Biting back

USC beats Florida for first time since 1939

By Joseph Person
The State
Published: November 13, 2005

Nobody wanted to leave.

Unlike the last time Steve Spurrier coached in a Florida-South Carolina game when Gamecocks' fans beat a path to the parking lots in the third quarter, the postgame tailgates could wait Saturday.

The real party was inside Williams-Brice Stadium, where the Spurrier History-making Tour rolled on.

Four years after frustrating the Gamecocks' faithful in the infamous "Blackout" game, Spurrier turned the tables on his alma mater in USC's 30-22 victory in front of a rocking crowd of 83,241.

While they left the goal posts alone, USC fans and players did mocking versions of the Gator chomp and soaked up the Gamecocks' first victory against Florida since 1939. Spurrier literally soaked up the win when players drenched him with an ice-water bath.

Spurrier said he would have to "coach up" his team on how to handle a big win after declining a ride on the backs of his players. Forgive them, they have not had much practice.

"I told you guys we had a lot of history that we could set at South Carolina," Spurrier said. "I didn't think we'd set this much this year."

USC (7-3, 5-3 in SEC) broke a 14-game losing streak to No. 12 Florida and clinched at least a second-place finish in the East Division. The Gamecocks can win the East if Georgia, which lost to Auburn on Saturday, also loses to Kentucky next weekend.

Besides improving their bowl resume, the Gamecocks won their fifth consecutive SEC game for the first time since joining the conference in 1992, beat their highest-ranked opponent since a win against No. 9 Georgia in 2000, and snapped a skid that spanned five decades.

"They kept on saying it was like 1930-something. I was like, 'I don't care about football back then.' I wasn't even born," USC defensive tackle Chris Tucker said. "We were like, 'We can keep on making history.' Try to beat Tennessee and Florida the same year. That's what we did."

In doing so, the Gamecocks erased the sting of a 54-17 loss to Florida in 2001, Spurrier's final year in Gainesville.

"I love the Gators, always will," he said. "But I'm at South Carolina now. This is my team."

After taking a low-key approach all week, Spurrier found an understated way to win his first game against his former school. With the Gators lined up in soft-zone coverage with two safeties deep, Spurrier abandoned his trademark vertical passing game in favor of a between-the-tackles, power running attack.

The Gamecocks rushed for 120 yards and finished with season lows in pass attempts (17) and completions (7). For the first time this season, USC did not have a passing touchdown.

"We thought we'd sort of pick at them," Spurrier said. "I think they thought we'd probably throw a lot."

He was right.

"We had a lot of time spent in coverage because we felt like they were going to come out and throw the ball all over the place," Florida first-year coach Urban Meyer said. "But I think they only threw it 17 times, which was surprising."

Freshman tailback Mike Davis picked his way for 88 yards and two rushing touchdowns runs on 22 carries and fullback Daccus Turman added a pair of short touchdown runs. The four touchdown runs were vindication for an offensive line that was blamed for the Gamecocks' anemic running attack early in the season.

"We were executing. We were playing hard. We were putting our nose into the defense," right guard Na'Shan Goddard said.

After Josh Brown's 37-yard field goal put USC up 30-19 with 9:04 remaining, Florida took over on its 20 needing two scores to win or tie. With a receiving corps depleted by injury, Meyer opted against a no-huddle offense.

Even as the Gators (7-3, 5-3) converted two fourth downs and drove into scoring position, USC's John Thompson told his co-defensive coordinator, Tyrone Nix, to stay in the same scheme - a four-man rush with man-to-man coverage in the secondary.

"We're doing good," Thompson recalled telling Nix. "We're bleeding them. They're bleeding the clock."

The Gators used 17 plays and burned more than six minutes before settling for a field goal - a 43-yarder by Chris Hetland that pulled Florida within eight, 30-22, with 2:51 remaining.

Freshman receiver Kenny McKinley recovered the ensuing onside kick. When Florida forced the Gamecocks to punt with a minute left, the Gators were whistled for having 12 men on the field, giving USC a first down and setting off the celebration.

While Spurrier frowned on the ice-water bath, he was more appreciative of the game ball Goddard presented to him in the locker room.

"I told him, 'This is for you. It's your first time beating them,' " Goddard said. "He turned red, completely red. He was smiling so hard, so I know he appreciated it."

There were about 80,000 others who felt the same way.

Reach Person at (803) 771-8496 or jperson @thestate.com.

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