The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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38 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY TIM PEELER N C State and South Carolina have met on the gridiron only twice since the turn of the century, but that does not mean the series is not rich in history. The two programs have played 57 times, with the Gamecocks holding a 27‑26‑4 edge in the series. The Wolfpack were charter members of the Southern Conference in 1921, and NC State and South Carolina were part of that league from 1922‑53. Both schools left in 1953 to be charter members of the ACC and were in that league together until 1971. Although the Gamecocks opted to be‑ come independent in 1971, the two pro‑ grams continued to play each other every year for two more decades. The Pack holds a 13‑10 advantage in the series since South Carolina departed the ACC. The Wolfpack and Gamecocks met annually from 1923‑35 and 1956‑91 (except for 1967). Since South Carolina joined the SEC in 1991, they have met only three times (1999, 2008 and 2009). This year's meeting in Charlotte will mark the first time the Wolfpack and Gamecocks have played each other at a neutral site. The Pack is 17‑8‑3 ver‑ sus South Carolina in Raleigh, but just 9‑19‑1 in Columbia. In chronological order, here are 12 of the best games in the series: Oct. 13, 1921 NC State back Charlie Shuford inter‑ cepted a Gamecock pass and raced 55 yards for the only score of the day to give the Farmers of NC State College their first‑ ever victory over South Carolina, 7‑0. The interception was one of three errant passes picked off by State College on the day, with "Red" Lassiter and Thomas Bos‑ tian notching the other two. Nov. 24, 1927 Star back Jack McDowall threw three touchdown passes and scored three ex‑ tra points in a Thanksgiving Day clash at Columbia's Melton Field to help the Pack complete its only undefeated league slate as a member of the Southern Conference. NC State, which posted a 9‑1 overall record and 4‑0 league mark under the guid‑ ance of head coach Gus Tebell, was of‑ ficially declared co‑champions of the 22‑ team Southern Conference with Georgia Tech and Tennessee, both of which had one tie among their conference results. Nov. 23, 1957 Senior halfback Dick Christy had never attempted a field goal as a college player until he convinced head coach Earle Ed‑ wards to let him try a 37‑yarder with no time left on the clock, thanks to a South Carolina defensive interference penalty. Christy had already scored the Wolfpack's first 26 points in the contest, on four touch‑ downs and two extra points. The Pack's regular kicker, Dick Hunter, had missed his previous six extra point attempts and had not made a field goal all season long. Edwards had to make the choice of going for a Hail Mary pass to the end zone or giv‑ ing Christy the chance to become the biggest single‑game star in ACC football history. With a low line‑drive kick that barely made it over the crossbar at Carolina Sta‑ dium (later named Williams‑Brice), Christy not only capped off the biggest solo scoring day in school history, he gave Edwards and the Wolfpack its first‑ever ACC title, thanks to North Carolina's win over favored Duke on that same afternoon. For years, until the two teams stopped playing regularly, the media selected the top NC State player in the game to receive the Dicky Christy Award. Nov. 18, 1961 A total of 16,000 spectators saw Ro‑ man Gabriel play his final home game in GAMECOCK BATTLES The Best Games in The NC State-South Carolina Gridiron Series South Carolina and NC State have played each other 57 times, with the Gamecocks winning the two most recent meetings (34-0 in 2008 and 7-3 in 2009) to take a 27-26-4 lead in the series. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS