History

NCAA POSTSEASON APPEARANCES

NCAA INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS

Football Bowl Appearances

26 Bowl Appearances:
1946 Gator Bowl (South Carolina vs. Wake Forest, Jan. 1, 1946)
1969 Peach Bowl (South Carolina vs. West Virginia, Dec. 30, 1969)
1975 Tangerine Bowl (South Carolina vs. Miami (Ohio), Dec. 20, 1975)
1979 Hall of Fame Bowl (South Carolina vs. Missouri, Dec. 28, 1979)
1980 Gator Bowl (South Carolina vs. Pittsburgh, Dec. 29, 1980)
1984 Gator Bowl (South Carolina vs. Oklahoma State, Dec. 28, 1984)
1987 Gator Bowl (South Carolina vs. LSU, Dec. 31, 1987)
1988 Liberty Bowl (South Carolina vs. Indiana, Dec. 28, 1988)
1995 Carquest Bowl (South Carolina vs. West Virginia, Jan. 2, 1995)
2001 Outback Bowl (South Carolina vs. Ohio State, Jan. 1, 2001)
2002 Outback Bowl (South Carolina vs. Ohio State, Jan. 1, 2002)
2005 Independence Bowl (South Carolina vs. Missouri, Dec. 30, 2005)
2006 Liberty Bowl (South Carolina vs. Houston, Dec. 29, 2006)
2009 Outback Bowl (South Carolina vs. Iowa, Jan. 1, 2009)
2010 Papajohns.com Bowl (South Carolina vs. Connecticut, Jan. 2, 2010)
2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl (South Carolina vs. Florida State, Dec. 31, 2010)
2012 Capital One Bowl (South Carolina vs. Nebraska, Jan. 2, 2012)
2013 Outback Bowl (South Carolina vs. Michigan, Jan. 1, 2013)
2014 Capital One Bowl (South Carolina vs. Wisconsin, Jan. 1, 2014)
2014 Duck Commander Independence Bowl (South Carolina vs. Miami, Dec. 27, 2014)
2016 Birmingham Bowl (South Carolina vs. USF, Dec. 29, 2016)
2018 Outback Bowl (South Carolina vs. Michigan, Jan. 1, 2018)
2018 Belk Bowl (South Carolina vs. Virginia, Dec. 29, 2018)
2021 Duke’s Mayo Bowl (South Carolina vs. North Carolina, Dec. 30, 2021)
2022 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (South Carolina vs. Notre Dame, Dec. 30, 2022)
2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl (South Carolina vs. Illinois, Dec. 31, 2024)

All-Time Athletics Directors

• Up until January of 1982 (except for 1975-76), the head football coach was the AD.
• Rex Enright was the AD for 18 years (16 years as the head football coach and two years while he was in the Navy).

Retired Jersey Numbers

BASEBALL

#1 Ray Tanner (1997-2012)
Ray Tanner served as head coach for the Gamecock baseball program for 16 seasons and wore No. 1 from 2002-12. Tanner led South Carolina to back-to-back NCAA Division I Baseball Championships in 2010 and 2011 as well as a pair of national runner-up finishes, six College World Series appearances, three SEC championships, six SEC Eastern division titles and a SEC tournament crown. He went to 10 NCAA Super Regionals in 14 NCAA Tournament appearances as well. Under the direction of Tanner, South Carolina’s postseason success from 2010-2012 is arguably the greatest run in collegiate baseball history. In the three-year span, the Gamecocks established NCAA records with 22 consecutive postseason wins and 12 consecutive wins in the College World Series. Tanner was named Athletics Director for the University of South Carolina on July 13, 2012. Tanner went 738-316 at South Carolina. His winning percentage for the Gamecocks was .700, the second highest winning percentage in SEC history.

#13 Earl Bass (1972-75)
Earl Bass was a two-time ABCA First-Team All-American (1974-75) and holds the school record with a career win-loss record of 34-3. He also has the school record for career shutouts (10) and earned run average (1.34). He set a then-national record by winning 23 consecutive games over two seasons. He set a school freshman record with a 1.50 ERA. He was inducted into the USC Lettermen’s Hall of Fame in 1989 and was an SEC Legend at the 2017 SEC Baseball Tournament. He lost his battle with cancer on Feb. 4, 2018, at the age of 65.

#14 Kip Bouknight (1998-2001)
Bouknight is the winningest pitcher in South Carolina history, compiling a career record of 45-12 with a school record 482 innings and starting a Carolina best 66 games. He holds school records for strikeouts (457) and decisions. In 2000, Bouknight went 17-1 to help lead the Gamecocks to a 55-10 record and an SEC championship. After the 2000 season, Bouknight won the prestigious Golden Spikes Award, presented by USA Baseball as the top amateur baseball player in the United States as well as being named a consensus All-America selection by the ABCA, Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball. He helped Carolina to back-to-back Super Regional appearances in 2000 and 2001.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

#3 B.J. McKie (1996-99)
Retired on December 28, 2005. McKie is the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,119 points and he is the only Gamecock to score more than 2,000 points in a career. He helped lead the Gamecocks to the school’s first ever SEC Championship with a 15-1 record in the 1996-97 campaign.

#11 John Roche (1968-71)
Roche’s number, 11, was retired after a successful three-year tenure from 1968-71. Roche made one or more of the recognized All-America team in each of his three seasons. Roche holds USC records for three-year career point average (22.5) and points in a game, scoring 56 vs. Furman his senior year.

#22 Alex English (1972-76)
Retired after his senior season of 1976, the number 22 worn by Alex English was the last USC jersey number to be retired. English was a consensus All-American at South Carolina and is second on the USC all-time scoring list with 1,972 points. English started every game in a four-year span (111) and was a 52.8% shooter from the field in the process.

#42 Grady Wallace (1955-57)
Wallace, who wore 42, was the first South Carolina player to have his jersey number retired. Wallace averaged an amazing 28.0 points per game in his career and led the NCAA in 1957 with 31.3 points per tilt, edging out Kansas’ Wilt Chamberlain. Wallace holds down four of the top six scoring games in school history, scoring 54 points vs. Georgia in his senior year.

#43 Kevin Joyce (1970-71)
The third number retired in USC history was number 43 of Kevin Joyce. Joyce scored 1,400 points in his three years at South Carolina, averaging 20.4 points per game as a senior. Joyce, though, may be best known for out-jumping UNC’s Lee Dedmon (6-10) with four seconds left in the 1971 ACC Tournament title game, tapping the ball to Tom Owens for the winning bucket. Joyce was a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic team.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

#13 Martha Parker (1985-89)
Parker averaged 13.9 points and 5.9 rebounds a game and ranks fifth on the all-time South Carolina scoring list with 1,728 career points was named to the All-American team on three occasions, including a first-team honor in 1988-89. Parker is second on the all-time steals list with 284. Parker started all but two games in her South Carolina career (122 starts in 124 games).

#14 Shannon Johnson (1992-96)
A 5-7 guard from Hartsville, S.C., Shannon Johnson is South Carolina’s second-leading scorer of all time with 2,230 career points, and is the only Gamecock ever to average more than 20 points per game for three consecutive seasons, as she averaged 23.5 points per game in her sophomore year of 1993-94, 23.9 points per game as a junior in 1994-95 and a school-record 24.7 points per game as a senior in 1995-96. Her career average of 20.4 points per game is also a school record by a wide margin. A three-time all-SEC performer, Johnson earned All-America recognition from the Associated Press in 1995-96 and was a finalist for the Wade Trophy.

#22 A’ja Wilson (2014-18)
The 2018 graduate was the program’s first National Player of the Year and four-time All-American while becoming the first three-time SEC Player of the Year in league history. The first No. 1 recruit to sign with the Gamecocks, Wilson led her hometown team to its first Final Four and first National Championship and capped her career by becoming the program’s first No. 1 overall WNBA Draft pick. Wilson left the program holding 86 school records, including 11 career marks. On January 18, 2021, as part of the university’s observance of Martin Luther King Day, a statue of Wilson was dedicated near the main entrance to South Carolina’s basketball home of Colonial Life Arena.

#25 Tiffany Mitchell (2012-16)
Tiffany Mitchell was a three-time All-American, the program’s first two-time SEC Player of the Year and a two-time National Player of the Year finalist. She led the Gamecocks to their first-ever Final Four and was the leading scorer on South Carolina’s first SEC regular-season championship team. She is just one of three Gamecocks to finish her career with at least 1,500 points, 300 assists and 200 steals. Her 1,885 career points ranks seventh and her 4,167 minutes played ranks third in school history. She won the Athletics Department’s President’s Award and was one of the NCAA Today’s Top 10 in 2016. Mitchell was a top 10 selection in the 2016 WNBA Draft, being selected 9th by the Indiana Fever and was WNBA All-Rookie Team her first season. On Nov. 12, 2023, her jersey was retired in a ceremony at Colonial Life Arena.

#53 Sheila Foster (1978-82)
A 6-1 center-forward, Sheila Foster rewrote the South Carolina women’s record book during her tremendous career at USC and many of her records still stand today. The school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,266 points, Foster established herself as one of the dominant power forwards in collegiate basketball. The native of Spartanburg, South Carolina, started every game (134 games) during her four years. In addition, Foster holds the distinction of being the Gamecocks’ all-time leading rebounder 1,427 rebounds. During her four years, Foster averaged 16.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. As a senior, she averaged her career high of 20.2 points and 10.9 boards per game.

FOOTBALL

#1 Alshon Jeffery (2009-11)
All-America and All-SEC wide receiver Alshon Jeffery had his jersey #1 retired in 2023. The St. Matthews, S.C. native finished his three-ear career with 185 catches for 3,042 yards and 23 touchdowns. His best season came in 2010 when he led the SEC with 88 caches for 1,517 cards and nine touchdowns, helping the Gamecocks to their first SEC Eastern Division title.

#2 Sterling Sharpe (1983, 85-87)
Sharpe, wore #2, is the school’s all-time leading receiver with 169 catches for 2,497 yards and 17 touchdowns. Sharpe had his jersey retired following the 1987 regular season. He became only the second Gamecock to have his jersey retired while he was still active at the school. In fact, both Sharpe and George Rogers played in the Gator Bowl in their final collegiate game. Sharpe was a number one draft pick by the Green Bay Packers.

#7 Jadeveon Clowney (2011-13)
Jadeveon Clowney, a two-time first-team All-American and All-SEC selection and the 2012 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, had his jersey #7 retired in 2022. The Rock Hill, S.C. native was named the SEC Freshman of the Year in 2011. His best year came as a sophomore in 2012 when he set a school single-season record with 23.5 tackles for loss including a school-record 13.0 sacks and three force fumbles. he was the recipient of the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation’s top defensive end and was a finalist for the Badnarik, Nagurski and Lombardi Awards and finished sixth for the Heisman Trophy. His tackle, forced fumble and fumble recovery against Michigan in the 2013 Outback Bowl is regarded as one of the most iconic moments in college football history.

#37 Steve Wadiak (1948-51)
Wadiak wore #37 for Carolina and was the first to have his number retired after a tragic automobile accident claimed his life. Wadiak, who still appears throughout the South Carolina record book, was the school’s all-time rushing leader for 28 years after his senior season.

#38 George Rogers (1977-80)
Probably the school’s most well known player was also USC’s Heisman Trophy winner – George Rogers. He had his #38 retired during halftime ceremonies at Carolina’s final 1980 home game. Rogers was the first USC player to have his jersey retired while still active at the school.

#56 Mike Johnson (1964)
Center Mike Johnson, #56, became gravely ill before the start of his junior season, and the illness cut short a potentially great football career. Johnson had finished his sophomore campaign as the regular center. When he died in 1965, his number was retired.

MEN’S SOCCER

#1 Charles Arndt (1985-88)
Earned first-team All-America honors in 1988 while also being named the National Goalkeeper of the Year… He compiled 13 shutouts in 1988 in helping lead the Gamecocks to their first-ever semifinal appearance in the NCAA tournament… Arndt holds the school record for lowest career goals-against average (0.70) and combined shutouts (29).

#8 Clint Mathis (1994-97)
Carolina’s first two-time soccer All-American (’95 and ’97) … Holds the school records for single-season points (53) and goals (25), which tied for the national lead in 1995 … A three-time finalist for National Player of the Year … Ranks third all-time in scoring with 121 points (55 goals, 15 assists) … Has 46 career appearances and 12 goals for the United States National Team, including a stint on the 2002 World Cup team … Finished as leading scorer for USA in 2002 after recording seven goals and two assists for 16 points … Became the second U.S. Men’s National Team Player in history to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated on May 27, 2002 … Drafted No. 6 overall by the Los Angeles Galaxy in the 1998 MLS draft, Clint has played for five teams (Los Angeles Galaxy, NY/NJ MetroStars, Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids, NY Red Bull) … In three-plus seasons with the MetroStars, scored 87 points (33 goals, 21 assists) which ranks second in team history … Holds the MLS records for most goals (five) and points (10) in a game, set in a 6-4 MetroStars win over Dallas in 2000.

SOFTBALL

#11 Trinity Johnson (1995-97)
Trinity Johnson was a three-time NFCA All-American, earning the Honda Award, Fastpitch World and U.S. Olympic Committee National Softball Player of the Year in 1996-97. During the 1997 season, she was also the SEC Female Athlete of the Year, the SEC Softball Pitcher of the Year, unanimous First-Team All-SEC selection, three-time SEC Pitcher of the Week and two-time NFCA National Player of the Week. She continues to hold 11 school records and was inducted into the USC Lettermen’s Hall of Fame in 2004.

Joyce Compton (1987-2010)
Inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2002, Compton was instrumental in the Southeastern Conference adopting softball as a sport in the mid 1990’s. Once established, Compton’s teams won four Eastern Division titles, two SEC Tournament trophies and the 1997 SEC Championship, the first season of the league’s existence. Her record at South Carolina closed at 951-486-4 (.661), the winningest coach in South Carolina Athletics history. Under her guidance, 11 Gamecocks earned a total of 21 All-America plaques, 28 earned 62 All-Region honors, while 12 garnered 15 All-SEC honors over the first 14 years of conference play. One player won the Honda Award, which goes to the most outstanding player in softball. Twice, Compton coached the SEC Player of the Year, while she mentored the SEC Female Athlete of the Year once. The matriarch of SEC softball, Compton twice was named the SEC Coach of the Year, while she earned five Region Coach of the Year awards at South Carolina. Her teams performed well in the classroom as well, with 142 SEC Academic Honor Roll selections coming since 1997. 

MEN’S TRACK & FIELD

Terrence Trammell (1998-00)
Terrence Trammell was a 13-time All-American, six-time NCAA champion and an eight-time SEC champion during his Gamecock career. He was a silver medalist in the 110-meter hurdles at the 2000 and the 2004 Olympics and a seven-time World Championships medalist, including two gold medals. He was voted the 1999 SEC Athlete of the Year and won the 1999 Cliff Harper Trophy as the SEC Championships leader in points scored. He was inducted into the USC Lettermen’s Hall of Fame in 2006.

WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD

Miki Barber (1999-03)
Miki Barber was a 20-time All-American, five-time NCAA champion and an eight-time SEC champion during her time at South Carolina. She was a 2000 Olympian and a gold medalist in the 100 meters at the 2007 Pan American Games and as part of the 4×100 meter relay in the 2007 World Championships. She is part of the Carolina school record setting indoor 4x400m relay and the 4x200m relay. She has competed in 19 USATF Championships and was inducted into the USC Lettermen’s Hall of Fame in 2015.

Dawn Ellerbe (1993-97)
Dawn Ellerbe is a four-time NCAA champion, having won the program’s first women’s individual title in both indoor and outdoor, winning back-to-back titles in the weight throw (1996 & 1997) and the hammer throw (1996 & 1997). Ellerbe is a six-time All-American and is a two-time SEC Women’s Indoor Athlete of the Year. Ellerbe is also a five-time SEC champion during her time donning the Garnet & Black and still holds the program record for 20-pound weight throw at 21.72 meters. Ellerbe was inducted into the Penn Relays Wall of Fame in 2013. In 2005, Ellerbe was inducted into the University of South Carolina Hall of Fame class.