Before the 1939 Cotton Bowl champion Clemson Tigers, South Carolina college football teams claimed state titles, despite e. g. Clemson winning Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association titles in 1903. In 1911, the Florida Gators beat 4 South Carolina teams and dubbed themselves the "champions of South Carolina".
The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers are the athletic teams that represent Coastal Carolina University. They participate in Division I of the NCAA as a member of the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) in most sports, having joined that conference as a full but non-football member on July 1, 2016. At that time, the football team began a transition from the second-level Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) to the top-level Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The team played the 2016 season as an FCS independent, joined SBC football for the 2017 season, and became full FBS members for 2018 and beyond. A Chanticleer is a proud and fierce rooster. Before joining the SBC, the Chanticleers had been members of the Big South Conference since that league's formation in 1983. Coastal fields varsity teams in 19 sports, 8 for men and 11 for women. The university regularly competed for the Sasser Cup, the Big South's trophy for the university with the best sports program among the member institutions, winning the trophy nine times, tied with rival Liberty University.
William Lawrence Laval was an American minor league baseball player, baseball manager, and college baseball, football, and basketball coach. He held head coaching positions at the University of South Carolina, Furman University, Emory and Henry College, and Newberry College. He is the only South Carolina football coach to have produced seven consecutive winning seasons. In 2009, The State called him "the greatest collegiate coach" in the history of South Carolina.
The 1896 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson Agricultural College—now known as Clemson University–as an independent during the 1896 college football season. Professor Walter Riggs brought the game to Clemson from his alma mater, Auburn, where he was a member of Auburn's first football team. The Tigers completed their first season with a record of 2–1, with wins over upstate neighboring colleges Furman and Wofford, and a loss in the first installment of the rivalry with South Carolina. All games were played in the opposing school's home city. The rivalry matchup with South Carolina was held on Thursday morning at the South Carolina state fair, a tradition that would endure until 1960. Riggs served as the team's coach while R. G. Hamilton was the first captain.
The 1916 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson Agricultural College—now known as Clemson University—as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) during the 1916 college football season. Led by Wayne Hart in his first and only season as head coach, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 3–6 with a mark of 2–4 in SIAA play. S. S. Major was the team captain.
The 1917 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson Agricultural College—now known as Clemson University—during the 1917 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. Under first-year head coach Edward Donahue, the team posted an overall record of 6–2 with a mark of 5–1 in SIAA play. F. L. Witsel was the team captain.
The 1919 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson Agricultural College—now known as Clemson University—as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) during the 1919 college football season. Under third-year head coach Edward Donahue, the team posted an overall record of 6–2–2 with a mark of 3–2–2 in SIAA play. Stumpy Banks was the team captain.
The 1925 Clemson Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Clemson Agricultural College as a member of the Southern Conference during its 1925 football season. In its third season under head coach Bud Saunders, Clemson compiled a 1–7 record, tied for last place in the conference, was shut out in five of its eight games, and was outscored by a total of 160 to 18. The team played its home games at Riggs Field in Clemson, South Carolina.
The 1919 The Citadel Bulldogs football team represented The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in the 1919 college football season. George Rogers returned to lead the Bulldogs for the 1919 season after a three-year absence. His second tenure as head coach lasted just one season. The Bulldogs played as members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association and played home games at College Park Stadium in Hampton Park.
The Citadel Bulldogs basketball teams represented The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. The program was established in 1900–01, and has continuously fielded a team since 1912–13. Their primary rivals are College of Charleston, Furman and VMI.
The 1927 Furman Purple Hurricane football team represented the Furman University as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) during the 1927 college football season. Led by 13th-year head coach Billy Laval, the Purple Hurricane compiled an overall record of 10–1 with a mark of 3–0 in conference play, sharing the SIAA title with Centenary, Chattanooga, and Mississippi College. Furman outscored its opponents 283 to 59.
The 1919 Furman Baptists football team represented Furman University during the 1919 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Billy Laval, Furman compiled an overall record of 6–2–1 with a mark of 2–1–1 in SIAA play.
The 1925 Furman Purple Hurricane football team was an American football team that represented Furman University as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) during the 1925 college football season. In its 11th season under head coach Billy Laval, Furman compiled a 7–3 record, finished in second place in the SIAA, was recognized as the South Carolina state champion, and outscored opponents by a total of 116 to 75. The team played its home games at Manly Field in Greenville, South Carolina.
The historic 1933 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1933 college football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Billy Laval, the Gamecocks compiled an overall record of 6–3–1 with a mark of 3–0 in conference play, placing in the SoCon. Duke, with a 4–0 conference record was declared the SoCon champion. Earl Clary and Buddy Morehead were the team captains. This was the last season in which South Carolina played their home games at Melton Field.
The 1942 South Carolina Gamecocks football team was an American football team that represented the University of South Carolina as a member of the Southern Conference during the 1942 college football season. In their fifth season under head coach Rex Enright, the Gamecocks compiled an overall record of 1–7–1 with a mark of 1–4 in conference play, placing 14th in the SoCon. The team's only victory was over The Citadel.
The 1916 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina during the 1916 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. Led by W. Rice Warren in his first and only season as head coach, the Gamecocks compiled an overall record of 2–7 with a mark of 2–4 in SIAA play.
The 1947 Furman Purple Hurricane football team was an American football team that represented Furman University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1947 college football season. In its second and final season under head coach Bob Smith, the team compiled an overall record 2–7 with a mark of 1–4 against conference opponents, tied for 13th place in the SoCon, and was outscored by a total of 205 to 68. The team played its home games at Sirrine Stadium in Greenville, South Carolina.
The 1988 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game was a postseason college football game between the Georgia Southern Eagles and the Furman Paladins. The game was played on December 17, 1988, at Holt Arena in Pocatello, Idaho. The culminating game of the 1988 NCAA Division I-AA football season, it was won by Furman, 17–12.
The 1941 Furman Purple Hurricane football team was an American football team that represented Furman University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1941 college football season. In its 10th season under head coach Dizzy McLeod, the team compiled a 3–4–2 record, finished in ninth place in the conference, and was outscored by a total of 195 to 129. The team played its home games at Sirrine Stadium in Greenville, South Carolina.
The 1936 Furman Purple Hurricane football team was an American football team that represented Furman University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1936 college football season. In their fifth year under head coach Dizzy McLeod, the team compiled an overall record of 7–2 with a mark of 4–1 in conference play, finishing in third place in the SoCon. Furman defeated Davidson, 14–13, on October 31, in the first game played at Sirrine Stadium.
The 1931 Furman Purple Hurricane football team represented Furman University as an independent during the 1931 college football season. Led by fourth-year head coach T. B. Amis, the Purple Hurricane compiled a record of 5–2–2.