games (10-2 record) and were ranked as high as #2 in the polls.. The Gamecocks finished #11 in the Final AP Poll. Along the way, they defeated Georgia, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Florida State, and Clemson to earn an appearance in the Gator Bowl against Oklahoma State (21-14 loss). At the time, the #11 final ranking was the highest ever achieved by South Carolina.

2010 SEC East Champions[]

In 2010, the Gamecocks won their first SEC Eastern Division Championship, going 5-3 in conference play.[15] For the first time in school history, they defeated the #1 ranked team in the country (Alabama) and won at Florida in the division-clinching game.[15] The season also included victories over division foes Georgia, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt as well as instate Atlantic Coast Conference rival Clemson.[15]

2011 -- "11 Wins"[]

Led by Coach Spurrier, the 2011 Gamecocks achieved its most wins in a single season and finished in the Top 10 for the first time in program history. Carolina posted an 11-2 overall record, went 6-2 in SEC play, and won the Capital One Bowl to finish #9/8 in the Final AP and Coaches' Polls (respectively). Along the way, South Carolina defeated Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, and Clemson to extend its winning streak over its biggest rivals to 3 games. This was also the first season that South Carolina posted a 5-0 record against their Eastern division opponents.

Program Achievements[]

SEC East Champions 2010
ACC Champions 1969
Heisman Trophy 1980
Final Top 25 (AP) 1958, 1984, 1987, 2000, 2001, 2010, 2011
Final Top 25 (Coaches) 1984, 1987, 2000, 2001, 2010, 2011
Bowl Victories* 1994, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2011
  • Years listed for Bowl victories are seasons for which they occurred.

Award winners[]

  • Southern Conference Player of the Year

College Football Hall of Famers[]

Inductee Position(s) Class Year(s)
George Rogers Running back 1997 1977–1980
Lou Holtz Head coach 2008 1999–2004
Steve Spurrier Head coach 1986 2005–present

George Rogers Wins the Heisman[]

South Carolina's 1980 season was headlined by senior running back George Rogers ("Big George"), who led the nation in rushing with 1,894 yards. For his efforts, the Downtown Athletic Club named Rogers the winner of the 1980 Heisman Trophy award. Rogers beat out an impressive group of players, including Georgia running back Herschel Walker. Rogers also earned spots on eight All-American teams, all First-team honors. Behind the Rogers-led rushing attack, the Gamecocks went 8-4 overall and earned an appearance in the Gator Bowl. Rogers is also the recipient of the 1980 Chic Harley Award, the 2004 Walter Camp Alumni of the Year award, a Pro-Bowl selection, an SEC Football Legend, a Super Bowl champion and an NFL Rookie of the Year.

Syvelle Newton Joins the "600 Club"[]

From 2003 to 2006, Syvelle Newton played multiple positions for the Gamecocks and left his mark on the national record books in the process. He became one of only four players in college football history to record 600+ yards passing, rushing, and receiving (each) in a collegiate career.[16] In Newton's four seasons, he posted 2,474 passing yards (20 TD, 13 INT), 786 rushing yards (10 TD), and 673 receiving yards (3 TD). He also returned 6 kickoffs for 115 yards (19.2 average) and made 18 tackles and an assisted sack in limited defensive action.

Gamecock Traditions[]

  • "Fighting Gamecock Logo – South Carolina's helmet, regardless of color, has featured a fighting gamecock since 1969. This bird, which includes metal spurs, is usually featured inside the often maligned Block C but is also becoming more common by itself. Either way, the fighting gamecock logo is still one of the most unique and recognizable in all of college sports.[17]
  • "2001" Entrance – The Gamecocks' enter Williams-Brice Stadium to the introduction of "Also sprach Zarathustra", which is popularly known for the inclusion of its introduction in the Stanley Kubrick film, "2001: A Space Odyssey". This tradition began, on a consistent basis, in 1983. It was an immediate hit with South Carolina fans and has long been considered one of the most exciting, and loudest, entrances in college football. Sporting News has called it "the most exciting pre-game entry in college football."[18]
  • "Carolina" and "Gamecocks" on Jersey – South Carolina has featured the script "Carolina" and "Gamecocks" on the front of its jersey, intermittently, since coach Jim Carlen's arrival in 1975. While it used "Gamecocks" for much of the 1980s and early 1990s, it has solely used "Carolina" on its jersey since the late 1990s.
  • Cockaboose Railroad – In 1990, cabooses renovated in Gamecock colors and decor became part of the already famous South Carolina tailgate scene. They sit on a dormant railroad track just yards from Williams-Brice Stadium and have taken on a life of their own, in terms of parties on game days. The Cockaboose Railroad has contributed to Carolina's gameday atmosphere being named "Best in the SEC" twice by SECsports.com.[19]
  • S.C. Flag and Palmetto Tree/Crescent – Due to being South Carolina's flagship university, USC prominently displays the state flag and Palmetto Tree/Crescent logo on game days. In addition to players entering the field with the state flag during "2001," the stadium's playing surface often displays garnet and white Palmetto Tree/Crescent logos.[20]
  • "If It Ain't Swayin', Then We Ain't Playin" – Originating from a Joe Morrison comment about the reported "swaying" of the Williams-Brice Stadium upper deck during a 38-14 win over Southern California, this has become a slogan for Carolina fans, who (according to ESPN) have become some of the loudest fans in college football. "The Cockpit" has been named by ESPN as the #25 toughest place to play in college football.[21]
  • Sir Big Spur – Sir Big Spur (originally called Cocky Doodle Lou), the university's official live gamecock, attends USC football and baseball games.
  • Cocky – Cocky has been the USC mascot since 1980. Cocky is the four-time "national champion," five-time "All-American" mascot & 2003 winner of the Capital One National Mascot of the Year for the Gamecocks. The "son" of Carolina's original mascot Big Spur, Cocky appears at every USC home football contest, making a "magical" appearance at the climax of the 2001 opening sequence.[22]
  • Sandstorm – The most recent tradition involves the song Sandstorm by Darude, which began to be played in October 2006. The song is played mostly when USC is the defending team, especially when they have just scored and are kicking the ball to the other team; in this case, the song is stopped when the kicker makes contact with the football. As the song is played, fans wave white and garnet towels, called "Cocky Cloths", over their heads." [23]

Logos and uniforms[]

In the 2009 season, South Carolina wore a special uniform against Florida in support of the Wounded Warrior Project.[24]

In the 2011 season, South Carolina wore special uniforms against Auburn in support of the Wounded Warrior Project.[24]

In the 2012 season, South Carolina wore special uniforms against LSU in support of the Wounded Warrior Project.[24]

Retired numbers[]

Steve Wadiak
Steve Wadiak
HB
Retired Number 37 1948-51
Mike Johnson
Mike Johnson
C
Retired Number 56 1964
George Rogers
George Rogers
HB
Retired Number 38 1977-80
Sterling Sharpe
Sterling Sharpe
WR
Retired Number 2 1983-1985-87

Gamecocks in the NFL[]

Future non-conference opponents[]

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
vs North Carolina vs East Carolina at East Carolina vs Georgia Tech at Georgia Tech
vs S.C. State vs Furman vs Central Florida vs East Carolina
at Central Florida vs Troy vs The Citadel
vs Clemson at Clemson vs Clemson at Clemson vs Clemson at Clemson vs Clemson at Clemson vs Clemson at Clemson

[25]

References[]

  1. Hollis, Daniel Walker (1956). University of South Carolina. II. University of South Carolina Press. pp. 189–190
  2. Hollis, Daniel Walker (1956). University of South Carolina. II. University of South Carolina Press. pp. 229–230
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 South Carolina Gamecocks 2010 Football Media Guide
  4. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2107170
  5. Three years of probation for South Carolina
  6. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/ncaa/04/27/south-carolina-ncaa.ap/index.html?sct=cf_t2_a3
  7. USC’s self-imposed sanctions satisfy NCAA
  8. South Carolina vs Clemson
  9. South Carolina vs Georgia
  10. South Carolina vs Arkansas
  11. South Carolina vs Florida
  12. South Carolina vs Tennessee
  13. South Carolina vs North Carolina St.
  14. South Carolina vs North Carolina
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 Haney, Travis (4 December 2010). "Surprise season continues for Gamecocks and their fans". Herald Online. http://www.heraldonline.com/2010/12/04/2662864/surprise-season-continues-for.html. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  16. Newton putting up numbers in AFL, eyes shot in NFL
  17. Helmet Project - Southeastern Conference
  18. Gamecock Traditions
  19. Gamecock Traditions
  20. Gamecock Traditions
  21. The 50 Greatest Traditions in College Football
  22. History and Biography of Cocky
  23. USC students, fans make "Sandstorm" their unofficial anthem
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 Gamecocks support wounded warriors
  25. "South Carolina Gamecocks Football Schedules and Future Schedules". fbschedules.com. http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa/sec/south-carolina-gamecocks.php. Retrieved 2012-02-26.

External links[]


This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at South Carolina Gamecocks.
The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with American Football Database, the text of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

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