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2012 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

American college football season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2012 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Gamecocks were led by eighth-year head coach Steve Spurrier and played their home games at Williams–Brice Stadium. They were a member of the East Division of the Southeastern Conference. The season finished with 11–2, 6–2 in SEC to finish in third place in the East Division.

DivisionEast Division
CoachesNo. 7
APNo. 8
Quick facts South Carolina Gamecocks football, Palmetto Bowl champion ...
2012 South Carolina Gamecocks football
Palmetto Bowl champion
Outback Bowl, W 33–28 vs. Michigan
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEast Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 7
APNo. 8
Record11–2 (6–2 SEC)
Head coach
Co-offensive coordinators
Offensive schemeFun and gun
Defensive coordinatorLorenzo Ward (1st season)
Base defense4–2–5
Home stadiumWilliams-Brice Stadium
Seasons
← 2011
2013 →
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More information Conf., Overall ...
2012 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Eastern Division
No. T–5 Georgia xy 7–1  12–2 
No. 9 Florida x% 7–1  11–2 
No. 8 South Carolina 6–2  11–2 
No. 23 Vanderbilt 5–3  9–4 
Missouri 2–6  5–7 
Tennessee 1–7  5–7 
Kentucky 0–8  2–10 
Western Division
No. 1 Alabama x$# 7–1  13–1 
No. 14 LSU * 6–2  10–3 
No. T–5 Texas A&M 6–2  11–2 
Mississippi State 4–4  8–5 
Ole Miss * 3–5  7–6 
Arkansas 2–6  4–8 
Auburn 0–8  3–9 
Championship: Alabama 32, Georgia 28
  • # – BCS National Champion
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • % – BCS at-large representative
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • * Ole Miss and LSU vacated all wins due to NCAA violations.
Rankings from AP Poll
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South Carolina started the season 6–0, capped off by a blowout win over No. 5 Georgia at home.[1] By this point, the Gamecocks were on a school-record ten-game winning streak dating back to last season and were subsequently ranked No. 3 in the country.[1][2] This was the program's highest ranking since 1984,[3] and the 2012 Gamecocks began receiving comparisons to that 1984 team, which started 9–0 and came close to winning a national championship.[2] This ten-game winning streak and No. 3 ranking in 2012 has not been matched or surpassed by the program since.[3] Back-to-back losses on the road to top-10 opponents (No. 9 LSU and No. 3 Florida) sent South Carolina plummeting in the rankings and out of national championship contention.[1] The Gamecocks rebounded, winning the rest of their games in the regular season, including against archrival No. 12 Clemson.[1] They were invited to the Outback Bowl, where the Gamecocks defeated No. 19 Michigan 33–28 by a game-winning touchdown with eleven seconds remaining in the game.[4] South Carolina finished the season with eleven wins and ranked in the top ten for only the second time in school history.[5]

Sophomore defensive end Jadeveon Clowney emerged as the best defensive player in college football.[6] Clowney had thirteen sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss, both school records.[7] He won the Ted Hendricks Award and finished sixth in Heisman Trophy voting.[8][9] Clowney was a unanimous All-American, only the second in program history.[7] He won the ESPY Award for best play of the sporting year for his Outback Bowl tackle on Michigan running back Vincent Smith,[10] since regarded as one of the greatest plays in college football history.[11][12][13]

Preseason

On April 14, 2012, the Black squad defeated the Garnet squad, 38–24, in the annual Garnet & Black Spring Game, in front of a crowd of 34,513. Quarterback Connor Shaw finished the day 6–7 for 128 yards and two touchdowns for the Black team, while Garnet QB Dylan Thompson was 15–20 for 168 yards and a rushing touchdown.[14]

Schedule

The October 6 game against Georgia played host to ESPN's College GameDay, the school's sixth time hosting the popular ESPN show.[15]

More information Date, Time ...
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 307:00 pmat VanderbiltNo. 9ESPNW 17–1338,393
September 812:21 pmEast Carolina*No. 9SECNW 48–1077,006
September 157:00 pmUAB*No. 8
  • Williams-Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
SECRNW 49–677,963
September 223:30 pmMissouriNo. 7
  • Williams-Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
CBSW 31–1080,836
September 297:00 pmat KentuckyNo. 6ESPN2W 38–1749,810
October 67:00 pmNo. 5 GeorgiaNo. 6
ESPNW 35–785,199‡
October 138:00 pmat No. 9 LSUNo. 3ESPNL 21–23 ‡92,734
October 203:30 pmat No. 3 FloridaNo. 9CBSL 11–4490,833
October 2712:00 pmTennesseeNo. 17
  • Williams-Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC (rivalry)
ESPNW 38–3580,250
November 1012:00 pmArkansasNo. 12
  • Williams-Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
CBSW 38–2078,772
November 171:00 pmWofford*No. 12
  • Williams-Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
PPVW 24–779,982
November 247:00 pmat No. 12 Clemson*No. 13ESPNW 27–1784,513
January 11:00 pmvs. No. 19 Michigan*No. 11ESPNW 33–2854,527
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[16]

  • ‡ New Williams–Brice Stadium Attendance Record

‡ As part of their penalty for NCAA violations, LSU has retroactively vacated its 2012 victory over South Carolina. However, the penalty to vacate victories does not result in a loss (or forfeiture) of the affected game or award a victory to the opponent, therefore South Carolina still considers the game a loss in their official records.[17]

Game summaries

Vanderbilt

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
• #9 South Carolina 7 307 17
Vanderbilt 0 1030 13
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  • Date: August 30
  • Location: Nashville, Tennessee
  • Game start: 6:01 pm
  • Elapsed time: 3:15
  • Game attendance: 38,393
  • Game weather: 86, Partly Cloudy
  • Referee: Matt Austin
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Rece Davis (play-by-play), David Pollack and Jesse Palmer (color), Samantha Steele (sideline)

East Carolina

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
East Carolina 0 037 10
• #9 South Carolina 14 71413 48
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  • Date: September 8
  • Location: Columbia, South Carolina
  • Game start: 12:21 pm
  • Elapsed time: 3:19
  • Game attendance: 77,006
  • Game weather: 88, Sunny
  • Referee: Wayne Winkler
  • TV announcers (SEC Network): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Andre Ware (color), Cara Capuano (sideline)

UAB

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
UAB 3 300 6
• #8 South Carolina 7 141414 49
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  • Date: September 15
  • Location: Columbia, South Carolina
  • Game start: 7:08 pm
  • Elapsed time: 3:22
  • Game attendance: 77,963
  • Game weather: 84, Fair
  • Referee: Ken Williamson
  • Television network: FSN

Missouri

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
Missouri 0 307 10
• #7 South Carolina 0 2173 31
Close
  • Date: September 22
  • Location: Columbia, South Carolina
  • Game start: 3:39 pm
  • Elapsed time: 3:02
  • Game attendance: 80,836
  • Game weather: 88, Fair
  • Referee: Matt Loeffler
  • TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (color), Tracy Wolfson (sideline)

Kentucky

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
• #6 South Carolina 0 71417 38
Kentucky 3 1400 17
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  • Date: September 29
  • Location: Lexington, Kentucky
  • Game start: 7:10 pm
  • Elapsed time: 3:08
  • Game attendance: 49,810
  • Game weather: 70, Fair
  • Referee: Tom Ritter
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): Mike Patrick (play-by-play), Ed Cunningham (color), Jeannine Edwards (sideline)

Georgia

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
#5 Georgia 0 007 7
• #6 South Carolina 21 077 35
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  • Date: October 6
  • Location: Columbia, South Carolina
  • Game start: 7:10 pm
  • Elapsed time: 3:13
  • Game attendance: 85,199
  • Game weather: 78, Clear
  • Referee: Matt Austin
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Brent Musburger (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (color), Heather Cox (sideline)

LSU

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
#3 South Carolina 0 777 21
• #9 LSU 3 0713 23
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  • Date: October 13
  • Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  • Game start: 7:06 pm
  • Elapsed time: 3:27
  • Game attendance: 92,734
  • Game weather: 79 Degrees
  • Referee: Hubert Owens
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Brent Musburger (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (color), Heather Cox (sideline)

Florida

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
#9 South Carolina 3 323 11
• #3 Florida 7 14167 44
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  • Date: October 20
  • Location: Gainesville, Florida
  • Game start: 3:39 pm
  • Elapsed time: 3:22
  • Game attendance: 90,833
  • Game weather: 79, Sunny
  • Referee: Matt Loeffler
  • TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (color), Tracy Wolfson (sideline)

Tennessee

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
Tennessee 7 7714 35
• #17 South Carolina 7 2173 38
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  • Date: October 27
  • Location: Columbia, South Carolina
  • Game start: 12:01 pm
  • Elapsed time: 3:34
  • Game attendance: 80,250
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Brian Griese (color), Jenn Brown (sideline)

Arkansas

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
Arkansas 0 1037 20
• #12 South Carolina 7 14170 38
Close
  • Date: November 10
  • Location: Columbia, South Carolina
  • Game start: 12:10 pm
  • Elapsed time: 3:26
  • Game attendance: 78,772
  • TV announcers (CBS): Tim Brando (play-by-play), Steve Beuerlein (color), Marty Snider (sideline)

Wofford

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
Wofford 0 700 7
• #12 South Carolina 0 7017 24
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  • Date: November 17
  • Location: Columbia, South Carolina
  • Game start: 1:05 pm
  • Elapsed time: 2:44
  • Game attendance: 79,982
  • Television network: PPV

at No. 11 Clemson (rivalry)

Game Twelve– No. 12 South Carolina Gamecocks (9-2) at No. 11 Clemson Tigers (10-1) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 12 South Carolina 7 3 10727
No. 11 Clemson 14 0 3017
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at Memorial Stadium • Clemson, South Carolina

  • Date: Saturday, November 24, 2012
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather: Clear
  • Game attendance: 82,000
  • TV: ESPN
More information Game information ...
Game information
First quarter
  • (5:27) CLEM – Tajh Boyd 3-yard run (Chandler Catanzaro kick) (Drive: 16 plays, 85 yards, 6:14; Clemson 7-0)
  • (1:46) SC – Bruce Ellington 13-yard pass from Dylan Thompson (Adam Yates kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 63 yards, 3:41; Tied 7-7)
  • (1:22) CLEM – DeAndre Hopkins 43-yard pass from Tajh Boyd (Chandler Catanzaro kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:24; Clemson 14-7)
Second quarter
  • (2:40) SC – Adam Yates 27-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 79 yards, 6:14; Clemson 14-10)
Third quarter
  • (11:48) SC – Ace Sanders 34-yard pass from Dylan Thompson (Adam Yates kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 85 yards, 3:12; South Carolina 17-14)
  • (6:56) SC – Adam Yates 43-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 42 yards, 3:08; South Carolina 20-14)
  • (5:07) CLEM – Chandler Catanzaro 37-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 56 yards, 1:49; South Carolina 20-17)
Fourth quarter
  • (4:17) SC – Bruce Ellington 6-yard pass from Dylan Thompson (Adam Yates kick) (Drive: 13 plays, 65 yards, 7:39; South Carolina 27-17)
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More information Statistics, SC ...
StatisticsSCCLEM
First downs2618
Total yards86–44459–328
Rushing yards45–13435–145
Passing yards310183
Passing: Comp–Att–Int23–41–111–24–2
Time of possession39:3420:02
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More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
South CarolinaPassingDylan Thompson23/41, 310 yards, 3 TD, INT
RushingKenny Miles16 carries, 45 yards
ReceivingAce Sanders6 receptions, 119 yards, TD
ClemsonPassingTajh Boyd11/24, 183 yards, TD, 2 INT
RushingAndre Ellington15 carries, 72 yards
ReceivingJaron Brown3 receptions, 68 yards
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Michigan

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
• #11 South Carolina 14 7012 33
#19 Michigan 3 1096 28
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  • Date: January 1, 2013
  • Location: Tampa, Florida
  • Game start: 1:00 pm
  • Elapsed time: 3:45
  • Game attendance: 54,527
  • Referee: Jeff Maconaghy (Big East)
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Jon Gruden (color), Shannon Spake (sideline)

Players

Depth chart

Projected starters and primary backups versus Clemson on November 24, 2012.

More information FS, WLB ...
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Awards

  • Jadeveon Clowney – SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week, 9/17/12;[18] SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week, 10/1/12;[19] SEC Defensive Lineman and Co-Defensive Player of the Week, 11/26/12[20]
  • T.J. Johnson - SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week, 10/8/12[21]
  • Marcus Lattimore – SEC Offensive Player of the Week, 9/3/12[22]
  • Ace Sanders - SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week, 9/24/12,[23] SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week, 10/8/12[21]
  • Connor Shaw - SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week, 9/24/12,[23] SEC Offensive Player of the Week, 10/29/12[24]
  • D. J. Swearinger - Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week, 11/11/12[25]

Rankings

More information Week, Poll ...
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP99876639171112121311118
Coaches99986638161111111210107
HarrisNot released3716111111121010Not released
BCSNot released713889121010Not released
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Coaching staff

  • Steve Spurrier – Head coach[26]
  • Lorenzo Ward – Defensive coordinator[27]
  • Kirk Botkin - Linebackers, spurs coach[28]
  • Grady Brown - Secondary coach, assistant special teams coordinator[29]
  • Shawn Elliott – Co-offensive coordinator, offensive line coach[30]
  • Brad Lawing – Defensive line coach[31]
  • G. A. Mangus – Quarterbacks coach[32]
  • Joe Robinson - Special teams coordinator, tight ends coach[33]
  • Everette Sands - Running backs coach[34]
  • Steve Spurrier Jr. – Recruiting coordinator, wide receivers coach[35]

References

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