Oct. 21, 2009

Two of South Carolina’s greatest football teams will be honored in pregame ceremonies prior to the Carolina – Vanderbilt football game on Saturday, October 24, as part of the annual Homecoming festivities.

At 6:43 p.m. (22 minutes prior to kick), the 1969 ACC Championship team and the 1984 “Black Magic” squad will be honored on the Williams-Brice Stadium field, capping an event-filled weekend for members of the two teams.

It’s the 40th anniversary for the 1969 Atlantic Coast Conference championship team that captured the league title with a perfect 6-0 mark, including a 27-13 win over Clemson in the regular season finale. The ’69 Gamecock squad finished the season with an overall record of 7-4. Led by captains Don Buckner and Pat Watson, coach Paul Dietzel’s team faced off against Jim Carlen’s West Virginia Mountaineers in the Peach Bowl, the Gamecocks second bowl appearance in history.

It’s the 25th anniversary of the 1984 “Black Magic” team that set the school record for most wins in a single season. Led by team captains Bryant Gillard, Del Wilkes and Harry Smith, the “Black Magic” team finished the regular season with a 10-1 record and climbed to as high as number two in the national polls after posting wins in each of its first nine contests. The regular season concluded with a 22-21 win at Clemson, leading to an appearance in the 1984 Gator Bowl. The 1984 team was coached by Joe Morrison, who earned National Coach of the Year honors, and finished the season ranked number 11 in the Associated Press poll.

The 23rd -ranked Gamecocks (5-2, 2-2 SEC) and Vanderbilt Commodores (2-5, 0-4 SEC) will kick off at 7:05 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU with Eric Collins and Brock Huard describing the action.

Tickets, priced at $45, are still available. Contact the South Carolina ticket office or purchase online at www.gamecocksonline.com.