Two of USC's greatest teams honored

COLUMBIA — Before the start of Saturday’s homecoming game, South Carolina honored two of its greatest teams — 1969 and 1984 — in a year of anniversaries.

The 1969 team won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship, the school’s only league title, by going perfect in conference play.

The 1984 team, also known as “Black Magic” posted the winningest season in school history, going 10-2 under coach Joe Morrison. The Gamecocks reached No. 2 in the polls that year.

Members of both teams were recognized at midfield before the start of the game.

It’s also the 75th season at Williams-Brice Stadium. The first game was held there on Oct. 6, 1934, against VMI.

HOLDING THEMSELVES BACK

South Carolina got off to a penalty-filled start Saturday against Vanderbilt in Columbia. After the Gamecocks were called for holding on the opening kickoff, USC was penalized twice more for the same infraction on the opening drive. The Commodores recovered a fumble on a 1-yard run by USC running back Kenny Miles, but the call was overturned after a replay. On a third-and-20, USC was called for an illegal formation that was declined, forcing it to punt.

USC was called for a total of six penalties for 57 yards in the first half.

GURLEY IN THE MIX

Four games into this season, redshirt freshman receiver Tori Gurley was averaging four catches per game and leading the Gamecocks in receiving yards. Since then, he hadn’t recorded more than one catch in USC’s last three games until he caught two passes for 19 yards against Vanderbilt in the first quarter Saturday.

GOING YARD

After USC took a 7-0 lead with 7:52 to play in the second quarter, Vanderbilt’s Warren Norman took the ensuing kickoff 99 yards up the middle of the field for a Commodore touchdown to tie the game. It was the second kick return for a score the Gamecocks have given up this season after allowing a 100-yarder to Georgia’s Brandon Boykin in Week 2.

For Norman, it was his second return of the season, setting a Vanderbilt record as the first player to run back multiple kickoffs for TDs in a season.

HOMEGROWN COMMODORES

Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson, a Columbia native, coached as an assistant at Clemson and as a head coach at Furman. Five of his current assistants — offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell, defensive coach Bruce Fowler, offensive coordinator Ted Cain, co-passing game coordinator Jimmy Kiser and running backs coach Des Kitchings — either played or coached for the Paladins.

As for the players, three active Commodores hail from the Palmetto State, including defensive end Teriall Brannon (Spartanburg), offensive tackle Kyle Fishcer (Columbia) and kicker Ryan Fowler (Taylors).