This was no fluke, South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier called it fate.
“I said ‘Fellas, if fate means for us to win this game Saturday then lets give it a chance. Lets give fate a chance to happen,’” Spurrier said in a postgame interview.
Fate was on their side as the Gamecocks (4-1, 1-1) showed they are a force to be reckoned with in the SEC. The Gamecocks silenced the critics by scoring 35 points in the victory, the most allowed by an Alabama defense since a 41-34 loss vs. LSU in 2007.
Saturday’s win vs. Alabama marked the first time in the Gamecocks’ football history that they defeated a No. 1 ranked opponent. It was also the first time Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy lost a game since his eighth-grade year.
The win sent the Gamecocks flying up in the AP poll from No. 19 to No. 10.
The biggest story lies in the fact that a South Carolina team defeated the No. 1 team in the top three men’s sports. The Gamecocks’ basketball team upset No. 1 Kentucky, and their baseball team defeated No. 1 Arizona State in the College World Series en route to winning the school’s first nation title in any men’s sport.
South Carolina’s smothering defense limited Heisman trophy winner Mark Ingram to 41 yards on 11 carries and Alabama to 36 yards overall.
Gamecock quarterback Stephen Garcia arguablyplayed the best game of his career by completing 17-of-20 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns. Garcia was a perfect 9-for-9 passing with 94 yards in three touchdowns in the first half.
South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffrey had seven catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns including a beautiful one-armed catch from Garcia.
Freshman running back Marcus Lattimore scored three touchdowns Saturday.
South Carolina travels to face SEC opponent Kentucky Saturday.
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