1983 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

1983 South Carolina Gamecocks football
ConferenceIndependent
Record5–6
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorFrank Sadler (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorTom Gadd (1st season)
Home stadiumWilliams–Brice Stadium
Seasons
← 1982
1984 →
1983 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Miami (FL)       11 1 0
Virginia Tech       9 2 0
No. 19 Boston College       9 3 0
No. 16 West Virginia       9 3 0
No. 20 East Carolina       8 3 0
No. 18 Pittsburgh       8 3 1
Florida State       8 4 0
Penn State       8 4 1
Southern Miss       7 4 0
Memphis State       6 4 1
Notre Dame       7 5 0
Syracuse       6 5 0
South Carolina       5 6 0
Cincinnati     4 6 1
Southwestern Louisiana       4 6 0
Temple       4 7 0
Tulane       4 7 0
Louisville       3 8 0
Navy       3 8 0
Rutgers       3 8 0
Army       2 9 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1983 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina as an independent during the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team played its home games at Williams–Brice Stadium. Led by first-year head coach Joe Morrison, the Gamecocks compiled a record of 5–6.

After years of campaigning by former Gamecock quarterback Tommy Suggs and waiting for the stadium's sound system to be updated, the Gamecocks introduced their "2001" entrance in Morrison's first year as head coach. The Gamecocks began entering Williams–Brice Stadium to the introduction of Also sprach Zarathustra, popularly known from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. The entrance remains a staple of Gamecock home football games, and has since been considered one of the best entrances in college football.[1][2][3][4]

Another highlight of the season was the 38–14 home victory over Southern California. Excited fans jumping up and down caused the upper decks to sway. Asked about the movement, Morrison said: “If they ain’t swayin’, we ain’t playin’.”[5]

  1. ^ "Game Day Fixture is Officially the Tommy Suggs 2001 Gamecock Football Entrance". University of South Carolina Athletics. August 29, 2024. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  2. ^ "College football's best stadium entrances, pregame rituals: Ranking 10 most iconic game day traditions". 247Sports. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  3. ^ "A history of the SEC's pregame field entrances". Saturday Down South. August 31, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  4. ^ Nadkarni, Rohan (September 1, 2016). "The 25 best entrances in college football, ranked". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  5. ^ "Morrison's legacy looms 20 years after death". The State. February 8, 2009. Retrieved September 25, 2024.