1976 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

1976 South Carolina Gamecocks football
ConferenceIndependent
Record6–5
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorRichard Bell (2nd season)
Home stadiumWilliams–Brice Stadium
Seasons
← 1975
1977 →
1976 NCAA Division I independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Pittsburgh   –   12 – 0 – 0
No. 17 Rutgers   –   11 – 0 – 0
San Diego State   –   10 – 1 – 0
No. 12 Notre Dame   –   9 – 3 – 0
Colgate   –   8 – 2 – 0
Boston College   –   8 – 3 – 0
Cincinnati   –   8 – 3 – 0
Memphis State   –   7 – 4 – 0
North Texas State *   –   7 – 4 – 0
Southern Illinois   –   7 – 4 – 0
Penn State   –   7 – 5 – 0
Villanova   –   6 – 4 – 1
South Carolina   –   6 – 5 – 0
Virginia Tech   –   6 – 5 – 0
Army   –   5 – 6 – 0
Florida State   –   5 – 6 – 0
Illinois State   –   5 – 6 – 0
Richmond   –   5 – 6 – 0
West Virginia   –   5 – 6 – 0
Georgia Tech   –   4 – 6 – 1
Temple   –   4 – 6 – 0
Air Force   –   4 – 7 – 0
Dayton   –   4 – 7 – 0
Louisville   –   4 – 7 – 0
Marshall   –   4 – 7 – 0
Navy   –   4 – 7 – 0
Indiana State   –   3 – 7 – 0
Hawaii   –   3 – 8 – 0
Holy Cross   –   3 – 8 – 0
Miami (FL)   –   3 – 8 – 0
Syracuse   –   3 – 8 – 0
Utah State   –   3 – 8 – 0
Northeast Louisiana   –   2 – 9 – 0
Southern Miss   –   2 – 9 – 0
Tulane   –   2 – 9 – 0
  • North Texas State (originally 6–5) was awarded a forfeit win after Mississippi State was found to be using an ineligible player.[1]
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1976 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina as an independent during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. Led by second-year head coach Jim Carlen, the Gamecocks compiled a record of 6–5. The team played its home games at Williams–Brice Stadium.

After an upset over No. 16 Ole Miss, South Carolina was ranked No. 19 in the country, the program's highest ranking since 1971. It was also the first time the Gamecocks had been ranked in the top twenty in two consecutive seasons since 1959.[2] However, the Gamecocks lost three of their last four games, and finished the season unranked.[3]

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 4Appalachian State
W 21–1044,536[4]
September 11at Georgia Tech
ABCW 27–1738,923[5]
September 18Duke
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
W 24–652,237[6]
September 25at No. 7 Georgia
L 12–2059,925[7]
October 2at Baylor
L 17–1834,500[8]
October 9Virginia
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
W 35–747,239[9]
October 16No. 16 Ole Miss
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
W 10–753,079[10]
October 23No. 12 Notre DameNo. 19
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
L 6–1356,721[11]
October 30NC State
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
W 27–750,703[12]
November 13Wake ForestNo. 20
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
L 7–1049,779[13]
November 20at Clemson
L 9–2854,129[14]
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[15]

Roster

1976 South Carolina Gamecocks football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
QB 10 Ronnie Bass Jr
C 65 Danny Clancy So
G 66 Steve Courson Sr
OT 76 Mike Fralic So
OT 75 Stan James Jr
WR 40 Philip Logan Jr
RB 32 Kevin Long Sr
WR 41 Zion McKinney Fr
OT 78 Jerome Provence Jr
G 61 Tami Tarbush Jr
TE 45 Brad Thomas Jr
RB 33 Clarence Williams Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DT 71 Charles Barber Sr
DE 80 Scott Blackman Jr
DB 24 Bill Currier Sr
LB 57 John Green Jr
DE 82 Rus Mangari Sr
LB 50 David Prezioso Jr
DB 25 Rick Sanford So
LB 54 Tim Singleton Fr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
P 14 Max Runager So
K 15 Steve Young Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Team players in the NFL

Player Position Round Pick NFL club
Clarence Williams Running back 5 124 San Diego Chargers
Steve Courson Guard 5 125 Pittsburgh Steelers
Kevin Long Running back 7 195 New York Jets
Bill Currier Safety 9 232 Houston Oilers

References

  1. ^ https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/1976-standings.html
  2. ^ "South Carolina Gamecocks Poll History". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  3. ^ "1976 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  4. ^ "Kickers Parker, Runager duel". The Times and Democrat. September 5, 1976. Retrieved December 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "South Carolina defense surprises Georgia Tech". The Miami Herald. September 12, 1976. Retrieved January 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Gamecocks down Duke". Salisbury Evening Post. September 19, 1976. Retrieved January 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Bulldogs rally, tip Gamecocks". The Tampa Tribune. September 26, 1976. Retrieved October 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "South Carolina struck by Bear miracle". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. October 3, 1976. Retrieved January 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Roosters rip Virginia, 35–7". Durham Sunday Herald. October 10, 1976. Retrieved January 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "South Carolina Gamecocks nip 14th ranked Ole Miss". Florence Morning News. October 17, 1976. Retrieved October 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "3 brothers, Irish stop Gamecocks". The Charlotte Observer. October 24, 1976. Retrieved January 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Gamecocks trounce State, 27–7". Florence Morning News. October 31, 1976. Retrieved January 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Turnovers aid Deacs in surprising victory". The News and Observer. November 14, 1976. Retrieved January 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Frank Vehorn (November 21, 1976). "Tigers upset USC, 28-9". The Greenville News. p. 1E – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "1976 Football Schedule". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 6, 2017.


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