1996 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

The 1996 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Gamecocks were led by third-year head coach Brad Scott and played their home games in Williams–Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.

1996 South Carolina Gamecocks football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
Record6–5 (4–4 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJohn Eason (2nd season)
Offensive schemeFast Break
Defensive coordinatorWally Burnham (3rd season)
Home stadiumWilliams–Brice Stadium
Seasons
← 1995
1997 →
1996 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Eastern Division
No. 1 Florida x$   8 0     12 1  
No. 9 Tennessee   7 1     10 2  
South Carolina   4 4     6 5  
Kentucky   3 5     4 7  
Georgia   3 5     5 6  
Vanderbilt   0 8     2 9  
Western Division
No. 11 Alabama xy   6 2     10 3  
No. 12 LSU x   6 2     10 2  
No. 24 Auburn   4 4     8 4  
Mississippi State   3 5     5 6  
Ole Miss   2 6     5 6  
Arkansas   2 6     4 7  
Championship: Florida 45, Alabama 30
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

In 1996, South Carolina finished with a winning record of 6–5, highlighted by an upset over archrival No. 22 Clemson on the road,[1] their third victory against the Tigers in five years.[2] Running back Duce Staley had the fourth highest single-season rushing total in program history until then.[3]

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 77:00 p.m.UCF*W 33–1476,411[4]
September 147:45 p.m.Georgia
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC (rivalry)
ESPNW 23–1482,950[5]
September 217:00 p.m.East Carolina*
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
L 7–2379,806[6]
September 2812:30 p.m.Mississippi State
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
JPSL 10–1475,014[7]
October 53:30 p.m.at No. 20 AuburnCBSL 24–2884,107[8]
October 127:00 p.m.at KentuckyW 25–1450,500[9]
October 191:00 p.m.Arkansas 
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
W 23–1779,419[10]
October 262:00 p.m.at VanderbiltPPVW 27–036,583[11]
November 212:30 p.m.No. 6 Tennessee
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC (rivalry)
JPSL 14–3182,808[12]
November 167:45 p.m.at No. 1 FloridaESPNL 25–5285,701[13]
November 235:30 p.m.at No. 22 Clemson*ESPN2W 34–3182,929[14]
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[15]

Roster

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1996 South Carolina Gamecocks football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 21 Zola Davis So
WR 81 Ben Fleming Fr
QB 16 Joey Unitas   So
RB 22 Duce Staley Sr
QB 1 Anthony Wright   So
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DL 95 John Abraham Fr
DB 28 Chris Abrams Sr
LB 58 Corey Atkins   Fr
LB 52 Shane Burnham Jr
LB 45 James McDougald Jr
DE 89 Maynard Caldwell Sr
DB 5 Terry Cousin Sr
DB 12 Arthuro Freeman So
LB 18 Darren Hambrick Jr
LB 92 Ryan Koop Jr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
PK 14 Reed Morton Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt

Roster

References

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  1. ^ "1996 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  2. ^ "Winsipedia - Clemson Tigers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks football series history". Winsipedia. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  3. ^ "Kevin Long, the Gamecocks' first 1,000-yard rusher, has died". Yahoo Sports. September 11, 2024. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  4. ^ "UCF stops bleeding in 2nd half". The Orlando Sentinel. September 8, 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Gamecocks spur Dawgs, win by nine". The Index-Journal. September 15, 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Harley runs over USC". The Greenville News. September 22, 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Blitzing Bulldogs drop Wright, South Carolina". The Charlotte Observer. September 29, 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Fumble seals fate for USC". Anderson Independent-Mail. October 6, 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Gamecocks rally to beat Cats, 25–14". Messenger-Inquirer. October 13, 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Staley's second half lifts Gamecocks". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. October 20, 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Gamecocks zero in on Vandy". The Greenville News. October 27, 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "USC earns respect, not win". The Charlotte Observer. November 3, 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Carolina swamped by Gators in second half". Anderson Independent-Mail. November 17, 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Clemson rally falls short, 34–31". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. November 24, 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "1996 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 10, 2024.