1984 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

1984 South Carolina Gamecocks football
Gator Bowl, L 14–21 vs. Oklahoma State
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 13
APNo. 11
Record10–2
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorFrank Sadler (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorTom Gadd (2nd season)
Home stadiumWilliams–Brice Stadium
Seasons
← 1983
1985 →
1984 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 5 Boston College       10 2 0
No. 11 South Carolina       10 2 0
Army       8 3 1
Rutgers       7 3 0
No. 17 Florida State       7 3 2
Virginia Tech       8 4 0
West Virginia       8 4 0
No. 18 Miami (FL)       8 5 0
Notre Dame       7 5 0
Southwestern Louisiana       6 5 0
Penn State       6 5 0
Syracuse       6 5 0
Temple       6 5 0
Memphis State       5 5 1
Navy       4 6 1
Southern Miss       4 7 0
Pittsburgh       3 7 1
Tulane       3 8 0
Cincinnati       2 9 0
East Carolina       2 9 0
Louisville       2 9 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1984 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina as an independent during the 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Joe Morrison, the 1984 Gamecocks enjoyed a phenomenal and competitive season. The 1984 squad became the first team in school history to win 10 games (with a 10–2 record) and were ranked as high as No. 2 in the polls before losing to an unranked Navy team by a score of 38–21 in the tenth game of the season. Along the way, they defeated Georgia, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Florida State, and Clemson to earn an appearance in the Gator Bowl against Oklahoma State, losing by a score of 21–14.

The Gamecocks finished No. 11 in the final AP Poll. At the time, the No. 11 final ranking was the highest ever achieved by South Carolina. It was only the second final ranking in school history, and the first since 1958. Joe Morrison won the Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award. The peak ranking of No. 2 remains the highest in school history.[1][2]

The team was nicknamed "Black Magic" due to their success and their distinctive black jerseys.[3]

  1. ^ "South Carolina Gamecocks Poll History". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  2. ^ Archives, L. A. Times (February 6, 1989). "Morrison, 52, Dies of Heart Attack : South Carolina Coach, Ex-Giant Star Collapses After Racquetball Game". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  3. ^ "Will Muschamp explains when South Carolina will wear its 'Black Magic' throwback uniforms". Saturday Down South. August 27, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2023.

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