1987 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

The 1987 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina as an independent during the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team played its home games at Williams–Brice Stadium. Led by fifth-year head coach Joe Morrison, the Gamecocks compiled a record of 8–4 with a loss against LSU in the Gator Bowl.

1987 South Carolina Gamecocks football
Gator Bowl, L 13–30 vs. LSU
Conference	Independent
Ranking
Coaches	No. 15
AP	No. 15
Record	8–4
Head coach	Joe Morrison (5th season)
Offensive scheme	Run N' Shoot
Defensive coordinator	Joe Lee Dunn (1st season)
Home stadium	Williams–Brice Stadium
Seasons ← 1986 1988 →

1987 NCAA Division I-A independents football records

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 1 Miami (FL)		–		–				12	–	0	–	0
No. 4 Syracuse		–		–				11	–	0	–	1
No. 2 Florida State		–		–				11	–	1	–	0
No. 15 South Carolina		–		–				8	–	4	–	0
Pittsburgh		–		–				8	–	4	–	0
Penn State		–		–				8	–	4	–	0
No. 17 Notre Dame		–		–				8	–	4	–	0
Southern Miss		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Rutgers		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Southwestern Louisiana		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Memphis State		–		–				5	–	5	–	1
Northern Illinois		–		–				5	–	5	–	1
West Virginia		–		–				6	–	6	–	0
Tulane		–		–				6	–	6	–	0
Army		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Boston College		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
East Carolina		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Akron		–		–				4	–	7	–	0
Cincinnati		–		–				4	–	7	–	0
Louisville		–		–				3	–	7	–	1
Temple		–		–				3	–	8	–	0
Tulsa		–		–				3	–	8	–	0
Virginia Tech		–		–				2	–	9	–	0
Navy		–		–				2	–	9	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

After two consecutive losing seasons, the Gamecocks returned to success under Morrison in 1987.^[1] Led by quarterback Todd Ellis, wide receiver Sterling Sharpe, and the "Black Death" defense, the 1987 Gamecocks were considered "maybe the best South Carolina team ever" until then.^[2] Their four losses were all on the road against teams that would finish in the top-15 in the AP Poll, including eventual national champion Miami.^[3][4] The Gamecocks were ranked as high as No. 8 in the country in their final two games.^[3] South Carolina finished the season ranked No. 15 in the AP Poll, which was the third final ranking in school history and the second-highest final ranking in school history until then.^[5]

The "Black Death" defense was statistically the best in school history. They gave up an average 11.8 points and less than 240 yards per game. They held seven teams to less than eleven points, and held nine teams to less than fourteen points.^[6][7][8][9]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 5	Appalachian State		Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC		W 24–3	68,830	[10]
September 12	Western Carolina		Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC		W 31–6	66,573	[11]
September 26	at No. 20 Georgia		Sanford Stadium Athens, GA (rivalry)		L 6–13	82,122	[12]
October 3	at No. 2 Nebraska		Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE	ESPN	L 21–30	76,061	[13]
October 10	Virginia Tech		Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC		W 40–10	73,150	[14]
October 17	Virginia		Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC		W 58–10	67,638	[15]
October 24	East Carolina		Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC		W 34–12	69,131	[16]
October 31	NC State	No. 19	Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC		W 48–0	74,200	[17]
November 14	at Wake Forest	No. 14	Groves Stadium Winston-Salem, NC		W 30–0	34,720	[18]
November 21	No. 8 Clemson	No. 12	Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC (rivalry)	ESPN	W 20–7	75,043	[19]
December 5	at No. 2 Miami (FL)	No. 8	Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL	ESPN	L 16–20	63,318	[20]
December 31	vs. No. 7 LSU	No. 8	Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, FL (Gator Bowl)	CBS	L 13–30	82,119	[21]
Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[22]

Roster

1987 South Carolina Gamecocks football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class QB 9 Todd Ellis OT 78 Mark Fryer C 57 Woody Meyers WR 2 Sterling Sharpe G 71 Paul Shivers	Defense Pos. # Name Class DB 27 Brad Edwards DT 54 Roy Hart DT 95 Brendan McCormack LB 48 Matt McKernan DE 92 Kurt Wilson	Special teams {American football roster/Player Pos. # Name Class K 8 Collin Mackie	Head coach Joe Morrison Coordinators/assistant coaches Joe Lee Dunn (Defensive coordinator) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

References

1. "South Carolina Gamecocks College Football History, Stats, Records". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
2. Kendall, Josh (December 20, 2014). "When swagger ruled: USC, Miami involved in 'wild melee' in '87 game". The State. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
3. "1987 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
4. "1987 College Football Polls". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
5. "South Carolina Gamecocks Poll History". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
6. "South Carolina Football's GOAT Series: Top-10 greatest defenses of all-time". Garnet and Cocky. May 26, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
7. "South Carolina Football's GOAT Series: Top-10 greatest Gamecock football seasons of all-time". Garnet and Cocky. May 12, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
8. Gall, Braden (May 23, 2013). "5 Greatest Moments in South Carolina Gamecocks Football History". Athlon Sports. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
9. "1987 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
10. "Gamecocks solid in win over Appalachian State". The Item. September 6, 1987. Retrieved November 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Gamecocks blister Western 31–6". The State. September 13, 1987. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Georgia pressure wears down Gamecocks". The Charlotte Observer. September 27, 1987. Retrieved November 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Huskers survive Gamecock test". The Grand Island Independent. October 4, 1987. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Ellis passes Gamecocks over Virginia Tech 40–10". The Atlanta Journal & Constitution. October 11, 1987. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Gamecocks use balanced offense to shell Cavs, 58–10". Florence Morning News. October 18, 1987. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
16. "Ellis, South Carolina toss around Pirates". The Charlotte Observer. October 25, 1987. Retrieved March 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "Gamecock's defense leads way in 48–0 victory over Wolfpack". Statesville Record and Landmark. November 1, 1987. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
18. "Gamecocks overwhelm Deacons". The Charlotte Observer. November 15, 1987. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
19. "Carolina defense prevails: Gamecocks 20, Tigers 7". The Greenville News. November 22, 1987. pp. 1C, 5C – via Newspapers.com.
20. "Hurricanes squeeze past Gamecocks". The Philadelphia Inquirer. December 6, 1987. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
21. "Tigers crush Carolina 30–13". The Item. January 1, 1988. Retrieved November 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
22. "1987 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 1, 2024.