South Carolina Gamecocks

South Carolina Gamecocks
Current season: 2023 South Carolina Gamecocks
First season	1892
Athletic director	Ray Tanner
Head coach	Shane Beamer
	2nd year, 15–11 (.577)
Home stadium	Williams-Brice Stadium
Stadium capacity	77,559
Stadium surface	Grass
Location	Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Conference	SEC (1992–present)
Division	SEC Eastern Division
Past conferences	Independent (1892–1921) SoCon (1922–1952) ACC (1953–1970) Independent (1971–1991)
All-time history
All-time record	630–605–44 (.510)
Postseason bowl record	10–15 (.400)
Conference titles	1 (1969 ACC)
Division titles	1 (2010 SEC East)
Rivalries	Clemson (rivalry) Georgia (rivalry) North Carolina (rivalry) Missouri (rivalry) Tennessee (rivalry)
Heisman winners	1 (George Rogers)
Consensus All-Americans	6
Current uniform
Colors	Garnet, Black, and White
Fight song	The Fighting Gamecocks Lead the Way
Marching band	Mighty Sound of the Southeast
Outfitter	Under Armour
Website	GamecocksOnline.com

The South Carolina Gamecocks are a member of the NCAA FBS Southeastern Conference, playing their home games at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. The Gamecocks are currently coached by Shane Beamer.

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 two wins over Top-5 SEC opponents (No. 4 Ole Miss in 2009 and No. 1 Alabama in 2010).

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 1890 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.

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.

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. 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. 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. 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.

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.

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". 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."

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.

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. 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."

Conference affiliations

South Carolina has affiliated with three conferences and twice been an independent.

• Independent (1892–1921)
• Southern Conference (1922–1952)
• Atlantic Coast Conference (1953–1970)
• Independent (1971–1991)
• Southeastern Conference (1992–present)

Current Coaching Staff

Name	Position
Shane Beamer	Head Coach
Pete Lembo	Associate Head Coach / Special Teams Coordinator
Dowell Loggains	Offensive Coordinator Quarterbacks
Justin Stepp	Wide Receivers
Montario Hardesty	Running Backs
Jody White	Tight Ends
Lonnie Teasley	Offensive Line
Clayton White	Defensive Coordinator Inside Linebackers
Travian Robertson	Defensive Line
Sterling Lucas	Defensive Ends / Outside Linebackers
Torrian Gray	Defensive Backs
Jeff Dillman	Director of Strength & Conditioning

Head Coaches/Results

Name	Years	Seasons	W	L	T	Win Pct.
No coach	1892–1895	4	1	4	0	.200
W. H. Whaley	1896	1	1	3	0	.250
W.P. Murphy	1897	1	0	3	0	.000
W. Wertenbaker	1898	1	1	2	0	.333
I. O. Hunt	1899–1900	2	6	6	0	.500
B. W. Dickson	1901	1	3	4	0	.429
C. R. Williams	1902–1903	2	14	3	0	.824
Christie Benet	1904–1905 1908–1909	4	13	16	3	.453
Douglas McKay	1907	1	3	0	0	1.000
John H. Neff	1910–1911	2	5	8	2	.400
N. B. Edgerton	1912–1915	4	19	13	3	.586
Rice Warren	1916	1	3	6	0	.333
Dixon Foster	1917 1919	2	4	12	1	.265
Frank Dobson	1918	1	2	1	1	.625
Sol Metzger	1920–1924	5	26	18	2	.587
Branch Bocock	1925–1926	2	13	7	0	.650
Harry Lightsey	1927	1	4	5	0	.444
Billy Laval	1928–1934	7	39	26	6	.592
Don McCallister	1935–1937	3	13	20	1	.397
Rex Enright	1938–1942 1946–1955	15	64	69	7	.482
J. P. Moran	1943	1	5	2	0	.714
William Newton	1944	1	3	4	2	.444
Johnnie McMillan	1945	1	2	4	3	.389
Warren Giese	1956–1960	5	28	21	1	.570
Marvin Bass	1961–1965	5	17	29	4	.380
Paul Dietzel	1966–1974	9	42	53	1	.443
Jim Carlen	1975–1981	7	45	36	1	.555
Richard Bell	1982	1	4	7	0	.364
Joe Morrison	1983–1988	6	39	28	2	.580
Sparky Woods	1989–1993	5	24	28	3	.464
Brad Scott	1994–1998	5	23	32	1	.420
Lou Holtz	1999–2004	6	33	37	0	.471
Steve Spurrier	2005–2015	11	86	49	0	.637
Shawn Elliott (interim)	2015	1	1	5	0	.167
Will Muschamp	2016–present	4	26	25	0	.510

 

Year-by-year results

• Main article: List of South Carolina Gamecocks football seasons

Primary Rivalries

• Clemson – The Carolina-Clemson Rivalry is the largest sporting event in the state of South Carolina. Clemson holds a 65-40-4 lead in the series, which dates back to 1896, but many of the contests have gone down to the wire. 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 46-16-2 lead, the Gamecocks have kept the series interesting recently with hotly contested games (4 out of the last 6 match-ups have been decided by a touchdown or less). 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 14 match-ups between the schools have been nationally televised, dating back to 1997 (6 on ESPN2, 4 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 are 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 13-7 lead in the series.

• 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.

• 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. 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).

• Kentucky – As members of the SEC's Eastern division, South Carolina plays Kentucky on a yearly basis. The rivalry stems from Steve Spurrier's arrival as head coach at USC. Spurrier never lost to the Wildcats while at Florida, much to the detriment of UK fans. The Gamecocks own a 15-7-1 series lead and won 10 straight games from 2000-2009. Despite South Carolina’s recent dominance, the matchup with Kentucky has been highlighted by numerous close games. 4 of the 7 USC-UK matchups during Spurrier's tenure at USC have been decided by a touchdown or less.

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. 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 – South Carolina's rivalry with its old ACC foe North Carolina dates back to 1903. The Tar Heels hold a 34-17-4 lead in the series, but the Gamecocks have won ten out of their last fifteen games. The two programs have met eleven times since South Carolina left the ACC in 1971, with the Gamecocks holding a 6-5 lead in those games. Their most recent meeting was a 21-15 victory for the Gamecocks televised on ABC in 2007, which is the only time they have met since South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992. The intensity of the rivalry comes from South Carolina's frustration with the "Tobacco Road" schools which caused South Carolina's departure from the ACC in 1971. This is why the rivalry maintains its intensity, particularly with older fans of the two Carolinas, despite the teams rarely meeting on the field.

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
January 1, 2013	Outback	W	Michigan	33	28	Spurrier
January 1, 2014	Capital One	W	Wisconsin	34	24	Spurrier
December 27, 2014	Independence	W	Miami (FL)	24	21	Spurrier
Total	20 Bowl Games	8-12		393	500

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 peaked at #2 in the country. 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. 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. The season also included victories over division foes Georgia, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt as well as instate Atlantic Coast Conference rival Clemson.

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

• Heisman Trophy
  • George Rogers - 1980

• Chic Harley Award
  • George Rogers - 1980

• Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award
  • Joe Morrison - 1984

• Southern Conference Player of the Year
  • Steve Wadiak - 1950

• Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year
  • Paul Dietzel - 1969

• Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year
  • Alex Hawkins - 1958
  • Billy Gambrell - 1962

• Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year
  • Lou Holtz - 2000
  • Steve Spurrier - 2005, 2010

• Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year
  • Steve Taneyhill - 1992
  • Marcus Lattimore - 2010
  • Jadeveon Clowney - 2011

• Walter Camp Alumni of the Year
  • George Rogers - 2004

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	2005–2015

George Rogers Wins the Heisman

• Main article: George Rogers

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"

• Main article: Syvelle Newton

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. 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.

Logos/Uniforms

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

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

Image gallery

Gamecock Traditions

• "Block C" Helmet Logo – South Carolina's helmet, regardless of color, has featured the "Block C" logo since 1975. The logo consists of a garnet Gamecock inside a black letter "C," which stands for Carolina. This logo, which is used throughout the athletic department, is one of the most unique and recognizable in all of college sports.

• "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."

• "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.

• 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.

• "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.

• Sir Big Spur – Sir Big Spur (originally called Cocky Doodle Lou), the university's official live gamecock, attends USC football and baseball games. Sir Big Spur is a college football celebrity: in the last 5 years alone, he has appeared on national television 15 times.

• Cocky – Cocky has been the USC mascot since 1980. Cocky is the four-time "national champion" and five-time "All-American" mascot of 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.
• 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 over their heads either their shirt or a "Gamecock Spirit Rag."

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 currently in the NFL

• John Abraham — Atlanta Falcons
• Ladi Ajiboye — Seattle Seahawks
• Antonio Allen — New York Jets
• Fred Bennett — Arizona Cardinals
• Jasper Brinkley — Minnesota Vikings
• Sheldon Brown — Cleveland Browns
• Garrett Chisolm — Carolina Panthers
• Jared Cook — Tennessee Titans
• Emanuel Cook — Baltimore Ravens
• Chris Culliver — San Francisco 49ers
• Clifton Geathers — Dallas Cowboys
• Stephon Gilmore — Buffalo Bills
• Na'Shan Goddard — New Orleans Saints
• André Goodman — Denver Broncos
• Tori Gurley — Green Bay Packers
• Melvin Ingram — San Diego Chargers
• Lemuel Jeanpierre — Seattle Seahawks
• Alshon Jeffery — Chicago Bears
• Johnathan Joseph — Houston Texans
• Jarriel King — Seattle Seahawks
• Spencer Lanning — Jacksonville Jaguars
• Lance Laury — New York Jets
• Cliff Matthews — Atlanta Falcons
• Jamon Meredith — Pittsburgh Steelers
• Captain Munnerlyn — Carolina Panthers
• Jamar Nesbit — New Orleans Saints
• Eric Norwood — Carolina Panthers
• Sidney Rice — Seattle Seahawks
• Travian Robertson — Atlanta Falcons
• Dunta Robinson — Atlanta Falcons
• Weslye Saunders — Pittsburgh Steelers
• Ko Simpson — Detroit Lions
• Shaun Smith — Tennessee Titans
• Darian Stewart — St. Louis Rams
• Ryan Succop - Kansas City Chiefs
• Rokevious Watkins — St. Louis Rams
• Travelle Wharton — Carolina Panthers
• Troy Williamson — Jacksonville Jaguars
• Rod Wilson — Chicago Bears
• Stoney Woodson — Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Seasons

2020s

Season	Coach	Record
2023	Shane Beamer
2022	Shane Beamer	8-5
2021	Shane Beamer	7-6
2020	Will Muschamp'; Mike Bobo	2-8

2010s

Season	Coach	Record
2019	Will Muschamp	4-8
2018	Will Muschamp	7-6
2017	Will Muschamp	9-4
2016	Will Muschamp	6-7
2015	Steve Spurrier; Shawn Elliott	3-9
2014	Steve Spurrier	7-6
2013	Steve Spurrier	11-2
2012	Steve Spurrier	11-2
2011	Steve Spurrier	11-2
2010	Steve Spurrier	9-5

2000s

Season	Coach	Record
2009	Steve Spurrier	7-6
2008	Steve Spurrier	7-6
2007	Steve Spurrier	6-6
2006	Steve Spurrier	8-5
2005	Steve Spurrier	7-5
2004	Lou Holtz	6-5
2003	Lou Holtz	5-7
2002	Lou Holtz	5-7
2001	Lou Holtz	9-3
2000	Lou Holtz	8-4

1990s

Season	Coach	Record
1999	Lou Holtz	0-11
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990

External Links

• South Carolina Gamecocks football article at Wikipedia
• Official team site