With just two weeks to go before kickoff at Vanderbilt, it's time to get informed about this year's football team. Here's one nugget of information for every day between now and Sept. 1.
The Gamecocks have had their good times…
The 1960s saw the Gamecocks begin their rise from an average program to a contender on the national stage. After winning the ACC championship in 1969, the late '70s and early '80s were marked by George Rogers running wild over defenses on his way to winning a Heisman trophy. Not long after Rogers, the Gamecocks entered into the “Black Magic Era” during which the team enjoyed much success, including a 10-2 season in 1984. Lou Holtz coached the Gamecocks to 8-4 and 9-3 records in in 2000 and 2001. More recently, Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks had three straight 11-win seasons from 2011-2013.
...and their bad times
The low point in South Carolina football, and maybe Gamecock athletics in general, was two seasons (1998 and 1999) in which the Gamecocks went 1-10 and 0-11. The end of the Spurrier era, going 3-9 last season just two years after winning 11 games in three consecutive years, has been a rough patch for Gamecock football as well.
The history of #14 itself
Looking around on a gameday in Columbia, plenty of fans can still be seen wearing jerseys with #14 stitched onto them. Connor Shaw, the legendary Gamecock quarterback who wore number 14, started for South Carolina from 2011 to 2013. He has the most wins as a starting quarterback in school history with a record of 27-5, and no losses at Williams-Brice Stadium. Shaw currently plays for the Chicago Bears.
Cheers for games
Gamecock football requires a basic understanding of the rules and scoring system to properly celebrate first downs and kickoffs. Fans should also attempt to memorize the lyrics to “Lose Yourself” and “Thunderstruck ” as well as learn how to properly wave a rally towel to the beat of “Sandstorm.”
What that statue is all about…
George Rogers is the only Heisman winner in the history of South Carolina football. His statue was unveiled in Gamecock Park at the beginning of the 2015 season. It celebrates a career in which he ran for over 5,000 yards and scored 33 touchdowns. Rogers was drafted first overall in the 1981 NFL Draft and had a successful pro career in which he won a Super Bowl while playing on the Washington Redskins.
The new head ball coach
Will Muschamp was hired as the head coach in December of 2015. He has experience coaching on the college and professional levels, and he played his college ball at Georgia. Muschamp was the coach-in-waiting at Texas before being hired away to Florida where he coached four seasons. He brings defensive expertise and intensity that should give the Gamecocks an immediate boost.
The old head ball coach
Steve Spurrier, affectionately known as “The Head Ball Coach," is the most successful coach in school history, winning 86 games in ten-plus seasons. He coached the Gamecocks to four straight seasons of nine or more wins, won an SEC East championship, and made the team into a national contender during his time here. Spurrier resigned halfway through the 2015 season, a year in which the team finished with a record of 3-9.
Expectations
The most optimistic fans see this year’s team winning around six games, while others predict the team to win just four or fewer. Winning more than three games would be an improvement from last year, and if Muschamp is able to coax six or more wins out of this team and reach a bowl game it would considered a wildly successful season.
The quarterback situation
Much of the team’s success this season will be determined by who is under center. The competition for the starting job is between highly touted freshman Brandon McIlwain and experienced senior Perry Orth. McIlwain would add a running dimension to the offense while Orth brings experience. Jake Bentley is a dark horse candidate, but seems likely to redshirt. The man under center on opening day will likely be the one who can complete short, accurate passes, which is a key component of new offensive coordinator Kurt Roper’s offense.
Arrive early for 2001
A tradition that began in 1983 under coach Jim Morrison, the Gamecocks always take the field before the game to the tune of “2001: A Space Odyssey.” It is a hair-raising, goosebump-inducing scene that only occurs seven times a year that should not be missed by fans.
Tailgating
The area around Williams-Brice Stadium has been revamped in recent years and features acres of grass fields that are perfect for tailgating. Saturdays in Columbia smell of charcoal and sound like a city-wide party, which is essentially what it is.
The SEC
South Carolina plays in what is widely regarded as the strongest football conference in the nation. This means that dozens of high-profile players and coaches match up against the Gamecocks every year. Playing in the SEC assures that the Gamecocks will face a mind-bogglingly tough schedule every year. Fans should temper their expectations going into every season knowing that the Gamecocks play opponents capable of beating them on nearly every Saturday.
Stay until the alma mater
Every year, coaches beg fans to not leave games early whether South Carolina is winning or losing big. It really is not asking very much considering that one of the best moments of every game occurs when the band plays the alma mater and the team and fans join together in song.
Which team is USC?
This may not be as easy as you may think. The Gamecocks toyed with several different uniform designs last year after Spurrier resigned. The team is expected to open up the wardrobe this year with a wide variety of helmet, jersey and pant combinations. When in doubt, cheer for the team in garnet and black. Be careful to not confuse teams when USC faces off against Mississippi State, Texas A&M and Georgia, teams who have color schemes similar to ours.