Jan. 1, 2013

Recap | Final Stats | Photo Gallery

GENERAL

• South Carolina defeated Michigan 33-28 to win the 2013 Outback Bowl. The Gamecocks finish the season 11-2 with this year’s squad matching the school record of wins in a season set by last year’s squad.
• The win is South Carolina’s sixth bowl victory in 18 tries and back-to-back bowl wins (2012 Capital One Bowl/2013 Outback Bowl) for the first time since the Gamecocks captured the 2001 and 2002 Outback Bowls (both over Ohio State).
• South Carolina is now 2-1 in series history over Michigan. It is the first victory for the Gamecocks over Michigan since a 17-14 win in 1980 in Ann Arbor.
• Head coach Steve Spurrier is now 3-4 in bowl games since coming to South Carolina. He owns the most bowl wins in school history by a Gamecock coach. It is Coach Spurrier’s first career Outback Bowl victory and the third in South Carolina history.
• The 2012 Carolina senior class has produced 38 wins over the past five seasons (7 in 2009, 9 in 2010, 11 in 2011, 11 in 2012), the most victories in four consecutive years in school history. The previous record was set by last year’s senior class at 34.
• 54,527 was the official attendance for the 2013 Outback Bowl.
• South Carolina’s 14 points in the first quarter marked the second highest point total by the Gamecocks in a first quarter in a bowl game in school history. The Gamecocks had been held scoreless in the first quarter in 11 of the previous 17 bowl games. South Carolina’s most points in the first quarter in a bowl game were 21 in the 2005 Independence Bowl vs. Missouri.

OFFENSE

• Connor Shaw’s 56-yard touchdown pass to Damiere Byrd in the first quarter is the fastest score by the Gamecocks in a bowl. South Carolina scored with 13:26 remaining in the first quarter. It marked the fourth longest passing play by the Gamecocks this season.
• Dylan Thompson completed a 70-yard pass to Nick Jones in the second quarter. The 70-yard reception is the longest reception in Nick Jones’ career and the second longest pass completion of the season for the Gamecocks. The longest passing play of the season was Thompson to Byrd for 94 yards and a touchdown on Sept 15, 2012 vs. UAB.
• Connor Shaw’s 64-yard run from scrimmage in the third quarter is the longest run from scrimmage by a Gamecock player this season and the longest career run by Shaw. It also marked the longest run from scrimmage play by a Gamecock player in a bowl game. The previous longest run of the season was a 50-yard gain by Mike Davis on Sept. 15, 2012 vs. UAB. Shaw’s previous longest career run was 60 yards vs. The Citadel on Nov. 19, 2011.
• Ace Sanders scored three touchdowns with two touchdown receptions and a punt return for a touchdown, the most touchdowns by a Gamecock player this season. The three touchdowns tie a bowl record by a South Carolina player. Ryan Brewer scored three touchdowns in the 2001 Outback Bowl, a 24-7u win over Ohio State.

DEFENSE

• Jimmy Legree’s interception in the first quarter was his third of the season. He ties DeVonte Holloman for the team lead with three.
• Victor Hampton earned his first career sack in the second quarter.

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Ace Sanders scored on a 63-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter. It marked his second punt return for a touchdown this season and the third of his career. His previous punt return for a touchdown in the season was 70 yards on Oct. 6, 2012 vs. Georgia. He has 27 returns for 429 yards this year, a single-season school record he set earlier in the season. The punt return was the longest punt return by a Gamecock player in a bowl game in school history. Sanders also tallied x yards, the most punt return yards in a bowl game in school history as well.