2008 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

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.^[1]

2008 South Carolina Gamecocks football
Outback Bowl, L 10–31 vs. Iowa
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Division	Eastern Division
Record	7–6 (4–4 SEC)
Head coach	Steve Spurrier (4th season)
Defensive coordinator	Ellis Johnson (1st season)
Home stadium	Williams-Brice Stadium (c. 80,250, grass)
Seasons ← 2007 2009 →

2008 Southeastern Conference football standings

v t e	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

South Carolina had the top defense in the country by October,^[2][3] but also three different starting quarterbacks and one of the worst offensive lines in the country throughout the year.^[4][5][6][7] 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.^[4][5][6][8] The Gamecocks nearly upset No. 2 Georgia and defending national champion No. 13 LSU, but fell short in both games.^[9][10]

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

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 (rivalry)	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 (rivalry)	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 (rivalry)	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 released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

^[11]

Radio coverage for all games was provided by the Gamecock Sports Radio Network.^[12]

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] 13 Mark Barnes - Freshman 14 La’Charles Lindsey Freshman 17 Chris Culliver - Sophomore[14] 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[15] 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[16] 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[17] 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 21 Emanuel Cook - Junior 34 Douglas Peterson - Senior Long Snapper 59 Charles Turner - Sophomore Punter / Place Kicker 14 Ryan Succop - Senior[18] 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
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	—	24	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	24	—	—	—
Coaches	—	24	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	23	—	—	—
Harris	Not released				—	—	—	—	—	—	—	24	—	—	—	Not released
BCS	Not 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

• Steve Spurrier - Head Coach
• Ellis Johnson - Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers & Assistant Head Coach
• Shane Beamer - Cornerbacks
• Ron Cooper- Safeties
• Robert Gillespie- Running Backs
• John Hunt- Offensive Line
• Brad Lawing - Defensive Line
• David Reaves - Quarterbacks & Recruiting Coordinator
• Ray Rychleski - Special Teams
• Steve Spurrier, Jr. - Wide Receivers

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. Writer, Staff. "Garcia might get chance to step up". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
5. Talbott, Chris. "Gamecocks find QB in win". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
6. "Garcia Named Starter for Bowl Game". University of South Carolina Athletics. November 30, 2008. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
7. Pollock, Tim. "Stephen Garcia Leads the 2009 South Carolina Gamecocks, But To Where?". Bleacher Report. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
8. Breiner, Ben (August 30, 2017). "Why Tommy Beecher won't let one bad game define him". The State. Retrieved September 30, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
9. "Gamecocks Fall Short In Loss To No. 2 Georgia 14-7". University of South Carolina Athletics. September 13, 2008. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
10. "LSU 24-17 South Carolina (Oct 18, 2008) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
11. "University of South Carolina Official Athletic Site - Football". Archived from the original on December 30, 2007. Retrieved December 30, 2007.
12. "Gamecock Sports Radio Network". Archived from the original on December 17, 2007. Retrieved March 27, 2008.
13. "Player Bio: Kenny McKinley - SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS". Archived from the original on October 1, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
14. "Player Bio: Chris Culliver - SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS". Archived from the original on September 19, 2010. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
15. "Player Bio: Lemuel Jeanpierre - SOUTH CAROLINA OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE". Archived from the original on July 11, 2009. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
16. "University of South Carolina Official Athletic Site - Football". Archived from the original on December 23, 2008. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
17. "Player Bio: Clifton Geathers - SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS". Archived from the original on April 19, 2010. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
18. "SOUTH CAROLINA OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE - Football". Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved November 30, 2008.