The year was 2000 and the Gamecocks had lost 21 straight games. At the time, I was a sophomore at Carolina and had yet to see the Gamecocks win a football game as a college student. Which at the time was very depressing after all Lou Holtz was our head coach.
The 2000 season turned out to be a very memorable year as the Gamecocks went 8-4 overall, 5-3 in the SEC. The first victory of the season came against New Mexico State on September 2, 2000 and Williams Brice Stadium was buzzing the entire game. The celebration after the 31-0 victory started with fans tearing down the goal post for the first time that season.
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The following week, Carolina faced a Bulldog team that hadn’t lost to the Gamecocks since the 1996 season. Well that night Heisman hopeful Quincey Carter threw 5 interceptions, which lead to a 21-10 victory for the cocks. Just like the week before, the fans tore down the goal post in celebration.
That season the Gamecocks were lead by a trio of backs, including the last 1000 yard rusher Derek Watson. Some other offensive names that you might remember: Phil Petty, Andrew Pinnock, Ryan Brewer, Hart Turner and Brain Scott.
The defense was lead by Dunta Robinson and Kalimba Edwards, but here are few other names that might ring a bell: Cleveland Pickney, Jonathan Martin, Langston Moore and Andre Goodman.
My most memorable moment of that season came against Mississippi State at Williams Brice Stadium on September 23, when “The Fade” happened. Trailing late in the game, Coach Holtz had to find a replacement for injured starting QB Phil Petty. It went something like this…
Coach Holtz “I wish I had a Quarterback that could throw a fade route.”
Eric Kimrey ” Coach, I can throw the fade”
Coach Holtz “Well get your butt in there and throw the fade to #84”
The rest is history as Kimrey threw one fade pass to Jermale Kelly late in the fourth quarter to come back and defeat Miss. State 23-19. Here is the video of “The Fade“.
South Carolina went on to an 8-4 season, capping off the season with a New Years day victory over the Buckeye’s of Ohio State 24-7. The 2000 Carolina season will be remembered as one of the greatest turnarounds in SEC and College Football History. Losing 21 straight games over two seasons, to rebound and go 8-4 with a bowl win on New Year’s Day.
Some other notable things from 2000: Spurrier was still the coach at Florida, “Who Let the Cocks out” was playing every 5 minutes in Williams Brice, Christina Aguilera, Santana, Creed, and Savage Garden were atop the billboard charts.
Please feel free to let me know what your best memories were from the 2000 season?
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