1969 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1969 South Carolina Gamecocks football 1969USChelmet.jpg Atlantic Coast Conference ACC 7–4 6–0 Paul Dietzel 4th Don Buckner Pat Watson Carolina Stadium ACC champion Peach Bowl L Lost 3–14 vs. West Virginia The 1969 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 1969 NCAA University Division football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Paul Dietzel, the Gamecocks compiled an overall record of 7–4 with a mark of 6–0 in conference play, winning the ACC title. It was also South Carolina's first winning season since 1959.South Carolina Gamecocks College Football History, Stats, Records https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/south-carolina/ 2024-09-30 College Football at Sports-Reference.com en South Carolina was invited to the Peach Bowl, where they were defeated by West Virginia. The team played home games at Carolina Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. Schedule 1969 AP September 20 w Duke Carolina Stadium Columbia, SC 27–20 42,791 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tallahassee-democrat-gamecocks-edge-duke/139290053/ Tallahassee Democrat Gamecocks edge Duke by 27–20 September 21, 1969 January 21, 2024 Newspapers.com September 27 w North Carolina Carolina Stadium Columbia, SC rivalry 14–6 42,559 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-gamecocks-get-by-unc/139290182/ The Greenville News Gamecocks get by UNC, 14–6 September 28, 1969 January 21, 2024 Newspapers.com October 4 l y y Georgia 7 Sanford Stadium Athens, GA rivalry 16–41 59,452 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-georgia-steamrollers-s/133852411/ The Baltimore Sun Georgia steamrollers South Carolina, 41–16 October 5, 1969 October 21, 2023 Newspapers.com October 11 w NC State Carolina Stadium Columbia, SC 21–16 42,786 https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-gamecock-rally-nets-211/139290276/ Greensboro Daily News Gamecock rally nets 21–16 win October 12, 1969 January 21, 2024 Newspapers.com October 18 w y y Virginia Tech Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA 17–16 28,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-gamecocks-ease-past/139288097/ The Macon Telegraph & News Gamecocks ease past VPI, 17–16 October 19, 1969 January 21, 2024 Newspapers.com October 25 w Maryland Carolina Stadium Columbia, SC 17–0 42,756 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-and-democrat-south-carolina-se/139290380/ The Times and Democrat South Carolina sets down Maryland, 17–0 October 26, 1969 January 21, 2024 Newspapers.com November 1 l y y Florida State Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL 9–34 34,519 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-everything-falls-in-pla/139290480/ The Miami Herald Everything falls in place for Seminoles, 34 to 9 November 2, 1969 January 21, 2024 Newspapers.com November 8 l y y Tennessee 3 Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN rivalry 14–29 62,868 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101304584/tennessee-earns-win-over-south-carolina/ The Daily Advertiser Tennessee earns win over South Carolina November 9, 1969 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com November 15 w y Wake Forest Groves Stadium Winston-Salem, NC 24–6 25,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-gamecocks-win-acc-ti/139290574/ The Greenville News Gamecocks win ACC title with 24–6 victory at Wake November 16, 1969 January 21, 2024 Newspapers.com November 22 w Clemson Carolina Stadium Columbia, SC rivalry 27–13 42,921 USC Gamecocks Defeat Clemson's Tigers, 27–13 The Greenville News Dan Foster November 23, 1969 1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36708334/usc_gamecocks_defeat_clemsons_tigers/ December 30 l y y West Virginia 19 Grant Field Atlanta, GA Peach Bowl 3–14 48,452 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-alert-defense-strong-ground-g/139290745/ The State Alert defense, strong ground game lift Mounties over USC in Peach Bowl, 14–3 December 31, 1969 January 21, 2024 Newspapers.com Game summaries Duke Duke 3 0 7 10 20 South Carolina 0 10 0 17 27 Pre game On Saturday September 20, 1969, South Carolina hosted Duke to open the 100th college football season. Coming into the game, The Gamecocks were two and a half touchdown favorites according to odds makers, both teams being favorites to win the ACC in pre season speculation. An area of concern for the Gamecocks however was the unproven offensive line. 1st half A Tommy Suggs fumble at the USC 33 recovered by Mike Fitzpatrick, set up the game's first score with a Pugh 24-yard field goal giving Duke a 3–0 lead. The Gamecocks had a 10–3 lead at the half thanks to a Rudy Holloman 60 yard rushing touchdown, and a 30-yard field goal from Billy DuPre. The SC defense held Duke star QB Leo Hart to just five completions in 12 attempts for 28 yards. Just after the start of the 2nd quarter, USC's Holloman scored on a 60-yard run, giving the Gamecocks a 10–3 lead that they would take into the break. 2nd half Duke QB Hart's bounced back in the 2nd half passing led them to a 51-yard touchdown drive capped by a three-yard pass to Marcell Courtillet to tie the game 10–10 with 8:32 remaining in the 3rd quarter. DuPre 37-yard field goal in the 4th quarter gave SC the lead back 13–10, but Duke's QB Hart responded with 79 yard, 8 play drive, capped off by an 18-yard touchdown pass to Wes Chesson. With just under 11 minutes to play, Dietzel gambled on 4th and two, Gamecock QB Tommy Suggs faked a handoff and ran a 48-yard touchdown, darting through the right tackle without a single Duke player touching him giving SC a 20–17 lead. Duke's kicker Pugh would tie it at 20–20 with a 43-yard field goal. Final drive With only one minute and twenty five seconds left, the Gamecocks completed a 12 play scoring drive, beginning at their own 25 yard line. Muir opened the drive with a 10-yard run, Muir then caught a Suggs pass for 16 more yards. Later in the drive, Fred Zeigler caught his 100th pass in his career, a 24-yard pass from Suggs. On first down from the 2, Muir ran it in giving the Gamecocks the 27–20 lead and sending the sold out crowd of 42,791 into a frenzy. Post game Holloman finished with 125 yards rushing, QB Suggs had 105 rushing yards, and went 10-16 passing for 107 yards. Dietzel post game said "That fourth down play at midfield with better than 10 minutes to go in the game was the biggest gamble that I've ever taken" also adding "Possibly the most amazing thing about our defense was that we played almost the whole game with Pat Watson and three true sophomores in the Secondary. It's most unusual for a major college team to play a game with three true sophomores in the secondary. You can get beat quicker there than anywhere else." References South Carolina Category:South Carolina Gamecocks football seasons Category:Atlantic Coast Conference football champion seasons South Carolina Gamecocks football