The Wolverine Now

dec. 27, 2012 Back Where It Began South Carolina���s 2009 Outback Bowl Appearance Game Facts Was A Turning Point For The Program S By Michael Spath outh Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier has a relaxed, folksy way about him. He doesn���t hold press conferences, but rather engages with reporters in conversation like he was talking to some friends. Yet in the weeks leading up to the Gamecocks��� Jan. 1 showdown with Michigan, Spurrier grew serious when confronted with USC���s most recent trip to the Outback Bowl, a 31-10 loss to Iowa in 2009. ���It���s embarrassing the way we played,��� said Spurrier, who won a national title at Florida in 1996. ���You can accept a loss when you play smart, play disciplined and play to your ability, but we didn���t do any of that that day. It was a lousy day, but we���re a different team. ���We came in with a 7-5 record that year having lost to Clemson, but this year we come in with some momentum; we���ve won our last four, but we���re playing a very good Michigan team. It���s the first time I���ve had a chance to go against them. I think it will be a heck of game.��� Accumulating a record of 122-27-1 with the Gators from 1990-2001, Spurrier then had a two-year stint in the NFL with the Washington Redskins, and took a third year off before returning to college in 2005. In Spurrier���s first four seasons, the Gamecocks ��� still recovering from a Steve Spurrier, who is in his eighth season at South Carolina, has posted a 65-37 record with the Gamecocks, but just a 2-4 mark in bowl games. photo courtesy South Carolina Athletics 16-19 record from 2002-04 ��� went 28-22 and earned three bowl berths, including the Outback. However, they limped into the contest against the Hawkeyes, falling 31-14 to Clemson and 56-6 to Florida in the two games prior. Still, no one was making excuses for a 21-point loss to Iowa. ���The team had just gotten shellacked by Florida and crushed by Clemson, but Spurrier was not happy at all that they fell flat on their face,��� GamecockCentral.com beat writer Scott Hood said. ���That Outback Bowl was a turning point, and you���ve really noticed the past few years that the attitude and atmosphere around the program have changed. ���It���s not good enough just to have a good season. This team and this staff want to have great seasons, and win bowl games.��� Over the past three years, South Carolina has produced 9-5, 11-2 and 10-2 marks, with USC winning double-digit games in consecutive seasons for the first time in school history. Its 11 wins in 2011 were also a school best, and the senior class has already set records for wins over two seasons (21), three seasons (30) and four seasons (37), the latter surpassing last year���s class tally of 34 victories. ���Steve Spurrier is big about firsts for the program, and this would also be the first South Carolina team to finish a year on a five-game winning streak,��� Hood said. ���When he first arrived, it was all about the SEC title because that���s what he was ac- What: Michigan vs. South Carolina. When: Jan. 1 ��� 1 p.m. Radio-TV: ESPN will broadcast the game. The contest can be heard on the Michigan Sports Network (950 AM in the Detroit area) and can also be heard on ESPN Radio (check your local listings). Coaches: Michigan: Brady Hoke (196, second season). South Carolina: Steve Spurrier (65-37, eighth season). History: Michigan has an all-time record of 1-1 against South Carolina, last beating the Gamecocks 34-3 in 1985. South Carolina Notes: Spurrier, who holds the South Carolina record for coaching victories with 65, recently signed a two-year contract extension that will take him through 2017 ��� Spurrier is 2-4 in bowl games at USC, and 8-9 in postseason contests including his stint at Florida ��� The Gamecocks are 2-1 in three previous Outback Bowl appearances and are looking to win back-to-back bowl games for the first time since the 2001 and 2002 Outback ��� South Carolina was 7-0 at home this year, posting a perfect record for the first time since 1987 (7-0).

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