April 9, 2016

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Over 140 University of South Carolina football alumni returned to campus Saturday and celebrated the beginning of the Will Muschamp era with the Garnet & Black Alumni Game. The Garnet team won the game on a last-second touchdown, 26-21, and Gamecock fans from all generations were delighted to see their favorite heroes of past seasons return to Williams-Brice Stadium.

The highlight of the alumni game came on the second play of the contest, when 90-year-old former Gamecock Lou Sossamon scored a rushing touchdown for the Black team. A 1943 South Carolina alumnus, Sossamon player center and linebacker under head coach Rex Enright from 1940-42 and became Carolina’s first ever All-American when he was honored by the Associated Press following the 1942 season.

After Sossamon’s touchdown, the Garnet team put the next two scores on the board. Anthony Wright and Terry Bishop each threw touchdown passes to put the Garnet ahead, 14-7.

The Black squad evened the tally with the next touchdown, a passing score from Mike Rathe that made it 14-all with the game more than half over. After the teams traded interceptions, the Black team moved back ahead when Corey Jenkins tossed a touchdown to make it 21-14.

The Garnet team needed a late rally to win the game, and they were able to deliver. Garnet’s Corey Miller threw a touchdown on Garnet’s next drive, but the extra point was missed, and the Black team kept a 21-20 lead. But on their ensuing position, Taqiy Muhammad intercepted a pass in the end zone to give the Garnet team one more shot.

The Garnet squad capitalized, as Randy Wheeler scored a rushing touchdown on the final snap of the game. Both teams gathered in the end zone to celebrate Wheeler’s score, which gave Garnet a 26-21 victory.

The game featured seven touchdowns, with seven different former Gamecocks finding the end zone. Muhammad led all defensive players with two interceptions, while Rick Sanford also picked off one pass for the Black team.