1st Down Magazine

23
Program of the Month
University of South Carolina
Gamecocks
The South Carolina
Gamecocks football team
represents the University
of South Carolina in the
sport of American football.
The Gamecocks compete
in the Football Bowl
Subdivision of the NCAA
and the Eastern Division
of the Southeastern Conference.
Will Muschamp
currently serves as the
team’s head coach. They
play their home games at
Williams-Brice Stadium. Currently, it is the 20th largest stadium in college football.
USC’s SEC tenure has been highlighted by an SEC East title in 2010, Final Top-25 rankings
in 2000, 2001, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 (AP No. 19, No. 13, No. 22, No. 9, No. 8 and No. 4),
and four wins over Top-5 SEC opponents, (No. 4 Ole Miss in 2009, No. 1 Alabama in 2010,
No. 5 Georgia in 2012 and at No. 5 Missouri in 2013).
From 1953 through 1970, the Gamecocks played in the Atlantic Coast Conference, winning
the 1969 ACC championship and finishing No. 15 in the 1958 final AP poll. From 1971
through 1991, they competed as a major independent, producing 1980 Heisman Trophy winner
George Rogers, six bowl appearances, and Final Top-25 rankings in 1984 and 1987 (AP
No. 11 and No. 15).
The Gamecocks have produced a National Coach of the Year in Joe Morrison, three SEC
coaches of the year in Lou Holtz (2000) and Steve Spurrier (2005, 2010), and one ACC coach
of the year in Paul Dietzel (1969). They also have three members of the College Football Hall
of Fame in George Rogers, Lou Holtz, and Sterling Sharpe.