S. Carolina

The last time we saw the Gamecocks, it was December 4, 2010, and they were getting crushed by Cam Newton and the Auburn Tigers in the SEC Championship game.  Auburn won that game 56 to 17, taking the SEC title and the UCFC in the same game.  Despite that defeat, the 2010 season was a great one for South Carolina -- to this day it remains the only time that the Gamecocks have won the SEC East.  2010 was Steve Spurrier's sixth year in Columbia, and he had the program in very good shape.  Here's what they've been up to while we've been watching other teams:

1.  In 2011, the Gamecocks went 11-2, beating Nebraska 30 to 13 in the Capital One Bowl.  They were ranked 9th in the final AP Poll.

2.  In 2012, the Gamecocks went 11-2, beating Michigan 33 to 28 in the Outback Bowl.  They were ranked 8th in the final AP Poll.

3.  In 2013, the Gamecocks went 11-2, beating Wisconsin 34 to 24 in the Capital One Bowl.  They were ranked 4th in the final AP Poll.

The 2011, 2012, and 2013 seasons are the only seasons in history where South Carolina ended the year ranked in the top 10.

4.  The next year, 2014, South Carolina suffered a drop-off -- going 7-6 and beating Miami (Fla.) 24-21 in the Independence Bowl.

5.  And then, in 2015, Spurrier retired after South Carolina got off to a 2-4 start.  Shawn Elliott took over the rest of the way, and the Gamecocks staggered to a 3-9 record.

Having had so much success with Spurrier -- a former Florida coach -- the Gamecocks decided to hire another former Florida coach.  Will Muschamp went 28-21 in Gainesville from 2011 to 2014.  To me, that would be an argument against hiring him -- but Carolina decided to hire him anyway.  So far, he's beaten Vandy and East Carolina, while he's lost to Mississippi State and Kentucky.  This game against Texas A & M will be only his second home game in charge.