2009 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

The 2009 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Steve Spurrier, who was in his fifth season at USC. The Gamecocks played their home games at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. Carolina finished the season 7–6, winning the Palmetto Bowl over in-state rival Clemson 34–17 in their final regular season game,[1] before losing in the PapaJohns.com Bowl 20–7 against Connecticut.[2]

2009 South Carolina Gamecocks football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
Record7–6 (3–5 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorEllis Johnson (2nd season)
Base defense4–2–5
Home stadiumWilliams-Brice Stadium
Uniform
Seasons
← 2008
2010 →
2009 Southeastern Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
Eastern Division
No. 3 Florida x% 80  131 
Georgia 44  85 
Tennessee 44  76 
Kentucky 35  76 
South Carolina 35  76 
Vanderbilt 08  210 
Western Division
No. 1 Alabama x$# 80  140 
No. 17 LSU 53  94 
No. 20 Ole Miss 44  94 
Arkansas 35  85 
Auburn 35  85 
Mississippi State 35  57 
Championship: Alabama 32, Florida 13
  • # – BCS National Champion
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • % – BCS at-large representative
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

This season saw the introduction of "Sandstorm". The 1999 Finnish trance song was played before two decisive plays during a home game against No. 4 Ole Miss. With these plays, South Carolina sealed a historic upset, their first win against a top 5 team since 1981. After this, the song became a Gamecock anthem. By 2021, new head coach Shane Beamer had said that "you hear that song and immediately – I do, and I'm sure most people do – think of South Carolina football."[3]

The 2009 upset victory over Clemson has also been described by Spurrier and then-athletic director Eric Hyman as a “catalyst" to the program's most successful era: an SEC East Championship in 2010 and 11-win seasons in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Each of those years also saw victories over Clemson – South Carolina's longest win streak in the rivalry.[4][5]

Preseason

On April 11, 2009, the Garnet squad defeated the Black squad, 30–14, in the annual Garnet & Black Spring Game, in front of a crowd of 25,157. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Stephen Garcia finished the game 13–20 with 144 yards and two touchdowns, while true freshman Jarvis Giles led the ground game with 114 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 37:30 pmat NC State*ESPNW 7–357,583[6]
September 127:00 pmat No. 21 GeorgiaESPN2L 37–4192,746[7]
September 197:00 pmFlorida Atlantic*PPVW 38–1672,017[8]
September 247:30 pmNo. 4 Ole Miss
  • Williams-Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, South Carolina
ESPNW 16–1074,724[9]
October 37:00 pmSC State*
  • Williams-Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, South Carolina
ESPNCW 38–1477,066[10]
October 1012:30 pmKentuckyNo. 25
  • Williams-Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, South Carolina
SECRNW 28–2668,278[11]
October 177:45 pmat No. 2 AlabamaNo. 22ESPNL 6–2092,012[12]
October 247:00 pmVanderbilt No. 23
  • Williams-Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, South Carolina
ESPNUW 14–1075,624[13]
October 317:45 pmat TennesseeNo. 21ESPNL 13–3196,263[14]
November 712:21 pmat ArkansasSECNL 16–3368,865[15]
November 143:30 pmNo. 1 Florida
  • Williams-Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, South Carolina
CBSL 14–2479,297[16]
November 2812:00 pmNo. 15 Clemson*
ESPNW 34–1780,574[17]
January 22:00 pmvs. Connecticut*ESPNL 7–2045,254[18]

[19]

Schedule notes

  • Carolina's 2009 schedule was rated the toughest in the nation by college football guru Phil Steele.[20]
  • Radio coverage for all games was on the Gamecock Sports Radio Network.[21]
  • The week four game against Ole Miss was played on Thursday, September 24, as part of the ESPN College Football Thursday Primetime package.[22]
  • The week eleven game against Florida on November 14, 2009 featured the Gamecocks wearing special black and desert camouflage uniforms designed by Under Armour in support of the Wounded Warrior Project.[23]

Game summaries

NC State

1234Total
Gamecocks70007
Wolfpack00303

Georgia

1234Total
Gamecocks1765937
Bulldogs14177341

Florida Atlantic

1234Total
Owls3130016
Gamecocks10721038

Ole Miss

1234Total
Rebels300710
Gamecocks0610016

SC State

1234Total
Bulldogs070714
Gamecocks01021738

Kentucky

1234Total
Wildcats3143626
Gamecocks777728

Alabama

1234Total
Gamecocks06006
Crimson Tide1030720

Vanderbilt

1234Total
Commodores073010
Gamecocks070714

Tennessee

1234Total
Gamecocks0310013
Volunteers1477331

Arkansas

1234Total
Gamecocks376016
Razorbacks7316733

Florida

1234Total
Gators1070724
Gamecocks770014

Clemson

1234Total
Tigers7001017
Gamecocks14371034

Connecticut

1234Total
Huskies1030720
Gamecocks00077

Players

Depth chart

Projected starters and primary backups versus Clemson on November 28, 2009.


WLBMLBSLB
Shaq Wilson
Nathan TurnerJosh Dickerson
SS
Darian Stewart
DeVonte Holloman
CB
Akeem Auguste
C.C. Whitlock


DEDTDTDE
Cliff MatthewsLadi AjiboyeNathan PepperClifton Geathers
Byron McKnightMelvin IngramKenny DavisDevin Taylor
CB
Stephon Gilmore
D. J. Swearinger
Offense
WR
Alshon Jeffery
Jason Barnes
LTLGCRGRT
Kyle NunnGarrett ChisolmLemuel JeanpierreT. J. JohnsonHutch Eckerson
Jarriel KingGarrett AndersonGarrett AndersonLemuel JeanpierreQuintin Richardson
TE
Weslye Saunders
Justice Cunningham
WR
Moe Brown
Tori Gurley
QB
Stephen Garcia
Reid McCollum
Key reserves
RB Jarvis Giles
RB Eric Baker
WR D.L. Moore
WR Stephen Flint
WR Matt Clement
DE Aldrick Fordham
DE Chaz Sutton
SPUR Alonzo Winfield
RB
Brian Maddox
Kenny Miles
FB
Patrick DiMarco
Dalton Wilson
Special teams
PK Spencer Lanning
P Spencer Lanning
KR Bryce Sherman
PR Stephon Gilmore
LS Charles Turner

Awards

  • Devin Taylor - SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week, 9/7/09;[24] College Football News Third-Team Freshman All-American;[25] SEC Coaches All-Freshmen Team;[26] Rivals.com SEC All-Freshman Team[27]
  • Jarvis Giles – SEC Freshman of the Week, 9/21/09[28]
  • Eric Norwood – SEC Defensive Player of the Week, 9/28/09;[29] Butkus Award Finalist;[30] First-Team Coaches All-SEC;[31] First-Team AP All-SEC;[32] First-Team ESPN All-SEC;[33] Walter Camp First-Team All-American;[34] First-Team AP All-American[35]
  • Alshon Jeffery – SEC Freshman of the Week, 10/12/09;[36] College Football News First-Team Freshman All-American;[37] SEC Coaches All-Freshmen Team;[38] Rivals.com SEC All-Freshman Team;[39] Scout.com Freshman All-American Team;[40] FWAA Freshman All-American Team[41]
  • Ladi Ajiboye - SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week, 11/30/09[42]
  • Cliff Matthews – Second-Team Coaches All-SEC;[43] Honorable Mention AP All-SEC[44]
  • Chris Culliver – Second-Team AP All-SEC[45]
  • Stephon Gilmore – College Football News First-Team Freshman All-American;[46] SEC Coaches All-Freshmen Team;[47] Rivals.com SEC Defensive Freshman of the Year;[48] Scout.com Freshman All-American Team[49]
  • T.J. Johnson – SEC Coaches All-Freshmen Team;[50] Rivals.com SEC All-Freshman Team[51]

2009 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeight40Commit date
Corey Addison
DB
Jacksonville, FloridaAndrew Jackson HS6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)185 lb (84 kg)-Aug 2, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 75
Nick Allison
OL
Asheville, North CarolinaT.C. Roberson HS6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)285 lb (129 kg)5.0Jun 7, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 76
DeMario Bennett
WR
Douglas, GeorgiaCoffee County HS6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)185 lb (84 kg)4.49Jul 18, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 76
Ronald Byrd
DE
Fork Union, VirginiaFork Union Military Academy6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)270 lb (120 kg)4.8Sep 25, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 70
Duane Chisolm
DE
Beaufort, South CarolinaBeaufort HS6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)250 lb (110 kg)4.75Dec 7, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 79
Andrew Clifford
QB
Tampa, FloridaWharton HS6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)215 lb (98 kg)4.8Feb 1, 2009 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 75
Matt Coffee
ATH
Ft. Walton Beach, FloridaFt. Walton Beach HS5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)214 lb (97 kg)4.53Jul 1, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 78
Justice Cunningham
TE
Pageland, South CarolinaCentral HS6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)242 lb (110 kg)4.78Apr 19, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 78
Josh Dickerson
LB
Milledgeville, GeorgiaGeorgia Military College6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)215 lb (98 kg)4.6Sep 28, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: -
Aldrick Fordham
DE
St. Stephen, South CarolinaTimberland HS6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)234 lb (106 kg)4.75Jul 1, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 79
Jarvis Giles
RB
Tampa, FloridaGaither HS6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)180 lb (82 kg)4.5Dec 9, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 83
Stephon Gilmore
DB
Rock Hill, South CarolinaSouth Pointe HS6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)181 lb (82 kg)4.5Oct 14, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 85
Chaun Gresham
LB
Winder, GeorgiaApalachee HS6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)205 lb (93 kg)-Aug 8, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 79
DeVonte Holloman
DB
Rock Hill, South CarolinaSouth Pointe HS6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)214 lb (97 kg)4.5Nov 14, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 84
Charles Holmes
WR
Rock Hill, South CarolinaSouth Pointe HS6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)197 lb (89 kg)4.55Jul 19, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 74
Alshon Jeffery
WR
St. Matthews, South CarolinaCalhoun County HS6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)214 lb (97 kg)4.5Feb 4, 2009 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 81
Damario Jeffery
DB
Columbia, South CarolinaColumbia HS6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)215 lb (98 kg)4.5Aug 1, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 81
Jimmy Legree
ATH
Beaufort, South CarolinaBeaufort HS6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)172 lb (78 kg)4.5Aug 7, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 77
Leon Mackey
DE
Chatham, VirginiaHargrave Military Academy6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)260 lb (120 kg)5.0Feb 1, 2009 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 77
Chris Payne
DB
Columbia, South CarolinaColumbia HS5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)190 lb (86 kg)4.49Mar 6, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 82
Lamar Scruggs
WR
Jacksonville, FloridaDuncan U. Fletcher HS6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)212 lb (96 kg)-Jan 27, 2009 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 80
Steven Singleton
OL
Milledgeville, GeorgiaGeorgia Military College6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)310 lb (140 kg)5.2Dec 13, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: -
DeAngelo Smith
WR
Kingsland, GeorgiaCamden County HS6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)174 lb (79 kg)-Jul 18, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 77
Quin Smith
LB
Lenoir, North CarolinaHibriten HS6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)205 lb (93 kg)4.63Jun 10, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 77
Tony Straughter
LB
Milledgeville, GeorgiaGeorgia Military College6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)215 lb (98 kg)4.55Sep 21, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: -
Chaz Sutton
DE
Fork Union, VirginiaFork Union Military Academy6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)240 lb (110 kg)4.8Sep 25, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 78
D.J. Swearinger
DB
Greenwood, South CarolinaGreenwood HS5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)196 lb (89 kg)4.44Nov 23, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 80
Rokevious Watkins
OL
Milledgeville, GeorgiaGeorgia Military College6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)340 lb (150 kg)5.3Dec 13, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: -
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 13   Rivals: 12  ESPN: 12
  • ‡ Refers to 40 yard dash
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "South Carolina Signee List 2009". Rivals.com.
  • "Scout.com Football Recruiting: South Carolina". Scout.com.
  • "2009 Player Signees- South Carolina". ESPN.com.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com.
  • "2009 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP25222321
Coaches222321
HarrisNot released2221Not released
BCSNot released2422Not released

Statistics

Scores by quarter

1234Total
South Carolina65698740261
Opponents71783957245

Team

USCOpp
Scoring261245
  Points per Game21.820.4
First Downs227188
  Rushing8697
  Passing12579
  Penalty1612
Total Offense43113656
  Avg per Play5.34.8
  Avg per Game359.2304.7
Fumbles-Lost23-1016-10
Penalties-Yards76-65471-586
  Avg per Game54.548.8
USCOpp
Punts-Yards62-259463-2460
  Avg per Punt41.839.0
Time of Possession/Game30:5429:06
3rd Down Conversions67/17363/172
4th Down Conversions10/196/19
Touchdowns Scored3029
Field Goals-Attempts17-2014-21
PAT-Attempts28-3027-28
Attendance527,580407,469
  Games/Avg per Game7/75,3695/81,494

Offense

Rushing

NameGP-GSAttGainLossNetAvgTDLongAvg/G
Kenny Miles12-6111616146025.412650.2
Brian Maddox12-5100324193053.051425.4
Jarvis Giles9-052298212775.313830.8
Stephen Garcia12-121053722421301.242110.8
Moe Brown11-115105010521.00509.5
Bryce Sherman11-17584547.70234.9
Patrick DiMarco12-810310313.1072.6
Stephon Gilmore12-125200204.0081.7
Total 409186036015003.71150125.0
Opponents 431195631216443.81561137.0

Passing

NameGP-GSEfficCmp-Att-IntPctYdsTDLngAvg/G
Stephen Garcia12-12124.5223-394-956.627331780227.8
Reid McCollum2-0176.34-6-066.73912019.5
Total 125.8228-402-956.728111880234.2
Opponents 114.1183-327-656.020121069167.7

Receiving

NameGP-GSNo.YdsAvgTDLongAvg/G
Alshon Jeffery12-64373517.168061.2
Moe Brown11-113247915.036943.5
Weslye Saunders11-93036012.033032.7
Tori Gurley12-52842615.224435.5
Jason Barnes12-62426611.102222.2
Brian Maddox12-5171357.922411.2
Kenny Miles12-6171146.70209.5
Patrick DiMarco12-814785.61156.5
D.L. Moore12-066110.21355.1
Jarvis Giles9-05265.20122.9
Dion Lecorn6-04276.80134.5
Total 228281112.31880234.2
Opponents 183201211.01069167.7

Defense

NameGPTacklesSacksPass DefenseInterceptionsFumblesBlkd
Kick
SoloAstTotalTFL-YdsNo-YdsBrUpQBHNo.-YdsAvgTDLongRcv-YdsFF
Total50526476977-26927-17244296-11318.815410-23134

Special teams

NamePuntingKickoffs
No.YdsAvgLongTBFCI20BlkdNo.YdsAvgTBOB
Spencer Lanning62259441.856818150943748.601
Adam Yates48296361.712
Total62259441.85681815057340059.613
NamePunt ReturnsKick Returns
No.YdsAvgTDLongNo.YdsAvgTDLong
Chris Culliver2658522.5061
Bryce Sherman1940921.5035
Stephon Gilmore1314811.4035
Akeem Auguste6172.801311515.0015
Total211778.403549105621.6061

Coaching staff

References