Aug. 11, 2014

Gamecocks beat Spurrier’s old team in his first season

In Steve Spurrier’s first season at South Carolina, the Gamecocks caught fire late. On November 12, 2005, Carolina hosted the Head Ball Coach’s former school, No. 12 Florida.

Spurrier’s new team wasn’t intimidated by the Gators, and they sprinted to an early lead with the help of a signature catch by redshirt freshman Sidney Rice.

Up 20-3, things looked promising for Carolina, but Florida stormed back behind quarterback Chris Leak, and cut the Carolina lead to one. Then the combo of Mitchell and Rice struck again on a 69-yard pass to set up the game sealing touchdown.

The victory marked the first five-game SEC winning streak in school history, and the first win over Florida since 1939.