Look: South Carolina honors top football teams of Steve Spurrier era

South Carolina won a lot of football games under head coach Steve Spurrier. The 2010 through 2013 seasons represented the best stretch in program history.

Those Spurrier-lead teams were 42-11 over four years, including an SEC Eastern Division title in 2010 followed by three-straight 11-2 seasons. The university honored those teams Saturday at halftime of the Jacksonville State game, with about 40 former players and their families in attendance for the ceremony.

“Everybody asks, how’d you guys do it?” Spurrier, 78, said in a speech to the crowd at halftime. “I say, first of all we had talented players with the attitude, effort and leadership among the older guys passed through the team.”

Why honor these teams at halftime of this particular game? The idea for a special recognition has been in the works for several years, a school spokesman told The State, but it’s been rescheduled several times because of the COVID pandemic, hurricanes and conflicts with Spurrier’s schedule and availability to be in attendance.

The 2013 team was No. 4 in the final Associated Press Top 25, a school-best finish. And 17 of those Gamecocks were selected in the NFL Draft.

“I’m a Florida Gator now,” Spurrier said to some boos, “but my wife and I will always be South Carolina Gamecocks.”