| 1984 South Carolina Gamecocks football | |
|---|---|
Gator Bowl, L 14–21 vs. Oklahoma State | |
| Conference | Independent |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 13 |
| AP | No. 11 |
| Record | 10–2 |
| Head coach |
|
| Offensive coordinator | Frank Sadler (2nd season) |
| Defensive coordinator | Tom Gadd (2nd season) |
| Home stadium | Williams–Brice Stadium |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 5 Boston College | – | – | 10 | – | 2 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 11 South Carolina | – | – | 10 | – | 2 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Army | – | – | 8 | – | 3 | – | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rutgers | – | – | 7 | – | 3 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 17 Florida State | – | – | 7 | – | 3 | – | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Virginia Tech | – | – | 8 | – | 4 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Virginia | – | – | 8 | – | 4 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 18 Miami (FL) | – | – | 8 | – | 5 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notre Dame | – | – | 7 | – | 5 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southwestern Louisiana | – | – | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Penn State | – | – | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Syracuse | – | – | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Temple | – | – | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Memphis State | – | – | 5 | – | 5 | – | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Navy | – | – | 4 | – | 6 | – | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southern Miss | – | – | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pittsburgh | – | – | 3 | – | 7 | – | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulane | – | – | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cincinnati | – | – | 2 | – | 9 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| East Carolina | – | – | 2 | – | 9 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Louisville | – | – | 2 | – | 9 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rankings from AP Poll | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 1984 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina as an independent during the 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Joe Morrison, the team played its home games at Williams–Brice Stadium. After only three eight-win seasons in program history and three consecutive non-winning seasons,[1][2] the 1984 Gamecocks made a run at a national championship.[3][4] South Carolina started the season 9–0, including wins over No. 12 Georgia, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame and No. 11 Florida State, and were ranked No. 2 in the country.[5] However, in the tenth game of the season, they lost to an unranked Navy team, which had a losing record.[6][7] In the final two games of the season, South Carolina defeated archrival Clemson, becoming the first team in school history to win ten games, and then lost to No. 9 Oklahoma State in the Gator Bowl, finishing the season with a 10–2 record.[8][9]
The 1984 Gamecocks had several nicknames. The defense was known as the "Fire Ants", while the team as a whole was known as "Black Magic" due to their success, remarkable comebacks, distinctive black jerseys, and Morrison's all-black attire.[10][11][12][13]
The Gamecocks finished No. 11 in the final AP Poll. At the time, the No. 11 final ranking was the highest ever achieved by South Carolina. It was only the second final ranking in school history, and the first since 1958. Joe Morrison won the Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award. The peak ranking of No. 2 remains the highest in school history.[14][15]
- ^ "South Carolina Gamecocks College Football History, Stats, Records". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ "Who's better: 1984 South Carolina or 2013 South Carolina?". Saturday Down South. July 16, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ Gillespie, Bob (July 22, 2020). "Richard Bell, one-and-done as USC coach: How 1982 season shaped him, players, program". The State. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
- ^ "Who's better: 1984 South Carolina or 2013 South Carolina?". Saturday Down South. July 16, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ "1984 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ "1984 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ "1984 Navy Midshipmen Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ "1984 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ "South Carolina Gamecocks College Football History, Stats, Records". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ "Will Muschamp explains when South Carolina will wear its 'Black Magic' throwback uniforms". Saturday Down South. August 27, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ "Who's better: 1984 South Carolina or 2013 South Carolina?". Saturday Down South. July 16, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ Kensler, Tom. "A Case for the Defense Fired Up "Fire Ants' a Must for South Carolina". The Oklahoman. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ Kendall, Josh (January 9, 2016). "The State @125: USC's Black Magic season a pursuit for perfection". The State. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
- ^ "South Carolina Gamecocks Poll History". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
- ^ Archives, L. A. Times (February 6, 1989). "Morrison, 52, Dies of Heart Attack : South Carolina Coach, Ex-Giant Star Collapses After Racquetball Game". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 29, 2023.