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2008 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

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American college football season

2008 South Carolina Gamecocks football
Outback Bowl, L 10–31 vs. Iowa
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
Record7–6 (4–4 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorEllis Johnson (1st season)
Base defense4–2–5
Home stadiumWilliams-Brice Stadium
Seasons← 20072009 →
2008 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Eastern Division
No. 1 Florida x$#   7 – 1     13 – 1  
No. 13 Georgia   6 – 2     10 – 3  
Vanderbilt   4 – 4     7 – 6  
South Carolina   4 – 4     7 – 6  
Tennessee   3 – 5     5 – 7  
Kentucky   2 – 6     7 – 6  
Western Division
No. 6 Alabama x%   8 – 0     12 – 2  
No. 14 Ole Miss   5 – 3     9 – 4  
LSU   3 – 5     8 – 5  
Arkansas   2 – 6     5 – 7  
Auburn   2 – 6     5 – 7  
Mississippi State   2 – 6     4 – 8  
Championship: Florida 31, Alabama 20
  • # – BCS National Champion
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • % – BCS at-large representative
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2008 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Steve Spurrier, who served his fourth season at USC. The Gamecocks played their home games at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. The team compiled a record of 7–6.

South Carolina had the top defense in the country by October, but also three different starting quarterbacks and one of the worst offensive lines in the country throughout the year. After Tommy Beecher sustained a poor performance and injury in the season-opener against NC State, the team's offense alternated mainly between quarterbacks Chris Smelley and Stephen Garcia. The Gamecocks nearly upset No. 2 Georgia and defending national champion No. 13 LSU, but fell short in both games.

Preseason

Carolina had their first spring practice on March 21, 2008. It was the first of 15 spring practice sessions for the Gamecocks, who returned 54 lettermen in Steve Spurrier's fourth season. The annual Garnet & Black Spring Game was scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Saturday, April 19.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 288:00 pmNC State*ESPNW 34–080,616
September 48:30 pmat VanderbiltNo. 24ESPNL 17–2436,850
September 133:30 pmNo. 2 Georgia
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC (rivalry)
CBSL 7–1483,704
September 207:00 pmWofford*
  • Williams-Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
PPVW 23–1376,599
September 277:00 pmUAB*
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
PPVW 26–1378,286
October 42:00 pmat Ole MissPPVW 31–2454,628
October 1112:30 pmat KentuckyRaycomW 24–1770,822
October 188:00 pmNo. 13 LSU
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
ESPNL 17–2482,477
November 17:00 pmTennessee
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC (rivalry)
ESPN2W 27–681,731
November 81:00 pmArkansas
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
PPVW 34–2180,290
November 153:30 pmat No. 3 FloridaNo. 24CBSL 6–5690,646
November 2912:00 pmat Clemson*ESPN2L 14–3181,500
January 111:00 amvs. Iowa*ESPNL 10–3155,117
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Radio coverage for all games was provided by the Gamecock Sports Radio Network.

Game summaries

North Carolina State

See also: 2008 NC State Wolfpack football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Wolfpack 0 0 0 0 0
Gamecocks 0 3 10 21 34

Vanderbilt

See also: 2008 Vanderbilt Commodores football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Gamecocks 7 3 0 7 17
Commodores 0 3 14 7 24

Georgia

See also: 2008 Georgia Bulldogs football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Bulldogs 0 6 8 0 14
Gamecocks 0 7 0 0 7

Wofford

1 2 3 4 Total
Terriers 0 7 3 3 13
Gamecocks 0 10 3 10 23

UAB

See also: 2008 UAB Blazers football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Blazers 3 3 0 7 13
Gamecocks 10 10 3 3 26

Mississippi

See also: 2008 Ole Miss Rebels football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Gamecocks 3 14 7 7 31
Rebels 14 7 0 3 24

Kentucky

See also: 2008 Kentucky Wildcats football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Gamecocks 7 7 0 10 24
Wildcats 7 10 0 0 17

LSU

See also: 2008 LSU Tigers football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Tigers 3 7 7 7 24
Gamecocks 0 17 0 0 17

Tennessee

See also: 2008 Tennessee Volunteers football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Volunteers 0 0 6 0 6
Gamecocks 7 14 3 3 27

Arkansas

See also: 2008 Arkansas Razorbacks football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Razorbacks 0 7 7 7 21
Gamecocks 10 7 3 14 34

Florida

See also: 2008 Florida Gators football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Gamecocks 0 3 3 0 6
Gators 21 7 14 14 56

Clemson

See also: 2008 Clemson Tigers football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Gamecocks 0 7 7 0 14
Tigers 10 14 7 0 31

Players

Depth chart

These are the projected starters and primary backups for the Outback Bowl on January 1, 2009.

Defense


FS
Chris Culliver
Akeem Auguste


WLB MLB SLB
⋅ Jasper Brinkley ⋅
Dustin Lindsey Rodney Paulk ⋅
SS
Darian Stewart
Dion LeCorn
CB
Captain Munnerlyn
Addison Williams


DE DT DT DE
Jordin Lindsey Nathan Pepper Ladi Ajiboye Cliff Matthews
Clifton Geathers Travian Robertson Jonathan Williams Byron McKnight
CB
Stoney Woodson
Carlos Thomas
Offense
WR
Jason Barnes
Moe Brown
LT LG C RG RT
Jarriel King Jamon Meredith Garrett Anderson Terrence Campbell Justin Sorensen
Hutch Eckerson Kevin Young Seaver Brown Quintin Richardson Hutch Eckerson
TE
Jared Cook
Weslye Saunders
WR
Kenny McKinley
Joe Hills
QB
Stephen Garcia
Chris Smelley
RB
Mike Davis
Eric Baker
FB
Patrick DiMarco
Bryan Kingrey

Key Committed Freshmen

Antonio Allen – DB Akeem Auguste – DB Eric Baker – RB Reggie Bowens – LB Jarrett Burns – ATH Ronald Byrd – DL Kenny Davis – DL Aramis Hillary – QB T.J. Johnson – OL Jarriel King – DL Reid McCollum – QB Kenneth Miles – RB D.L. Moore – WR Darrell Simmons - DB Jay Spearman – DB Chaz Sutton – DL Devin Taylor – DL Mike Triglia – TE Charles Whitlock – DB/WR Elliot Williams - OL LaCharles Lindsey - WR

Roster

Wide Receiver
  • 4 Jason Barnes -Freshman
  • 8 Larry Freeman - Sophomore
  • 11 Kenny McKinley - Senior
  • 13 Mark Barnes - Freshman
  • 14 La’Charles Lindsey Freshman
  • 17 Chris Culliver - Sophomore
  • 18 Dion Lecorn - Sophomore
  • 81 Paul Haile - Junior
  • 82 Freddie Brown, III - Junior
  • 83 Scott Spurrier - Junior
  • 85 Joe Hills - Freshman
  • 89 Leon Gamble - Senior
  • 14 LaCharles Lindsey - “Sophomore”
Offensive Lineman
  • 54 Hardee Sanders - Junior
  • 57 Lemuel Jeanpierre - Junior
  • 62 Pierre Andrews - Sophomore
  • 63 Seaver Brown - Sophomore
  • 64 Kevin Young - Sophomore
  • 65 Ryan Broadhead - Freshman
  • 66 Hutch Eckerson - Junior
  • 68 Kyle Nunn - Freshmen
  • 70 Garrett Anderson - Junior
  • 72 Quintin Richardson - Freshman
  • 74 Heath Batchelor - Sophomore
  • 75 Gurminder Thind - Senior
  • 76 Jeremy Burgess - Senior
  • 77 Jamon Meredith - Senior
  • 78 Justin Sorensen - Senior
Tight End
  • 19 Nick Prochak - Sophomore
  • 84 Jared Cook - Junior
  • 87 Alex McGrath - Senior
  • 88 Weslye Saunders - Sophomore
  • 90 Foxy Foxworth - Sophomore
  
Quarterback
  • 5 Stephen Garcia - Freshman
  • 6 Tommy Beecher - Junior
  • 7 Chris Smelley - Sophomore
  • 16 Michael McQueeney - Junior
  • 17 Zac Brindise - Sophomore
Running Back
  • 10 Brian Maddox - Sophomore
  • 22 Bobby Wallace - Junior
  • 20 Taylor Rank - Junior
  • 25 Mike Davis - Senior
Fullback
  • 35 Jim Hutton - Junior
  • 44 Clark Gaston - Sophomore
  • 46 Bryan Kingrey - Senior
  • 47 Patrick DiMarco - Sophomore
Defensive tackle
  • 61 Donte'e Nicholls - Freshman
  • 79 Marque Hall - Senior
  • 81 Terrence Campbell - Sophomore
  • 91 Ladi Ajiboye - Sophomore
  • 95 Nathan Pepper - Junior
  • 97 Kenrick Ellis - Sophomore
Defensive End
  • 40 Eric Norwood - Junior
  • 42 Travian Robertson - Sophomore
  • 83 Cliff Matthews - Sophomore
  • 92 Byron McKnight - Freshman
  • 96 Clifton Geathers - Sophomore
  • 99 Jonathan Williams - Senior
  
Cornerback
  • 1 Captain Munnerlyn - Junior
  • 5 Carlos Thomas - Senior
  • 7 Addison Williams - Sophomore
  • 28 Chris Hail - Junior
  • 36 Stoney Woodson - Senior
  • 4 Cedric Snead - Freshman
Defensive Back
  • 23 Jamire Williams - Freshman
Linebacker
  • 4 Alonzo Winfield - Freshman
  • 6 Melvin Ingram - Sophomore
  • 30 Yvan Banag - Senior
  • 31 Gerrod Sinclair - Junior
  • 44 Dustin Lindsey - Senior
  • 45 Rodney Paulk - Junior
  • 48 Vandaral Shackleford - Junior
  • 49 Damien Wright - Junior
  • 53 Marvin Sapp - Senior
  • 58 John Guerry - Junior
  • 52 Jasper Brinkley - Senior
Free Safety
  • 32 Darian Stewart - Junior
  • 42 Mike Newton - Senior
Strong Safety
Long Snapper
  • 59 Charles Turner - Sophomore
Punter / Place Kicker
  • 14 Ryan Succop - Senior
  • 87 Spencer Lanning - Sophomore
  • 97 Nate Spurrier - Junior

Awards

Rankings

See also: 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP—24—————————24———
Coaches—24—————————23———
HarrisNot released———————24———Not released
BCSNot released———25———Not released

Statistics

Team

USC Opp
Scoring 270 274
  Points per Game 20.8 21.1
First Downs 241 214
  Rushing 91 98
  Passing 129 95
  Penalty 21 21
Total Offense 4115 3795
  Avg per Play 4.7 4.7
  Avg per Game 316.5 291.5
Fumbles-Lost 23-11 21-13
Penalties-Yards 75-640 69-586
  Avg per Game 49.2 45.1
USC Opp
Punts-Yards 49-2019 70-2986
  Avg per Punt 41.2 42.4
Time of Possession/Game 29:42 30:18
3rd Down Conversions 70/180 66/177
4th Down Conversions 12/18 5/11
Touchdowns Scored 30 34
Field Goals-Attempts 20-30 12-19
PAT-Attempts 30-30 32-32
Attendance 563,703 334,446
  Games/Avg per Game 7/80,529 5/66,889

Scores by quarter

1 2 3 4 Total
South Carolina 44 102 39 85 270
Opponents 72 78 76 48 274

Offense

Rushing

Name GP-GS Att Gain Loss Net Avg TD Long Avg/G
Mike Davis 12-11 163 615 42 573 3.5 3 50 47.8
Brian Maddox 7-0 32 128 7 121 3.8 1 13 17.3
Eric Baker 9-0 46 191 9 182 4.0 0 20 20.2
Bobby Wallace 8-0 25 110 11 99 4.0 0 21 14.1
Stephen Garcia 8-3 70 289 91 198 2.8 2 25 24.8
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 
Total   403 1489 309 1180 2.9 7 50 98.3
Opponents   429 1872 328 1544 3.6 20 80 128.7

Passing

Name GP-GS Effic Cmp-Att-Int Pct Yds TD Lng Avg/G
Chris Smelley 12-9 114.78 169-302-15 56.0 1922 14 66 160.2
Stephen Garcia 8-3 113.60 65-122-8 53.3 832 6 41 107.6
Tommy Beecher 2-1 63.8 26-14-4 53.8 126 0 18 63.0
                 
Total   113.9 249-452-27 55.1 2892 20 66 222.5
Opponents   110.0 189-328-14 57.0 1923 9 70 159.2

Receiving

Name GP-GS No. Yds Avg TD Long Avg/G
Kenny McKinley   54 642 11.9 4 41 64.2
Jared Cook   37 573 15.5 3 66 44.1
Moe Brown   30 391 13.0 1 34 30.1
Jason Barnes   27 346 12.8 2 38 28.8
Mike Davis   24 213 8.9 1 18 17.8
Weslye Saunders   16 214 13.4 3 27 16.5
Dion LeCorn   14 106 7.6 2 20 17.7
Joe Hills   11 87 7.9 1 24 7.9
Freddie Brown   7 66 9.4 1 16 9.4
               
               
               
               
               
Total   249 2842 11.6 20 66 222.5
Opponents   189 2070 11.0 9 70 159.2

Defense

Name GP Tackles Sacks Pass Defense Interceptions Fumbles Blkd
Kick
Solo Ast Total TFL-Yds No-Yds BrUp QBH No.-Yds Avg TD Long Rcv-Yds FF
Total 332 156 488 36-140 12-81 19 24 8-126 15.8 46 6-81 7 1

Special teams

Name Punting Kickoffs
No. Yds Avg Long TB FC I20 Blkd No. Yds Avg TB OB
Spencer Lanning 22 932 42.4 52 5 2 5 0
Ryan Succop 40 2743 68.6 15 0
Total 22 932 42.4 52 5 2 5 0 40 2743 68.6 15 0
Name Punt Returns Kick Returns
No. Yds Avg TD Long No. Yds Avg TD Long
Captain Munnerlyn 15 105 7.0 0 35 3 106 35.3 0 84
Chris Culliver 19 438 23.1 0 50
Larry Freeman 1 24 24.0 0 24
Total

Coaching staff

References

  1. "2008 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  2. "South Carolina Defeats Ole Miss 31-24". Ole Miss Athletics - Hotty Toddy. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  3. ^ Talbott, Chris. "Gamecocks find QB in win". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  4. ^ Staff Writer. "Garcia might get chance to step up". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  5. ^ "Garcia Named Starter for Bowl Game". University of South Carolina Athletics. November 30, 2008. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  6. Pollock, Tim. "Stephen Garcia Leads the 2009 South Carolina Gamecocks, But To Where?". Bleacher Report. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  7. Breiner, Ben (August 30, 2017). "Why Tommy Beecher won't let one bad game define him". The State. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  8. "Gamecocks Fall Short In Loss To No. 2 Georgia 14-7". University of South Carolina Athletics. September 13, 2008. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  9. "LSU 24-17 South Carolina (Oct 18, 2008) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  10. "University of South Carolina Official Athletic Site - Football". Archived from the original on December 30, 2007. Retrieved December 30, 2007.
  11. "Gamecock Sports Radio Network". Archived from the original on December 17, 2007. Retrieved March 27, 2008.
  12. "Player Bio: Kenny McKinley - SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS". Archived from the original on October 1, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
  13. "Player Bio: Chris Culliver - SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS". Archived from the original on September 19, 2010. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
  14. "Player Bio: Lemuel Jeanpierre - SOUTH CAROLINA OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE". Archived from the original on July 11, 2009. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
  15. "University of South Carolina Official Athletic Site - Football". Archived from the original on December 23, 2008. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
  16. "Player Bio: Clifton Geathers - SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS". Archived from the original on April 19, 2010. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
  17. "SOUTH CAROLINA OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE - Football". Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
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