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1984 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

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American college football season

1984 South Carolina Gamecocks football
Gator Bowl, L 14–21 vs. Oklahoma State
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 13
APNo. 11
Record10–2
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorFrank Sadler (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorTom Gadd (2nd season)
Home stadiumWilliams–Brice Stadium
Seasons← 19831985 →
1984 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
Conf Overall
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, the 1984 Gamecocks made a run at a national championship. 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. However, in the tenth game of the season, they lost to an unranked Navy team, which had a losing record. 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.

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.

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.

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 8The CitadelW 31–2471,200
September 22Duke
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
W 21–068,300
September 29No. 12 Georgia
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC (rivalry)
W 17–1074,325
October 6Kansas State
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
W 49–1767,200
October 13PittsburghNo. 17
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
KATZ SportsW 45–2173,100
October 20at Notre DameNo. 11ESPNW 36–3259,075
October 27East CarolinaNo. 9
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
W 42–2073,800
November 3at NC StateNo. 5W 35–2846,200
November 10No. 11 Florida StateNo. 5
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
ABCW 38–2675,000
November 17at NavyNo. 2HTSL 21–3827,234
November 24at ClemsonNo. 9Raycom SportsW 22–2180,500
December 28vs. No. 9 Oklahoma StateNo. 7ABCL 14–2182,138
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References

  1. "South Carolina Gamecocks College Football History, Stats, Records". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  2. "Who's better: 1984 South Carolina or 2013 South Carolina?". Saturday Down South. July 16, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  3. 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.
  4. "Who's better: 1984 South Carolina or 2013 South Carolina?". Saturday Down South. July 16, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  5. "1984 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  6. "1984 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  7. "1984 Navy Midshipmen Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  8. "1984 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  9. "South Carolina Gamecocks College Football History, Stats, Records". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  10. "Will Muschamp explains when South Carolina will wear its 'Black Magic' throwback uniforms". Saturday Down South. August 27, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  11. "Who's better: 1984 South Carolina or 2013 South Carolina?". Saturday Down South. July 16, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  12. Kensler, Tom. "A Case for the Defense Fired Up "Fire Ants' a Must for South Carolina". The Oklahoman. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  13. Kendall, Josh (January 9, 2016). "The State @125: USC's Black Magic season a pursuit for perfection". The State. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  14. "South Carolina Gamecocks Poll History". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  15. 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.
  16. "USC escapes 'Dogs". Florence Morning News. September 9, 1984. Retrieved January 29, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. "South Carolina shuts Duke down". The Danville Register. September 23, 1984. Retrieved January 29, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. "Gamecocks trip Georgia, 17–10". The Index-Journal. September 30, 1984. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "South Carolina pounds defenseless Kansas State 49–17". The Kansas City Star. October 7, 1984. Retrieved January 29, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "S.C. pummels Pittsburgh". Anderson Independent-Mail. October 14, 1984. Retrieved January 29, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. "Late burst lifts South Carolina by Notre Dame". St. Petersburg Times. October 21, 1984. Retrieved January 29, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. "Gamecocks rout East Carolina". The Charlotte Observer. October 28, 1984. Retrieved March 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. "South Carolina rallies for win". Tallahassee Democrat. November 4, 1984. Retrieved January 29, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. "USC rolls past Seminoles, 38–26". The Sun-News. November 11, 1984. Retrieved January 29, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. "Middies stun No. 2 S. Carolina". The Baltimore Sun. November 18, 1984. Retrieved January 29, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. David Talley (November 25, 1984). "Gamecocks break Death Valley drought". The Index-Journal. pp. 1D, 3D – via Newspapers.com.
  27. "Late score lifts Oklahoma State". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. December 29, 1984. Retrieved January 29, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. "1984 Football Schedule". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
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