South Carolina Gamecocks football

NCAAFootballSchool
CurrentSeason = 2008 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
TeamName = South Carolina Gamecocks Football


ImageSize = 130
HeadCoachDisplay = Steve Spurrier
HeadCoachLink = Steve Spurrier
HeadCoachYear = 4th
HCWins = 21
HCLosses = 16
HCTies =
Stadium = Williams-Brice Stadium
StadCapacity = 80,250
StadSurface = Grass
Location = Columbia, South Carolina
ConferenceDisplay= SEC
ConferenceLink = Southeastern Conference
ConfDivision = East
FirstYear = 1892
AthlDirectorDisp =
AthlDirectorLink =
WebsiteName = GamecocksOnline.com
WebsiteURL = http://gamecocksonline.cstv.com
ATWins = 521
ATLosses = 523
ATTies = 44
ATPercentage = .499
BowlWins = 4
BowlLosses = 9
BowlTies = 0
NatlTitles =
ConfTitles = 1
Heismans = 1
AllAmericans = 51
Color1 = Garnet
Color1Hex = 8C2633
Color2 = Black
Color2Hex = 000000
FightSong = The Fighting Gamecocks Lead the Way
MascotDisplay = Cocky
MascotLink = Cocky (mascot)
MarchingBand =
PagFreeLabel = Rival
PagFreeValue = Clemson Tigers

The South Carolina Gamecocks football team represents the University of South Carolina in NCAA Division I college football. Since joining the Southeastern Conference in 1992, the team has competed in the Eastern division. Steve Spurrier is the current head coach of the football team. The team plays its home games in Williams-Brice Stadium.

History

Carolina fielded its first football team in 1892 to play against Furman on Christmas Eve in Charleston. The football team was not sanctioned by the University and had to pay their own train fare as well as buy their own uniforms. They were nicknamed the "College Boys" by "The News and Courier" and their supporters wore garnet and black. The team lost the game because of their inexperience and lack of training. [Citation | first = Daniel Walker | last = Hollis | title = University of South Carolina | year = 1956 | publisher = University of South Carolina Press | volume = II | pages = 189-190]

USC won their first game during the third season of the sport on November 20, 1895 against Columbia AA. The football team got their first head coach, W.H. "Dixie" Whaley, the following year, and the 1896 season also saw the inaugural game against archrival Clemson on November 12, which Carolina won 12-6.

The Board of Trustees banned participation in football for the 1906 season after the faculty complained about the coarseness of chants yelled by the students at football games. However, the board was so harassed by petitions from the students and alumni that it voted to allow the resumption of the sport in 1907. A hastily assembled football team competed in an abbreviated season and won all three games it played. [Citation | first = Daniel Walker | last = Hollis | title = University of South Carolina | year = 1956 | publisher = University of South Carolina Press | volume = II | pages = 229-230]

The Gamecocks have had two head coaches named National Coach of the Year, Joe Morrison in 1984 and Lou Holtz in 2000. Head coach Paul Dietzel was named ACC Coach of the Year in 1969, and current head coach Steve Spurrier was named SEC Coach of the Year in 2005.

=Head Coaches [cite web|title="2007 Football Media Guide History"|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/scar/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/usc07guide8.pdf] =

=Gamecocks in the NFL=

*John Abraham — Atlanta Falcons
*Fred Bennett — Houston Texans
*Cory Boyd — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
*Sheldon Brown — Philadelphia Eagles
*Terry Cousin — Cleveland Browns
*Kalimba Edwards — Oakland Raiders
*Na'Shan Goddard — New York Giants
*André Goodman — Miami Dolphins
*Johnathan Joseph — Cincinnati Bengals
*Lance Laury — Seattle Seahawks
*Langston Moore — Detroit Lions
*Jamar Nesbit — New Orleans Saints
*Andrew Pinnock — San Diego Chargers
*Sidney Rice — Minnesota Vikings
*Dunta Robinson — Houston Texans
*Ko Simpson — Buffalo Bills
*Shaun Smith — Cleveland Browns
*Travelle Wharton — Carolina Panthers
*Troy Williamson — Jacksonville Jaguars
*Rod Wilson — Chicago Bears
*Anthony Wright — New York Giants

Retired jerseys

ee also

*South Carolina Gamecocks

Notes and references

External links

* [http://gamecocksonline.cstv.com/ South Carolina Gamecock Athletics]