2008 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

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2008 South Carolina Gamecocks football
South Carolina Gamecocks logo.svg
Outback Bowl, L 10–31 vs. Iowa
Conference Southeastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
Record7–6 (4–4 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive scheme Multiple
Defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson (1st season)
Base defense 4–2–5
Home stadium Williams-Brice Stadium
Seasons
  2007
2009  
2008 Southeastern Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
Eastern Division
No. 1 Florida x$#  7 1   13 1  
No. 13 Georgia  6 2   10 3  
Vanderbilt  4 4   7 6  
South Carolina  4 4   7 6  
Tennessee  3 5   5 7  
Kentucky  2 6   7 6  
Western Division
No. 6 Alabama x%  8 0   12 2  
No. 14 Ole Miss  5 3   9 4  
LSU  3 5   8 5  
Arkansas  2 6   5 7  
Auburn  2 6   5 7  
Mississippi State  2 6   4 8  
Championship: Florida 31, Alabama 20
  • # BCS National Champion
  • $ BCS representative as conference champion
  • % BCS at-large representative
  • x Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2008 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Steve Spurrier, who served his fourth season at USC. The Gamecocks played their home games at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. The team compiled a record of 7–6. [1]

Contents

South Carolina had the top defense in the country by October, [2] [3] but also three different starting quarterbacks and one of the worst offensive lines in the country throughout the year. [4] [3] [5] [6] After Tommy Beecher sustained a poor performance and injury in the season-opener against NC State, the team's offense alternated mainly between quarterbacks Chris Smelley and Stephen Garcia. [4] [3] [5] [7] The Gamecocks nearly upset No. 2 Georgia and defending national champion No. 13 LSU, but fell short in both games. [8] [9]

Preseason

Carolina had their first spring practice on March 21, 2008. It was the first of 15 spring practice sessions for the Gamecocks, who returned 54 lettermen in Steve Spurrier's fourth season. The annual Garnet & Black Spring Game was scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Saturday, April 19.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 288:00 pm NC State * ESPN W 34–080,616
September 48:30 pmat Vanderbilt No. 24ESPNL 17–2436,850
September 133:30 pmNo. 2 Georgia
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC (rivalry)
CBS L 7–1483,704
September 207:00 pm Wofford *
  • Williams-Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
PPV W 23–1376,599
September 277:00 pm UAB *
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
PPVW 26–1378,286
October 42:00 pmat Ole Miss PPVW 31–2454,628
October 1112:30 pmat Kentucky Raycom W 24–1770,822
October 188:00 pmNo. 13 LSU Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
ESPNL 17–2482,477
November 17:00 pm Tennessee
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC (rivalry)
ESPN2 W 27–681,731
November 81:00 pm Arkansas
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
PPVW 34–2180,290
November 153:30 pmat No. 3 Florida No. 24CBSL 6–5690,646
November 2912:00 pmat Clemson *ESPN2L 14–3181,500
January 111:00 amvs. Iowa *ESPNL 10–3155,117
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[10]

Radio coverage for all games was provided by the Gamecock Sports Radio Network. [11]

Game summaries

North Carolina State

1234Total
Wolfpack00000
Gamecocks03102134

Vanderbilt

1234Total
Gamecocks730717
Commodores0314724

Georgia

1234Total
Bulldogs068014
Gamecocks07007

Wofford

1234Total
Terriers073313
Gamecocks01031023

UAB

1234Total
Blazers330713
Gamecocks10103326

Mississippi

1234Total
Gamecocks3147731
Rebels1470324

Kentucky

1234Total
Gamecocks7701024
Wildcats7100017

LSU

1234Total
Tigers377724
Gamecocks0170017

Tennessee

1234Total
Volunteers00606
Gamecocks7143327

Arkansas

1234Total
Razorbacks077721
Gamecocks10731434

Florida

1234Total
Gamecocks03306
Gators217141456

Clemson

1234Total
Gamecocks077014
Tigers10147031

Players

Depth chart

These are the projected starters and primary backups for the Outback Bowl on January 1, 2009.

Key Committed Freshmen

Antonio Allen – DBAkeem Auguste – DBEric Baker – RBReggie Bowens – LBJarrett Burns – ATHRonald Byrd – DLKenny Davis – DLAramis Hillary – QBT.J. Johnson – OLJarriel King – DLReid McCollum – QBKenneth Miles – RBD.L. Moore – WRDarrell Simmons - DBJay Spearman – DBChaz Sutton – DLDevin Taylor – DLMike Triglia – TECharles Whitlock – DB/WRElliot Williams - OLLaCharles Lindsey - WR

Roster

Wide Receiver
  • 4 Jason Barnes -Freshman
  • 8 Larry Freeman - Sophomore
  • 11 Kenny McKinley - Senior [12]
  • 13 Mark Barnes - Freshman
  • 14 La’Charles Lindsey Freshman
  • 17 Chris Culliver - Sophomore [13]
  • 18 Dion Lecorn - Sophomore
  • 81 Paul Haile - Junior
  • 82 Freddie Brown, III - Junior
  • 83 Scott Spurrier - Junior
  • 85 Joe Hills - Freshman
  • 89 Leon Gamble - Senior
  • 14 LaCharles Lindsey - “Sophomore”
Offensive Lineman
  • 54 Hardee Sanders - Junior
  • 57 Lemuel Jeanpierre - Junior [14]
  • 62 Pierre Andrews - Sophomore
  • 63 Seaver Brown - Sophomore
  • 64 Kevin Young - Sophomore
  • 65 Ryan Broadhead - Freshman
  • 66 Hutch Eckerson - Junior
  • 68 Kyle Nunn - Freshmen
  • 70 Garrett Anderson - Junior
  • 72 Quintin Richardson - Freshman
  • 74 Heath Batchelor - Sophomore
  • 75 Gurminder Thind - Senior
  • 76 Jeremy Burgess - Senior
  • 77 Jamon Meredith - Senior [15]
  • 78 Justin Sorensen - Senior
Tight End
  • 19 Nick Prochak - Sophomore
  • 84 Jared Cook - Junior
  • 87 Alex McGrath - Senior
  • 88 Weslye Saunders - Sophomore
  • 90 Foxy Foxworth - Sophomore
 
Quarterback
  • 5 Stephen Garcia - Freshman
  • 6 Tommy Beecher - Junior
  • 7 Chris Smelley - Sophomore
  • 16 Michael McQueeney - Junior
  • 17 Zac Brindise - Sophomore
Running Back
  • 10 Brian Maddox - Sophomore
  • 22 Bobby Wallace - Junior
  • 20 Taylor Rank - Junior
  • 25 Mike Davis - Senior
Fullback
  • 35 Jim Hutton - Junior
  • 44 Clark Gaston - Sophomore
  • 46 Bryan Kingrey - Senior
  • 47 Patrick DiMarco - Sophomore
Defensive tackle
  • 61 Donte'e Nicholls - Freshman
  • 79 Marque Hall - Senior
  • 81 Terrence Campbell - Sophomore
  • 91 Ladi Ajiboye - Sophomore
  • 95 Nathan Pepper - Junior
  • 97 Kenrick Ellis - Sophomore
Defensive End
  • 40 Eric Norwood - Junior
  • 42 Travian Robertson - Sophomore
  • 83 Cliff Matthews - Sophomore
  • 92 Byron McKnight - Freshman
  • 96 Clifton Geathers - Sophomore [16]
  • 99 Jonathan Williams - Senior
 
Cornerback
  • 1 Captain Munnerlyn - Junior
  • 5 Carlos Thomas - Senior
  • 7 Addison Williams - Sophomore
  • 28 Chris Hail - Junior
  • 36 Stoney Woodson - Senior
  • 4 Cedric Snead - Freshman
Defensive Back
  • 23 Jamire Williams - Freshman
Linebacker
  • 4 Alonzo Winfield - Freshman
  • 6 Melvin Ingram - Sophomore
  • 30 Yvan Banag - Senior
  • 31 Gerrod Sinclair - Junior
  • 44 Dustin Lindsey - Senior
  • 45 Rodney Paulk - Junior
  • 48 Vandaral Shackleford - Junior
  • 49 Damien Wright - Junior
  • 53 Marvin Sapp - Senior
  • 58 John Guerry - Junior
  • 52 Jasper Brinkley - Senior
Free Safety
  • 32 Darian Stewart - Junior
  • 42 Mike Newton - Senior
Strong Safety
Long Snapper
  • 59 Charles Turner - Sophomore
Punter / Place Kicker
  • 14 Ryan Succop - Senior [17]
  • 87 Spencer Lanning - Sophomore
  • 97 Nate Spurrier - Junior

Awards

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP 2424
Coaches 2423
Harris Not released24Not released
BCS Not released25Not released

Statistics

Team

USCOpp
Scoring270274
  Points per Game20.821.1
First Downs241214
  Rushing9198
  Passing12995
  Penalty2121
Total Offense41153795
  Avg per Play4.74.7
  Avg per Game316.5291.5
Fumbles-Lost23-1121-13
Penalties-Yards75-64069-586
  Avg per Game49.245.1
USCOpp
Punts-Yards49-201970-2986
  Avg per Punt41.242.4
Time of Possession/Game29:4230:18
3rd Down Conversions70/18066/177
4th Down Conversions12/185/11
Touchdowns Scored3034
Field Goals-Attempts20-3012-19
PAT-Attempts30-3032-32
Attendance563,703334,446
  Games/Avg per Game7/80,5295/66,889

Scores by quarter

1234Total
South Carolina441023985270
Opponents72787648274

Offense

Rushing

NameGP-GSAttGainLossNetAvgTDLongAvg/G
Mike Davis12-11163615425733.535047.8
Brian Maddox7-03212871213.811317.3
Eric Baker9-04619191824.002020.2
Bobby Wallace8-02511011994.002114.1
Stephen Garcia8-370289911982.822524.8
          
          
          
          
          
          
         
Total 403148930911802.975098.3
Opponents 429187232815443.62080128.7

Passing

NameGP-GSEfficCmp-Att-IntPctYdsTDLngAvg/G
Chris Smelley12-9114.78169-302-1556.019221466160.2
Stephen Garcia8-3113.6065-122-853.3832641107.6
Tommy Beecher2-163.826-14-453.812601863.0
         
Total 113.9249-452-2755.128922066222.5
Opponents 110.0189-328-1457.01923970159.2

Receiving

NameGP-GSNo.YdsAvgTDLongAvg/G
Kenny McKinley 5464211.944164.2
Jared Cook 3757315.536644.1
Moe Brown 3039113.013430.1
Jason Barnes 2734612.823828.8
Mike Davis 242138.911817.8
Weslye Saunders 1621413.432716.5
Dion LeCorn 141067.622017.7
Joe Hills 11877.91247.9
Freddie Brown 7669.41169.4
        
        
        
        
        
Total 249284211.62066222.5
Opponents 189207011.0970159.2

Defense

NameGPTacklesSacksPass DefenseInterceptionsFumblesBlkd
Kick
SoloAstTotalTFL-YdsNo-YdsBrUpQBHNo.-YdsAvgTDLongRcv-YdsFF
Total33215648836-14012-8119248-12615.8466-8171

Special teams

NamePuntingKickoffs
No.YdsAvgLongTBFCI20BlkdNo.YdsAvgTBOB
Spencer Lanning2293242.4525250
Ryan Succop40274368.6150
Total2293242.452525040274368.6150
NamePunt ReturnsKick Returns
No.YdsAvgTDLongNo.YdsAvgTDLong
Captain Munnerlyn151057.0035310635.3084
Chris Culliver1943823.1050
Larry Freeman12424.0024
Total

Coaching staff

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References

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  2. "South Carolina Defeats Ole Miss 31-24". Ole Miss Athletics - Hotty Toddy. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 Talbott, Chris. "Gamecocks find QB in win". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Staff Writer. "Garcia might get chance to step up". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Garcia Named Starter for Bowl Game". University of South Carolina Athletics. November 30, 2008. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  6. Pollock, Tim. "Stephen Garcia Leads the 2009 South Carolina Gamecocks, But To Where?". Bleacher Report. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  7. Breiner, Ben (August 30, 2017). "Why Tommy Beecher won't let one bad game define him". The State. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
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