Steve Spurrier, former national championship-winning head football coach at the University of Florida, served as the head coach of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks football team from November 23, 2004, until October 12, 2015.[1][2] It was Spurrier's fifth tenure as a head coach, his second longest tenure as a head coach, and his third and final tenure as a head coach in college football.[3][4] He served as South Carolina's 32nd head coach, as well as their second-longest-tenured head coach.[5][6]
With a mantra of "Why not us?",[7][8] Spurrier transformed a historically unsuccessful team into a more competitive program.[9][10] The Gamecocks became, for the first time in program history, consistent bowl game contenders in the mid-to-late 2000s.[a] South Carolina reached new heights in the early 2010s, achieving the program's first ever division title in 2010 and first ever eleven-win seasons in 2011, 2012, and 2013.[10] The Gamecocks regressed the next two years, leading Spurrier to resign in 2015.[2]
Finishing with a record of 86–49, Spurrier is the winningest coach in Gamecock football history.[12] The .637 winning percentage is the highest of any coach who has led the Gamecocks for more than twenty games.[6] South Carolina was nationally ranked in nearly every season, and was consecutively from September 2010 to September 2014.[13] The Gamecocks went to nine bowl games and won five, both school records.[11] They were 6–4 against archrivalClemson, including a school-record five straight wins.[14] The 2010–2013 seasons marked the most successful era in program history.[15][16] In that era, South Carolina had its only appearance in the SEC Championship Game, its only eleven-win seasons, its only top-ten finishes, and its only top-five finish.[9][10] South Carolina became just the twelfth team in college football history to win eleven games in three straight seasons.[17]
After winning a Heisman Trophy as a quarterback at the University of Florida and a largely unremarkable NFL playing career,[26] Steve Spurrier entered coaching.[3] He served as an assistant at several schools in the late 1970s and early 1980s, including Florida, Georgia Tech, and Duke.[27]
Spurrier earned his first two head coaching jobs in the mid-to-late 1980s, first with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League and then with Duke.[27] With the Blue Devils, Spurrier was named the ACC Coach of the Year in 1988 and 1989.[27] On the last day of the decade, Spurrier was hired as the head coach at Florida, returning to his alma mater.[27]
Under head coach Spurrier, the Florida Gators football program of the 1990s and early 2000s was, at the time, considered "arguably the most successful SEC football program ever".[28] From 1990 to 2001, Florida won one national championship and seven conference championships.[28] The Gators finished in the top 10 nine times and finished in the top 5 six times.[28]
In January 2002, Spurrier abrupty resigned from his position at Florida, stating "I simply believe that twelve years as head coach at a major university in the SEC is long enough."[29] Less than two weeks later, he was named the head coach of the Washington Redskins of the NFL.[29] In two seasons, 2002 and 2003, Spurrier went 12–20, and he once again resigned.[29]
Spurrier subsequently took a year off in 2004, when he was considered the most attractive free agent on the coaching market.[29]
The program had seen its most success in the late 1970s and 1980s under head coaches Jim Carlen and Joe Morrison, with five eight-win seasons, a Heisman Trophy winner, and the program's only ten-win season.[10] However, a steroids scandal and the death of their head coach in late 1988 and early 1989 sent the Gamecocks on a decade-long downspiral.[30]
Lou Holtz, former assistant coach at South Carolina and former national championship-winning head coach at the University of Notre Dame, was hired to fix the situation, becoming the Gamecocks' head coach in December 1998.[31] Holtz and the Gamecocks saw success in 2000 and 2001, but regressed the next three years.[32] Holtz remained South Carolina's head football coach in 2004,[32] though he had told athletic director Mike McGee in the summer that it might be his last season.[33]
Overview
Hiring
Lou Holtz was instrumental in Spurrier coming to South Carolina
On October 25, 2004, Florida head coach Ron Zook was fired.[34] Spurrier was considered a top candidate to return as head coach of the Gators.[34] Publicly, he expressed a moderate amount of interest in the position,[34] and his return to Florida was considered a strong possibility.[35] There was reportedly a strong sentiment within Spurrier's family for him to return to Florida.[35] Anonymous Spurrier associates claimed there was an active back-and-forth dialogue between school officials and Spurrier through intermediaries, though Florida officials denied this.[35] Considering the failure of the last coaching search, Florida would've been under intense pressure to hire Spurrier if he wanted the job.[35] However, Spurrier and Florida both said that he was not offered the job outright, and, despite Florida claiming that he was comfortable with this process, it would later be speculated that Spurrier was bothered by having to interview for the job.[36][35] He was also reportedly bothered by a number of other things that Florida had done, and he would later say that he still felt that twelve years with one program is enough.[36][35][8] Spurrier was also reportedly intrigued by the long-shot possibility of returning to the NFL with the Miami Dolphins, and his name was being mentioned in several other college job possibilities, including North Carolina, Texas, South Carolina, and Washington.[35]
On October 30, 2004, after South Carolina's loss to Tennessee, head football coach Lou Holtz told his athletic director, Mike McGee, that it would be his last season.[33][37][38] McGee asked Holtz to assist in finding his replacement, to which Holtz agreed.[38] Spurrier was then contacted about the Gamecocks' head coaching job.[37][33] McGee had a head start because of Holtz's early decision, as well as Spurrier being out of coaching and available to talk immediately.[33] Spurrier would later say he was very interested from the beginning, without much negotiation back and forth.[28] McGee, Holtz, and Augusta National Golf Club president Hootie Johnson were involved in the negotiations with Spurrier.[37] Holtz and Spurrier were especially close after Spurrier had helped Beth Holtz gain admission to a Florida hospital for cancer treatment five years prior.[37] Spurrier's associates said at the time that if Johnson, a former Gamecock football player, were to offer Spurrier a membership at Augusta, Spurrier could be enticed.[35]
Spurrier would later explain why he was interested in the Gamecocks: "South Carolina has basically everything that I was looking for. It's in the South, it's in the Southeastern Conference and it's a big state university with wonderful facilities. Their tradition is not that good, so we've got a chance to do some things that have never been done here before. And it was the first job that came open. ... First of all, the (Florida) job was never offered to me. I didn't feel like going back and doing what we'd already done. ... I think it worked out best for everybody involved."[8]
On November 4, Spurrier called Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley and informed him that he was withdrawing his name from consideration for the Gators' head coaching job.[39] By November 13, Spurrier had agreed to come to South Carolina.[33] On November 18, before the team's final regular-season practice, Holtz told his players that he would retire after the season.[40][41] The same day, a number of media outlets confirmed reports that Spurrier had agreed to come to South Carolina, though McGee did not confirm or deny the rumors and Spurrier's agent stayed silent.[40][41] Also that day, Johnson said that Spurrier was not guaranteed a membership at Augusta if he became the head football coach at South Carolina.[41] On November 20, Holtz and the Gamecocks lost to archrivalClemson, in a game that ended with an infamous brawl.[42] Later that day, as a result of the brawl, South Carolina announced it would not accept a post-season bowl bid despite finishing the season bowl-eligible, making the Clemson game the last of Holtz's career.[42] McGee contacted Spurrier about the decision, with Spurrier agreeing.[42] On November 22, Holtz announced his retirement at a press conference at Williams–Brice Stadium.[43] Holtz said he expected to be replaced by a well-known, proven winner with whom he played golf, which appeared to be a reference to Spurrier.[37]
On November 23, 2004, at a news conference at Williams–Brice Stadium, Spurrier was introduced as the new head football coach at South Carolina.[28] Spurrier was given a seven-year contract, with an annual guaranteed compensation of $1.25 million.[28]
I’d like to borrow a phrase from the Boston Red Sox. Why not us? Why not the University of South Carolina Gamecocks? Why can’t we get to the top of the SEC? And certainly, that’s going to be my vision, my dream. Our ultimate goal is that we can finish atop the SEC, that we can someday win the game in the Georgia Dome. I want to pledge to everyone out there that loves Carolina football, that you’re going to get my best shot.
Steve Spurrier,his introductory press conference on November 23, 2004[38]
Spurrier inherited a team with many off-the-field problems.[8] By April, eleven players had been arrested.[8] Other players were injured or dismissed from the team.[8] Six players had their scholarship revoked, a move which many high school coaches in the state called "unethical".[44] After more than a month of spring practices, Spurrier had still not decided who the starting quarterback would be,[8] though he eventually settled on Blake Mitchell.[45] Mitchell would subsequently play as quarterback for much of Spurrier's first three seasons (2005–07), though he would also have his own troubles with "lackluster" play, suspensions and being benched.[46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54] The athletics department as a whole was in debt, losing money, defeatist, and used to settling for mediocrity.[22]
Fortunately for Spurrier, South Carolina finished up a "strong" 2005 recruiting class,[55] ranked No. 18 by 247Sports,[56] No. 20 by On3.com,[57] and No. 23 by Rivals.com.[58] Notable departures included Troy Williamson,[59] while notable incoming players included Kenny McKinley.[56] Additionally, Spurrier retained three coaches from Holtz's tenure (Rick Stockstill, Ron Cooper, and David Reaves) and filled out his new staff with many of his own coaches (including his son Steve Spurrier Jr. as receivers coach, and John Thompson and Tyrone Nix as defensive coordinators),[60][61][62][55] with the staff being complete by December 20.[55] Spurrier retained playcalling duties for himself.[61] South Carolina's athletic director, Mike McGee, also retired and was replaced by Eric Hyman.[63]
Spurrier, later called "one of the game's most renowned minds" and "the most famous man in South Carolina",[64][65] immediately helped provide excitement and exposure to a school that had "long been starving for attention and success in football".[8] The spring game was televised on ESPN2, while the opening game of the season would be televised on ESPN and would be the site of College GameDay, only the third time the Gamecocks had ever hosted the pre-game show.[8][66] At Spurrier's request, Williams–Brice Stadium was given a facelift, painting large areas garnet and black and hanging portraits of former players and coaches.[8] By July, the university had sold a record 62,618 season tickets,[44] and donations to the Gamecock Club booster organization had skyrocketed from more than $1 million the previous year to a record $13 million.[44] Expectations were high.[8] Tailback Cory Boyd commented: "We believe he's going to take us to the promised land".[8] A writer for ESPN would later comment that, compared to the Gamecocks' largely unsuccessful history, "it was supposed to be different under Steve Spurrier".[65]
On September 1, 2005, Spurrier coached and won his first game at South Carolina, a home game at Williams–Brice Stadium against UCF.[67] South Carolina's next two games were losses to conference opponents, No. 9 Georgia and Alabama.[67] The Gamecocks broke the losing streak by defeating Troy at home.[67] However, the next game was another conference loss, against Auburn.[67] By this point, South Carolina was 2–3 for the season, and 0–3 in conference play.[67] The Gamecocks subsequently went on a five-game winning streak, all against conference opponents, defeating Kentucky, Vanderbilt, No. 23 Tennessee, Arkansas, and No. 12 Florida.[67] The five consecutive SEC wins were a school record,[68] and the win at Tennessee was the school's first ever.[68] The upset over Florida was the school's first win over the Gators since the 1930s,[68] and also marked the highest-ranked opponent the Gamecocks had beaten in the 21st century until then.[69] South Carolina improved to 7–3 for the season, and 5–3 in conference play, and were ranked No. 19 in the country.[67] It was the second highest ranking by a first-year Gamecock head football coach ever, behind only Warren Geise in 1956.[69] Before the game against Arkansas, Spurrier had also assigned Nix the sole responsibility of making the defensive calls for the rest of the season, taking those duties away from Thompson.[70] For the regular season finale, South Carolina was upset at home by archrivalClemson.[67] Following the regular season, Spurrier was named the SEC Coach of the Year.[68] It was only the third time a Gamecock head football coach had ever won a conference coach of the year award, and it was the eighth of Spurrier's career.[68] The Gamecocks were selected to play Missouri in the Independence Bowl to end the season, their first bowl game since 2001.[67][69] Prior to the bowl game, recruiting coordinator Rick Stockstill left to become the head coach at Middle Tennessee,[71] special teams and outside linebackers coach Ron Cooper took on the additional role of acting recruiting coordinator,[70] running backs coach Madre Hill was fired,[72] and co-defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix was promoted to assistant head coach.[72] In the Independence Bowl, despite a 21–0 lead in the first quarter, South Carolina lost to the Tigers, ending the season with a record of 7–5.[67][73]
Weeks after the Independence Bowl, Spurrier confirmed that former co-defensive coordinator John Thompson, who was on paid leave of absence, would not return to South Carolina.[70] Assistant quarterbacks coach David Reaves became the recruiting coordinator.[74] Reaves, at age 27, was one of the youngest coordinators in a high-profile program in the country.[74]North Carolina defensive ends coach and recruiting coordinator Brad Lawing was hired as the new defensive line coach.[75]
The 2006 season started with Spurrier's first two shutouts at South Carolina.[79][69] In the season opener, the Gamecocks held Mississippi State to zero points in a road victory.[79] The next week, they were themselves held to zero points by No. 12 Georgia in a home loss.[79] South Carolina won the next two games against non-Power 5 teams, Wofford and Florida Atlantic.[79] The Gamecocks then returned to conference play, welcoming No. 2 Auburn at home,[79] with a chance for the biggest victory in program history.[80] This game was much closer than their first SEC game, but South Carolina still lost by a touchdown.[79] The Gamecocks won the next two conference games of the season, defeating Kentucky and Vanderbilt on the road.[79] Next, South Carolina had three consecutive close losses against top-12 SEC opponents: No. 8 Tennessee, No. 12 Arkansas, and eventual national champion No. 6 Florida.[79] The home game against Tennesse hosted College GameDay, marking the second consecutive season the Gamecocks had done so.[66] In the road game against Florida, South Carolina had the chance to win by kicking a 48-yard field goal attempt with eight seconds left to play, but the kick was blocked.[81] Next week, the Gamecocks beat Middle Tennessee, led by former South Carolina recruiting coordinator Rick Stockstill, in a home victory which ended their losing streak.[79] Following the win over the Blue Raiders, rumors began that other programs, namely Miami and Alabama, were showing interest in hiring Spurrier.[82][83] Amid these rumors, Spurrier reaffirmed his desire to stay at South Carolina, who gave him a raise.[82][83][84] With their top candidate not interested,[82] Alabama would instead hire Nick Saban.[85] For the regular season finale, despite trailing by fourteen points in the third quarter, South Carolina upset No. 24 Clemson on the road, the program's first victory over their archrival since 2001.[79][86][87] The Gamecocks were invited to the Liberty Bowl, where they defeated Houston, also their first bowl victory since 2001.[79][69] South Carolina finished the season with a record of 8–5, which was only the ninth eight-win season in program history.[69] Spurrier became the first head coach in Gamecock football history to take his team to a bowl game in each of his first two seasons.[69]
South Carolina hired Mississippi State assistant coach Shane Beamer as outside linebackers coach and special teams’ co-coordinator.[88] Recruiting coordinator David Reaves also became the team's full-time quarterbacks coach.[88] Spurrier remained the offensive coordinator, while Reaves would handle more position meetings.[88]
South Carolina's 2007 recruiting class was the highest-ranked recruiting class in school history.[89][90] It was a consensus top-10 class,[89] ranked No. 6 by 247Sports,[91] No. 7 by On3,[92] and No. 6 by Rivals.com.[93]The State would also later report it as being ranked No. 4.[90] Fifteen of the 31 players rated as four-star recruits or higher, equating to roughly a 50% blue-chip ratio.[89] Notable players from the class included Stephen Garcia, Cliff Matthews, and Melvin Ingram.[91] By 2010, the 2007 class will have produced thirteen starters, the most of any of Spurrier's classes at South Carolina until that point.[89] By 2019, the 2007 recruiting class would remain the highest-rated in South Carolina history.[90]
On the other hand, notable players departing to the NFL included Sidney Rice, who had tied the program's touchdown record over the last two seasons, and Fred Bennett.[59][54] In August, Spurrier predicted that South Carolina was ready to compete for the SEC championship.[65]
In 2007, South Carolina had its best start to a season yet under Spurrier.[69] Within their first seven games,[94] and in the midst of an upset-heavy college football season,[95][96] the Gamecocks had upset victories over two top-11 teams (No. 11 Georgia and No. 8 Kentucky), four victories over unranked teams (Louisiana–Lafayette, SC State, Mississippi State, and North Carolina), and a loss to eventual national champion No. 2 LSU.[94] The victory over Kentucky was only the Gamecocks' sixth win over a top-10 team in program history, and their first since 2000.[97] By mid-October, South Carolina was 6–1, ranked No. 6 in the country (their highest ranking since 1984), and in the thick of the SEC Eastern Division race.[94][98] They had also won nine of their last ten games, dating back to last season.[69] With the sixth win of the season, Spurrier became the first coach in South Carolina history to reach bowl eligibility in each of his first three seasons.[94]
However, the Gamecocks' rushing defense was reportedly "never the same" after Jasper Brinkley, one of the best middle linebackers in the league, suffered a season-ending injury in the loss to LSU; Spurrier also decided to make a quarterback change despite the 6–1 start.[65] The Gamecocks lost the remaining five games on their schedule, including three upset losses of their own (Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Arkansas) and two losses against ranked teams (No. 17 Florida and No. 21 Clemson).[94] The five-game losing streak was South Carolina's longest since 2002, and the longest of Spurrier's career.[69][99] In their last two losses, the Gamecocks had three of their punts blocked, one of which was returned for a touchdown.[65] The Gamecocks finished last in the SEC in rushing defense.[65] Spurrier questioned his players' effort and then backed off that, questioning their attitude instead.[65] Despite the losing streak, South Carolina still finished the regular season bowl-eligible, with a record of 6–6.[94] However, the Gamecocks were not selected for a bowl game, with the Independence Bowl selecting Alabama and the Music City Bowl selecting Kentucky, instead.[100][101] As a result, the Gamecocks finished the season with a record of 6–6.[69] It was South Carolina's first non-winning season since 2003, and the first of Spurrier's tenure so far.[69] It was Spurrier's first season not going to a bowl game since 1990, and his first non-winning season in college football since 1987.[99]
Spurrier admitted that he and the team learned some humility after last season's second half "collapse", which was compared to much of the program's unsuccessful history.[65] After three seasons, Spurrier was 21–16 at South Carolina.[65] At the time, this record was compared to Lou Holtz's best three-year stretch at South Carolina: 22–14 from 2000 to 2002.[65] Although Holtz had a better win-loss record and one more bowl win in this stretch, Spurrier had already been able to beat Georgia, Florida and Tennessee.[65] Holtz never beat the latter two teams.[65]
Soon after the Gamecocks learned of their exclusion from the postseason, defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix left to take the same position at Ole Miss.[65] He was replaced briefly by Atlanta Falcons assistant coach Brian VanGorder, and then by Ellis Johnson, who had most recently been the defensive coordinator for Mississippi State.[65][102] South Carolina hired Ray Rychleski from Maryland to be the new special teams coordinator.[65]Shane Beamer's coaching responsibilities shifted from outside linebackers and special teams to cornerbacks.[103]
South Carolina had a 2008 recruiting class that was ranked No. 34 by 247Sports,[104] No. 22 by On3,[105] and No. 22 by Rivals.com.[106] Notable departures included longtime starting quarterback Blake Mitchell,[107] while notable incoming players included Devin Taylor and Antonio Allen.[105] Ten of the defense's eleven starters from last season returned.[65] To replace Mitchell, Spurrier hoped that redshirt freshman quarterback Stephen Garcia would be the answer.[65] South Carolina faced a more difficult schedule than last year, and one writer for ESPN speculated that an aging Spurrier could soon leave if he saw winning a championship at South Carolina as an impossibility.[65]
In the season-opener of 2008, South Carolina snapped their losing streak by defeating NC State at home, and re-entered the rankings at No. 24.[108] However, the Gamecocks then lost to Vanderbilt for the second consecutive season.[108][109] South Carolina welcomed No. 2 Georgia at home,[108] with another chance for the biggest victory in program history.[80] Like the opportunity against Auburn two seasons prior, the game was close, but the Gamecocks still lost by a touchdown.[108] South Carolina bounced back, winning the next four games against Wofford, UAB, Ole Miss, and Kentucky.[108] By the time of the win over UAB, South Carolina had the top defense in the country, allowing 105 yards passing and 221 total yards per game.[110] This winning streak ended with a close loss to defending national champion No. 13 LSU at home.[108] South Carolina won their next two conference games against Tennessee and Arkansas, but then lost the final one against eventual national champion No. 3 Florida.[108] For the regular season finale, the Gamecocks lost to Clemson for the second consecutive season.[108][111] South Carolina returned to the postseason with an invitation to the Outback Bowl, with Spurrier tying the school record for bowl game appearances by a coach.[69] Prior to the bowl game, offensive line coach Jon Hunt was fired,[112][113] while recruiting coordinator and quarterbacks coach David Reaves as well as strength and conditioning coach Mark Smith both left to take similar positions at Tennessee, under Reaves' brother-in-law Lane Kiffin.[113][114][115][116][112] In the bowl game, the Gamecocks suffered a blowout loss to Iowa, finishing the season with a record of 7–6.[108]
In 2009, South Carolina began with a victory over NC State for the second consecutive season.[130] However, the Gamecocks lost their first game in conference play, dropping a close game on the road against No. 21 Georgia.[130] South Carolina bounced back with a home win over Florida Atlantic.[130] Staying at home, the Gamecocks welcomed No. 4 Ole Miss, with a chance for one of the largest upsets in school history.[130] South Carolina won the matchup with a final score of 16–10.[130] It was only the second win over a top-5 team in school history, the first since 1981, and the first at home in school history.[130] Following the upset over Ole Miss, the song "Sandstorm" would also increasingly become a Gamecock anthem and tradition, as it had been played near the end of the historic win, to great excitement.[24][131][132] The Gamecocks followed this up with two more wins at home, against SC State and Kentucky.[130] By this point, South Carolina was on a four-game winning streak, had a 5–1 record and was ranked No. 22 in the country.[130] However, going back out on the road, the Gamecocks lost to eventual national champion No. 2 Alabama, snapping their winning streak.[130] Next, South Carolina defeated Vanderbilt for the first time since 2006.[130][109] The Gamecocks closed out conference play with three straight losses, against Tennessee, Arkansas, and No. 1 Florida.[130] For the final game of the regular season, South Carolina defeated No. 15 Clemson at home, their first win against the Tigers since 2006.[130][86] The Gamecocks were invited to the PapaJohns.com Bowl, with Spurrier breaking the school record for bowl game appearances by a coach.[130][69] Prior to the bowl game, running game coordinator and offensive line coach Eric Wolford left to become the head coach at Youngstown State.[133] In the bowl game, South Carolina lost to Connecticut, finishing the season with a record of 7–6.[130] Spurrier fell to 1–3 in bowl games at South Carolina.[69]
The mood and outlook of the Gamecocks program were mixed after Spurrier's first five seasons.[134][135] South Carolina had a 35–28 record, with each of the last two seasons ending in "ugly" bowl game losses.[135][69] So far, the defense had been excellent, but the offense, Spurrier's area of expertise, had languished.[134] For many, expectations had been high and the first five years were a disappointment.[134] Spurrier admitted that he thought the program would be further ahead by now.[135] He blamed the lack of success on their mistakes in recruiting, as well as his own mistakes with quarterbacks.[135] However, there was also hope, building momentum, and reasons for optimism.[134][135] The university won its fourth team national championship in June,[136] with the baseball program's national success being "contagious" to the rest of the athletics department.[137] Although on-field football results hadn't met everyone's expectations, athletic director Eric Hyman believed that it was "really clear cut" that the program was progressing, as it was filling up with talent.[134]Connor Shaw, Marcus Lattimore, freshman offensive linemen, Kelcy Quarles, and a young star-studded defense were specifically cited reasons for excitement about the future.[135] The staff was full of excellent recruiters and evaluators,[138] and had begun to control the state in recruiting.[134] An aging Spurrier had previously said he would coach until roughly 2010, but changed his mind and began saying he would coach for four or five more years.[135] Upsets over Ole Miss and Clemson the previous year had "helped start a little something" and provided evidence that the Gamecocks were closer to their goals.[134] The players internally felt a building positive mood and sense of excitement around the program.[134] Tight end Weslye Saunders would later comment: "We could definitely feel what was about to take place".[134]
Early in the 2010 season, to increase fan participation, the university would begin handing out white rally towels and sweat bands to all fans at home football games.[24] The free paraphernalia would initially include the words "Famously Hot and Cocky", in reference to Columbia's new "Famously Hot" marketing campaign.[24] Although the sweat bands would not last long, the towels would.[24]
South Carolina began their 2010 campaign with a home win over Southern Miss.[144] Following the win, the Gamecocks were ranked for the first time since Halloween 2009.[13] This would mark the start of a streak of 69 consecutive weeks of South Carolina being ranked in the top 25, with the Gamecocks not leaving the national rankings again until September 28, 2014.[13] The Gamecocks followed this up with a win over No. 22 Georgia at home, their first victory over the Bulldogs since 2007, as well as a home win over Furman.[144][145] The three-game winning streak came to an end in their first road game, with a close loss to eventual national champion No. 17 Auburn.[144] South Carolina had a bye week to prepare for their next contest, a home game against defending national champion No. 1 Alabama.[144] With South Carolina having a chance to secure the biggest win in program history,[80]College GameDay announced they would come to Columbia for the game, their first time doing do since 2006.[144][66] On October 9, 2010, South Carolina upset the Crimson Tide, the first win over a top-ranked team in school history.[146] By this point, South Carolina was 4–1 and ranked No. 10 in the country, their highest ranking since 2007.[69] However, going back out on the road, the Gamecocks lost to unranked Kentucky.[144] South Carolina bounced back with two more conference wins, against Vanderbilt and Tennessee.[144] At home, they welcomed their sixth consecutive conference opponent and third ranked opponent of the season, No. 17 Arkansas.[144] The Gamecocks lost by three touchdowns, their worst loss since 2008.[144][69]
Despite the bad loss and 3–3 start in SEC play,[144] South Carolina's place in the conference standings ensured that if they were to win their next game, a road game at Florida, they would clinch the SEC Eastern Division and a spot in the SEC Championship Game.[147] On November 13, 2010, the Gamecocks defeated the Gators, winning the SEC East for the first time in program history.[147] It was only South Carolina's second win against Florida in their last twenty matchups, and it was also their first ever road win at Florida, having previously had a record of 0–12 in Gainesville.[147] Spurrier, the first coach to win the SEC East with two different teams, received a "Gatorade Bath" from his players and was carried off the field.[148] Next, South Carolina defeated Troy at home.[144] For the regular season finale, the Gamecocks traveled to archrivalClemson.[144] South Carolina defeated the Tigers, the first time they had defeated their archrival in consecutive seasons since 1970.[149] They finished the regular season with nine wins for only the second time in program history.[69] A week later, the Gamecocks traveled to Atlanta for their first ever SEC Championship Game to take on now-No. 1 Auburn, in a rematch of the regular season.[144] It was their second top-ranked opponent of the season.[150] The Gamecocks had an opportunity to win their first ever SEC championship, win their first conference championship since 1969, and tie the program record for wins in a season.[69] South Carolina lost by more than five touchdowns, surpassing the Arkansas blowout as their worst loss since 2008.[69] Regardless, after the SEC Championship Game, Spurrier was named the SEC Coach of the Year for the first time since 2005.[151] South Carolina was invited to the Chick-fil-A Bowl to end the season, facing No. 23 Florida State, with another chance to tie the program record for wins in a season.[144][69] The Gamecocks lost to the Seminoles, with Spurrier falling to 1–4 in bowl games at South Carolina.[144][69] The Gamecocks ended the season with a 9–5 record and ranked No. 22 in the country.[144] It was the first time South Carolina had finished ranked since 2001, and the nine-win season was only the third in program history.[69]
Defensive assistant coach, special teams coordinator and recruiting coordinator Shane Beamer left to join his father at Virginia Tech.[152][103] Receivers coach and passing game coordinator Steve Spurrier Jr. took on the additional role of recruiting coordinator.[153] Spurrier Jr. had expressed a strong desire for the position once it became available, though he admitted: "One of the things I've never particularly liked doing was answering my phone all the time. I don't like talking to everybody. I've never loved all that stuff, but as a recruiting coordinator you better like talking to everybody that knows anybody that wants to talk about high school football."[153] Spurrier Jr.'s appointment to the position would prove to be divisive.[154]
South Carolina was considered a potential dark horse contender entering the 2011 season,[161][162] with the return of quarterback Stephen Garcia, Heisman candidate Marcus Lattimore, two starting receivers, and a solid offensive line, as well as Alabama not being on the schedule.[161] The Gamecocks started with the fourteenth best preseason odds to win the national championship.[163] For the first time since joining the SEC, the Gamecocks were the preseason favorite to win the Eastern Division.[164] Subsequently, South Carolina started the season ranked much higher than they had finished last season, up ten spots to No. 12, the highest preseason ranking in program history until then.[69]
New to the 2011 season, at home games, the university would begin playing a new pregame video before the team's 2001 entrance: "Welcome to Williams–Brice".[165] This video would be slightly different each game, with different highlight clips depending on the team the Gamecocks were facing.[165]
The Gamecocks won their first four games of the season, against East Carolina, Georgia, Navy, and Vanderbilt.[166] Two of these wins were only by three points,[166] and the win over East Carolina only happened after a seventeen-point comeback.[167] Next, at home, South Carolina lost by three points to defending national champion Auburn, their third loss to the Tigers in two seasons.[166][168] The Gamecocks fell to 4–1 and No. 18 in the country.[166] Longtime starting quarterback Stephen Garcia was replaced by sophomore Connor Shaw,[169][170] with Garcia soon being dismissed from the team for failing to comply with guidelines.[171] Shaw would be the starting quarterback for much of South Carolina's next 2.5 seasons.[170] South Carolina bounced back with a blowout win over Kentucky at home, which would be the start of an eighteen-game home winning streak.[69][172] Going back out on the road, the Gamecocks picked up two more wins against conference opponents, Mississippi State and Tennessee, after which they climbed back up to No. 10 in the country.[166] Star running back Marcus Lattimore suffered a season-ending injury in the win over the Bulldogs.[173] In their last true road game, South Carolina traveled to No. 8 Arkansas, their first ranked opponent of the season.[166] Against the Razorbacks, the Gamecocks picked up their second loss of the season, losing by sixteen points.[166] Back at home, South Carolina won the last three games in the regular season, against Florida, The Citadel, and archrival No. 18 Clemson.[166] However, in this time, Georgia clinched the SEC East, meaning South Carolina would not repeat as division champions, finishing second instead.[174][128][175] The Bulldogs had lost to South Carolina, but won every conference game after that.[128] The Gamecocks finished the regular season with ten wins, tied for the most in program history.[69] South Carolina was invited to the Capital One Bowl to face No. 21 Nebraska.[166] The Gamecocks had an opportunity to break the school record for wins in a season, though they were on a three-bowl-game losing streak.[69] Prior to the bowl game, running backs and tight ends coach Jay Graham left to become the new running backs coach at Tennessee,[176] and defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson left to become the head coach at Southern Miss.[177] In the bowl game, South Carolina defeated the Cornhuskers, their first bowl victory since 2006.[69] The Gamecocks finished the season with eleven wins, the most in program history, and ranked inside the top ten for the first time ever.[69] It was the most successful season in program history.[69]
South Carolina had a 2012 recruiting class that was ranked No. 16 by 247Sports,[183] No. 19 by On3,[184] and No. 19 by Rivals.com.[185] The Gamecocks lost six players to the 2012 NFL draft, including three in the first two rounds.[59] Notable departures included Stephon Gilmore, Melvin Ingram, and Alshon Jeffery,[59] while notable incoming players included Mike Davis and Shaq Roland.[183] Roland, a wide receiver, was South Carolina's fourth consecutive Mr. Football recruit.[186] It was predicted that the Gamecocks would be more of a passing team than last year, with quarterback Connor Shaw entering his junior year and there still being a talented group of receivers.[187]
Over the summer, a new $6.5 million, high-definition 36-by-124-foot video board was installed at Williams–Brice Stadium.[188][189] The video board, the third-largest in the SEC and the eleventh-largest in college football, was nine times larger than the previous board.[188][189]
South Carolina started ranked No. 9 in the country,[190] the highest preseason ranking in program history until then,[13] and tied for the twelfth best preseason odds to win the national championship.[191] The Gamecocks won the first five games of the season, against Vanderbilt, East Carolina, UAB, Missouri, and Kentucky.[190] The season-opener on the road against the Commodores was close, but the next four were won comfortably, by an average of thirty points.[190] The Gamecocks had now won their last nine consecutive games dating back to last season, tying a school record, and were ranked No. 6 in the country, their highest ranking since 2007.[69][192] The next game was a home contest against No. 6 Georgia, their first ranked opponent of the season and the site of College GameDay.[190][66] Against the Bulldogs, in front of a record crowd at Williams–Brice Stadium,[193] South Carolina started 21–0 in the first quarter,[194] later called "the greatest quarter ever played".[195] The Gamecocks were just as dominant for the rest of the game, and won by four touchdowns.[194] It was the first win in a meeting of top-ten teams in program history,[193] and the third consecutive win over Georgia was also a school record.[193] By this point, South Carolina was on a school-record ten-game winning streak, had won all of its games that season by an average of 25 points, and were ranked No. 3 in the country, the second highest ranking in school history.[196][190][69] The Gamecocks began receiving comparisons to the 1984 team,[192] which came close to winning a national championship,[197] with similarities in enthusiasm, running backs, quarterbacks, points-per-game, and opportunistic defense.[198]
However, not everything was perfect for South Carolina: with no respite, their next two games were set to be against two more highly ranked teams, both on the road.[190] At No. 9 LSU, the Gamecocks lost by two points, snapping their winning streak.[190] At No. 3 Florida, South Carolina suffered a blowout loss; the 33-point loss was the worst since 2010.[190][69] The Gamecocks subsequently dropped to No. 17 in the country.[190] South Carolina bounced back, winning the last four games in the regular season, against Tennessee, Arkansas, Wofford, and archrival No. 12 Clemson.[190] The win over Arkansas was the first since 2008, and only the second in the past seven matchups.[199] The win over Clemson tied a school record for consecutive wins in the rivalry, and made Steve Spurrier the winningest coach in program history.[200] Also against the Tigers, star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney set the school's single-season record with thirteen sacks.[200] However, in this time, Georgia clinched the SEC East, with South Carolina finishing third in the division behind Georgia and Florida.[201][202] The Gamecocks were invited to the Outback Bowl to end the season, facing No. 19 Michigan.[190] In the bowl game, famous for a tackle made by Clowney which propelled him to instant fame,[203] South Carolina defeated the Wolverines.[190] The Gamecocks finished the season with eleven wins for only the second time in school history, and ranked No. 7 and No. 8 in the polls, the highest final rankings in school history until then.[69]
South Carolina started ranked No. 6 in the country,[209] the highest preseason ranking in program history,[13] and tied for the twelfth best preseason odds to win the national championship.[210] The Gamecocks comfortably won the 2013 season-opener against North Carolina at home.[209] Next, the Gamecocks went on the road and lost by eleven points to No. 11 Georgia,[209] the first loss to the Bulldogs and earliest loss in a season since 2009.[145][69] South Carolina rebounded, winning the next four games, against Vanderbilt, UCF, Kentucky, and Arkansas.[209] The victory over the Razorbacks on the road was by more than six touchdowns, while the other three games were relatively close.[209] The Gamecocks then traveled to Tennessee, where they lost by two points.[209] It was the first loss to an unranked team since 2011, and the 5–2 start and new No. 20 ranking were both the worst since 2010.[69]
Next week, on the road at No. 5 Missouri,[209] South Carolina's fortunes appeared to continued declining, as they started the game down seventeen points, and were given less than a 3% chance to win.[211][212]Connor Shaw then replaced Dylan Thompson at quarterback, and the Gamecocks made a comeback in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime.[211][213] South Carolina subsequently won in double overtime.[211][213] The "Miracle at Mizzou" was the largest comeback since 2011, the first road win against a top-five team since 1981, and the first overtime victory in school history.[211][213][212] The win also kept South Carolina alive in the SEC East race.[214] The Gamecocks won the last four games of the regular season, against Mississippi State, Florida, Coastal Carolina, and archrival No. 6 Clemson.[209] The fifth consecutive victory over the Tigers was a school record.[149] However, on the same day and time that South Carolina was defeating Clemson, Missouri clinched the SEC East, with the Gamecocks finishing second in the division instead.[215][216] South Carolina had defeated the eventual SEC East champion in each of the last three seasons and finished in second place in two of the last three seasons.[175][202][216] South Carolina was invited to the Capital One Bowl, their second in three seasons, to face No. 19 Wisconsin.[209][69] The Gamecocks defeated the Badgers, marking the first time South Carolina had ever won bowl games in three consecutive years.[b] South Carolina finished the season with eleven wins, for a third consecutive season, and ranked No. 4 in the country, the highest final ranking in school history.[69]
South Carolina had won 42 games in the last four years; the best four-year stretch in program history until then had been 28 wins.[217] The 2013 senior class was the most successful in school history.[218] Athletic director Ray Tanner commented that, after three straight top-ten finishes, South Carolina was "as good as any program in the country".[218] Subsequently, Spurrier and his nine assistant coaches were given raises and one-year contract extensions.[218][219] Spurrier was extended until 2018, with a new annual salary of $4 million as well as a new contract clause that would make him a special assistant to the university upon his retirement.[218][219]
In 2014, South Carolina began ranked No. 9 in the country and tied for the eleventh best odds to win the national championship.[224][225] However, for the season opener, the Gamecocks were upset at home by No. 21 Texas A&M in blowout fashion, snapping their nation-leading eighteen-game home winning streak and dropping to No. 21.[224][172][226] South Carolina defeated their next three opponents: East Carolina, No. 6 Georgia, and Vanderbilt, climbing back up to No. 13.[224] Next, hosting Missouri and College GameDay at home, the Gamecocks lost by one point,[224] after which they dropped completely out of the top 25 for the first time since 2010.[69] South Carolina then lost to Kentucky on the road,[224] their first loss to the Wildcats since 2010.[13][227] The 3–3 start was the worst since 2005.[69] The Gamecocks then defeated Furman before losing to No. 5 Auburn and Tennessee, the latter in overtime.[224] They finished conference play by defeating Florida in overtime, the second overtime victory in school history.[224] Following the win over the Gators, Florida head coach Will Muschamp was fired.[228] The Gamecocks defeated South Alabama before going on the road to face archrival No. 21 Clemson for the regular season finale.[224] South Carolina lost to the Tigers, their first loss in the rivalry since 2008.[149] Regardless, the Gamecocks finished the regular season bowl-eligible at 6–6, and were invited to the Independence Bowl to face Miami.[224] Prior to the bowl game, Spurrier announced he would return as the Gamecocks' coach, but planned to keep that title for at least two-to-three years.[229] Many proclaimed that statement as the undoing of Spurrier's tenure, and several recruits showed concern at the possibility of Spurrier not being around when they graduate.[229] At least four players in the 2015 signing class de-committed.[229] In the bowl game, South Carolina defeated the Hurricanes by three points, a school-record fourth consecutive bowl victory.[69] The Gamecocks finished with seven wins, four less than the previous three seasons and the fewest since 2009.[69] Three of their losses had come after blowing two-touchdown fourth quarter leads.[138]
Spurrier was ready to retire after the 2014 season.[230] Several factors and people convinced him to return in 2015: athletic director Ray Tanner, his wife Jerri, his sons being on the coaching staff, all of the coaches having at least another year left on their deals, new defensive coordinator Jon Hoke, several junior college players joining the team, the opportunity to win 100 games at two different schools, and thinking that he had a decent team coming back.[230][2] Spurrier would later say that "we thought we could scrap out eight wins or something like that."[230]
Over the first half of the 2010s, South Carolina had won 49 games, the eleventh most in the country.[231] However, coming off a 7–6 season and with questions at quarterback and defense, the Gamecocks were widely ranked as the eleventh best team in the SEC in the preseason.[232][233][234]
South Carolina had a 2015 recruiting class that was ranked No. 20 by 247Sports,[235] No. 17 by On3,[236] and No. 19 by Rivals.com.[237] The Gamecocks had been in the mid-seventies in the recruiting rankings as late as mid-July; they took a slower, more measured approach to recruiting than in years prior.[238] All coaches on the staff were kept,[239] while long-time NFL assistant coach Jon Hoke was hired as co-defensive coordinator.[239] Hoke had previously worked as defensive coordinator under Spurrier at the end of his Florida tenure,[239] and had also been offered the same position on Spurrier's new staff at South Carolina in late 2004, which he declined.[240]
In the 2015 season opener, South Carolina defeated North Carolina at a neutral site.[241] The next two games were conference losses, a close game against Kentucky at home followed by a blowout on the road against No. 7 Georgia.[241] Back at home, the Gamecocks hoped to snap the losing streak against UCF.[241] However, the game was a "struggle" for the Gamecocks, who were down 8–14 at halftime, though they did eventually win.[242][241] Following the game against UCF and the 2–2 start, Spurrier called South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner and informed him that he would try to finish the season but that he sensed his time at South Carolina was coming to an end.[243] Next, the Gamecocks went on the road and lost to Missouri for the second consecutive season.[244][241] The following game, against No. 7 LSU, was scheduled to take place at home, but instead was moved to Tiger Stadium due to severe flooding in the Palmetto State.[241][245] On October 10, 2015, South Carolina played LSU, keeping it close in the first half but getting blown out in the second half to lose the game.[246][241] By this point, South Carolina was 2–4 in the season, and 0–4 in conference play.[241] It was Spurrier's first 0–4 SEC start in his career.[245] The Gamecocks had also lost eight of their past nine SEC games dating back to last season.[2] The LSU game would prove to be the last of Spurrier's tenure.[247]
Resignation
On October 11, 2015, one day after the loss to LSU, Spurrier called South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner and told him that he was contemplating resignation.[243][247] Tanner and school president Harris Pastides tried to persuade Spurrier to coach through the end of the regular season, but were unsuccessful in doing so.[247]
On the night of October 12, 2015, after practice, Spurrier told his players that there was a "good chance" he would be stepping down.[243] He would later speculate that this "surprised some, and maybe not others".[243] Later that evening, Tanner and South Carolina deputy athletic director Charles Waddell met with several coaches and team captains Skai Moore, Mike Matulis, Isaiah Johnson, and Pharoh Cooper in an effort to decide an interim head coach.[243] Soon after, Tanner called offensive line coach/co-offensive coordinator Shawn Elliott to ask him to be the interim head coach, which he accepted.[243]
The next morning, October 13, Elliott conferred with the other coaches and some players, who showed their support for him.[243] One of the players asked Tanner to tell Spurrier to visit practice, which Spurrier did.[243] Later that day, the University of South Carolina held a press conference, concerning Spurrier's resignation and the appointment of Elliott as interim head coach.[243][247]
Okay, first of all, I'm resigning. I'm not retiring. [I want to] get that part straight. I doubt if I'll ever be a head coach again, but, you know, maybe coaching a high school team or something. So don't say I've retired completely from coaching. Who knows what will come in the future. But, the last several years, as I travel around the country, seeing guys and so forth, I always get asked: 'How much longer are you going to coach?' And my answer is always the same. As long as we keep winning, keep winning these bowl games, everybody's happy, we're ranked, life's pretty good, I guess I can go several more years. But, if it starts going south, starts going bad, then I need to get out. You can't keep a head coach that's done it as long as I have, when it's heading in the wrong direction. And, really today, when I move out of the way, and Shawn Elliott's going to take over as the interim head coach, it sort of starts our rebuilding, or building back, what we had just two years ago. ... somehow or another, we've slid. And it's my fault, I'm responsible, I'm the head coach. ... [The school president] said 'Why can't you just go through the end of the year and announce this is your last year?' I find that that doesn't work a lot, because if the players know you're not going to be their coach after such and such of time, you just don't have the accountability, I think. And also, it gives us a chance to hire an interim head coach ... and gives him a chance to make his mark, for these next six games. ... Yesterday, I was sort of a recruiting liability. It's hard to recruit when your coach has done it a long time, and, at a certain age, the recruits want to know that guy's going to be there five to ten years from now. And with a new coach here, I think it really is going to pick up recruiting. ... Back in '04, I think I was probably the best coach for this job, eleven years ago, but I'm not today. I'm not today. And that's the cycle of coaching. ... I'm still going to be around town. ... I'll just be the former Head Ball Coach now. ... And I just think it's the best thing. This is the best thing for South Carolina football, for our university, to start another building process.
Steve Spurrier,his opening statement at his resignation press conference on October 13, 2015[243]
In a letter to Gamecock fans, Spurrier would later further justify his resignation by saying that he saved the university three million dollars by forfeiting his buyout clause, that the team played better under Elliott, that he didn't want a "Spurrier Farewell Tour", and that he essentially fired himself because he knew the university would not fire him.[248]
In 2010, South Carolina's staff was considered to be full of assistant coaches who were excellent recruiters and evaluators,[138] who controlled the state in recruiting.[134] This in-state recruiting dominance came at an auspicious time for the Gamecocks, as the state was in a period of heightened high school football talent.[18] Barrett Sallee of Bleacher Report would later comment that "the biggest reason for South Carolina's success ... was program-defining players inside the Palmetto State who chose to go to the Gamecocks rather than Clemson or other major programs. Players like Marcus Lattimore, Stephon Gilmore, and Jadeveon Clowney are the exception to high school football in the state of South Carolina, not the rule."[18] In 2013, recruiting analyst Bud Elliott commented: "South Carolina turned in its best (blue-chip) class ratio so far under Steve Spurrier ... Typical of most overachievers, South Carolina scouts very well and finds players to fit its system."[250]
From 2011 to 2013, the Gamecocks "notoriously started games hot at home",[195] contributing to the longest home winning streak in the nation.[226]
Reasons for shortcomings
South Carolina never reached a high-enough blue-chip ratio to be able to win a national championship.[250]
Recruiting mistakes were cited as the reason for disappointing results in both the first five seasons and last two seasons of Spurrier's tenure.[138][135] Spurrier said he also made mistakes on quarterbacks in his first five seasons.[135] Recruiting coordinator Spurrier Jr. received much blame for the results near the end of his father's tenure, though Spurrier instead spread the recruiting blame among the entire staff.[154] After the 2013 season, the talent on the roster began to dry up.[138] The 2014 offense was still talented, but by 2015, the talent was considered lacking on both offense and defense.[138] Spurrier's "two or three more years" comment in December 2014 greatly hurt recruiting.[229][251] Recruiting had changed since his tenure at Florida, and Spurrier took no interest in recruiting younger players.[252]
Spurrier has admitted that he didn't "surround himself with the right personnel" near the end of his tenure.[138] After 2010, South Carolina's skilled assistant coaches gradually left the program for other opportunities.[138] In particular, the departures of Shane Beamer, Jay Graham, Ellis Johnson, Craig Fitzgerald, and Brad Lawing have been noted.[138] All of the replacements for these coaches were downgrades, who were not as strong in recruiting, developing, and/or coaching.[138] Spurrier became less involved with the defense.[154] The staff became complacent, which Spurrier would later blame on contract extensions after the 2013 season.[230] The new coaching staff was a "disaster waiting to happen", one which Spurrier likely didn't realize, due to the fact that he didn't make many great assistant hires during his successful tenure at Florida.[138]
Spurrier has also often pointed to attitude and culture problems on the team near the end of his tenure.[230][154][253] In practice, some players ran into other players' legs and "acted like they didn’t care",[154] and one quarterback called Spurrier "bro".[230] There was a severe decline in attendance for the team's weekly chapel services.[230] The players didn't like each other,[253] and neither did the coaches,[253] a few of which were "disgruntled".[154]
Aftermath
Spurrier
Spurrier in late 2016
In February 2016, Spurrier assumed a new role at the University of South Carolina: special assistant to the president and athletic director.[254] He had a contract clause that allowed him to assume such a role, if he wanted.[254]
In July 2016, Spurrier returned to the University of Florida, as ambassador and consultant for the Gators' athletic department.[255] He said: "My wife, Jerri, and I are extremely thrilled to be returning home to our alma mater, and to Gainesville where we met on campus over fifty years ago. I'm very appreciative to athletic director Jeremy Foley, head coach Jim McElwain and Phil Pharr of Gator Boosters for their role in making this happen. I also want to say thanks to the University of South Carolina for allowing me to be their coach from 2005 to 2015. Also a special thanks to all of the Gamecock players, coaches and fans that allowed our teams to set so many school records. I will now pull for South Carolina to win every game but one, just as I did when I pulled for Florida to win every game but one as the Gamecock coach."[255]
In April 2018, Spurrier made a return to coaching, being named the first head coach of the Orlando Apollos, part of the new Alliance of American Football.[256] Spurrier would later express interest in ending his coaching career on a winning note.[257] In February 2019, the Apollos began their first and only season. By April, the league was suspended, and the Apollos' 7–1 record was the best of all eight teams.[258] Spurrier said: "We're all disappointed, but, on the other side, we've got to be the champs, right? We're 7–1 and the next teams are 5–3. ... But it's sad to end this way."[258] Spurrier ended his coaching career on a winning note, and not has coached again since.
Spurrier remains on the University of Florida's athletic staff.[259]
South Carolina
Action during the 2022 win against Clemson, the program's first win in the rivalry since Spurrier's resignation
Interim head coach Shawn Elliott, carrying Spurrier's visor onto the field,[260][261] won his debut game, beating Vanderbilt.[261] However, he then lost the last five games of the season.[262] It was the longest losing streak since the end of Spurrier's 2007 season,[10] and included a loss to The Citadel,[262] the program's first loss to an FCS program since 1990.[263] The 2015 team finished with a 3–9 record, with two wins and four losses coming under Spurrier, and one win and five losses coming under Elliott.[262] It was South Carolina's first losing season since 2003 and worst record since 1999.[10]
Elliott was not kept as head coach, and South Carolina instead hired Will Muschamp as its new head coach in December 2015.[260] Muschamp went 28–30 over 4.7 seasons before being fired during the 2020 season.[264]Mike Bobo subsequently took over as interim head coach,[264] and lost the last three games of the season.[265]
Bobo was not kept as head coach, and South Carolina instead hired Shane Beamer as its new head coach in December 2020.[266] South Carolina has seen success under Beamer, and he remains their current head coach.[103] Beamer broke Spurrier's record for most wins in the first four seasons by a Gamecock head coach.[267] He has the second most top-10 wins in program history, behind only Spurrier.[268] He has also won SEC Coach of the Year.[269]
South Carolina's first post-Spurrier season in which it finished ranked was the 2022 season.[10] In that season, Beamer's second year, the Gamecocks did something that even Spurrier's best teams could not do: they defeated three top-15 teams and back-to-back top-ten opponents for the first time in program history.[270] South Carolina finished that season with an 8–5 record and ranked No. 23 in the country, the program's first final ranking since Spurrier's 2013 team.[10]
Legacy
Assessment
Two players from Spurrier's tenure have had their jerseys retired by the school, with more likely to follow
For his accomplishments both on and off the field, Spurrier is widely considered the greatest Gamecock head football coach of all time.[271][9][272][273][274][275] Additionally, in a fan poll conducted by The State in August 2021, Spurrier ranked as the third greatest coach of any sport at the University of South Carolina, behind only Dawn Staley and Ray Tanner.[275] His success with the Gamecocks contributed to him being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2017,[276] and it contributes to him being considered one of the greatest college football coaches of all time.[277][278]
However, some fans "still have a bitter taste in their mouths" regarding the end of Spurrier's tenure at South Carolina.[23] Spurrier received some criticism from the media for his resignation, which many characterized as quitting.[279][280][281][282] One writer described it as "awkward, unsentimental, and selfish".[279] Despite the criticism, Spurrier received considerable goodwill from others in the media,[281][280] and he has continued to defend the resignation.[283][23]
Several players from the Spurrier era have been regarded highly.[20] In an article published by The State listing the top fifty Gamecock football players of all time, twelve were players that played under Spurrier, including three of the top four.[20] Seven players from the era have been inducted into the University of South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame.[284] Two of the program's six retired jerseys played under Spurrier.[285]Connor Shaw is widely considered the greatest Gamecock quarterback of all time.[286][287][288][289][290][291][292] An article by The State ranked him as the second greatest Gamecock football player ever,[20] and multiple journalists have nominated him as the most underrated SEC football player of the 21st century.[292]Marcus Lattimore has been ranked as the second greatest Gamecock running back of all time.[20][293]Kenny McKinley, Sidney Rice, and Alshon Jeffery have often been ranked as three of the greatest Gamecock wide receivers of all time.[20][54][294]Jadeveon Clowney, Melvin Ingram, Eric Norwood, Stephon Gilmore, Emanuel Cook, Jasper Brinkley, and Cliff Matthews have been considered some of the best defensive players in program history.[295][296] Clowney featured on multiple 2010s All-Decade Teams,[297][298][299][300] and has appeared on lists of the greatest defensive players in college football history.[301][302]
The four-year stretch between 2010 and 2013 is considered the most successful era in program history by many journalists, and has even been officially honored by the university.[15][16][303][304][292][305] Each of those four seasons/teams have appeared on lists of the greatest in program history.[306][307][308][309] Referencing the four-year stretch, Marky Billson of Saturday Down South has written: "The 1984 Gamecocks showed the program’s potential. But by becoming only the twelfth team in college football history to win eleven games in three straight seasons, the 2013 Gamecocks lived up to it."[197] Similarly, Zach Barnett of FootballScoop has written: "It's unquestionably the best four-year run in South Carolina's football history, and means more in Columbia than one (national) title would in Tuscaloosa."[310]
Several individual games, plays, and moments from Spurrier's tenure have been considered notable.[311] The upset over Ole Miss in 2009 has become increasingly significant over time, largely due to starting the "Sandstorm" tradition.[312][304] The upset over Alabama in 2010 has been described as "one of the biggest wins perhaps in the history of the school".[313]Athlon Sports has ranked the 2010 victory over Florida, which clinched the SEC East, as the greatest moment in Gamecock football history,[314] and the photograph of Spurrier being carried off the field after the win has been described as one of the school's most iconic.[315] "The Hit" by Jadeveon Clowney in the 2012 season has been considered the greatest play in program history,[316] as well as one of the greatest plays in college football history.[317][318] The "Miracle at Mizzou" in 2013 has been regarded as one of the best comebacks in program history.[319][212]
Honors
Spurrier receiving the Order of the Palmetto award
University of South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame: Kenny McKinley,[330] Sidney Rice,[331] Eric Norwood,[332] Marcus Lattimore,[333] Connor Shaw,[334] Mike McGee,[334] Pharoh Cooper,[335] Melvin Ingram[335]
University of South Carolina's indoor football practice building named the "Jerri and Steve Spurrier Indoor Practice Facility"[337]
2010–2013 teams honored during halftime of a South Carolina home football game in 2023[338]
Lasting impact
Shane Beamer, assistant under Spurrier from 2007 to 2011, is South Carolina's current head coach
Spurrier's tenure has been credited with changing the culture of the South Carolina program and its fans, especially regarding expectations.[339][340][341][25][342][343] In the mid-2000s, many around the program expressed only an interest in beating Clemson,[272] or applauded the team after losing a close game against superior competition.[340][344] Spurrier pushed back against these ideas.[272][340][344] Sanders Early of FanSided has written: "Spurrier doesn’t expect fans to be satisfied with losing. This type of mentality has spread throughout Gamecock fans' minds, especially after three straight 11–2 seasons. After tasting success, Gamecock fans are not ready to fade back into mediocrity in the SEC ... By being Steve Spurrier, he effectively changed Gamecock culture. ... he showed that becoming an elite power in the SEC and in the country is entirely possible at South Carolina."[340] By 2019, several media outlets reported that athletic director Ray Tanner and head football coach Will Muschamp both had poor job security, attributing this to the football program failing to meet the new expectations.[341][25][342]
The Spurrier era also marked a major turning point in South Carolina's resources.[23] Before Spurrier arrived, South Carolina had only one $1 million donor.[23] By 2020, the Gamecocks had "a handful of big-money boosters".[23] Spurrier has commented: "A lot of fans and donors who could give big money to South Carolina saw the light at the end of the tunnel. 'Hey, maybe we can win and win big. We can be relevant in football. We don’t have to look up to Florida and Georgia and Tennessee and all those guys anymore.' I think that really helped spur the boosters."[23] Several facilities created in Spurrier's tenure are still used,[345][346] and South Carolina's football facilities have consistently ranked among the best in the nation since 2018.[347][348][349]
Due to recruiting shortcomings near the end of his tenure, Spurrier was considered partly responsible for disappointing results in his successor's tenure.[350]
Personnel from the Spurrier era have continued to impact the program.[351][352] Spurrier himself has maintained supportive contact with the program and the coaches who succeeded him.[231][351] His son, Scott, briefly stayed on the staff as an offensive analyst;[353][354] his departure was called the "end of the Spurrier era at South Carolina".[353] Under Muschamp, Ellis Johnson returned as a defensive analyst,[355][356] while Eric Wolford returned as offensive line coach.[357][358]Marcus Lattimore and Connor Shaw both served as director of player development,[352] while Shaw also briefly served as interim quarterbacks coach and director of football relations.[359][360] Several personnel from the Spurrier era are currently at South Carolina, including head coach Shane Beamer,[361] tight ends coach/run game coordinator Shawn Elliott,[362] and director of player personnel and recruiting Darren Uscher.[363]
Several South Carolina football traditions that began in the Spurrier era persist today, including Sir Big Spur,[d]"Sandstorm",[366] white rally towels,[24] and the "Welcome to Williams–Brice" pregame video.[165] "Sandstorm" and white towels are also now used at the university's other sports venues.[367][368]
Notes and references
↑ In just the first five seasons of his tenure (2005–2009), Spurrier broke the school record for bowl game appearances by a head coach, with four. The Gamecocks were bowl-eligible even in the one season they weren't invited to a bowl game (2007). By the end of the decade, Spurrier was responsible for more than 25% of all the school's bowl game appearances. The four bowl games between 2005 and 2009 broke the school record for most bowl games in a five-year stretch, as well as the school record for most bowl games in a four-year stretch. It was the first five-year stretch in program history to not feature a losing season since the 1930s.[10][11]
↑ The first time South Carolina won three consecutive bowl games in nonconsecutive years was 1994–2001.[69] However, the first time South Carolina won three consecutive bowl games in three consecutive years was 2011–13.[69]
↑ Given to an athletic director who has made significant and meaningful contributions to intercollegiate athletics
↑ Sir Big Spur, the University of South Carolina's official live gamecock mascot, debuted in baseball in 1999 but didn't debut in football until 2006.[364][365]
↑ Spurrier resigned on October 12, 2015.[249]Shawn Elliott was named interim head coach and led the Gamecocks to a final record of 3-9.
Stephen Orr Spurrier is an American former football player and coach. He played ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL) before coaching for 38 years, primarily in college. He is often referred to by his nickname, "the Head Ball Coach". He played college football as a quarterback for the Florida Gators, where he won the 1966 Heisman Trophy. The San Francisco 49ers selected him in the first round of the 1967 NFL draft, and he spent a decade playing in the National Football League (NFL) mainly as a backup quarterback and punter. Spurrier was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1986.
Joseph R. Morrison was an American football player and coach. He played professionally as a running back and wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants from 1959 to 1972. Morrison served as the head football coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga from 1973 to 1979, at the University of New Mexico from 1980 to 1982, and at the University of South Carolina from 1983 to 1988, compiling a career college football coach record of 101–72–7.
The Clemson–South Carolina football brawl was an on-field altercation during an American college football game between two rival schools, the University of South Carolina Gamecocks and the Clemson University Tigers. The incident took place on November 20, 2004 during the 2004 college football season at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina. This disturbance led to serious repercussions handed down for those involved from the SEC and the ACC. This took place the day after a notable brawl at an NBA game in Detroit, the "Malice at the Palace".
The South Carolina Gamecocks football program represents the University of South Carolina. The Gamecocks compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference. The team's head coach is Shane Beamer. They play their home games at Williams–Brice Stadium.
The 2009 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Steve Spurrier, who was in his fifth season at USC. The Gamecocks played their home games at Williams–Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. Carolina finished the season 7–6, winning the Palmetto Bowl over in-state rival Clemson 34–17 in their final regular season game, before losing in the PapaJohns.com Bowl 20–7 against Connecticut.
The 2010 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Steve Spurrier, who was in his sixth season at USC. The Gamecocks played their home games at Williams–Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina and were members of the East Division of the Southeastern Conference. The Gamecocks finished the season 9–5, 5–3 in SEC play to win the East Division for the first and only time in program history.
The 2004 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Gamecocks were led by Lou Holtz in his sixth and final season as head coach and played their home games in Williams–Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. They finished the season with a 6–5 record.
Shane Beamer is an American college football coach who is currently the head football coach at the University of South Carolina. Beamer is the highest-paid coach in school history. He is the first South Carolina coach to win back-to-back games against top-10 teams, the first to win three straight games over AP top-25 teams, and the first FBS coach since 1978 to win twice by 20+ points as a 20+ point underdog.
The 2011 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Gamecocks were led by seventh-year head coach Steve Spurrier and played their home games at Williams–Brice Stadium. They were a member of the East Division of the Southeastern Conference and finished 11–2 for the season and 6–2 in SEC play.
The 2012 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Gamecocks were led by eighth-year head coach Steve Spurrier and played their home games at Williams–Brice Stadium. They were a member of the East Division of the Southeastern Conference. The season finished with 11–2, 6–2 in SEC to finish in third place in the East Division.
The Georgia–South Carolina football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Georgia Bulldogs and South Carolina Gamecocks. The series started in 1894 and was played intermittently over the next several decades. The series then became much more frequent, being played almost every year from 1958 to 1989. After the Gamecocks joined the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the rivalry was played annually from 1992 to 2023. As a result of SEC expansion, it ceased to be an annual matchup in 2024, although there is speculation that the two could become permanent annual rivals again if the SEC moves to a nine-game conference schedule. Georgia leads the series 55–19–2.
The 2013 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Gamecocks competed as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) as part of its East Division. The team was led by head coach Steve Spurrier, in his ninth year, and played its home games at Williams–Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.
The 2014 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Gamecocks competed as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) as part of its East Division. The team was led by head coach Steve Spurrier, in his tenth year, and played its home games at Williams–Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. They finished the season 7–6, 3–5 in SEC play to finish in fifth place in the East Division. They were invited to the Independence Bowl where they defeated Miami (FL).
The 2015 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Gamecocks competed as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) as part of its East Division. The team was led by head coach Steve Spurrier, who was in his eleventh year before his resignation on October 12, 2015, after a 2–4 start. Co-offensive coordinator Shawn Elliott took over as interim head coach. They played six home games at Williams–Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina and one home game at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They finished the season 3–9, 1–7 in SEC play to finish in seventh place in the East division.
Rashad Fenton is an American professional football cornerback. He played college football at South Carolina. He was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft.
The 2021 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season marked the Gamecocks' 128th overall season, and 30th as a member of the SEC East Division. The Gamecocks played their home games at Williams–Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina, and were led by first-year head coach Shane Beamer.
Steve Spurrier Jr. is an American football coach. He is the associate head coach, offensive coordinator, and running backs coach at the University of Tulsa, a position he has held since 2024. He previously served as the wide receivers coach at Mississippi State University from 2020 to 2022.
The 2023 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina as a member of the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Gamecocks played their home games at Williams–Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina, and were led by Shane Beamer in his third year as their head coach.
The South Carolina–Tennessee football rivalry is an American college football rivalry game played between the South Carolina Gamecocks and Tennessee Volunteers. The game was first played in 1903 in Columbia, SC. The two schools only faced-off 10 times before 1992, when they began playing annually as members of the SEC East division. As a result of conference expansion, the game will no longer be annual beginning in 2024. Tennessee leads the all-time series 27–11–2,. The most recent game was a 41–20 Tennessee win in 2023.
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