1989 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1989 South Carolina Gamecocks football Independent 6–4–1 Sparky Woods 1st Art Wilkins 1st Rick Whitt 1st Williams–Brice Stadium The 1989 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina as an independent during the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach Sparky Woods, the Gamecocks compiled a record of 6–4–1. The team played home games at Williams–Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. Woods succeeded Joe Morrison, who died of a heart attack in February 1989. Woods was previously the head coach at Appalachian State, having won two Southern Conference titles and been named Southern Conference Coach of the Year in three consecutive years.1989-02-21 SPARKY WOODS GETS SOUTH CAROLINA JOB https://www.deseret.com/1989/2/21/18796067/sparky-woods-gets-south-carolina-job/ 2024-09-30 Deseret News en In 1989, South Carolina started 5–1–1 and ranked No. 25 in the country.1989 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/south-carolina/1989-schedule.html 2024-09-30 College Football at Sports-Reference.com en However, in the eighth game against No. 20 NC State, senior star quarterback Todd Ellis, considered arguably the most impactful player in program history until then, suffered a college career-ending injury.Staff Writer Ellis's injury disheartens USC https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/1989/10/30/ellis39s-injury-disheartens-usc/29518288007/ 2024-09-30 Spartanburg Herald Journal en-US The Gamecocks subsequently lost three of their last four games, were not selected for a bowl game, and finished unranked. Schedule 1989 AP Eastern September 2 7:00 pm w Duke Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC 27–21 74,232 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-and-democrat-greens-160-yards/140141074/ The Times and Democrat Green's 160 yards lead Woods, Gamecocks to 27–21 victory September 3, 1989 February 2, 2024 Newspapers.com September 9 7:00 pm t Virginia Tech Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC 17–17 71,842 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-south-carolina-ti/140141183/ The Charlotte Observer South Carolina tied as Va. Tech rallies September 10, 1989 February 2, 2024 Newspapers.com September 16 1:00 pm l y West Virginia 12 Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV 21–45 66,015 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-w-virginia-run/140137765/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution W. Virginia runs USC awry 45–21 September 17, 1989 February 2, 2024 Newspapers.com September 23 7:00 pm w Georgia Tech Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC 21–10 70,018 https://www.newspapers.com/article/sun-news-gamecocks-win-2110-make-georg/140141270/ The Sun-News Gamecocks win 21–10, make Georgia Tech see Green September 24, 1989 February 2, 2024 Newspapers.com September 30 1:00 pm w y Georgia 23 Sanford Stadium Athens, GA rivalry 24–20 80,961 https://www.newspapers.com/article/ledger-enquirer-gamecocks-turn-dog-mista/135059815/ Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Gamecocks turn Dog mistakes into win October 1, 1989 November 12, 2023 Newspapers.com October 7 1:30 pm w East Carolina Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC 47–14 65,600 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72754664/gamecocks-assume-favorites-role-and/ The Charlotte Observer Gamecocks assume favorite's role - and win October 8, 1989 March 5, 2021 Newspapers.com October 21 1:30 pm w 24 Western Carolina Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC 24–3 62,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-gamecocks-go-to-po/140141348/ Winston-Salem Journal Gamecocks go to power offense, wesr down Cats' defense 24–3 October 22, 1989 February 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 28 1:00 pm l 25 NC State 20 Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC 10–20 74,248 https://www.newspapers.com/article/florence-morning-news-gamecocks-lose-ell/140141422/ Florence Morning News Gamecocks lose Ellis for season October 29, 1989 February 2, 2024 Newspapers.com November 4 2:00 pm l y Florida State 6 Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL SSN 10–35 61,852 https://www.newspapers.com/article/anderson-independent-mail-a-porous-defen/140141490/ Anderson Independent-Mail A porous defense, not a poor offense, betrays Gamecocks November 5, 1989 February 2, 2024 Newspapers.com November 11 2:00 pm w y North Carolina Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC rivalry 27–20 44,200 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-gamecocks-rally-over-tar-heel/140141581/ The Herald Gamecocks rally over Tar Heels November 12, 1989 February 2, 2024 Newspapers.com November 18 7:30 pm l Clemson 15 Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC rivalry ESPN 0–45 74,509 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-clemson-thrashes-u/140141689/ The News and Observer Clemson thrashes USC, 45–0 November 19, 1989 February 2, 2024 Newspapers.com1989 Football Schedule Sports Reference LLC June 22, 2017 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/south-carolina/1989.html Roster Todd Ellis* QB Dickie DeMasi QB Ben Hogan QB Pat Turner QB Harold Green* RB Mike Dingle RB Albert Haynes RB Ken Watson RB Keith Bing RB Kevin Jones RB Robert Brooks* WR Eddie Miller* WR George Rush* WR Carl Platt WR David Pitchko WR Skeets Thomas WR Bill Zorr WR Darren Greene WR David Hodge* TE Charles Steward TE Dany Branch* OL Ike Harris* OL Kenny Haynes* OL Curt High* OL Calvin Stephens* OL Hal Hamrick OL Antoine Rivens OL Marty Dye* DL Curtis Godwin* DL Tim High* DL Corey Miller* DL Patrick Blackwell DL Troy Duke DL Trent Simpson DL Robert Gibson* LB Patrick Hinton* LB David Taylor* LB Scott Windsor* LB Mike Conway LB Joe Reaves LB Keith Emmons LB Erik Anderson* DB Leon Harris* DB Keith McDonald* DB Antonio Walker DB Stephane Williams DB References Additional sources Griffin, J. C. (1992). The first hundred years: A history of south carolina football. Atlanta, GA: Longstreet Press South Carolina Category:South Carolina Gamecocks football seasons South Carolina Gamecocks football