2008 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
The 2008 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the college football season of 2008–2009. The team's head football 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.
Preseason
Carolina had their first spring practice on March 21, 2008. It was the first of 15 spring practice sessions for the Gamecocks, who return 54 lettermen in Steve Spurrier's fourth season. The annual Garnet & Black Spring Game is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Saturday, April 19.
Schedule
Date |
Time |
Opponent# |
Rank# |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
August 28 |
8:00 pm |
NC State* |
|
Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC |
ESPN |
W 34–0 |
80,616 |
September 4 |
8:30 pm |
at Vanderbilt |
No. 24 |
Vanderbilt Stadium • Nashville, TN |
ESPN |
L 17–24 |
36,850 |
September 13 |
3:30 pm |
No. 2 Georgia |
|
Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC |
CBS |
L 7–14 |
83,704 |
September 20 |
7:00 pm |
Wofford* |
|
Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC |
PPV |
W 23–13 |
76,599 |
September 27 |
7:00 pm |
UAB* |
|
Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC |
PPV |
W 26–13 |
78,286 |
October 4 |
2:00 pm |
at Ole Miss |
|
Vaught–Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MS |
PPV |
W 31–24 |
54,628 |
October 11 |
12:30 pm |
at Kentucky |
|
Commonwealth Stadium • Lexington, KY |
Raycom |
W 24–17 |
70,822 |
October 18 |
8:00 pm |
No. 13 LSU |
|
Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC |
ESPN |
L 17–24 |
82,477 |
November 1 |
7:00 pm |
Tennessee |
|
Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC |
ESPN2 |
W 27–6 |
81,731 |
November 8 |
1:00 pm |
Arkansas |
|
Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC |
PPV |
W 34–21 |
80,290 |
November 15 |
3:30 pm |
at No. 3 Florida |
No. 24 |
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium • Gainesville, FL |
CBS |
L 6–56 |
90,646 |
November 29 |
12:00 pm |
at Clemson* |
|
Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC (Battle of the Palmetto State) |
ESPN2 |
L 14–31 |
81,500 |
January 1 |
11:00 am |
vs. Iowa* |
|
Raymond James Stadium • Tampa, FL (Outback Bowl) |
ESPN |
L 10–31 |
55,117 |
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. |
[1]
Radio coverage for all games was provided by the Gamecock Sports Radio Network.[2]
Game notes
North Carolina State
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Wolfpack |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Gamecocks |
0 |
3 |
10 |
21 |
34 |
Vanderbilt
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Gamecocks |
7 |
3 |
0 |
7 |
17 |
Commodores |
0 |
3 |
14 |
7 |
24 |
Georgia
|
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
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Blazers |
3 |
3 |
0 |
7 |
13 |
Gamecocks |
10 |
10 |
3 |
3 |
26 |
Mississippi
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Gamecocks |
3 |
14 |
7 |
7 |
31 |
Rebels |
14 |
7 |
0 |
3 |
24 |
Kentucky
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Gamecocks |
7 |
7 |
0 |
10 |
24 |
Wildcats |
7 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
LSU
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Tigers |
3 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
24 |
Gamecocks |
0 |
17 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
Tennessee
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Volunteers |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
6 |
Gamecocks |
7 |
14 |
3 |
3 |
27 |
Arkansas
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Razorbacks |
0 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
21 |
Gamecocks |
10 |
7 |
3 |
14 |
34 |
Florida
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Gamecocks |
0 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
Gators |
21 |
7 |
14 |
14 |
56 |
Clemson
|
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
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
Shaq Wilson – LB
Roster
|
- Wide Receiver
- 4 Jason Barnes - Freshman[3]
- 8 Larry Freeman - Sophomore[4]
- 9 Moe Brown - Junior[5]
- 11 Kenny McKinley - Senior[6]
- 13 Mark Barnes - Freshman[7]
- 15 Matt Clements - Freshman[8]
- 17 Chris Culliver - Sophomore[9]
- 18 Dion Lecorn - Sophomore[10]
- 81 Paul Haile - Junior[11]
- 82 Freddie Brown, III - Junior[12]
- 83 Scott Spurrier - Junior[13]
- 85 Joe Hills - Freshman[14]
- 89 Leon Gamble - Senior [15]
- Offensive Lineman
- 54 Hardee Sanders - Junior[16]
- 57 Lemuel Jeanpierre - Junior[17]
- 62 Pierre Andrews - Sophomore[18]
- 63 Seaver Brown - Sophomore[19]
- 64 Kevin Young - Sophomore[20]
- 65 Ryan Broadhead - Freshman[21]
- 66 Hutch Eckerson - Junior[22]
- 68 Kyle Nunn - Freshmen[23]
- 70 Garrett Anderson - Junior[24]
- 72 Quintin Richardson - Freshman[25]
- 74 Heath Batchelor - Sophomore[26]
- 75 Gurminder Thind - Senior[27]
- 76 Jeremy Burgess - Senior[28]
- 77 Jamon Meredith - Senior[29]
- 78 Justin Sorensen - Senior[30]
- Tight End
- 19 Nick Prochak - Sophomore[31]
- 84 Jared Cook - Junior[32]
- 87 Alex McGrath - Senior[33]
- 88 Weslye Saunders - Sophomore[34]
- 90 Foxy Foxworth - Sophomore[35]
|
|
- Quarterback
- 5 Stephen Garcia - Freshman[36]
- 6 Tommy Beecher - Junior[37]
- 7 Chris Smelley - Sophomore[38]
- 16 Michael McQueeney - Junior[39]
- 17 Zac Brindise - Sophomore[40]
- Running Back
- 10 Brian Maddox - Sophomore[41]
- 22 Bobby Wallace - Junior[42]
- 20 Taylor Rank - Junior[43]
- 25 Mike Davis - Senior[44]
- Fullback
- 35 Jim Hutton - Junior[45]
- 44 Clark Gaston - Sophomore[46]
- 46 Bryan Kingrey - Senior[47]
- 47 Patrick DiMarco - Sophomore[48]
- Defensive tackle
- 61 Donte'e Nicholls - Freshman[49]
- 79 Marque Hall - Senior [50]
- 81 Terrence Campbell - Sophomore[51]
- 91 Ladi Ajiboye - Sophomore[52]
- 95 Nathan Pepper - Junior [53]
- 97 Kenrick Ellis - Sophomore[54]
- Defensive End
- 40 Eric Norwood - Junior[55]
- 42 Travian Robertson - Sophomore[56]
- 83 Cliff Matthews - Sophomore[57]
- 92 Byron McKnight - Freshman[58]
- 96 Clifton Geathers - Sophomore[59]
- 99 Jonathan Williams - Senior [60]
|
|
- Cornerback
- Defensive Back
- 23 Jamire Williams - Freshman[67]
- Linebacker
- 4 Alonzo Winfield - Freshman[68]
- 6 Melvin Ingram - Sophomore[69]
- 30 Yvan Banag - Senior[70]
- 31 Gerrod Sinclair - Junior[71]
- 44 Dustin Lindsey - Senior[72]
- 45 Rodney Paulk - Junior[73]
- 48 Vandaral Shackleford - Junior[74]
- 49 Damien Wright - Junior[75]
- 53 Marvin Sapp - Senior[76]
- 58 John Guerry - Junior[77]
- 52 Jasper Brinkley - Senior[78]
- Free Safety
- 32 Darian Stewart - Junior[79]
- 42 Mike Newton - Senior[80]
- Strong Safety
- Long Snapper
- 59 Charles Turner - Sophomore[83]
- Punter / Place Kicker
|
Rankings
Ranking Movement
Poll | Pre | Wk 1 | Wk 2 | Wk 3 | Wk 4 | Wk 5 | Wk 6 | Wk 7 | Wk 8 | Wk 9 | Wk 10 | Wk 11 | Wk 12 | Wk 13 | Wk 14 | Final |
AP |
NR |
24 |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
24 |
NR |
NR |
NR |
|
Coaches |
NR |
24 |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
23 |
NR |
NR |
NR |
|
Harris |
Not released |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
24 |
NR |
NR |
NR |
|
BCS |
Not released |
NR |
NR |
NR |
25 |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
|
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
- Steve Spurrier - Head Coach [87]
- Ellis Johnson - Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers & Assistant Head Coach [88]
- Shane Beamer - Cornerbacks [89]
- Ron Cooper - Safeties [90]
- Robert Gillespie - Running Backs [91]
- John Hunt - Offensive Line [92]
- Brad Lawing - Defensive Line [93]
- David Reaves - Quarterbacks & Recruiting Coordinator [94]
- Ray Rychleski - Special Teams [95]
- Steve Spurrier, Jr. - Wide Receivers [96]
References
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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