American college football season
The 1979 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina as an independent during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season . Led by fifth-year head coach Jim Carlen , the Gamecocks compiled a record of 8–4. South Carolina was invited to the Hall of Fame Classic , where they lost to Missouri , 24–14.
In 1979, despite pressure on Carlen's job security, South Carolina received some preseason hype, as they returned eighteen of the 22 starters from last season .[ 1] The Gamecocks would live up to the hype, with wins over two top-20 teams,[ 2] their highest ranking since 1976 ,[ 3] and their first bowl appearance since 1975 .[ 4] South Carolina's eight wins were the most since 1903 . If only considering wins against college football teams, the eight wins were the most in program history.[ 1] [ 5] It would be the first of five eight-win seasons for the program in the late 1970s and 1980s.[ 5]
Schedule Date Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance Source September 8 at North Carolina ESPN L 0–2849,500 [ 6]
September 15 Western Michigan W 24–750,137 [ 7]
September 22 Duke Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC W 35–053,793 [ 8]
September 26 at Georgia W 27–2060,100 [ 9]
October 6 Oklahoma State Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC W 23–1656,405 [ 10]
October 20 Ole Miss Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC W 21–1456,407 [ 11]
October 27 at No. 14 Notre Dame L 17–1859,075 [ 12]
November 3 NC State Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC W 30–2856,409 [ 13]
November 10 at No. 7 Florida State No. 19 L 7–2749,490 [ 14]
November 17 No. 17 Wake Forest Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC W 35–1456,407 [ 15]
November 24 No. 13 Clemson No. 19 Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC (rivalry ) ESPN W 13–956,887 [ 16]
December 29 vs. Missouri No. 16 Mizlou L 14–2462,785 [ 17]
Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
[ 18]
Roster
1979 South Carolina Gamecocks football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Defense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
DT
74
Chuck Allen
Jr
DT
70
Steve Bernish
Sr
DB
23
Lou Biondi
Sr
DE
81
Brett Bond
Sr
DE
82
Arthur Broussard
Sr
DB
21
Andy Hastings
Sr
DB
22
Tim Rhino
Fr
LB
54
Tim Singleton
Sr
LB
23
Scott Wade
Sr
Special teams
Pos.
#
Name
Class
P
Ray Feltz
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
References
^ a b "Do not ignore all the signs. But which, the optimistic or ominous, will South Carolina's Jim Carlen heed?" . Sports Illustrated Vault . 1979. Retrieved September 30, 2024 .
^ "1979 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results" . College Football at Sports-Reference.com . Retrieved September 30, 2024 .
^ "South Carolina Gamecocks Poll History" . College Football at Sports-Reference.com . Retrieved September 30, 2024 .
^ "South Carolina Gamecocks Bowls" . College Football at Sports-Reference.com . Retrieved September 30, 2024 .
^ a b "South Carolina Gamecocks College Football History, Stats, Records" . College Football at Sports-Reference.com . Retrieved September 30, 2024 .
^ "Tar Heels get their kicks in 28–0 win" . The Charlotte Observer . September 9, 1979. Retrieved January 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "South Carolina rallies to top Western Michigan" . Winston-Salem Journal . September 16, 1979. Retrieved January 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "USC routs Duke, 35–0" . Florence Morning News . September 23, 1979. Retrieved January 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Gamecocks rally to drop Georgia, 27–20" . Anderson Independent/Daily Mail . September 30, 1979. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Gamecock ball control stalls Pokes" . The Sunday Oklahoman . October 7, 1979. Retrieved January 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "USC trims Ole Miss" . The State . October 21, 1979. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Irish escape Gamecocks" . The Indianapolis Star . October 21, 1979. Retrieved January 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Rogers, USC outrun 'Pack" . The Greenville News . November 4, 1979. Retrieved January 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "FSU gives bowl scouts a 27–7 message" . The Tampa Tribune . November 11, 1979. Retrieved January 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Wake's mistakes boost Gamecocks" . The Charlotte Observer . November 18, 1979. Retrieved January 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Abe Hardesty (November 25, 1979). "Gamecocks trip lunging Tigers" . The Greenville News . p. 1C – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Missouri topples Gamecocks 24–14" . The Kansas City Star . December 30, 1979. Retrieved January 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "1979 Football Schedule" . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 29, 2017 .
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