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South Carolina Gamecocks football under Steve Spurrier

South Carolina Gamecocks football under Steve Spurrier
Athletic directorMike McGee (2004–2005)
Eric Hyman (2005–2012)
Ray Tanner (2012–2015)
Head coachSteve Spurrier
11 season, 86–49 (.637)
StadiumWilliams–Brice Stadium
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
Bowl record5–4 (.556)
Division titles1
Consensus All-Americans2

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. He served as South Carolina's 32nd head coach.[3]

With a mantra of "why not us?",[4][5] Spurrier inherited one of the least successful teams in college football and quickly led its transformation into a more competitive program.[6][7] South Carolina averaged seven wins in the mid-to-late 2000s,[7] and reached new heights in the early 2010s, winning the SEC East in 2010 and going 11–2 every season from 2011 to 2013.[7] The Gamecocks regressed the next two years, leading Spurrier to resign in 2015.[8]

Finishing with a record of 86–49, Spurrier is the winningest coach in Gamecock football history.[9] South Carolina won nearly 64% of its games, the highest winning percentage of any coach who has led the Gamecocks for more than twenty games.[10] South Carolina was ranked in 84 different weeks,[11] including 69 straight from September 2010 to September 2014.[11] The Gamecocks went to nine bowl games and won five, both school records for a coach.[12] They were 6–4 against Clemson, including a school-record five-straight wins.[13] The 2010–2013 seasons marked the most successful era in program history.[14][15] In that era, South Carolina had its only appearance in the SEC Championship Game, its only eleven-win seasons, its only top-10 finishes, and its only top-5 finish.[16][7] South Carolina became the twelfth team in college football history to win eleven games in three straight seasons.[17]

Coinciding with a period of rich in-state talent,[18] Spurrier and his staff were considered excellent recruiters,[19] bringing in renowned players such as Eric Norwood, Melvin Ingram, Stephon Gilmore, Alshon Jeffery, Marcus Lattimore, Connor Shaw, and Jadeveon Clowney.[20] The school's athletic finances improved during this time, leading to its football facilities being upgraded.[21][22][23] Spurrier's tenure was a turning point in the history of the program, with long-lasting changes in its resources and expectations.[24][25][26][27][28][29]

  1. ^ "USC trustees hire Steve Spurrier as head Gamecocks football coach". www.wistv.com. November 23, 2004. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  2. ^ "Spurrier resigns: It's time to get out of the way". ESPN.com. October 13, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  3. ^ "History lesson: South Carolina's all-time head football coaches". The State. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  4. ^ Kendall, Josh (February 9, 2016). "Spurrier: 'Right time in the right place'". The State. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  5. ^ Schlabach, Mark (April 19, 2005). ""Why Not Us?"". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  6. ^ "Steve Spurrier best coach all-time at Florida and South Carolina". Saturday Down South. February 6, 2016. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d "South Carolina Gamecocks College Football History, Stats, Records". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  8. ^ "Steve Spurrier pens letter to South Carolina fans explaining resignation". CBSSports.com. December 2, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  9. ^ Procter, Kevin. "Winningest South Carolina football coaches in Gamecocks history: Steve Spurrier No. 1". The Greenville News. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  10. ^ "South Carolina Gamecocks Coaches". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "South Carolina Gamecocks Poll History". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  12. ^ "South Carolina Gamecocks Bowls". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  13. ^ "Winsipedia - Clemson Tigers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks football series history". Winsipedia. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  14. ^ "'Look: South Carolina honors top football teams of Steve Spurrier era'". Yahoo. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  15. ^ "D.J. Swearinger calls out South Carolina program for timing of 2010-13 reunion: 'Do better'". Saturday Down South. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  16. ^ "Steve Spurrier best coach all-time at Florida and South Carolina". Saturday Down South. February 6, 2016. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  17. ^ "Who's better: 1984 South Carolina or 2013 South Carolina?". Saturday Down South. July 16, 2016. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference :63 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ Cite error: The named reference :262 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ Cloninger, David (July 4, 2015). "Top 50 Gamecocks of all time". The State. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  21. ^ Iacobelli, Pete. "AD Eric Hyman leaves South Carolina for Texas A&M". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  22. ^ Cloninger, David (January 11, 2014). "Love him or hate him, former AD Eric Hyman is proud he shook South Carolina out of its rut". The State. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  23. ^ Dooley, Pat. "Spurrier comfortable in Carolina". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  24. ^ Dooley, Pat. "Spurrier comfortable in Carolina". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  25. ^ "Steve Spurrier: How changing the culture at South Carolina hurt him". Garnet and Cocky. September 15, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  26. ^ Arend, Alek (October 21, 2024). "South Carolina AD Issues Statement on Will Muschamp". The Spun. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  27. ^ "Column: Ray Tanner's seat is as warm as ever". Column: Ray Tanner's seat is as warm as ever - The Daily Gamecock at University of South Carolina. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  28. ^ Adams, John (November 14, 2019). "Who will follow Arkansas' Chad Morris to the SEC coaches unemployment line?". Knox News. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  29. ^ Estes, Gentry. "SEC: Will Muschamp says this is his best Gamecocks football team yet at South Carolina". The Greenville News. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
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